Arizona Cardinals @ Buffalo Bills
1 2 3 4 FINAL
ARIZONA 7 0 7 0 14
BUFFALO 0 10 3 6 19
BUFFALO – In a potential Super Bowl preview the Buffalo Bills (3-0, 1-0 AFC East) outlasted the Arizona Cardinals 19-14.
Trailing 13-14 heading into the 4th quarter, Aaron Rodgers led his troops on a time-killing drive before hitting Luke Willson from 12-yards out to put the Bills up 19-14 (missed 2-point conversion).
"Luke (Willson) has been huge for us this year," Rodgers said. "But at the end of the day, this was on the defense - they came up huge and sealed the win for us."
Rodgers, despite his humility, finished with a near perfect passer rating on the day going 24-26 for 247 yards and 2 touchdowns.
But Luke Kuechly and his defensive teammates did in fact close the game out.
After a blown coverage leaving John Brown wide open for a 56-yard gain, Kuechly and company stood tall on four consecutive plays from within their own 10-yard line.
"To stop them from that close to end a game feels pretty sweet," Kuechly said. "I love my teammates, that felt great."
For the day the Buffalo defense allowed only 66 yards rushing and 223 yards through the air. This solid play from the defense allowed Rex Ryan to lean on Todd Gurley early and often.
"We simplified our offense getting rid of Greg (Roman)," Ryan said. "It goes Todd, Todd, Todd, Todd, throw."
The Bills next face their hated division rivals from New England in Foxboro.
Trailing 13-14 heading into the 4th quarter, Aaron Rodgers led his troops on a time-killing drive before hitting Luke Willson from 12-yards out to put the Bills up 19-14 (missed 2-point conversion).
"Luke (Willson) has been huge for us this year," Rodgers said. "But at the end of the day, this was on the defense - they came up huge and sealed the win for us."
Rodgers, despite his humility, finished with a near perfect passer rating on the day going 24-26 for 247 yards and 2 touchdowns.
But Luke Kuechly and his defensive teammates did in fact close the game out.
After a blown coverage leaving John Brown wide open for a 56-yard gain, Kuechly and company stood tall on four consecutive plays from within their own 10-yard line.
"To stop them from that close to end a game feels pretty sweet," Kuechly said. "I love my teammates, that felt great."
For the day the Buffalo defense allowed only 66 yards rushing and 223 yards through the air. This solid play from the defense allowed Rex Ryan to lean on Todd Gurley early and often.
"We simplified our offense getting rid of Greg (Roman)," Ryan said. "It goes Todd, Todd, Todd, Todd, throw."
The Bills next face their hated division rivals from New England in Foxboro.
Cleveland Browns @ Miami Dolphins
1 2 3 4 FINAL
CLEVELAND 0 0 0 10 10
MIAMI 13 13 7 10 43
MIAMI – If Cam Newton didn't have recurring nightmares of zombies wearing Dolphins gear, he will now. Newton's Browns were destroyed by the Miami Dolphins (3-0, 1-0) 43-10 Sunday in Miami.
"Man, they got me figured out," Newton said. "I got nothing to say."
Newton finished 19-30 with two interceptions and a fumble that was returned 91-yards for a touchdown by Miami's newly acquired cornerback Bashaud Breeland.
"I was tired there at the end," Breeland said. "Defense was rolling today."
Calvin Pryor, who had a career game versus Newton last year, intercepted the first Browns pass of the game.
"We get all the pub," Pryor said. "But our d-line was the story. Courtney (Upshaw) had like 55 sacks man."
The angry and overly aggressive Miami defense ended with seven sacks on the day with 4.0 sacks credited to Upshaw.
Cleveland gained 241 yards total for the game (only 29 on the ground).
With the multitude of turnovers and 3-and-outs coming their way, the Miami offense plodded down the field with a 3:1 run to pass ratio. The team ended with 187 rushing yards on the day.
"That's just us," quarterback Jacoby Brissett said. "We got those two long throws, one for a score, but for the most part we want to keep it on the ground."
The Dolphins have a short turnaround as they get ready for their Thursday Night matchup at Cincinnati.
"Man, they got me figured out," Newton said. "I got nothing to say."
Newton finished 19-30 with two interceptions and a fumble that was returned 91-yards for a touchdown by Miami's newly acquired cornerback Bashaud Breeland.
"I was tired there at the end," Breeland said. "Defense was rolling today."
Calvin Pryor, who had a career game versus Newton last year, intercepted the first Browns pass of the game.
"We get all the pub," Pryor said. "But our d-line was the story. Courtney (Upshaw) had like 55 sacks man."
The angry and overly aggressive Miami defense ended with seven sacks on the day with 4.0 sacks credited to Upshaw.
Cleveland gained 241 yards total for the game (only 29 on the ground).
With the multitude of turnovers and 3-and-outs coming their way, the Miami offense plodded down the field with a 3:1 run to pass ratio. The team ended with 187 rushing yards on the day.
"That's just us," quarterback Jacoby Brissett said. "We got those two long throws, one for a score, but for the most part we want to keep it on the ground."
The Dolphins have a short turnaround as they get ready for their Thursday Night matchup at Cincinnati.
New York Jets @ Kansas City Chiefs
1 2 3 4 FINAL
NEW YORK 0 10 7 7 24
KANSAS CITY 0 10 7 24 41
KANSAS CITY – The New York Jets (0-3, 0-1) experienced yet another 4th quarter to forget as they fell to the Kansas City Chiefs 41-24 in Arrowhead Stadium Sunday afternoon.
With the game tied at 17 early in the 4th, Kam Chancellor provided his team with what seemed to be a game-changing play, causing a Jamal Charles fumble that was recovered by the Jets near mid-field.
However, two plays later, Ryan Tannehill stood strong in the pocket for a split second too long leading to a strip sack from Lamar Houston who picked up the loose ball and raced 48-yards for the go-ahead score.
"I'm devastated," Tannehill said. "Our defense kept us in there into the 4th quarter and I let my guys down again."
Chancellor seemed to be yelling some choice words Tannehill's way after the fumble as he headed back on the field.
"We will keep that in house," Chancellor said. "I just want to keep grinding with my defense and see if we can get us in the win column."
Runningback David Johnson broke through with a 61-yard score of his own in the 3rd quarter in what seemed to fully change the momentum towards the visiting side.
"It felt great to get that long one," Johnson said. "Hopefully coach will call my number more so I can help get our D some rest."
On the year Johnson, whom many tabbed as a breakout candidate, has carried the ball only 24 times. In his postgame press conference, Todd Bowles remained stoic, but is certainly feeling the heat after an 0-3 start.
"This is a results based business," Bowles said. "A win is a win, and that is all we need right now. We will get it right."
The Jets get no breaks from the schedule-makers as they face the Seattle Seahawks at home this Sunday.
