Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger led a six-play, 79-yard drive capped by an 8-yard touchdown pass to Eric Ebron with 2:14 left Sunday as the visiting Pittsburgh Steelers eked out a 24-19 win over the Dallas Cowboys in Arlington, Texas, to remain unbeaten.
Pittsburgh, down 13 points in the first half and 10 points entering the fourth quarter, is 8-0 for the first time in franchise history. Roethlisberger, who tweaked his left knee late in the first half but finished, was 29 of 42 for 306 yards, and also had touchdown passes to James Washington and Juju Smith-Schuster.
For Dallas (2-7), Garrett Gilbert, in his first career start because of injuries to Andy Dalton and Dak Prescott, was 21 of 38 for 243 yards with a scoring pass to CeeDee Lamb. Greg Zuerlein kicked four field goals
The Cowboys drove 65 yards and made it 10-0 as Gilbert rolled right and hooked up with Lamb in the end zone from 20 yards. Zuerlein’s 44-yard field goal made it 13-0.
With 1:31 left in the half, Neville Gallimore hit Roethlisberger, who came up limping. But, three plays later, Roethlisberger threw 17 yards to James Washington in the back of the end zone. Chris Boswell missed the extra point, leaving it 13-6.
Roethlisberger retreated to the locker room, pressing backup Mason Rudolph into action for four plays, ending with Boswell’s franchise-record 59-yard field goal to make it 13-9 at halftime.
Saints 38, Buccaneers 3
Drew Brees threw four touchdown passes and Tom Brady threw three interceptions as visiting New Orleans defeated Tampa Bay.
Brees entered the game one touchdown pass behind Brady for the NFL career lead and finished the game with 564 to Brady’s 561. Brees completed 26 of 32 for 222 yards and 12 different teammates caught passes on the night.
The Saints (6-2) won their fifth consecutive game to pass the Buccaneers (6-3) for first place in the NFC South. New Orleans swept the season series after defeating Tampa Bay 34-23 in the season opener in which the Saints intercepted Brady twice.
It was the first time in Brady’s career that he has lost twice to the same team in one season. He completed 22 of 38 for 209 yards in the most lopsided loss of his career. The Buccaneers ran just five times, the fewest in NFL history.
Dolphins 34, Cardinals 31
Rookie Tua Tagovailoa — locked in a battle against fellow 23-and-under quarterback Kyler Murray — threw two touchdown passes as Miami defeated host Arizona to win their fourth straight game, its longest streak in four years.
Tagovailoa, 2-0 in NFL starts, completed 20-of-28 passes for 248 yards, with no turnovers. He also ran seven times for 35 yards for the Dolphins as Miami (5-3). Murray completed 21-of-26 passes for 283 yards, with one turnover (a fumble for a Miami touchdown). He also ran for a career-best 106 yards on 11 carries, but it wasn’t enough as the Cardinals (5-3) had their three-game win streak snapped.
Besides Tagovailoa, a Dolphins hero was kicker Jason Sanders, who made two field goals, including a career-best 56-yarder. His other conversion, from 50 yards, set a Dolphins record for consecutive kicks without a miss (20). That field goal, with 3:30 left in the game, was the winning score.
Raiders 31, Chargers 26
Justin Herbert’s apparent game-winning 4-yard touchdown pass to tight end Donald Parham Jr. on the final play of the game was reversed on replay and Las Vegas held on for a wild victory over Los Angeles on Sunday afternoon at Inglewood, Calif.
Parham appeared to have won the game when he caught Herbert’s fade pass over defensive back Isaiah Johnson while falling out of the right corner of the end zone. But the touchdown call was overturned when replay showed that the ball hit the ground as he rolled on the sideline chalk.
Derek Carr completed 13-of-23 passes for 165 yards and two touchdowns for Las Vegas (5-3) which improved to 4-1 on the road and won its third straight away from home for just the third time in the past 15 seasons. Herbet Herbert completed 28-of-42 passes for 326 yards and two touchdowns for Los Angeles (2-6), which lost for the sixth time in seven games. Keenan Allen caught nine passes for 103 yards and a touchdown.
Bills 44, Seahawks 34
Josh Allen threw for 415 yards and three touchdowns while adding a rushing score to outduel Russell Wilson, and Buffalo defeated visiting Seattle in Orchard Park, N.Y.
Stefon Diggs and John Brown combined for 17 receptions for 217 yards and the defense forced four turnovers for the Bills (7-2), who remained atop the AFC East.
The NFC West-leading Seahawks (6-2) suffered their second defeat in the past three games. Wilson was 28 of 41 for 390 yards, with two touchdowns and two interceptions. He also rushed for a score.
Vikings 34, Lions 20
Dalvin Cook rushed for a career-high 206 yards and two touchdowns, including a 70-yard scamper, and Kirk Cousins threw three touchdown passes as Minnesota manhandled visiting Detroit in Minneapolis.
Cook, who has scored six touchdowns in the last two games, carried 22 times and also caught two passes for 46 yards. Cousins passed for 220 yards, while tight end Irv Smith Jr. had two receiving touchdowns. Alexander Mattison added 69 rushing yards for the Vikings (3-5).
