NFL roundup: Chiefs block Broncos’ last-gasp field goal to stay perfect
Denver Broncos 14-16 Kansas City Chiefs
The Chiefs blocked Broncos kicker Wil Lutz’s 35-yard field goal attempt as time expired, and Kansas City escaped with a narrow victory over the Broncos to extend their winning streak to 15 games last season.
The Chiefs (9-0) had taken the lead on Harrison Butker’s field goal with 5:57 to go, but Bo Nix and the Broncos (5-5) converted on a trio of third downs while getting right back down the field marched. They proceeded to set up Lutz for the winner, but Leo Chenal was credited with getting up the middle amid heavy pressure from the Kansas City defensive line to get his hand on the kick.
Patrick Mahomes finished with 266 yards passing and a touchdown for Kansas City, which became just the fifth team to follow up a Super Bowl triumph by winning its first nine games. That also ties for the best start to a season in franchise history. The Chiefs’ winning streak last season is the longest in the NFL since the Packers won 19 straight between 2010 and 2011.
Detroit Lions 26-23 Houston Texans
Jake Bates made a 52-yard field goal as time expired, and the Detroit Lions overcame a career-high five interceptions from Jared Goff to rally for a win over the Houston Texans. The Lions improved to 8-1 for the first time since 1954 with their seventh straight win overall and fifth in a row. Detroit trailed 23-7 at halftime after Goff threw three interceptions in the first two quarters, and he threw two more picks in the third. Nevertheless, the Lions scored 16 straight points to tie the score with about five minutes remaining on Bates’ 58-yard field goal. The Texans (6-4) had a chance to take the lead with just under two minutes left, but Ka’imi Fairbairn’s 58-yard attempt went wide left. The Lions became the first team to win when they threw five or more interceptions since Atlanta beat Arizona 23-19 in 2012, when Matt Ryan was picked off five times.
San Francisco 49ers 23-20 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Jake Moody redeemed himself after missing three previous field goals by booting a 44-yarder as time expired to give the San Francisco 49ers (5-4) the victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-6) in the season debut by Christian McCaffrey. In his first game back after being sidelined for three weeks with a sprained ankle, Moody also made field goals of 28 and 33 yards for the defending NFC champion 49ers, who have won consecutive games for the first time this season. But the usually reliable kicker also missed wide left from 49 and 50 yards before missing wide right on a 44-yard attempt that would have given San Francisco a six-point lead with 3:09 remaining. McCaffrey finished with 39 yards rushing on 13 attempts. The 2023 AP Offensive Player of the Year also had six receptions for 68 yards.
Pittsburgh Steelers 28–27 Washington Commanders
Russell Wilson shook off his first interception in 11 months and caught Mike Williams at the trade deadline for a 32-yard touchdown with less than three minutes left in the fourth quarter, lifting the Pittsburgh Steelers to a comeback victory over Jayden Daniels and brought the Washington Commanders. . After a bye, the AFC North-leading Steelers won their fourth straight game on Sunday and improved to 7-2. The score is 3-0 since Wilson took over for Justin Fields as the starting QB. Wilson was 14 for 28 for 195 yards, the three touchdowns and one pick. Washington led 24-14, but couldn’t hold on. They fell to 7-3.
Buffalo Bills 30–20 Indianapolis Colts
Taron Johnson returned Joe Flacco’s first pass 23 yards for a touchdown, and Josh Allen and James Cook each scored on TD runs to lead the AFC East-leading Buffalo Bills past the Indianapolis Colts (4-6). The Bills (8-2) extended their winning streak to five with their first victory in Indianapolis since 1998. Allen was 22 of 37 for 280 yards with two interceptions while rushing eight times for 50 yards. Cook had 19 carries for 80 yards. Flacco had four turnovers: three interceptions and a fumble. He also threw for two touchdowns in his second start in place of Anthony Richardson on the bench.
