New England Patriots 27 vs. New York Jets 25 (TNF on CBS)
- Although the Jets had more first downs (28-16) and total yards (423-323), Tom Brady’s three scoring passes made the difference. Brady completed 20 of 37 passes for 260-yards. His leading receiver was running back Shane Vereen, who made five catches for 71-yards and had two touchdown receptions, including one from 49-yards out. Vereen accounted for 114-yards of total offense. For the Jets, running back Chris Ivory gained 107-yards on 21 carries and scored once. Chris Johnson also contributed 61-yards on 13 carries as New York piled up 218-yards on the ground. Despite facing lengthy criticisms within recent weeks, Geno Smith played well. Smith completed 20 of 34 passes for 226-yards and rushed for 37-yards on seven carries. He also threw a touchdown pass to tight end Jeff Cumberland. With five seconds remaining, the Jets had a chance to win the game on a 58-yard field goal attempt by Nick Folk, but the kick was blocked.
Baltimore Ravens 29 vs. Atlanta Falcons 7
- Joe Flacco completed 16 of 25 passes for 258-yards and two touchdown passes. Justin Forsett pounded out 95-yards on 23 carries while Bernard Pierce added a rushing touchdown. The Ravens defense sacked Matt Ryan five times, including two each by linebackers Elvis Dumervil and Pernell McPhee. Altanta was held to just one touchdown, which was a four-yard touchdown pass from Ryan to Roddy White. White caught nine passes for 100-yards in the game.
Washington Redskins 19 vs. Tennessee Titans 17
- The Redskins trailed 10-6 at halftime. Jay Gruden made the move to bench Kirk Cousins and start Colt McCoy in the second half. The move was a worthy gamble. McCoy completed 11 of 12 passes for 128-yards and a 70-yard score to Pierre Garcon. The long touchdown reception accounted for Washington’s only touchdown of the game. Charlie Whitehurst’s 38-yard touchdown pass to Derek Hagan gave the Titans a one point lead in the fourth quarter. With 3:14 remaining, McCoy engineered a ten play, 76-yard drive which set up Kai Forbath for a 22-yard field goal attempt with three seconds remaining. Forbath’s fourth field goal of the game resulted in the winning points as time expired.
St. Louis Rams 28 vs. Seattle Seahawks 26
- Rams rookie running back Tre Mason scored his first professional touchdown as the Rams defeated the Seahawks in St. Louis on Sunday. Mason gained 85-yards on 18 carries. Austin Davis threw one of his two scoring passes to Bennie Cunningham and Stedman Bailey returned a punt for a 90-yard touchdown. St. Louis erupted to a 21-3 lead in the first half. However, the defending Super Bowl Champions mounted a comeback. Russell Wilson completed 23 of 36 passes for 313-yards and two touchdowns. Wilson also gained 106-yards on seven carries, including a 19-yard scoring run. One of Wilson’s touchdowns went to Doug Baldwin, who made seven receptions for 123-yards. Seattle outgained St. Louis in total yardage (463-272), but the Rams ran out the clock to hang on for the upset.
Jacksonville Jaguars 24 vs. Cleveland Browns 6
- The Jaguars snapped a nine game losing streak by beating the Browns. Although Blake Bortles threw three interceptions, he did throw a touchdown pass to fellow rookie wide receiver Allen Robinson. Bortles completed 17 of 31 passes for 159-yards. Denard Robinson gained 127-yards on 22 carries and scored a touchdown. Overall, Jacksonville rushed for a total of 185-yards. The Jaguars defense limited Cleveland to a pair of field goals. They also held Brian Hoyer to just 16 completions in 41 attempts. Jacksonville also recorded three sacks and forced just as many turnovers.
Indianapolis Colts 27 vs. Cincinnati Bengals 0
- For the third week in a row, a road team got shut out. Andrew Luck completed 27 of 42 passes for 344-yards and a pair of touchdown passes. The Colts gained 171-yards rushing. Trent Richardson gained 77-yards on 14 carries while racking up 118-yards of offense. Ahmad Bradshaw rushed for 52-yards on ten carries and scored a touchdown. Indy’s defense limited the potent Bengals offense to eight first downs, 32 rushing yards, and 135-yards of total offense. The Colts also recorded four sacks and they limited Andy Dalton to only 18 completions in 38 attempts for 126-yards.
Buffalo Bills 17 vs. Minnesota Vikings 16
- Teddy Bridgewater completed 15 of 26 passes for 157-yards and the Vikings only touchdown of the game, a four-yard scoring pass to Cordarrelle Patterson. Buffalo’s defense kept the game close, sacking Bridgewater five times and intercepting him twice. Meanwhile, Kyle Orton was sacked six times. Three of those sacks came courtesy of defensive end Everson Griffen. The Bills also turned the ball over four times and Minnesota led by six in the fourth quarter. However, he engineered a 15 play, 80-yard drive in the final three minutes of the game. With a single second left, he found Sammy Watkins for the game winning two-yard touchdown pass. Watkins made nine receptions for 122-yards and caught both of Orton’s touchdown passes. Orton finished by completing 31 of 43 passes for 283-yards.
