Confetti from an NFL weekend
Philadelphia 26, Dallas 17
— After the Cowboys closed to within 20–17, the Eagles (6-0) boarded the locomotive and squashed Dallas’ defense on a 13-play, 75-yard drive. Ten of the first 11 plays wre runs, including two third-and-four conversions. Jalen Hurts capped it with a 7-yard touchdown to Devonta Smith (pictured) and the suspense ended there.
– The Eagles’ veteran secondary was credited for 14 passes defensed, four by James Bradberry, and had three interceptions.’
– Cooper Rush suffered his first loss as a starter, with an abysmal QB rating of 37.3 and 20 incompletions in 38 attempts.
Buffalo 24, Kansas City 20
– Josh Allen was 5-for-6 on the game-winning drive, which ended with a 14-yarder to Oliver Knox with 1:09 remaining. The Bills rose to 5-1 with the win at Arrowhead Stadium, scene of their elimination the past two seasons.
– Von Miller sacked Patrick Mahomes twice, and the Bills’ defense hit him nine times and intercepted him twice. One of Miller’s sacks blunted a Kansas City drive when the Chiefs led 20-17 in the fourth quarter.
– Maybe it’s an indication of league-wide trends and maybe it’s because Tyreek Hill isn’t around anymore, but Kansas City (4-2) has been held under 30 points in four of six games.
New York Jets 27, Green Bay 10
– Jets’ coach Robert Saleh says his defense is like a “rolling ball of butcher knives,” and it cut the Packers deeply., with four sacks. The Jets (4-2) also held Green Bay to three yards per rush.
– This club had the splashiest draft this season, and Iowa State running back Breece Hall has scored touchdowns in three consecutive games. His 32-yard touchdown helped him to his first 100-yard rushing day.
– While the Jets are 3–0 on the road, the Packers (3–3) converted one of 11 third downs at Lambeau Field and reached the red zone only once. Aaron Rodgers was 8-for-18 when trying to find wide receivers Romeo Doubs and Allen Lazard.
New England 38, Cleveland 15
– Bill Belichick tied George Halas for second place on the alltime wins list, 23 behind Don Shula, and isn’t looking back. The Patriots were 1-2 but are now 3-3, with an OT loss at Green Bay. Bailey Zappe, the Western Kentucky rookie, had his first 300-yard passing day.
– Matthew Judon of the Patrots has a sack and at least one TFL (tackle for loss) in five of New England’s six games.
– The Browns (2-4) are catching heat. They’ve given up 68 points in their past two games and had four turnovers on Sunday. Nick Chubb, perhaps the most reliable runner in the league, got only 12 carries. When DeShaun Watson does become eligible, will it matter?
Indianapolis 34, Jacksonville 27
– Few draft picks have brought as much immediate value as Alex Pierce, the receiver from Cincinnati whom the Colts took in the second round. Pierce caught Matt Ryan’s 32-yard touchdown with 0:17 left, a daring maneuver since the Colts could have won it with a field goal. He has 18 catches for 271 yards.
– Ryan, in his 15th year and first with Indianapolis, passed Dan Marino for seventh on the NFL’s alltme pass yardage list, and this was his 45th career game-winning drive.
– It’s something Jacksonville’s Trevor Lawrence can shoot for. Last year’s first-overall pick completed 20 of 22 passes.
Minnesota 24, Miami 16
– The Vikings (5-1) are taking control of the NFL North in Kevin O’Connell’s first coaching season. Defense led the way Sunday with 14 quarterback hits and six sacks, and a strong game from veteran corner Patrick Peterson. Minnesota has won four consecutive games, all by a one-score margin.
– It was the third consecutive 100-yard receiving day by Justin Jefferson, who took six passes 106 yards.
– The Dolphins (3-3) are 0-3 since Tua Tagovailoa got hurt, although they got 100-yard receiving games from Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle. They are also minus-seven in turnovers in those losses.
Atlanta 28, San Francisco 14
– There are eight 3-3 teams in the NFL and none is more grateful than the Falcons, who throttled the 49ers by going 9 for 14 on third down tries.
— Atlanta has won its past two games with 27 completions, total. Marcus Mariota was 13-for-14 on Sunday.
– – The 49ers, one of the 3-3 brigade, did not score in the second half and Deebo Samuel was held to 90 yards of offense for the game.
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