From Sept. 29, 2024 through last Saturday, the Philadelphia Eagles lost two just regular season games. They’ve now equaled that in the last five days.

Philadelphia went on the road to take on NFC East foe New York on “Thursday Night Football” and it was the Giants – led by their star rookies – who won the first game of Week 6 34-17 at MetLife Stadium.

Philadelphia scored a field goal on their opening drive but New York fired back with consecutive touchdown drives thanks to their rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart.

The first-round pick out of Ole Miss took in himself from 19 yards out to open the scoring for New York. He found Wan’Dale Robinson on the right sideline on their next drive and the wide receiver took it 35 yards to the house for another score.

Philadelphia responded with touchdowns on a 75- and 74-yard drive to take a 17-13 lead midway through the second quarter behind a “Tush Push” touchdown by Jalen Hurts. That ended up being the last time the Eagles crossed the goal line for a score.

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Giants rookie running back Cam Skattebo scored the first of his three rushing touchdowns on the next drive to put New York up 20-17 at halftime. A couple of Skattebo touchdowns and two key turnovers late in the fourth quarter sealed the win for the Giants, their second in three weeks.

Dart finished 17-of-25 passing for 195 yards and a touchdown as well as 13 carries for 58 yards and a score on the ground. Skattebo had 110 total yards (98 rushing, 12 receiving) and three touchdowns.

Philadelphia’s offense struggled against the Giants. The Eagles went just 1 of 9 on third down and Hurts’ interception late in the fourth quarter ended any hopes of a comeback. Former Giant Saquon Barkley managed just 58 yards on 12 carries as the Eagles failed to reach 100 yards rushing as a team for the fourth week in a row.

New York heads on the road next week against the Denver Broncos (3-2), who just handed Philadelphia their first loss of the season four days ago. The Eagles stay on the road again in Week 7 with a game against the Minnesota Vikings (3-2).

USA TODAY Sports provided live updates, highlights and more from the Week 6 matchup between the Giants and Eagles on Thursday night below.

Giants vs. Eagles takeaways

Jaxson Dart lives up to first-round hype

New York traded up for Dart in the 2025 NFL Draft and were panned by many for doing so. He’s now led the team to two wins in the last three weeks. Tonight, the Ole Miss product stood strong in the face of pressure and delivered regularly to keep the Giants’ offense moving. He completed 17 of 25 passes and, if not for a few drops, could’ve had an even better night.

Turnovers crush hopes for Eagles comeback

In the last 20 quarters of football Philadelphia played entering Thursday night, the Eagles had turned the ball over once: a Jalen Hurts fumble in Week 3. They were well in range to make this a 3-point contest early on in the fourth quarter but Hurts’ interception in the red zone swung things back in New York’s favor. An A.J. Dillon fumble on their ensuing drive sealed the loss as the Giants ran out the clock.

NFC East hierarchy becomes anarchy

Just 10 days ago, the Eagles looked well in control of the division with four wins – as many as the rest of the division combined. Now Washington has a chance to pull even in the wins column at home against the Chicago Bears in primetime on Monday night. In a couple of weeks, New York and Philadelphia will face off again in what could be a must-win for the Eagles before their bye.

Giants vs. Eagles highlights

Jaxson Dart stats vs. Eagles

The Giants rookie passer had an efficient, effective showing vs. the Eagles:

17/25 passing

195 yards

2 touchdowns (one rushing, one passing)

13 carries, 58 yards

Eagles turn the ball over again on A.J. Dillon fumble

Philadelphia ends a drive with a turnover once again as running back A.J. Dillon took a pass from Jalen Hurts for a first down but fumbled before his knee came down. The Giants’ defense recovered the ball and the offense takes over at their own 25-yard line with 6:25 left in the game.

Eagles vs Giants score: Cam Skattebo finds the end zone again

New York made the most of two key mistakes by the Eagles: a Jalen Hurts interception and defensive pass interference in the end zone on cornerback Kelee Ringo. That penalty on third-and-8 brought the Giants to the 1-yard line and Skattebo punched it in for his third touchdown of the night.

Jude McAtamney made the extra point and New York has now doubled up the defending champions with 9:41 to go in the game.

Jalen Hurts throws costly interception deep in the red zone

Hurts dropped back to pass from the Giants’ 15-yard line and fired off a pass under pressure to the left side towards Jahan Dotson. New York cornerback Cordale Flott intercepted the pass and sprinted down the sideline before getting knocked out of bounds at the Eagles’ 23-yard line.

