A look back at NFL Week 3 — PHOTOS
ST. LOUIS — The Pittsburgh Steelers won a game but lost a quarterback, at least for the time being, after defeating the St. Louis Rams 12-6.
Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was knocked out of the game with a left knee injury with 5:35 remaining in third quarter. Rams safety Mark Barron was blocked and rolled into Roethlisberger’s leg on a sack. Roethlisberger was on the turf for several minutes before limping off the field.
Before leaving the game, Roethlisberger completed 20 of 24 passes for 192 yards with an interception. He had entered the game needing 223 yards to reach 40,000 for his career.
Running back Le’Veon Bell, making his first appearance for the Steelers (2-1) after missing the first two games under league suspension, scored from a yard out in the second quarter in his first game back after a suspension.
The Rams (1-2) were limited to two field goals by Greg Zuerlein and have scored just 16 points the last two games.
Falcons 39, Cowboys 28
ARLINGTON, Texas — Julio Jones caught a pair of touchdown passes and backup running back Devonta Freeman scored three times for Atlanta, which rallied from a 14-point deficit with 25 unanswered points to improve to 3-0 in a victory over Dallas.
Quarterback Matt Ryan was firmly in command, thanks to the combo of Freeman and Jones, who now leads the NFL with 34 receptions in three games.
The Cowboys (2-1) knew what to expect out of Jones, who came in with consecutive 100-yard receiving games. Freeman, on the other hand, was filling in for injured rookie back Tevin Coleman (ribs). Freeman piled up career highs in yards (141) and touchdowns after totaling just 43 yards in the first two games.
The Cowboys, in their first full game without injured quarterback Tony Romo and wide receiver Dez Bryant, had their highest scoring game of the season and several standout performances, but failed to push the ball downfield. Running back Joseph Randle scored three touchdowns, all in the first half, and quarterback Brandon Weeden (22 of 26 for 232 yards, one interception) was efficient in his second start since joining the Cowboys as Romo’s backup in 2014.
Patriots 51, Jaguars 17
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Tom Brady, tying the franchise record by appearing in his 212th game, became the fourth quarterback to throw 400 touchdown passes and kicker Stephen Gostkowski set the NFL record for consecutive extra points as unbeaten New England cruised to a rout of Jacksonville.
Gostkowski, who kicked three field goals, broke Matt Stover’s league record when he nailed his 423rd consecutive PAT for New England’s 37th point.
The Patriots (3-0) tied a franchise record with 35 first downs, scored all nine times they had the ball (before running out the clock late) and registered the most points ever scored against the Jaguars (1-2) — in a game while piling up 471 yards of offense.
Brady hit wide receiver Danny Amendola with a 1-yard TD pass with 18 seconds left in the first half to join Peyton Manning, Brett Favre and Dan Marino as the only players to pass for 400 regular-season touchdowns. It was also Brady’s NFL-record 31st start in which his team scored 40-plus points.
Eagles 24, Jets 17
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Darren Sproles accounted for two touchdowns, including a spectacular 89-yard punt return in the second quarter, and Philadelphia claimed its first win of the season with a victory over the New York Jets.
The Eagles (1-2) avoided their first 0-3 start since 1999. The Jets (2-1) were trying to go 3-0 for the fifth time in franchise history.
Ryan Mathews, who took over featured back duties with struggling running back DeMarco Murray inactive because of a hamstring injury, rushed for 108 yards on 24 carries and also caught a 23-yard touchdown pass. Sam Bradford was 14 of 28 for 118 yards and the touchdown to Mathews.
Raiders 27, Browns 20
CLEVELAND — Oakland snapped an 11-game road losing streak behind two touchdown passes by quarterback Derek Carr to beat Cleveland.
The Browns (1-2), down 27-10 in the fourth quarter, rallied to cut the Raiders’ lead to a touchdown with 6:26 left and forced the Raiders (2-1) to punt, but Travis Benjamin mishandled the punt with 4:01 left and the Raiders recovered.
