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NFL Round-Up: Chiefs Win, Chiefs Win

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KANSAS CITY – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Chiefs FG place-kicker Harrison Butker kicked three field goals, including a go-ahead 20-yarder with 5:57 left, and Leo Chenal blocked a 35-yard field goal as time expired to help the host KC Chiefs rally to defeat the Denver Broncos 16-14 on Sunday. Kansas City remained unbeaten.

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KC QB Patrick Mahomes threw for 266 yards and a touchdown for the Chiefs (9-0), who exhaled after a late blunder put them in a precarious position. Butker, who also connected on field goals of 36 and 28 yards, sent the kickoff after his final make of the afternoon out of bounds, giving the Broncos the ball at their own 40-yard line.

Denver (5-5) capitalized on the favorable field position and was set up for a chip shot to win the game, but Chenal and the special teams preserved the victory by blocking Wil Lutz’s field-goal attempt.

49ers 23, Buccaneers 20
Jake Moody hit a 44-yard field goal as time expired to help visiting San Francisco edge Tampa Bay in the return of Christian McCaffrey.

McCaffrey, who missed the first eight games of the season with bilateral Achilles tendinitis, finished with 39 yards rushing on 13 carries and 68 receiving yards on six catches for the 49ers (5-4). Ricky Pearsall’s 46-yard TD reception in the first quarter, which gave the 49ers a 7-0 lead, was the first score of the rookie’s career and came after he was shot in the chest in a robbery attempt in August. He finished with four receptions for 73 yards.

Baker Mayfield completed 18 of 29 passes for 116 yards and one touchdown pass for the Bucs (4-6). Tampa Bay lost All-Pro left tackle Tristan Wirfs to a knee injury in the first half.

Lions 26, Texans 23
Jake Bates kicked a 52-yard field goal just inside the left upright as time expired and Detroit overcame a 16-point halftime deficit to record a victory over host Houston. Bates also drilled a game-tying 58-yard field goal that slipped just inside the right upright with 5:01 left in the game. His heroics helped the Lions (8-1) stretch their winning streak to seven games

Jared Goff threw a career-worst five interceptions while completing 15 of 30 passes for 240 yards and two touchdowns for Detroit. C.J. Stroud completed 19 of 33 passes for 232 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions for the Texans (6-4), who lost for the third time in their past four games.

Panthers 20, Giants 17 (OT)
Eddy Pineiro kicked a 36-yard field goal 2:07 into overtime as Carolina converted off a New York turnover for a victory in the final game of the NFL’s International Series at Munich, Germany.

