Watson sparks late Browns rally over Carolina
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CLEVELAND -- Deshaun Watson threw two touchdown passes to Harold Fannin Jr., including a 14-yard strike with 1:48 remaining, and the Cleveland Browns rallied for a 21-18 victory over the Carolina Panthers on Sunday.
The Panthers went in front 18-13 with 4:25 remaining when John Metchie III hauled in an 8-yard touchdown pass from Bryce Young. But the Browns (2-1) went 65 yards in eight plays for their second straight comeback win.
Watson was 10 of 21 for 67 yards during the first three quarters but was 6 of 9 for 77 yards over the final 15 minutes.
Watson and teammates feared that the 10-year veteran would be showered with boos after he got a negative reception during a preseason game against Buffalo on Aug. 22. But Watson was cheered by most of the fans during the fourth quarter when he came back into the game after taking a hard hit.
It appeared as if the Browns’ chances for a comeback were dashed when Akayleb Evans picked off Watson’s pass intended for KC Concepcion in the end zone with 2:29 remaining. But Carolina linebacker Bobby Okereke was called for roughing the passer to nullify the play. Three plays later, Watson gave the Browns the lead. Watson then connected with Denzel Boston for a 2-point conversion to push the margin to a field goal.
Carolina (1-2) made a late drive, but Ronnie Hickman picked off Young’s pass at the Browns 46 with 9 seconds remaining.
Watson finished 16 of 30 for 144 yards and two TDs. He also ran it 11 times for 45 yards. Fannin had seven receptions for 51 yards. Andre Szmyt kicked two field goals.
In other NFL action on Sunday:
CHIEFS 24, DOLPHINS 10
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. -- Kenneth Walker III had a touchdown catch and rushed for a score, Patrick Mahomes threw for 246 yards and two TDs, and the Kansas City Chiefs beat the Miami Dolphins. The Chiefs entered averaging more than 450 yards and 32 points but struggled to pull away from the winless Dolphins. Miami was missing arguably its best player for much of the game after Pro Bowler De'Von Achane left with a knee injury on the opening drive. Mahomes completed 20 of 24 passes with a 5-yard touchdown to Walker but needed an 11-yard TD pass to Travis Kelce to put the game out of reach.
JAGUARS 35, PATRIOTS 6
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Trevor Lawrence threw three touchdown passes, including one on which Parker Washington made a fingertip catch in the end zone, and the Jacksonville Jaguars bounced back from their worst offensive performance in nearly a year to dominate New England. The Jaguars won their sixth consecutive regular-season game at home and raised more questions about Drake Maye's regression. Maye fumbled twice, losing one, and threw two more interceptions before getting pulled in the fourth quarter with the game out of reach. He now has one TD pass and six INTs in three games.
GIANTS 12, TITANS 7
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Relying on running the ball in their first game without quarterback Jaxson Dart, the New York Giants edged the Tennessee Titans but lost their most important defensive player, Brian Burns, to a knee injury. Burns went down grabbing at his right knee midway through the fourth quarter and had to be helped off the field. If it is significant like Dart's injury, which has him out for at least the remainder of the regular season, it is another blow to the Giants after John Harbaugh's tenure as coach got off to a promising start.
LIONS 31, JETS 24
DETROIT -- Jahmyr Gibbs had a go-ahead 11-yard reception with 2:25 left for his third touchdown of the game and the Detroit Lions held on to top the New York Jets. The dynamic running back had 20 carries for 99 yards with 17- and 1-yard touchdown runs along with seven receptions for 65 yards and score. With a chance to tie the game or perhaps go for the win, the Jets were on the Detroit 28 when Smith fumbled after blitzing safety Chuck Clark sacked him with Garrett Wilson on the sideline after getting hit hard on the previous play.
COMMANDERS 33, SEAHAWKS 31
LANDOVER, Md. -- Marcus Mariota threw three touchdown passes, and Kain Medrano returned an interception 50 yards for a touchdown to help the Washington Commanders hand Seattle its first loss since November. The Seahawks had won 12 straight, including their postseason run to last season's Super Bowl title, but Mariota was solid in place of the injured Jayden Daniels, and three crucial turnovers enabled Washington to win its home opener. Jaxon Smith-Njigba caught 10 passes for 128 yards and two touchdowns for the Seahawks, and he even completed a short throw on a trick play in the final quarter.
COLTS 19, TEXANS 17
INDIANAPOLIS -- Spencer Shrader made four field goals including a 43-yarder with 16 seconds to go, Keenan Allen caught his first touchdown pass with Indianapolis and the Colts' beleaguered defense barely held up long enough to close out a victory over the Houston Texans. Indy snapped a nine-game losing streak, the longest active skid in the NFL. Daniel Jones finished 24 of 36 for 235 yards and the one lone TD. He also fumbled three times, losing two with the second setting up Houston's late go-ahead touchdown.
BILLS 24, CHARGERS 16
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- Josh Allen scored two touchdowns rushing and the Buffalo Bills overcame a five-turnover outing to pull out a victory over the winless Los Angeles Chargers. Allen's second score, a 1-yard plunge with 7:35 left, gave Buffalo's its first lead. The Bills then sealed the win on James Cook's 3-yard run four minutes later, and after Buffalo's defense forced Justin Herbert’s incompletion on fourth down at the Chargers 45. Buffalo improved to 3-0 despite Allen threw two interceptions and losing a fumble. Cook and tight end Dalton Kincaid also lost fumbles.
49ERS 36, CARDINALS 30
SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- Brock Purdy threw four touchdown passes with the first coming on a trick play and the injury-depleted San Francisco 49ers held on to beat the Arizona Cardinals. San Francisco lost receiver Mike Evans to a rib injury in the first half and left tackle Trent Williams to a stinger in the second half but still managed to hold on to get off to a 3-0 start for the third time in the last four seasons. Arizona has lost 22 of its last 26 games in the division.
VIKINGS 23, BUCCANEERS 16
TAMPA, Fla. -- Myles Price returned a punt 86 yards for a score, Kyler Murray threw a 41-yard TD pass to Jordan Addison and the Minnesota Vikings upend the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. It was a costly game for both teams. Baker Mayfield hurt his thumb on a desperation pass late in the fourth quarter. He was screaming in pain on the ground before walking off. Two-time All-Pro wide receiver Justin Jefferson didn't return for Minnesota after injuring his right ankle in the first quarter.