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Houston Texans

Texans Too Much for Chargers

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HOUSTON – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Houston’s QB C.J. Stroud passed for 282 yards and a touchdown, Joe Mixon rushed for 106 yards and a score and Eric Murray returned an interception for a touchdown as the host Texans routed the Los Angeles Chargers 32-12 in an AFC wild-card game on Saturday.

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Houston (11-7) advanced to the divisional round for the second straight season.

After throwing just three interceptions in 504 passing attempts during the regular season, Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert was picked off four times on Saturday. Herbert was 14-for-32 for 242 yards and a touchdown.

The Chargers scored the first six points, on field goals of 35 and 39 yards by Cameron Dicker. His second came after a Texans fumble gave Los Angeles a short field.

Ka’imi Fairbairn connected on field goals of 41, 37 and 30 yards for Houston.

Houston ran just four offensive plays during the first quarter and had two punts bookending a Stroud interception to start the second.

Fortunes changed just before halftime. Houston drove 99 yards in 13 plays, punctuating the possession with a 13-yard scoring pass from Stroud to Nico Collins with 58 seconds left in the second quarter.

Stroud extended the drive with a highlight-reel play entering the two-minute warning. He scooped up a fumbled snap, then scrambled to connect with Xavier Hutchinson for a 34-yard gain to the Los Angeles 49-yard line on third-and-16.

Herbert threw three straight incompletions on the ensuing Chargers possession, and Houston responded with Fairbairn’s 41-yard field goal to take a 10-6 halftime lead.

The Texans scored the first 13 points after intermission. Murray delivered the lone touchdown over that span with a 38-yard pick six with 13 seconds left in the third quarter.

Derek Stingley Jr. snagged two interceptions for Houston and Kamari Lassiter had another.

Herbert recovered from his third pick with an 86-yard pass-and run touchdown to Ladd McConkey. The burst followed two straight Texans sacks. Houston blocked the extra-point attempt, and D’Angelo Ross returned it to the end zone for two points.

Mixon, who had 25 carries, capped the scoring with a 17-yard run with 3:42 left.

McConkey caught nine passes for 197 yards and a touchdown.

Collins had seven receptions for 122 yards and a score.

Houston outgained Los Angeles 429-261.

–Field Level Media

Ravens Look Sharp with Jackson

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HOUSTON – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Baltimore QB Lamar Jackson set an NFL record, RB Derrick Henry achieved a single-season franchise mark and the visiting Ravens moved into first place in the AFC North with a 31-2 rout of the Houston Texans on Wednesday.

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Jackson rushed for 87 yards, including a 48-yard touchdown run in the third quarter, to give him 6,110 rushing yards for his career. That’s one more than Michael Vick, making Jackson the all-time leader in career rushing yards by a quarterback. Henry rushed for 147 yards and a score on 27 carries, giving him 16 touchdowns for the year, the most for a single season in team history.

His performance helped Baltimore (11-5) take a one-game lead on Pittsburgh with one week left in the season. The Ravens can clinch the AFC North title next week with a home win over Cleveland.

Jackson completed 10 of 15 passes for 168 yards with two touchdowns and another 87 yards on the ground with the score as Baltimore earned a 432-211 advantage in total yardage. The Ravens collected five sacks and came up with a goal-line stand in the second quarter with the game still up for grabs.

C.J. Stroud hit 17 of 31 attempts for 185 yards with an interception for Houston (9-7), which lost its second straight game and is now locked into the No. 4 spot for the AFC playoffs.

Henry initiated the scoring at the 10:08 mark of the first quarter on a 2-yard touchdown run, capping a 75-yard drive. Baltimore made it 10-0 the next time it touched the ball as Justin Tucker drilled a 52-yard field goal with 2:47 to go in the first.

The Texans got their only points with 10:09 left in the first half when Kamari Lassiter tackled Henry in the end zone for a 4-yard loss and a safety. Houston had a chance to score a touchdown on the ensuing possession but Joe Mixon was stopped at the 1 on a fourth-and-goal pass.