The Giants offense takes over with 11:25 to go in the game.

When was the last time the Giants beat the Eagles?

While the Eagles have held recent dominance over the Giants, it hasn’t been too long since the last time the Giants beat their division rival. The Giants beat the Eagles in Week 18 of 2024, by a 27-10 tally.

Another punt for the Giants’ offense

Quarterback Jaxson Dart returned to the game to applause throughout MetLife Stadium but he couldn’t spark the Giants’ offense. New York went two yards in three plays before punting back to Philadelphia. The Eagles’ offense will take over at its own 34-yard line with 12:51 to go in the game.

End of 3rd quarter: Giants 27, Eagles 17

The Eagles’ defense forced a punt after Jaxson Dart left the game for New York but the offense hasn’t done much with that opportunity. Philadelphia will open the fourth quarter facing third-and-12 from their own 10-yard line.

Jaxson Dart injury update: Giants QB slow to get up after sack, exits game

The Giants’ rookie quarterback couldn’t evade pressure on first-and-10 from the Eagles’ 43-yard line and took a hard hit from multiple defenders. Dart eventually got up under his own power and jogged to the medical tent. Veteran Russell Wilson is now in the game for the Giants at quarterback.

Brian Burns sacks Jalen Hurts again to force another punt

Philadelphia gained 14 yards on a first-down pass from Hurts to Dallas Goedert to start their drive but went backward from there. Burns chased down Hurts for his second sack of the game on third-and-7 for a loss of nine yards. The Eagles punted again to give the Giants the ball back again with 5:25 left in the third quarter.

Eagles vs Giants score: Skattebo rumbles in for another TD

The Giants’ rookie running back brought the New York offense near the goal line with a 12-yard run on 2nd and 10 from the Eagles’ 13-yard line. He powered through on a second effort one play later to give the Giants a two-score advantage over the Eagles.

Jude McAtamney’s extra point is good and the Giants extend their lead with 7:56 to go in the third quarter.

Quinyon Mitchell injury update: Eagles CB ruled out of game

The Eagles’ first-round draft pick from a year ago has now been ruled out of tonight’s game with a hamstring injury. Veteran Adoree’ Jackson will likely play in Mitchell’s place for the rest of the game at outside cornerback.

Jalen Hurts overthrows DeVonta Smith, Eagles punt

These two offenses punted once each in the first half. They’ve now done that in the first two drives of the second half. Philadelphia’s Jalen Hurts overthrew wideout DeVonta Smith on third-and-6 from their own 11-yard line and the Eagles kicked it back to the Giants. New York takes over at their own 44-yard line.

Giants punt after Theo Johnson can’t hang on

New York went three-and-out to open the second half and settled for their second punt of the game. Quarterback Jaxson Dart fired a pass deep to Johnson in the face of unblocked pressure but the tight end couldn’t control the ball to the ground and it was ruled incomplete.

The Eagles’ offense takes over at their own 7-yard line following an unnecessary roughness penalty on the punt with 13:43 to go in the third quarter.

Halftime: Giants 20, Eagles 17

Philadelphia barely got to midfield in the final 79 seconds of the half and ran out of time to get in range for kicker Jake Elliott to get in range for a game-tying field goal. The Eagles go into halftime down three points to the Giants, who will receive the second-half kickoff.

This is the first time the Giants have led at halftime over the Eagles since Week 18 of the 2023 season.

Eagles vs Giants score: Cam Skattebo gives Giants lead ahead of halftime

New York responded to the Eagles’ long scoring drive with one of their own. The Giants marched 67 yards in 15 plays to take the lead. This time, it was another Giants rookie to find the end zone as Skattebo powered over the left guard from four yards out for the go-ahead touchdown.

Jude McAtamney knocked through the extra point to take a three-point lead with 1:19 left in the first half.

Quinyon Mitchell injury update: Eagles CB questionable to return

Philadelphia’s top cornerback is on the sideline as the game nears halftime with what the team is calling a hamstring injury. He is questionable to return to tonight’s game and the Eagles have veteran Adoree’ Jackson in the game in his place.

Eagles vs Giants score: Philadelphia uses ‘Tush Push’ to take the lead

Philadelphia called their infamous “Tush Push” play four times in a row inside the Giants’ 5-yard line to get the go-ahead score. Quarterback Jalen Hurts broke past the goal line from one yard out to cap off a 13-play, 74-yard drive that took nearly eight minutes off the game clock.

