Tom Brady lost yet another one of his trusted targets and this time he also lost a game.
C.J. Anderson scored on a 48-yard run with 12 minutes, 32 seconds left in overtime, powering the Denver Broncos past the New England Patriots 30-24 on a snowy Sunday night.
Watching from the cozy indoors at field level was Peyton Manning, as Brock Osweiler and the Broncos (9-2) overcame an early 14-0 deficit and handed the Patriots (10-1) their first loss since last year.
Photo: AFP
The Carolina Panthers (11-0) remain the NFL’s only unbeaten team.
Osweiler threw a three-yard touchdown pass to Bubba Caldwell with 1 minute, 9 seconds left in regulation to put the Broncos up 24-21.
However, Brady, playing without injured star tight end Rob Gronkowski, needed just five plays to drive the Patriots 51 yards and into range for Stephen Gostowski’s 47-yard field goal that tied it at the end of regulation.
New England won the coin toss and elected to receive, but thanks to a sack by Von Miller, Denver forced a three-and-out.
On third-and-one from the New England 48, Anderson raced around the left sideline and into the north end zone to score.
Gronkowski injured his right knee with 2 minutes, 49 seconds left in regulation and was carted off.
TEXANS 24, SAINTS 6
Brian Hoyer threw for 205 yards and two touchdowns as the Texans held Drew Breese and New Orleans without a touchdown for the first time in 10 years in a win.
The Texans (6-5) have won four games in a row for the first time since winning six straight in 2012.
New Orleans (4-7) dropped their third straight on a day when Brees’ streak of games with a touchdown pass was snapped at 45.
Hoyer went 7-for-7 on the opening drive, capped by a 10-yard touchdown pass to Ryan Griffin, to make it 7-0 and give Houston a score on the opening possession for the first time this season.
The last time the Saints failed to score a touchdown was Dec. 24, 2005 against Detroit and Brees’ last game without a touchdown pass came on Nov. 29, 2012 against Atlanta.
SEAHAWKS 39, STEELERS 30
Russell Wilson threw a career-high five touchdown passes, including two to Doug Baldwin in the final 8 minutes, 12 seconds as Seattle held on for a wild victory over Pittsburgh and Ben Roethlisberger.
Wilson threw three touchdowns to Baldwin, including an 80-yard catch-and-run score with 2 minutes, 1 seconds left after Pittsburgh had trimmed Seattle’s lead to 32-30.
Baldwin caught a crossing route on third-and-10 at the 20, broke two tackles and raced for the clinching score. Baldwin caught a 30-yard touchdown midway through the fourth quarter after Pittsburgh had taken a 27-26 lead.
Wilson also threw two touchdowns to Jermaine Kearse as Seattle (6-5) picked up a huge victory in their hopes of getting back to the post-season.
Roethlisberger threw for 456 yards — a record against the Seahawks — but was pulled with two minutes left and taken to the locker room for concussion protocol. The Steelers (6-5) had a two-game win streak end.
CARDINALS 19, 49ERS 13
Carson Palmer ran for a go-ahead eight-yard touchdown with 2 minutes, 28 seconds left and tumbled after spiking the ball, as Arizona squeaked by San Francisco.
It was the Cardinals’ fifth straight win and first road victory in the series since September 2008.
Moments earlier, Palmer fell backward as he released the ball and completed a 34-yard pass to J.J. Nelson to put Arizona on the one.
Chandler Catanzaro missed the extra-point try, leaving Blaine Gabbert and the 49ers (3-8) with one more chance with 2 minutes, 21 seconds left. Anquan Boldin caught an 18-yard pass on fourth-and-20 to clinch the win for Arizona.
David Johnson ran for a one-yard touchdown in the third for the Cardinals (9-2), who have nine wins in their first 11 games in consecutive seasons for the first time in franchise history.
In other games, it was:
‧ Texans 24, Saints 6
‧ Bengals 31, Rams 7
‧ Vikings 20, Falcons 10
‧ Colts 25, Buccaneers 12
‧ Jets 38, Dolphins 20
‧ Redskins 20, Giants 14
‧ Raiders 24, Titans 21
‧ Chiefs 30, Bills 22
‧ Chargers 31, Jaguars 25
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