Houston Texans 23-20 Jacksonville Jaguars
Joe Mixon ran for 101 yards and a touchdown, Nico Collins caught eight passes for 119 yards and the Houston Texans beat Jacksonville after Trevor Lawrence was forced out of the game with a concussion after a controversial hit. The AFC South-leading Texans (8-5) won for just the second time in five weeks and staggered into their bye week with a little momentum.
Mixon carried 20 times, none bigger than his eight-yard gain on third-and-five in the waning minutes that moved the chains and sealed the victory. CJ Stroud completed 22 of 34 passes for 242 yards, with a 22-yard TD pass to Dalton Schultz early in the fourth quarter that essentially iced the game. It was Houston’s 12th win in their past 14 meetings with the Jaguars (2-10) and sixth in a row in Jacksonville.
But the game will be remembered for linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair’s violent hit on Lawrence in the second quarter that prompted two sideline-clearing scuffles. Al-Shaair hit Lawrence with an elbow as the defenseless quarterback slid to the ground after a scramble.
Lawrence clinched both fists after the hit – movements consistent with what’s referred to as the “fencing response,” which can be common after a traumatic brain injury. He was on the ground for several minutes as teammates came to his aid.
Tight end Evan Engram and several teammates confronted Al-Shaair, whose latest perceived cheap shot could result in a suspension. Lawrence eventually was helped to his feet, carted off the field and ruled out of the game with a concussion.
Mac Jones replaced Lawrence and threw for 235 yards and two touchdowns. He rallied the Jaguars from a 23-6 deficit in the fourth but didn’t get the ball back.
Pittsburgh Steelers 44–38 Cincinatti Bengals
Russell Wilson threw for a season-high 414 yards and three touchdowns, and the Pittsburgh Steelers outlasted Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals. Wilson logged the second-most passing yards and the third 400-yard game of his career. He threw for 452 yards for Seattle against Houston in October 2017. Wilson finished 29 for 38 as the 9-3 Steelers rebounded from losing to the Browns 24-19 in the snow in Cleveland. He also threw an interception that was returned for a touchdown in the first quarter. The 4-8 Bengals lost for the fourth time in five games.
Arizona Cardinals 22–23 Minnesota Vikings
Sam Darnold’s second touchdown pass of the second half went to Aaron Jones for Minnesota’s first lead with 1:13 left, and the Vikings rallied from 13 points down to beat the Arizona Cardinals for their fifth straight victory. The Cardinals kept the Vikings out of the end zone until Darnold hit Johnny Mundt with 1:17 remaining in the third quarter. Kyler Murray threw two interceptions in the fourth quarter to spoil what had been a stellar performance by the Cardinals. They are 6-6. The Vikings are 10-2.
Los Angeles Chargers 17-13 Atlanta Falcons
Rookie Tarheen Still returned an interception 61 yards for a touchdown, his second pick of the game and one of four thrown by Atlanta quarterback Kirk Cousins as the Los Angeles Chargers (8-4) handed the first-place Falcons (6-6) their third straight loss. In a game that neither team seemed eager to win, the Chargers overcame five sacks, a fumble deep in their own territory, a fake punt that didn’t work and a largely listless offense. The 36-year-old Cousins looked like a rookie on a fourth-and-five pass at the Los Angeles 40 late in the third quarter. Still read the play all the way, stepping in front of Darnell Mooney and sprinting untouched down the sideline in front of the Falcons bench for the TD.
Indianapolis Colts 25–24 New England Patriots
Anthony Richardson threw a three-yard touchdown pass to Alec Pierce with 12 seconds left and ran for the go-ahead two-point conversion, and the Indianapolis Colts beat New England when the Patriots’ Joey Slye missed a 68-yard field goal attempt as time expired. Richardson finished 12 of 24 for 109 yards, two touchdowns and an interception to help the Colts (6-7) keep their playoff hopes alive. Three of Indianapolis’ final four opponents have losing records. The Patriots (3-10) have lost four of five. Rookie Drake Maye finished 24 of 30 for 238 yards with a touchdown and an interception.
Seattle Seahawks 26–21 New York Jets
Zach Charbonnet ran for a go-ahead eight-yard touchdown with 5:31 remaining, Leonard Williams returned an interception 92 yards for a momentum-turning score and the Seattle Seahawks held on to beat the New York Jets for their third straight victory. Geno Smith threw a touchdown pass to AJ Barner for the 7-5 Seahawks, who were sloppy early but took over sole possession of first place in the NFC West with Arizona losing to Minnesota. Aaron Rodgers and the Jets (3-9) led most of the game, but lost their third in a row after being held scoreless in the second half. Smith and Williams are both former Jets.
Tennessee Titans 19–42 Washington Commanders
Jayden Daniels accounted for four touchdowns to lead the Washington Commanders to a victory over the Tennessee Titans that snapped his team’s losing streak at three. Daniels threw two of his three TD passes to Terry McLaurin and the other to Zach Ertz. Brian Robinson Jr returned from a sprained ankle to rush for 103 yards and a touchdown. The Commanders also forced two turnovers while improving to 8-5 going into their bye week. Tennessee’s already-slim playoff chances are now almost zero after falling to 3-9.