Morning Rewind, 10/5: A hobbled Brees triumphs in overtime

John Dorn
Updated
AP: What's Wrong with NFL Kickers?
AP: What's Wrong with NFL Kickers?



By JOHN DORN

Considering there was the possibility that he would spend the entire game on the sideline, Drew Brees' Sunday Night performance was one of the best we've seen this season.

Completing 33 of his 41 passes for 359 yards, Brees saved his real magic for the final play of the game -- minutes after kicker Zach Hocker clanked the potential game-winning field goal off the upright, sending the game into overtime. Two plays into the extra period, Brees slung one to running back C.J. Spiller, who dashed the rest of the 80 yards for the decisive score.

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The touchdown was Brees' 400th of his career, coming at the most opportune time possible for New Orleans -- the franchise where he has spent the last 10 years of his career.

Brandon Weeden played well enough to keep his team in it, going 16-of-26 for 246 yards and a touchdown to Terrance Williams. Lance Dunbar led the rushing attack with 54 yards, but the fear out of Dallas is that the back tore his ACL. he broke off a 45-yard carry before suffering the injury.

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Dropping to 2-2, the Cowboys fall into a three-way tie for the NFC East lead. They'll host the Patriots next, while the Saints will look for their second win in Philadelphia.

Saints 26, Cowboys 20


On the Gridiron
NYJ 27, MIA 14
Across the pond, the Dolphins still couldn't run into any luck. They allowed the Jets to put up 27 with little resistance -- including 166 yards and a score from Chris Ivory and 128 receiving yards from Brandon Marshall. Miami drops to 1-3, and rumors of Joe Philbin's job security are flowing free.

NYG 24, BUF 10
After starting 0-2, the Giants are beginning to put together a decent string of football. They came out firing on offense against Buffalo, and while the Bills attempted to put together a mini comeback attempt, a handful of silly penalties derailed those efforts -- enabling the Giants to pull away.

CAR 37, TB 23
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Cam Newton threw for just 124 yards to Jameis Winston's 287, but the latter's four interceptions -- one for a touchdown -- did the Buccaneers in, even despite Doug Martin's 100-yard game on the ground. Newton ran for another 50 yards, and the Panthers defense -- led by Josh Norman -- was dominant enough to earn the win.

CIN 36, KC 21
Andy Dalton just keeps on ticking. Another 300-yard performance for the quarterback, with Brandon Tate scoring the lone receiving touchdown and Gio Bernard running for one more. The bulk of the Bengals' 36 points were accounted for by Jeremy Hill, though, who scored on three of his nine carries.

ATL 48, HOU 21
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Don't let the final score fool you: The Texans never stood a chance. In a game that was 42-0 at one point, Houston changed quarterbacks yet again, and Brian Hoyer actually was able to put some points on the board. But Devonta Freeman put on yet another scoring clinic, registering three touchdowns on his 14 carries.

IND 16, JAX 13
They were forced to do it without Andrew Luck, but the Colts scraped out a win against the Jaguars. Veteran Matt Hasselbeck threw for 287 yards and a touchdown in a spot start, which was more than Indy could've hoped. T.J. Yellon ran for more than 100 and Allen Hurns caught 11 passes for 116, but an overtime field goal sent the Colts home a winner.

WAS 23, PHI 20
It might be panic time for Chip Kelly in Philly, as the Eagles now drop to 1-3. DeMarco Murray had just 10 touches, and despite Sam Bradford's three-touchdown game, Kirk Cousins nearly touched 300 yards in a winning effort for Washington.


Other Scores

  • SD 30, CLE 27

  • GB 17, SF 3

  • STL 24, ARI 22

  • CHI 22, OAK 20

  • DEN 23, MIN 20



MLB Playoff Races
PIT 4, CIN 0
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All Pittsburgh had to do to lock up home field in the NL Wild Card matchup was beat the lowly Reds, and that they did. J.A. Happ logged his 11th win, and the team will face off against the Cubs on Wednesday in the most highly anticipated Wild Card round we've seen yet.

CHC 3, MIL 1
Chicago needed help to emerge from the second Wild Card spot to overcome the Pirates for home field, and Pittsburgh winning eliminated any hope Chicago had. The team has seen plenty of success on the road this season though, and with Jake Arrieta on the mound, you have to like their chances.

BAL 9, NYY 4
Despite handily leading the AL Wild Card through most of the season's second half, the Yankees actually risked losing home field in the game with a loss and an Astros win. They cut it close, losing to Baltimore, but they'll host Houston on Tuesday, also coming off a loss.

TEX 9, LAA 2
The AL West was completely up for grabs entering the season's final day, with several playoff possibilities still on the table Sunday. What we knew for sure was that the Angels needed to win to have a chance at the postseason, and they weren't up to task against the Rangers. They'll miss out on the playoffs for the fifth time in six years.

ARI 5, HOU 3
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It was a turbulent September that ultimately ended on the losing side, but the Astros were able to clinch their first-ever American League playoff berth thanks to an Angels loss. They'll throw Dallas Keuchel to the Yankee Stadium mound on short rest against Masahiro Tanaka in a one-game playoff on Tuesday, as both teams fight for their season.


Other Scores

  • ATL 6, STL 0 (Game 1)

  • ATL 2, STL 0 (Game 2)

  • COL 7, SF 3

  • PHI 7, MIA 2

  • CLE 3, BOS 1

  • DET 6, CWS 0

  • KC 6, MIN 1

  • SEA 3, OAK 2

  • LAD 6, SD 3

  • TB 12, TOR 3

  • NYM 1, WSH 0



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