Jake Elliott’s extra point is good and Philadelphia takes a four-point lead with 6:56 to go in the first half.

Eagles vs Giants score: Hurts flips ball to Dallas Goedert for TD

Philadelphia’s offense marched 72 yards in seven plays for their first touchdown of the game. Quarterback Jalen Hurts took the snap from under center with an empty backfield and tossed the ball to Goedert for a 3-yard touchdown.

Jake Elliott’s extra point is good and the Eagles cut the deficit to three points with 1:49 to go in the first quarter.

Eagles vs. Giants score: Wan’Dale Robinson breaks free for TD

It took just four plays for the New York offense to march 66 yards for a score. Quarterback Jaxson Dart scrambled away from pressure on second-and-9 and found Wan’Dale Robinson on the right sideline. Robinson broke free from an Andrew Mukuba tackle and sprinted down the right sideline for another Giants touchdown.

Jude McAtamney’s extra point is no good but the Giants hold a 10-point lead with 5:37 to go in the first quarter.

Brian Burns sacks Jalen Hurts to end Eagles’ drive

New York’s defense stonewalled Saquon Barkley on second-and-5 from the Eagles’ 34-yard line for a loss of three yards. On the next play, Giants edge rusher Brian Burns looped inside for a drive-stopping sack and a loss of eight yards.

The Giants’ offense gets the ball back on their own 34-yard line with 7:39 left in the first quarter.

Eagles vs. Giants score: Jaxson Dart calls his own number for go-ahead TD

Facing third-and-7 from the Eagles’ 19-yard line, Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart avoided a tackler and sprinted for a touchdown, his second rushing score of the rookie season. A 34-yard shot from Dart to Lil’Jordan Humphrey set up the Giants near the red zone.

New York leads Philadelphia with 9:59 to go in the first quarter.

Eagles vs. Giants score: Philadelphia’s offense sputters, settles for FG

Saquon Barkley ran for 31 yards on his first two carries but the Eagles’ offense managed just five yards with him off the field for a breather. Dallas Goedert couldn’t get past the marker on third-and-10 from the Giants’ 29 and the Eagles brought out the special teams unit.

Jake Elliott knocked through a 42-yard field goal to give the Eagles a 3-0 lead with 11:59 to go in the first quarter.

Saquon Barkley takes first snap vs. Giants for 19 yards

Well, that didn’t take long: Saquon Barkley took his first snap for 19 yards right up the gut to give the Eagles a first down. He went right back up the middle for another first down.

Eagles starting the game on offense

Philadelphia will have great field position because the opening kickoff did not fall in the landing zone (inside the 20-yard line). Jalen Hurts, Saquon Barkely and company will begin their first drive from their own 40-yard line.

What time does the Giants game start tonight?

Kickoff time: 8:15 p.m. ET

The Philadelphia Eagles travel to MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ to take on the New York Giants at 8:15 p.m. ET on Thursday night.

What TV channel is New York Giants vs. Philadelphia Eagles on today?

New York market : WNYW (Fox 5)

: WNYW (Fox 5) Philadelphia market: WTFX (Fox 29)

The game will be broadcast on TV locally for those in the New York and Philadelphia TV markets.

MetLife turf ‘played a part’ in Jalen Carter not playing, report says

NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport, while reporting on Prime Video’s pre-game broadcast, said Carter, in what was “somewhat of a surprise” development, was sitting out with a heel injury. Rapoport added that “the turf at MetLife Stadium played a part in (Carter’s) decision.” – Nate Davis

Giants record in primetime games

Dating back to 2019, the Giants have put forth a subpar showing under the brightest lights. The Giants are 2-20 in night games since 2019, including a 1-12 record at MetLife. – Chris Bumbaca

Jalen Carter inactive

Eagles defensive star Jalen Carter will not play vs. the Giants with a heel injury. He was listed as questionable earlier in the week with the ailment, leading to his deactivation for Thursday’s matchup.

What happened to Malik Nabers?

During the Giants’ Week 4 game against the Los Angeles Chargers, Nabers tore his ACL and meniscus while leaping to try to catch a pass.

Giants vs. Eagles live stream

Amazon Prime will carry the Giants vs. Eagles game. The streaming giant owns the broadcast rights to the NFL’s “Thursday Night Football” package.

