NFL Sunday Week Four: Eagles remain undefeated as Vikings win in London
The New Orleans Saints lost in agonising style to the Minnesota Vikings in 2022’s London opener on Sunday, with Vikings winning 28-25 late on.
In the 100th NFL game to be played outside of the USA, it was a dramatic finish as Saint’s kicker Will Lutz saw his kick hit the uprights to give the Vikings victory.
It was an entertaining affair at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium with the game bursting into life in the final stages. Justin Jefferson and Alexander Mattison went over for Minnesota, while Latavius Murray, Chris Olave and Taysom Hill scored for New Orleans.
It’s the opening game of this year’s three-match series in the British capital, with the Green Bay Packers taking on the New York Giants at Tottenham next Sunday. The Jacksonville Jaguars and the Denver Broncos face of at Wembley on 30 October.
Eagles remain team to beat
The Philadelphia Eagles remain the only unbeaten team left in the NFL as they came from behind to dominate the Jacksonville Jaguars in a 29-21 win at home.
A stellar defensive performance helped Philadelphia erase a slow start and an early 14-point deficit, bouncing back to produce a convincing performance.
For the Jags, a disappointing afternoon for Trevor Lawrence, who completed just 11 passes and threw for an interception. He’ll be looking to bounce back against the Texans next week.
Super Bowl favourites Buffalo Bills managed to down the Baltimore Ravens despite at one point trailing 20-3, scoring 20 unanswered points to seal the victory.
In a matchup between two MVP candidates, Josh Allen got one over Lamar Jackson, as John Harbaugh’s late fourth-down gamble backfired to give Buffalo the victory.
It’s worrying times for the Ravens defense, who have already let big leads slip against the Bills and Dolphins this season.
Battle of the GOATs
In a rematch of Super Bowl LV, Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs got revenge on Tom Brady and Buccaneers with an electric performance on their way to a 41-31 victory.
Mahomes, who was nullified on his previous trip to Raymond James Stadium, threw for three touchdowns as Andy Reid’s offense proved all too much for Tampa Bay’s defense. Brady was in equally impressive form, but turnovers, including a strip-sack fumble from the Chiefs, proved to be key moments in ensuring a Kansas City victory.
Aaron Rodgers reached 500 career touchdown passes as the Packers held off the Patriots in Green Bay.
It wasn’t an easy victory for the Packers. Third-choice QB Bailey Zappe, making his NFL debut, impressed after replacing backup Brian Hoyer in the first quarter, making 10 passes and a touchdown. However, it wasn’t enough as the Packers won in overtime, 27-24.
Rodgers joins Tom Brady (716), Drew Brees (608), Peyton Manning (579) and Brett Favre (552) in players to have reached 500 touchdown passes.
In Pittsburgh, Kenny Pickett’s NFL debut was spoiled by Zach Wilson and the Jets, as the Steelers lost to Gang Green. Pickett threw for three interceptions after replacing Mitch Trubisky early in the second half, as Breece Hall ran for a two-yard touchdown to give New York a valuable victory with 16 seconds remaining.
Elsewhere, JJ Watt managed to play for the Cardinals despite revealing he went into atrial fibrillation this week, which causes your heart to beat abnormally.
Watt spoke emotionally after the game to say that he had been given medical assurances to play, as Arizona beat the Panthers 26-16 in Charlotte.
There were also wins for the Seahawks, Titans and Chargers among others this weekend.
Full results of Sunday 3rd October games:
New Orleans Saints 25 – 28 Minnesota Vikings
Detroit Lions 45 – 48 Seattle Seahawks
Pittsburgh Steelers 20 – 24 New York Jets
New York Giants 20 – 12 Chicago Bears
Indianapolis Colts 17 – 24 Tennessee Titans
Houston Texans 24 – 34 Los Angeles Chargers
Atlanta Falcons 23 – 20 Cleveland Browns
Dallas Cowboys 25 – 10 Washington Commanders
Philadelphia Eagles 29 – 21 Jacksonville Jaguars
Baltimore Ravens 20 – 23 Buffalo Bills
Carolina Panthers 16 – 26 Arizona Cardinals
Las Vegas Raiders 32 – 23 Denver Broncos
Green Bay Packers 27 – 24 New England Patriots
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 31 – 41 Kansas City Chiefs
