Houston Texans 23-20 Jacksonville Jaguars
Joe Mixon ran for 101 yards and a touchdown, Nico Collins caught eight passes for 119 yards and the Houston Texans defeated Jacksonville after Trevor Lawrence was forced out of the game with a concussion following a controversial hit. The AFC South-leading Texans (8-5) won for the second time in five weeks and staggered into their bye week with some momentum.
Mixon scored 20 times, none bigger than his eight-yard gain on third-and-5 in the waning minutes that moved the chains and sealed the victory. C.J. Stroud completed 22 of 34 passes for 242 yards, with a 22-yard TD pass to Dalton Schultz early in the fourth quarter essentially freezing the game. It was Houston’s twelfth win in the past fourteen meetings with the Jaguars (2-10) and the sixth in a row in Jacksonville.
But the game will go down in history for linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair’s brutal hit on Lawrence in the second quarter, which sparked two sideline fights. Al-Shaair hit Lawrence with an elbow as the defenseless quarterback slid to the ground after a struggle.
Lawrence clenched both fists after the hit – movements that were consistent with what was there also called the ‘screen response’, which often occurs after a traumatic brain injury. He lay on the ground for several minutes when teammates came to his aid.
Tight end Evan Engram and several teammates confronted Al-Shaair, whose last perceived cheap shot could result in a suspension. Lawrence was eventually helped to his feet, carted off the field and ruled out of the game with a concussion.
Mac Jones replaced Lawrence and threw for 235 yards and two touchdowns. He rallied the Jaguars from a 23-6 deficit in the fourth, but did not get the ball back.
Pittsburgh Steelers 44-38 Cincinnati Bengals
Russell Wilson threw for a season-high 414 yards and three touchdowns, and the Pittsburgh Steelers outlasted Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals. Wilson recorded the second-most passing yards and third 400-yard game of his career. He threw for 452 yards for Seattle against Houston in October 2017. Wilson finished 29 for 38 as the 9-3 Steelers bounced back from a 24-19 loss to the Browns in the snow in Cleveland. He also threw an interception that was returned for a touchdown in the first quarter. The 4-8 Bengals lost for the fourth time in five games.
Arizona Cardinals 22-23 Minnesota Vikings
Sam Darnold’s second touchdown pass of the second half went to Aaron Jones for Minnesota’s first lead with 1:13 left, and the Vikings rallied from 13 points down to beat the Arizona Cardinals for their fifth straight victory. The Cardinals kept the Vikings out of the end zone until Darnold hit Johnny Mundt with 1:17 remaining in the third quarter. Kyler Murray threw two interceptions in the fourth quarter to spoil the Cardinals’ stellar performance. They are 6-6. The Vikings are 10-2.
Los Angeles Chargers 17-13 Atlanta Falcons
Rookie Tarheen Still returned an interception 61 yards for a touchdown, his second pick of the game and one of four thrown by Atlanta quarterback Kirk Cousins as the Los Angeles Chargers (8-4) defeated the first-place Falcons (6-6 ) their third consecutive defeat. In a game neither team wanted to win, the Chargers overcame five sacks, a fumble deep in their own territory, a fake punt that didn’t work and a largely lethargic offense. The 36-year-old Cousins looked like a rookie on a fourth-and-five pass at the Los Angeles 40 late in the third quarter. Still reading the play all the way through, step in front of Darnell Mooney and sprint untouched down the sideline in front of the Falcons bench for the TD.
Indianapolis Colts 25-24 New England Patriots
Anthony Richardson threw a three-yard touchdown pass to Alec Pierce with 12 seconds left and ran for the go-ahead two-point conversion, and the Indianapolis Colts defeated New England when the Patriots’ Joey Slye missed a 68-yard field goal attempt as time expired. Richardson finished 12 of 24 for 109 yards, two touchdowns and an interception to help the Colts (6-7) keep their playoff hopes alive. Three of Indianapolis’ last four opponents have losing records. The Patriots (3-10) have lost four of five. Rookie Drake Maye finished 24 of 30 for 238 yards with a touchdown and an interception.
Seattle Seahawks 26-21 New York Jets
Zach Charbonnet ran for an eight-yard touchdown with 5:31 to go, Leonard Williams returned an interception 92 yards for a momentum-turning score and the Seattle Seahawks held on to beat the New York Jets for their third straight victory. Geno Smith threw a touchdown pass to AJ Barner for the 7-5 Seahawks, who were sloppy early but took sole possession of first place in the NFC West as Arizona lost to Minnesota. Aaron Rodgers and the Jets (3-9) led for most of the game, but lost their third in a row after being held scoreless in the second half. Smith and Williams are both former Jets.
Tennessee Titans 19–42 Washington Commanders
Jayden Daniels was responsible for four touchdowns and led the Washington Commanders to a victory over the Tennessee Titans, bringing his team’s losing streak to three. Daniels threw two of his three TD passes to Terry McLaurin and the other to Zach Ertz. Brian Robinson Jr. returned from a sprained ankle and rushed for 103 yards and a touchdown. The Commanders also forced two turnovers while improving to 8-5 entering their bye week. Tennessee’s already slim playoff chances are now close to zero after falling to 3-9.