The Crimson Tide had a less-than-convincing victory over South Florida on Saturday and fell to Texas the week before. The lack of confidence in the Nick Saban-led squad appeared to be apparent in the latest poll. 

However, Alabama still has the longest streak in the country of consecutive weeks being ranked, with 249.

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Georgia remained No. 1 with a 24-14 win over South Carolina. Michigan is at No. 2 and Texas was ranked No. 3. It’s the highest they’ve been since the 2009 season when they lost in the BCS Championship.

Florida State reached No. 4 as they eked out a win over Boston College and USC rounded out the top 5.

Deion Sanders’ Colorado squad fell one spot to No. 19 with No. 10 Oregon next on the docket. The Buffaloes defeated Colorado State in two overtimes but it wasn’t as dominant a fashion as it was initially thought. Colorado was a 24-point favorite going into the game.

DEION SANDERS SHRUGS OFF COLORADO STATE TRASH TALK AFTER WIN: 'I’M ON TO BIGGER THINGS'

Here’s how the rest of the rankings played out.

Clemson, Missouri, Kansas State, TCU, Fresno State, Kansas, Tulane, Kentucky, Maryland, BYU, Wisconsin, Syracuse, Louisville and Auburn also received votes.

The former New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers star was asked how often he thought about the Roman Empire.

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While the question appeared to be out of pocket at first, the question had TikTok stunned over the last few weeks as couples learned that their male partners think about the rise and fall of Rome actually quite often.

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According to Know Your Meme, the trend was first started on Instagram about a year ago when a Swedish Instagram user implored her followers to ask "any guy if he thinks about Roman Empire." Fifty weeks later, the question moved from Instagram to X to TikTok and in the face of Gronkowski.

"Only when I watch the movie ‘Gladiator,’" Gronkowski said. "So, once every three years."

It’s not the only question Gronk has answered over the course of the week. The question about whether he will return to the field at some point is also something hanging over him like a cloud.

AARON RODGERS' INNOVATIVE ACHILLES SURGERY GIVES HIM CHANCE TO RETURN THIS SEASON: REPORT

He told NFL journalist Jordan Schultz that he was definitely retired and wouldn’t play for any other team – not even if Tom Brady came back out to play.

Gronkowski and Brady were two peas in a pod for his entire career. The four-time All-Pro selection only played for Brady-led teams. When Brady left the Patriots after the 2019 season, he somehow managed to convince Gronkowski to join him in the Sunshine State.

In their first season, they won the Super Bowl over the Kansas City Chiefs. He was out of the league after the 2021 season, and Brady followed him after the 2022 season.

The 34-year-old retired as one of the best tight ends the league has ever seen. He had 621 catches for 9,286 yards and 92 touchdowns.

Mertz sealed the night with a kiss with his girlfriend, Alexis Loomans, who was in attendance at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville to witness the victory.

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Loomans, the Miss Wisconsin USA winner for 2023, threw out the first pitch before a Milwaukee Brewers-Pittsburgh Pirates game this year.

The Wisconsin transfer was 19-for-24 for 166 yards and a touchdown pass to Montrell Johnson Jr. as part of a 20-point second quarter. Mertz also ran for a touchdown in the same quarter.

"Man, it got loud," Mertz said of the 90,751 who packed the stadium. "I was on the sideline and I couldn't hear my coach [standing] in front of me. It got rocking. ... They truly affected the game."

COLORADO'S SHEDEUR SANDERS TAPS INTO 'BRADY MODE' TO LEAD BUFFALOES TO TYING SCORE IN EPIC WIN

The game ended with a fight among players from both teams. Mertz took a knee and then took exception to Volunteers defensive lineman Omari Thomas running into him. 

Benches then cleared and Tennessee defensive back Kamal Hadden and Florida lineman Micah Mazzccua squared up with each other.

"That was just the weirdest ending to a game I've ever had," Mertz said. "I guess that's Florida-Tennessee."

Mertz has 692 passing yards and three touchdown passes in three games this season. Florida is 2-1 and will play Charlotte at home next Saturday.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Anthony Richardson had two rushing touchdowns in the first quarter against the Texans but he appeared to hit his head on the second score. Richardson was checked out in the blue medical tent and was later taken to the locker room for further evaluation.

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The Colts ruled him out for the rest of the game.

The rookie quarterback was 6-for-10 with 58 passing yards and had 35 rushing yards to go along with the two scores. Gardner Minshew II came in for Richardson.

The veteran NFL quarterback was 11-of-13 and threw a touchdown pass to Kylen Granson in the second quarter. Zack Moss ran for one more and Indianapolis had a 28-10 lead over Houston.

AARON RODGERS' INNOVATIVE ACHILLES SURGERY GIVES HIM CHANCE TO RETURN THIS SEASON: REPORT

Richardson had a solid first week under the helm and was going against C.J. Stroud in Week 2 in what was an historic matchup already.

The game marked the NFL’s youngest quarterback matchup ever, according to ESPN. Both quarterbacks are under 21 years old and in charge of running hungry offenses looking to survive the regular season and jump back into the postseason.

The Colts haven’t made the playoffs since the 2020 season. The Texans haven’t made the postseason since the 2019 season.

Jones returned a Jordan Stout punt 81 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter of the AFC North matchup. Jones made one cut and got a good block clearing the way for him to score.

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The former Purdue standout was a fourth-round selection of the Bengals in the draft in the spring. He had three returns for 24 yards in the team’s first game against the Cleveland Browns last week. But as the Bengals tried to avoid an 0-2 start, Jones gave Bengals fans something to cheer about.

It was the first time the Bengals had a punt returned for a touchdown since 2012, when Adam "Pacman" Jones did it against the Browns. It was also for 81 yards. Brandon Tate had one for the Bengals in 2011 – a 56-yard punt return for a touchdown. Both games were wins for the Bengals.

ROB GRONKOWSKI ANSWERS ROMAN EMPIRE QUESTION AS SOCIAL MEDIA TREND MAKES ITS WAY TO NFL GREAT

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Jones played at Purdue in 2022 and had 110 catches for 1,361 yards and 12 touchdowns. He was a transfer for the Boilermakers after Jones played at Iowa in 2020 and 2021 and Buffalo in 2019.

