Indianapolis, Philadelphia, Houston among Sunday’s NFL winners
Joe Flacco threw for 189 yards and two touchdowns, leading the Indianapolis Colts to a 20-17 win Sunday over the Tennessee Titans. The Colts got a much-needed split of back-to-back road games inside the AFC South with second-year quarterback Anthony Richardson scratched again with an injured right hip. The battered Colts also had 2021 NFL rushing champ Jonathan Taylor out for a second straight game. The Titans (1-4) now have lost three straight to their division rival. They will have to wait until November to try and win their first home game this season for first-year coach Brian Callahan.
Philadelphia 20, Cleveland 16
Jalen Hurts threw for 264 yards and two touchdowns, including a go-ahead 45-yard toss to DeVonta Smith in the fourth quarter, and the ragged Philadelphia Eagles held off the Cleveland Browns 20-16. Hurts also threw a 22-yard TD to A.J. Brown, who returned along with Smith after both wide receivers missed time with injuries. The Eagles improved to 3-2 coming off their bye, while the Browns fell to 1-5. Cleveland got its only touchdown on a blocked field goal by Myles Garrett that Rodney McLeod Jr. returned for a score. Quarterback Deshaun Watson had another ineffective game for the Browns.
Houston 41, New England 21
C.J. Stroud threw three touchdown passes and the Houston Texans spoiled the first start of rookie New England quarterback Drake Maye, breezing past the Patriots 41-21. Joe Mixon rushed for 102 yards and caught a TD pass from Stroud. Stefon Diggs had six catches for 77 yards and a score for the AFC South-leading Texans, and Tank Dell had seven receptions for 57 yards and a TD. The Patriots got a boost from Maye, the No. 3 overall pick in the NFL draft. Taking over for veteran Jacoby Brissett, he finished 20 of 33 for 243 yards and three touchdowns.
Baltimore 30, Washington 23
Lamar Jackson threw for 323 yards and a touchdown to outshine rookie Jayden Daniels and the Baltimore Ravens beat the Washington Commanders 30-23 for their fourth consecutive victory. Washington's winning streak ended at four. Derrick Henry ran for 132 yards and scored his NFL-leading eighth and ninth TDs. Mark Andrews found the end zone for the first time this season with a 13-yard reception from Jackson. Daniels connected with Terry McLaurin on two TDs but the Commanders struggled to get much of a running game going and could not contain Jackson and Henry.
Tampa Bay 51, New Orleans 27
Baker Mayfield overcame three turnovers with 325 yards and four touchdowns passing, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers defeated the New Orleans Saints 51-27 in what they hoped would be a morale boost to their many fans who endured Hurricane Milton. The result blemished rookie quarterback Spencer Rattler’s first NFL start for New Orleans, which has lost four straight after opening the season with a pair of lopsided victories. The Bucs escaped Milton's path by leaving Tampa Bay on Tuesday and practiced in New Orleans all week. They responded by putting up big numbers in the Superdome. Tampa Bay rushed for 277 yards and finished with 594 yards. Rattler passed for 243 yards and a TD but was intercepted twice.
Pittsburgh 32, Las Vegas 13
Najee Harris finally found his form after a slow start to the season, rushing for 106 yards and a touchdown to lift the Pittsburgh Steelers to a 32-13 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders. Harris exceeded 100 yards for the first time since ending last season with back-to-back such performances. Quarterback Justin Fields added 59 yards on the ground and two TDs, though he passed for just 145 yards. Pittsburgh had its highest-scoring game since last season as it stopped a two-game skid to improve to 4-2. Aidan O'Connell finished 27 of 40 for 227 yards with a touchdown pass and an interception for the Raiders.
Atlanta 38, Carolina 20
Bijan Robinson ran for 95 yards and two touchdowns, Tyler Allgeier added 105 yards rushing and a score and the Atlanta Falcons defeated the Carolina Panthers 38-20 on Sunday for their third straight win over an NFC South foe in three weeks. Kirk Cousins completed 19 of 30 passes for 225 yards and a 3-yard touchdown pass to Drake London. Andy Dalton finished 26 of 38 for 221 yards with two touchdowns passes and two fourth-quarter interceptions for the Panthers (1-5), who have lost three straight.
L.A. Chargers 23, Denver 16
Justin Herbert led a methodical Chargers offense to a 23-16 win over the Broncos after star cornerback Patrick Surtain II was concussed on Denver's first defensive snap. Without Surtain, the Broncos couldn't consistently get the Chargers' offense off the field. Herbert led the Chargers to scores on their first four drives and their only possession that ended without points came on the quarterback's kneel-down just before halftime. The Chargers moved into second place in the AFC West. Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh missed the start while being evaluated, but returned in the first quarter.