It started in Ireland (9:30 a.m. Eastern time). It ended in Texas (almost 15 hours later). Good week to be betting overs and benching defenses, because there was a whole lot of scoring going on.
Vikings at Steelers: I guess the game ended up being close since Minnesota did get the ball back with a minute left. But it took Pittsburgh's defense going to sleep for a couple of series, and they woke up in time to shut things down. Some big plays helping DK Metcalf and Jordan Addison look good, lots of first-half production from Justin Jefferson, but scores for unrostered guys (Zavier Scott, Jalen Nailor). Congrats to those who started Kenneth Gainwell (2 TDs) with Jaylen Warren inactive. T.J. Hockenson hit his over on Carson Wentz's final, meaningless completion, that was nice. Six sacks and 2 picks for defense-friendly Wentz, in fairness his line was really banged-up, losing Ryan Kelly and Brian O'Neill during the game, and he ended up with some good passing numbers, which count like all the rest.
Commanders at Falcons: Entertaining game, with lots of good things from the Falcons offense and a couple of available Commanders. Only Deebo actually paid off, though at least Luke McCaffrey scored. Big games from Drake London, Kyle Pitts (!) and another 100-yard receiving game for Bijan Robinson. London really stood out for making some clutch receptions, but props to Michael Penix, who I was starting to doubt/criticize, making all the throws.
Saints at Bills: Closer than expected, which happens sometimes with these huge favorites. Indeed, it took a replay reversal to keep the Saints from having a fourth-quarter lead, just a slightly off-target throw by Spencer Rattler that could/should have been a touchdown. Bills ultimately took care of business, but at least the seriously overmatched Saints didn't go quietly. Tight ends didn't hit their overs in this game, kind of unfortunate, but at least Kincaid scored. Big games for James Cook and Josh Allen as usual. Khalil Shakir shook a tackle to turn a short catch into a long opening-drive touchdown, otherwise typical modest games for the wideouts.
Browns at Lions: Browns made things interesting early, and you got good numbers out of Quinshon Judkins. But I think it's fair to question when we're going to see Joe Flacco get benched. He's not the only problem, but too many mistakes and not enough good stuff. (No Browns receivers look startable right now.) Lions took care of business and the two perceived best starts (Amon-Ra and Gibbs) were. Can't feel too bad if you started other players, Browns D is really good.
Titans at Texans: Woody Marks breakout game. I have him on a couple of benches so can maybe use him going forward. Nobody else did too much, except for the Texans defense. For the Titans, welp. At least it's not just Calvin Ridley? Really can't use anything connected with the Tennessee offense right now. Even their solid-performing kicker Joey Slye missed twice from inside 45 yards.
Panthers at Patriots: I'm a big fan of the movie Apollo 13, and I like to think of the line, "What have we got on the ship that's good?" That's sort of how I feel about the Carolina Panthers. Tetairoa McMillan looks good so far. Their defense is terrible, their running backs are just guys, their other wide receivers aren't great, and their quarterback seems to be en route to being benched again. Blown out by the Patriots seems to be kind of a low point. Good games for Stefon Diggs (101 yards), touchdown for Hunter Henry, and three different running backs getting 6-9 carries, with 2 of them scoring. Good luck tapping into that one.
Chargers at Giants: Painful for some in Survivor Pools, good for those of us who didn't pick them. Chargers certainly ripe for a letdown. Giants win and that's huge for them and rookie Jaxson Dart, though kind of overshadowed by Malik Nabers leaving with a torn ACL. Hate to see it, cruel game. Yet another good game for Quentin Johnston, and a huge game from full-time back Omarion Hampton. Chargers will be fine and the Giants are still going to lose most game, but good for them getting the win. (And Saints on the schedule next week, so...) Decent numbers from Cam Skattebo but the Giants need to figure out some better ideas around the end zone; Dart draws and Skattebo runs into the middle won't fool people much.
Eagles at Bucs: Several people unhappy about A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith. Understandable. A.J. did get 9 targets, but you don't get points for that. Eagles keep winning, in this one with trickly little plays to Dallas Goedert (talked him up some) , Hurts runs and a good all-around day and touchdown for Barkley. In defeat, big game for Chase McLaughlin (65- and 58-yarders) and the routinely awesome Bucky Irving and Emeka Egbuka. Just 3 catches for Chris Godwin, but seemed healthy enough (10 targets too). Entertaining game that started out with a blocked punt for a touchdown and the Bucs were in catchup mode throughout.
Colts at Rams: A wild one, with lots of big stars stepping up and a remarkable 88-yard Stafford to Atwell touchdown bomb winning it. But hard to get past poor Adonai Mitchell's involvement in the loss. A pretty amazing 76-yard touchdown reception...but he celebrated a split-second early and lost the ball out of the end zone. Brutal. He then committed a hold away from the ball on a highlight-reel 53-yard touchdown run by Jonathan Taylor, wiping it out. Those points were quite meaningful with the Colts proceeding to settle for just a 7-point late lead, which they lost, and then falling asleep on the Atwell bomb. (Tough game for Taylor also since on two goal-line sequences they had a play-action pass on first down for one score and used Tyler Warren at fullback to run in the other. Just kind of mean.) Another huge game for Puka Nacua.
Jaguars at 49ers: Jaguars win a close one, 49ers finally lose one, with again more receivers limping off the field after aggravating or suffering new injuries. Big one for Travis Etienne, good for Christian McCaffrey. Still a lesser one for the Jaguars passing game, though at least Brian Thomas caught some balls along the way. Jaguars with a sack-fumble at midfield to win it, ending the cardiac 49ers' undefeated run.
Ravens at Kansas City: Ravens defense operating without half its starters is down bad right now. Not to take anything away from Patrick Mahomes, who was clinical and helped most of his receivers have nice games. Lamar Jackson sidelined with a hamstring injury, just when you thought things couldn't get any worse for the Ravens. A much-hyped game becomes ugly blowout. Derrick Henry does little, while Isiah Pacheco finally scores. Up is down.
Bears at Raiders: I take no great pride in calling the Ashton Jeanty breakout game. That's going to happen from players facing the Bears defense right now. Chicago wins on a blocked field goal at the end, in position to lose due in part to settling for 4 field goals along the way. Is Pete Carroll glad he came out of retirement to lose games like this? Tough one for Raiders fans. Four interceptions (3 by Geno Smith) and 3 fumbles in this game, making for kind of an ugly one, but a beautiful day (aside from an early fumble) for Jeanty. Not the prettiest game for Caleb Williams, but it was a W, and prettier than Geno's.
Packers at Cowboys: What to say? I remember being a child in the 80s when we seemed to get shootouts like this one all the time. I'm sure I'm not the only one who remembers the Green Bay-Washington 48-47 Monday nighter or some 41-38 battles featuring Fouts, Marino et al. Dallas has of course been serving up lots of points all along this year, Green Bay not so much. Nice game to have a bunch of overs in parlays, and to be starting Jacobs, Pickens and others. It is said that nobody wins in ties, but I think you had to go to bed a little happy if you made it through the end of this one.
Monday, Monday, times two: Another week with two Monday games, just in case anyone didn't get enough football yesterday. Jets-Dolphins figures to be higher-scoring, with both teams struggling defensively, while Bengals-Broncos will only be higher-scoring if Jake Browning exceeds expectations and Bo Nix stops forcing throws. Jets-Dolphins looks like 27-24 that could go either way (I'll take the home team), while I'm guessing Broncos 27, Bengals 17.