3 games end with TDs for the 2nd time on day 1
The rarest day in NFL history was marked by an inexplicable botched sideline, a deflected pass-6, and a touchdown run.
Three NFL games finished with a winning touchdown the last play of the day for the second Sunday in a row.
Chandler Jones returned a fumble 48 yards for a TD Las Vegas should be exempted from regulation to give New England an advantage. Rayshawn Jenkins had a pick-6 in overtime Jacksonville will surpass Dallas with Jerick McKinnon scored on a 26-yard run in OT To give Kansas City a victory over Houston.
According to Elias Sports Bureau it was Sept. 17, 1995 when Emmitt Smith (TD Run in OT for Dallas vs. Minnesota), Rod Smith, (TD Catch to End Regulation for Denver vs. Washington) and James Hasty (6 in OT vs. Oakland).
Las Vegas’ win might have been Sunday’s most unlikely. The Raiders were close to losing their record-setting fifth match after leading by 13 before being bailed out by New England in a wild finish.
Las Vegas tied it with 32 seconds remaining and it looked headed for overtime until the Patriots called a running-play from their 45 with just three seconds remaining.
Rhamondre Stevenson then later gave the ball to Jakobi, who tried to return it to Mac Jones.
Chandler Jones captured the lateral and returned the ball for the game-winning score.
Elias said it was the third fumble recover touchdown on the last play of regulation in AFL/NFL History, the Patriots and Raiders being involved in the other two.
In 1978, Raiders tight end Dave Casper recovered a fumble in the end zone to beat the Chargers on a play memorialized as the “Holy Roller” game.
In 1960, the Patriots won the match against the New York Titans. Chuck Shonta’s 52-yard return was the decisive factor in the win.
Combined with Jenkins’ pick-6, it marked the first time since the merger that there were two game-winning defensive scores on the final play in a single week.
COMEBACK QBs
Kirk Cousins is no stranger to leading an incredible comeback, and Matt Ryan is used to being part of a team which blew a huge lead.
Perhaps it was appropriate that they were also the two quarterbacks who took part the NFL’s biggest ever comeback when Cousins, Minnesota and Ryan rallied from 33 to win over Ryan and Indianapolis 39-36 in overtime Saturday.
Cousins, who beat Tampa Bay by 24 points in Week 7 2015, was the last to bring a team back from that point. In between those rallies, the teams had been 0-346 when trailing behind by 24 points.
Cousins orchestrated his seventh fourth quarter comeback of this season, just one shy of Matthew Stafford’s record in 2016.
The 2018 Seahawks joined the 1978 Oilers and the Vikings to become the third team to win more than 10 games in a single season. Minnesota is 10-0 in these one-score games.
Ryan, who was on the Atlanta team which lost a Super Bowl-record 28-3 against New England after the 2016 season, is now on the wrong end these amazing comebacks.
Ryan is the only quarterback to have lost two games since at least 1950, when his team was leading by at least 25 in the playoffs or regular season.
TRIPLE THREAT
New Orleans’ Taysom hill joined a select group with his 68-yard touchdown pass from Rashid Shaheed to Atlanta in a 21-18 victory over Atlanta.
This gave the Saints’ versatile player 10 TD passes over his career, including the playoffs. He also had 21 touchdown runs and 11 TD catches.
Hill is now the third NFL player to score at least 10 touchdowns running or passing. Frank Gifford was also a recipient with 46 receiving, 34 rushing and 14 passing. Charlie Trippi had 24 rushing, 16 passing and 11 receiving.
TOM NOTTERRIFIC
In his 23rd season, Tom Brady has experienced several new lows.
After the Bucs blew a 17-point lead to Cincinnati on SundayBrady has now lost eight games in his career as a starter.
Brady’s four losses at home are the worst he has ever suffered in a season. Brady also lost at home the first time he was leading by more than 17 points. Brady also lost his first ever career game due to multiple interceptions.
RUNNING QBs
Justin Fields, Jalen Hurts, and Justin Fields are running for the record.
Hurts ran for three touchdowns more Sunday in a Philadelphia Eagles victory over Fields and Chicago Bears. This gave him 13 points on the season.
Hurts also threw for 315 yard, joining Dak Prescott, Sept. 20, 2020, at Atlanta, and Jack Kemp, Oct. 26, 1963, at the Patriots, as the only players who threw for at least 300 yards and ran for three touchdowns in the same match.
Hurts also ran for three TDs against New Orleans in 2021. He joined Johnny Lujack, Daunte Curpepper and Tobin Rote to be the only QBs to have at least two games with more than three rushing touchdowns.
Hurts’ 13 touchdown runs are one shy from Cam Newton’s record of 2011.
Fields ran 95 yards in the match to make him 1,000 for the season. He joins Lamar Jackson (1.206 yards rushing in 2019) and Michael Vick (1.005 in 2020), as the only quarterbacks to rush for 1,000 yards in a single season.
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