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The Panthers (3-7) got the ball at the New York 23 for their only possession of overtime. Bryce Young completed 15 of 25 passes for 126 yards with a touchdown, and Chuba Hubbard churned out a career-high 153 yards on the ground on 28 carries.
Giants quarterback Daniel Jones went 22-for-37 for 190 yards with two interceptions, and he also ran for a touchdown. Running back Tyrone Tracy Jr. gained 103 yards on 18 carries with a touchdown, but his fumble on the first snap of overtime set up Carolina’s winning points. Graham Gano’s 42-yard field goal with five seconds to play forced overtime for the Giants (2-8), who have lost five straight games.
Patriots 19, Bears 3
Deatrich Wise Jr. and Anfernee Jennings each had a pair of sacks as New England buckled down defensively for the victory at Chicago. New England (3-7) had nine sacks in all and held the Bears to 142 yards of total offense. Chicago was forced to punt on eight of its first nine drives of the game, then turned the ball over on downs during its final two possessions. Patriots quarterback Drake Maye completed 15 of 25 passes for 184 yards, one touchdown and one interception, while Rhamondre Stevenson ran for 74 yards on 20 carries.
Bears QB Caleb Williams was under constant duress and finished with 120 yards on 16-of-30 passing. Chicago (4-5) has dropped three straight games.
Bills 30, Colts 20
Josh Allen threw for 280 yards and rushed for a touchdown as visiting Buffalo maintained its big AFC East lead with a win over Indianapolis. Allen completed 22 of 37 passes and threw two interceptions, but Buffalo (8-2) still outgained Indianapolis 415-361. The Bills won their fifth straight game and lead the New York Jets by five games in the division.
Joe Flacco completed 26 of 35 passes for 272 yards with two touchdowns for the Colts but also tossed three interceptions. Indianapolis (4-6) committed four turnovers and also permitted four sacks. Jonathan Taylor rushed 21 times for 114 yards for the Colts.
Saints 20, Falcons 17
Derek Carr passed for 269 yards and two touchdowns and host New Orleans ended a seven-game losing streak with a victory against Atlanta. Carr completed 16 of 25 passes and Marquez Valdes-Scantling caught three passes for 109 yards and two touchdowns as the Saints (3-7) won their first game under interim head coach Darren Rizzi after Dennis Allen was fired Monday.
Kirk Cousins passed for 306 yards and Bijan Robinson rushed for 116 yards and two touchdowns for the Falcons (6-4).
Steelers 28, Commanders 27
Mike Williams caught a 32-yard touchdown pass with 2:22 left in the game and visiting Pittsburgh rallied for a win against Washington in Landover, Md. It was the first catch as a Steeler for Williams, who was acquired Tuesday in a trade with the New York Jets. Russell Wilson was 14-of-28 for 195 yards with three touchdowns and one interception for Pittsburgh (7-2).
Jayden Daniels finished 17 of 34 for 202 yards for Washington (7-3). Terry McLaurin had five catches for 113 yards and Austin Ekeler had two rushing scores.
Vikings 12, Jaguars 7
John Parker Romo made four field goals in his NFL debut, and Minnesota escaped with a win over host Jacksonville. Romo, a 27-year-old rookie who signed with the Vikings this week after rookie kicker Will Reichard went down with an injury, provided all of the scoring for Minnesota (7-2). Sam Darnold completed 24 of 38 passes for 241 yards but threw three interceptions. The Vikings’ defense had three takeaways in the fourth quarter to seal the victory.
Mac Jones scored on a 1-yard run to mark the only scoring for the Jaguars (2-8). Jones completed 14 of 22 passes for 111 yards and two interceptions as a replacement starter for Trevor Lawrence, who missed the game because of a shoulder injury.
Chargers 27, Titans 17
Justin Herbert guided a pair of touchdown drives to open the second half as Los Angeles extended its winning streak to three games with a victory over Tennessee in Inglewood. Herbert completed 14 of 18 passes for 164 yards and a touchdown and added a rushing score. Bud Dupree and Tuli Tuipulotu each had two of the Chargers’ seven sacks as Los Angeles (6-3) held the Titans to 289 total yards.
Tennessee quarterback Will Levis returned from a shoulder injury to go 18-of-23 passing for 175 yards and two touchdowns in his first action since Week 6. Levis also had 41 rushing yards for the Tennessee Titans (2-7), who lost for the fourth time in five games. Calvin Ridley had five catches for 84 yards and two TDs.
Cardinals 31, Jets 6
Kyler Murray passed for 266 yards and set a team record with 17 consecutive completions as Arizona rolled past New York in Glendale, Ariz. Murray finished 22-of-24 with a passing touchdown and two rushing scores for the Cardinals (6-4), who have won four straight games and remain in first place in the NFC West. Arizona, which limited the Jets to 207 total yards, has not allowed a touchdown over its past three home games.
Aaron Rodgers completed 22 of 35 passes for 151 yards without a touchdown or an interception for slumping New York (3-7), which lost for the sixth time in its past seven games.
Eagles 34, Cowboys 6
Jalen Hurts threw two touchdowns and ran for two more as Philadelphia (7-2) routed Dallas in Arlington, Texas, for its fifth straight win and first place in the NFC East. Hurts passed for 202 yards and rushed for 56. Saquon Barkley had 78 yards from scrimmage and collected his first win over the Cowboys after going 0-10 while with the New York Giants. A.J. Brown caught five passes for 109 yards.
Playing without injured quarterback Dak Prescott (hamstring), Dallas (3-6) lost its fourth consecutive game. Cooper Rush struggled in his first start since 2022 with only 45 yards on 13-of-23 passing before being replaced in the fourth quarter by Trey Lance, who completed 4 of 6 throws for 21 yards. Dallas turned it over five times and finished with just 146 yards of offense.
–Field Level Media

NFL on Thursday Night – DET vs HOU

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HOUSTON – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Two teams with expectations beyond regular-season statements square off Sunday night when the Detroit Lions visit the Houston Texans.

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The Lions (7-1) own the best record in the NFC and stand second overall in the NFL behind only the unbeaten Kansas City Chiefs. Houston (6-3) shares the fourth-best mark in the AFC with the Ravens entering Baltimore’s Thursday night matchup with the Cincinnati Bengals.

Detroit has ripped off six straight victories and views the Sunday primetime contest as a significant midseason test in the spotlight.

“This is one we’re looking forward to,” Lions coach Dan Campbell said. “You respect the brand of football they play with. So this will be a good matchup.”

Texans coach DeMeco Ryans used a different message in Houston, telling his charges that one game isn’t more important than any other.

But only the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 2 have figured out how to slay the Lions.

“This game isn’t more important just because of the Lions and what they’ve done,” Ryans said. “They’ve played good football, of course, credit to those guys. They’re playing well, they’re coached well, but that doesn’t change our mindset, how we approach every week.

“It’s still the same every week. Every week — big game. And we’re trying to go out and win this one.”

Houston opened the season with five wins in six games but has slumped by losing two of its past three games.

