Key events
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TOUCHDOWN! Packers 21-11 Bears 6:10, 3rd quarter
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TOUCHDOWN! Packers 14-11 Bears 8:20, 3rd quarter
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Half-time
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Packers 14-3 Bears 0:38, 2nd quarter
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TOUCHDOWN! Packers 7-0 Bears 9:19, 2nd quarter
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Early window roundup
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Full time
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SACK! Pittsburgh WIN!
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Jaguars top the AFC South
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Buffalo win! Bills 39-34 Bengals
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TOUCHDOWN! Bills 39-34 Bengals 2:13, 4th quarter
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Next games up
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TOUCHDOWN! Bills 39-28 Bengals 3:09, 4th quarter
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PICK SIX! Bills 32-28 Bengals 5:25, 4th quarter
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TOUCHDOWN! Bills 25-28 Bengals 7:33, 4th quarter
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TOUCHDOWN! Bills 18-28 Bengals 8:44, 4th quarter
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Fourth-quarter scores
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FUMBLE! Bills 18-21 Bengals 0:51, 3rd quarter
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TOUCHDOWN! Ravens 9-17 Steelers 0:16, 2nd quarter
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Half-time (ish)
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TOUCHDOWN! Bills 21-11 Bengals 3:21, 2nd quarter
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TOUCHDOWN! Jaguars 21-7 Colts 12:51, 2nd quarter
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Preamble
Packers 21-14 Bears 11:33, 4th quarter
D’Andrew Swift punches Chicago just over midfield on 3rd down to keep the drive moving. They run it again with Swift and break off another seven yards. The running game looks to be gassing some Packers defenders. They then move the chains with a trick play. Williams underhands one after some fake handoffs and he scampers for seven. Only 27 yards remain now for a tie game.
TOUCHDOWN! Cardinals 10-38 Rams 15:00, 4th quarter
OK surely the backups should be coming in now?! Puka Nacua doubles up with a 31-yard grab. The score was made in a single play after the Rams picked off Jacoby Brissett. LA’s star receiver is having another huge game in a career of huge games. He has seven catches for 167 yards and two touchdowns.
TOUCHDOWN! Raiders 14-24 Broncos 2:18, 4th quarter
Kenny Pickett is in for the Raiders and he throws a beauty down the middle to Shedrick Jackson for the 25-yard score. That was a seriously good throw that took all three defenders completely out of the game to find Jackson nestled between them in the endzone. Maybe Pickett should be starting?
Packers 21-14 Bears 1:32, 3rd quarter
Big stop for Chicago. They force the punt from Green Bay on a rapid three and out. Can Caleb Williams lead a drive to level this up?
It’s GOOD! Raiders 7-24 Broncos 3:56, 4th quarter
Denver on course for a 10th win in succession after Will Lutz slots the 23-yard chip shot home. That drive topped the nine-minute scoring one from earlier and finished up at the 10-minute mark. Denver have had the ball for 38 minutes leaving Las Vegas with just 18 minutes of possession. Total control.
It’s GOOD! Packers 21-14 Bears 3:14, 3rd quarter
Caleb Williams has done a great job of throwing the first half away and coming out swinging. The Bears are moving and are quickly on to Green Bay’s 30-yard line after a 16-yard pass and 18-yard pass. Both had some serious hear. 3rd down on the way, what have you got? Williams drops back, way, way back and just has to throw it away as he runs for his life. Cairos Santos kicks the 41-yard field goal.
I’m maybe a little obsessed but there is something magic about Puka Nacua. No one catches it quite like LA’s Samoan badass.
TOUCHDOWN! Packers 21-11 Bears 6:10, 3rd quarter
Well that was quick. Green Bay strike back with the easiest of scores. Love lays in a nice throw ahead of Christian Watson who slants across the Bears from right to left and upfield for the 41-yard touchdown. Perfect playcall to utilise the receiver’s electric speed. He was out of sight in the blink of an eye.