A final drive starting at the Browns’ 2 ended with quarterback Josh McCown being intercepted by Raiders safety Charles Woodson deep in Oakland territory.
Colts 35, Titans 33
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — In a game of wild momentum swings, Indianapolis had one more in them than did Tennessee in a wild game.
The Titans (1-2), up 13 midway through the fourth quarter, seemed to be in control after pinning the Colts (1-2) at their 2 with 12:20 to play. But Andrew Luck marched the Colts downfield and hit wide receiver Phillip Dorsett with a 35-yard scoring toss, and then after Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota threw an interception, Luck hit wide receiver Donte Moncreif with an 11-yard toss with 5:53 left.
One Titans’ three-and-out later, the Colts marched to the Tennessee 6, where running back Frank Gore ran in with 2:57 left to extend the Indy lead to eight. The Titans weren’t done, with Mariota leading a drive capped by fullback Jalston Fowler’s 1-yard scoring run with 47 seconds left. A pass interference penalty on the 2-point play gave Tennessee a second try from the 1, where the Titans went to Fowler once again but he was stopped.
Panthers 27, Saints 22
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Cam Newton threw two touchdown passes to tight end Greg Olsen and ran for another score as Carolina defeated winless New Orleans.
Cornerback Josh Norman made a game-saving interception in the end zone with 1:09 remaining after the Saints (0-3) threatened to pull off a late-game comeback.
The Saints drove to the verge of the red zone before quarterback Luke McCown, starting in place of injured Drew Brees, appeared to have receiver Brandin Cooks open in the end zone. Norman’s leaping snag resulted in the second turnover of the half for New Orleans.
The Panthers (3-0) had touchdown drives of 89, 83 and 88 yards.
Vikings 31, Chargers 14
MINNEAPOLIS — Adrian Peterson rushed for 126 yards and two touchdowns as Minnesota rolled over San Diego.
Peterson’s 43-yard touchdown run early in the third quarter broke the game open for the Vikings (2-1), who led 10-7 at the half thanks to the veteran running back’s 2-yard plunge in the second quarter. After forcing the Chargers into a quick three-and-out to open the second half, Peterson broke free down the right sideline, extending Minnesota’s lead to 17-7.
Later in the quarter, the Vikings moved down the field largely on Peterson’s shoulders before fullback Zach Line scored from the 1. It was the second consecutive week that Line had a 1-yard touchdown.
Wide receiver Keenan Allen had 12 catches for 133 yards and two touchdowns for the Chargers (1-2). Quarterback Philip Rivers finished 21-of-34 passing for 246 yards with a touchdown and an interception.
Texans 19, Buccaneers 9
HOUSTON — Ryan Mallett threw for 228 yards and a touchdown and Alfred Blue rushed for 139 yards and a score as Houston posted its first victory of the season in beating Tampa Bay.
Wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins caught eight passes for 101 yards and had his third touchdown reception in as many games for the Texans (1-2).
Houston’s defense held its opponent below 10 points for the first time this season.
Tampa Bay rookie quarterback Jameis Winston threw for a career-high 261 yards, going 17 of 36 with a touchdown and an interception. Wide receiver Mike Evans caught seven passes for 101 yards for Tampa Bay (1-2).
Bengals 28, Ravens 24
BALTIMORE — Andy Dalton found wide receiver A.J. Green with a go-ahead 7-yard touchdown in a wild fourth quarter as Cincinnati kept Baltimore winless.
The Ravens (0-3) lost their distinction as the only existing NFL franchise that has never started 0-3. The undefeated Bengals (3-0) have won four straight against the Ravens and sit atop the AFC North.
Green caught 10 passes for 227 yards with two touchdowns. Dalton shook off a costly turnover and completed 20 of 32 pass attempts for 383 yards with three touchdowns and an interception.
Bills 41, Dolphins 14
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Middle linebacker Preston Brown intercepted two passes and returned one for a touchdown, leading Buffalo to victory.