The last contest was a clunker as the Texans fell 21-13 to the New York Jets on Halloween. Star quarterback C.J. Stroud was sacked a season-high eight times and completed a campaign-worst 36.7 percent of his throws (11 of 30).

Stroud has passed for fewer than 200 yards in three of the past four games after exceeding that mark in each of Houston’s first five contests.

“There are things I can get better at, fundamentally wise, for sure,” Stroud said. “Just getting the ball out of my hand and things like that but ultimately, I believe it is just having fun and being joyful while doing it.”

Lions quarterback Jared Goff is coming off his lowest passing-yardage outputs of the season — 85 against the Tennessee Titans on Oct. 27 and 145 versus the Green Bay Packers last week. Still, he has completed at least 80 percent of his passes in three straight games and four times overall.

Goff feels the Texans will be a challenging foe but he’s not the least bit interested in Detroit being mentioned among the NFL’s top teams.

“Who cares who thinks we’re any good right now in Week (10)? It doesn’t matter,” Goff said. “You’re just trying to find a way to stack Ws. I think you get caught up sometimes, not just the bad stuff, but with the good stuff at times. It can be dangerous.”

The Lions shored up a defensive hole on Tuesday by acquiring three-time Pro Bowl defensive end Za’Darius Smith from the Cleveland Browns. Smith joined Detroit to begin preparations for the Texans.

The Lions lost star pass rusher Aidan Hutchinson to a broken fibula and tibia in his left leg on Oct. 13.

“I thought that was important,” Campbell said of landing Smith. “I mean, he’s been in this league a while and they were actually just going on their bye week when he got the call from us and everything got done, so let him do what he needs to do, refresh, get back here Friday.”

Houston standout defensive end Will Anderson Jr. (ankle) missed practice Wednesday. Joining him on the sidelines were defensive ends Derek Barnett (calf/shoulder) and Dylan Horton (illness), defensive tackle Foley Fatukasi, guard Kenyon Green (shoulder) and running back Dameon Pierce (groin).

Detroit conducted a walkthrough Wednesday and two players missed it due to injuries — linebackers Jalen Reeves-Maybin (neck) and Malcolm Rodriguez (ankle).

–Field Level Media

Nick Folk’s Revenge

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NASHVILLE – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Place kicker Nick Folk converted a 25-yard field goal with 2:32 left in overtime Sunday and the Tennessee Titans snapped a three-game losing streak with a 20-17 win over Folk’s former team, the New England Patriots.

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Folk’s second field goal of the game capped a drive that ate the first 7:28 of overtime. New England’s ensuing possession ended when Amani Hooker intercepted a deep pass over the middle from rookie quarterback Drake Maye with 2:17 remaining.

The Patriots (2-7) forced overtime when Maye threw a 4-yard touchdown pass to Rhamondre Stevenson on the final play of regulation. Maye eluded multiple defenders and flipped the ball to the end zone while being hauled down to the turf by two Titans.

Maye was 29 of 41 for 206 yards with the touchdown and two interceptions, both by Hooker. He also ran for 95 yards on eight carries.

Mason Rudolph completed 20 of 33 passes for 240 yards with two touchdowns and an interception for Tennessee (2-6). Rudolph snapped a 10-10 tie with a 6-yard strike to Nick Westbrook-Ikhine at the 4:27 mark of the fourth quarter.

Tony Pollard rushed for 128 yards on 28 carries for the Titans, bagging 36 yards on seven attempts during their scoring drive in overtime. Tennessee earned a 400-295 advantage in total offense and possessed the ball for nearly 39 minutes.

Tennessee initiated scoring with its first first-drive touchdown since Sept. 22, going 75 yards in eight plays. Rudolph finished it by finding Nick Vannett for a 9-yard strike, the 100th catch of Vannett’s career.

The Titans reached the 3 early in the second quarter but wasted that chance when Rudolph tossed an interception to Jahlani Tavai in the end zone. New England cashed that in with a drive of just 5:32 that Joey Slye capped with a 52-yard field goal at the 7:13 mark.

Tennessee missed on a second chance to add points just before the half when it took holding and delay of game penalties after reaching the Patriots’ 35. It settled for a 7-3 lead at the break.

Stevenson gave New England the lead with a 1-yard touchdown run on the first drive of the second half. Folk’s 21-yard field goal tied the game at 10 before the third-quarter intermission.

–Field Level Media

Maye’s Day in Tennessee

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NASHVILLE – New England Patriots rookie quarterback Drake Maye cleared concussion protocol and is in line to start today’s game against the host Tennessee Titans.

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Maye was a limited participant in practice for the third straight day on Friday. He does not carry an injury designation into the game with the Titans (1-6).

Maye, 22, was placed in the protocol last Sunday after taking a helmet-to-helmet hit in New England’s 25-22 win over the New York Jets. The Patriots (2-6) snapped a six-game losing skid with the victory.

