Los Angeles (United States) (AFP) – The Baltimore Ravens snapped their four-game losing streak with a 30-16 victory over the Chicago Bears in early NFL play on Sunday, as the New York Jets bagged their first win of the season in a come-from-behind defeat of the Cincinnati Bengals. Baltimore, who started the season tipped as Super Bowl contenders but had lost five out of six games heading into Sunday, improved to 2-5 after two rushing touchdowns from running back Derrick Henry.
Tyler Huntley, filling in at quarterback in place of injured star Lamar Jackson, threw for 186 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions as the Bears fell to 4-3. Huntley had stepped up after controversy surrounding two-time NFL Most Valuable Player Jackson, who was declared fit and available in Friday’s injury report before being ruled out on Saturday. Ravens coach John Harbaugh lavished praise on the performance of Huntley, who returned to Baltimore this year after spending last season with the Miami Dolphins.
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“The way he played that game,” Harbaugh said of Huntley. “Ran the offense, ran the ball, completed passes, great poise at critical moments — that was one of those all-time great performances.” The Ravens coach, though, acknowledged his team still has an uphill climb to turn around their season, with a Thursday night fixture at Miami just days away. “By no means does this mean that things are over — by no means have we accomplished anything close to what we want to accomplish,” Harbaugh said. “But this is a big game, and Thursday is going to be a big game too. Our guys are keenly aware of that.”
The Jets, meanwhile, snapped their seven-game losing streak with a 39-38 road victory against the Cincinnati Bengals. The Jets trailed 38-24 midway through the fourth quarter but rallied with a 27-yard touchdown run from running back Breece Hall. Hall then lobbed the game-winning touchdown pass to Mason Taylor at the back of the end zone in the final minutes to set up victory.
In other games, the reigning Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles overpowered the New York Giants 38-20, with quarterback Jalen Hurts tossing four touchdowns and Saquon Barkley rushing for another. The Eagles lead the NFC East with a 6-2 record. The Buffalo Bills trampled the Carolina Panthers 40-9, but remain second in the AFC East standings behind the in-form New England Patriots, who improved to 6-2 with a 32-13 defeat of Cleveland.
The San Francisco 49ers, meanwhile, stumbled to a 26-15 defeat to the Houston Texans on the road. The 49ers, whose season has been disrupted by a slew of injuries, fell to 5-3 for the season.
© 2024 AFP
