Advertisement

Vikings run over Chargers; Cardinals crush the 49ers

Former Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson (28) is among the biggest free-agent names available this off-season.
(Jim Mone / Associated Press)
Share

MINNEAPOLIS -- Adrian Peterson plowed through San Diego’s defense for 126 yards and two touchdowns on 20 rushes in three quarters on Sunday, and the Minnesota Vikings trampled Philip Rivers and the injury-depleted Chargers 31-14.

Chad Greenway scored on a 91-yard interception return for the Vikings (2-1), who improved to 7-3 at home under coach Mike Zimmer.

Rivers was pulled for Kellen Clemens midway through the fourth quarter when the deficit reached 24 points. Sacked four times for a loss of 28 yards, Rivers went 21 for 34 for 246 yards with two turnovers and took a hard hit to the midsection from Anthony Barr in the third quarter.

Advertisement

Keenan Allen had 12 catches for 133 yards and two touchdowns for the Chargers (1-2).

Falcons 39, Cowboys 28

ARLINGTON, Texas -- Matt Ryan and Julio Jones connected for two touchdowns, Devonta Freeman ran for 141 yards and three scores for Atlanta, which beat Dallas in its first game without Tony Romo and Dez Bryant.

Freeman’s third score early in the fourth quarter capped a rally from a trio of 14-point deficits for the Falcons (3-0), who didn’t win their third game until Week 10 last year, and Week 13 in 2013.

Jones had his third straight 100-yard game to start the season, finishing with 164 and a clinching 2-yard score in the fourth quarter.

The Cowboys (2-1) had a six-game winning streak in the regular season snapped in backup quarterback Brandon Weeden’s ninth straight loss as a starter.

Weeden completed his first 16 passes to start the season, but the run ended with a second-quarter interception that turned the game in the Falcons’ favor.

Advertisement

Cardinals 47, 49ers 7

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Carson Palmer threw for 311 yards and Arizona returned two of Colin Kaepernick’s first four passes for touchdowns during a rout.

Larry Fitzgerald caught nine passes for 134 yards and two touchdowns and Chris Johnson rushed for 110 yards and two scores for the Cardinals (3-0), who won at Chicago 48-23 last week.

It’s the first time the franchise has had two 40-point victories in a row since 1969 and its largest margin of victory since a 44-0 win over Houston in 1970.

Kaepernick threw a career-worst four interceptions, two by Tyrann Mathieu, and finished 9 for 19 for 67 yards.

Justin Bethel returned the first one 21 yards for a touchdown and Mathieu ran untouched 33 yards for another score.

Advertisement

Kaepernick had a 12-yard TD run for San Francisco (1-2).

Seahawks 26, Bears 0

SEATTLE -- Tyler Lockett returned the second-half kickoff 105 yards for a touchdown, Russell Wilson connected with Jimmy Graham on a 30-yard TD as Seattle routed undermanned Chicago.

Seattle led just 6-0 at halftime after an offensive performance that led to a cascade of boos. Lockett started a huge second half as he went untouched on a perfectly executed return, the longest in franchise history. Later in the quarter, Wilson found Graham across the middle for his second touchdown catch this season.

Steven Hauschka added four field goals and the Seahawks started the process of erasing an 0-2 start.

Chicago (0-3) was shut out for the first time since 2002 and the fourth time since 1990. Jimmy Clausen started at quarterback in place of Jay Cutler and was 9 of 17 for 63 yards.

Bills 41, Dolphins 14

Advertisement

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. -- Tyrod Taylor threw for 277 yards and three scores in his first NFL road start during Buffalo’s rout of Miami.

The Bills totaled 429 yards, intercepted Ryan Tannehill three times in the first half, and led 27-0 before Miami scored late in the third quarter.

Buffalo (2-1) bounced back from a dismal loss at home to New England. The Dolphins (1-2), who began the season with high hopes of ending a seven-year playoff drought, fell into last place in the AFC East with their second consecutive loss.

The Bills improved to 5-2 against Miami over the past four years. They’re 18-26 against everyone else during that span.

The victory was especially sweet for former Dolphins Richie Incognito and Charles Clay, who were co-captains for Buffalo.

Patriots 51, Jaguars 17

Advertisement

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Tom Brady became the fourth quarterback in NFL history to throw 400 touchdown passes, connecting for a pair of scores in New England’s victory over Jacksonville.

Brady completed a 1-yard TD pass to Danny Amendola in the second quarter and added a 13-yard touchdown to Keshawn Martin in the third. In all, Brady completed 33 of 42 passes for 358 yards.

Rob Gronkowski caught four passes for 101 yards for the Patriots (3-0). LeGarrette Blount ran for three 1-yard touchdowns.

It was the most points ever allowed by the Jaguars (1-2).

The biggest highlight for Jacksonville was a 59-yard catch and run from Blake Bortles to Allen Hurns that made it 30-10 midway through the third quarter.

Bengals 28, Ravens 24

BALTIMORE -- Andy Dalton threw a 7-yard touchdown pass to A.J. Green with 2:10 left as Cincinnati remained unbeaten with the win over Baltimore, which dropped o 0-3 for the first time in franchise history.