He has completed 63.1 percent of his passes for 564 yards, five touchdowns and two interceptions in four games (three starts) this season. He was selected by New England with the third overall pick of the 2024 NFL Draft out of North Carolina.

–Field Level Media

J-E-T-S Offense Wakes Up

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EAST RUTHERFORD – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Garrett Wilson made two superb touchdown catches and the New York Jets halted a five-game losing streak with a 21-13 victory over the Houston Texans on Thursday night in New Jersey.

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Aaron Rodgers completed 22 of 32 passes for 211 yards and three second-half scoring passes as New York (3-6) won for the first time since beating the New England Patriots on Sept. 19. Jets interim coach Jeff Ulbrich earned his first win since taking over after the club fired Robert Saleh earlier this month.

Wilson caught nine passes for 90 yards, Davante Adams had seven catches for 91 yards and a touchdown and Breece Hall had 74 yards on 15 rushes.

C.J. Stroud was just 11-of-30 passing for 191 yards and was sacked eight times for the Texans (6-3), who lost for the second time in three games. Joe Mixon rushed for 106 yards on 24 carries for his fourth straight 100-yard outing and Tank Dell had six receptions for 126 yards.

Wilson’s second one-handed grab of the night gave the Jets a 14-10 advantage with 13:01 left in the game.

New York was facing third-and-19 from the Texans’ 26-yard line when Rodgers heaved it toward Wilson at the back of the end zone. He jumped and reached to grab the ball with his right hand but it was ruled that he didn’t get both feet down.

The Jets challenged and replays showed Wilson got his left foot down and the call was reserved.

Houston’s Ka’imi Fairbairn kicked a 43-yard field goal with 8:23 left but the Texans accepted a New York penalty. When the drive again stalled, Fairbairn’s 27-yard attempt clanked off the left upright with 6:57 to play.

The Jets responded. Rodgers threw a 37-yard score to Adams to make it 21-10 with 2:56 remaining. Adams briefly left the game late in the third quarter to be evaluated for a concussion before returning during this drive.

Fairbairn kicked a 29-yarder with 39 seconds left and the Jets recovered the ensuing onside kick.

After being shut out in the first half, New York scored with 9:03 left in the third quarter when Wilson made a one-handed grab inside the 15 and turned it into a 21-yard touchdown that tied the score at 7.

Fairbairn kicked a 54-yard field goal nearly five minutes later to give Houston a 10-7 lead.

Mixon scored on a 3-yard run with 3:21 remaining in the first half for the only points before halftime.

New York’s Malachi Corley made a huge gaffe on the opening play of the second quarter.

The Jets were on the Houston 19 when they ran a reverse to Corley and the rookie took it to the right and was headed toward the end zone. But he dropped the ball inside the 1-yard line and it rolled through the back of the end zone for a touchback.

–Field Level Media

Shanahan, Holmgren Ready for Canton

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CANTON – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Super Bowl-winning head coaches Tom Coughlin, Mike Holmgren, Mike Shanahan and George Seifert are among the nine semifinalists from the coach category nominated for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

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Only one from the group can be named a finalist to be considered by the full Hall of Fame Selection Committee for possible election in 2025.

The Coach Blue-Ribbon Committee narrowed a list of 14 candidates to these semifinalists: Bill Arnsparger, Coughlin, Holmgren, Chuck Knox, Dan Reeves, Marty Schottenheimer, George Seifert, Shanahan and Clark Shaughnessy. All but Arnsparger, Knox and Seifert reached the semifinalist stage in 2023.

The same committee is scheduled for a virtual meeting on Nov. 19 to nominate one finalist to be considered for enshrinement.

Earlier this week, the Hall of Fame semifinalists from the contributor category, from which one finalist will be up for consideration with the next Hall of Fame class, were released: K.S. “Bud” Adams, Ralph Hay, Frank “Bucko” Kilroy, Robert Kraft, Art Modell, Art Rooney Jr., Seymour Siwoff of the Elias Sports Bureau, Doug Williams and John Wooten.

A grand total of 20 finalists are presented for debate at the selection committee’s annual meeting in advance of Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans, including 15 modern-era players, three seniors, one coach and one contributor. Between four and eight new members will be selected, according to the Hall of Fame’s selection process bylaws.

–Field Level Media

Patriots Upend J-E-T-S

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FOXBOROUGH – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Rhamondre Stevenson rushed for a go-ahead 1-yard touchdown with 22 seconds remaining to lift the New England Patriots to a 25-22 win over the New York Jets on Sunday afternoon in Massachusetts.

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Stevenson then hauled in a two-point conversion pass from backup quarterback Jacoby Brissett as New England (2-6) ended a six-game skid.