Detroit’s Matthew Stafford passed for 211 yards and a touchdown but was also intercepted twice. T.J. Hockenson and Marvin Jones Jr. caught touchdown passes for the Lions (3-5).
Falcons 34, Broncos 27
Matt Ryan threw for three touchdowns and Atlanta continued its resurgence under interim coach Raheem Morris with a victory against visiting Denver as Ryan finished 25-of-35 passing for 284 yards and an interception. Olamide Zaccheaus racked up 103 receiving yards on four catches — all in the first half.
The Falcons (3-6) are 3-1 with Morris in charge after firing coach Dan Quinn last month. This marked Atlanta’s first victory in five home games this season.
Denver quarterback Drew Lock was 25-of-48 passing for 313 yards with two touchdowns and an interception. He also led the Broncos (3-5) on the ground with 47 yards on six carries, with his 10-yard run with 1:52 to play helping cut the deficit to 34-27 on a drive that covered 82 yards in five plays.
Texans 27, Jaguars 25
Deshaun Watson passed for 281 yards and two touchdowns and Houston’s maligned defense denied a late two-point conversion attempt for a victory over host Jacksonville at TIAA Bank Field.
Watson added a team-leading 50 rushing yards and repeatedly produced when the Texans (2-6) were most desperate. His scramble to the 1-yard line set up a touchdown run by Duke Johnson with 30 seconds remaining in the first half and his 77-yard touchdown pass to Will Fuller at the 6:05 mark of the third quarter extended the Houston lead to 27-16.
Houston made a pair of timely defensive stops in the fourth quarter, stuffing running back James Robinson on fourth down to preserve an eight-point lead over the Jaguars (1-7). J.J. Watt added a strip sack of Jaguars rookie quarterback Jake Luton at the 6:26 mark of the final period, becoming the 35th player in NFL history to record 100 career sacks.
Chiefs 33, Panthers 31
Quarterback Patrick Mahomes passed for 372 yards and four touchdowns to lead host Kansas City past Carolina.
Tight end Travis Kelce came up huge for Kansas City (8-1), snagging 10 receptions for 159 yards as the Chiefs gained their fourth straight win and remained entrenched in the AFC West lead.
Sparked by the return of All-Pro running back Christian McCaffrey, who missed the previous six games with an ankle injury, Carolina (3-6) produced touchdowns on its first two possessions and grabbed a 14-3 lead early in the second quarter. But the Chiefs took the lead for good at 20-17 as Clyde Edwards-Helaire caught a 4-yard TD pass from Mahomes with 4:42 left in the third quarter. McCaffrey finished with 151 yards on 28 touches, including 10 receptions.
Titans 24, Bears 17
Ryan Tannehill threw for two touchdowns, and Tennessee’s maligned defense played one of its best games of the year in a win over struggling Chicago in Nashville, Tenn.
Tannehill completed just 10 of 21 passes, but for 158 yards with no interceptions. NFL rushing leader Derrick Henry was held to 68 yards on 21 carries for the Titans, who gained a season-low 228 total yards. But the defense came up big against one of the league’s weaker offenses. Tennessee (6-2) held Chicago off the scoreboard through three quarters while posting a season-high three sacks, and held the Bears to just 2 of 15 on third down conversions.
Chicago (5-4) saw quarterback Nick Foles hit on 36 of 52 passes for 335 yards, and fourth-quarter touchdowns to Ryan Nall and Jimmy Graham. But the Bears trailed 24-3 before scoring twice in the last 5:06.
Ravens 24, Colts 10
Lamar Jackson had 228 yards of total offense and a rushing touchdown and Gus Edwards ran for another score to lead visiting Baltimore to a victory against Indianapolis.
Baltimore (6-2) became the first team to defeat the Colts (5-3) at Lucas Oil Stadium this season despite being outgained 339-266.
The Ravens outscored the Colts 17-0 in the second half. Edwards gave Baltimore a 14-10 lead with a 1-yard touchdown run with 5:43 remaining in the third quarter. Jackson padded the lead with 11:08 remaining in the fourth quarter, scoring on a 9-yard run.
Giants 23, Washington 20
Logan Ryan intercepted Alex Smith with 1:15 remaining as visiting New York nearly squandered another lead but held on for a victory over the Washington Football Team.
The Giants (2-7) beat Washington (2-6) for the fifth straight time and picked up the season sweep after Ryan stepped in front of Smith’s pass for Terry McLaurin in the middle of the field. New York quarterback Daniel Jones completed 23-of-34 for 212 yards and threw a 16-yard touchdown to Evan Engram in the second quarter to help the Giants build a 20-3 lead.
The Giants forced five turnovers, and Washington lost starting quarterback Kyle Allen to a serious ankle injury late in the first quarter. Smith, Allen’s replacement, completed 24-of-32 for 325 yards and a 68-yard TD to McLaurin, but he was also picked off three times.
—Field Level Media
