The feud between Oakland receiver Michael Crabtree and Denver cornerback Aqib Talib spilled over into a new season and led to a full-blown brawl and three ejections on Sunday.
Crabtree has been upset ever since Talib ripped Crabtree’s chain off his neck during the regular-season finale last season. Crabtree sat out the first meeting this season in Denver with a chest injury, but didn’t wait long to try for revenge in the rematch. On the second play of Oakland’s second drive, Crabtree aggressively blocked Talib on a running play and drove him to the ground on the Broncos sideline. Talib ripped Crabtree’s chain off his neck while they were tangled up, and a brawl ensued.
Nick Bromberg
(@NickBromberg)Broncos and Raiders fight inspired by Aqib Talib and Michael Crabtree pic.twitter.com/I0rcqi5pIm
Several Broncos players surrounded Crabtree as he tussled with Talib before his Raiders team-mates could come to his assistance. Guard Gabe Jackson pushed an official as he tried to join in and got ejected for his actions. Talib threw Crabtree’s helmet aside and the two then went at it near the end zone with both players exchanging punches, even though Talib was still wearing his helmet. Crabtree’s team-mate Johnny Holton joined in and grabbed Talib and the things calmed down. Crabtree and Talib were ejected for fighting.
On the previous play, Crabtree injured Talib’s team-mate Chris Harris Jr on a downfield block. Harris was upset after the play and yelled toward the Raiders bench as he left the field.
Miami Dolphins 17-35 New England Patriots
Tom Brady tossed four touchdown passes – including two to Rob Gronkowski – and the New England Patriots pushed through injuries and a mistake-filled game to beat the Miami Dolphins 35-17.
New England (9-2) posted their seventh consecutive victory and third straight win over Miami. The Dolphins (4-7) have lost five straight for their longest slide since 2011.
It was Brady’s 28th career game with four or more touchdown passes – ranking third all-time. His 26 touchdowns passes are the most ever in a season after turning 40 years old.
Rex Burkhead also scored two TDs and Dion Lewis had 15 carries for 112 yards for New England, marking his first career 100-yard game.
Chicago Bears 3-31 Philadelphia Eagles
Carson Wentz tossed three touchdown passes and the NFL-leading Philadelphia Eagles beat the Chicago Bears 31-3 for their ninth straight win.
The Eagles (10-1) reduced their magic number to clinch the NFC East to one with their fourth consecutive win by at least 23 points and third in a row by exactly 28. Philadelphia would secure their first division title since 2013 if the Cowboys (5-6) lose or tie Washington on Thursday night.
Wentz had 227 yards passing, LeGarrette Blount ran for 97 yards and Zach Ertz caught 10 passes for 103 yards and one TD. The defense dominated rookie quarterback Mitchell Trubisky and the inept Bears (3-8), holding them to zero first downs in the first half and 140 total yards in the game.
The Bears won the turnover battle (3-2), but couldn’t do anything with excellent field position. They started consecutive drives at midfield and Philadelphia’s 42 but Cairo Santos missed a 54-yard field goal.
Buffalo Bills 16-10 Kansas City Chiefs
Tyrod Taylor threw for 183 yards and a touchdown in his return to the starting lineup, Tre’Davious White intercepted Alex Smith with just over a minute remaining, and the Buffalo Bills held off Kansas City Chiefs 16-10.
Zay Jones had the touchdown reception and Stephen Hauschka kicked three field goals for the Bills (6-5), but the story was their defense – or the Chiefs’ complete lack of offense. Kansas City (6-5) managed only 236 yards while losing for the fifth time in six games.
Smith threw for 199 yards and a touchdown, but even the Chiefs’ lone score came on a catch-and-run by Albert Wilson. They were unable to complete much downfield, and with a ground game going nowhere, the offense was soundly booed most of the game.
Especially when White stepped in front of Smith’s pass with 1:11 remaining and the Chiefs at the Buffalo 35. White nearly returned it for a clinching touchdown before Smith finally tracked him down.
Cleveland Browns 16-30 Cincinnati Bengals
Rookie Joe Mixon ran for a career-high 114 yards in the Cincinnati Bengals’ best offensive showing since the last time they faced Cleveland, a 30-16 victory that sent the Browns into December still winless for the second year in a row.
The Bengals (5-6) won back-to-back games for only the second time this season. They hadn’t scored so many points since they won 31-7 at Cleveland on 1 October.
Mixon also had an 11-yard touchdown that put it away in the fourth quarter. The Bengals came into the game with the worst rush offense in the NFL, making it to 100 yards only once before Sunday.
At 0-11, the Browns are starting to run out of chances for that breakthrough win. Last year, they waited until their 15th game to get their only victory and avoid the second 0-16 season in NFL history. They’re going down to the wire again.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 20-34 Atlanta Falcons
(@AtlantaFalcons)OMG.@Mo_12_Sanu just threw a BOMB to JULIOOOOOOOOOOO. pic.twitter.com/z7jVjVMrbF
Julio Jones turned in one of the best games of his career, hauling in 12 passes for 253 yards and two touchdowns, and the Falcons won their third in a row with a 34-20 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
“The goal is to get better as you’re playing,” coach Dan Quinn said. “We’re going to keep working like crazy to do that.”
It would be hard for Jones to get much better.
After managing only one touchdown catch through the first 10 games, he doubled that total in the first half. Jones hauled in a 51-yard scoring pass from fellow receiver Mohamed Sanu and went 25 yards for a TD on a throw from Matt Ryan, finishing the play with a soaring dive for the pylon, somehow managing to stay in bounds before sticking out the ball with his right hand.
Carolina Panthers 35-27 New York Jets
Luke Kuechly returned a fumble 34 yards for a touchdown and Kaelin Clay had a 60-yard punt return for a score, capping a stunning swing in the fourth quarter that lifted the Carolina Panthers to a 35-27 comeback win over the New York Jets on Sunday.
It was the fourth straight victory for the Panthers (8-3), who were trying to keep pace with the first-place Saints in the NFC South. The teams meet next Sunday at New Orleans.
Luke Kuechly returned a fumble 34 yards for a touchdown and Kaelin Clay had a 60-yard punt return for a score, capping a stunning swing in the fourth quarter that lifted the Carolina Panthers to a 35-27 comeback win over the New York Jets on Sunday.
It was the fourth straight victory for the Panthers (8-3), who were trying to keep pace with the first-place Saints in the NFC South. The teams meet next Sunday at New Orleans.
Tennessee Titans 20-16 Indianapolis Colts
The Titans (7-4) got their first win in 10 tries at Lucas Oil Stadium when DeMarco Murray scored on a 1-yard touchdown run with 5:59 left for a 20-16 come-from-behind win over Indianapolis.
The Titans (7-4) pulled off their first series sweep since 2002. And they did it by rallying from a 10-point third-quarter deficit again – just as they had six weeks earlier against the Colts.
Indy (3-8) has lost three straight home games and five of its last six overall. It is one loss away from having the first losing year in coach Chuck Pagano’s six seasons.
Tennessee won despite making only one first down during a 30-minute stretch and playing in chilly conditions after Colts officials opened the roof and the window in the north end zone.