New York (2-6) had gone up 22-17 when Braelon Allen ran for a 2-yard score with 2:57 left. However, the Jets came up empty on a two-point conversion attempt, and it ended up costing them.

Brissett was under center because rookie quarterback Drake Maye, the No. 3 overall pick in this year’s draft, sustained a concussion late in the first quarter. Brissett ended up completing 15 of 24 passes for 132 yards.

Maye was 3-of-6 passing for 23 yards prior to exiting. He also had 46 yards and a TD on three carries.

Stevenson finished with 48 yards and two scores on 20 touches.

Aaron Rodgers had 233 yards and two TDs on 17-of-28 passing for the Jets, who dropped their fifth game in a row. Breece Hall rushed 16 times for 80 yards, and Garrett Wilson hauled in five catches for 113 yards.

After the New England defense forced a three-and-out to begin the second half, Marcus Jones put the Patriots at New York 26 with a 62-yard punt return. Five plays later, Stevenson ran into the end zone from 3 yards out for a 14-13 edge.

Jets kicker Greg Zuerlein booted a 29-yard field goal with 7:54 to go in the third quarter before missing a 44-yarder early in the fourth.

Joey Slye made it 17-16 New England with a 23-yard field goal with 7:34 left in the game.

Maye used his legs to open the scoring, scrambling for a 17-yard touchdown with 5:18 left in the first quarter to put New England up 7-0.

Tyler Conklin was on the receiving end of a 2-yard score just under four minutes later, but Zuerlein pulled the ensuing extra-point attempt wide left to keep New York trailing.

However, it wouldn’t be long until the Jets moved in front, taking a 13-7 lead when Rodgers found Xavier Gipson for a 1-yard touchdown with 9:06 remaining in the first half.

–Field Level Media

NFL Round-Up

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LANDOVER – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – DC QB Jayden Daniels threw a 52-yard Hail Mary pass to Noah Brown on the final play of the game and the Washington Commanders beat the Chicago Bears 18-15 on Sunday.

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Roschon Johnson had scored on the ground from 1 yard out with 25 seconds left in regulation, and the Bears (4-3) made good on the ensuing two-point conversion to take a 15-12 lead after trailing 12-0 earlier in the contest.

That left just enough time for the Commanders (6-2) to return the kickoff to their own 24 and complete two short passes to set up the game-winning heave, which deflected off a crowd of players and went into Brown’s hands in the end zone as time expired.

The game matched rookie quarterbacks Caleb Williams of Chicago, selected first overall out of Southern California in this year’s draft, and Daniels, taken No. 2 out of LSU.

Daniels was 21-of-38 passing for 326 yards and the score. He also ran eight times for 52 yards. Williams completed 10 of 24 passes for 131 yards. D’Andre Swift ran for 129 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries for Chicago.

Lions 52, Titans 14

Kalif Raymond returned a punt 90 yards for a touchdown and added a receiving score as Detroit overwhelmed visiting Tennessee.

David Montgomery ran for a touchdown and threw for another in the first half for the Lions (6-1). Jared Goff tossed three scoring passes and Jahmyr Gibbs had a 70-yard scoring run as Detroit surpassed the 50-point mark for the first time since scoring 55 points in 1997. Gibbs finished with 127 rushing yards.

Tennessee’s Mason Rudolph passed for a touchdown and ran for another but was also intercepted twice. Calvin Ridley caught 10 passes for 143 yards for the Titans (1-6).

49ers 30, Cowboys 24

Brock Purdy passed for 260 yards and one touchdown and also rushed for a score as San Francisco beat Dallas in Santa Clara, Calif.

George Kittle had six receptions for 128 yards and one touchdown as the 49ers (4-4) beat the Cowboys for the fourth consecutive time, with two of those wins coming in the playoffs. Kittle also became the fifth player in 49ers history with 500 or more career receptions.

Dak Prescott completed 25 of 38 passes for 243 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions for the Cowboys (3-4). CeeDee Lamb matched his career high of 13 receptions to go with 146 yards and two scores for Dallas, which lost its second straight game.

Patriots 25, Jets 22

Rhamondre Stevenson rushed for a go-ahead 1-yard touchdown with 22 seconds remaining to lift New England over New York in Foxborough, Mass.

Stevenson then hauled in a two-point conversion pass from backup quarterback Jacoby Brissett as the Patriots (2-6) ended a six-game skid. The Jets (2-6) had gone up 22-17 when Braelon Allen ran for a 2-yard score with 2:57 left.

Brissett was under center because rookie quarterback Drake Maye, the No. 3 overall pick in this year’s draft, sustained a concussion late in the first quarter. Brissett ended up completing 15 of 24 passes for 132 yards. Aaron Rodgers had 233 yards and two TDs on 17-of-28 passing for the Jets.

Browns 29, Ravens 24

Jameis Winston threw a 38-yard touchdown pass to Cedric Tillman with 59 seconds remaining as Cleveland stunned visiting Baltimore.