Live stream: Amazon Prime Video

Giants inactives vs. Eagles

The Giants will be without wide receiver Darius Slayton, further hampering their wide receiver corps. Here’s the rest of the list:

WR Darius Slayton

ILB Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles

ILB Swayze Bozeman

T James Hudson III

OL Evan Neal

DL Elijah Garcia

QB Jameis Winston (3rd QB)

Eagles inactives vs. Giants

The Eagles will be without a couple of stars in the trenches: Defensive lineman Jalen Carter will be out, while guard Landon Dickerson will be out, as well.

CB Mac McWilliams

G Landon Dickerson

TE Grant Calcaterra

WR Xavier Gipson

DT Jalen Carter

QB Sam Howell (3rd QB)

Giants vs. Eagles prediction

It will be a beautiful October night in East Rutherford and spooky season is getting underway. The defending champs have not lost back-to-back games since December 2023, and it’s not likely that streak ends tonight against a reeling Giants team with a rookie quarterback. This has all the feels of a perfect spot for the Eagles to get right. The struggling stars Saquon Barkley and A.J. Brown will lead the charge to a double-digit win.

Prediction: Eagles 26, Giants 16

The Miami Dolphins look like a fish out of water.

Attempting to save their season from the dreaded 0-3 start, Miami made the trek to western New York for a battle against the Buffalo Bills. While the final score was closer than expected, 31-21, Buffalo never really had to sweat.

They came close, however, before Zach Sieler’s roughing the kicker penalty changed everything. The turning point in the contest – it awarded the Bills with a new set of downs when the game was tied.

Tua Tagovailoa followed it up with a costly fourth-quarter interception, sealing the deal after he appeared timid all night long.

Regardless, this was a performance that likely cooled the hot seats for Mike McDaniel and Chris Grier in Miami – at least momentarily.

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Now the Bills move to 3-0 on the season, despite not looking their best in the young season.

A win is a win though and the Bills will certainly enjoy adding another one in that column. Now both teams head off for the mini-bye before returning to action in Week 4.

Here’s how the action unfolded from Buffalo.

USA TODAY Sports provided live updates, highlights, and more from the Bills-Dolphins “Thursday Night Football” game in Week 3 below.

Bills vs. Dolphins takeaways

Dolphins’ biggest issue may not be coaching

Everyone loves to blame the coaching staff, but the Dolphins have a roster littered with issues. They lack depth in the trenches and it appears they ignored the defense all offseason. Injuries in the secondary make it almost impossible to win in the modern NFL.

Bills’ win covers bigger issues under the hood for now

The Bills might be 3-0, but this game wasn’t supposed to be close and it still took a costly penalty to set up the game-winning score. It’s not exactly inspiring after the Jets mostly beat themselves in Week 2 and the Ravens had to blow a 15-point lead with less than five minutes to go. They might still be the favorites, but this defense needs plenty of work if Buffalo wants to be playing in February.

The Dolphins need more from Tua Tagovailoa to win games

It’s not his fault, but Tagovailoa’s health remains a primary concern whenever he steps on the field. If that weren’t a concern, you would spend the entire game waiting for the back-breaking mistake. Tagovailoa cost his team with an interception late and, to make it even worse, that wasn’t exactly the most surprising outcome.

Bills vs. Dolphins final score: Buffalo 31, Miami 21

Bills-Dolphins score update: Prater seals it

That’ll do it for this one in Buffalo. Tagovailoa’s interception comes back to haunt the Dolphins as Prater knocks through the field goal for a 10-point lead.

Bills 31, Dolphins 21

Tua Tagovailoa tosses interception with three minutes to go

Tagovailoa has been begging to throw an interception with some of these throws tonight. He finally tosses one to the wrong team as Terrel Bernard steps in front to take it away. Miami was on the edge of the red zone, but will now need a stop to get the ball back with three minutes to go.

Bills-Dolphins score update: Buffalo back in front after costly penalty

Miami had Buffalo stopped around midfield, but Zach Sieler was flagged for roughing the kicker, and the Bills got a new set of downs. Khalil Shakir ends up making the Dolphins pay with a 15-yard catch-and-run touchdown a few plays later.

Bills 28, Dolphins 21

Bills-Dolphins score update: Tyreek Hill TD for the tie

The Dolphins won’t go quietly into the night. Instead, they might just win this thing. Miami converted a fourth down to begin the quarter and finished the drive off with a touchdown pass to Hill, who promptly celebrates with a few flips. We’re all knotted up at 21 apiece and it’s setting up for a fun finish.

