| Dates: 7 September 2023 – 7 January 2024 |
| BBC protection: Take heed to dwell commentary on BBC Radio 5 Sports activities Further and the BBC Sport web site each Sunday. |
Defending champions the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs suffered a shock 24-9 defeat on the Denver Broncos on one other intriguing NFL Sunday.
The Philadelphia Eagles personal the league’s finest file after grinding out a seventh win, however the San Francisco 49ers misplaced their third recreation in a row.
The Miami Dolphins and the Dallas Cowboys loved blowout wins, whereas the Carolina Panthers lastly obtained their first victory of the season.
A win on the Pittsburgh Steelers means the Jacksonville Jaguars are the shape group within the league, rookie quarterback Will Levis made a spectacular NFL debut for the Tennessee Titans, and veteran Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins could have had his season ended by damage.
Broncos stun Chiefs and Jags roll on
Denver had misplaced 16 video games in a row in opposition to the Chiefs however broke that streak in model, turning into the primary group to attain greater than 21 factors in opposition to the spectacular Kansas Metropolis defence this season.
Patrick Mahomes did not throw a landing cross for the primary time in 30 video games in a nasty day all spherical for the Chiefs, with their star quarterback affected by sickness in frigid circumstances at Mile Excessive Stadium.
The Broncos compelled 5 turnovers as they secured their first win over Mahomes in 13 makes an attempt and first win over their divisional rivals for two,965 days – and so they couldn’t resist sending Travis Kelce and his group off the sector to the sound of Taylor Swift’s Shake it Off.
Defeat leaves the Chiefs on 6-2 and tied on the high of the AFC with the Baltimore Ravens, Jaguars and Dolphins, all of whom received in week eight.
A 20-10 success in Pittsburgh made it 5 wins in a row for the Jaguars, who began their run with two victories in London.
The Ravens’ 31-24 success in Arizona was their third in succession due to a robust defensive show and three dashing touchdowns for Gus Edwards, with Lamar Jackson not at his finest.
San Francisco slide continues
The 49ers had been one of the best group within the league after a 5-0 begin, however they’ve now misplaced three straight video games after a 31-17 residence defeat by the Cincinnati Bengals.
Christian McCaffrey scored for the seventeenth consecutive recreation to tie Lenny Moore’s NFL file from the 1963-64 season, however that was nearly as good because it obtained because the 49ers stuttered on either side of the ball.
In distinction, Cincy are heading in the wrong way with a 3rd straight win after Joe Burrow, who seems to be to be over a calf damage, threw three touchdowns.
Jalen Hurts suffered a knee damage however nonetheless threw 4 touchdowns because the Eagles once more did simply sufficient to beat the Washington Commanders 38-31.
AJ Brown made a surprising one-handed landing seize as he carved out a slice of NFL historical past with six straight video games recording at the very least 125 yards, serving to Philly to 7-1 and one of the best file within the league.
Invoice Belichick has received 300 video games as a head coach, however he can’t discover a approach to beat Tua Tagovailoa, the fourth-year quarterback who led Miami to a 31-17 victory to maneuver to 6-0 in opposition to the New England Patriots.
The Cowboys emerged refreshed from their bye week to smash the Los Angeles Rams 43-20 behind 4 landing throws from Dak Prescott and a few smothering defence that included DaRon Bland operating again his third decide six of the season.
At 5-2 and with the 49ers struggling, the Cowboys are again within the dialog about who would be the greatest challengers to the Eagles within the NFC.
Levis stars on debut
The throwback jersey recreation, the place groups put on retro kits, is turning into a giant factor within the NFL, and the Titans enjoying within the well-known uniforms of the Houston Oilers, their former incarnation, was a spotlight for these into American soccer style.
Much more hanging, although, was the debut for Levis as he threw 4 touchdowns in a 28-23 win over the Atlanta Falcons – solely the third participant to carry out such a feat.
Solely enjoying due to an damage to starter Ryan Tannehill, Levis dragged some spark out of a beforehand lifeless Titans assault.
“He was ballin’,” mentioned Titans operating again Derrick Henry. “He was enjoying out of his thoughts. It was thrilling the way it got here along with him dealing with the offense and us with the ability to end drives and make some performs.”
Levis was a second-round decide within the NFL Draft, however the high two picks met in Carolina as primary choice Bryce Younger led the Panthers to their first win of the season – a 15-13 victory over CJ Stroud’s Houston Texans.
The battle for New York was an unpleasant one, however there was a wild ending as Greg Zuerlein tied the sport with the final kick of regulation earlier than booting the Jets to a 13-10 victory over the Giants in extra time.
Zach Wilson engineered a 25-second drive of 58 yards to arrange the Zuerlein kick in a recreation with solely two touchdowns and 24 punts – three wanting the NFL file.
The Jets are someway now 4-3 with out the injured Aaron Rodgers, however their star quarterback continues to make a exceptional restoration from a torn Achilles as he appeared vigorous when making throws within the pre-game warm-ups at MetLife Stadium – including gas to rumours he might but return to play this season.
Minnesota’s 24-10 win on the Inexperienced Bay Packers might have value them Cousins with a suspected Achilles damage.
The Seattle Seahawks pinched a 24-20 win over the Cleveland Browns due to Jaxon Smith-Njigba’s last-minute landing, whereas the New Orleans Saints ran out 38-27 winners in opposition to the Indianapolis Colts.
Within the late recreation, the inconsistent Los Angeles Chargers confirmed precisely how good they are often with a 30-13 victory over the Chicago Bears to enhance to 3-4, however they might want to produce extra video games like that to get into play-off rivalry.