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Last season, the Chicago Bears faced a New Orleans Saints team without quarterback Drew Brees and running back Alvin Kamara. Unfortunately, the Bears couldn’t overcome an anemic offensive performance and lost 36-25. But the Bears have gotten off to an impressive 5-1 start this season, where they’ve managed to win some ugly one-possession games. But they’ve managed to do so, which is the important part.Read Full Story  The New Orleans SaintsChicago BearsHamstring InjuryMichael ThomasESPNSaints QuarterbackAnkle InjuryLuckRunningJeopardyOctoberAlvin KamaraDrew BreesAdam SchefterChris GodwinKenny GolladayJulio JonesSchefter

Jared Cannonier wasn’t able to do enough to get the job done Saturday. The UFC middleweight contender dropped a unanimous decision to former champion Robert Whittaker (22-5 MMA, 13-3 UFC) in the UFC 254 co-main event in Abu Dhabi. It was a big opportunity for Cannonier (13-5 MMA, 6-5 UFC) since UFC president Dana White said a title shot would be on his plate next if victorious against Whittaker.Read Full Story Mixed Martial ArtsUnanimous DecisionMMAAbu DhabiContenderFightHappyUFC 254Jared CannonierDana White

A win is a win. There’s no need to apologize for that. The Buffalo Bills move to 5-2 and won a game that they were expected to be victorious in over the lowly New York Jets (0-7). However, there are definitely reasons to be concerned after the score against arguably the worst team in the NFL.Read Full Story Buffalo BillsNew York JetsNFLJosh AllenNational Football LeagueScore GoalsField GoalsHome FieldNew England PatriotsDane JacksonAJ EpenesaAJ KleinQuick PassesConstant PressureDrivesTyler BassPatrick MahomesJerry HughesSam DarnoldFrank GoreJordan PoyerTyler KroftDevin SingletaryMatt MilanoTrent MurphyDean MarloweCole BeasleyZack MossTre'davious White

After being ruled questionable Friday on the final injury report, Jacksonville Jaguars right guard A.J. Cann (shoulder) will miss Sunday’s game against the Los Angeles Chargers. He was listed among the team’s inactives for Week 7 alongside fellow starter Myles Jack, who was ruled out Friday. That means rookie guard Ben Bartch will get his first start in the NFL.Read Full Story NFLDetroit LionsJacksonville JaguarsGuardJAGSJagsNational Football LeagueA.J. CannEnd GameLos Angeles ChargersThis WeekThe GameTyler DavisQuestionable FridayInactivesMyles JackTyler EifertBrandon WatsonBen BartchJarrod WilsonDaniel Ekuale

