Los Angeles (United States) (AFP) – The New England Patriots inflicted Buffalo’s first defeat of the season as quarterback Drake Maye bounced back with three touchdowns in a 29-26 win, while Kansas City kept their perfect start alive against in-form Las Vegas. On a packed day of NFL drama, the Los Angeles Rams surged late to win at Philadelphia, and the Dallas Cowboys edged a thrilling Texas showdown in Houston.
New England’s Maye — who reached the Super Bowl last season but endured a nightmare start to this campaign — grabbed victory against the AFC East rival Bills with a late go-ahead touchdown pass to Efton Chism III for a superb one-handed take. That came after Buffalo quarterback Josh Allen appeared to have orchestrated a fourth-quarter comeback with a 34-yard hurl to Keon Coleman that made it 26-21.
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“It’s relief, a little bit,” said Maye. “Nobody blinked when we were down on the sideline and they scored and went up 26-21. We just did what we do,” said the quarterback. Maye ended the game with 269 passing yards and another 54 rushing. Romeo Doubs grabbed a pair of touchdown receptions. Even in defeat, Allen’s 88th career touchdown from scrimmage made him the leading touchdown scorer in Bills history.
The Kansas City Chiefs bested hosts Las Vegas 30-27 in a battle of unbeaten AFC West division rivals. The Raiders had nudged clear 19-17 with five minutes remaining. Tyquan Thornton raced onto a 58-yard Patrick Mahomes pass, collecting it before grotesquely snapping his ankle under a late tackle. His Chiefs teammates gathered themselves and immediately scored with a Kenneth Walker III rushing touchdown. Within 15 seconds of play, Walker had rushed for another after Las Vegas fumbled from kickoff and turned the ball over. Brock Bowers added a consolation touchdown.
Two other teams — San Francisco and Minnesota — moved to 4-0. The 49ers weathered a late rally by comeback specialists Denver to win 24-14, responding to a fourth-quarter Jaylen Waddle touchdown that narrowed the gap to three with a George Kittle touchdown. For the second time this season, the Vikings won without scoring a touchdown. Kicker Will Reichard was prolific in a 15-10 win over Miami.
Philadelphia had looked set to pile more misery on the Rams, the pre-season Super Bowl favorites who were 1-2 after three games, and trailed 10-20 deep in the fourth quarter. But two late Kyren Williams touchdowns sealed a 24-20 victory, made more painful for the Eagles by an early hamstring injury to star Saquon Barkley. “We coming back home with a win, baby. I know we probably stressed y’all out, but look, we got it done at the end,” said Williams.
At Houston, CeeDee Lamb capped a superb personal performance by snaffling his 17th reception for a touchdown to put the Cowboys ahead 34-30 with 40 seconds remaining. CJ Stroud attempted a 50-yard hail mary pass but could not salvage a game the Texans had largely led. Javonte Williams spearheaded the Cowboys’ comeback with three rushing touchdowns.
In the NFL’s latest foray to London, Indianapolis running back Jonathan Taylor ran for two touchdowns as the Colts defeated the injury-hit Washington Commanders 30-13. Taylor twice unveiled his London-themed celebration — miming sipping tea after finding the end zone — at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. The Commanders, missing star quarterback Jayden Daniels with a dislocated elbow, saw backup Marcus Mariota depart early with a knee injury. He was replaced by rookie Athan Kaliakmanis.
Baltimore defeated hapless Tennessee 24-18. The victory was tarnished by an ankle injury for quarterback Lamar Jackson. The New York Giants sealed a 36-24 win over Arizona with a walk-off pick-six, Deonte Banks racing 98 yards to score, while the Los Angeles Chargers remained winless with a 23-30 loss to Seattle.
© 2024 AFP
