It’s been another wild day in the National Football League, a high-scoring day (the Miami Dolphins dropped 70 points on Denver), an unpredictable day (Arizona got its first win by shocking Dallas and Houston turned things upside down by slamming the Jaguars in Jacksonville) and a day of the very predictable (Seattle beats Carolina, Kansas City crushed the Chicago Bears, and Minnesota lost again).
We’ll have a complete wrap-up of week three when it’s complete on Tuesday morning, after the Monday night games are done, in Mitch Lucas’s first column of the season. For now, though, here’s the scores from today, and links to the best game stories from all of today’s games.
The Cleveland Browns jumped all over the visiting Tennessee Titans, held Derrick Henry under 30 yards and stymied quarterback Ryan Tannehill again, dealing the Titans a 27-3 loss. Titans total 94 yards of offense, their lowest in 49 years, in loss to Browns
The Atlanta Falcons somehow managed only six points in a 20-6 loss at Detroit – oh, I guess the Lions’ defense had something to do with it. Atlanta Falcons baffled by offensive collapse in 20-6 loss to Detroit Lions
Derek Carr was injured, the New Orleans Saints led 17 nothing, and then their defense completely collapsed and allowed Green Bay to score 18 fourth-quarter points in an 18-17 loss at Lambeau Field. Yes, I’m completely serious. Saints lose Derek Carr, lose 17-point lead, lose to Packers
Using words alone, it’s difficult to describe what Tua Tagovailoa and the Miami Dolphins did to the Denver Broncos today. I’ll just say 70-20, and here’s the link: Miami Dolphins score 70 points vs. Broncos in record day
In what might have been the best actual FOOTBALL game of the day – between two 0-2 teams, ironically – Justin Herbert threw for over 400 yards and led the L.A. Chargers to a 28-24 win at Minnesota. Chargers coach Brandon Staley tried to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory with a late-game fourth-down decision, but his team pulled it out, anyway. Vikings out-Charger the Chargers, lose 28-24 to fall to 0-3
The emotional win over the Buffalo Bills on the first Monday night game of the year was fun to watch (if you weren’t a Bills fan). But since then, the New York Jets are collapsing. And they fell to 1-2 today with a 15-10 loss to New England. Might be time to change things now, before it gets worse. Is Zach Wilson safe as Jets’ starting QB? Aaron Rodgers comparison is surprisingly helping his case
Speaking of the Bills, they had little problem Sunday, somewhat surprisingly, on the road at Washington. Josh Allen throws for a TD, runs for another as the Bills rout the Commanders 37-3
Who, outside the Houston Texans’ locker room, really thought they’d go to Jacksonville and beat the Jaguars? Not me. But they did. Fullback Andrew Beck returns kickoff for 85-yard touchdown as Texans wreak havoc on survivor pools
A controversial no-call on a potential pass interference play late in the game would have given Baltimore a first down – but they didn’t get it, and Matt Gay went on to hit a 53-yard field goal to beat the Ravens in OT (oh, by the way: he hit four field goals over 50 yards in a single game, the first kicker to do that in like, ever, or something). Matt Gay kicks 4 FGs over 50 yards, including OT winner, as Colts beat Ravens 22-19
For a while – maybe a minute or two – it looked like Andy Dalton and the Carolina Panthers might go into Seattle and upset the Seahawks. For a minute. Then we woke up. Kenneth Walker III sparks Seahawks in second half as Seattle pulls away to beat Carolina 37-27
It never looked like the Chicago Bears would beat the Kansas City Chiefs. They were routed, 41-10. Patrick Mahomes throws 3 TD passes, Taylor Swift celebrates as Chiefs rout Bears 41-10
The Arizona Cardinals flat-out ambushed the Dallas Cowboys, and really rendered Micah Parsons ineffective, at least early in the game, by simply running plays away from the defender. Joshua Dobbs, James Conner lead the Cardinals to a 28-16 win over the mistake-prone Cowboys
The night wrapped up with a physical battle between the Las Vegas Raiders and the Pittsburgh Steelers in Vegas, with the Raiders coming back to scare Pittsburgh late – and Minkah Fitzpatrick getting kind of hosed with a weak roughing-the-passer call, although in real time, it did look bad – but the Steelers got a 23-18 win. Kenny Pickett passes for 2 touchdowns as Pittsburgh Steelers top Las Vegas Raiders 23-18
There are two Monday night games again this week: Philadelphia at Tampa Bay (on ABC, at 6 p.m. Central Standard Time), and the Los Angeles Rams at Cincinnati (on ESPN, an hour later).