Jones’ touchdown tied the game against the Ravens at seven apiece.

Akers wasn’t listed on the team’s injury report going into Sunday's game. It wasn’t clear why he was listed as inactive for the NFC West matchup.

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"I’m just as confused as everybody else. I’m blessed though," Akers wrote on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter.

FOX Sports’ Jay Glazer said during the NFL pregame show that the Rams would like to trade the running back. Akers requested a trade last season but no move was made.

AARON RODGERS' INNOVATIVE ACHILLES SURGERY GIVES HIM CHANCE TO RETURN THIS SEASON: REPORT

Even with the trade request, Akers put up the best numbers of his young career so far. He had 786 rushing yards and seven rushing touchdowns along with 13 catches for 117 yards.

Last week in the Rams’ win over the Seattle Seahawks, he had 29 yards on 22 carries and a touchdown. Second-year back Kyren Williams stole the show with 52 yards on the ground and two touchdowns in the win.

It’s unclear whether there are any interested suitors for Akers or what the asking price would be for him. He’s not the only running back on the trade market as Indianapolis Colts star Jonathan Taylor has also requested a trade.

Ryan Tannehill led the Titans on an eight-play, 37-yard drive to set up Nick Folk for a 41-yard game-winning field goal. The Titans won the game 27-24.

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Tennessee was down 21-17 late in the fourth quarter when Tannehill put together a seven-play, 82-yard drive that saw the veteran quarterback find DeAndre Hopkins for 14 yards while he was hit by Kenneth Murray on third down. The linebacker was flagged for roughing the passer.

Three plays later, Tannehill found Nick Westbrook-Ikhine for a 4-yard touchdown pass to go up three points with 2:22 left in the game. Justin Herbert led the Chargers down on a 10-play, 60-yard drive that resulted in the game-tying field goal but couldn’t get anything going in overtime.

Tannehill finished 20-of-24 for 246 yards and a touchdown pass. The Chargers sacked him five times but the Titans were able to defend their home field and get a win. Treylon Burks had three catches for 76 yards to lead the team.

ROB GRONKOWSKI ANSWERS ROMAN EMPIRE QUESTION AS SOCIAL MEDIA TREND MAKES ITS WAY TO NFL GREAT

Titans running back Derrick Henry ran for 79 yards on 25 carries and had a touchdown.

Los Angeles had a 14-10 lead at halftime before the game was eventually tied.

Herbert finished 27-of-41 with 305 passing yards and two touchdown passes. Both of his touchdown passes went to Keenan Allen. The star wide receiver had eight catches for 111 yards. Mike Williams also had eight catches for 83 yards in the win.

The Titans are 1-1 on the year.

The play in question came as the Seahawks were driving and hoping to take the lead. Geno Smith dropped back to pass and fired a ball from the pocket toward the end zone with no wide receiver in the area as it appeared there was some miscommunication on offense.

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A flag came out and Smith was called for intentional grounding even though he wasn’t trying to throw the ball away. The FOX broadcast showed an irate Carroll giving an earful to the side judge.

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The penalty pushed the Seahawks back from the Lions' 17-yard line to the 27-yard line. Two plays later, Seattle was called for illegal formation and had to convert on a pivotal 3rd down, which they did on a pass to Tyler Lockett.

Two plays later, Smith hooked up with Lockett for a touchdown and Seattle took the lead, 24-21.

COLTS' ANTHONY RICHARDSON LEAVES GAME WITH CONCUSSION AFTER SCORING 2 TOUCHDOWNS

The Seahawks increased their lead on the Lions’ next drive as quarterback Jared Goff’s completion streak without an interception was snapped thanks to Tre Brown, who returned the pick for a touchdown.

Brown helped put Seattle up 31-21 with 8:04 remaining in the game. The Lions cut the deficit on the following drive with Goff’s touchdown pass to Josh Reynolds – it was the second time they hooked up.

Seattle was looking to go 1-1 after a loss to the Los Angeles Rams in Week 1. The Lions beat the Kansas City Chiefs last Thursday night.

Linebackers Matt Milano and Terrel Bernard each intercepted Jimmy Garoppolo, and the Bills eased the lingering frustrations following a 22-16 overtime loss at the New York Jets on Monday and a week full of off-field distractions.

Coach Sean McDermott had to address his leadership group after team owner Terry Pegula was accused of making racially insensitive comments in a lawsuit filed by a former NFL Media reporter. Pegula denied the allegations.

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And then on Wednesday, a Bills media reporter was overheard on an open microphone questioning receiver Stefon Diggs' character. Diggs went to social media a day later by calling the comments "hurtful" and "insulting."

It was an especially uplifting performance from Allen, who enjoyed his 21st three-or-more touchdown outing after spending much of last week facing questions about his sloppy performance, which he fully acknowledged cost the Bills a victory.

Allen completed his first 13 attempts for 94 yards, and finished 31 of 37 for 274 yards passing and no turnovers. His 13 consecutive completions to start a game set an individual record and matched his best run at any point of an outing. He improved to 13-4 in games following a loss, and 23-4 in games he doesn’t commit a turnover.

Dawson Knox scored the go-ahead touchdown on a 2-yard catch to put Buffalo up 14-7 three minutes into the second quarter, and Khalil Shakir padded the lead with an 11-yard touchdown reception in the final seconds of the first half.

Allen sealed the victory by opening the second half overseeing a 15-play, 75-yard drive that ate up 9:01 of the clock. He went 7 of 8 for 37 yards, and capped the drive by throwing across his body to hit Gabe Davis in double-coverage in the end zone to convert fourth-and-goal from the 2.

SEAHAWKS' PETE CARROLL EXPLODES ON REF AFTER PENALTY CALLED ON GENO SMITH

Whatever chance the Raiders had to get back into the game ended four plays from scrimmage later, when Milano jumped in front of Josh Jacobs to intercept Garoppolo’s pass at midfield.

The Raiders dropped to 1-1, following a season-opening 17-16 win at Denver, and blew an opportunity to open a season with back-to-back road wins for the first time since 1982.

Garoppolo finished 16 of 24 for 185 yards, with a 16-yard touchdown pass to Davante Adams. The touchdown was the 88th of Adams’ career to move him ahead of Larry Fitzgerald for the fifth-most by a player in his first 10 NFL seasons. The Raiders tweeted after the game that Adams was being evaluated for a concussion.