Miami Dolphins 27 @ Chicago Bears 14
- Ryan Tannehill completed 25 of 32 passes for 277-yards and two touchdowns. Lamar Miller scratched and clawed his way to 61 rushing yards on 18 carries and a touchdown run. Miller also caught a pair of passes for 22 more yards. Matt Forte scored once on the ground, along with a scoring reception, accounting for both of the Bears touchdowns. Forte piled up 109-yards of total offense. However, Chicago was limited to 224 total yards in the game.
Detroit Lions 24 vs. New Orleans Saints 23
- Drew Brees staked the Saints to a 23-10 lead in the fourth quarter. Brees completed 28 of 45 passes for 342-yards and two touchdowns. Marques Colston caught six passes for 111-yards while Kenny Stills made five catches for 103-yards, including a 46-yard touchdown reception. Matthew Stafford overcame two interceptions by throwing for 299-yards and a pair of fourth quarter touchdowns. Both touchdown passes came within a two minute span. The first scoring strike went to Golden Tate, who caught ten passes for 145-yards. The second went to Corey Fuller with 1:48 remaining and that touchdown proved to be the game winner.
Green Bay Packers 38 vs. Carolina Panthers 17
- Aaron Rodgers completed 19 of 22 passes for 255-yards and three touchdowns. Randall Cobb led the Packers in receiving, tallying six receptions for 121-yards and a score. Green Bay scored four unanswered touchdowns in the first half, creating odds that the Panthers could not overcome. Carolina responded with two late touchdowns when the game was already decided.
Kansas City Chiefs 23 @ San Diego Chargers 20
- Philip Rivers completed 17 of 31 passes for 205-yards and two touchdowns. Alex Smith completed 19 of 28 passes for 221-yards and a touchdown. Running back Jamaal Charles scored on a 16-yard scoring run and gained 95-yards on 22 carries. Kansas City totaled 154-yards on the ground. With 1:57 remaining, Smith led the Chiefs on a 62-yard drive in nine plays. With 21 seconds left, kicker Cairo Santos made the game winning 48-yard field goal.
Arizona Cardinals 24 @ Oakland Raiders 13
- Facing his former team out in Oakland, Carson Palmer completed 22 of 31 passes for 253-yards and two touchdowns. Running back Andre Ellington accounted for 160-yards of total offense. Stepfan Taylor scored his first NFL rushing touchdown. Arizona’s defense held the Raiders to 13 first downs, 220-yards of total offense, and one touchdown. With a 5-1 record and Seattle’s loss to the Rams, the Cardinals took over the number one spot in the NFC West.
Dallas Cowboys 31 vs. New York Giants 21
- Tony Romo completed 17 of 23 passes for 279-yards and had three touchdowns. Dez Bryant made nine catches for 151-yards and tight end Gavin Escobar caught two touchdown passes. De’Marco Murray gained 128-yards on 28 carries and scored once. Murray became the first player in NFL history to start a season with seven straight 100-yard games. Eli Manning completed 21 of 33 passes for 248-yards and three touchdowns, including two scoring strikes to Odell Beckham, Jr. Leading 28-21, Dan Bailey made the 49-yard field goal which sealed the Giants fate with 59 seconds remaining.
Denver Broncos 42 vs. San Francisco 49ers 17 (SNF on NBC)
- Three touchdowns away from breaking the all-time record, Peyton Manning easily passed Brett Favre. He threw his first two touchdown passes in the first quarter. With 3:09 remaining in the half, Manning made history. His eight-yard strike to Demaryius Thomas in the top right corner of the end zone made number 509 official. Thomas also caught Manning’s 510th touchdown pass early in the fourth quarter, adding to an eight catch, 171-yard night. Peyton Manning completed 22 of 26 passes for 318-yards and four touchdowns. Denver’s defense stifled the 49ers by recording six sacks, including three by DeMarcus Ware and two by Von Miller.
Pittsburgh Steelers 30 vs. Houston Texans 23 (MNF on ESPN)
- The Steelers overcame a 13-point deficit to score 24 unanswered points of their own in the second quarter. Ben Roethlisberger completed 23 of 33 passes for 265-yards and a pair of touchdowns. Wide receiver Antonio Brown led Pittsburgh in receiving, hauling in nine receptions for 90-yards. Brown also threw a three-yard touchdown pass to Lance Moore. Ryan Fitzpatrick completed 21 of 32 passes for 262-yards and two touchdowns, including one to Arian Foster. Foster rushed for 102-yards on 20 carries during the game.
Byes: Philadelphia and Tampa Bay