Baker Mayfield had the look of a player pushing through a cracked rib early in Sunday's road game against the Cincinnati Bengals, and a person familiar with the injury, speaking to the USA TODAY Network on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak about the ailment, confirmed that's exactly what Browns quarterback is enduring. But Mayfield bounced back from his nightmarish outing a week ago in a blowout loss in Pittsburgh and his rough start in Cincinnati to complete a franchise-record 21 consecutive passes and ultimately help the Browns prevail 37-34 over the Bengals. The Browns improved to 5-2, their best record through seven games since 1994, when they defeated the Bengals 37-13 on Oct. 23 to improve to 6-1. The Bengals dropped to 1-5-1 and were swept by the Browns, who also defeated them 35-30 in Week 2. The revelation about the specific nature of the injury Mayfield suffered Oct. 11 in a 32-23 win over the Indianapolis Colts first became public when CBS play-by-play announcer Spero Dedes uttered it on the air shortly before kickoff at Paul Brown Stadium. For the second consecutive week, Mayfield's first pass of the game resulted in an interception. He also began Sunday's game 0-of-5 passing. Then Mayfield caught fire. He finished 22-of-28 passing (78.6%) for 297 yards and five touchdowns with one interception. He posted a passer rating of 135.6 and didn't take a sack. Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) throws before an NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy) Michael Conroy, AP He threw the 24-yard game-winning touchdown pass to rookie wide receiver Donovan Peoples-Jones with 11 seconds left in the fourth quarter, capping a five-play, 75-yard drive. A spike to stop the clock during the march ended Mayfield's consecutive completion streak. Cody Parkey missed the ensuing extra-point kick, and the Browns survived rookie quarterback Joe Burrow's incomplete Hail Mary pass in the end zone to hang on for the victory. One of Mayfield's finest moments came on second-and-7, when he threw a 16-yard scoring strike to tight end David Njoku, who made the catch in the end zone despite close coverage by safety Vonn Vell. Mayfield's third touchdown pass of the game and 15th consecutive completion allowed the Browns to seize a 24-20 lead with 13:13 left in the fourth quarter. However, the Bengals and Burrow fired back. Burrow and rookie wide receiver Tee Higgins connected for a 16-yard touchdown, allowing the Bengals to go ahead 27-24 with 8:45 remaining in the fourth quarter. Earlier during the 12-play, 80-yard drive, Browns cornerback Terrance Mitchell dropped a would-be interception. Mayfield and Co. kept the shootout going. On second-and-7, Mayfield completed his 18th conseutive pass for an 8-yard touchdown to running back Kareem Hunt. The score finished a seven-play, 75-yard drive, and the Browns captured a 31-27 advantage with 4:53 left in the fourth quarter. The Bengals countered again. On fourth-and-1, Burrow threw a 3-yard touchdown pass on play action to running back Giovani Bernard, giving the Bengals a 34-31 edge with 1:06 left in the fourth quarter. On the final play of the 10-play, 75-yard drive, free safety Andrew Sendejo arrived a split-second late in his attempt to stop Bernard from making the catch. In April, Burrow became the No. 1 overall pick in the draft like Mayfield did in 2018. Burrow finished 35-of-47 passing (74.5%) for 406 yards and three touchdowns with one interception. He posted a passer rating of 112.5 and took four sacks. During the first series of the third quarter, the Browns rallied from a 17-10 halftime deficit and tied the score 17-17 when Mayfield connected with rookie tight end Harrison Bryant for the duo's second touchdown of the game. On third-and-3, Mayfield threw a 6-yard TD pass to Bryant, capping a nine-play, 75-yard drive with 9:32 left in the third quarter. The Bengals recaptured the lead on the next series. Randy Bullock made a 23-yard field goal, putting the Browns in a 20-17 hole with 2:51 left in the third quarter a play after cornerback Denzel Ward broke up Burrow's pass to receiver A.J. Green in the back right corner of the end zone. The Bengals built a seven-point halftime lead when Burrow threw an 11-yard touchdown pass over the middle to receiver Tyler Boyd, who made the catch in the front of the end zone with 15 seconds left in the second quarter and safety Karl Joseph on his back. With Mayfield struggling early, the Browns failed to complete a pass in the opening quarter of a game for the first time since the 2017 season finale, when quarterback DeShone Kizer faced the Pittsburgh Steelers, according to ESPN Stats and Information. But Mayfield rebounded in the second quarter. He went 5-of-5 passing for 49 yards during an 11-play, 75-yard scoring drive, which allowed the Browns to tie the score 10-10 with 3:39 remaining before halftime. On third-and-2, Mayfield finished the march by throwing a 3-yard touchdown pass to Bryant. For the second week in a row, Mayfield's first pass of the game resulted in an interception. On second-and-4 from the Cleveland 10, Mayfield threw a deep pass intended for receiver Odell Beckham Jr. along the right sideline, but cornerback Darius Phillips picked it off and returned 21 yards to the Browns 24 with 8:21 left in the first quarter. During the play, receiver Jarvis Landry had been wide open to Mayfield's left on a curl route. Landry revealed last week he's also playing through a broken rib he suffered against the Colts. Adding injury to the insult associated with an interception, Beckham injured his left knee while chasing Phillips during the interception return and was ruled out for the remainder of the game early in the second quarter. Center JC Tretter suffered a knee injury on the same play, but he didn't miss a snap. Three plays after Mayfield's interception, Burrow rushed for a 1-yard touchdown on a sneak, and the Bengals went ahead 7-0 with 6:47 left in the first quarter. The Browns trimmed their deficit to 7-3 when Cody Parkey made a 43-yard field goal with 1:21 left in the first quarter. The Browns settled for the kick five plays after defensive end Myles Garrett recorded a strip-sack on Burrow, and safety Ronnie Harrison recovered at the Cincinnati 33 with three minutes left in the opening quarter. Garrett set a franchise record by notching at least one sack for the sixth consecutive game. Garrett sacked Burrow again with 22 seconds left before halftime. But Burrow connected with Boyd on the next play for an 11-yard touchdown. The Bengals extended their lead to 10-3 when Bullock made a 37-yard field goal with 11:09 left in the second quarter. During the game's opening possession, Ward tipped a Burrow pass, and linebacker B.J. Goodson intercepted it in the end zone with 9:16 left in the first quarter. But instead of the Browns capitalizing on the takeaway, Mayfield was picked off during the ensuing possession. Mayfield, though, redeemed himself in a major way. This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Baker Mayfield catches fire after shaky start, ignites Browns to comeback win over Bengals Cincinnati BengalsCleveland BrownsPittsburgh SteelersIndianapolis ColtsNational Football LeagueGo GameCo.CBSNFLAkron Beacon JournalDeShone KizerDonovan Peoples-JonesVonn VellB.J. GoodsonHail MaryBaker MayfieldJoe BurrowDenzel WardMyles GarrettOdell Beckham Jr.Cody ParkeyDeshone KizerJarvis LandryTee HigginsRonnie HarrisonRandy BullockTerrance MitchellSpero DedesGiovani BernardAndrew SendejoHarrison BryantDavid NjokuKarl JosephDarius PhillipsKareem HuntMichael Conroy