The Raiders running attack continues to be grounded with Jacobs finishing with minus-2 yards on nine carries. Though Jacobs had five catches for 51 yards, the NFL’s leading rusher last season now has combined for 46 yards rushing through two games.

BACKUPS ON THE RUN

The Bills backup running back tandem of Latavius Murray and Damien Harris — both offseason free agent additions — each scored a touchdown rushing. Murray scored on a 4-yard carry, and Harris from 1 yard out to cap the scoring.

CARLSON CLOSING IN

The Raiders' Daniel Carlson became the NFL’s fourth kicker to convert 145 field-goal attempts through their first 80 career games by hitting a 47-yarder midway through the second quarter. Carlson finished with 4 points to increase his franchise career total to 597.

INJURIES/INACTIVES

Raiders: WR Jakobi Meyers (concussion protocol) did not play after the offseason free agent addition led the team with nine catches for 81 yards and two touchdowns in a season-opening win at Denver. ... DE Chandler Jones missed his second straight game over a dispute with management.

Bills: S Damar Hamlin was a healthy inactive for the second straight week. The third-year player has not appeared in an NFL regular season game since going into cardiac arrest and needing to be resuscitated on the field at Cincinnati on Jan. 2. ... S Micah Hyde injured his hamstring, and DE Leonard Floyd hurt his ankle during the game.

NEXT WEEK

Raiders: Host Pittsburgh Steelers in home opener on Sunday night.

Bills: Travel to face the Washington Commanders on Sunday.

Atlanta needed to dig deep to get the victory as the team entered the fourth quarter down 12 points. Ridder started the quarter with a 6-yard rushing touchdown to cut the deficit to just five points. Then, with 8:10 left, Younghoe Koo kicked a 39-yard field goal to make it a two-point game.

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Ridder then led the Falcons on a 12-play, 66-yard drive that saw them go for it on 4th down from the Packers’ 23-yard line. Luckily, rookie running back Bijan Robinson was able to convert and save the coaching staff the embarrassment of missing out on a potential go-ahead field goal.

Koo hit the field goal minutes later to push Atlanta up by one point.

Ridder finished the game 19-of-32 for 237 passing yards and a touchdown pass. He threw the TD pass to Drake London and had an interception to Packers defensive back Rasul Douglas. He also had a rushing touchdown on top of his 39 yards with his feet.

BENGALS' CHARLIE JONES RETURNS PUNT RETURN FOR TD, SNAPPING 10-YEAR DROUGHT

London led the team with six catches for 67 yards.

Jordan Love had a nice game for the Packers in the loss. The heir to Aaron Rodgers’ throne was 14-of-25 for 151 yards and had three touchdown passes. Two of the TD passes went to Jayden Reed and the other was to Dontayvion Wicks.

Reed had two catches for 40 yards and Reed had four for 37 yards. Seven different Packers players had catches in the game.

Two Packers players were in double digits in tackles as well. Quay Walker finished with 17 total tackles, a pass defense and a QB hit. De’Vondre Campbell had 14 tackles.

Green Bay dropped to 1-1.

Kelce's touchdown in the second half, a 9-yard strike from Patrick Mahomes for his first on the season, was just what the Chiefs needed in this surprisingly low-scoring game between two powerhouse offenses. Kelce finished with just four catches for 26 yards in his season debut. 

With the score at 17-9 late in the fourth quarter, the Jaguars had a chance to tie the game when Trevor Lawrence led a drive 12 plays into Chiefs' territory. But a pass to his top target, Calvin Ridley, saw the star wide receiver not have two feet in the back left of the end zone. 

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As a result, the Jaguars turned it over on downs, and the Chiefs closed it out. 

Mahomes found Skyy Moore for a 54-yard catch-and-run that virtually iced the win on the ensuing drive. It was typical Mahomes magic as he used his legs to scramble to the right and found an uncovered Moore. 

Moore made up for a bad Week 1 performance with three catches and 70 yards for a touchdown – the Chiefs' first of two in the game – to rebound in Week 2. 

COLTS' ANTHONY RICHARDSON LEAVES GAMES WITH CONCUSSION AFTER SCORING 2 TOUCHDOWNS

Mahomes finished with 305 yards with two touchdowns and one interception on 29 of 41 through the air. He also rushed for 30 yards on seven attempts. 

Lawrence finished 22 of 41 for 216 yards and neither a touchdown nor an interception in the contest. Christian Kirk was his favorite target with 11 catches for 110 yards. The Chiefs were able to hold Ridley, who went off in his return to the NFL last week against the Indianapolis Colts, to just two catches for 32 yards. 

It wasn't a pretty first half for either offense, as five straight punts (three for the Jaguars and two for the Chiefs) started this game between two very capable offenses. But a Richie James muffed punt led to the Jaguars capitalizing with the first points of the game, a 32-yard field goal from Brandon McManus. 

Then, it was a turnover party for both teams, which included back-to-back fumbles followed by an Andre Cisco interception of Mahomes. But the Jaguars couldn't make the best out of the opportunity, going 11 plays that resulted in a turnover on downs. 

While it may have been a slow day, Kansas City isn't going to complain with a road victory to tally the first win of the year. They will look to keep that going next week against the Chicago Bears at home. 

Jacksonville will take on the Texans at home in Week 3. 

The Lions did what they needed to down three points late in the fourth quarter, forcing the Seahawks to punt after a three-and-out. Jared Goff then led the Lions down the field to Seattle’s 23-yard line for Riley Patterson to kick a game-tying field goal at 31 apiece, forcing overtime.

But Seattle won the coin toss and quarterback Geno Smith didn’t let that go to waste.

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In a nine-play drive, Smith orchestrated a touchdown drive capped by Tyler Lockett reaching out and touching the pylon for a 6-yard score to walk it off. It was Lockett’s second touchdown of the day as he finished with eight catches for 59 yards.

Both teams were matching each other’s offensive energy from the start, with the Lions and Seahawks scoring on their opening drives. Smith needed 12 plays with the Seahawks to have Kenneth Walker rush it in on the goal line to make it 7-0.