Cardinals 10-31 Rams 5:06, 3rd quarter
LA are in serious clock bleeding mode as they run the ball five times in a row. Puka Nacua seen with pipe and slippers on the sideline. They sit at midfield.
TOUCHDOWN! Packers 14-11 Bears 8:20, 3rd quarter
D’Andre Swift almost scores but drags Chicago to the goal line. On the following play Olamide Zaccheaus makes the diving grab to his right in the end zone. No idea at all how he holds on to it with a defender in his face for the one-yard catch from Williams. On the two-point try Kyle Monangai smashes in to make it a field-goal game. Game on!
Packers 14-3 Bears 9:51, 3rd quarter
Caleb Williams escapes a sack and runs for his life out to the right. He keeps his eyes downfield and throws a perfect ball up the sideline to Cole Kmet for 26 yards to move the chains. Bears in the red zone.
TOUCHDOWN! Cardinals 10-31 Rams 10:09, 3rd quarter
LA score again! Their possession log runs thusly: field goal, touchdown, touchdown, touchdown, touchdown. Nary a punt in sight. Tight end Colby Parkinson finishes this one off with a six-yard catch. Still so long time to go in this one, the Rams could score 60 if they wanted. When do they bench the starters? Soonish after another score, you would think.
Packers 14-3 Bears 14:10, 3rd quarter
Naughty, Bo Melton! The receiver wrestles down the cornerback covering him to avoid an easy interception for the Bears. That was a deep pass on 3rd down so the punt team are coming out. Good start for Chicago.
Packers 14-3 Bears 15:00, 3rd quarter
The Packers are making life hellish for Caleb Williams. The fierce defense has limited the second-year passer to just 32 yards at half-time. Just the one sack but four QB hits have Williams making 6/14 with an average of 2.3 yards per play. Not good. Big adjustments needed from Chicago as Green Bay take over on offense.
TOUCHDOWN! Raiders 7-21 Broncos 4:05, 3rd quarter
Denver cruising now. RJ Harvey finishes off a 91-yard drive, 14 play, 9 minute drive with a three-yard run. Brutal.
Half-time
The scores on the boards:
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Las Vegas Raiders 7-14 Denver Broncos
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Arizona Cardinals 10-24 Los Angeles Rams
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Green Bay Packers 14-3 Chicago Bears
In the big one in the NFC North the Packers have a huge advantage now after converting the quickfire touchdown. Jordan Love is throwing some lovely deep passes that are scrambling Chicago’s secondary. Green Bay’s quarterback is 12/17 for 163 yards with two touchdowns and that early interception. Rebound!
Packers 14-3 Bears 0:21, 2nd quarter
21 seconds, Te Te Te! Williams throws an incompletion on the play following him taking a massive sack. He drops back again and moves the chains this time.
TOUCHDOWN! Cardinals 10-24 Rams 0:12, 2nd quarter
In other rapid touchdown news, LA just housed it in light speed. Matt Stafford runs a seven play, 92-yard scoring drive in 90 seconds. 90! Puka Nacua finishes it off with a 28-yard catch. Incredible. Rams in total control.
Packers 14-3 Bears 0:38, 2nd quarter
Wow. Huge breakdown in the zone coverage allows Bo Melton to catch a bomb for a 45-yard score. The Packers punish Chicago’s muffed kick-off in absolutely brutal fashion. That touchdown took them all of 36 seconds.
Packers 7-3 Bears 1:14, 2nd quarter
Santos messes up the kick-off and gifts the Packers a restart at their 40-yard line. They have plenty of time and three timeouts to extend the lead.
It’s GOOD! Packers 7-3 Bears 1:14, 2nd quarter
Chicago are stopped in their tracks. Green Bay go all out blitz and the linebackers swarm all over D’Andre Swift. Bears on the board though with a 33-yard field goal from Cairo Santos.
Packers 7-0 Bears 2:34, 2nd quarter
Fight! The players converge for some handbags, well they have to it’s a rivalry game after all. Green Bay are penalised for a personal foul and that moves Chicago all the way into the redzone. On the next play they are blasted out of it again after a huge tackle behind the line of scrimmage on DJ Moore.