Baltimore sailed 99 yards down the field on its next possession, with Jackson throwing a 9-yard strike to Isaiah Likely with 1:51 remaining for a 17-2 halftime lead.

The Ravens made it a rout in the third quarter on Jackson’s long scoring run and his 1-yard touchdown pass to Mark Andrews at the 5:50 mark.

–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

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

Texans Pummel Patriots, 41-21

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FOXBOROUGH – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Houston’s QB C.J. Stroud threw for three touchdowns to lift the Texans to a 41-21 win over the New England Patriots on Sunday afternoon in Massachusetts.

Stroud completed 20 of 31 passes for 192 yards and was picked off once as Houston (5-1) spoiled Drake Maye’s first career start. Maye, selected third overall by New England in this year’s draft, finished with 243 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions on 20-of-33 passing.

Joe Mixon returned from a three-game absence to rack up 132 yards from scrimmage (102 rushing, 30 receiving) for the Texans. He rushed for a touchdown and caught another. Stefon Diggs was one of Stroud’s favorite targets, hauling in six catches for 77 yards and a score.

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After seeing its first five drives end in four punts and a pick, New England (1-5) came to life just before the break, pulling within 14-7 on Maye’s 40-yard scoring strike to Kayshon Boutte with 11 seconds left in the first half. It was Maye’s first career passing TD.

Momentum wasn’t on the Patriots’ side for long, though, as Maye fumbled on the first drive of the second half to set up Houston at the New England 10. Two plays later, Diggs hauled in a 10-yard touchdown to put the Texans up 21-7.

A 39-yard field goal from Ka’imi Fairbairn extended the visitors’ advantage to 24-7 with 6:56 to go in the third quarter. Fairbairn drilled a 46-yarder just more than 1 1/2 minutes later.

Maye trimmed the Patriots’ deficit to 27-14 with one minute left in the third when he connected with Hunter Henry for a 6-yard TD.

Mixon (20 yards) and Dameon Pierce (54) sandwiched Maye’s 35-yard touchdown pass to DeMario Douglas with fourth-quarter scoring runs to forge the 41-21 final.

Douglas had six receptions for 92 yards and the TD.

Houston cut through the Patriots’ defense with ease on the game’s opening drive, an 11-play, 65-yard march that ended with Stroud’s 2-yard touchdown pass to Tank Dell.

Stroud made it 14-0 when he found Mixon for a 10-yard score with 3:13 left in the first quarter.

–Field Level Media

NFL: Stroud, Texans Face Vikings

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MINNEAPOLIS – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud is willing to improvise whenever necessary.

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“(I like) to stay in the pocket and deliver throws – that’s what I want to do,” Stroud said. “But at the same time, I feel like I am elite at scrambling and I can do it. I’ve put it on film. … I just try to make a play and have fun out there.”

Stroud and his teammates on Houston (2-0) might have to improvise part of their game plan when they visit the Minnesota Vikings (2-0) on Sunday afternoon in Minneapolis.

The Texans could be without several injured players, including star running back Joe Mixon (ankle), star wide receiver Nico Collins (hip/foot), running back Dameon Pierce (hamstring) and center Juice Scruggs (groin), who were among those who did not practice on Wednesday. Backup tight end Brevin Jordan (knee) was placed on injured reserve on Wednesday.

Minnesota also is monitoring injuries to key contributors including star wideout Justin Jefferson, who left last week’s game against the San Francisco 49ers because of a quadriceps injury and was limited on Wednesday. Starting running back Aaron Jones (hip) was also limited, while No. 2 receiver Jordan Addison is dealing with an ankle injury that forced him to miss the 49ers game and didn’t practice.

Starting outside linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel (foot) was limited and his backup, Dallas Turner (knee), didn’t practice. Starting linebacker Ivan Pace Jr. (quad) and starting center Garrett Bradbury (knee) were limited.

Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell said Jefferson took part in a walk-through to begin the week of practice and that he participated in limited drills.

“Hoping to get him a little bit more work throughout the week as we progress forward,” O’Connell said. “I know Justin is very much looking forward to getting an opportunity to play. So if we can avoid any setbacks or things like that throughout the week, you know, we’re hoping to have him. But a long way to go until Sunday.”

