By Ethan Kerr The Jambar
To kick off this week in the National Football League, multiple games came down to last second field goals in high-scoring games.
To open play Sept. 24, the Atlanta Falcons defeated the Green Bay Packers 35-14, where the Falcons saw two players lead this week in statistical categories across all players this week.
Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. played in his first game of the year, with the completion of 18 passes for 256 yards and one touchdown. As statistical leaders, running back Bijan Robinson led in rushing yards with 194, while wide receiver Drake London led in receiving yards with 194.
The Pittsburgh Steelers defeated the Cincinnati Bengals 30-27, on Sept. 27. Kicker Chris Boswell sealed the game with a 33-yard field goal with 2:15 left to go.
Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers led the game with 292 passing yards and three touchdowns. Steelers running back Jaylen Warren rushed for over 100 yards for the fifth time in his five-year career with 127 yards. The Bengals had two wide receivers with 90 yards or more receiving as Ja’Marr Chase posted 98 and Tee Higgins posted 90.
The Cleveland Browns outscored the Carolina Panthers 21-18. Running back Quinshon Judkins led the Browns in rushing yards with 70 while tight end Harold Fannin Jr. led the Browns in receiving with 51 yards and two touchdowns. This marked the first game of Fannin Jr.’s career with multiple touchdown receptions.
The Seattle Seahawks saw its first loss since Nov. 16, 2025, when the Washington Commanders won by two points in the game Sept. 27. Commanders quarterback Marcus Mariota substituted for Jayden Daniels, who was ruled out of the game with an elbow injury.
Mariota threw for 183 yards and three touchdowns in the 33-31 game. Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba led the game with 128 yards and one touchdown.
Smith-Njigba has yet to have a game where he had fewer than 120 receiving yards this season.
The San Francisco 49ers made NFL history as wide receiver Deebo Samuel Sr. recorded the most catchless receiving yards with 80 yards against the Arizona Cardinals in a 36-30 win. Cardinals wide receiver Michael Wilson led the game in receiving yards with 87 and was targeted on 17 pass attempts.
In Rio de Janeiro, the Baltimore Ravens defeated the Dallas Cowboys 34-31. Kicker Tyler Loop made a 56-yard field goal when time expired to win the game for the Ravens.
Ravens Quarterback Lamar Jackson led the teams in passing with 186 yards and two touchdowns, while running back Derrick Henry led the run game with 89 yards and two touchdowns on the ground.
To tie an NFL record this week, the Las Vegas Raiders took on the New Orleans Saints 35-27, where both quarterbacks combined for seven touchdowns. The record came from most touchdowns scored in a game by tight ends with a total of six.
Of those touchdowns, Saints tight ends Noah Fant and Juwan Johnson both posted two. Raiders tight ends Brock Bowers and Michael Mayer each had one.
The Raiders became the fourth team in NFL history since 1967 to start 3-0 after drafting first overall.
In a win over the Los Angeles Rams, the key play of the 30-26 game came from Denver Broncos safety Talanoa Hufanga who intercepted Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford and returned it for a touchdown to start late-game momentum.
The final score of the game came from Broncos quarterback Bo Nix with a one-yard rushing touchdown. Stafford led all players across the league in passing yards this week with 390.
The Chicago Bears backup quarterback Case Keenum led the Bears to a win over the Philadelphia Eagles 27-7, on Sept. 28. Keenum led the game with 247 passing yards and two touchdowns. This marked Keenum’s first game in three years.
The fourth week of the season will kick off with a faceoff against rivals Steelers and Browns face off at 8:15 p.m., Oct. 1.