Winston completed 27 of 41 passes for 334 yards with three touchdowns in his first start since 2022. The 30-year-old stepped in after Deshaun Watson suffered a season-ending Achilles injury last Sunday and backup Dorian Thompson-Robinson injured his finger in relief of Watson.

Tillman had seven catches for 99 yards and two touchdowns for the Browns (2-6). His game-winning score came one play after Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton dropped an interception that could have sealed the win for Baltimore (5-3).

Texans 23, Colts 20

C.J. Stroud threw for 285 yards and a touchdown as Houston took a commanding lead in the AFC South with a win over visiting Indianapolis.

One week after finishing with only 86 passing yards in a loss against the Green Bay Packers, Stroud was back in form, completing 25 of 37 passes and directing five scoring drives. The Texans (6-2) took a two-game lead over the second-place Colts (4-4) in the division and also earned a sweep of the season series.

Meanwhile, Indianapolis quarterback Anthony Richardson struggled from the start. He completed only 2 of 15 passes in the first half and finished 10-of-32 passing for 175 yards with a touchdown and an interception.

Packers 30, Jaguars 27

Brandon McManus booted a game-winning field goal as time expired for the second straight week and Green Bay survived an injury to quarterback Jordan Love during a victory over host Jacksonville.

McManus’ game-winner came from 24 yards out and lifted Green Bay (6-2) to its fourth consecutive victory. Josh Jacobs ran for 127 yards and two touchdowns on 25 carries for the Packers. That performance was crucial after Love was visibly limping throughout the second quarter due to a groin injury.

Trevor Lawrence completed 21 of 32 passes for 308 yards, two touchdowns and one interception for Jacksonville (2-6). He also ran for a touchdown.

Cardinals 28, Dolphins 27

Chad Ryland booted a 34-yard field goal with no time remaining as Arizona clipped Miami in Miami Gardens, Fla.

The game-winning kick was Ryland’s second straight and third of the season. He hit a field goal to beat the San Francisco 49ers on Oct. 6 and made good on another to knock off the Los Angeles Chargers last Monday.

Kyler Murray completed 26 of 36 passes for 307 yards and two touchdowns for the Cardinals (4-4). Miami’s Tua Tagovailoa returned from a concussion and completed 28 of 38 passes for 234 yards and one touchdown as the Dolphins (2-5) achieved a season-high point total.

Falcons 31, Buccaneers 26

Kirk Cousins completed 23 of 29 passes for 276 yards and four touchdowns, leading visiting Atlanta past Tampa Bay.

Darnell Mooney had five catches for 92 yards and a touchdown while Kyle Pitts hauled in four receptions for 91 yards and two scores as the Falcons (5-3) improved to 4-0 against NFC South opponents.

Baker Mayfield completed 37 of 50 passes for 330 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions as Tampa Bay (4-4) lost its fourth game in six tries. Cade Otton led the Buccaneers with nine receptions for 81 yards and two scores.

Eagles 37, Bengals 17

Jalen Hurts ran for three touchdowns and threw for another as visiting Philadelphia blew by Cincinnati.

Hurts finished 16-of-20 passing for 236 yards for Philadelphia (5-2), which won its third straight. Saquon Barkley eclipsed the 100-yard rushing mark for the second straight game and fourth time this season, finishing with 108 yards on 22 carries.

The Bengals (3-5) fell to 0-4 at home this season. Joe Burrow was held to 234 yards on 26-of-37 passing, tossing one touchdown and an interception.

Chargers 26, Saints 8

Justin Herbert threw for 279 yards and two touchdowns as Los Angeles stopped struggling New Orleans in Inglewood, Calif.

Herbert completed 20 of 32 passes, the biggest one a 60-yard scoring strike to rookie receiver Ladd McConkey with 8:48 left in the third quarter. McConkey finished with six catches for 111 yards and two scores, making him the first Charger rookie receiver to get 100 yards and a touchdown in a game since Keenan Allen did so in 2013. J.K. Dobbins added a score for Los Angeles (4-3).

The Saints (2-6) dropped their sixth straight game and again struggled to generate offense with starting quarterback Derek Carr (oblique) sidelined. Rookie Spencer Rattler started and went 12-for-24 passing for 156 yards before being pulled in the third quarter for Jake Haener.

Bills 31, Seahawks 10

James Cook rushed for a season-high 111 yards and two touchdowns as Buffalo defeated host Seattle in a matchup of division leaders.

Josh Allen completed 24 of 34 passes for 283 yards and two scores for the AFC East-leading Bills (6-2), who won their third game in a row. Khalil Shakir grabbed a career-high nine receptions for 107 yards.

