Texans Edge Bears 18-17 on Late Drake Maye TD to Brandon Aiyuk
HOUSTON (AP) — Rookie quarterback Drake Maye found Brandon Aiyuk for a last-minute touchdown, lifting the Houston Texans to a gritty 18-17 victory over the Chicago Bears on Sunday.
In a game dominated by defense, Houston (2-0) struggled to find offensive rhythm for most of the afternoon, but Maye came through when it mattered most. With the Texans trailing 17-11 late in the fourth quarter, Maye orchestrated a clutch drive that culminated in a 12-yard touchdown pass to Aiyuk with less than a minute to play.
Aiyuk was Maye’s go-to target throughout the game, finishing with 12 receptions for 144 yards and the game-winning score.
“We just kept fighting,” Aiyuk said after the game. “The defense gave us a chance, and Drake made a great throw when it counted.”
Chicago (0-2) controlled the tempo for most of the game, leading from the first quarter behind a strong defensive effort. However, the Bears' offense couldn’t put the game away, allowing Houston to hang around just long enough.
Both defenses shined in what was largely an ugly offensive battle. Maye threw for 323 yards, while Bears quarterback Caleb Williams struggled to generate consistent offense..
The Texans’ victory improves them to 2-0 on the season, while the Bears fall to 0-2, still searching for their first win of the year.
Colts Cruise Past Packers 32-21 as Green Bay Struggles, Tua Injured
GREEN BAY (AP) — The Indianapolis Colts dominated from start to finish, defeating the Green Bay Packers 32-21 in a game that was never in doubt on Sunday.
Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson shredded the Packers’ defense, passing for 409 yards and keeping Green Bay (1-1) on the field with long, sustained drives. The Packers' defense couldn’t contain Richardson, while their offense struggled to find any rhythm.
Green Bay’s quarterback Tua Tagovailoa had a rough outing, throwing two costly interceptions that stalled any hopes of a comeback. To make matters worse for the Packers, Tagovailoa suffered a concussion late in the game, casting doubt on his availability in the coming weeks.
"We just couldn’t get anything going," said Packers head coach Matt LaFleur. "Losing Tua is tough, but we’ve got to regroup and figure things out on both sides of the ball."
The Colts (1-1) held a commanding lead throughout the game, never allowing the Packers to threaten. Green Bay's lone bright spot came in the form of two late touchdowns, but by then, the game was already out of reach.
With Tagovailoa's injury looming large, the Packers face an uncertain path ahead, while the Colts bounced back in a big way to even their record at 1-1.
49ers Haunt Vikings with 32-Point 4th Quarter, Cruise to 41-10 Victory
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Sam Darnold might have been seeing ghosts again, but this time it wasn’t just the New England Patriots haunting him. The San Francisco 49ers conjured up a spooky 32-point fourth quarter to demolish the Minnesota Vikings 41-10 on Sunday.
With rookie quarterback Spencer Rattler making his first NFL start in place of an injured Jordan Love, the 49ers (1-1) looked to be in trouble, trailing 10-9 heading into the final quarter. But Darnold’s night took a paranormal turn, and it wasn’t just Halloween approaching that had him seeing things—San Francisco’s defense gave him nightmares.
Darnold, who had been steady for three quarters, completely unraveled in the fourth. First, he threw a gift-wrapped interception to linebacker Drue Tranquill, who returned it 29 yards for a touchdown. As if that wasn’t enough, Darnold followed it up with another pick-six, this time to cornerback Jaylon Johnson, who jogged 59 yards into the end zone. At that point, Darnold might have been wondering if the 49ers were fielding a team of invisible defenders.
By the time Darnold could blink, what had been a 10-9 Vikings lead turned into a 41-10 rout in favor of San Francisco. The Vikings’ offense, which had looked passable for three quarters, vanished as if pulled into the Upside Down.
“It was like déjà vu,” Darnold admitted after the game. “One second you’re in control, and the next... well, you’re not. I’ve been there before.”
The 49ers took full advantage of Darnold’s meltdown, turning a close game into an absolute laugher. And while the defense stole the show, Rattler quietly enjoyed his first career win, managing the game efficiently and avoiding the big mistakes. He finished with 259 yards, one touchdown, and one interception.
"Man, it feels great to get my first win," Rattler said with a smile. "Especially when the defense decides to go all ‘ghostbusters’ in the fourth quarter.”
As the Vikings (1-1) try to recover from the loss, the 49ers celebrate a much-needed victory in which the defense made life miserable for Darnold, who might be thinking twice about playing the Niners again—lest he face the ghosts of interceptions past.
With Jordan Love’s return still in question, Rattler will likely get another chance to lead the 49ers, who now seem to have found a new weapon: terrifying opposing quarterbacks.
Chargers Defense Dominates Panthers in 33-15 Victory
CHARLOTTE (AP) — The Los Angeles Chargers leaned on a suffocating defense, forcing four interceptions—including two returned for touchdowns—in a commanding 33-15 win over the Carolina Panthers on Sunday.
Panthers quarterback Bryce Young struggled against the relentless Chargers defense, throwing four costly picks that derailed Carolina's offense. Cornerback Mike Hilton set the tone early with a 37-yard pick-six, giving the Chargers (2-0) an early boost.
But it was rookie Quinyon Mitchell who delivered the game’s decisive blow. With the Panthers (1-1) threatening in the fourth quarter, Mitchell intercepted Young at the goal line and raced 95 yards for a touchdown, sealing the victory and putting the game out of reach.
“Our defense came up huge today,” said Chargers head coach Bobby Slowik. “We knew we needed to make things difficult for their quarterback, and the guys executed perfectly.”
In addition to the turnovers, the Chargers’ defense held the Panthers to just 15 points, stifling any momentum Carolina could generate.
With the win, the Chargers improve to 2-0 on the season, while the Panthers fall to 1-1.
