Defense drives Vikings again
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MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Harrison Smith capped another dominant performance by Minnesota’s defense with the game-sealing interception, and the Vikings overcame another sluggish start to stay unbeaten with a 16-10 victory on Sunday over spiraling Indianapolis.
Linebacker Blake Cashman led the onslaught of pressure on Daniel Jones all afternoon with 12 tackles, two sacks, four passes defensed and three quarterback hits for the Vikings (6-0), who won yet again despite minimal production from Kyler Murray and the offense.
Smith picked off Jones around midfield with about a minute left to kill the last-ditch drive by the Colts (2-5) before it ever got going, the 40th career interception for the stalwart safety who decided right before the regular season to return for his 15th year.
Jones went 13 for 122 for 108 yards and lost 44 yards on four sacks, with Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores continually sending blitzers into the backfield.
Will Reichard made three field goals for the Vikings, including a 52-yarder with 1:39 left after his 59-yard try was blocked by Grover Stewart earlier in the fourth quarter.
FALCONS 29, 49ERS 20
ATLANTA (AP) -- Michael Penix Jr. threw three touchdown passes, Atlanta scored 13 points off four turnovers and the Falcons handed San Francisco its first loss.
San Francisco (6-1) was already thin at wide receiver before its offense faced additional limitations when running back Christian McCaffrey missed much of the first half with a thigh injury.
Rookie linebacker Kendal Daniels intercepted Brock Purdy’s pass intended for Jordan Watkins with 2:34 remaining. It was Purdy’s second interception. Daniels then recovered a fumble by George Kittle with less than a minute remaining.
The 49ers had only six turnovers in their first six games.
LIONS 20, PACKERS 17
DETROIT (AP) -- Jake Bates made a 22-yard field goal as time expired to give Detroit a win over Green Bay.
The Lions (4-2) have won two straight for the first time this season, putting them in third place in the NFC North behind Minnesota (6-0) and Chicago (5-2).
The Packers (4-3) had a three-game winning streak stopped and dropped to last place in the NFC North, likely lamenting a lot of penalties that went against them. The AFC North also has all four teams with winning records.
Detroit coach Dan Campbell, who is known for being aggressive, seemed to make a reckless decision to go for it on fourth-and-1 from his 24 with just under 5 minutes to play. Jahmyr Gibbs was stopped for no gain, but the curious choice didn’t backfire.
STEELERS 16, SAINTS 10
SAINT-DENIS, France (AP) -- Aaron Rodgers threw one touchdown pass to move past Peyton Manning on the career list and Chris Boswell kicked three field goals in Pittsburgh’s 16-10 win over the New Orleans Saints on Sunday in the NFL’s first regular-season game in France.
Rodgers’ 540th career TD put him third all time ahead of Manning. Tom Brady is the career regular-season leader with 649 touchdown passes, followed by Drew Brees at 571.
DOLPHINS 28, JETS 25
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) -- Malik Willis threw two touchdown passes and ran for a score, leading Miami to its first win of the season with a victory over New York Jets.
The Dolphins (1-5) came off their bye-week break and avoided their first 0-6 start since 2019 by scoring on their first two drives and controlling most of the game before holding on to give coach Jeff Hafley his first win.
BROWNS 27, TITANS 24
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- Deshaun Watson led his fifth game-winning drive in the fourth quarter this season, connecting with Harold Fannin Jr. on a 36-yard catch-and run that set up Andre Szmyt’s 32-yard field goal as time expired, and Cleveland beat Tennessee for its fifth win in six games.
GIANTS 27, TEXANS 21 (OT)
HOUSTON (AP) -- Devin Singletary’s 30-yard touchdown run in overtime lifted New York to a win over Houston.
Cam Skattebo had a 16-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter and his 42-yard scamper to set up Singletary’s game-winning run. He had 17 carries for 124 yards after not having a carry last Sunday following a costly fumble two weeks ago.
BENGALS 35, RAVENS 13
BALTIMORE (AP) -- Joe Burrow threw four touchdown passes in the second half, and Cincinnati rebounded from a desultory first two quarters to beat Baltimore, handing the Ravens a second straight divisional loss with Lamar Jackson sidelined.
BRONCOS 30, CARDINALS 16
GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) -- Bo Nix ran for a 62-yard touchdown, RJ Harvey turned a short screen pass into a 52-yard touchdown and Denver used a handful of big offensive plays to beat Arizona.
The Cardinals have lost 10 straight home games in a streak that’s lasted 406 days.
BUCCANEERS 43, PANTHERS 13
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) -- Bucky Irving ran for 106 yards and two touchdowns, and Tampa Bay forced four turnovers as the Buccaneers hammered Carolina in Baker Mayfield’s return.
RAMS 35, RAIDERS 21
LAS VEGAS (AP) -- Matthew Stafford threw for 195 yards and three touchdowns to become the Rams’ career leader in passing TDs, and Los Angeles resembled the team previously favored to win the Super Bowl, beating Las Vegas.