Jake Bates kicked a 44-yard field goal with 15 seconds left and the Lions beat Vikings 31-29 on Sunday in Minneapolis, handing the Vikings their first loss in a back-and-forth game befitting of the NFL’s strongest division.
Jahmyr Gibbs rushed for 116 yards and two of the Lions’ three second-quarter TDs. He also helped Jared Goff guide the Lions 48 yards in four plays to get in range for their rookie kicker while forcing the Vikings to burn their timeouts. Bates improved to 10 for 10 on field goals.
Goff went 22 for 25 for 280 yards with two TDs and no turnovers in his third straight game with a 140-plus passer rating, joining Aaron Rodgers (2011), Kurt Warner (1999) and Roger Staubach (1971) as the only QBs in NFL history to accomplish the feat.
Gibbs had 150 total yards to key a commanding performance by the Lions (5-1) at the line of scrimmage.
Ivan Pace Jr. returned David Montgomery’s fumble 35 yards for a score with 5:50 remaining to give the Vikings (5-1) a one-point lead after they trailed 21-10 at halftime, but Sam Darnold’s crucial 2-point conversion pass sailed past Justin Jefferson.
Eagles 28, Giants 3: Saquon Barkley made a memorable return to MetLife Stadium, rushing for 176 yards and a TD against his former team as he led the visiting Eagles to the blowout win. Jalen Hurts scored on two tush-pushes and threw a 41-yard TD pass to A.J. Brown.
Bengals 24, Browns 21: Joe Burrow threw two TD passes in the third quarter to help the Bengals earn their third win in four games and end a six-game skid in Cleveland. Browns QB Deshaun Watson suffered an Achilles tendon injury.
Packers 24, Texans 22: Newly-signed Brandon McManus kicked a 45-yard FG as time expired to lift the Packers at home. The Texans lost for the first time in four games.
Bills 34, Titans 10: Amari Cooper scored the go-ahead TD in his debut with Bills after being acquired in a trade and Josh Allen tossed two TD passes to help the host Bills rally from a 10-point deficit.
Jaguars 32, Patriots 16: Tank Bigsby rushed for 118 yards and two TDs and Parker Washington returned a punt a team-record 96 yards for a score in the Jags’ comeback win at Wembley Stadium in London. Rookie WR Brian Thomas Jr. caught a TD pass as the Jags erased an early 10-0 deficit. Patriots rookie QB Drake Maye led one fourth-quarter scoring drive, but the Pats lost their sixth straight game.
Colts 16, Dolphins 10: Tyler Goodson ran for one TD and Anthony Richardson led the host Colts on two fourth-quarter scoring drives in the win. The Colts have won four of their last five and three straight at home.
Seahawks 34, Falcons 14: Geno Smith passed for for a pair of TDs and Derick Hall returned a fumble 36 yards for a clinching score as the visiting Seahawks snapped a three-game losing streak. The Falcons lost for the first time in their last four games. Seahawks WR DK Metcalf had four catches for 99 yards and a TD but was carted off the field in the fourth quarter with a knee injury.