The early NFL Sunday games featured a Packers' overtime win and offense explosion between the Jets and Chiefs. The Patriots won again, while the Vikings earned a big victory over the Falcons. In the afternoon and night games, the Saints and Panthers battled for NFC South supremacy, and the Giants benched Eli Manning. The Eagles fell down to earth a bit with a loss to Seattle.
Saints (9-3) defeat Panthers (8-4) - 31-21
Saints running back Alvin Kamara continues to impress, pushing himself to the top of the Offensive Rookie of the Year race. Kamara finished off an 11-play, 70-yard drive to open the game with a two-yard touchdown.
But the Panthers stepped onto the field with eight wins too and answered immediately, scoring on a Jonathan Stewert short run. New Orleans' other top-notch back, Mark Ingram, put the Saints up 14-7. Ingram started the drive with an incredible 72-yard run and ended it with a three-yard plunge in the end zone.
Drew Brees also injected himself into the first half action, throwing for a 10-yard score to put the Saints back up 14. A Cam Newton 29-yard touchdown pass to rookie Christian McCaffrey cut the Panthers' deficit to seven at halftime.
The Saints added to their lead on their first possession of the second half. Kamara scored again on an athletic 20-yard run. A New Orleans' field gave the Saints a 17-point cushion, so a final Carolina touchdown was too little, too late.
Kamara had 60 yards rushing and 66 yards receiving, along with two touchdowns. Ingram added 85 yards on the ground.
Chargers (6-6) defeat Browns (0-12) - 19-10
After the two teams failed to score in the opening quarter, the first points on the board came from two Chargers' field goals. Cleveland responded after the second one with a five-play, 65-yard drive to go ahead 7-6; David Njoku caught a 28-yard touchdown pass from rookie quarterback DeShone Kizer.
San Diego reclaimed the lead just before halftime with their third field goal of the half.
The Chargers opened the third quarter by finally finding the end zone, scoring on a 10-play, 78-yard drive to go up 16-7. Philip Rivers hit Keenan Allen for a seven-yard score. The two teams each tacked on a field goal to keep it a nine-point game.
Rivers threw for 344 yards and a touchdown. Browns' receiver Josh Gordon returned from a nearly three-year suspension to catch four balls for 85 yards.
Rams (9-3) defeat Cardinals (5-7) - 32-16
The Rams raced out to a 16-0 lead. A field goal on Los Angeles' opening drive was followed by an interception and Jared Goff touchdown toss to tight end Gerald Everton. The Rams' defense continued to stay involved, taking a second Blaine Gabbert interception back to the house for a pick-six. From there, Arizona was in complete catch-up mode, storming back to score touchdowns on two consecutive possessions to cut the lead to 16-13. But a Rams' field goal put Los Angeles on top by six at halftime.
The Rams reclaimed a double-digit lead in the third quarter when Goff found Sammy Watkins for an 11-yard touchdown.
The Cardinals added a field goal in the fourth quarter, but Los Angeles countered with two of their own. Todd Gurley had 74 yards rushing and 84 yards receiving for the Rams.
Raiders (6-6) defeat Giants (2-10) - 24-17
For the first time since Eli Manning's rookie season, a quarterback other than Manning started a Giants' game behind center. After a New York three-and-out to open the game, Oakland struck first, scoring on a three-play, 60-yard drive. Marshawn Lynch bulldozed his way for a 51-yard touchdown run.
Geno Smith, starting in place of Manning, marched the Giants' on an 11-play, 74-yard touchdown drive to tie the game 7-7. The Raiders added a field goal just prior to halftime, and the score remained 10-7 into the fourth quarter.
While the offensive was lacking for much of the game, the final portion ended in a scoring barrage.
Oakland pushed their lead to 10 with a DeAndre Washington nine-yard touchdown run. New York answered right back with a nine-play, 88-yard drive; Geno Smith found Evan Engram for his first touchdown pass as a Giant. The offensive binging continued on the Raiders' next possession as David Carr hit Cordarrelle Patterson for a quick 59-yard strike deep into Giants' territory. Three plays later Carr threw to Johnny Holton for a nine-yard touchdown. A New York field goal cut the deficit to seven, but the Giants failed to secure the subsequent onside kick.
Carr threw for 287 yards, along with a touchdown, while Smith passed for 212 yards and a score.
Seahawks (8-4) defeat Eagles (10-2) - 24-10
The Seahawks got off to a fast start, jumping out to a 10-0 lead. A Seattle field goal opened the game and then late in the first quarter, Russell Wilson threw to tight end Jimmy Graham for an 11-yard score. The Eagles kicked a field goal for their only points in the first half, but came out strong in the third quarter, driving the ball 74 yards on 11 plays. However, quarterback Carson Wentz fumbled at the goal line to give the ball back to the Seahawks.
Seattle went 80 yards in just under four minutes to extend their lead to 17-3. But an insane, eye-popping throw from Wentz helped the Eagles' to their first touchdown.
Four plays later, Wentz found Nelson Agholor for a 27-yard score.
Up by just seven, Wilson marched the Seahawks right down the field on Seattle's next possession and hit J.D. McKissic for a 15-yard touchdown to put the lead back at 14. Seattle's defense turned the Eagles over twice in the last minutes to secure the victory. Wilson threw for 227 yards and three scores.