But Goff found Josh Reynolds for his first touchdown of the game on a beautiful 22-yard strike to tie it up.

COLTS' ANTHONY RICHARDSON LEAVES GAME WITH CONCUSSION AFTER SCORING 2 TOUCHDOWNS

Then the Lions took a touchdown lead when they fooled Seattle with a perfectly executed flea flicker as Goff found an uncovered Kalif Raymond for a 36-yard score.

The second half, though, was the Seahawks breaking out, outscoring the Lions 24-17 before their overtime winner. A crucial pick-six in the fourth quarter gave Seattle a 10-point lead, 31-21, and it was a historical interception as well.

Goff was just 20 passes away from breaking the all-time record for most passes without an interception, having 383 pass attempts without one. But this one hurt Detroit more than just a simple turnover in the end.

Goff finished with 323 yards and three touchdown passes on 28 of 35 through the air.

Kenneth Walker was able to find the end zone twice for Seattle, too, rushing for 43 yards on 17 carries. David Montgomery also found the end zone again for Detroit this week.

Amon-Ra St. Brown led all receivers in this game with 102 yards on six catches, while DK Metcalf led the Seahawks through the air with 75 yards on six catches.

The Seahawks, now 1-1, will face the Carolina Panthers next week at home while the Lions will look to bounce back against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 3.

The AFC North champion Bengals fell to 0-2 for the second consecutive season. The Ravens (2-0), their division rival, certainly looked like the better team.

Jackson was 24 for 33 for 237 yards. He ran for 54 more, and Edwards — with more chances because of a season-ending Achilles tendon injury to J.K. Dobbins — picked up 62 yards on 10 carries.

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Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow, looking as if he might still be suffering the effects of a calf injury in training camp, finished 27 for 41 for 222 yards and two TDs after passing for just 86 last week in the season-opening loss to Cleveland.

Burrow hooked up with Tee Higgins for a 4-yard touchdown on third-and-goal to cut the deficit to three with 3:28 left in the game.

But the Bengals couldn’t stop Jackson and the Ravens’ offense, which moved the chains twice after the ensuing kickoff to run out the clock.

Jackson completed all five passes he threw on a 70-yard opening drive that ate up nearly eight minutes, and Edwards bulled in from 1 yard out to finish it.

The Bengals tied it early in the second quarter on an electrifying 81-yard punt return for a touchdown by rookie Charlie Jones. It was Jones' first NFL score and the first punt returned for a TD by a Cincinnati player since 2012.

ROB GRONKOWSKI ANSWERS ROMAN EMPIRE QUESTION AS SOCIAL MEDIA TREND MAKES ITS WAY TO NFL GREAT

The Bengals didn't shake off their lingering offensive malaise until well into the second quarter. They didn't record a first down until more than 10 minutes into the second, and that came on a defensive pass interference penalty.

But the drive stalled at the Ravens 9 when cornerback Rock Ya-Sin knocked away a pass into the end zone intended for Ja'Marr Chase. The Bengals had to settle for 27-yard field goal from Evan McPherson.

In the second half, Burrow engineered a drive that went to the Ravens 17, but he was picked off near the goal line by Geno Stone. Baltimore's ensuing drive ended with a 3-yard TD pass from Jackson to Mark Andrews and a 20-10 Ravens lead.

The Bengals pulled within 20-17 while putting together their best drive of the season, with Burrow going 8 for 10 and tossing a 3-yard TD pass to Tee Higgins.

Baltimore pushed the lead back to 10 in the fourth quarter when Jackson connected with Nelson Agholor from 17 yards out.

Burrow finished 27 for 41 for 222 yards and two TDs after passing for just 86 last week in the season-opening loss to Cleveland.

INJURIES

Ravens: WR Odell Beckham Jr. left the game with an ankle injury and did not return.

Bengals: S Nick Scott was evaluated for a concussion in the third quarter and did not return.

UP NEXT

Ravens: Host Indianapolis next Sunday.

Bengals: Host the Los Angeles Rams on Monday, Sept. 25.

With Mayfield playing turnover-free ball for the second straight week and Mike Evans catching six balls for 171 yards and a TD, the Bucs improved to 2-0 while handing the Bears a franchise-record 12th consecutive loss.

Mayfield completed 26 of 34 passes, looking quite comfortable in another new home. The No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 NFL draft is playing with his fourth team in just over two years.

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He set up Rachaad White's 1-yard TD run with a 70-yard completion to Evans in the first quarter. He also finished an 89-yard drive with a 32-yard scoring pass to Tampa Bay's all-time leading receiver early in the second half.

Tampa Bay's defense did its job, too, after yielding a 75-yard TD drive on Chicago's first possession of the game. The Buccaneers sacked Justin Fields six times and picked him off twice.

AARON RODGERS' INNOVATIVE ACHILLES SURGERY GIVES HIM CHANCE TO RETURN THIS SEASON: REPORT

The Bears (0-2) closed to 20-17 on Chase Claypool's 20-yard TD catch, but saw any hope for a comeback fade when Fields — throwing out of his own end zone — tossed an interception that Bucs linebacker Shaquil Barrett returned 4 yards for a clinching TD.

Mayfield, who spent his first four seasons with Cleveland before splitting 2022 between Carolina and the Los Angeles Rams, shrugged off a slow start to throw for 173 yards and two touchdowns without a turnover to beat Minnesota 20-17 on the road in the season opener.

The Bucs started more smoothly against the Bears, driving 77 yards in 12 plays to take an early 3-0 lead on Chase McLaughlin's 26 -yard field goal. Mayfield drove his team to another field goal in the closing seconds of the second quarter for a 13-10 halftime lead.

Fields completed 16 of 29 passes for 211 yards. DJ Moore, acquired in the offseason in a bid to put more playmakers around Chicago's young quarterback, had six receptions for 104 yards, but the Bears were limited to just 67 yards rushing.

INJURIES

Bears: Lost starting safeties Jaquan Brisker (illness) and Eddie Jackson (foot) on consecutive plays in the first quarter.

Buccaneers: Played without two defensive starters, CB Carlton Davis III (toe) and DL Calijah Kancey (calf), who were inactive. Backup RB Chase Edmonds (knee) left in the second quarter and did not return.

