Welcome to the bye months. Over the next nine weeks, every team will get a spare Sunday of rest. Only two enjoy that luxury this Sunday, but thirteen more pairs of teams go at it. We begin in...
Detroit, as the Lions host the Chicago Bears. Chicago struck first in the first quarter on a Robbie Gould field goal of 34 yards. Detroit tied it with a field goal by David Akers, good from 23 yards out. The Lions took the lead in the second quarter on an Akers field goal from 31 yards. The Bears gained the lead as Matt Forte ran 53 yards for a touchdown, and Gould drilled the extra point. Detroit replied with an Akers field goal of 41 yards. The Lions pulled ahead on a Matthew Stafford 1 yard touchdown run, and Akers was true with the extra point. Detroit extended the lead as Stafford passed 2 yards for a touchdown pass caught by Calvin Johnson, and Akers nailed the extra point. The Lions got some more as Reggie Bush ran in a 37 yard touchdown, and Akers was there with the PAT. Chicago got some back when Gould made a 28 yard field goal. The Bears chipped back in the third quarter on a Gould field goal from 25 yards away. Detroit responded on a Nick Fairley 4 yard fumble return for a touchdown after a bobble from Jay Cutler. The Lions tacked on a fourth quarter field goal by Akers, good from 43 yards. Chicago got some back as Cutler tossed a 14 yard touchdown to Alshon Jeffrey, and then he tossed the two-point conversion to Jeffrey as well. The Bears pulled closer on a Cutler touchdown of 10 yards to Earl Bennett, and another successful two-point conversion pass, this time going to Brandon Marshall brought them to a 40-32 deficit. They would not complete the comeback, falling by that margin, and both teams move to 3-1 on the season.
Down in Houston, the Texans welcome the Seattle Seahawks. Seattle led off in the first quarter on a Steven Hauschka field goal of 48 yards. Houston answered in the second quarter as Matt Schaub tossed a 31 yard touchdown pass to Garrett Graham, and Randy Bullock booted the extra point. The Texans added on with a 5 yard touchdown pass from Schaub to Arian Foster, and Bullock again supplied the extra point. Houston extended the lead as Bullock made a 22 yard field goal. The Texans padded the lead with a 42 yard Bullock field goal. The Seahawks responded in the third quarter as Hauschka made a 39 yard field goal. Seattle pulled closer in the fourth quarter on a 3 yard touchdown run by Marshawn Lynch, and Hauschka knocked in the PAT. The Seahawks tied the game as Richrd Sherman returned an interception of Schaub for 58 yards and a touchdown, and Hauschka's extra point was the equalizer. The tie lasted into overtime, where a field goal of 45 yards was good enough for Hauschka and Seattle to claim a victory. The Seahawks go to 4-0 while the Texans fall to 2-2.
Back north a bit, we have the battle of Ohio, where the Cleveland Browns bring in the Cincinnati Bengals. Cleveland got going in the first quarter with a 2 yard touchdown pass from Brian Hoyer to Jordan Cameron, and Billy Cundiff knocked in the extra point. Cincinnati got on the board in the second quarter with a Mike Nugent field goal of 25 yards. The Browns answered when Cundiff made a 51 yard field goal in the third quarter. The Bengals replied with a Nugent field goal of 43 yards. Cleveland shot back in the fourth quarter as Hoyer found Chris Ogbonnaya for 1 yard and a touchdown, and Cundiff drilled the PAT. They held on for a 17-6 win, and both teams stand at 2-2 now.
Southeast to Jacksonville, with the Jaguars hosting the Indianapolis Colts. Jacksonville was first to score in the first quarter on a Josh Scobee field goal of 53 yards. Indianapolis tied it in the second quarter as Adam Vinatieri made a 22 yard field goal. The Colts took the lead on a Darius Butler interception of Blaine Gabbert, returned for 41 yards and a touchdown, and Vinatieri made the extra point. Indianapolis added on with a 1 yard touchdown run by Trent Richardson, and Vinatieri handled another extra point. The Colts extended the lead as Vinatieri knocked in a 46 yard field goal. Indianapolis padded the lead in the third quarter with a 31 yard touchdown pass from Andrew Luck to Coby Fleener, and Vinatieri was there with the PAT. The Colts kept going on a Luck touchdown pass of 5 yards to Reggie Wayne, and Vinatieri again made the extra point. Indianapolis wrapped it up at 37-3 with a fourth quarter field goal of 28 yards by Vinatieri.
