Week 3 is in the books and it’s a victory Monday for 75% of the NFC North. Let’s see what went down.
Colts 21 Bears 16
The Bears (1-2) lost on the road to the Colts (now 1-2).
Bears started with the ball and drove into long field goal range, but Santos missed the 56 yarder. Bad offense ensued with Colts 3 and out, Bears 4 and out, Colts 6 and out. It continued with Colts pick followed by a Caleb Williams pick by the Colts. The Colts drove 70 yards in 3 plays with a 40 yard pass to Granson and a 29 yard TD run by Jonathan Taylor. 7-0 Colts. Bears responded with a promising drive but turned it over on downs in Colts territory. The Colts responded with a punt and the Bears couldn’t get any points before the half.
Colts got the ball to start the second half and Richardson threw his second pick. The Bears got a short field but only got a Santos field goal. 7-3 Colts. Colts went 3 and out, but Caleb Williams threw his second pick. Colts got a short field but turned it over on downs in 4 plays. Ugly
Bears 3 and out again but the Colts marched 80 yards after that on 9 plays. Pittman 7 yards first on 3rd down, Taylor 25 yard reception and Taylor 21 yard runs., Travis Sermon 15 yard run were the highlights. Sermon punched it in from 1 yard away and 14-3 Colt lead.
Bears actually responded with a TD drive. Bears converted 3 first downs on passes and Caleb found Odunze for the 1 yard passing TD. 2 point failed. 14-9 Colts. Bears D beared down and got a 4 and out. Bears choked it away with a Latu strip sack fumble of Caleb Williams. Short field for the Colts and TD for the Colts with a 1 yard Taylor TD. 21-9 Colts
Bears responded with another TD drive on 4th and 1 with Caleb throwing to Kmet. Bears had a chance but elected not to onside kick for some reason with 2:01 to play. The Colts got a first down and kneeled the rest of the way. 21-16 Colts.
Caleb Williams 33/52 363 yards 2 TDs and 2 ints 80.8 rating. Anthony Richardson 10/20 167 yard 0 TDS and 2 ints. Colts running game (150 yards on 4.5 YPC), turnovers forced and short fields won it.
Bears 1-2 host the Rams 1-2 in Week 4.
Packers 30 Titans 14
Packers went to Nashville and whipped the Titans with their former QB Willis. Remember that. Wills rush TD for 5 yards on the first drive for the 7-0 lead. The Titans responded with 10 play 70 yard TD drive to knot it at 7. Packers offense still hot but faltered in the red zone 10-7 Packers. The game opened up with a Levis mistake and a 35 yard pick 6 by Jaire Alexander. 17-7 Packers. Packers lead the league with 9 turnovers forced.
Titans 4 and out, Packers 6 play punt drive and Titans 3 and out. Packers got the ball to end the half and drove 67 yards for a Narveson field goal. 20-7 Packers at the half.
Titans got the ball first but went for it on 4th down and turned it over in their territory. Costly mistake and the Packers took the short field 36 yards with a 30 yard TD pass from Willis to Emmanuel Wilson. 27-7 Packers
Titans responded with a 68 yard TD drive for some life. 27-14. Titans then got a 3 and out on the Packers. Tennessee drove to the Packrs 31 but Enagbare got the strip sack and Van Ness recovered to end the threat.
Packers 5 play punt, Titans 5 play punt and Packers 3 and out, Titans 3 and out kept it 27-14. Green Bay drive 31 yards and tacked on a field goal 30-14. Green Bay defense got another big turnover with a pick. Green Bay 3 and out and 2nd int (3rd turnover plus turnover on downs) for the Packers defense. Packers 3 and out milking clock and 4 Titans plays ended the game. Turnovers and short field/pick 6 was the key to this one.
Willis 13/19 202 yards 1 TD and 120.9 QB Rating.
Will Levis 26/24 260 yards 2 TDs and 2 int for 92.8 QB rating. Titans couldn’t run at all with 11 carries and only 33 yards. Packers had 188 yards rushing at 5.1 YPC to help the offense.
Packers 2-1 and host the Vikings in Week 4.
