USA TODAY International Edition
Chiefs knock off Love- led Packers 13- 7
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Jordan Love may be the future for the Packers, but this team still needs unvaccinated quarterback Aaron Rodgers for the present mission.
Love, 23, made his first NFL start on Sunday while Rodgers isolates after testing positive for the coronavirus, and what a learning experience it was as the Packers fell to the Chiefs 13- 7. The result snapped Green Bay’s seven- game winning streak ( 7- 2) while Kansas City ( 5- 4) has won consecutive games for the first time this season.
With some better support from the special teams, Love might have sparked an upset against a team that is still sputtering with its once- prolific offense.
The Packers had a missed field goal attempt by Mason Crosby ( 40 yards), a blocked 37- yard field goal attempt and a muffed punt return that was recovered by Kansas City and led to a field goal. Without those gaffes, Love would have had more of a fighting chance – especially with Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs offense missing so much rhythm.
Love completed 19 of 34 passes for 190 yards with a touchdown and an interception. The passer rating ( 69.5) wasn’t pretty, but Love improved as the game progressed. He also rushed for 23 yards on five scrambles and seemed to gain confidence in moving around the pocket with his decisions on when to bolt from the pocket.
Maybe next time. Now isn’t the time.
– Jarrett Bell
CARDINALS 31, 49ERS 17
SANTA CLARA, Calif. – James Conner ran for two TDs and caught a 45yard TD pass from backup quarterback Colt McCoy for short- handed Arizona.
The Cardinals ( 8- 1) were playing without quarterback Kyler Murray and receivers DeAndre Hopkins and A. J. Green but still had little trouble completing the season sweep against the 49ers ( 3- 5).
Conner finished with 173 yards from scrimmage and now leads the NFL in TDs with 11, all scored in the past seven games.
– The Associated Press
BROWNS 41, BENGALS 16
CINCINNATI – Baker Mayfield threw two touchdown passes, Nick Chubb ran for 137 yards and the Browns, sparked by cornerback Denzel Ward’s early 99- yard interception return for a TD, capped a chaotic week by smashing the Bengals.
The Browns ( 5- 4) came in desperate for a win after dropping three of four. Their situation turned dramatic on Wednesday when star receiver Odell Beckham Jr. was exiled for poor behavior and the team decided to release him.
But like last year, when Mayfield played more freely after Beckham suffered a season- ending knee injury at Cincinnati, Cleveland’s quarterback was on target. The Browns put together their most complete game this season to humble the Bengals ( 5- 4), who hurt themselves with mistakes as they dropped their second straight.
Burrow threw two interceptions and was sacked five times – three by blitzing cornerback Troy Hill – and Bengals rookie receiver Ja’Marr Chase dropped two passes, one in the end zone.
– AP
CHARGERS 27, EAGLES 24
PHILADELPHIA – Justin Herbert threw two touchdown passes and ran for a score, and Dustin Hopkins kicked a 29- yard field goal with 2 seconds remaining. Herbert threw for 356 yards, completing 32 of 38 passes. He got 1 yard on a sneak on 4th- and- 1 from the Eagles 28 with 1: 45 left, setting up Hopkins’ kick.
The Chargers ( 5- 3) snapped a twogame losing streak. The Eagles ( 3- 6) still haven’t won a home game in four tries under rookie coach Nick Sirianni.
– AP
JAGUARS 9, BILLS 6
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Jacksonville had the better Josh Allen on this Sunday, with the standout linebacker intercepting a pass, making a sack and recovering a fumble in the upset.
Buffalo’s star quarterback with the same first and last names turned over the ball three times, including twice in the second half. He didn’t have a second- half turnover in any previous game this season.
The Bills ( 5- 3) lost for the second time in seven games. The Jaguars ( 2- 6) rebounded from a debacle at Seattle a week ago.
The first of two deciding moments came on a 3rd- and- 2 play at the Jaguars 37 with about 5 1⁄ minutes remaining.
Allen fumbled after getting pressured by Dawuane Smoot. The other Josh Allen recovered.
Jaguars kicker Matt Wright missed three straight field goal attempts – all left – in a matter of minutes in the third quarter. Wright did have three field goals for all of his team’s points, hitting from 39, 55 and 21 yards.
– AP
RAVENS 34, VIKINGS 31, OT
BALTIMORE – Justin Tucker kicked a 36- yard field goal with 16 seconds left in overtime. The AFC North- leading Ravens ( 6- 2) rallied from a 14- point thirdquarter deficit and survived an acrobatic interception by Minnesota’s Anthony Barr on the first possession of overtime. Barr tipped Lamar Jackson’s pass and caught it out of the air, giving the Vikings the ball at their 38, but Minnesota went three- and- out, and Baltimore drove into Tucker’s range again.
This was a much easier kick than Tucker’s previous winning effort – a record- setting 66- yarder to beat Detroit earlier this season.
It was the third overtime game of the season for each team. They both had split their first two. It was another agonizing loss for the Vikings ( 3- 5), who have not dropped a game all season by more than seven points.
– AP
FALCONS 27, SAINTS 25
NEW ORLEANS – Matt Ryan hit Cordarrelle Patterson for a 64- yard gain with a minute to go, setting up Younghoe Koo’s 29- yard field goal as time expired.
Ryan passed for 343 yards, connected twice with Olamide Zaccheaus for touchdowns, and the veteran quarterback also ran for a score on a bootleg. Ryan’s second scoring pass gave the Falcons ( 4- 4) a 24- 6 lead with 10: 39 left in the fourth quarter. But the Saints ( 5- 3) rallied to briefly take the lead on Trevor Siemian’s 8- yard pass to Kenny Stills with 1: 01 left.
New Orleans then missed a twopoint conversion try for the second time in the game.
– AP
GIANTS 23, RAIDERS 16
EAST RUTHERFORD, N. J. – Xavier McKinney returned an interception 41 yards for a touchdown early in the second half and picked off another errant throw by Derek Carr late.
Daniel Jones threw a 30- yard touchdown pass to Evan Engram and Graham Gano added three field goals – the last after McKinney’s second pick – for New York ( 3- 6).
Carr threw a 2- yard touchdown pass to Hunter Renfrow for the Raiders ( 5- 3).
– AP
PATRIOTS 24, PANTHERS 6
CHARLOTTE, N. C. – Mac Jones overcame two early turnovers and threw for 139 yards and a touchdown and J. C. Jackson returned one of three Sam Darnold interceptions for an 88- yard touchdown for New England.
Rookie running back Rhamondre Stevenson had 106 yards from scrimmage before leaving with a head injury, and Damien Harris and Hunter Henry scored touchdowns as the Patriots ( 5- 4) improved to 4- 0 on the road.
Darnold had another miserable outing for Carolina. He finished 16 of 33 for 172 yards with three picks, two by Jackson after the Panthers ( 4- 5) reached the red zone.
– AP
DOLPHINS 17, TEXANS 9
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – In the NFL’s most turnover- filled game in more than five seasons, the Dolphins got 244 yards passing and a touchdown throw from surprise starter Jacoby Brissett.
The game between two teams that entered with 1- 7 records and both on seven- game losing streaks lived up – or down – to its billing. The Dolphins and Texans combined for nine turnovers. Miami had five, Houston four, and somehow the Dolphins ( 2- 7) won anyway.
It was Miami’s first win while committing at least five turnovers since Oct. 18, 1990. The Dolphins had been 021 in such games since.
– AP