Bears 30, Patriots 24
Thursday night matchup of two winning teams looked to be a good one, and it didn’t disappoint. The Bears got off to an early start, taking advantage of some Patriot mistakes as they converted a failed fourth down conversion by the Pats to a FG. Williams and the Bears then made it 10-0 when he hit Burden for a big 58-yard pass, and Swift took it in a few plays later for the score. The Pats were close, and maybe going in to take the lead, but the Bears intercepted Maye in the endzone, killing that drive which kept the score at 13-7 Bears. After the pick Williams put a nice drive together which ended with a Burden catch for a TD to make the lead 20-7 just before the half. The Pats only had a few ticks on the clock. Startin the drive, Maye hit Brown for a nice gain, and then a short screen pass to Stevenson on the last play of the half turned into a 50-yard score. Not sure what the Bears defense was doing on that one. The teams each scored TDs in the second half, and the Pats had a shot to take the lead after Bears kicker Santos doinked one off the upright and left them with a short field. The Bears defense held with a big sack, and that was about as close as the Pats would get. Santos redeemed himself with a late FG to seal the victory. Pretty entertaining gams as both QBs had over 300 yards, and the Bears Burden had a huge night – 130 yards plus a TD.
Steelers 16, Saints 10
Another early morning game for us as the NFL had their first game in the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, just outside Paris. Not a huge offensive performance by either team. They traded FGs early, and then the Steelers capped a 92-yard drive with a short pass to Washington. Saints had a pretty slow start, but Shough was able to put a nice drive together towards the end of the half and on 4th and one – hit Vele for the TD. There was just enough time left on the clock and Rogers put the Steelers close enough for a Boswell 48-yard FG to go into the half up 13-10. Pretty slow second half as the only score was another Steeler FG. The Saints definitely had their chances, though. Shough had them in scoring hink position in the third quarter, but Steelers picked him off to kill that drive. Steelers owned the ground and clock as Saints couldn’t run the ball at all on the Steelers at all. Meanwhile, the Steelers’ Warren went over a 100 yards, and even Rodgers had a big scramble to keep a drive alive.
Buccaneers 43, Panthers 13
I guess all the Bucs needed was Baker back. I sure didn’t see this one coming. Think the Panthers might have been smelling their own fumes a bit, maybe looking ahead to their Thursday game coming up. At any rate – they got their butts handed to them. Total team win for the Bucs. Especially as their defense got turnovers, scored and dominated the Panthers O-line. The Bucs got off to a 17-0 lead pretty early by taking advantage of Panther mistakes. Baker put together a nice drive that finished with an Irving TD. Then they scored a FG after a muffed punt, and the Bucs D strip-sack fumble was returned for a TD. Even when the Panthers scored, it finished badly. A 50-yard pass to Waller ended with a TD, but the PAT was blocked an returned for 2-pts for the Bucs. Pretty sure that’s the first one for this season. The Bucs kept rolling in the 2nd half and picked Young off a couple of times, and this one was out of hand pretty quickly. Great win for the Bucs that gave them a little hope for the season after a bad start to the season.
Dolphins 28, Jets 25
We still have a shot at an NFL team going 0-16. C’mon Chargers.. The Jets were actually looking like they might be a half-way decent team through the first few weeks, and then they reminded us they are still the Jets. Props to the ‘Fins on their first W of the season. For whatever reason, the Jets D had some issues with the ‘Fins Sunday. They gave up 3 TDs in the first half, as the ‘Fins scored TDs on 3 of their 4 first half possessions. Geno did connect with Taylor earlier, but the ‘Fins had a 21-7 lead at the half. Early in the second half the Jets had a pretty good drive going, but Geno was sacked. The FG try after wasn’t good as the 40-yarder hit the upright. The Jets were able to get close on other drives, but couldn’t get the TDs they needed. Two other drives in the red zone including having the ball at the one-yard line ended in FGs. Jets were able to get close as that second FG got them within 4 points, but ‘Fins QB Willis hit Douglas who broke a tackle for a 63-yard TD which put them up for good. Jets scored a late TD, but ran out of time and possessions. Nice win for the ‘Fins for their first of the season.
Browns 27, Titans 24
The Browns are not getting many style points, but somehow they keep winning. This one did not look good for them. The Titans got off to a two TD lead with some nice runs by Pollard. He had 60 yards on 5 carries and a TD on their first drive and then after a Watson int – the Titans also converted that to a TD. The Browns put together a nice drive for a TD as Judkins scored on a short run, and then the Titans turned the over the ball on downs. Despite having first and goal, they failed to convert on fourth down, and the score was still 14-7. Both teams had multiple turnovers in this game. Both QBs had interceptions, and both teams had fumbles too. The Browns were able to go up 24-17 as Watson rushed for a 9-yard TD. The Titans were able to put a nice drive together, and tied things up when Pollard scored his 3rd TD of the day with a short run. There was just enough time left on the clock for the Browns as Watson hit Fannin for a nice 36-yard completion that put them in range for Szmyt to win the game with a 32-yard FG for the win. Browns kept the pace for the top of the AFC North with the Steelers.
