Williams returns with a vengeance
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ATLANTA (AP) -- Caleb Williams had been "itching" on the sideline while missing three straight games.
Finally cleared to play, Williams performed as if determined to make up for lost time.
Williams completed his first 12 passes in his return from a hamstring injury, D’Andre Swift ran for two touchdowns and the Chicago Bears beat the Atlanta Falcons 31-23 on Sunday.
"You're itching on the sideline during the season," Williams said. "I've had a hamstring injury before, but it was at the end of the year. I had three weeks to be able to get back and play. And so being able sit back and recover, recover, recover … and when I get back just to show who I am and who we are."
Williams said he "felt comfortable from the rip."
The Bears led 31-7 before holding off Atlanta’s comeback attempt in the final quarter.
Bears cornerback Kyler Gordon, who was activated from the physically unable to perform list before the game in his return from a calf injury, had three sacks and two forced fumbles. Gordon’s big day was capped by a sack of Michael Penix Jr. and forced fumble with 2:54 remaining and the Bears protecting a 31-23 lead. The fumble was recovered by Devin Bush at the Atlanta 28.
STEELERS 26, BUCS 19 (OT)
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) -- Aaron Rodgers threw for 253 yards and two touchdowns to rally the Pittsburgh Steelers from a 13-point, fourth-quarter deficit to a 26-19 overtime victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday.
Rodgers shrugged off a slow start to lead four fourth-quarter scoring drives, then finished off a 12-play, 70-yard march with a 7-yard TD throw to Germie Bernard to give the Steelers (4-2) the lead for good with 3:15 remaining in OT.
BILLS 33, RAIDERS 30
LAS VEGAS (AP) -- Josh Allen passed for 255 yards and two touchdowns, using his improvisational brilliance to tie the Bills’ career TD passing record, and held off Las Vegas.
The Raiders (3-3), who have lost three in a row, had rallied to tie it at 23-all. James Cook rushed for a 3-yard touchdown with 4:43 left to put the Bills (5-1) ahead for good. Tyler Bass added a 38-yard field goal with 1:56 remaining for what turned out to be a crucial two-possession lead.
PANTHERS 25, EAGLES 14
PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- Bryce Young threw for 281 yards and two touchdowns to Tommy Tremble, and Chuba Hubbard ran for 120 yards and a score to lead Carolina past injury-riddled Philadelphia.
The Panthers (3-2) had little trouble in the second half picking apart the Eagles (2-4), who were missing quarterback Jalen Hurts and running back Saquon Barkley.
BROWNS 13, RAVENS 10
CLEVELAND (AP) -- Deshaun Watson connected with Jerry Jeudy for 33 yards to set up Andre Szmyt’s 37-yard field goal on the final snap, and Cleveland rallied past Baltimore.
The Browns (4-2) gave first-year coach Todd Monken -- a former Ravens offensive coordinator -- an improbable victory over his former employer by relying on their defense and getting just enough playmaking from Watson in the end.
TEXANS 34, JAGUARS 31
LONDON (AP) -- Ka’imi Fairbairn kicked a 49-yard field goal as time expired, C.J. Stroud threw three touchdown passes and Houston beat Jacksonville on the slick grass of Wembley Stadium.
Cam Little’s 60-yard field goal had tied the game at 31-31 with just under two minutes left after Travis Hunter intercepted Stroud’s pass in the end zone.
CARDINALS 18, RAMS 16
INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) -- Chad Ryland kicked his sixth field goal, a 43-yarder as time expired, and Arizona rallied for a stunning victory over Los Angeles.
Punter Ethan Evans kicked a go-ahead extra point after Colby Parkinson caught a touchdown pass from Matthew Stafford with 47 seconds to play for the vaunted Rams (2-4), who struggled all day before mounting a desperate final scoring drive.
SAINTS 34, GIANTS 27
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) -- Tyler Shough threw touchdown passes to Bryce Lance, Alvin Kamara and Chris Olave and ran for a score, Isaiah Stalbird forced a fumble on a kick return and New Orleans scored 34 consecutive points, holding on to defeat New York and end its three-game losing streak.
PATRIOTS 26, JETS 19
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) -- Drake Maye threw three touchdown passes, New England overcame losing three offensive linemen and Charles Woods came up with Geno Smith’s first interception of the season in the fourth quarter to help the Patriots hold on for a win over New York.
Maye completed 18 of 32 passes for 235 yards in his third consecutive game with at least three TD passes.
TITANS 26, COLTS 20
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- Tennessee used a 58-yard punt return to set up their first touchdown, returned a blocked punt for another score and got a 49-yard field goal from Joey Slye with 2:03 left to earn its first win of the season over Indianapolis.