Packers 7-0 Bears 4:40, 2nd quarter
Caleb Williams shows some serious speed as he races out to the right on 4th and 2 to pick up the 1st down.
TOUCHDOWN! Cardinals 10-17 Rams 2:48, 2nd quarter
LA retake the lead after two-yard score from running back Kyren Williams. That touchdown was set up by a gorgeous catch and run from Puka Nacua for 20 yards. Who else?
Packers 7-0 Bears 7:58, 2nd quarter
It looks absolutely baltic in Green Bay. You know it’s freezing when you can see the linemen’s breath before the snap. Meanwhile after the snap Caleb Williams hits Luther Burden with a short pass and the receiver runs it up for the 1st down and a 12-yard gain.
TOUCHDOWN! Packers 7-0 Bears 9:19, 2nd quarter
Lambeau goes loco!!! Jordan Love lofts a lovely deep ball that fades out from the middle to the right to lead Christian Watson away from the defender. Watson has the room then to make the grab for a 23-yard touchdown. Go, Pack, go!
Packers 0-0 Bears 10:12, 2nd quarter
Lovely bit of play action opens up a 21-yard gain on a pass from Love to Josh Whyle. Packers are knocking on the door now with 23 yards remaining.
It’s GOOD! Cardinals 10-10 Rams 8:31, 2nd quarter
Chad Ryland levels it up with a 38-yard field goal for Arizona.
Packers 0-0 Bears 11:46, 2nd quarter
Josh Jacobs powers up the middle to move the chains with a seven-yard scamper. “He is a horse when he get’s going,” says Kevin Burkhardt. Is that a compliment? Not sure.
Packers 0-0 Bears 13:16, 2nd quarter
Green Bay move to their 40-yard line with a short roll out pass to the left into John FitzPatrick’s open arms.
Early window roundup
TOUCHDOWN! Cardinals 7-10 Rams 1:29, 1st quarter
LA take the lead after a two-yard run from Blake Corum. Rams nerves settling a touch after slipping behind at the start.
TOUCHDOWN! Raiders 7-14 Broncos 6:29, 2nd quarter
OK we’re back! And how! Marvin Mims races a punt back for 48-yard score for the Broncos. Let’s ride!
Full time
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(4-9) Atlanta Falcons 9-37 Seattle Seahawks (10-3)
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(6-7) Baltimore Ravens 22-27 Pittsburgh Steelers (7-6)
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(9-4) Buffalo Bills 39-34 Cincinnati Bengals (4-9)
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(3-10) Cleveland Browns 29-31 Tennessee Titans (2-11)
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(9-4) Jacksonville Jaguars 36-19 Indianapolis Colts (8-5)
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(5-8) Minnesota Vikings 31-0 Washington Commanders (3-10)
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(3-10) New York Jets 10-34 Miami Dolphins (6-7)
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(7-6) Tampa Bay Buccaneers 20-24 New Orleans Saints (3-10)
Pittsburgh and Jacksonville move one game up at the top of the AFC North and South respectively while the Bills pull of an epic comeback over the Bengals. I need short break but we will be cooking again with these late games soon enough!
SACK! Pittsburgh WIN!
The Steelers take back control of the AFC North with a 27-22 win over the Ravens. An epic victory on enemy soil for Mike Tomlin’s side. The Ravens thought they had the lead on the previous drive but it was snatched from them and Pittsburgh’s defense rose up to stop them doing so again.
Ravens 22-27 Steelers 0:09, 4th quarter
A Ravens fan cannot look as Jackson drops back but finds Mark Andrews for nine yards.
Ravens 22-27 Steelers 0:16, 4th quarter
Jackson drops back and hits Charlie Kolar with a awesome throw for 19 yards. Pittsburgh take the timeout to cool off. The Ravens are in striking distance now with only 39 yards remaining. Top spot of the AFC North is on the line.
Ravens 22-27 Steelers 0:31, 4th quarter
1st down! The Ravens survive after a short pass to Likely. Lamar spikes the ball. They still have 58 yards to travel.
