Texans 34, Lions 31 (OT)
In what was a shootout until the end, the now 10-1 Texans came out on top. The Lions, led by Matthew Stafford’s 441 passing yards and two touchdowns on the day, held a late lead that was erased by an erroneous rushing touchdown by Houston’s Justin Forsett. Because all touchdowns are now automatically reviewed, coaches are not allowed to challenge. But Detroit head coach Jim Schwartz challenged the play, costing the Lions a penalty and the right to review the call. The game ultimately went to overtime, where Houston kicker Shayne Graham kicked a 32-yard field goal with 2:11 left in the game to win.
Redskins 38, Cowboys 31
Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III continues to make his case to win the Offensive Rookie of the Year award, as he threw four touchdown passes for the second straight game, including three touchdowns and 178 yards passing in the second quarter alone to put the Redskins up 28-3 at halftime. Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo attempted to lead a comeback, throwing for 441 yards and three touchdowns, but he threw a late interception that halted the comeback effort and sealed the win for Washington.
Patriots 49, Jets 19
Embarrassing would be an understatement to describe the Jets’ effort in this game. It started out looking promising, but the tables quickly turned. Entering the second quarter, the game had no score. That quickly changed, however, as the Jets could not hold on to the football. Fumble after fumble allowed New England to score three touchdowns in a mere 52 seconds, going on to outscore the lifeless Jets 35-3 in the second quarter alone. The Patriots have scored a combined 108 points in the last two games and now sit at 8-3 atop the AFC East division.
49ers 31, Saints 21
49ers quarterback Alex Smith seems to be losing his grip on a job with the 49ers, as Colin Kaepernick continues to dazzle while Smith recovers from a concussion. Kaepernick threw for 231 yards and a touchdown while the 49ers defense caused Saints quarterback Drew Brees to make unusual mistakes, including two interceptions returned for touchdowns. The 49ers continue to have a strong hold on the NFC West division, while the loss halted the Saints’ three-game winning streak.
Giants 38, Packers 10
The Giants came out looking flat. Eli Manning made poor throws, Giants’ receivers dropped passes and the Packers offense burned the Giants for a quick touchdown on their first drive. But the tide quickly turned, as Manning threw for three touchdowns and the Giants defense held the normally high-powered Green Bay offense to 317 total yards, including 219 passing yards by reigning league MVP Aaron Rodgers. The Giants are now 7-4 heading into a crucial Monday night matchup with division rival Washington next week.
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asmith6@ramapo.edu
