Texans Outlast 49ers in 3GML Shootout, 38-31
HOUSTON (AP) — In a wild 3GML matchup that featured little defense and plenty of fireworks, the Houston Texans outlasted the San Francisco 49ers 38-31 at NRG Stadium on Sunday.
With the game tied 31-31 and less than a minute to play, Drake Maye delivered a dagger — a perfect strike on 3rd-and-15 from the 43-yard line to Rashid Shaheed, who streaked past the secondary for the game-winning touchdown with under 30 seconds left. The throw capped off a composed performance by Maye, who finished with 307 yards and a touchdown in one of his best outings of the year.
For the 49ers, Jordan Love was steady but couldn’t quite keep pace, throwing for 261 yards and a touchdown, while running back Jaylen Warren powered the ground attack with 123 yards and a score. Still, San Francisco’s defense — beleaguered by injuries — continued to show cracks, struggling to contain Houston’s balanced offense.
The Texans' defense wasn’t much better, as both teams traded big plays and explosive drives throughout the afternoon. After the game, Houston head coach David Shaw joked, “It wasn’t exactly a clinic on defense, but we’ll take a win however we can get it.”
With the win, Houston improved to 5-2, keeping pace in the AFC playoff picture, while the 49ers dropped to 4-4, searching for answers on a defense that’s now surrendered 30 or more points in consecutive weeks.
The two 3GML powerhouses proved one thing: when they meet, fans should expect fireworks — and maybe a few defensive coordinators losing sleep.
Chargers Obliterate Vikings 48-3 as McCaffrey, Defense Dominate — and Jim Leonhard Makes Another “Cameo”
INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — The Los Angeles Chargers looked like an unstoppable force Sunday, dismantling the Minnesota Vikings 48-3 at SoFi Stadium in a complete team performance that was equal parts dominance and concert.
Matthew Stafford threw for three touchdowns, Christian McCaffrey continued his MVP-level tear with 197 rushing yards and a touchdown, and the Chargers’ defense held the Vikings to a paltry 230 total yards, suffocating Sam Darnold and company from start to finish.
But perhaps the strangest subplot of the day came midway through the second quarter, when SoFi Stadium’s sound system inexplicably began blasting the 300 soundtrack during a key defensive stand.
Sources close to the team claim that former Texans defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard, now a free agent in both the football and audio world, had been “invited under the table” by Stafford himself to “add some cinematic gravity to the moment.”
When asked postgame, Stafford smirked and said, “No comment."
With the win, the Chargers move to 6-2, looking every bit like a Super Bowl contender under Bobby Slowik. And as for Leonhard? Reports suggest he’s been spotted leaving SoFi with a briefcase full of “consulting fees” and a speaker cable — just in case his services are needed again.
Packers Handle Steelers 24-10 as Garrett, Pacheco Lead the Way
PITTSBURGH (AP) — In a much-anticipated reunion between Aaron Rodgers and his former 3GML team, the Green Bay Packers spoiled the veteran quarterback’s return to 3GML TV screens, beating the Pittsburgh Steelers 24-10 on Sunday.
Rodgers, now leading Pittsburgh, looked rattled early against the relentless Green Bay defense, throwing three first-half interceptions that shifted the game’s momentum firmly toward the visitors. The Packers converted two of those turnovers into touchdowns, effectively putting the game out of reach before halftime.
Offensively, Isiah Pacheco once again proved to be the engine of the Packers’ attack, rushing for 154 yards and a touchdown on a day when the ground game was vital against Pittsburgh’s front seven. His powerful running set the tone, allowing Tua Tagovailoa to manage the offense efficiently and control the clock.
On the other side of the ball, Myles Garrett was unstoppable in his return to AFC North country, posting 11 tackles and 2.5 sacks in a vintage performance that left Rodgers under constant duress.
After the game, Garrett kept things professional when asked about facing his former division rival. “It was just business today,” he said. “We came here to win, and that’s what we did. But yeah — it felt good to make some noise in this stadium again.”
With the victory, the Packers move to 6-1 continuing to look every bit like an early-season Super Bowl contender behind a dominant defense and a balanced offense firing on all cylinders.