It was the first win for coach Shane Steichen, who was hired in February after spending the last two seasons as Philadelphia’s offensive coordinator.

The Colts led by 18 at halftime and managed only a field goal in the second half. But their dominant start was enough to snap an eight-game skid dating to last season. It was their first win since Nov. 13 at Las Vegas.

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Richardson gave the Colts (1-1) an early lead when he dashed 18 yards untouched on their first drive.

C.J. Stroud fumbled when he was sacked by Samson Ebukam, and it was recovered by Indianapolis at the 15. Richardson made it 14-0 when he ran 15 yards for the score on the next play.

The rookie quarterback, who was selected by Indy with the No. 4 pick in the NFL draft, hit the back of his head when he was pushed down at the end of the score, but he popped right up to celebrate. He remained in the game for two more possessions before going to the medical tent and then to the locker room.

COLTS' ANTHONY RICHARDSON LEAVES GAME WITH CONCUSSION AFTER SCORING 2 TOUCHDOWNS

Stroud, the second overall pick in the draft, threw for 384 yards and two touchdowns. But he was sacked six times and hit nine other times playing behind a line filled with backups. The Texans (0-2) lost four starters on the line during camp and were also without star left tackle Laremy Tunsil on Sunday because of a knee injury.

The Texans closed to 31-20 on a 23-yard touchdown reception by rookie Tank Dell with about 10 minutes to go. It was the first career touchdown for the third-round pick from the University of Houston.

Houston got a stop after that but wouldn't get any closer after missing a long field goal on the next possession.

Stroud threw his first career touchdown pass when he connected with Nico Collins for a 12-yard score that cut the lead to 14-7 with about three minutes left in the first quarter. Collins finished with seven receptions for a career-high 146 yards.

Minshew took over for Richardson in the second quarter and orchestrated a 76-yard drive capped by an 11-yard scoring run by Zack Moss that made it 21-7.

The Colts pushed it to 28-10 when Kylen Granson scored on a 4-yard pass just before halftime.

Richardson is the third QB in NFL history with three rushing touchdowns in his first two games, joining Daunte Culpepper and Jack Thompson. Richardson, who is 21 years and 118 days old, is also the youngest quarterback with two rushing touchdowns in a game.

Josh Jones filled in for Tunsil and had a holding penalty in the fourth quarter that negated a touchdown by Dell. The Texans settled for a field goal on that drive to cut the lead to 31-13.

INJURIES

Houston S Eric Murray left in the first quarter with a concussion. ... Indianapolis C Ryan Kelly left in the third quarter with a concussion.

LONG-AWAITED DEBUT

Houston wide receiver John Metchie III made his NFL debut after missing all last season undergoing treatment for leukemia. Metchie, who sat out last week with a hamstring injury, had one reception for 17 yards.

The play occurred with 1:47 left in the half. Sam Howell and the Commanders were looking for a touchdown and trying to avoid going into the locker room down 21-3. On 4th-and-goal, Howell found Thomas for the touchdown.

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However, as Thomas came down with the ball, Jackson launched headfirst into Thomas, and the tight end went down. He hung onto the football for the Washington touchdown, but the damage was done.

Thomas eventually came out of the game to be evaluated for a concussion and was later ruled out. Jackson was penalized and later disqualified over the hit.

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Denver had a 21-14 lead at the half.

COLTS' ANTHONY RICHARDSON RUSHES FOR 2 TOUCHDOWNS, LEAVES GAME WITH CONCUSSION IN DOMINANT WIN OVER TEXANS

Jackson was criticized last week in the team’s game against the Las Vegas Raiders when he leveled a hit on wide receiver Jakobi Meyers, who likewise suffered a concussion. Jackson was reportedly fined $14,819 over the play.

The safety had two tackles against the Commanders before he was tossed. He had four tackles against the Raiders in Week 1. Last year, Jackson played in all 17 games and had a career-high 94 tackles.

Thomas had two catches for 22 yards before he was taken out of the game.

And CBS announcer Ian Eagle used that score by Kelce, his first of the season after missing Week 1 due to a knee injury, to make a reference to the tight end’s rumored relationship with Taylor Swift.

While it’s not confirmed that Kelce and Swift are officially dating, it’s been reported the two have been "quietly hanging out" for weeks now. So, Eagle took the opportunity to allude to the rumors as Kelce celebrated his touchdown. 

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"Kelce finds a blank space for the score," Eagle said.

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It was a great call by Eagle considering Kelce broke out of his normal route to find an actual blank space in the Jaguars’ end zone for Mahomes to hit him with no defenders around.

CHIEFS HAVE CLUTCH FOURTH-QUARTER STOPS TO BEAT JAGUARS IN WEEK 2

"Blank Space" also happens to be a huge hit by Swift, so the two worlds collided perfectly.

Mahomes was looking for Kelce a lot in this game, but they were only able to convert on four of nine targets.

However, the touchdown by Kelce gave the Chiefs a seven-point lead, which they never relinquished in a sloppy offensive game for both sides.

As Kelce continues to get more healthy, he and Mahomes are expected to continue their dominance in the NFL as one of the best duos in the game. 

And perhaps that could lead to more Swift-based announcer calls as long as the two continue to hang out.

CeeDee Lamb had 143 yards receiving, and Brandon Aubrey kicked five field goals in the 28-year-old rookie's second game as the Cowboys (2-0) finished a season-opening sweep of the New York. Dallas routed the Giants 40-0 in the opener.

Wilson threw a 68-yard touchdown pass to Garrett Wilson to get the Jets (1-1) within three points in the second quarter and ran for 36 yards on a drive to a field goal for an eight-point halftime deficit.

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But New York had just 147 yards outside the long TD, and four second-half turnovers left little doubt for Dallas.

Wilson, who was sacked three times a week after Dallas dropped the Giants' Daniel Jones seven times, was picked off by Jayron Kearse, Malik Hooker and Trevon Diggs.

Dalvin Cook lost a fumble when Micah Parsons, who had two sacks, ripped the ball out of his arms just before Cook was tackled. Parsons got up and ran to the end zone, but was ruled down on review.

TITANS KICK GAME-WINNING FIELD GOAL TO GET PAST CHARGERS IN OVERTIME

Prescott's TD tosses were to tight ends, including rookie Luke Schoonmaker's first career score on a 1-yarder after Brandin Echols was called for pass interference in the end zone. Jake Ferguson had the first score from 4 yards.