Jaire Island claimed another castaway on Sunday in Houston. Green Bay Packers cornerback Jaire Alexander shut down Texans receiver Will Fuller during Sunday’s 35-20 victory at RNG Stadium. According to Next Gen Stats, Alexander covered Fuller – who was coming off back-to-back 100-yard receiving games for the Texans – on...Read Full Story Packers CornerbackWide ReceiverNFLGreen Bay PackersNational Football LeagueHoustonThe PackersVikingsNext Gen Stats WeekJaire IslandTexans ReceiverReceiversRNG StadiumWell-earned PraiseJaire AlexanderWill FullerAaron RodgersCalvin RidleyAdam Thielen

The Jets lost one of their defensive ends in Sunday’s 18-10 loss to the Buffalo Bills. Adam Gase said after the game that Kyle Phillips is out for the year with an ankle injury. Phillips went down once in the game with an injury but was able to come back, only to re-injure himself again. A cart had to be brought out for Phillips the second time.Read Full Story Buffalo BillsSprained AnkleConcussionThe JetsAnkle InjuryInjury TimeMicah HydeGroinThe GameKyle PhillipsBreshad PerrimanAdam GaseJamison Crowder

The Buffalo Bills are back to winning ways… albeit not in the prettiest manner. The Bills won 18-10, but considering the manner of the victory and the opponent being the New York Jets, it was not the most confidence-building victory. Still… survive and advance, right?. With that, here are five...Read Full Story  New York JetsBuffalo BillsPlacekickerWinning WaysThe JetsThe GameThingsAccuracyDistancesTyler BassStephen Hauschka

Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Carlos Dunlap was seen on the sidelines late during Sunday’s loss to the Cleveland Browns getting into an apparent shouting and shoving match with players and/or coaches. The scuffle came during the 37-34 loss that knocked the Bengals to 1-5-1 and resulted in a season sweep...Read Full Story Cincinnati BengalsCleveland BrownsTyler BoydChanging RoomDefensive EndEnd GameJeremy RauchLance McAlisterFoxSideline AltercationGame IncidentPlayers And/or [email protected] InterviewsCarlos Dunlap

In what can only be described as an amazing turn of events, the Philadelphia Eagles are now in sole possession of first place in the NFC East after the Cowboys disastrous 25-3 loss to the Washington Football Team on Sunday. Per Five Thirty Eight, the Eagles now have a 62%...Read Full Story Dallas CowboysLincoln Financial FieldNBCThe EaglesGiantsPossession FootballNFC East After CowboysWashington Football TeamSole PossessionThe DivisionHome25-3 Loss