The NFC West-leading Seahawks (4-4), who lost for the fourth time in their past five games, managed just 233 yards of total offense without leading receiver DK Metcalf, who suffered a sprained medial collateral ligament last week. Geno Smith completed 21 of 29 passes for 212 yards with an interception.

Broncos 28, Panthers 14

Rookie quarterback Bo Nix threw for three touchdowns and ran for another and Denver kept visiting Carolina’s sluggish offense in check.

Nix completed 28 of 37 throws for 284 yards, with 11 Broncos making at least one reception. Courtland Sutton had eight catches for 100 receiving yards for the Broncos (5-3).

The return of quarterback Bryce Young, the 2023 draft’s first overall pick, to a starting role didn’t provide much of a spark for the Panthers (1-7) even though the team produced the game’s first touchdown.

Chiefs 27, Raiders 20

Patrick Mahomes completed 27 of 38 passes for 262 yards, two touchdowns and one interception and Kansas City held on for a win over host Las Vegas.

Travis Kelce had 10 catches for 90 yards and a touchdown for the Chiefs (7-0), who are the NFL’s last unbeaten team this season. Kareem Hunt added a touchdown on the ground and Xavier Worthy had a TD catch.

Gardner Minshew completed 24 of 30 passes for 209 yards and two touchdowns for the Raiders (2-6). Jakobi Meyers and D.J. Turner had one touchdown catch apiece.

–Field Level Media

Filed Under: NFL

SNF: Big Game for SF v. DAL

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SANTA CLARA – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – The Dallas Cowboys come off their bye week desperately in need of a victory while traveling to face a San Francisco 49ers team dealing with a litany of injuries to their skill position personnel.

One of the NFC’s oldest rivalries closes out Sunday’s action in Week 8 of the NFL’s regular season.

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ODDS AND TRENDS
The 49ers (3-4) are consensus 5.0-point favorites at home. That includes at BetRivers, where the 49ers have drawn 64 percent of the spread-line money, while the Cowboys (3-3) have been backed by 53 percent of the total bets.

Dallas’ +180 moneyline has been popular, attracting 61 percent of the money, although the 49ers have garnered 46 percent of the total bets at -225.

The Over/Under total points line has hovered around 47.5 and 48.0 at most books. At BetRivers, the Under has been backed by big wagers with     82 percent of the total money, although 70 percent of the total bets have supported to Over.

SERIES HISTORY
San Francisco has won the past three meetings, including playoff victories to end Dallas’ 2021 and 2022 seasons. Last season’s meeting was one-sided as the 49ers clobbered the Cowboys 42-10 behind four touchdown passes from Brock Purdy, three to George Kittle.

That beatdown might not have been as bad as the one Dallas (3-3) just experienced — a 47-9 loss to the Detroit Lions before the team’s much-needed bye.

THE NEWS
Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott had a message for his teammates before they all took time off for last week’s bye.

INJURY REPORT
What the Cowboys could really use is seeing star linebacker Micah Parsons (ankle) and cornerback DaRon Bland (foot) on the field. But they’re both out again Sunday night, and Bland’s replacement in the starting lineup in 2024, Caelen Carson, is questionable with a shoulder injury.

Parsons will miss his third straight game. Bland has yet to play this season.

Cowboys starting linebacker Eric Kendricks (shoulder) is also listed as questionable.

The 49ers are battling a slew of injuries and lost star wideout Brandon Aiyuk to a season-ending right knee injury during last Sunday’s 28-18 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.

Wideout Deebo Samuel (pneumonia/wrist) played just a few snaps and was later hospitalized and released on Tuesday. Though he sat out Wednesday’s practice, San Francisco coach Kyle Shanahan said Samuel might play, but he’s listed as questionable, the same designated the 49ers gave Kittle (foot).

Receiver Jauan Jennings (hip/groin) missed the Kansas City game, was unable to practice all week and is out along with kicker Jake Moody (ankle).

Of course, McCaffrey (Achilles) remains on injured reserve and hasn’t played a down this season.

THEY SAID IT
–“I think we’ve gotta go into these games and say, ‘We’ve gotta step on somebody’s neck. It’s just the simple things: being disciplined, can’t kill each other on red-zone trips. Can’t kill each other on third downs.” –Parsons

–“The guys in the building are really talented, so we have to figure that out. It’s on our vets to pull them along, whether they’re ready or not. … (The injuries) impact you to an extent but you have to have the three-foot mindset and just attack what’s in front of you.” –Kittle

PREDICTION
The Cowboys’ three wins have all come on the road, although the first two came against Cleveland and the New York Giants. Dallas did also secure a solid win at Pittsburgh before getting blown out at home by Detroit. The 49ers due enter the game with a concerning amount of injuries to key personnel, but this is an equally critical game for San Francisco and Dallas simply hasn’t played well against quality teams. –49ers 26, Cowboys 23

–Field Level Media

 

NFL Thursday Night Football Preview

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LOS ANGELES – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – The Los Angeles Rams host Minnesota on Thursday night seeking consecutive victories for the first time this season, while the Vikings try to rebound from their first loss of the campaign. Los Angeles (2-4) snapped a two-game losing streak by beating the visiting Las Vegas Raiders 20-15 last weekend. Meanwhile, Minnesota (5-1) dropped a back-and-forth 31-29 affair to division rival Detroit on a field goal with 15 seconds remaining.

