A franchise snapped an extremely long losing streak. And there have already been more overtime games this season than in 2020.
The first of the off-weeks for teams began as the Falcons, Saints, Jets and 49ers were all on hiatus. There was a clash of first-place clubs in the AFC and a battle of Heisman Trophy winning quarterbacks (and former college teammates) in Cleveland. And now there’s only one winless team in the league.
The team and its four-game losing streak headed to Indianapolis. The Texans had been outscored a combined 120-52 in those previous setbacks.
And things only got worse as David Culley’s team managed to roll up 353 total yards but settled for a single field goal. Rookie Davis Mills threw for 243 yards but was intercepted twice, part of three turnovers by Houston. And Lovie Smith’s defensive unit had no real answers for the Indianapolis’ running game.
Losers of nine consecutive games dating back to Week 14 of 2020, the Lions hosted the improved Bengals. And unfortunately for Dan Campbell and his squad, the Men from the Motor City are now the lone winless club in the league this year.
Detroit’s defense had few answers for Cincinnati’s offense – allowing 398 total yards. The Lions’ running game was limited to 36 yards and the team didn’t reach the end zone until 2:15 remaining in the game.
Losers of four consecutive games, Brian Flores’ team made its way to London to take on the winless Jaguars. Tua Tagovaiola returned to the starting lineup and would throw for 329 yards and two scores – both to rookie wideout Jaylen Waddle.
He was also picked off late in the third quarter. The Dolphins owned a 20-17 lead early in the fourth quarter. But Flores’ club couldn’t close the deal and the Jaguars kicked the final two field goals of the game.
It has been a disappointing start to the season for Joe Judge’s club. Now the struggling Giants had to deal with the talented Rams. Big Blue led 3-0 after one quarter but was down by 25 points by intermission.
It was a long day for quarterback Daniel Jones, who wound up throwing for 242 yards. But the third-year pro was sacked four times, served up three interceptions and lost one of his two fumbles. New York’s offense was limited to 261 total yards.
Owners of the second-longest losing streak in league history, the Jaguars hoped to end their 20-game skid at London when they took on the Dolphins.
Urban Meyer would earn his first victory as an NFL head coach thanks to a big effort from rookie quarterback Trevor Lawrence. He lost a fumble but also threw for 319 yards and a score. Matthew Wright kicked field goals of 54 and 53 yards in the final four minutes – the second the game-winner.
A year ago, the Green and White needed 14 games to get their first victory. This year, their lone win was a 27-24 overtime triumph over the defending AFC South champion Titans.
Rookie signal-caller Zach Wilson has a 57.3 completion percentage and has thrown more than twice as many interceptions (9) as touchdown passes (4). New York’s defense has been fairly respectable. But the Jets have yet to pick off a pass in their first five outings in 2021.
First-time NFL head coach Arthur Smith and his team were humbled in Week 1 via a 32-6 loss to the Eagles. But the Falcons have split their last four games and come off a 27-20 triumph over the Jets at London.
The Atlanta defense still has its share of issues and the club has allowed 148 points in five games – 61 of those in the fourth quarter. Matt Ryan is completing 69.1 percent of his passes and versatile Cordarrelle Patterson has scored five touchdowns.
For the third time in six games, Nick Sirianni’s team faced an NFC South foe as the Birds hosted the Buccaneers in prime time. The Eagles’ offense struggled for the vast majority of the evening and finished the game with just 213 total yards.
Down 28-7 late in the third quarter, Philadelphia scored the next 15 points. But the Eagles couldn’t slow down the Bucs’ balanced attack late. On Friday, the team dealt tight end Zach Ertz to the Arizona Cardinals.
Washington’s defense has taken an unexpected beating this season. Now Ron Rivera’s club had to take on Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City offense. But the defending NFC East champions owned a 13-10 lead at intermission but Taylor Heinicke and company were done for the day when it came to scoring.
Meanwhile, Rivera’s struggling team allowed 31 points and 499 total yards despite picking off Mahomes twice and forcing three total turnovers.
Including a playoff clash in 2018, the Colts and Texans met for the 40th time. Indianapolis had won 30 of the previous 30 meetings and now you can make it 31 out of 40.
Quarterback Carson Wentz threw a 51-yard TD pass to Parris Campbell and also connected with veteran T.Y. Hilton for a 52-yard gain. Running back Jonathan Taylor got 83 of his 145 yards rushing on one play and also ran for two scores. And the Colts forced three turnovers.
From wins over the Lions and Eagles to start the season to three straight losses – all by seven points or less. Jimmy Garoppolo is once again on the mend and rookie Trey Lance was dinged in the 17-10 setback at Arizona.