With new sidekick Brandin Cooks sidelined by a knee injury a week after his Dallas debut, Lamb didn't look like he needed much help while tying a career high with 11 catches.

Lamb helped set up both Dallas touchdowns. The first was a 25-yard catch followed by a 20-yarder after Garrett Wilson's TD when he hung on despite landing on a shoulder after getting upended by Tony Adams.

Prescott targeted Lamb so much — 13 times, two shy of his career high — it was almost one too many. Sauce Gardner stepped in front of one of the throws and would have had a pick-6 to put the Jets in front before halftime but the ball slipped through his hands.

Prescott was 31 of 38 for 255 yards and Tony Pollard had 72 yards rushing. Wilson finished 12 of 27 for 170 yards.

SIDELINED COACH

Dallas defensive assistant Sharrif Floyd was taken off the field in the second half over medical concerns. He went down on the sideline and was attended to before going to the medical tent. From there, Floyd was escorted to the locker room.

INJURIES

Jets: Adams injured his hamstring when he upended Lamb and didn't return. ... CB Michael Carter II injured an elbow in the first half.

Cowboys: CB Jourdan Lewis made his season debut after missing the final 10 games last season with a broken foot. ... LG Chuma Edoga, who has started in place of Tyler Smith in both games as Smith recovers from a hamstring injury, left in the second half with an elbow issue. He was replaced by undrafted rookie T.J. Bass. ... RG Zack Martin injured an ankle when Pollard ran into the back of him on a carry.

The quip came after Smith was flagged for intentional grounding. Smith dropped back to pass and fired a ball from the pocket toward the end zone with no wide receiver in the area as it appeared there was some miscommunication on offense.

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A flag came out and Smith was called for intentional grounding even though he wasn’t trying to throw the ball away. As Seattle head coach Pete Carroll lost his temper, Smith tried to protest the call to Smith as he was announcing the penalty.

"I’m talking to America here, excuse me," Kemp told Smith on the open mic as the veteran quarterback passed him.

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The penalty pushed the Seahawks back from the Lions' 17-yard line to the 27-yard line. Two plays later, Seattle was called for illegal formation and had to convert on a pivotal 3rd down, which they did on a pass to Tyler Lockett.

FALCONS EDGE PACKERS BEHIND DESMOND RIDDER TO START SEASON 2-0

Two plays later, Smith hooked up with Lockett for a touchdown and Seattle took the lead, 24-21.

Seattle won the game, 37-31, in overtime.

Smith finished 32 of 41 for 328 yards and two touchdown passes.

The Giants were outscored through their first six quarters of the season, 60-0, and at halftime against the Cardinals, the team was down, 20-7. With 9:34 left in the third quarter, the Cardinals had a 28-7 lead. There didn’t really appear to be any hope until Saquon Barkley scored late in the third.

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Barkley’s 1-yard run cut Arizona’s lead in half. Then, in the fourth, Daniel Jones found Barkley for a 9-yard touchdown pass. After that, Jones helped tie the game with an 11-yard touchdown pass to Isaiah Hodgins. The game was tied.

It took Jones and the Giants eight plays and 56 yards on their final drive to set up Graham Gano for the go-ahead 34-yard field goal. New York was up 31-28 with 19 seconds left and won by the same score.

New York overcame a 21-point deficit for the first time since 1949, according to ESPN Stats & Info. The Giants had lost 150 straight games when trailing by at least 21 points – the second-longest such streak in NFL history. The Chicago Bears have lost 179 straight games when down by at least 21 points.

Jones was 26 of 37 with 321 passing yards, two touchdown passes, a rushing touchdown and an interception. Barkley had 63 yards on the ground on 17 carries, but he came out of the game because of an apparent ankle injury.

BRONCOS' KAREEM JACKSON EJECTED AFTER VICIOUS HELMET-TO-HELMET HIT ON COMMANDERS' LOGAN THOMAS

Jalin Hyatt had two catches for 89 yards. He broke the game open with two long plays. Darren Waller added six catches for 76 yards.

It appeared Arizona had New York’s number until something flipped in the second half.

James Conner ran for 106 yards and a touchdown to lead the Cardinals in rushing. Quarterback Joshua Dobbs was 21 of 31 with 228 yards and a touchdown. He also had a rushing touchdown.

Dobbs’ touchdown pass went to Marquise Brown. The wide receiver had six catches for 54 yards.

New York avoids an embarrassing start to the 2023 season. Before the second half, the Giants hadn’t scored a meaningful touchdown since the third quarter of the playoff loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.

The Giants are now 1-1. The Cardinals are 0-2.

Christian McCaffrey rushed for 116 yards and a score for the 49ers (2-0), whose only loss to the Rams since December 2018 was in the NFC championship game in January 2022.

Isaiah Oliver and Deommodore Lenoir intercepted passes by Matthew Stafford in the second half, finally allowing the 49ers to pull in front of their longtime rivals.

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The 49ers' defense overcame a record-setting performance by rookie Puka Nacua, who caught 15 passes for 147 yards for Los Angeles (1-1). The fifth-round pick broke the NFL’s single-game record for receptions by a rookie, and he set a new overall league mark with 25 catches in the first two games of his career.

Purdy went 17 for 25 with a handful of glaring mistakes in his first career game against the rebuilding Rams (1-1), who followed up their surprise season-opening win at Seattle by remaining competitive with their powerhouse opponent throughout the afternoon at SoFi Stadium. Purdy came through on fourth down at the Rams 1 on the final play before halftime, sneaking over the goal line to even the score 17-17.

RAMS' CAM AKERS ‘CONFUSED’ AS HE'S DEACTIVATED FOR GAME VS 49ERS

Stafford passed for 307 yards and threw a TD pass to Kyren Williams for Los Angeles. Williams also rushed for a touchdown and had 100 combined offensive yards in his first NFL start, but he caused a key interception when a pass ricocheted off his hands in the third quarter, leading to Jake Moody's go-ahead, 57-yard field goal.

Along with Nacua's second spectacular game, Tutu Atwell added seven catches for 77 yards for Los Angeles as both receivers stepped up again in Cooper Kupp's absence.