Northwest is next, as the Kansas City Chiefs welcome the New York Giants. Kansas City began in the second quarter with an Alex Smith touchdown pass of 5 yards to Sean McGrath, and Ryan Succop was there with the extra point. New York tied it as Eli Manning connected with Victor Cruz for 69 yards and a touchdown, and Josh Brown kicked in the extra point. The Chiefs retook the lead as Succop made a 51 yard field goal. Kansas City added on in the third quarter as Dexter McCluster returned a punt for 89 yards and a touchdown, and Succop nailed the PAT. The Chiefs extended the lead in the fourth quarter when Smith found Jamaal Charles for 2 yards and a touchdown, and Succop again handled the extra point. Kansas City padded the lead as Smith tossed a 34 yard touchdown to Dwayne Bowe, and Succop booted the extra point. They coasted to a 31-7 victory from here, and the Chiefs are now 4-0 while the Giants are 0-4.
Back in Florida, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers bring in the Arizona Cardinals. Tampa Bay started in the first quarter as Mike Glennon passed an 8 yard touchdown to Mike Williams, and Rian Lindell made the extra point. The Buccaneers added on in the second quarter as Lindell was true with a 50 yard field goal. The scoring was silent until the fourth quarter, where Ariona got on the board as Jay Feely made a 42 yard field goal. The Cardinals tied the game when Carson Palmer passed 13 yards to Larry Fitzgerald for a touchdown, and Feely handled the PAT. Arizona won it 13-10 as Feely made a 27 yard field goal the defense was able to protect. The Cardinals are now 2-2 while the Buccaneers are 0-4.
Up the Atlantic coast, the Buffalo Bills host the Baltimore Ravens. Buffalo opened in the first quarter on a 27 yard field goal by Dan Carpenter. The Bills added on as Carpenter made another 27 yard field goal. Baltimore pulled ahead in the second quarter as Joe Flacco found Marlon Brown for a 10 yard touchdown pass, and Justin Tucker supplied the extra point. Buffalo responded with an EJ Manuel touchdown pass to Robert Woods, a 42 yard connection, and Carpenter knocked in the PAT. The Bills extended the lead as Fred Jackson rushed in a 16 yard touchdown, and Carpenter nailed the extra point. The Ravens got some back in the third quarter on a 26 yard touchdown pass from Flacco to Torrey Smith, and Tucker was true with the extra point. Buffalo countered on a Carpenter field goal of 22 yards. Baltimore chipped back with a Tucker field goal from 35 yards out in the fourth quarter. The Ravens pulled closer with a Tucker field goal of 24 yards. They failed to tie the game, dropping a 23-20 decision, and both teams go to 2-2 on the season.
Across the pond, the Minnesota Vikings are named the host team against the Pittsburgh Steelers in the London game. Minnesota struck first in the first quarter on a Blair Walsh field goal of 54 yards. The Vikings added on as Matt Cassel found Greg Jennings for 70 yards and a touchdown, and Walsh was true with the extra point. Pittsburgh got on the board with an 8 yard touchdown run by Le'Veon Bell, and Shaun Suisham knocked in the extra point. Minnesota answered as Adrian Peterson ran 60 yards for a touchdown, and Walsh was true with the extra point. The Steelers countered with Suisham making a 26 yard field goal. The Vikings replied as Walsh booted a 37 yard field goal. Pittsburgh chipped back in the third quarter as Bell ran in a 1 yard touchdown, and Suisham handled the PAT. Minnesota shot back on a 7 yard touchdown run by Peterson, and Walsh drilled the extra point. The Vikings padded the lead as Cassel and Jennings connected for 16 yards and a touchdown, and Walsh supplied another extra point. The Steelers got some back on a Ben Roethlisberger touchdown pass of 15 yards to Jericho Cotchery, and Suisham nailed the extra point. Pittsburgh pulled closer again as Suisham made a 28 yard field goal. This wasn't enough for them, and they lost 34-27, with the Vikings now at 1-3 while dropping the Steelers to 0-4.
Back in the States, the Tennessee Titans welcome the New York Jets. Tennessee was first to score in the first quarter on a Jake Locker touchdown pass of 1 yard to Delanie Walker, and Rob Bironas was there with the extra point. The Titans added on as Bironas made a 26 yard field goal. New York got on the board in the second quarter as Nick Folk made a 45 yard field goal. Tennessee replied with a 4 yard touchdown pass from Locker to Nate Washington, and Bironas was true with the extra point. The Jets shot back as Folk made a 47 yard field goal. The Titans answered on a 16 yard touchdown by Locker to Justin Hunter, and Bironas kicked the extra point. Tennessee picked up the scoring again in the fourth quarter as Geno Smith fumbled the ball in his own end zone, and Karl Klug recovered it for a touchdown, allowing Bironas to make another extra point. New York chipped back with a 34 yard Smith touchdown pass to Jeff Cumberland, and Folk supplied the extra point. The Titans replied on a Ryan Fitzpatrick touchdown pass to Washington, for 77 yards, and Bironas made the extra point. Fitzpatrick was in the game for the injured Locker. This produced the 38-13 final score, with the Titans now at 3-1 and the Jets at 2-2.
