Saints top reeling Rams
Andy Dalton passed for three touchdowns, Mathew Stafford left the field to be evaluated for a concussion in the second half and the Saints beat the reeling Rams 27-20 on Sunday in New Orleans.
Stafford’s departure from the game came two days after he’d been cleared to return from the NFL’s concussion protocol.
He appeared to hit his head on the Superdome turf during a third-quarter possession and was subsequently sacked by blitzing linebacker Demario Davis and defensive end Tanoh Kpassagnon to end the last drive he played.
Stafford was replaced by Bryce Perkins, who led the Rams to a field goal on his first series, but struggled thereafter.
The defending champion
Rams (3-7), who’ve now lost four straight, didn’t pull within a touchdown until Matt Gay’s 58-yard field goal with 6 seconds remaining and the Saints recovered a subsequent onside kick.
Dalton’s performance validated a decision by the Saints (4-7) to stick with him after the club’s worst offensive performances of the season during a two-game skid that spanned Weeks 9 and 10. He completed 21 of 25 passes for 260 yards, including a 53-yard TD pass deep down the middle of the field to Chris Olave to make it 24-14 late in the third quarter.
Patriots 10, Jets 3: Marcus Jones returned a punt 84 yards for a TD with 5 seconds remaining and the Patriots won in stunning fashion. The rookie’s score was the first TD on a punt return in the NFL this season. It was the third straight win for the host Pats (6-4) and their 14th straight over the Jets.
Bills 31, Browns 23: Josh Allen threw a go-ahead, 5-yard TD pass to Stefon Diggs late in the first half, and the Bills won after the NFL moved the game from Buffalo to Detroit due to several feet of snow blanketing western New York.
Eagles 17, Colts 16: Jalen Hurts ran for an 8-yard TD with 1:20 remaining and the Eagles rebounded from their first loss of the season with the comeback win. The visiting Eagles trailed 13-3 before Hurts threw for a TD early in the fourth quarter to pull his team within three.
Lions 31, Giants 18: Jamaal Williams ran for a careerhigh three TDs and the Lions posted consecutive roads wins and their first three-game winning streak since November 2017. Falcons 53-yard Koo 27, FG made Bears with a tiebreaking 24: less Younghoe than 2 minutes to play and the host Falcons overcame another impressive game from Justin Fields. The second-year QB ran for 85 yards with a TD, but the Bears (3-8) suffered their fourth consecutive loss and sixth of seven. The Falcons’ Cordarrelle Patterson set the NFL record with his ninth career kickoff return for a TD. Ravens 13, Panthers 3: Lamar Jackson ran for a 1-yard TD in the fourth quarter and the Ravens forced three late turnovers to win at home. It was their fourth straight victory.
Commanders 23, Texans 10: Taylor Heinicke threw for 191 yards, Kendall Fuller returned an INT for a TD, and the visiting Commanders won for the fifth time in six games. The Texans dropped their fifth straight.