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ODDS AND TRENDS
The Vikings are about a field goal favorite on the road by most sportsbooks.

The line is 3.0 points at BetRivers, where the Vikings have been backed by one-sided action with 79 percent of the spread-line money and a lopsided 93 percent on their -150 moneyline.

The public jury is certainly still out on Minnesota. After suffering their first loss of the season in Week 7, the Vikings have received only 4 percent of the total money wagered on the NFC championship at DraftKings, where they’re being offered at +650 to reach the Super Bowl. That’s the same percentage that have backed the Rams as +5000 long shots.

The Over/Under for Thursday night’s game is 48 total points at BetRivers, with the Over backed by 65 percent of the money.

PROP PICKS
–Cooper Kupp Over 6.5 Receptions (-130 at DraftKings): This has been the most popular player prop at DraftKings with Kupp expected to play for the first time since Week 2. Kupp had 14 receptions on 21 targets for 110 yards and a touchdown in the season opener, and had hauled in four catches on six targets before leaving the Week 2 loss to Arizona.

–Justin Jefferson Anytime TD (-143 at BetRivers): Jefferson reaching the end zone on Thursday night has drawn the most total money (1.5 percent) and bets (4.5 percent) of any player prop at the book. He has a touchdown in all but one game thus far, two weeks ago against the Jets in a game where Jefferson was targeted 14 times.

INJURY REPORT
Both teams are hoping to get key playmakers back for this contest.

For the Rams, Kupp is expected to play. Kupp participated in full at practice on Tuesday and Wednesday, while fellow receiver Puka Nacua was limited both days due to a knee injury after having his 21-day practice window opened up. Still, NFL Network reported Thursday the Rams are “optimistic” Nacua is ready to play, which would require a decision to activate Nacua off injured reserve.

Defensive end Braden Fiske (back) was limited Wednesday and linebacker Troy Reeder (hamstring) has been ruled out.

This week could also mark the return of tight end T.J. Hockenson for the Vikings. The veteran has been sidelined since late last season, when he tore the ACL and MCL in his right knee.

Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell said it was “very much a possibility” that Hockenson could return against the Rams, although his workload could be limited. He was limited in practice this week and listed as questionable on Wednesday.

“It’s early,” O’Connell said as the Vikings returned to practice this week. “We’ll make that determination as these next couple of days (go by). As we put together game plans, we want to have a good feel for that.”

Hockenson caught 95 passes for 960 yards and five touchdowns in 15 games (11 starts) for Minnesota last season. His return would give quarterback Sam Darnold another top target in the passing game alongside Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison.

Aaron Jones also said he felt good to play on short rest despite a hip injury that has nagged him for a couple of weeks. Jones racked up 116 total yards (93 rushing, 23 receiving) and a touchdown against Detroit.

“No problems out of it,” Jones said. “I’ll continue to stay on top of it on my end and do everything to check the boxes so I don’t end up back in that situation (with the injury).”

Linebacker Blake Cashman missed the Vikings’ practice this week because of a toe issue and has been declared out against the Rams. Hockenson and Jones were among those limited on Tuesday, although Jones was a full participant on Wednesday.

SCUFFLING RAMS NEED STAR WRs
Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford will look to improve upon his 83.6 passer rating against a physical Vikings defense. Stafford has thrown for 1,392 yards and three touchdowns, with four interceptions this season.

Kyren Williams is the Rams’ biggest threat on offense. He has rushed for 436 yards and eight touchdowns in six games (all starts).

Tutu Atwell leads the team’s receiving unit with 23 catches for 332 yards. Demarcus Robinson, Kupp and Williams each have a receiving touchdown.

THEY SAID IT
“I’m aware of it, but at the end of the day, I mean, I’m going to be where my feet are. That’s all I know. I have a job to do here. And I take a lot of pride in giving everything I can for the guys in this building and being able to step on the field knowing that I prepared the best that I can.” — Kupp on rumors he could be traded ahead of the Nov. 5 deadline.

PREDICTION
This has the feeling of a do-or-die game for the Rams, who could look to trade Kupp and other veterans should they fall further in the NFC West. The Vikings are coming off a loss, but were toe-to-toe with the high-powered Lions. Los Angeles enters with the 26th-ranked defense, which even Kupp’s return can’t mask against a Minnesota offense averaging 333.2 yards per game. — Vikings 27, Rams 23

–Field Level Media