Way to the west, the Oakland Raiders bring in the Washington Redskins. Oakland began in the first quarter as Jeremy Stewart recovered a blocked punt in the end zone for a touchdown, and Sebastian Janikowski made the extra point. The Raiders added on as Matt Flynn found Mychal Rivera for 18 yards and a touchdown, and Janikowski handled another extra point. Washington got on the board in the second quarter on a 25 yard field goal by John Potter. The Redskins pulled closer as Flynn was intercepted by David Amerson for 45 yards on the return, good for a touchdown, and Potter contributed the extra point. Washington took the lead in the third quarter as Robert Griffin III passed 5 yards to Pierre Garcon for a touchdown, and Potter booted the PAT. The Redskins padded the lead on a Roy Helu, Jr. touchdown run of 14 yards, and another Potter extra point made it 24-14 in the fourth quarter. This was a final, with both teams going to 1-3 for the season.
Backtracking to Denver, where the Broncos host the Philadelphia Eagles. Denver opened in the first quarter with a 6 yard Peyton Manning touchdown pass to Wes Welker, and Matt Prater drilled the extra point. Philadelphia answered with an Alex Henery field goal of 35 yards. The Broncos shot back as Trindon Holliday returned the ensuing kickoff for 105 yards and a touchdown, and Prater was called on to make the extra point. The Eagles replied in the second quarter with a 25 yard Henery field goal. Philadelphia pulled closer with a 4 yard Chris Polk touchdown run, and Henery supplied the extra point. Denver countered with a 4 yard touchdown run by Knowshon Moreno. The Broncos added on in the third quarter as Manning found Demaryius Thomas for 1 yard and a touchdown, and Prater was true with the PAT. Denver extended the lead as Manning and Thomas connected again, this time for 15 yards and a touchdown, and Prater supplied the extra point. The Broncos padded the lead as Manning threw his second touchdown of the day to Welker, and Prater capped off the 4 yard connection with an extra point. Denver got some more when Steven Johnson recovered a blocked punt and ran it 17 yards into the end zone for a touchdown, allowing Prater to make another extra point. The Broncos kept going as Prater made a 53 yard field goal. The Eagles got some pity points late as Nick Foles tossed a 6 yard touchdown pass to Jeff Maehl, and Henery kicked the extra point. This produced the 52-20 Broncos win, with the Broncos now at 4-0 and the Eagles at 1-3.
Southwest to San Diego, where the Chargers welcome the Dallas Cowboys. San Diego started in the first quarter as Philip Rivers passed a 26 yard touchdown to Danny Woodhead, and Nick Novak kicked the extra point. Dallas tied it in the second quarter as Tony Romo tossed a 5 yard touchdown to Dez Bryant, and Dan Bailey was there with the extra point. The Chargers retook the lead as Novak made a 36 yard field goal. The Cowboys pulled ahead again with a 34 yard touchdown pass from Romo to Bryant, and Bailey booted the extra point. Dallas added on as Sean Lee picked off Rivers and took the interception 52 yards for a touchdown, and Bailey nailed the extra point. San Diego answered on a 42 yard Novak field goal. The Chargers pulled closer in the third quarter on a 13 yard touchdown reception from Rivers to Woodhead, and Novak was there with the PAT. San Diego took the lead on a 23 yard field goal by Novak in the fourth quarter. The Chargers wrapped it up at 30-21 with a 56 yard touchdown pass from Rivers to Antonio Gates, with Novak good on the extra point. They held on from here, meaning that both teams go to 2-2 on the season.
Finally, Sunday Night Football is in Atlanta, where the Falcons bring in the New England Patriots. Atlanta led off in the first quarter on a field goal by Matt Bryant, good from 23 yards out. New England took the lead in the second quarter as Tom Brady tossed a 1 yard touchdown to Matthew Mulligan, and Stephen Gostkowski made the extra point. The Patriots added on with a Gostkowski field goal of 48 yards. The Falcons shot back as Matt Ryan found Tony Gonzalez for 21 yards and a touchdown, and Bryant handled the extra point. New England took the lead in the third quarter as Gostkowski made a 22 yard field goal. The Patriots added on as LeGarrette Blount ran in a 47 yard touchdown, and Gostkowski knocked in the PAT. Atlanta replied as Bryant made a 45 yard field goal. New England extended the lead as Brady found Kenbrell Thompkins for 18 yards and a touchdown, and Gostkowski drilled the extra point. The Patriots padded the lead as Gostkowski handled a 49 yard field goal. The Falcons got closer with another Ryan touchdown pass to Gonzalez, this time for 11 yards, and Bryant supplied the extra point. Atlanta chipped away as Bryant made a 25 yard field goal. The Patriots held on for a 30-23 win, and improved to 4-0 while dropping the Falcons to 1-3.
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