Bills quarterback Tyrod Taylor completed 21 of 29 passes for 277 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions.
Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill was intercepted three times in the first half, helping Buffalo build a 27-0 lead at the break. The interceptions were by Brown (twice) and cornerback Ronald Darby, a rookie from Florida State.
Buffalo scored touchdowns on its first two possessions. Former Dolphins tight end Charles Clay caught a 25-yard pass to cap Buffalo’s first drive, which went 77 yards on five plays. The Bills made it 14-0 on Taylor’s 10-yard pass to running back LeSean McCoy, capping an eight-play, 81-yard drive.
Seahawks 26, Bears 0
SEATTLE — Tight end Jimmy Graham made a splash in his home debut, making a 30-yard touchdown catch in the third quarter, and safety Kam Chancellor returned to spearhead a shutout victory.
Seattle also overcame a hamstring injury to star running back Marshawn Lynch. Lynch was unavailable at the start of the game and carried just five times for 14 yards before coming out late in the first half.
Chancellor, in his first game back from a two-game holdout, led the Seattle defense to its first shutout since Week 15 of the 2013 season.
Chicago quarterback Jimmy Clausen, starting in place of injured Jay Cutler, completed 9 of 17 passes for 63 yards in the loss. Chicago fell to 0-3 for the first time since 2003.
Seattle quarterback Russell Wilson completed 20 of 30 passes for 235 yards and the touchdown.
Cardinals 47, 49ers 7
GLENDALE, Ariz. — The Cardinals intercepted 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick four times, returning two of the picks for first-quarter touchdowns as they improved to 3-0 with the lopsided victory.
With the victory, Arizona has a two-game lead over the rest of the NFC West.
Kaepernick finished the game 9 of 19 for 67 yards along with his four picks. Kaepernick ran for 46 yards and scored the 49ers’ only touchdown.
Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer was 20 of 32 for 311 yards with two touchdowns — both to Larry Fitzgerald, who caught nine passes for 134 yards.
Broncos 24, Lions 12
DETROIT — Peyton Manning threw two touchdown passes, including a 45-yarder to Demaryius Thomas in the closing seconds of the first half, and Denver topped the winless Lions.
Manning, who was 31-of-42, threw for 324 yards and surpassed 6,000 career completions during the third quarter. Thomas, a wide receiver, caught nine passes for 92 yards and running back Ronnie Hillman added a rushing touchdown for the Broncos (3-0).
Detroit quarterback Matthew Stafford passed for 282 yards and a touchdown but was also intercepted twice and lost a fumble. Wide receiver Calvin Johnson caught eight passes for 77 yards, and running back Joique Bell had a rushing touchdown for the Lions (0-3).
Denver led 14-12 when Stafford fumbled with 10:12 remaining, and Broncos defensive end Malik Jackson recovered at the Detroit 49. Brandon McManus missed a 53-yard field goal try but the Lions were called for an illegal formation. He then connected from 48 yards out with 7:50 remaining to make it 17-12.
Giants 32, Redskins 21
The New York Giants snapped their two-game losing streak, which is the good news.
The bad news is that head coach Tom Coughlin wasn’t exactly pleased with how his team once again finished a game. The source of Coughlin’s latest frustration occurred on Washington’s first possession following New York’s 30-yard touchdown catch by Odell Beckham Jr. to put the Giants up 25-6.
“I spent some time talking about the end of the game and how I realize we’re under construction, but we’re into our third game here so we do need to understand how to finish better than we did,” Coughlin said.
“Washington ran something like 39 plays, our offense ran 10, and that’s not the way it’s supposed to be. You’d like to think you can finish the game with the ball in your hands.”
The issues in finishing games would appear to be on both sides of the ball. On offense, New York only managed 11 plays on offense on three drives. Two of those three drives went for three-and-outs.
Defensively, the Giants were on the field for 39 plays in that final 11 minutes of the game as Washington added 15 points to close the gap to the 32-21 final.