Bills 21, Dolphins 21

End of the third quarter: Bills lead with 15 minutes to go

The third quarter was fairly uneventful, especially after the Bills scored to begin the half. Both defenses have found their game, but Miami has a crucial third down as we get set to begin the fourth.

Teams trading punts in the third quarter

The scoring has slowed down as both teams have failed to gain any traction on offense after the opening drive TD. Miami has the ball back, trailing by seven.

Who is Ryan Fitzpatrick?

Fitzpatrick currently serves as an analyst for Prime Video’s “Thursday Night Football” coverage. A former NFL quarterback, Fitzpatrick was well-traveled throughout his career, making stops with the St. Louis Rams, Cincinnati Bengals, Buffalo Bills, Tennessee Titans, Houston Texans, New York Jets, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Miami Dolphins and the then-Washington Football Team. In other words, he saw plenty of the NFL landscape during his 17 seasons.

Bills-Dolphins score update: James Cook puts Buffalo ahead

The Bills are back on top thanks to a Cook rushing touchdown to open the second half. However, the story is that this game is getting chippy, with a few skirmishes between both teams. That’ll be something to monitor in the second half.

Bills 21, Dolphins 14

Josh Allen stats at halftime

Completions/attempts (%): 11/13 (84.6%)

Passing yards: 97

Passing TDs: 2

INTs: 0

Rating: 137.3

Rush attempts: 1

Rushing yards: 0

Tua Tagovailoa stats at halftime

Completions/attempts (%): 12/18 (66.7%)

Passing yards: 66

Passing TDs: 1

INTs: 0

Rating: 91.4

Rush attempts: 2

Rushing yards: 10

Dalton Kincaid stats at halftime

Catches (Targets): 3 (4)

Receiving yards: 41

Touchdowns: 1

De’Von Achane stats at halftime

Rush attempts: 6

Rushing yards: 35

Catches (Targets): 5 (7)

Receiving yards: 10

Touchdowns: 0

Halftime: All tied up at the break

A silence has fallen over Highmark Stadium heading into the intermission. Miami’s drive to end the half has seemingly shocked everyone associated with the home team as the heavy favorites have work to do in the second half. If Miami’s defense can step up, we’re in for a wild finish.

Bills 14, Dolphins 14

Bills-Dolphins score update: Miami ties it with a Jaylen Waddle TD

Somehow, this game is tied. The Bills have dominated the first half, but that missed field goal from Prater gave the Dolphins some life. They marched 71 yards and cap off the 16-play drive with a touchdown from Waddle to even the score.

Bills 14, Dolphins 14

Matt Prater misses field goal attempt from 39

You thought Buffalo was scoring another touchdown, didn’t you? Yeah, color us surprised as well. Following the first negative play of the game, Prater misses a 39-yard field goal wide left. Very wide left. As in, it never stood a chance.

Dolphins fail to respond again, punt it away

The real Miami Dolphins have joined the program. It’s another three-and-out for McDaniel’s crew and this one had even less action than the last one. The Bills take over at their own 27, looking for a 73-yard touchdown drive to add to the previous two.

Bills-Dolphins score update: Buffalo takes the lead

Aside from one incompletion, the Bills have gained at least one yard on every play. That certainly isn’t a recipe for success for Miami and Buffalo is making it look easy. The rookie, Jackson Hawes, gets in on the action, scoring his first career touchdown to cap off the 63-yard drive.

Bills 14, Dolphins 7

End of first quarter: Buffalo in control despite tied score

The game isn’t over after the first quarter like many expected, but the Bills still haven’t been given a reason to sweat after the first 15 minutes. They are driving for the lead and the Miami defense still hasn’t forced a negative play. It’ll be tough for McDaniel’s team to steal a win if they can’t turn it around soon.

Bills 7, Dolphins 7

Dolphins can’t respond, forced to punt after three-and-out

Miami looked like a different team on their second drive, unable to get anything going. They pick up just seven yards, including two on the ground from Tagovailoa. Many fans were likely holding their breath as the quarterback dove forward to pick up a couple of yards. After the punt, the Bills take over at their own 36.

Bills-Dolphins score update: Dalton Kincaid scores TD

As expected, the Dolphins defense looked like traffic cones on the Bills’ opening drive. It takes just seven plays for Buffalo to drive 70 yards for the score as Kincaid hauls in the 20-yard touchdown to tie things up.

Bills 7, Dolphins 7

Was Tyreek Hill out of bounds?