Meanwhile, O’Connell said Addison “is still in that day-to-day world where we just have to see how he responds. … Hopefully it progresses throughout the week.”

The Vikings will face a tough test against Houston, which is coming off back-to-back wins over the Indianapolis Colts and Chicago Bears to start the season. The Texans have limited opponents to 20 points a game in 2024.

One reason for the Texans’ success on defense has been the addition of pass rusher Danielle Hunter, who signed with Houston after spending the first eight seasons of his career with the Vikings. Hunter has 1 1/2 sacks in his first two games with the Texans.

Houston coach DeMeco Ryans said Hunter would be extra motivated to go up against the Vikings in his old stadium this weekend.

“Everybody is hyped up to play against their old team,” Ryans said. “I speak from experience. (It happened) when I was with the Eagles and we came into Houston. It doesn’t change.”

Texans running back Cam Akers also will go up against one of his former teams, although he was with the Vikings for far shorter time than Hunter. Akers could step into a more prominent role this weekend if Mixon is ruled out with an ankle injury.

“I’m ready,” Akers said. “You don’t have to get ready when you stay ready. I’ve been preparing for this moment, and I’m ready for it. I’m ready to take advantage.”

As for the Vikings, quarterback Sam Darnold will try to maintain his impressive start to the season in his first year with the club. Darnold has posted a 111.7 passer rating while throwing for 476 yards, four touchdowns and two interceptions.

Stroud also has lifted his team to a perfect start through two weeks. He has a 104.7 passer rating to go along with 494 passing yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions.

The Vikings are 5-0 all-time against the Texans. This is their first meeting since 2020.

–Field Level Media

Jackson, Ravens Crush Texans

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BALTIMORE – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Ravens QB Lamar Jackson threw for two touchdowns and ran for two more on Saturday as top-seeded Baltimore pulled away from the visiting Houston Texans in the second half for a 34-10 victory in an AFC divisional playoff game.

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The Ravens will host either the Bills or Chiefs in the AFC Championship Game. Buffalo and Kansas City are set to play today in the other AFC semifinal.

Baltimore broke the game open with 24 unanswered points in the second half, finding the end zone on each of its first three possessions following the break.

Jackson snapped a 10-10 tie with a 15-yard scoring run less than three minutes into the third quarter, capping a 55-yard drive. He made it 24-10 on the second play of the fourth quarter, rolling right and flipping a 15-yard touchdown pass to Isaiah Likely to finish a 93-yard drive that lasted 7:03.

Jackson sealed the victory with 6:20 left in the game, running 8 yards for a TD to complete a march that ate up 7:10. He completed 16 of 22 passes for 152 yards while gaining 100 yards on 11 carries for the game.

Rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud struggled with the Baltimore defense. He hit on 19 of 33 passes for 175 yards and failed to get the Houston offense into the end zone for the second time in as many meetings with the Ravens. Yet the Texans, who routed the Cleveland Browns in the wild-card round, nearly led at halftime.

Houston answered Jackson’s 3-yard touchdown pass to Nelson Agholor with 9:14 left in the second quarter with some special-teams magic. Steven Sims grabbed a line-drive punt at his 33, burst up the middle, broke a weak tackle attempt and sprinted 67 yards for a game-tying touchdown at the 4:17 mark of the second.

The Texans threatened to take the lead late in the quarter, but Ka’imi Fairbairn, who connected on a 50-yard field goal with 28 seconds left in the first quarter, pushed a 47-yard attempt wide right with 32 seconds remaining.

Justin Tucker opened the scoring for Baltimore with a 53-yard field goal at the 8:36 mark of the first quarter. He also closed the scoring with a 43-yarder.

–Field Level Media

NFL Round-Up: Stroud Leads Texans

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HOUSTON – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Houston QB C.J. Stroud threw for a rookie-record 470 yards and five touchdowns, capping the game with a 15-yard TD pass to Tank Dell with six seconds left to give the Texans a wild 39-37 win over the visiting Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday.