Giants 27, Texans 21
The Texans were favored by double digits as JJ McCarthy made his first start for the Giants. Sometimes even Vegas is very wrong. JJ played pretty well, throwing for over 250 yards – most of those in the first half. He didn’t throw any TDs, but there were no interceptions either. The game was tied at the half as Stroud hit Harrison for his first TD as a Texan, and they converted the 2-pt conversion to tie things up at 14. Tank Dell also had a catch in this game after being out all of last year after that bad knee injury. The Giants stopped throwing the ball in the second half and relied on their running game. Skattebo scored on a 16-yard run to go up by seven. After minimal (maybe not any) carries last week, he had a great day with that TD and a total of 124 rushing yards. The Texans were able to answer with a drive of their own to force OT. Stroud had a rough afternoon as the Giants D roughed him up pretty good – but he was able to complete a short pass to Hutchinson to tie things up. This game really shouldn’t have made it to OT, but Giants kicker Zvada missed FGs at the end of both 1st and 2nd quarters. In OT, the Texans got the ball first but went three and out. The Giants got a big 42-yard run from Scattebo which put them close to FG range. The Giants didn’t want Zvada to try again at that distance, so they gave the ball to Singletary who popped one for 30 yards and the winning TD. Nice performance for the Giants. The Texans continue to be head-scratchers as that D was stellar last year, but unable to stop the run on Sunday. Giants ran all over them in the second half.
Falcons 29, 49ers 20
Well – didn’t think the Niners would go the entire season undefeated. Just didn’t think it’d be the Falcons to ruin their streak. Niners brought this one on themselves though as Purdy threw two picks, and they lost a couple fumbles in this game too. Niners got off to a 14-9 start with rushing TDs by McCaffrey and Black – but CMC went out with an injury. The Niners led at the half 14-12, as the Falcons kicked a couple FGs to go with a short Penix to Muse pass for a TD (PAT after no good). In the second half, Penix connected with Pitts to go up 19-14. CMC was able to come back into the game, but Purdy was picked off again. The Falcons were helped by a PI on the drive that ended with another Penix TD pass – this one to London. Niners were able to score another TD, but Purdy’s second interception put this game out of reach. Tough way to lose their first game, but great job by the Falcons and Penix who had a good day with a little over 200 yards and those 3 TDs.
Vikings 16, Colts 10
The Vikes don’t get much for style points, but they will remain the last team with a spotless record. That D got after it again, holding Colts QB Jones to just over 100 yards passing, no TDs and one interception. Taylor was about the only thing that kinda worked for the Colts – he did have 95 yards and a TD. That TD came on a short field after the Colts forced the ball over on downs when the Vikes tried to convert on a short fourth down. The Vikings D gave up a Colt drive for a FG and the game was 10-6 at half. That was all the Viking D would give up for the rest of the afternoon, though. Murray was able to take advantage of a missed Colt FG with a TD pass to Hockenson to go up 13-10. The Vikes added a FG in the fourth quarter. The Colts did have another chance, but a Jones interception killed that drive, and the Vikings are still undefeated.
Bengals 35, Ravens 13
Hard to believe - but this one was a 13-0 lead for the Ravens at that half. No Jackson, no problem in the first 30 minutes. Huntley was having a pretty good game as he completed a bunch of passes to Flowers including a 48-yard TD pass, and a couple drives that stalled, but ended with FGs. The Ravens D forced 3 punts, and the Bengals weren’t able to get much at all going. Then halftime happened. Burrow came out dealing in the second half, and they quickly scored 2 TDs to take the lead. The Ravens did answer with a good drive, but on 4th and 2 – were stopped by an incomplete pass. That’s as close as they would get after that, as the Bengals then just ran up the score. Burrow would finish the day with just shy of 300 yards and 4 TDs. Big win for the Bengals.
Broncos 30, Cardinals 16
Watching the Broncos on offense this season has been outright painful. I’m not 100% this performance puts things right, but it sure was better to watch. The first quarter was more of the same as they did what they have been doing, fail to punch it in. The went up 6-0, and the Cards followed suit with a couple FGs to tie things up. The game opened up for the Broncos when Nix went back to throw and the entire middle of the field opened up, and he took off. Nix had one of the longest QB runs since 2022 as he took it 62-yards for the TD. Denver had the first possession of the second half, and scored again. This time Harvey took a short screen pass and blew by Cards defenders for a 52-yard TD. About the only thing that the Cards had going for them was Brissett to McBride, he would finish the day with over 100 yards and a TD. His 7-yard TD catch would get the Cards within 7. The Broncos answered with yet ANOTHER TD – that’s 3 TDs in ONE game by the Broncos, and that one pretty much sealed for the Broncos. Let’s see how they look against the Chiefs next week.
