Saints cornerback P.J. Williams, right, celebrates with Jeff Heath after his interception return for a touchdown clinched a 36-27 victory Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Jonathan Bachman/Associated Press
NEW ORLEANS — P.J. Williams intercepted Tom Brady and returned it 40 yards for a touchdown with 1:24 left, helping New Orleans seal a dramatic but potentially costly 36-27 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday during which Saints quarterback Jameis Winston injured his left knee.
Winston was hurt on a scramble early in the second quarter when he was pulled down from behind by Devin White, who was flagged for a horse collar tackle.
“I think it’s significant,” Coach Sean Payton said. “He felt something and is on crutches right now. … When he got up and then had to go back down, you were a little concerned.”
Backup Trevor Siemian took over for Winston and completed 16 of 29 passes for 159 yards and a touchdown without a turnover, leading the Saints on five scoring drives that produced two touchdowns and three field goals.
Brady passed for four TDs, but also turned the ball over three times on a pair of interceptions and a fumble, which the Saints converted into 16 points.
The Bucs nearly overcame their mistakes, wiping out a 16-point second-half deficit to take a lead with 5:44 to go when Cyril Grayson was left uncovered behind the defense and scored a 50-yard touchdown.
New Orleans responded by driving for a field goal and a 29-27 lead with 1:41 left.
BILLS 26, DOLPHINS 11: Josh Allen shook off the rust from a bye week and rebounded from a shaky first half, throwing touchdown passes on consecutive second-half drives in leading Buffalo (5-2) past Miami (1-7) in Orchard Park, New York.
The Bills went ahead 10-3 in the third quarter when Allen shrugged off Jaelan Phillips’ bid to sack him and found a wide-open Gabriel Davis for an 8-yard touchdown reception. He then capped a nine-play, 69-yard drive by hitting Stefon Diggs on a post route for a 19-yard TD.
The Dolphins cut the lead to 17-11 on Tua Tagovailoa’s 1-yard plunge and 2-point conversion pass to Mike Gesicki early in the fourth quarter.
Allen responded by marching the Bills on a 14-play drive that ended with Tyler Bass hitting a 39-yard field goal. Jordan Poyer sealed the victory by intercepting a Tagovailoa pass that sailed over the middle on third-and-26 from his 19 with 2:21 remaining.
JETS 34, BENGALS 31: Mike White threw for 405 yards and three touchdowns in his first NFL start, caught a 2-point conversion pass on the go-ahead score and had the fans chanting his name while leading New York (2-5) to a comeback victory against Cincinnati (5-3).
White, starting in place of injured rookie Zach Wilson, pulled off an improbable victory while going 37 of 45 – setting an NFL record for the most completions in a player’s first start. He joined Cam Newton (2011) as the only players since at least 1950 to throw for 400 or more yards in their first career start.
White overcame two early interceptions and also became the Jets’ first 400-yard passer since Vinny Testaverde on Christmas 2000, a span of 327 games.
TITANS 34, COLTS 31: Randy Bullock made a 45-yard field goal with 4:03 left in overtime to cap a wild game, giving Tennessee (6-2) a victory at Indianapolis (3-5).
The teams combined for two touchdowns in the final 86 seconds of regulation. Colts quarterback Carson Wentz threw two interceptions in the final 7 1/2 minutes after throwing only one all season.
Elijah Molden snatched an ill-advised forward flick by Wentz and scored on a 2-yard return to break a 24-24 tie with less than two minutes remaining.
On the ensuing series, Wentz hooked up with Michael Pittman Jr. for 37 yards to get the ball across midfield, and Ashton Dulin drew a 42-yard pass interference penalty. Jonathan Taylor walked in for a 1-yard TD run with 22 seconds to go.
STEELERS 15, BROWNS 10: Ben Roethlisberger handed Cleveland (4-4) yet another loss as visiting Pittsburgh (4-3) survived losing kicker Chris Boswell for the entire second half.
Roethlisberger threw a touchdown pass and rookie Najee Harris had an 8-yard TD run after halftime for the Steelers (4-3), who were handicapped by Boswell suffering a concussion on a blown trick play.
The Browns had plenty of chances, but wide receiver Jarvis Landry had a costly fumble and then couldn’t handle two passes from Baker Mayfield in the final 6:04.
PANTHERS 19, FALCONS 13: Zane Gonzalez kicked four field goals and Chuba Hubbard scored on a 6-yard run with 6 1/2 minutes remaining to seal Carolina’s win at Atlanta (3-4).
Carolina (4-4) held Matt Ryan and the Falcons to 213 total yards. Ryan had one of the worst games of his career, throwing for just 146 yards with two interceptions. He was sacked three times and sustained a bloody cut on his non-throwing hand when a Panthers defender stepped on it, though Ryan didn’t miss any plays.
49ERS 33, BEARS 22: Jimmy Garoppolo threw for 322 yards and ran for two touchdowns, and visiting San Francisco (3-4) beat short-handed Chicago (3-5) to snap a four-game losing streak.
Garoppolo led three touchdown drives in the second half and another possession that ended with a field goal. He scored from the 2 in the third quarter and ran it in from the 5 in the fourth to make it 30-22.
RAMS 38, TEXANS 22: Matthew Stafford threw for 305 yards and three touchdowns in three quarters, and Los Angeles (7-1) dominated in every way at Houston (1-7).
It’s the fourth straight victory for the Rams and the seventh loss in a row for the Texans – their longest skid since dropping the final 14 games of the 2013 season.
EAGLES 44, LIONS 6: Boston Scott and Jordan Howard each had two touchdowns on the ground, helping visiting Philadelphia (3-5) run over Detroit (0-8).
The Lions go into their bye week as the NFL’s only winless team.
SEAHAWKS 31, JAGUARS 7: Geno Smith ran for one score and threw a pair of touchdown passes to DK Metcalf, and Seattle (3-5) snapped its three-game losing skid by thumping visiting Jacksonville (1-7).
In what may be his final start while Russell Wilson recovers from finger surgery, Smith picked apart the Jaguars for one of the best performances of his career. He completed his first 14 passes and finished 20 of 24 for 195 yards.
BRONCOS 17, WASHINGTON 10: Justin Simmons and Denver’s defense held firm after a fumble gave Washington (2-6) the ball back, and the Broncos (4-4) blocked two field goals as they stopped a four-game slide with a victory in Denver.
Melvin Gordon III caught a touchdown pass and ran for the go-ahead score from 7 yards out with 4:31 remaining. He also fumbled with 21 seconds to go, giving Washington the ball at the Denver 24.
The defense forced Taylor Heinicke to throw the ball out of the back of the end zone on the last play of the game.
Simmons had two interceptions, including one in the end zone with 37 seconds left.
COWBOYS 20, VIKINGS 16: Cooper Rush subbed for the injured Dak Prescott and passed for 325 yards and two second-half touchdowns, the last a 5-yarder to Amari Cooper with 51 seconds left as Dallas (6-1) rallied for a win at Minnesota (3-4).
Rush overcame two turnovers, both delivered by former Dallas safety Xavier Woods. The fifth-year backup, handed the offense when Prescott was ruled out in a game-time decision because of a strained right calf muscle, directed an eight-play, 75-yard drive that he finished with a perfect toss to Cooper on a fade in the corner of the end zone.
Cooper had eight catches for 122 yards, and CeeDee Lamb had six receptions for 112 yards for the Cowboys, whose only lead came in the final minute.
Kirk Cousins and the Vikings were frequently in disarray on offense after opening with 75-yard march for a touchdown pass to Adam Thielen.
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