Philadelphia Eagles 34-6 Dallas Cowboys
Jalen Hurts threw two touchdown passes and ran for a pair of scores, and the Philadelphia Eagles rolled to victory over the bumbling Cowboys. It was the first game since Dallas quarterback Dak Prescott tore a hamstring. Hurts shook off two sacks from Micah Parsons as the star pass rusher returned from injury. He connected with Dallas Goedert for one of the TDs after his tight end missed three games with a hamstring issue. The Eagles took over first place in the NFC East with their fifth straight win. Dallas fell to 0-4 at home in a fourth straight loss overall. Cooper Rush looked nothing like the replacement who filled in for Prescott at 4-1 two years ago, hitting 13 of 23 for just 45 yards.
Minnesota Vikings 12-7 Jacksonville Jaguars
Minnesota’s stingy defense held Jacksonville to 143 yards, which is the fewest in coach Doug Pederson’s three seasons, and the Vikings overcame Sam Darnold’s three interceptions to beat the Jaguars. It was Darnold’s first three-interception game in three years. They all came while targeting All-Pro receiver Justin Jefferson, who finished with five catches for 48 yards. The Vikings (7-2) trailed for most of the day, but took the lead on John Parker Romo’s third of four field goals. Romo made his NFL debut, hitting from 29, 34, 33 and 45 yards. The Jaguars (2-8) had a chance late, but Mac Jones threw his second interception to essentially end it.
Atlanta Falcons 17-20 New Orleans Saints
Marquez Valdes-Scantling caught three passes for 109 yards and two touchdowns in his second game for New Orleans, and the Saints began Darren Rizzi’s tenure as interim coach with a seven-game skid with a 20-17 win over the Atlanta Falcons (6 ). -4). The 54-year-old Rizzi got his first opportunity as a head coach in the NFL after the firing last Monday of third-year coach Dennis Allen. Tyrann Mathieu’s fourth-quarter interception and Chase Young’s sack of the Falcons’ Kirk Cousins in the final minute helped New Orleans (3-7) protect a slim lead. The Falcons had three failed field goals in the game.
Tennessee Titans 17-27 Los Angeles Chargers
Justin Herbert threw for a touchdown and ran for another as the Los Angeles Chargers won their third straight game and pulled away in the second half to beat the Tennessee Titans. The Chargers have won four of five. They are the fourth team since 1990 and the first since the 2013 Kansas City Chiefs to allow 20 or fewer points in each of their first nine games. LA are 6-3. The Titans entered with the NFL’s top-ranked defense overall and against the pass, but only forced Los Angeles to go three-and-out twice in nine possessions. Tennessee fell to 2-7.
New York Jets 6-31 Arizona Cardinals
Kyler Murray threw for 266 yards and a touchdown and ran for two scores and the Arizona Cardinals won their fourth straight game by racing to a big lead and easily handling the New York Jets. The Cardinals scored touchdowns on four of their first five drives and never trailed. Murray completed 22 of 24 passes – including a franchise-record 17 in a row in one period – and distributed the ball to James Conner, Trey McBride, Marvin Harrison Jr. and Michael Wilson. Murray also ran for 21 yards. New York has lost six of seven. Aaron Rodgers completed 22 of 35 passes for 151 yards.
New England Patriots 19-3 Chicago Bears
Drake Maye defeated Caleb Williams in a matchup of top rookie quarterbacks against the New England Patriots (3-7) and the struggling Chicago Bears (4-5). Maye led five scoring drives and the defense sacked Williams a season-high nine times, helping New England win after seven of eight losses. The Bears gained just 142 yards and were 1 of 14 on third down against a team tied with six others for the worst record in the NFL. It got so bad that fans started calling for coach Matt Eberflus to be fired.
New York Giants 17-20 Carolina Panthers (OT)
Eddy Pineiro made a 36-yard field goal in overtime and the Carolina Panthers (3-7) recorded back-to-back wins for the first time this season by beating the New York Giants (2-8) in Germany. The Giants won the coin toss to start overtime, but rookie running back Tyrone Tracy fumbled the first play of the scrimmage and Josey Jewell recovered at the 23 for the Panthers. The Giants rallied from a 17–7 deficit in the fourth quarter, forcing overtime on Graham Gano’s 42-yard field goal with five seconds left.