The 49ers are unbeaten after back-to-back road games to open the season, but they were tested in Inglewood. Los Angeles' undertalented defense made several timely stops and forced San Francisco to settle for three field goals, including after both of the 49ers' takeaways.

McCaffrey made a 14-yard touchdown run to cap San Francisco's opening drive. McCaffrey then made a 50-yard run on the final play of the first quarter, but the Rams kept it even with a responding drive ending in Williams' first TD.

Los Angeles went ahead 1:45 before halftime with an 88-yard drive ending in Williams' TD run, but the Niners went 75 yards for Purdy's fourth-down sneak for a 1-yard TD at the halftime gun.

Purdy missed receivers on long throws at least three times, keeping the game close and frustrating the 49ers fans in attendance. But Williams gifted an interception to Oliver in the third quarter when Stafford's pass hit the running back in the hands and popped high in the air.

After kicking a field goal, the Niners went 74 yards for a score on their next drive, ending in Samuel's sprint through two missed tackles.

The Rams got the ball back with 5:29 left, but Stafford's third-down throw into traffic was picked off by Lenoir.

INJURIES/INACTIVES

49ers: CB Ambry Thomas injured his knee in the first half, but returned. ... Lenoir was evaluated for a head injury and allowed to continue playing.

Rams: RG Joseph Noteboom injured his shoulder in the second half. He had been wearing a brace on the shoulder in recent weeks. ... RB Cam Akers was a healthy scratch after struggling to just 29 yards on 22 carries in the season opener. Akers was nearly traded last season after clashing with the coaching staff, only to stay when the Rams found no takers.

Sanders took the Colorado job after Jackson State wrapped up the Southwestern Athletic Conference championship with hopes of turning around a Buffaloes team that won only one game during the 2022 season. Gone were the days of Kordell Stewart, Rashaan Salaam and Michael Westbrook – or so everyone thought.

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"Coach Prime" came into the program and turned things on their head. He received some criticism for how he was so open with players from the old regime as he encouraged them to enter the transfer portal and look for playing time elsewhere.

In an interview with "60 Minutes" on Sunday, Sanders was pressed about whether he believed the so-called "scorched Earth policy" was good for the sport. The Pro Football Hall of Famer said it wasn’t his job to lie the student-athletes on the team.

"I think truth is good for the kids. We’re so busy lying we don’t even recognize the truth no more in society. We want everybody to feel good. That’s not the way life is," he said. "Now, it is my job to make sure I have what we need to win. That makes a lot of people feel good – winning does."

COLORADO'S TRAVIS HUNTER COULD BE 'OUT FOR A FEW WEEKS' AFTER LATE HIT, DEION SANDERS SAYS

Sanders explained the way the team played in 2022 and in previous years was just as much on the players as it was on the coaches. He said he came to the "conclusion that a multitude of them couldn’t help us get to where we wanted to go" and if players were affected by his words – then they weren’t for this team either.

"If you went for that, if you were able to let words run you off, you ain’t for us because we’re an old-school staff. We coach hard. We coach tough. We’re disciplined. If you’re allowing verbiage to run you off because you don’t feel secure with your ability – you ain’t for us," he said.

Colorado topped Colorado State, 43-35, in double overtime on Saturday night.

The Buffaloes have a date with Oregon next Saturday.

Washington cornerback Benjamin St-Juste broke up Wilson's pass to Courtland Sutton on the 2-point conversion attempt. St-Juste appeared to get away with pass interference, but no flag was thrown and the Commanders celebrated the franchise's first 2-0 start since 2011 while Sutton and his teammates argued vehemently for a foul.

Howell threw for 299 yards on 27-of-39 passing in his first road start and led Washington to the second-biggest comeback in franchise history. Washington overcame a 21-point deficit to beat Detroit on Nov. 4, 1990.

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The Commanders trailed 21-3 in the second quarter. Brian Robinson Jr. ran for two scores during a 32-6 scoring outburst before the Broncos made it interesting at the very end.

With 2 seconds left and the Broncos trailing 35-27, Wilson heaved a pass toward the end zone that was deflected by a scrum of players before Johnson snared it for the score.

The Broncos (0-2) have lost back-to-back home games for the first time, not the kind of history coach Sean Payton was hoping to make in his return to the sideline after a year in the broadcast studio following a highly successful 15-year stint in New Orleans, especially after he criticized predecessor Nathaniel Hackett for doing one of the worst coaching jobs in NFL history last year.

SEAHAWKS' GENO SMITH LEADS GAME-WINNING DRIVE IN OVERTIME TO BEAT LIONS

The Broncos jumped out to their big lead by scoring touchdowns on their first three possessions for the first time since Nov. 14, 2010, against Kansas City, a game they went on to win 49-29.

Payton got the ball into his young speedsters' hands early on, and it paid off with undrafted rookie Jaleel McLaughlin scoring on a 5-yard pitch, rookie receiver Marvin Mims Jr. hauling in a 60-yard touchdown pass and second-year wideout Johnson hauling in a 16-yard score.

None of the three touched the ball again until Mims got a handoff midway through the third quarter with the score tied at 21.

Mims had two caches for 113 yards on two targets but wasn't targeted again and spent much of the rest of the game on the sideline.

Robinson's 2-yard TD run with 13:25 left gave Washington its first lead at 28-24 and his second score, from 15 yards out, made it 35-24 with 7:11 remaining.

The game turned when Howell threw a 4-yard touchdown pass to Logan Thomas on fourth-and-goal and safety Kareem Jackson was ejected for launching himself at the tight end, who suffered a concussion on the play and didn't return. Jackson also drew a 15-yard flag in the opener for a hit he put on Raiders receiver Jakobi Meyers.

With the flag moving the conversion try to the 1, Washington went for 2 and pulled within 21-11 when Robinson got the ball past the plane. Joey Slye's 46-yard field goal as the first half expired made it 21-14.

The Commanders tied it on Terry McLaurin's 30-yard TD grab on their first drive after halftime.

INJURIES

Commanders: Thomas didn't return after suffering a concussion on his TD. ... Broncos: S Delarrin Turner-Yell, who replaced Jackson after he was ejected, sustained an undisclosed injury early in the fourth quarter and went to the locker room. He was replaced by DB Essang Bassey.