Lions 20, Packers 17
Before week 7 started this one looked like it would be a 60 point game, but that is not what we got. This one ended up being a rock fight. The Green Bay Packers had shown a bit of a propensity to drop balls against the Cowboys a couple weeks ago. They got the W in that game, but they should’ve run away with it. That came back to haunt Sunday. These two teams usually finish drives well, but not Sunday. Packers started pretty well, but the drive stalled and their kicker missed the FG. After that drive, both teams scored TDs to tie the game at 7. The Lions were able to get a FG in the second quarter, but that was the only scoring of that quarter. The Lions got inside the 10 on one drive, but Gibbs fumbled to the Packers, and they took over and killed the clock to finish the half. Early in the first quarter, the Packers turned a Goff interception into a TD when Love hit Jacobs who was back after his suspension. The Lions answered with a nice drive that finished with a short pass to Williams for the TD. The Lions also had a chance to add more, but they tried to score a TD on fourth and 5 at the Packer 6-yard line. The pass was incomplete, and the game remained 17-14 after 3 quarters. The Packers put together a nice drive in the fourth quarter that resulted in the tying FG. The Lions got the ball back after the FG, and on that drive on 4th and 1 from their own 24 – went for it. It didn’t go well at all, and the Packers took over on the Lion 22. Jacobs dropped a TD pass (rusty, I guess) and they had to settle for a FG attempt. They blew it, as it got tipped at the line and went wide right. The Lions answered with their own drive, and their FG on the last play of the game was good for the Lion win. This game also had some really tough calls. Officiating was not good at all. There were a couple very questionable roughing the passer calls on Goff, and they missed a facemask on Gibbs, and Hutchinson was held on multiple plays which were not called. Fines are coming for some of those coaches.
Rams 35, Raiders 21
This looks a bit closer to normal, right? Rams dominate, Radiers stink it up. This game wasn’t that close. It was 28-6 at half. The Rams scored TDs on 3 consecutive drives while the Raiders were only able to convert 2 FGs. Stafford was pretty sharp with about 200 yards and 3 TDs, but did throw one more pick. The Raiders were able to get a little bit going in the second half as Cousins hit Tucker for another long TD, and Jeanty for a 15-yard TD pass on the next drive. The Rams answered with another TD, this one by Corum on a short rush. This put the Rams up for good. The Raiders got off to a great start on the season, going 3-0, but they’ve come back to reality a bit with these last couple games. Feels like a get-right game for the Rams.
Seahawks 20, Chiefs 3
Andy Reid coached teams have a great record coming off the bye week. This was not expected. I could see the ‘Hawks winning this one for sure, but not like that. The ‘Hawk D did a fantastic job of shutting down their old teammate as Walker only rushed for 36 yards. Mahome was harassed all day, as he only threw for 165 yards and had one interception. How bad was the Chiefs offense this weekend? First team in the Super Bowl era to play a game that had no 10+ yard rushes, no 20+ yard passes, no red zone possessions and multiple missed FGs. That’s even worse that the Broncos have been this season. Darnold was pretty good – he was able to keep the ball away from the Chiefs, and they converted 11-of-16 third downs on the day. His one interception was costly though, as it ended a promising drive. At the end of the 3rd quarter, the Chiefs scored their lone FG, but still trailed 13-3. They stopped the ‘Hawks on their next drive, but the next offensive drive for the Chiefs ended with a missed FG that the ‘Hawks turned into a TD to put this one away. The Chiefs have been winning games, but mostly on the back of Walker. Mahomes hasn’t been great. Let’s hope the Broncos take plenty of notes on this one for next week’s matchup.
Cowboys 38, Eagles 21
With Hurts for the rest of the season, it’s going to be a rough road for the Eagles. Tanner McKee got the start again, and the Eagles got off to a pretty good start as they were leading 14-10. The Eagles took advantage of some Cowboy mistakes, and they got pretty lucky when a kickoff return TD was called back on a penalty. The ‘Boys were able to score on two Dak TD passes, one to each Pickens and Lamb and the game was 20-14 at half. The Eagles came out after halftime and put together a nice drive that ended with a short TD pass to Lemon. That would be it for their scoring, as Dallas D got a bit stiffer, and the ‘Boys used a career night by Williams to keep the ball. He finished with 155 yards and a TD. Nice win for the ‘Boys.
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