NFL roundup: Willis gets revenge on Titans as Darnold shines again for Vikings
Green Bay Packers 30-14 Tennessee Titans
Malik Willis ran for a touchdown and threw for a score in his best NFL performance, leading the Green Bay Packers (2-1) to a win over the Tennessee Titans. Willis won his second straight start, replacing Jordan Love. He also got some sweet revenge against the team that traded him to Green Bay in August. Willis accounted for 134 of the Packers’ 137 yards in the first quarter. He finished with 202 yards passing and 73 rushing. The Titans went 0-3 under first-year coach Brian Callahan, their worst start since losing their first six in 2009.
Houston Texans 7-34 Minnesota Vikings
Sam Darnold tied his career high with four touchdown passes, and the undefeated Minnesota Vikings used another dominant defensive performance to beat C.J. Stroud of the Houston Texans. Jonathan Greenard had three of Stroud’s four sacks as the Vikings intercepted the 2023 Offensive Rookie of the Year twice. Darnold connected with Justin Jefferson and Aaron Jones for scores in the first quarter, and in the second half, he delivered a touchdown to Jalen Nailor for the third straight game. He also passed one to tight end Johnny Mundt. The Vikings are 3-0. The Texans are 2-1.
New York Giants 21-15 Cleveland Browns
Daniel Jones threw two touchdown passes to rookie Malik Nabers, New York’s defenders took turns with Deshaun Watson and the Giants held off the Cleveland Browns. Jones completed 24 of 34 passes for 236 yards as the Giants (1-2) shook off a loss at Washington that sparked a week of criticism for coach Brian Daboll. The Browns (1-2) rallied in the fourth quarter after being dominated for three quarters and losing three offensive linemen to injuries. But Cleveland couldn’t take the lead in three chances. Running back Jerome Ford fumbled and the Giants stopped the Browns twice on fourth down in the final four minutes.
Chicago Bears 16-21 Indianapolis Colts
Jonathan Taylor ran for 110 yards and two touchdowns, Trey Sermon added a rushing TD and Jaylon Jones caught two interceptions to lead the Indianapolis Colts to a win over the Chicago Bears
Indianapolis (1-2) overcame two interceptions by Anthony Richardson, and improved its ground game while shoring up a suspect run defense. The Colts had 151 rushing yards compared to 63 for the Bears (1-2).
Chicago quarterback Caleb Williams, the No. 1 overall pick in the April draft, was 33-of-52 passing for a career-high 363 yards and his first two career TD passes, along with two interceptions. Williams also lost a fumble on a strip sack that set up Taylor’s one-yard scoring run with 5:22 left that gave the Colts a 21-9 lead.
Philadelphia Eagles 15-12 New Orleans Saints
Saquon Barkley rushed for touchdowns of 65 and four yards in the fourth quarter, and the Philadelphia Eagles (2-1) recovered from a maddening late-game collapse in their last game to beat the New Orleans Saints (2-1). Barkley’s shortened run came with 1:01 remaining, one play after Dallas Goedert’s 61-yard catch that gave him a career-high 170 yards on 10 catches. Eagles safety Reed Blankenship sealed the win when he intercepted Derek Carr with 48 seconds left. That capped a banner performance by Philadelphia’s defense against an offense that had scored an NFL-high 91 points through the first two weeks of the regular season under new coordinator Klint Kubiak. The Saints’ lone TD came on Chris Olave’s 12-yard catch.
Los Angeles Chargers 10-20 Pittsburgh Steelers
Justin Fields threw for a touchdown and ran for another and the Pittsburgh Steelers pulled away late to beat the Los Angeles Chargers. Pittsburgh improved to 3-0 for the first time since 2020 thanks to another efficient performance from Fields. The quarterback completed 25 of 32 passes for 245 yards, including a 55-yard touchdown pass to Calvin Austin III midway through the fourth quarter that broke it open. Fields also added a five-yard touchdown run and is quietly making a compelling case that he should be the starter, even as Russell Wilson’s injured calf heals. The Chargers (2-1) lost starting quarterback Justin Herbert in the third quarter with an ankle injury.
Denver Broncos 26-7 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
In his first NFL victory, Bo Nix completed 25 of 36 passes for 216 yards and rushed for 47 yards and a touchdown, leading the visiting Denver Broncos to a win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Tyler Badie rushed for 70 yards and Courtland Sutton caught seven passes for 68 yards as the Broncos (1-2) held Tampa Bay scoreless in the second half. Wil Lutz made all four of his field goal attempts for Denver. Baker Mayfield completed 25 of 33 passes for 163 yards and threw for a touchdown and an interception. Bucky Irving led Tampa Bay (2-1) with 70 rushing yards, while Chris Godwin hauled in six balls for 53 yards and a score.