Giants Hand Chargers First Loss, 30-17 in New York
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — The Los Angeles Chargers’ perfect start came to an end Sunday as the New York Giants controlled the line of scrimmage in a 30-17 victory at MetLife Stadium.
For the first time all season, the Chargers’ ground game sputtered. The Giants’ front seven bottled up Christian McCaffrey, holding the early MVP candidate to just 53 yards on 15 carries, marking a drastic drop from his usual production.
Quarterback Matthew Stafford turned in a solid performance, throwing for 317 yards and two touchdowns, but the Chargers couldn’t find balance or rhythm offensively. Defensively, Los Angeles had no answers for Giants running back Tyrone Tracy Jr., who torched them for 104 rushing yards and two touchdowns, repeatedly gashing the middle of the defense.
The loss drops the Chargers to 3-1 while snapping their unbeaten run to start the year. McCaffrey’s rushing total now sits at 689 yards through four games, but Week 4 will serve as a reminder that even elite backs need help up front.
Texans Crush Titans 45-13 — and Possibly Summon Jim Leonhard’s Spirit
HOUSTON (AP) — Whatever new defensive coordinator Aaron Curry is doing, it’s working — and possibly attracting ghosts. The Houston Texans dismantled the Tennessee Titans 45-13 on Sunday, showcasing a defense reborn after weeks of turmoil and historical embarrassment.
Curry’s unit looked ferocious, recording six sacks and forcing rookie quarterback Cam Ward into a day of pure frustration. Ward was under duress from the opening drive, often flinging the ball out of bounds before defenders like Micah Parsons or Payton Wilson could flatten him.
But the real show began after half time. As the Texans built their lead to 30-plus, the NRG Stadium speakers suddenly erupted with the triumphant score from Gladiator — and wouldn’t stop. The orchestral horns blared through play after play, drowning out the broadcast team and confusing everyone in attendance.
At first, team officials blamed a “technical glitch.” But sideline whispers soon suggested something far more… Leonhardian.
According to sources, recently fired defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard was spotted earlier in the day near the press box with what witnesses described as “a suspicious number of aux cables.” Rumor has it Leonhard hacked into the stadium system to “inspire the troops one last time.”
Head coach David Shaw didn’t deny it, either. When asked about the mysterious music, Shaw deadpanned: “If Jim wants to play Gladiator while we’re getting sacks, I’m not going to stop him.”
The Texans (3-1) have officially turned the page — though apparently not without Leonhard’s dramatic flair echoing from the rafters. And if the defense keeps this up, Houston fans might just start requesting the Gladiator soundtrack every week.
Packers Erupt Late to Stun Cowboys 42-31
DALLAS (AP) — The Green Bay Packers turned a slow start into a fireworks show Sunday, exploding for 29 fourth-quarter points to rally past the Dallas Cowboys 42-31 in a wild shootout at AT&T Stadium.
Trailing 31-13 early in the fourth, Green Bay’s offense ignited behind quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and wide receiver Justin Jefferson. Jefferson burned the Cowboys’ secondary twice on back-to-back drives late in the quarter — each time getting behind coverage for long touchdown strikes that flipped the game’s momentum.
Jefferson finished the afternoon with 162 yards and two touchdowns on just four receptions, showcasing the kind of efficiency and explosiveness that make him nearly impossible to defend.
Not to be overlooked, running back Isiah Pacheco continued his breakout campaign, rumbling for 140 yards and a touchdown on only 10 carries — a staggering 14 yards per rush — giving the Packers a consistent spark on the ground.
“Once we got rolling, we knew it was over,” Jefferson said with a grin after the game. “You could feel it — the crowd, the energy, everything flipped.”
With the win, the Packers improved to 4-0, solidifying their reputation as one of the NFC’s most explosive teams.
49ers Fall Short Again, Drop 37-30 Heartbreaker to Jaguars
SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — The San Francisco 49ers’ skid continued Sunday as they fell 37-30 at home to the Jacksonville Jaguars, undone by late turnovers and defensive lapses.
Quarterback Jordan Love, last season’s 3GML MVP, endured another rough outing. Despite flashes of brilliance, he threw two costly interceptions in the fourth quarter, both killing potential scoring drives. The late mistakes overshadowed an otherwise balanced offensive day for San Francisco.
Rookie running back Kaleb Johnson provided a bright spot, exploding for 171 rushing yards and a touchdown in his best performance as a pro. His physical running kept the 49ers within striking distance for much of the game.
Defensively, however, San Francisco had no answers for Brian Thomas Jr., who torched their secondary with 201 receiving yards and a touchdown, including several chunk plays that flipped field position and momentum.
Head coach Kyle Shanahan was visibly frustrated afterward, calling the team’s recent stretch “unacceptable.” He added, “We’ve got the talent — but we’re not playing with the focus or finish we need. That’s on all of us.”
The 49ers (1-4) find themselves searching for answers after a second straight loss, but will try to course correct next week against the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday night.