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Stroud led a 75-yard drive in 40 seconds after Baker Mayfield put Tampa Bay ahead with a 14-yard touchdown pass to Cade Otton, the duo’s second scoring hookup of the day. Stroud found Dell for a 26-yard completion to set up their go-ahead scoring connection.

Stroud completed 30 of 42 passes, connecting with Noah Brown six times for 153 yards, including a 75-yard touchdown. Dalton Schultz added 10 catches for 130 yards and a touchdown and Dell finished with six grabs for 114 yards, along with two scores.

The Texans (4-4) grabbed a 33-30 edge when backup running back Dare Ogunbowale kicked a tiebreaking 29-yard field goal with 8:45 remaining. Ogunbowale replaced Ka’imi Fairbairn, who was ruled out at halftime after suffering a quad injury.

Mayfield connected on 21 of 30 passes for 265 yards for the Buccaneers (3-5), who lost their fourth straight game.

Bengals 24, Bills 18

Joe Burrow completed 31 of 44 passes for 348 yards and two touchdowns to lead host Cincinnati to a victory over Buffalo.

Buffalo (5-4) threatened to rally when Josh Allen found Stefon Diggs for a 17-yard touchdown and ensuing two-point conversion with 3:32 left in the game to cut the Bills’ deficit to six. But the Bengals (5-3) got the ball back and forced the Bills to use their third and final timeout, and Joe Mixon rushed for a first down with 1:53 remaining to seal the victory. Mixon finished with 14 carries for 37 yards and a score, while Tee Higgins was Burrow’s favorite target through the air, hauling in eight catches for 110 yards.

Allen completed 26 of 38 passes for 258 yards with the TD and an interception for Buffalo, which lost for the second time in three games. Diggs had six receptions for 86 yards, while Dalton Kincaid totaled 81 yards on 10 catches.

Vikings 31, Falcons 28

Joshua Dobbs fired a go-ahead, 6-yard touchdown pass to Brandon Powell with 20 seconds remaining, and Minnesota beat host Atlanta.

Dobbs’ last-minute heroics capped a sterling performance in which he came off the bench only five days after Minnesota (5-4) acquired him from the Arizona Cardinals. He replaced rookie starter Jaren Hall — who sustained a concussion on a scramble in the first half — and went on to pass for 158 yards and two touchdowns while rushing for 66 yards and a score.

Taylor Heinicke completed 21 of 38 passes for 268 yards, one touchdown and one interception for Atlanta (4-5). He heaved a late Hail Mary pass attempt, but it fell incomplete as time expired.

Eagles 28, Cowboys 23

Jalen Hurts passed for two touchdowns and rushed for one more, and Philadelphia escaped with a win over visiting Dallas.

A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith had one touchdown reception apiece for Philadelphia (8-1). Kenneth Gainwell had a rushing touchdown along with Hurts, who threw for 207 yards on 17-for-23 passing.

Dak Prescott completed 29 of 44 passes for 374 yards and three touchdowns for Dallas (5-3). In the closing seconds, he completed his final pass — a 23-yarder to CeeDee Lamb — but a swarm of Eagles defenders hit Lamb at the Philadelphia 4-yard line as time expired and forced a fumble that the Eagles recovered.

Chiefs 21, Dolphins 14

Patrick Mahomes threw for 185 yards and two touchdowns as Kansas City held off Miami in the first NFL game played in Frankfurt, Germany.

Bryan Cook’s fumble return for a touchdown just before halftime proved to be the game-winning score for the Chiefs (7-2), who earned what might prove to be a crucial win for playoff-seeding tiebreakers with the Dolphins (6-3).

For Miami, Tua Tagovailoa went 21-of-34 passing for 193 yards and a touchdown. Raheem Mostert took 12 carries for 85 yards and a touchdown, and Tyreek Hill caught eight passes for 62 yards in his first game against his former team.

Ravens 37, Seahawks 3

Rookie Keaton Mitchell, who hadn’t had an NFL carry before Sunday, rushed for a game-high 138 yards and a touchdown as Baltimore trounced visiting Seattle.

