Key events
LANDING! Titans 0-10 Colts 0:18, 1st quarter
Phew. How strong is Jonathan Taylor? That’s the raw strength of the Colts star running back as he breaks a tackle and bursts into the corner of the end zone. He gained every one of those 18 yards.
LANDING! Buccaneers 7-0 Saints 6:47, 1st quarter
I praised Rattler earlier, but this is bad. Very bad. Anthony Nelson jumps the throw and makes the interception to throw it for a pick six. The Saints had just stopped the Buccs four times at the two-yard line, so it must sting to see the offense give Tampa a touchdown.
LANDING! Cowboys 3-7 Broncos 8:21, 1st quarter
Nix hits Franklin for a 26-yard gain to bring the Broncos into positive territory and two plays later, RJ Harvey weaves his way out of the backfield, through traffic to the outside and sprints for his first NFL rushing touchdown! That’s a running back score. Lutz scores the extra point and the Bronocs lead.
Cowboys 3-0 Broncos 10:35, 1st quarter
Brandon Aubrey scores a field goal after the Cowboys stall in the red zone. A huge reception from CeeDee Lamb had Dallas inside the Broncos five-yard line, but they couldn’t get there.
Titans 0-3 Colts 9:46, 1st quarter
It’s not a touchdown from Jones that leads his team to another opening score. Michael Badgley kicks a 43-yard field goal to get the Colts on the board.
Interception! Broncos 0-0 Cowboys 1:35 p.m., 1st quarter
It’s not the start Bo Nix would have liked. After moving the chains on the first two plays, the Broncos QB miscues a throw over the middle that is easily recovered by Trikweze Bridges.
Titans 0-0 Colts 14:05, 1st quarter
The Colts open with back-to-back first downs. Daniel “Indiana” Jones is already riding.
Saints 0-0 Buccaneers 3:38, 1st quarter
Uh oh, Rattler gets sacked and, after being in scoring position, the Saints are back almost halfway. In the third and long period, they are unable to catch up and have to clear.
Saints 0-0 Buccaneers 7:28, 1st quarter
We resume action midway through the first quarter with the only game in progress. You haven’t missed much. Saints quarterback Spencer Rattler fumbled on the very first drive, but the Buccs couldn’t take advantage as Baker Mayfield made a three-and-out. Rattler, who has been better than expected since taking the starting job in New Orleans, has the team on this road. He has yet to throw an incomplete pass and took the Saints to the Tampa Bay 39-yard line.
Good morning, While Graham gets some much-needed rest, I’ll guide you through the early stages of the late window.
That’s right, I need to lie down, but instead we have three more for you!
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(1-6) New Orleans Saints vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-2)
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(5-2) Denver Broncos vs. Dallas Cowboys (3-3-1)
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(6-1) Indianapolis Colts vs. Tennessee Titans (1-6)
Denver vs. Dallas could be a real barn burner, let’s go for it!
Full time: THE JETS WIN!!!!
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(3-4) Falcons 10-34 Dolphins (2-6)
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(2-5) Ravens 30-16 Bears (4-3)
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(4-4) Panthers 9-40 Bills (5-2)
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(3-5) Bengals 38-39 Jets (1-7)
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(3-4) Texans 26-15 49ers (5-3)
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(6-2) Patriots 32-13 Browns (2-6)
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(6-2) Eagles 38-20 Giants (2-6)
The Jets defense holds strong for almost the first time tonight. Amazing. Justin Fields and Breece Hall were excellent.
LANDING! Bengals 38-39 Jets 1:54, 4th quarter
The Jets could win a football game. Wow! Mason Taylor catches a four-yard pass from Breece Hall (What?!). Absolute scenes! Flacco has two minutes to save this one. Remember when I called him up for the Bengals? Oops.
Final score: Falcons 10-34 Dolphins, Panthers 9-40 Bills
Some pretty significant no-shows from the home teams here. We are moving forward very quickly…
LANDING! Ravens 30-16 Bears 3:23, 4th quarter
Well they rely on Derrick Henry but not to kill the match. The bulldozer in human form returns home from the one meter line. With Lamar Jackson likely returning next week, things suddenly look a little rosier in Baltimore.
LANDING! Eagles 38-20 Giants 2:44, 4th quarter
It’s a tough time for the G-men, but Jaxson Dart is still giving everything you love to see. He hangs around in the pocket for an age then starts moving as he gets away from three defenders who just miss him. The rookie dances again then throws an 18 yarder for a first down. Oh, and he follows it up with a quarterback rush for a two-yard score. Showing tons of promise.
