Sunday 26 October 2014 21:46, UK
The Cincinnati Bengals propelled themselves back into contention in the AFC North with a 27-24 win over the Baltimore Ravens at Paul Brown Stadium.
Victory for the Ravens (5-3) would have seen them open up a two-game lead at the top of the division but they could not stop the Bengals (4-2-1) from mounting a game-winning drive late in the fourth quarter.
The Bengals were leading 17-6 in the third quarter after both quarterback Andy Dalton and running back Giovani Bernard rushed in touchdowns from the one-yard line.
The visitors hit back as Lorenzo Taliaferro rushed in two touchdowns and Justin Tucker made a 53-yard field goal, while a three-pointer from Bengals kicker Mike Nugent meant the Ravens led 24-20 heading into the closing stages.
Dalton had thrown an interception and lost a fumble during the Baltimore comeback but made up for those errors by leading his side 80 yards down the field before finishing off the drive by plunging in from a yard out with 56 seconds left.
Baltimore wide receiver Steve Smith then looked to have grabbed an 80-yard touchdown pass which would likely have given the Ravens the win, but it was chalked off due to offensive pass interference.
Elsewhere in Sunday’s early slate of games in Week Eight, the New England Patriots sent out an ominous message to the rest of the NFL by thrashing the Chicago Bears 51-23 at Gillette Stadium.
The Patriots (6-2) have now won four straight games since a heavy loss to the Kansas City Chiefs and quarterback Tom Brady looks to be back to his best as he threw five touchdown passes against the Bears.
Brady compiled 354 passing yards, 149 of which went to tight end Rob Gronkowski, who caught three touchdowns passes as well.
The Bears (3-5) were looking for a winning response after having to deal with reports of locker-room unrest, but instead slumped to their fourth loss in five games.
Super Bowl champions the Seattle Seahawks ended a run of two straight losses as they battled to a 13-9 success over the Carolina Panthers (3-4) at Bank of America Stadium.
The Seahawks (4-3) were 9-6 behind in a defensive struggle before quarterback Russell Wilson found tight end Luke Willson with a 23-yard pass late in the fourth quarter.
The Buffalo Bills (5-3) continued their solid season with a 43-23 victory against the New York Jets. Quarterback Kyle Orton threw four touchdown passes and rookie wide receiver Sammy Watkins hauled in 157 receiving yards.
Jets (1-7) quarterback Geno Smith threw three interceptions in just eight pass attempts and was soon benched in favour of Michael Vick, who was also picked off but had some success running the ball.
Anthony Barr returned a fumble for a touchdown in overtime to give the Minnesota Vikings a 19-13 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium.
The scores were level at 13-13 at the end of regulation, the Vikings’ (3-5) Blair Walsh hitting a 38-yard field goal as time expired to force the extra period.
On the first play from scrimmage in overtime, Barr forced the ball out of the hands of Tampa Bay (1-6) receiver Austin Seferian-Jenkins before taking it back 27 yards to the house for a walk-off touchdown.
The Miami Dolphins (4-3) clinched a 27-13 win on the road against the Jacksonville Jaguars (1-7), an 81-yard interception return for a touchdown by Louis Delmas setting the Dolphins on their way.
Jamaal Charles rushed in two touchdowns as the Kansas City Chiefs (4-3) blew out the St Louis Rams (2-5) 34-7. Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith misfired on just four of his 28 pass attempts.
And the Houston Texans (4-4) clinched a 30-16 win against the Tennessee Titans (2-6), Arian Foster scoring two rushing touchdowns and grabbing another score through the air.
