ATLANTA — Brian Hoyer atoned for three interceptions by leading a game-winning drive in the final minute and Billy Cundiff booted his fourth field goal as time expired to lift the Cleveland Browns to a 26-24 NFL victory over the Atlanta Falcons Sunday.
Josh Gordon caught eight passes for 120 yards in his season debut after serving a 10-game suspension for the Browns (7-4). Isaiah Crowell rushed for 88 yards and two touchdowns for Cleveland, which has won four of its last five to remain a half-game behind Cincinnati in the AFC North.
Matt Ryan went 27-of-43 for 273 yards with two touchdowns and an interception for the Falcons (4-7), who had a two-game winning streak snapped. Roddy White caught nine passes for 96 yards and Julio Jones added five receptions for 68 yards and a score.
Hoyer threw interceptions on consecutive possessions in the fourth quarter, the second of which set up Matt Bryant’s 53-yard field goal that put Atlanta ahead 24-23 with 44 seconds left. He bounced back to complete four passes on the winning drive, moving the Browns into position for Cundiff’s 37-yard kick to win it.
Ryan’s shovel pass to Jacquizz Rodgers for an 8-yard TD gave the Falcons a 14-13 lead at the half before Cundiff’s 32-yard field goal and Crowell’s 26-yard TD run in the third quarter gave Cleveland a 23-14 advantage. Steven Jackson capped a 14-play drive with a 1-yard TD to cut it to 23-21 before Hoyer’s third pick led to Bryant’s go-ahead kick.
Packers 24, Vikings 21
MINNEAPOLIS — Eddie Lacy rushed for 125 yards and scored two touchdowns to lead Green Bay over Minnesota.
After starting the season 1-2, Green Bay won its third consecutive game and for the seventh time in their last eight games. Combined with Detroit’s loss in New England, the Packers (8-3) claimed sole possession of first place in the NFC North.
Lacy scored on a 1-yard run in the first quarter and a 15-yard shovel pass from Aaron Rodgers midway through the fourth quarter, giving Green Bay an 11-point lead with 8:29 to play.
On the following drive, the Vikings (4-7) drove 79 yards in 14 plays, capped by a 5-yard scoring pass from Teddy Bridgewater to receiver Greg Jennings. Bridgewater connected with receiver Charles Johnson for the two-point conversion to trim Minnesota’s deficit to a field goal.
Rodgers was 19 of 29 passing for 209 yards and two scores, connecting on a 1-yard pass to tight end Richard Rodgers in the second quarter.
Bengals 22, Texans 13
HOUSTON — Buoyed by a second consecutive strong defensive effort on the road, Cincinnati churned out a victory over Houston,
One week after limiting the Saints to one touchdown in New Orleans, the Bengals (7-3-1) kept the Texans’ offense out of the end zone.
Cincinnati’s defensive might, particularly in the fourth quarter while clinging to a one-possession lead, served as a perfect complement to the two-headed ground attack fashioned by running backs Giovani Bernard and Jeremy Hill, plus a career day from fourth-year receiver A.J. Green.
Green finished with 12 receptions for 121 yards while serving as the primary threat for quarterback Andy Dalton (24-for-35, 233 yards, one touchdown, one interception). Bernard and Hill combined for 35 carries, 132 yards and a touchdown.
The Texans (5-6) amassed just 248 total yards and only 64 on the ground.
Colts 23, Jaguars 3
INDIANAPOLIS — The first half left lots to be desired, but Indianapolis used a dominating third quarter to defeat Jacksonville.
Trent Richardson’s 1-yard touchdown run with 8:31 remaining in the third quarter, and Andrew Luck’s 73-yard touchdown pass to T.Y. Hilton at the 6:08 mark extended a 6-3 halftime lead to 20-3 against the offensively challenged Jaguars (1-10).
Indianapolis (7-4) began another third-quarter drive that culminated with Adam Vinatieri’s 32-yard field goal on the fourth quarter’s first play for a 23-3 advantage.
Luck finished 21 of 32 for 253 yards and the third-quarter TD to Hilton.
Eagles 43, Titans 24
PHILADELPHIA — Rookie Josh Huff returned the opening kickoff a team record 107 yards for a touchdown to springboard Philadelphia over Tennessee.
The victory sets up a showdown for first place in NFC East when the Eagles (8-3) travel to Dallas to take on the Cowboys on Thanksgiving. The Titans (2-9) have lost nine of 10 games after upsetting Kansas City in the season opener.
Fans who were late getting to their seats missed the most explosive play of the game. Huff took the opening kickoff, broke through a seam on the right side and found running room down the sideline. Two Titans had a chance to tackle him, but Huff stiff-armed kicker Ryan Succop and then Brandon McGhee before finishing off the scoring play, the longest kickoff return in Eagles history.
Eagles quarterback Mark Sanchez threw for 307 yards and one touchdown in his third start for the injured Nick Foles.
Bears 21, Buccaneers 13
CHICAGO — Chicago awoke after a lethargic first half, scoring three third-quarter touchdowns — two of them on runs by Matt Forte following takeaways — to come from behind and defeat Tampa Bay.
It was the second straight game in which the Bears (5-6), who haven’t scored in the first quarter in six games in a row, spotted an opponent a 10-0 lead and rallied to win by the same 21-13 score.
The Chicago formula of winning with takeaways was familiar to Tampa Bay coach Lovie Smith, who led the Bears to the NFC championship in 2006 but was fired following the 2012 season. Under Smith, the Bears’ defense worked hard at forcing turnovers and was always among the league leaders.
Until Sunday, it was not that way this season — the Bears had forced just 14 takeaways in 10 games before getting four against the Bucs (2-9).