A healthy Nick Bosa has nearly half (5) of the team’s 11 sacks and the Niners entered their off-week as the league’s seventh-ranked defense in terms of yards allowed. Wide receiver Deebo Samuel leads the club with four total touchdowns.
Losers of two straight games after a 3-0 start, the Panthers hosted the Vikings. And Carolina’s defense has zero answers for Minnesota’s attack as the visitors amassed 571 yards in four-plus quarters.
It was a rough outing for Sam Darnold, who hit on just 17 of his 41 throws, was sacked four times and committed two turnovers. But he did rally his team from a 28-17 fourth-quarter deficit to force overtime. The offense was limited to 306 total yards.
The Patriots looked to make it two wins in a row for the first time this season as they welcomed the explosive Cowboys to Foxborough. Damien Harris ran for 101 yards and a score and rookie quarterback Mac Jones threw for 229 yards and two touchdowns.
But he also committed a pair of turnovers, including throwing a pick six in the fourth quarter. He also found Kendrick Bourne for a 75-yard score but the Pats’ defense gave up 567 total yards.
Following consecutive losses to the Ravens and Steelers, Vic Fangio’s team was back at home and took on the Silver and Black. Denver’s defense had its issues – allowing 426 total yards and four offensive TDs – as did starting quarterback Teddy Bridgewater.
He finished with 334 yards through the air and three scores but was sacked five times, threw three interceptions and lost a fumble. The Broncos dropped their third straight game after a 3-0 start.
Chicago looked to make it three wins in a row as they hosted the Packers as the clubs met (including playoffs) for the 203rd time. Matt Nagy’s team wound up taking an early 7-0 lead and had their share of success moving the ball on the ground (140 yards) on the Green Bay defense.
But Joe Barry’s defense also got in the face of Bears’ rookie Justin Fields. He threw for just 174 yards and one score but was also picked off once and was sacked four times.
Mike Zimmer’s club had a chance to get to the .500 mark with a win at Carolina. And it was another week of late heroics by the Purple Gang. Unfortunately for the Vikings, they did let a 28-17 fourth-quarter lead get away.
And Minnesota rolled up 571 total yards by game’s end. Dalvin Cook ran for 140 yards and a score on 29 carries. Kirk Cousins threw for 373 yards and three scores – including the game-winner to K.J. Osborn (27 yards) in overtime.
For the 1st time since 2011, the Seahawks would have a different starter at quarterback as veteran Russell Wilson recovers from finger surgery. The team headed east to take on the Steelers in a Sunday night clash.
Geno Smith and the Seattle offense managed only 65 total yards in the first half and trailed, 14-0, at intermission. Eventually the teams would wind up in overtime. Smith was sacked by T.J. Watt, lost the ball and the ‘Hawks lost in OT.
Mike Tomlin’s team was home for the fourth time in six games as they hosted the depleted Seahawks in prime time. The Steelers owned a 14-0 halftime lead thanks to a Najee Harris touchdown reception and an Eric Ebron TD run.
Pittsburgh never trailed in the game but it wound up going into overtime. Both team had a possession and Seattle had another chance. But T.J. Watt stripped-sacked Geno Smith to set up Chris Boswell’s game-winning kick.
After falling short in the highest-scoring game of the 2021 season, the Browns were back home and took on the unbeaten Cardinals. Kevin Stefanski’s team never knew what hit them as they were overwhelmed by an Arizona offense that was balanced.
The Browns had a rough time protecting Baker Mayfield. He was sacked five times, picked off once and lost two fumbles. The Browns have allowed a combined 84 points in their last two games.
Sean Payton’s team has been perplexing. The team rolled up Packers in Week 1, won at Foxborough two weeks later and comes off a 33-22 triumph at Washington. But the Saints were routed at Carolina and lost to the Giants in overtime at home in Week 4.
Quarterback Jameis Winston has been as advertised, hitting on 60.3 percent of his throws for 12 scores but he’s also turned over the ball four times. The defense could use a better pass rush.
The reigning AFC South champions are the only team in the division with a winning record. Running back Derrick Henry remains the league’s premier workhorse and led the NFL in rushing after five weeks of play.
But the Titans’ defense continues to make it easy for opponents, as was the case a year ago. And Mike Vrabel’s club has allowed almost as many points (130) and it has scored (132). Harold Landry has nearly half (4.5) of the Titans’ 10 sacks.
It’s been a tumultuous week for the organization. Now interim head coach Rich Bisaccia led the Raiders to Denver to take on the Broncos. And the Silver and Black played one of its most complete games of the year is dominating their longtime rivals.
