Saturday-led Colts win; Pack flip Dallas
Colts 25, Raiders 20
Colts interim head coach Jeff Saturday picked up his first NFL win in a game that saw the return of running back Jonathan Taylor and quarterback Matt Ryan to starting roles. Ryan, who had been previously benched in favor of Sam Ehlinger, posted a 109.5 QB rating and notched both a passing and rushing touchdown. Ryan hit wide receiver Parris Campbell for a 35-yard touchdown which put the Colts ahead with 5:07 left.
Packers 31, Cowboys 28
Aaron Rodgers and the Packers picked up a statement win at home thanks to a field goal in overtime by Mason Crosby. The win keeps Green Bay alive in the NFC wild-card race. Meanwhile, the Cowboys, for the first time in franchise history, lost a game while leading by 14 or more points in the fourth quarter.
Buccaneers 21, Seahawks 16
The Buccaneers put forth a balanced effort against the Seahawks. Tampa Bay got key contributions from multiple players. However, it was rookie running back Rachaad White who emerged with a breakout performance. White rushed for a career-high 105 yards. He averaged 4.8 yards per carry to lead the backfield. The Seahawks were neutralized with just 39 rushing yards. Seattle had a late fourth-quarter rally, but the Buccaneers used a nine-play, 62-yard drive to secure the victory. Buccaneers receiver Julio Jones scored the first regular-season touchdown in Germany. He hauled in a 31-yard reception early in the second quarter.
Titans 17, Broncos 10
The Titans continue to find ways to win football games. On Sunday, the Titans defense forced two turnovers and shut down the Broncos in the second half. Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson was sacked six times as well. It was another strong performance for the defensive unit. This season, the Titans have five games allowing 20 or fewer points. The Broncos fell to 3-6 overall. The offense mustered just 65 rushing yards on the afternoon.
Giants 24, Texans 16
Giants running back Saquon Barkley rushed for 152 yards and a touchdown against the Texans. He paced the Giants offense with 35 carries as New York took advantage of the Texans’ NFL-worst run defense. Texans quarterback Davis Mills completed 22 of 37 passes for 319 yards and a touchdown in the loss. The Texans have now lost five of their last six games. Barkley added the exclamation point to his standout performance with a 2-yard touchdown in the third quarter.
Lions 31, Bears 30
Bears quarterback Justin Fields added another top performance to his resume this season. Fields accounted for 314 total yards (167 rushing) and four touchdowns in defeat. He connected with tight end Cole Kmet for two scores. However, the Lions pulled out the victory late in the fourth quarter. Lions running back Jamaal Williams scored a go-ahead 1-yard touchdown to cap an eight-play, 91-yard drive. Detroit has won two consecutive games and sit at 3-6 overall. Fields scored a 67-yard rushing touchdown in the fourth quarter. He is averaging 11.8 yards per carry over his last two games.
Steelers 20, Saints 10
The Steelers improved to 3-6 in what was a complete performance. Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett completed 18 of 30 passes for 199 yards. He also rushed for 51 yards and a touchdown. The Saints struggled on third down, going 3-for-12 on the afternoon. The Steelers shut down Saints superstar Alvin Kamara and the entire backfield. The unit averaged just 1.9 yards per carry. The Saints fell to 3-7.
Chiefs 27, Jaguars 17
Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes threw for 335 yards and four touchdowns in the victory. Mahomes connected with 10 receivers, but it was newcomer Kadarius Toney who stood out. Toney had four catches for 57 yards and a touchdown. He added a bunch of explosive plays that kept the Jaguars off balance. Jacksonville fell to 3-7 this season. However, Jaguars receiver Christian Kirk turned in a great game with nine catches for 105 yards and two TDs.
Cardinals 27, Rams 17
In a game that saw both teams’ starting quarterbacks unavailable due to injury, it was QB Colt McCoy who outdueled John Wolford in a pivotal NFC West win for Arizona. Sparking the Cardinals offense was running back James Conner, who rushed for two touchdowns. Meanwhile, star wide receiver Cooper Kupp went down with an injury in the loss. With the Rams trailing by two touchdowns, Cardinals’ Budda Baker intercepted a Wolford pass. Baker returned the pick 25 yards to set up an Arizona scoring drive, putting the game out of reach.