Cowboys 38, Saints 17
Tony Romo’s back appears to be getting better by the day, and the Dallas Cowboys’ beleaguered defence held on after a strong start.
Romo threw three touchdowns passes – two to Terrance Williams – and DeMarco Murray ran for a pair of scores in another 100-yard game in Dallas’ 38-17 victory over the New Orleans Saints on Sunday night.
The Cowboys kept Drew Brees and the Saints scoreless in the first half after giving up an NFL-record 40 first downs in a 49-17 blowout loss in New Orleans last year.
Brees led two scoring drives early in the fourth quarter to cut a 31-3 deficit in half before the Cowboys regained control.
“I think we’re a different team than we were last year,” Romo said. “What you find is you forget it’s the Saints and Drew Brees and just go play.”
Dallas reached 3-1 for the first time under coach Jason Garrett after also starting 2-1 the three previous seasons. The Cowboys are tied with Philadelphia for the NFC East lead.
The Saints (1-3) couldn’t sustain the momentum from their win over Minnesota and lost to the Cowboys in Texas for the first time since 1991.
The Cowboys had 445 yards against former Cowboys defensive coordinator Rob Ryan, who directed the scheme that led to one of the franchise’s worst offensive performances in years last season, about 10 months after they fired him.
Romo was 22-of-29 for 262 yards without an interception. He finished an 80-yard drive to open the game with a 6-yard pass to a leaping Williams in the end zone and found him again for 23 yards to put Dallas up 24-9 with 19 seconds left in the first half.
The 34-year-old quarterback coming off back surgery scrambled for 21 yards on third down a play before Murray broke free in the secondary and fell across the goal line on a 28-yard run for a 31-3 lead in the third quarter.
Dez Bryant had an 18-yard scoring catch late in the fourth quarter to secure the second win for Dallas in the past 10 games against New Orleans.
Murray’s first touchdown, a 15-yard run virtually untouched around right end, was set up when Bruce Carter tipped Brees’ pass and Justin Durant intercepted it at the New Orleans 39.
The NFL’s leading rusher joined Emmitt Smith as the only Dallas running backs with 100 yards in the first four games of a season, and he didn’t fumble in the first quarter for the first time this season. He had 149 yards.
“I’ve always had confidence in myself and my ability and the guys I run behind,” Murray said.
49ers 26, Eagles 21
Frank Gore caught a career-best 55-yard touchdown and ran for 119 yards in his first 100-yard game this year, leading the San Francisco 49ers past Philadelphia 26-21 on Sunday to hand the Eagles their first loss.
The 49ers delivered a late goal-line stand as they avoided their first three-game losing streak under fourth-year coach Jim Harbaugh, containing the league’s top passer in Nick Foles. He threw two incomplete passes from the 1-yard line in the waning moments.
Buccaneers 27, Steelers 24
Mike Glennon hit a diving Vincent Jackson for a 5-yard touchdown with 7 seconds remaining to lift Tampa Bay to a stunning win.
The Buccaneers (1-3) lost to Atlanta by six touchdowns a week ago but bounced back. Glennon passed for 302 yards in his first start of the season, including a 41-yard catch-and-run by Louis Murphy that set up Jackson’s score.
Ben Roethlisberger passed for 314 yards and three touchdowns, but Pittsburgh (2-2) couldn’t protect a seven-point lead in the fourth quarter. Antonio Brown caught seven passes for 131 yards and two scores, and Heath Miller added a career-high nine grabs.
Ravens 38, Panthers 10
Steve Smith punished his former team with seven catches for 139 yards and two touchdowns. Smith spent 13 seasons with Carolina before he was released in a cost-cutting move during the offseason. The 35-year-old receiver showed the Panthers he can still make the big play, scoring twice in the second quarter to help put Baltimore (3-1) in front 21-7 at halftime.
Packers 38, Bears 17
Aaron Rodgers threw for 302 yards and four touchdowns, and the Packers shook off one of their worst offensive performances in years.
The Packers (2-2) scored on their first six possessions to build a 38-17 lead. They racked up 358 yards after being held to 223, their lowest total since 2008, a week earlier in a 19-7 loss at Detroit.
They intercepted Jay Cutler twice in the third quarter to pull away from the Bears (2-2). That gave Green Bay five straight wins at Soldier Field, including the NFC title game four years ago and a play-offs or bust finale for both teams last season.
Chargers 33, Jaguars 14
Philip Rivers threw for 377 yards and three touchdowns, two to Eddie Royal.
Royal had scoring catches of 47 and 43 yards, his second straight two-touchdown game. The Chargers (3-1) extended their winning streak to three.
Vikings 41, Falcons 28
Teddy Bridgewater passed for 317 yards and a key 2-point conversion before leaving with an ankle injury. The rookie was 19-for-30 with no turnovers and ran five times for 27 yards and a score in his first career start, but his last carry was costly. His left foot rolled underneath him as he was sandwiched by two tacklers at the 1-yard line.
Matt Asiata powered his way in on the next play for his third touchdown, and Bridgewater stayed in to zip a crisp pass to Rhett Ellison to push the lead to 35-28.
As Bridgewater was taken away on a cart for X-rays, Christian Ponder took over at quarterback for the Vikings (2-1).
Texans 23, Bills 17
JJ Watt had another highlight-reel play to help the Texans overcome a tough day offensively. Houston (3-1) were down by three in the third quarter and Ryan Fitzpatrick had just thrown a second interception when the 6ft 5in, 289-pound Watt returned an interception 80 yards to put the Texans up 14-10.
The defensive end caught a touchdown pass in Week 2, giving him more TDs this year than Arian Foster and Andre Johnson combined.
Lions 24, Jets 17
Matthew Stafford threw two touchdown passes and ran for another score as the Lions overcame Calvin Johnson being limited by an ankle injury.
Jeremy Ross and Eric Ebron caught scoring passes for the Lions, who are 3-1 for the second straight season. Stafford finished 24-of-34 for 293 yards.
Dolphins 38, Raiders 14
Ryan Tannehill threw for 278 yards and two touchdowns in the latest London game. Tannehill, in the middle of a storm all week because his coach declined to confirm him as the starter, took advantage of a depleted Oakland defence to snap a two-game losing streak for the Dolphins (2-2).
The Raiders (0-4) scored on their opening drive but struggled after that. And starting quarterback Derek Carr was injured in the third quarter, replaced by third-stringer Matt McGloin.
Tannehill threw a 13-yard touchdown pass to Mike Wallace and an 18-yarder to Dion Sims. Lamar Miller rushed for two more TDs, and cornerback Cortland Finnegan ran back a fumble 50 yards for another.
Colts 41, Titans 17
Andrew Luck threw four touchdown passes and Reggie Wayne scored for the first time this season. Indy (2-2) extended their league-leading streak of consecutive wins over division foes to nine.
Luck was 29-of-41 for a season-best 393 yards. Wayne had seven catches for a season-best 119 yards and scored on a spectacular spinning 28-yard catch.
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