The Minnesota Vikings knocked Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers out of the game on Sunday with a broken collarbone, before defeating their NFC North divisional rivals 23-10.
Linebacker Anthony Barr, who later left with a concussion, delivered the game-changing hit on Green Bay’s second drive when he took Rodgers hard to the turf as the two-time NFL MVP followed through on a pass.
Rodgers fell awkwardly on his throwing shoulder, and the Packers announced he could miss the remainder of the season.
Back-up QB Brett Hundley threw his first career touchdown pass in relief, connecting with Davante Adams in the second quarter, but was also intercepted three times, and sacked on four occasions, in the contest.
Meanwhile, Vikings quarterback Case Keenum, making his fourth start in place of the injured Sam Bradford, went 24 for 38 for 239 yards, with one touchdown and one interception.
Minnesota running back Jerick McKinnon scored two second-quarter touchdowns, one a 27-yard score off a pass from Keenum and the other a three-yard run, making up for a fumble that led to Green Bay’s only TD.
The Packers scored their only other points from a Mason Crosby field goal following Keenum’s interception but, after the break, the Vikings dealt exclusively in field goals – Kai Forbath kicking three of them – to ice the win.
It moves Minnesota level with Green Bay at the top of the NFC North, each with 4-2 records through six games of the season.
Elsewhere, in the other early games in the NFL….
Dolphins 20-17 Falcons
Atlanta (3-2), like in the Super Bowl last season, couldn’t hold a big half-time lead and suffered a shock loss at home to Miami (3-2).
Safety Reshad Jones intercepted Matt Ryan at the six-yard line with 39 seconds left to seal the Dolphins win, who had trailed 17-0 at the half.
Jay Cutler, who was 19 of 32 for 151 yards, threw two third-quarter TD passes for Miami and Jay Ajayi ran for 130 yards on 26 carries.
Patriots 24-17 Jets
The Patriots (4-2) had to come from behind 14-0 to beat a gutsy Jets (3-3) outfit in New York.
Tight end Rob Gronkowski scored two touchdowns from Tom Brady passes, who broke Peyton Manning and Brett Favre’s record for the most regular-season wins in NFL history with 187.
Lions 38-52 Saints
Defensive end Cam Jordan tipped and then intercepted a Matthew Stafford pass in the end zone – the third defensive touchdown of the game for New Orleans – as the Saints (3-2) withstood a furious 28-point Detroit (3-3) rally.
New Orleans appeared to have iced the game with just over eight minutes left in the third quarter when they led 45-10 on cornerback Marshon Lattimore’s 27-yard interception return of a Stafford pass for a touchdown before the Lions launched a late comeback that ultimately fell short.
49ers 24-26 Redskins
Kirk Cousins threw two touchdown passes and ran for another score as Washington (3-2) defeated winless San Francisco (0-6).
The 49ers, who benched starting quarterback Brian Hoyer in favour of rookie C.J. Beathard, are 0-6 for the first time since 1979 in Bill Walsh’s first season as head coach and have set a new NFL record for most consecutive loses by three points or fewer (five).
Bears 27-24 Ravens (OT)
Connor Barth hit a 39-yard field goal with two minutes left in overtime to give Chicago (2-4) the victory in Baltimore (3-3).
Running back Jordan Howard had a great game, running for 167 yards, while rookie RB Tarik Cohen also impressed, but as a passer, throwing a 21-yard TD strike to Zach Miller off a trick play.
Browns 17-33 Texans
Deshaun Watson continued his breakout rookie season and Houston (3-3) eased to a comprehensive victory over still winless Cleveland (0-6).
Watson passed for 225 yards and three touchdowns. With 15 touchdowns, Watson has the most by a rookie through six games since the merger with the American Football League.
The Texans harassed Browns quarterback Keven Hogan into a miserable debut as a starter as he tossed three interceptions..