Ravens 22-27 Steelers 0:47, 4th quarter
Baltimore take a timeout. Lamar Jackson runs them close to the sticks but they still have two yards to go on 4th down.
Jaguars top the AFC South
Jaguars 36-19 Colts, final score
Jacksonville sit top of the standings now with Indy staring down the barrel as Daniel Jones exited with a leg injury. The Jags are 9-4 and Colts are 8-5.
Jets 10-34 Dolphins, Buccaneers 20-24 Saints, final scores
Couple more in the books. Classic Tampa Bay to drop what should have been a straightforward win at home while Miami keep their playoff hopes alive for another week. The Bucs drop back to level with the Panthers on 7-6 in the NFC South.
Ravens 22-27 Steelers 2:08, 4th quarter
Pittsburgh are punting after going three and out. Maybe they aren’t as close to the W as I thought. The return puts Baltimore on their own 43-yard line. Loads of time left for Lamar Jackson to still win this one.
Ravens 27-22 Steelers 2:17, 4th quarter
Pittsburgh are on the verge of a MASSIVE win after the Ravens turn it over on downs. They need a couple of first downs first. Baltimore meanwhile thought they had taken the lead but a touchdown from Likely was ruled out as incomplete pass by the referees. High drama as the ref’s microphone wasn’t working to top it off.
Buffalo win! Bills 39-34 Bengals
That final quarter just exploded. A run of three Buffalo touchdowns with two Burrow interceptions then a fightback score from Burrow to give Cinci a chance. It wasn’t to be but wow. What a game.
Falcons 9-37 Seahawks, final score
Seattle make sure they keep pace at the top of the NFC with a beatdown of Atlanta so they are in first place for a few hours at least with a 10-3 record. Sam Darnold caught fire in the second half throwing three touchdowns.
TOUCHDOWN! Bills 39-34 Bengals 2:13, 4th quarter
This is getting ridiculous. Aren’t snow games supposed to be low scoring? Joe Burrow keeps on trucking after throwing two picks with a 25-yard strike to Tee Higgins. The Bengals are not done yet.
Next games up
We are staying open through for the later trio, up next a couple of heavyweights looking to keep marching to the postseason and an absolutely huge matchup in the NFC North:
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(2-10) Las Vegas Raiders v Denver Broncos (10-2)
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(3-9) Arizona Cardinals v Los Angeles Rams (9-3)
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(8-3-1) Green Bay Packers v Chicago Bears (9-3)
TOUCHDOWN! Bills 39-28 Bengals 3:09, 4th quarter
Buffalo think they have a touchdown but Dawson Knox juggles the catch out of the side of the endzone. It brings up 4th and Goal with three yards remaining. They roll the dice. Josh Allen drops back and hits a wide-open Jackson Hawes for the score. “No pass rush whatsoever,” says Greg Olsen. Nope, none. So easy for Buffalo. The Bengals have completely imploded, they were 28-18 ahead and after conceding three touchdowns in succession they now trail 39-28.
Vikings 31-0 Commanders, full time
In all the drama in Buffalo I had to wait to report Minnesota’s thrashing of Washington. Horrible day for the Commanders who lost Jayden Daniels again with an injury after a nasty hit on the quarterback.
It’s GOOD! Ravens 22-27 Steelers 4:09, 4th quarter
Tyler Loop moves Baltimore to four points behind Pittsburgh with a 36-yard field goal.
Bills 32-28 Bengals 5:03, 4th quarter
One. Play. Later. BURROW IS PICKED AGAIN! The Bengals are in complete free fall out of thin air. Burrow’s pass is batted at the line and AJ Epenesa is on hand to pick him off. I can’t keep up!
PICK SIX! Bills 32-28 Bengals 5:25, 4th quarter
Chrisitan Benford runs back a 65-yard pick to give Buffalo a stunning lead. Joe Burrow attempts a short, floated pass but Benford leaps and makes the easiest of interceptions and races it back for the touchdown. Absolutely crackers, another huge turnover. This might just be the game of the season.