Nacua, a fifth-round pick out of BYU by the Rams this past April, shocked the NFL world last week when he had 10 catches for 119 yards in Los Angeles’ win over the Seattle Seahawks. But Nacua followed it up with an even better performance that had NFL history tied to it. 

Nacua hauled in 15 of his 20 targets from Stafford against the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday, totaling 147 yards. Those 15 receptions are the most by a rookie in a single game in NFL history. 

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The record, which was held by Washington’s Roy Helu, New York Giants’ Saquon Barkley and Pittsburgh’s Najee Harris jointly, was broken when Nacua hauled in a 17-yard catch late in the fourth quarter.

Nacua is also the first rookie to have double-digit receptions in each of his first two NFL games.

49ERS FORCE CRUCIAL TURNOVERS TO HOLD OFF RAMS TO REMAIN UNDEFEATED

And that’s not all. Nacua’s 25 receptions on the year is a new league record for a rookie in his first two games. 49ers legend Earl Cooper had the record at 19 in 1980. 

The Rams couldn’t capture another victory, though, despite Nacua’s efforts on offense. The 49ers were able to force crucial turnovers to eventually come away with a 30-23 win to move to 2-0, while the Rams fell to 1-1 in the early season. 

Nacua’s emergence as Stafford’s top option comes as Cooper Kupp, the 2021 Offensive Player of the Year as the Rams’ top receiver, is on injured reserve with a hamstring injury. Kupp’s absence left many questions for how the Rams would start the season. 

Nacua is not only filling that absence – he’s thriving because of it.

Head coach Sean McVay clearly likes what Nacua has brought to his receiving corps. And knowing his offensive mind, he will be sure to get both Nacua and Kupp involved when the latter returns into the fold.

We’ll see what Nacua can do in his third NFL game next week when the Rams travel to Cincinnati to take on the Bengals on "Monday Night Football."

The Dolphins improved to 2-0, while the Patriots fell to 0-2 on the season. 

For most of the night, Miami was in control of the game, using its offensive firepower and aggressive defense to have a one-touchdown lead late in the game. However, after a Jason Sanders missed 55-yard field goal, the Patriots had a chance to tie it up with great field position. 

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Mac Jones couldn't get the job done last week against the Philadelphia Eagles when the Patriots were down five with a chance for a game-winning drive. Jones had a chance at redemption here, but he wasn't able to execute yet again. 

Miami’s defense gave Jones and the Patriots’ offense fits all night long, and it continued in the two-minute drill as Bradley Chubb sacked Jones for the fourth team sack on the night. 

On fourth down, needing to get four yards to keep the drive going, Jones found his tight end (and former Dolphin) Mike Gesicki on a crossing route. But Gesicki was clearly going to be short, so he thought on the fly by throwing the ball backward to offensive lineman Cole Strange to give the Patriots a chance to maybe break the line to gain.

DOLPHINS STAR WARNS JETS WILL STILL ACHIEVE ‘BIG THINGS’ UNDER ZACH WILSON, DESPITE AARON RODGERS' INJURY

Strange spun and fell to the turf, and it was initially called a first down. However, video replay showed that Strange was too short, and the Dolphins celebrated knowing the game was over. 

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Miami's defense was making the correct plays all game long, and it started when New England was forced to punt on its first drive after going just 21 yards on eight plays. 

That was followed by a fumble by Pop Douglas, who didn’t see Chubb flying in behind him on a catch-and-run and throwing a hammer fist to get the ball out. 

The Dolphins’ offense would capitalize on that opportunity, going 11 plays and 73 yards with a Raheem Mostert touchdown from eight yards out moving Miami’s lead to 10-0. 

While last week was a big passing week for the Dolphins, it was the run game in New England that led the way. Mostert finished with a game-high 121 yards on 18 carries with two touchdowns. 

After punting on its next drive, the Patriots were finally able to get on the board with a 49-yard field for Chad Ryland, who tallies his first field goal in the NFL. 

GIANTS OVERCOME 21-POINT DEFICIT TO STUN CARDINALS, SNAP SPECIFIC LOSING STREAK

But just before the end of the first half, the Dolphins found the end zone once more, and it was Tua Tagovailoa finding Tyreek Hill – his favorite target in Week 1 – for a two-yard score

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New England was finally able to find the end zone in the fourth quarter after forcing a three-and-out on Miami. It was Jones finding Hunter Henry, who scored twice in Week 1, for a six-yard score to pull within a touchdown. 

That’s when momentum started to go the Patriots’ way, and rookie cornerback Christian Gonzalez brought even more to his sideline when he intercepted Tagovailoa, who was looking for a deep ball to Hill. It was Gonzalez’s first interception of his young career. 

However, Miami’s defense got to Jones again on the ensuing drive. Andrew Van Ginkel, who wreaked havoc on the Patriots’ offensive line all night, got a sack that pushed Jones back 10 yards deep in Patriots’ territory. 

The Patriots were forced to punt, and the Dolphins wasted no time getting their two-touchdown lead back. Mostert found the end zone again, but this time, he wasn’t even touched. 

Mostert found a perfect hole on an inside zone run and used his blazing speed to go 43 yards for the score to make it 24-10. 

Jones and the Patriots had to respond on the next drive as time was dwindling in the fourth quarter. New England dialed up the right plays, and Jones handled the Dolphins’ pressure as he made the right throws, including a scrambling strike to Juju Smith-Schuster to set up a Rhamondre Stevenson two-yard touchdown run to make it 24-17. 

But the Patriots fell short yet again, and it's back to the drawing board. 

In the box score, Tagovailoa went 21 of 30 for 249 yards with a touchdown and interception, with Jaylen Waddle his leading receiver with 86 yards on four receptions. Hill finished with 40 yards on five catches. 

Jones went 31 for 42 with 231 yards, tallying one touchdown and one interception. The Patriots only had 88 rushing yards, with Stevenson leading the pack with 50 on 15 carries. 

The Patriots look ahead to Week 3 against another AFC East rival, the New York Jets, on the road. 

Meanwhile, the Dolphins, getting off to the fast start head coach Mike McDaniel certainly loves, will return home to face the Denver Broncos.