LANDING! Eagles 38-13 Giants 5:59, 4th quarter
Jahan Dotson snags a 40-yard strike from Jalen Hurts to put this out of Philadelphia’s sight. Tough day for the Giants after losing Skattebo to a dislocated ankle.
LANDING! Bengals 38-32 Jets 7:52, 4th quarter
And in an instant, the Jets fought back. Breece Hall torments the Bengals who look absolutely exhausted. The runner sprints through them for a 27-yard score. Strangely, the Jets go for two and get a pass to Isaiah Davis. Excellent work at a high tempo, a five-part disc of 2 minutes 29 seconds.
Ravens 23-16 Bears 5:06, 4th quarter
It’s good! Cairos Santos brings the Bears within a touchdown with five minutes on the clock. Baltimore is hoping Derrick Henry can kill the game on this drive. W backup season for the Ravens? They have to get it first.
LANDING! Bengals 38-24 Jets 10:21, 4th quarter
This epic shootout keeps shooting. A nice mix of run and pass makes the Swiss cheese for the Jets and on the one yard line, Chase Brown finishes his dinner for the touchdown. This looks like two wins out of two for Flacco at the Bengals. What Cinci’s job! The aging superstar has 216 yards and two touchdowns and one rushing. Ancient.
LANDING! Panthers 9-40 Bills 5:46, 4th quarter
Ah trash time, when blowouts become a little less disrespectful. Incredible news for my fantasy team, Chuba Hubbard runs in for a three-yard touchdown. How are your teams handling the bye-pocalypse? Having Jahmyr Gibbs and Amon-Ra St Brown certainly takes its toll on me.
LANDING! Ravens 23-13 Bears 8:13, 4th quarter
LANDING! Eagles 31-13 Giants 11:17, 4th quarter
The defenses are tiring now. Dallas Goedert picks up his second score of the day (he’s a tight end!!) for Philadelphia while Charlie Kolar, OMG he’s also a tight end, gives the Ravens a healthy, if not slightly shocking, lead with a 10-yard catch. This Baltimore touchdown organized by a clever interception by Nate Wiggins.
In slightly less good news, it seems I cursed the Eagles as Saquon Barkley leaves the field during this scoring streak with a leg injury. They don’t need him anymore, so rest easy, Saquads.
LANDING! Bengals 31-24 Jets 14:17, 4th quarter
Although the Jets defense is incredibly efficient, the offense is doing very well. Breece Hall kicks it from five yards out and they make the two-point conversion thanks to the quick feet of quarterback Justin Fields.
Eagles 24-13 Giants 13:57, 4th quarter
The Giants defense can’t handle Philadelphia’s rushing attack. They are torn to a height of 219 meters on the ground. Saquon Barkley has 150 but he is very well spotted by Tank Bigsby who has 54 in four races. As a team, they average 10 yards per play on the ground. Unstoppable.
LANDING! Texans 23-15 49ers 7:01, 3rd quarter
Did I mention it’s National Tightening Day? Well, it’s National Tight End Day. And on this special day, we can celebrate the other pass that caught San Fran tight end Jake Tonges for a two-yard score for the Niners. They are still in the fight but must slow down the Texans.
LANDING! Bengals 31-16 Jets 2:34, 3rd quarter
The Jets defense really conspires to make some pretty average Bengals players look like world beaters. First Flacco looking like Peyton Manning, now Samaje Perine imitating Barry Sanders. The veteran rumbles for a 32-yard touchdown.
LANDING! Patriots 30-7 Browns 0:10, 3rd quarter
Drake Maye is on fire! He hits Kayshon Boutte with a nice long spiral into the end zone for 39 yards and his third scoring pass of the game. Out of sight.
LANDING! Panthers 3-33 Bills 4:59, 3rd quarter
James Cook is off to the races again. His second touchdown this time was a 21-yard run that put the runner on a frankly insane total of 214 yards on 18 carries with an average of 12 yards per carry. At the rate of over 300, wow.
LANDING! Ravens 16-13 Bears 12:22, 4th quarter
And we have a close game, people! Baltimore’s defense thinks they have the third-down stop at the goal line, but D’Andre Swift just bursts in for the touchdown. Can the Ravens hold on for an improbable victory?
LANDING! Texans 23-7 49ers 7:29, 3rd quarter
Apologies to 49ers fans, but it appears I provoked CJ Stroud and the Texans. As soon as I say it was our closest game, they go down the field and the quarterback hits Xavier Hutchinson with a 30-yard strike for the touchdown. A close game alert of sorts now is Baltimore’s 16-6 lead over Chicago.