Gus Edwards rushed for 52 yards and two scores, Odell Beckham Jr. celebrated his 31st birthday with a TD reception and Justin Tucker added three field goals for the Ravens (7-2), who sit atop the AFC North.

Baltimore’s defense limited the Seahawks (5-3) to 151 yards of total offense and six first downs. Seattle’s Geno Smith was 13-of-28 passing for 157 yards. Rookie Jaxon Smith-Njigba made six catches for 63 yards.

Browns 27, Cardinals 0

Cleveland ran roughshod over rookie quarterback Clayton Tune and blanked visiting Arizona.

The shutout was the first for the Browns (5-3) in a span of 251 games, dating back to an 8-0 win over the Buffalo Bills on Dec. 16, 2007.

The Browns spoiled the NFL debut of Tune, who was replacing Joshua Dobbs after Arizona (1-8) traded him earlier in the week. Tune completed 11 of 20 passes for 58 yards, threw two interceptions and lost a fumble on one of Cleveland’s seven sacks. Tune’s passer rating was 20.8.

Packers 20, Rams 3

Jordan Love completed 20 of 26 passes for 228 yards and a touchdown to help Green Bay snap a four-game losing streak with a victory against visiting Los Angeles.

Aaron Jones rushed for 73 yards on 20 carries and scored a touchdown for the Packers (3-5), who held the Rams to 187 total yards and shut them out in the second half.

Quarterback Brett Rypien made his fourth career NFL start and first for the Rams (3-6) in place of Matthew Stafford, who sat out with a right thumb injury. Rypien completed 13 of 28 passes for 130 yards and an interception.

Commanders 20, Patriots 17

Sam Howell threw for 325 yards as Washington scored the game’s final 10 points to beat New England in Foxborough, Mass.

Howell completed 29 of 45 passes with a touchdown and an interception for Washington (4-5), which won for just the second time in its past seven games. The Commanders fell behind 17-10 with 10:14 remaining in the third quarter when Chad Ryland made good on a 43-yard field goal for New England (2-7).

But Washington answered with a seven-play, 75-yard drive that ended with Howell’s 33-yard scoring strike to Jahan Dotson, and Joey Slye later provided what ended up being a game-winning field goal — from 30 yards out — with 1:49 left in the third.

Saints 24, Bears 17

Paulson Adebo had two interceptions and a fumble recovery as host New Orleans forced five turnovers to defeat Chicago.

Adebo’s takeaways led to 10 points for the Saints (5-4), who did not commit a turnover. That enabled them to hold off the Bears (2-7) as New Orleans’ Derek Carr passed for 211 yards and two touchdowns.

Rookie Tyson Bagent, making his third consecutive start in place of an injured Justin Fields, passed for 220 yards and two touchdowns, but he threw three interceptions and lost a fumble.

Colts 27, Panthers 13

Kenny Moore II returned two interceptions for touchdowns as Indianapolis beat Carolina in Charlotte, N.C.

Moore’s TDs went for 49 and 66 yards — one in each half for the Colts (4-5). According to Pro Football Reference, Moore is the ninth player since 2000 with two interception returns for touchdowns in the same game.

Bryce Young’s three interceptions were costly for Carolina (1-7). He also was sacked four times, negating a 24-of-39 effort for 173 yards and a touchdown.

Raiders 30, Giants 6

Josh Jacobs rushed for 98 yards and two touchdowns on 26 carries and Las Vegas was impressive in its first game under interim coach Antonio Pierce, routing visiting New York.

The Raiders fired Josh McDaniels on Tuesday after a string of woeful offensive performances, and Las Vegas (4-5) had set a season high for points scored before the first half ended. The Raiders’ previous high for a game was 21.

New York’s Daniel Jones injured his right knee on consecutive plays and departed after the first play of the second quarter with 25 yards on 4-of-9 passing. Jones missed the previous three games with a neck injury for the Giants (2-7), and ESPN reported later Sunday that New York fears he now has a torn ACL.

–Field Level Media