The Cowboys Stun, the Chiefs survive, the Texans stumble, and more in today’s NFL Notes.
Raiders Lose Gardner Minshew for the Season
The Las Vegas Raiders lost to the Denver Broncos on Sunday, but that wasn’t their only loss. After leaving the game with a shoulder injury, it was confirmed on Sunday evening that quarterback Gardner Minshew will miss the rest of the season with a broken collarbone, according to The Athletic.
Minshew exited the loss on the Raiders’ final drive with just over three minutes to play. When Head Coach Antonio Pierce went to the podium at Allegiant Stadium, he said that Minshew’s chances to return this season didn’t look good. His opinion was confirmed last night.
Minshew completed 25 of 42 attempts for 230 yards, a touchdown, and an interception in the loss to the Broncos. Minshew’s season comes to an end, and it was a disappointing one for the veteran quarterback. He completed 67.4 percent of his passes for 1,783 yards, eight touchdowns, and nine interceptions in 10 games this season.
Vegas will turn again to second-year quarterback Aidan O’Connell for the rest of the season and their matchup with the Kansas City Chiefs this week. O’Connell has completed 63.4 percent of his passes for 455 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions this season. He helped the Raiders beat the Chiefs on Christmas Day last season despite throwing for only 62 yards on 21 attempts. Desmond Ridder will be his backup.
Green Bay Cruises Past San Francisco
The Green Bay Packers delivered a dominant 38-10 victory over the San Francisco 49ers at Lambeau Field, bolstering their record to 8-3. This win marks their sixth in the last seven games, positioning them firmly in the NFC playoff race. Meanwhile, the 49ers fell to 5-6 and now sit in last place in the NFC West.
Green Bayโs success was fueled by a potent ground game, amassing 169 rushing yards, with 87 coming in the first quarter. Josh Jacobs led the charge, running for 106 yards on 26 carries and scoring three 1-yard rushing touchdowns, his third career game with three touchdowns. The Packers were also flawless in the red zone, converting all five trips into touchdowns. Quarterback Jordan Love contributed to the offensive showcase, throwing for 163 yards and two touchdowns, connecting with Tucker Kraft and Malik Heath.
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Backup quarterback Brandon Allen struggled for the 49ers in his first start since 2022, filling in for the injured Brock Purdy. Allen completed 17 of 29 passes for 199 yards and a touchdown but committed three turnovers, including an interception by Xavier McKinney. San Francisco also tied a season-high with nine penalties, marking a concerning trend over their last four games.
The Packersโ defense sparkled, with McKinneyโs interception marking his seventh of the season, tying him for the NFL lead. The takeaway set up one of Jacobsโ touchdowns, emphasizing the impact of Green Bayโs offseason acquisitions. With their highest-scoring performance since the 2023 season opener, the Packers appear to be peaking at the right time, while the 49ers face mounting challenges in a competitive division.
Chiefs Survive in Carolina
Patrick Mahomes led a game-winning drive as the Kansas City Chiefs edged out the Carolina Panthers 30-27 on Sunday. With time winding down, Mahomes connected with DeAndre Hopkins on a crucial third-down play and then scrambled for 33 yards to set up Spencer Shraderโs 31-yard field goal as time expired. The Chiefs, now 10-1, maintain the AFCโs best record and will next face the Las Vegas Raiders on Friday.
Carolina quarterback Bryce Young nearly spoiled the Chiefs’ day with a late rally. Trailing by eight points with 3:21 remaining, Young led a game-tying drive, finishing with a Chuba Hubbard touchdown and a successful two-point conversion. Despite the effort, the Panthers fell to 3-8 and will host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers next week.
Mahomes overcame a season-high five sacks to throw for 269 yards and three touchdowns, distributing the ball to nine different receivers. Star tight end Travis Kelce made history during the game, moving to third place on the all-time receiving yards list for tight ends, surpassing Antonio Gates.
The Titans Upset the Texans in Houston
The Tennessee Titans edged out the Houston Texans 32-27 in a dramatic, turnover-filled game on Sunday, with a crucial missed field goal and late safety sealing the result. Texans kicker Kaโimi Fairbairn, who earlier set an NFL record with his 12th 50-yard field goal of the season, missed a 28-yard attempt that would have tied the game with under two minutes remaining. Fairbairn collapsed in disappointment as the kick sailed wide.
The Texans had another chance to recover, but quarterback C.J. Stroud ran out of the back of the end zone, resulting in a game-clinching safety for the Titans. Stroudโs performance was mixed, with two touchdowns overshadowed by two interceptions and critical penalties that derailed Houstonโs chances late in the game. Houstonโs offense struggled on the ground, managing only 40 rushing yards, and committed 11 penalties, including one that negated a potential go-ahead touchdown late in the fourth quarter.
With the win, the Titans improved to 3-8, while the Texans fell to 7-5, though they remain atop the AFC South. However, the loss raises concerns about Houstonโs consistency, as theyโve now dropped three of their last four games.
Cowboys Stun the Commanders on Missed Extra Point Attempt
The Dallas Cowboys defeated the Washington Commanders 34-26 in a chaotic game marked by an explosive fourth quarter featuring 41 total points. Dallas, entering as heavy underdogs, secured the win with a standout 99-yard kickoff return touchdown by KaVontae Turpin and solid contributions from all three phases. The Commandersโ late surge, highlighted by Terry McLaurinโs stunning 86-yard touchdown in the final seconds, fell short due to special teams errors, including Austin Seibertโs second missed extra point.
Washingtonโs offense struggled most of the game, managing only nine points until the final four minutes. Quarterback Jayden Daniels faced challenges finding rhythm, hindered by injuries to key players like running back Brian Robinson Jr. and offensive linemen Andrew Wylie and Tyler Biadasz. Despite Daniels’ 74 rushing yards and a late-game boost to his passing stats, questions remain about the effectiveness of Kliff Kingsburyโs offensive system and whether defenses have adapted to Washingtonโs slower, less dynamic unit.
The loss marks Washingtonโs third consecutive defeat after starting the season 7-2. It drops them to 7-5 and raises concerns about their ability to recover.