2026-09-27
NFL delivers dramatic finishes and landmark wins in Week 3
A full Sunday brought clutch performances, comebacks, and highlight moments across the league.
A busy NFL Sunday delivered close calls, big comebacks, and highlight moments as Week 3 unfolded across North America and abroad. Several teams pulled out dramatic victories in the final minutes, while others relied on standout individual efforts to seal their wins.
"Allen, Bills outlast Chargers 24-16 despite committing 5 turnovers," as Buffalo managed to hold off Los Angeles despite their giveaways at Highmark Stadium. In Cleveland, "Deshaun Watson sparks a late Browns rally, sealing a 21-18 win over the Panthers." The Detroit Lions saw Jahmyr Gibbs score his third touchdown with 2:25 left to take a 31-24 win over the Jets.
In Indianapolis, the Colts snapped their nine-game skid with a narrow 19-17 victory against the Texans, secured by a late field goal. The Kansas City Chiefs leaned on Kenneth Walker III's two touchdowns to defeat the Dolphins 24-10. The Giants, playing their first game without quarterback Jaxson Dart, edged the Titans 12-7 with a solid team effort.
Pittsburgh bested Cincinnati 30-27 in a duel between Aaron Rodgers and Joe Burrow, capped by a late Boswell kick. The Commanders ended Seattle’s 12-game winning streak in a 33-31 thriller over the Seahawks.
The Jaguars routed the Patriots 35-6 behind Lawrence's three TD passes, and in San Francisco, Purdy threw four touchdowns as the injury-depleted 49ers knocked off the Cardinals 36-30.
Minnesota's stifling defense led the Vikings to a 23-16 road win over the Buccaneers. In the NFL Rio Game, Lamar Jackson's late pass and alert timeout set up a Loop 56-yard field goal as the Ravens beat the Cowboys 34-31 at Maracanã Stadium.
Kirk Cousins powered the Raiders to a comeback 35-27 win over the Saints in New Orleans. Sunday night wrapped up with Bo Nix and Talanoa Hufanga leading the Broncos past the Rams 30-26 in Denver.
NFL
Los Angeles Chargers16Buffalo Bills24Allen, Bills outlast Chargers 24-16 despite committing 5 turnovers
— Buffalo Bills safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson didn’t miss a beat when asked if he’d ever been part of a win when his team commits five turnovers.
NFL
Carolina Panthers18Cleveland Browns21Deshaun Watson sparks a late Browns rally, sealing a 21-18 win over the Panthers
— It came five weeks later than he thought, but Deshaun Watson earned cheers from Cleveland Browns fans.
NFL
New York Jets24Detroit Lions31Jahmyr Gibbs' 3rd touchdown with 2:25 left lifts Lions to 31-24 win over Jets
— Jahmyr Gibbs took a toss sweep to the right, reversed field and raced to the left side of the end zone for a 17-yard touchdown.
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Houston Texans17Indianapolis Colts19Colts end 9-game skid with 19-17 victory over Texans as Shrader kicks winner with 16 seconds left
— The Indianapolis Colts kept talking about turning the page on their season-ending seven-game losing streak that cost them a playoff spot last year.
NFL
Kansas City Chiefs24Miami Dolphins10Kenneth Walker III has 2 TDs as Chiefs beat Dolphins 24-10 after De'Von Achane exits with injury
— Patrick Mahomes arrived in South Florida this weekend and noticed a fun coincidence. He was back in the same hotel room he stayed in when he won his first Super Bowl title.
NFL
Tennessee Titans7New York Giants12Giants hold on to beat the Titans 12-7 in their first game without quarterback Jaxson Dart
— Playing their first game without quarterback Jaxson Dart, the New York Giants got just enough from replacement Jameis Winston on offense and another big play from safety Jevon Holland...
NFL
Cincinnati Bengals27Pittsburgh Steelers30Aaron Rodgers outduels Joe Burrow as the Steelers edge the Bengals 30-27 on a late Boswell kick
— Mike McCarthy and Aaron Rodgers have been around each other a long time.
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Seattle Seahawks31Washington Commanders33Commanders snap Seattle's 12-game winning streak, beat the Seahawks 33-31
— Two quarters after Washington linebacker Leo Chenal was carted off with a scary neck injury, backup Kain Medrano delivered the biggest play of the game.
NFL
New England Patriots6Jacksonville Jaguars35Lawrence throws 3 TD passes as Jaguars rout Patriots and raise more questions about Maye
— Jacksonville Jaguars coach Liam Coen spent all week telling his players that what mattered most was how they responded.
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Arizona Cardinals30San Francisco 49ers36Purdy throws 4 TD passes to lead the injury-depleted 49ers to a 36-30 win vs. the Cardinals
— The San Francisco 49ers keep losing key players to injuries and still keep winning, thanks in large part to the play of quarterback Brock Purdy.
NFL
Minnesota Vikings23Tampa Bay Buccaneers16Vikings beat Buccaneers 23-16 but lose Jefferson to injury. Bucs' Mayfield dislocates thumb
— A stifling defense and a big play on special teams helped the Minnesota Vikings stay undefeated.
NFL
Baltimore Ravens34Dallas Cowboys31Jackson's pass, alert timeout call lead to Loop's 56-yard field goal as Ravens beat Cowboys 34-31
— Lamar Jackson used his big right arm and a little bit of quick thinking to lead the Baltimore Ravens to one of their shortest and most memorable drives in franchise history.
NFL Rio Game
NFL
Las Vegas Raiders35New Orleans Saints27Kirk Cousins passes for 3 TDs and the unbeaten Raiders come back to top the Saints 35-27
— It took the Las Vegas Raiders an entire season to accumulate three victories in 2025.
NFL
Los Angeles Rams26Denver Broncos30Bo Nix and Talanoa Hufanga lead the Broncos past the Rams 30-26 in a Sunday night thriller
- Bo Nix didn't flinch from his slow start and Talanoa Hufanga didn't lose faith after dropping two interceptions Sunday night.
Sources: NFL