All the Dallas Cowboys needed was to get Tony Romo back. Through their seven-game losing streak the Cowboys kept saying things could turn around – if only they could get their quarterback back. On Sunday he returned and led Dallas to a 24-14 victory over Miami.
The Cowboys are now 3-7, which would seemingly bury them in the NFC East. But given the poor play of the other division teams, Dallas is still very much alive for the playoffs. Romo was not fantastic, he threw for two touchdowns and was intercepted twice but neither pick was really his fault – one came off a tip and the other came when Dez Bryant ran the wrong route. And the way Romo was able to move the Cowboys offense, with 227 yards passing speaks to the fact Dallas is not done yet.
No one knows if Peyton Manning is done, but his replacement Brock Osweiler played well in his first NFL start. After waiting three-and-a-half seasons to start a game, he went 20-for-27 and threw for 250 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions in Denver’s 17-15 victory over Chicago. After losing their last two games with the gimpy Manning, the Broncos are now 8-2 and back in the race for a first-round bye in the playoffs.
As they topple into their 40s, Matt Hasselbeck and Adam Vinatieri proved they are not done yet. Hasselbeck the Colts backup quarterback – filling in for the injured Andrew Luck, led Indianapolis on a game-winning drive in Atlanta and Vinatieri hit a 43-yard field goal to give the Colts a 24-21 victory. Hasselbeck has now led Indianapolis to three of their five wins.
With each week and each Carolina Panthers victory, Cam Newton continues to state a case for being the NFL’s MVP. On Sunday he threw for five touchdowns in the Panthers 44-16 victory over Washington that moved Carolina to 10-0.
Newton had just 246 yards passing but that was due – in part – to Washington’s five turnovers. Perhaps no team has been more perplexing this year than Washington, which has been a dominating mix of pass and run at home and unable to generate any kind of rushing game on the road. Against the Panthers, they rushed for a grand total of 14 yards on 12 carries.
Newton wasn’t the only quarterback to throw for five touchdowns on Sunday. Jameis Winston had the best game so far in his rookie season as the threw for five touchdowns – tying an NFL record for a rookie – and 246 yards in Tampa Bay’s 45-17 victory over Philadelphia.
The Bucs Doug Martin rushed for 235 yards as the fans in Philadelphia booed their Eagles. Philadelphia continues to struggle in Chip Kelly’s third season. Still the Eagles, at 4-6, remainin contention in the NFC East.
TJ Yates led Houston to a late-game win over Cincinnati last Monday night and that earned him his first start of the season on Sunday. All Yates did against the Jets in NRG Stadium was show the Texans he might be the piece they had missed as he led Houston to a 24-17 victory with 229 yards passing and two touchdowns. In less than a week, Yates has pulled the Texans into first place in the AFC South, although he was helped by the excellent DeAndre Hopkins who finished the day with 118 receiving yards. The Jets continue to slump, and have now lost four of their last five games.
The Lions won their second straight game, grinding out an 18-13 victory over Oakland. Matt Stafford scored Detroit’s only touchdown on a five-yard run with 11:04 left to give the Lions the win. He also threw for 282 yards
Baltimore kicker Justin Tucker hit a 47-yard field goal as time expired to give the Ravens a 16-13 victory over the Rams. The Ravens victory was dampened by the news that Joe Flacco and Justin Forsett will miss the rest of the season.