Derek Carr threw for 341 yards and two scores while running back Kenyan Drake scored on the ground (18 yards) and through the air (31 yards). Las Vegas owned a 31-10 lead after three quarters of play.
Off a humbling home loss to the Bills last Sunday evening, Andy Reid’s mistake-prone team headed east to take on the Washington Football Team. The good news is that the Chiefs got back to the .500 mark with a win and allowed a season-low 13 points in the process.
The shaky news was that the team committed three more turnovers – giving the club 14 for the season. Patrick Mahomes threw for 397 yards and two touchdowns but was picked off twice.
Off that scintillating 47-42 victory over the Browns, the Chargers made their way east to Baltimore in a battle of division leaders. Once again, Brandon Staley’s team gave up its share of points and yards.
But quarterback Justin Herbert and the Los Angeles’ offense managed only 208 total yards on 53 plays and owned the football for just 21:53. Herbert threw for only 195 yards and one score but was also intercepted once and sacked two times.
The Bengals look to keep the Lions winless as Zac Taylor’s team made its way to Detroit. And Cincinnati came up with a dominant performance, outgaining Detroit by 170 total yards (398-228) and shut them out for the first three quarters.
Joe Mixon finished with 153 total yards from scrimmage, 40 of those coming on a touchdown reception. Joe Burrow threw for 271 yards and three scores (1 interception). The Bengals matched their win total of 2020.
The Cowboys were back in New England for the second time in three years looking to end a six-game losing streak in this interconference series. And regulation was not enough for this clash that featured a wild fourth quarter and overtime.
Dak Prescott would throw for 445 yards and three TDs (1 interception) – including the game-winner in OT from 35 yards out to CeeDee Lamb. Trevon Diggs came up with his seventh pick of 2021 – a 42-yard score.
Aaron Rodgers and company headed to the Windy City looking to continue their recent winning ways in their longtime rivalry with the Bears. The Packers brought a four-game winning streak vs. Chicago into this showdown and that success continued despite spotting their longtime rivals a 7-0 first-quarter lead.
Aaron Rodgers overcame three sacks and threw for 195 yards and two touchdowns. And Green Bay’s ground attack rolled up 154 yards.
Sean McVay’s squad made their way east and with some extra time to prepare for the New York Giants. And the Rams made it look incredibly easy after trailing 3-0 after one quarter of play.
Matthew Stafford threw three TD passes in the second quarter and finished the game with 251 yards and four scores (1 interception). The defense added four sacks and forced Giants’ quarterback Daniel Jones into four turnovers in a convincing 27-point win.
It was a short week for John Harbaugh’s club. But the Ravens were at home for the second time in seven days and took on the surging Chargers. And Baltimore made it look easy as they limited the Bolts to 26 yards rushing and just 208 yards of total offense.
Ravens’ quarterback Lamar Jackson threw for just 167 yards and a touchdown but was picked off twice. But six players contributed to the team’s 187 yards on the ground courtesy of 38 attempts.
CLEVELAND, OHIO – OCTOBER 17: Markus Golden #44 and Jordan Hicks #58 of the Arizona Cardinals celebrate a sack by Hicks during the third quarter against the Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium on October 17, 2021 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images)
The defending Super Bowl champions made their way to the City of Brotherly Love for a Thursday night clash with the Eagles. Tom Brady threw for 297 yards and touchdowns to tight end O.J. Howard and wide receiver Antonio Brown – the latter snaring nine passes for 93 yards.
Bruce Arians’ team owned the football for 39:56 and running back Leonard Fournette finished with 22 carries for 81 yards and a pair of TDs as the Buccaneers built a 28-7 lead.
The NFL’s lone unbeaten club hit the road for the fourth time in six weeks as the Cardinals made their way to Cleveland without head coach Kliff Kingsbury (via ESPN’s Josh Weinfuss). And Big Red remained undefeated thanks to a complete effort.
Kyler Murray totaled 229 yards through the air and four scores – two to DeAndre Hopkins. Meanwhile, Arizona’s aggressive defense sacked Baker Mayfield five times and forced him into three turnovers.
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Sean McDermott’s club has been on fire since that Week 1 home loss to the Steelers. The Bills entered Week 6 as the league’s highest-scoring team with 172 points.
In their last four games, Buffalo has pitched a pair of shutouts and had outscored the opposition by a combined 156-41 count. Quarterback Josh Allen has thrown for 12 scores and rushed for two more. McDermott’s defense allowed the fewest yards in the league after five weeks of action.