Eli who? Rookie leads Giants to win in debut
Daniel Jones is making the decision to bench Eli Manning look like a good one. At least through one game.
The sixth overall pick in this year’s NFL draft threw for 336 yards and two touchdowns and also ran for two TDs, including the go-ahead score with 1:16 remaining as the New York Giants rallied from an 18-point halftime deficit to beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 32-31 on Sunday in Tampa, Fla.
“There’s certain things that I knew about this kid when we drafted him. He was tough, he was competitive, and in my opinion he’s a winner,” Giants coach Pat Shurmur said. “Now the rest of it is just quarterback stuff. But those first three things give him a chance to move forward.”
Jameis Winston threw for 380 yards and put the Buccaneers (1-2) in position to pull out a dramatic win, but rookie Matt Gay’s 34yard field goal sailed wide right as time expired.
Jones scored on a 7-yard run in the second quarter and put the Giants ahead with another 7-yarder on fourth-and-goal. The rookie began New York’s comeback with a 75-yard TD pass to Evan Engram on the first play of the second half, and a 7-yarder to Sterling Shepard midway through the third quarter.
LIONS 27, EAGLES 24 >> Matthew Stafford threw a scoring pass to Marvin Jones, Jamal Agnew returned a kickoff 100 yards for a TD, and the Lions held on in Philadelphia. The Eagles had a chance after Malcolm Jenkins blocked Matt Prater’s 46-yard field-goal try with 1:53 left. Rasul Douglas returned it to the Lions’ 22, but an illegal block on Jenkins pushed it back to midfield. On fourth-and-5, Darren Sproles caught a pass for a first down but got called for Philadelphia’s third offensive pass interference. Carson Wentz’s deep pass to J.J. ArcegaWhiteside fell incomplete with 41 seconds left.
RAMS 20, BROWNS 13 >> Cooper Kupp caught two touchdown passes from Jared Goff and Los Angeles stopped Baker Mayfield four times from the 4-yard line in the final minute as the Rams hung on for a win in Cleveland. The Rams (30) remained unbeaten — and perfect against AFC teams in the regular season under coach Sean McVay.
COWBOYS 31, DOLPHINS 6 >> Dak Prescott threw two touchdown passes to Amari Cooper before running for another score, and the Cowboys
pulled out of a first-half funk in Arlington, Texas. One of Prescott’s TD tosses to Cooper came before halftime, but the Dolphins had a great chance to lead at the break as 22-point underdogs. Kenyan Drake fumbled on first down from the Dallas 7-yard line in the final minute of the second quarter. DeMarcus Lawrence recovered to preserve a 10-6 lead.
PACKERS 27, BRONCOS 16>>
Aaron Rodgers threw for 235 yards and a touchdown, Aaron Jones tied a career high by running for two scores, and Preston Smith matched a career high with three sacks for the host Packers. Green Bay got to Joe Flacco six times and forced three turnovers to lead the Packers to the win despite being dominated in time of possession 35:34-24:26.
BILLS 21, BENGALS 17>> Frank Gore scored on a 1-yard run with 1:50 remaining in rallying the Bills in Orchard Park, N.Y. Tight end Dawson Knox set up the score by bowling over two Bengals for a 49yard gain. And cornerback Tre’Davious White sealed the win by intercepting Andy Dalton’s tipped pass on third-and-5 from Buffalo’s 28 with 12 seconds remaining. Buffalo improved to 3-0 for the first time since 2011. COLTS 27, FALCONS 24>> Jacoby Brissett threw two
touchdown passes in the first half and Marlon Mack scored on a 4-yard run in the fourth quarter. Indianapolis has won seven in a row at home. The Falcons rallied from a 20-3 halftime deficit to get within three on Matt Ryan’s 10-yard TD pass to Julio Jones with 4:11 to play.
TEXANS 27, CHARGERS 20 >>
Deshaun Watson threw for 351 yards and hit Jordan Akins with two of his three touchdown passes, and J.J. Watt had two of the Texans’ five sacks of Philip Rivers in Carson. Akins made the first two TD catches of his career and fellow tight end Darren Fells also caught a TD pass for the Texans.
PANTHERS 38, CARDINALS 20
>> Kyle Allen threw for 261 yards and four touchdowns in place of the injured Cam Newton, and Christian McCaffrey ran for a 76-yard TD in Glendale, Ariz. The 23-year-old Allen was outstanding in his second career start, making several big throws. McCaffrey had 24 carries for 153 yards.
PATRIOTS 30, JETS 14 >> Tom Brady threw a pair of touchdown passes and the host Patriots didn’t allow an offensive touchdown for the third straight week. Sony Michel and Rex Burkhead each added a rushing touchdown for the Patriots, who won their seventh straight over the Jets.