Lions 20 Cardinals 13
Lions 2-1 got a big win on the road against the upstart Cardinals (1-2). Detroit got the ball and drove right down the field for the TD. David Montgomery was the focus with an 11 yard run to start. La Porta caught a huge 3rd down and Brock Wright the 3rd first down on the drive. Montgomery finished it off with a 9 yard run, 14 yard run and 1 yard TD. 7-0 Lions.
The Cardinals responded with a 8 play 70 yard TD drive. 3rd and 2 completion to Michael Wilson. 16 yarder to Marvin Jarrison and 21 yard scramble by Murray. Illegal use of hand for first down. Finally, Harris got the 10 yard TD to tie the game at 7.
The Lions were still hot on offense with a 5 yard first down to Wright, 11 yard first down to St Brown and 20 yards to St Brown. 3rd and 3 Gibbs ran for 14 yards and Goff found St Brown on 3rd and goal for the TD. Goff started the game 14/14. Bates missed the XP 13-7.
Cardinals 3 and out and Lions 3 and out on sack were next. Cardinals 4 and out gave the Lions the ball back. The Lions drove down the field with a 14 yard run on 3rd and 12. Before that run, the Lions snapped the ball right after the clock hit the 2 minute warning. Whistles blew but pressure game and Goff appeared to throw a pick 6. However, the whistles properly blew and Lions got the second chance on 3rd and 12. Goff to Jameson for 9 yards got another first and finally a great hook and ladder play to St Brown tossing it to Gibbs for the TD. 20-7 Lions
Cardinals got a late FG drive after a couple first and a Lions unnecessary roughness penalty on Reeves Mabin. 20-10 at the half.
Cardinals started the second half with ball but Kerby Jospeh made a great play in the end zone and picked Murray. Detroit 5 play punt and Cardinals 3 and out followed. Goff made a big mistake and didn’t see Dennis Gardeck dropping from end and got picked. The Lions defense stood strong and stopped Murray just short on 4th down for a huge stop after a short field. Lions drove into Cardinals territory but they turned the ball over on downs.
Cardinals 3 and out, Lions 7 play punt drive with Fox having another punt down inside the 20. Cardinals 5 play turnover on downs o the next drive. Lions 3 and out, Cardinals 3 and out and Lions 4 and out. Defense was the story of the second half. The Cardinals got life with 67 yard field goal drive. Cardinals needed a stop but the Lions got 2 first downs to milk the clock. Lions big road win 20-13.
Goff 18/23 199 yards 2 TDs and 1 int 113.6 QB rating. Kyler Murray 21/34 2-7 yards 1 TD 1 int 76.5 QB rating. Lions ran well again with 187 rushing yards at 4.3 YPC. Cardinals had 77 yards rushing. Hutchinson got another sack (6.5).
Lions host Seattle (3-0) on Monday Night Football in Week 4.
Vikings 34 Texans 7
The Vikings (3-0) whipped the Texans (2-1). Stroud was picked on the first drive by LB Kamier Grugier-Hill. The Vikings only needed 21 yards and got their first TD with a 6 yard TD to Justin Jefferson on the 3rd and goal. The Texans responded with a long FG try drive but missed. The Vikings went 56 yards and Darnold hit Aaron Jones on 3rd and 2 for the 8 yard TD. 14-0 Vikings.
Texans 3 and out and Vikings 3 and out followed. More punt with Texans 7 play drive, Vikings 5 play drive, Texans 6 play drive and Vikings 7 play drive. Texans ended the half with 3 plays and was sacked on the final play of the half.
Vikings got the ball and drove 77 yards for a TD to start the 3rd Quarter. Darnold hit Nailor for the yard score. Texans 3 and out and Vikings 3 and out continued the defensive stops. The Texans finally got going with a 72 yard drive and cut the score to 21-7. The Vikings responded with a field goal drive and move it to a 3 score game at 24-7. Stroud was picked for a 2nd time by Bynum. Vikings drove 53 yards and put the nail in the coffin with a TD pass to Johnny Mundt. 31-7. Turnover on downs by Texans and 58 yard FG by the rookie Reichard for the 34-7 lead. Long drive in garbage time by Texans but turnover on downs ended it. Vikings 3-0 and go to Green Bay (2-1) in Week 4. Big game early.