Advertisement

The Bengals (3-0) blew a 14-0 lead and twice trailed in the fourth quarter before Dalton brought them back by repeatedly picking apart the porous Baltimore pass defense.

Dalton went 20 for 32 for 383 yards and three touchdowns. His favorite target was Green, who finished with 10 catches for a career-high 227 yards and two scores.

Baltimore lost despite getting 362 yards passing from Joe Flacco, who twice connected with Steve Smith for touchdowns. Smith had 13 catches for 186 yards, but it wasn’t enough to prevent the Ravens from losing again.

Baltimore was the only existing NFL team never to start 0-3. Before this season, it had been a decade since the Ravens began a season with two straight defeats.

Panthers 27, Saints 22

CHARLOTTE, N.C. --Cam Newton threw for 315 yards and a pair of touchdowns to tight end Greg Olsen and also ran for a score as Carolina defeated New Orleans.

Advertisement

Luke McCown, starting in place of the injured Drew Brees, completed 31 of 38 passes for 310 yards but it wasn’t enough to save the Saints (0-3) from falling three games back in the NFC South.

It was the first game Brees has missed because of injury since joining the Saints in 2006.

Newton ran for a 13-yard TD on a bootleg as the Panthers started 3-0 for the first time since reaching the Super Bowl in the 2003 season.

Olsen had eight catches for a career-high 134 yards and had two 11-yard TD catches.

Panthers cornerback Josh Norman sealed the game with a leaping interception in the end zone with 1:09 remaining.

Steelers 12, Rams 6

ST. LOUIS -- Ben Roethlisberger was carted off the field with a knee injury in the second half and Pittsburgh’s defense came on the road.

Le’Veon Bell scored from a yard out in the first half in his first game back after a suspension, but the Steelers’ focus will be on the status of their star quarterback.

Advertisement

Will Allen’s interception with 1:56 left set up a field goal by Josh Scobey to put Pittsburgh ahead by six points.

Pittsburgh (2-1) averaged 32 points in its first two games but was held down well before Roethlisberger’s leg got caught underneath him on a diving, sliding sack by Mark Barron.

The Rams (1-2) were limited to two field goals by Greg Zuerlein and have scored just 16 points the last two games. Their last chance ended when the Steelers successfully challenged a potential first-down catch by Kenny Britt near midfield with 1:19 to play.

There was no immediate word on the extent of Roethlisberger’s injury.

Colts 35, Titans 33

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Andrew Luck threw two touchdown passes 56 seconds apart in the fourth quarter as he rallied Indianapolis to their first win this season.

Luck improved to 7-0 against Tennessee with another stunning comeback. The Colts (1-2) trailed 27-14 before Luck got going.

Advertisement

He drove the Colts 98 yards before hitting Phillip Dorsett on a 35-yard TD with 6:49 left.

Dwight Lowery, who returned an interception 69 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter, picked off Titans rookie quarterback Marcus Mariota again.

Luck found Donte Moncrief for an 11-yard TD for a 28-17 lead just 56 seconds later.

The Titans (1-2) have lost 13 of 14 against their AFC South foe. Mariota drove them to a TD, but Jalston Fowler was stopped for a big loss on the 2-point conversion.

Tennessee’s onside kick went out of bounds.

Texans 19, Buccaneers 9

HOUSTON -- Ryan Mallett threw for threw for 228 yards and a touchdown and Alfred Blue had 139 yards rushing with a score to lead Houston to the win over Tampa Bay.

Mallett gave Houston (1-2) an early lead on a 5-yard touchdown pass to DeAndre Hopkins on the opening drive.

The Buccaneers (1-2) went up 9-7 on a touchdown reception by Charles Sims in the second quarter that came after an interception by Mallett, but didn’t score again. They were foiled by kicking problems as Kyle Brindza, who made a 58-yard field goal early in the second quarter, missed an extra point and three field goals in the second half.

Advertisement

Alfred Blue had a 20-yard touchdown run after Brindza’s second missed field goal in the fourth quarter, but Randy Bullock missed the extra point to leave Houston up 16-9.

Top overall pick Jameis Winston threw for 261 yards with a touchdown and an interception for Tampa Bay.

Eagles 24, Jets 17

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Darren Sproles returned a punt 89 yards for a score and added a 1-yard touchdown run, and Philadelphia got itsr first win of the season by holding on to beat New York Jets.

Sam Bradford threw a TD pass to Ryan Mathews, who also rushed for 108 yards while starting in place of the injured DeMarco Murray. The Eagles (1-2) improved to 10-0 all-time against the Jets (2-1), who were coming off a victory at Indianapolis last Monday night.

Ryan Fitzpatrick threw touchdown passes to Brandon Marshall and Jeremy Kerley, but was intercepted three times. The last, by Walter Thurmond with 3:28 left, helped seal Philadelphia’s victory.

Advertisement

Murray was out with a hamstring injury, while the Jets played without running back Chris Ivory (quadriceps), who was active but didn’t play, and Eric Decker (sprained knee).

Advertisement