The Dolphins might’ve scored on their opening drive, but they did appear to benefit from a missed call on third down. Tua Tagovailoa found Tyreek Hill for a first-down reception, but the receiver bobbled the ball. After checking out the replay, it appears Hill only got one foot in bounds. The Bills did not challenge and it ultimately cost them.

Bills-Dolphins score update: Ollie Gordon II’s first career TD puts Miami on top

Well, how about that. No one gave the Dolphins a chance in this game and the Dolphins get the scoring started with a six-minute drive that goes 47 yards before Gordon plunges into the end zone. Buffalo’s defense looked like what we expected from Miami on that opening drive. Not too shabby for Mike McDaniel and company in the early going.

Dolphins 7, Bills 0

What time does Bills vs. Dolphins start?

Date: Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025

Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025 Time: 8:15 p.m. ET

What TV channel is Bills vs. Dolphins on today?

Buffalo market: WKBW

Miami market: WFOR

National viewers will have to stream the matchup on Amazon Prime Video, the home of “TNF.”

Bills vs. Dolphins prediction

This is a prime example of two franchises headed in opposite directions. Buffalo looks like the cream of the crop and is a legitimate Super Bowl contender, while Miami looks like a runaway train. The Dolphins’ offensive line might be bad, but their defense is putrid: The unit allowed 33 points in back-to-back weeks and Buffalo might just double that.

The Bills are running a few impressive streaks: Five straight AFC East titles, 24 games of not losing the turnover battle, and they have won their last eight home matchups vs. Miami. Those streaks will continue tonight.

Buffalo obliterates Miami.

Prediction: Bills 41, Dolphins 13

Bills vs. Dolphins odds, moneyline, over/under

Bills vs. Dolphins injury report

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Bills vs. Dolphins live stream

“Thursday Night Football” is only available to National viewers via streaming on Amazon Prime Video, the home of “TNF.”

Josh Allen arrives for “Thursday Night Football” vs. Dolphins

The reigning NFL MVP arrives for the Bills’ Week 3 matchup and is wearing the second of nine custom hats designed by patients at Buffalo’s Oishei Children’s Hospital. After each home game, his hat will be auctioned off to support the Patricia Allen Fund.

Dolphins inactives vs. Bills

Bills inactives vs. Dolphins

AFC East standings

Buffalo Bills (2-0) New England Patriots (1-1) New York Jets (0-2) Miami Dolphins (0-2)

Is Jaylen Waddle playing tonight?

Waddle is active for tonight’s game against the Bills. He had been listed as questionable with a shoulder injury he suffered in the Week 1 loss against the Colts.

He’s expected to have a full workload tonight.

Which NFL team has the most Super Bowl wins?

The Steelers are tied with the New England Patriots for the most Super Bowl wins with six.

Pittsburgh and Dallas have the unique distinction of playing each other more than any other team combination in Super Bowl history with three matchups.

Super Bowl odds

1. Buffalo Bills (+500)

2. Baltimore Ravens (+550)

3. Green Bay Packers (+650)

4. Philadelphia Eagles (+700)

5. Detroit Lions (+1400)

6. Kansas City Chiefs (+1500)

7. Los Angeles Chargers (+1600)

8. Los Angeles Rams (+1800)

T9. San Francisco 49ers (+2200)

T9. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (+2200)

Josh Allen nose injury

Josh Allen is tweaking his helmet to give his face a little bit of extra protection after a Week 2 injury.

The Buffalo Bills’ quarterback added a visor to his helmet ahead of the team’s practice session on Tuesday. The change comes after Allen suffered an injury to his nose in Week 2’s clash with the New York Jets, when defensive tackle Micheal Clemons’ left hand wacked him in the face as Allen took a sack.

The injury caused Allen to miss about a minute and a half of the first quarter – just two plays. He returned to the game for the start of the second quarter with cotton gauze shoved up his left nostril. – Jack McKessy

2025 NFL MVP odds

Who are the ‘Thursday Night Football’ announcers for Amazon Prime Video?

Al Michaels (play-by-play) and Kirk Herbstreit (analyst) will be in the broadcast booth for Prime Video, with Kaylee Hartung (sideline) and Terry McAulay (rules analyst) providing additional coverage.

The Prime Video pregame, halftime and postgame shows feature Charissa Thompson as host, as well as former NFL players Ryan Fitzpatrick, Tony Gonzalez, Richard Sherman and Andrew Whitworth as analysts.

Taylor Rooks is the feature reporter for Prime Video’s “Thursday Night Football” coverage.

How old is Al Michaels?

Michaels, who is once again serving as the play-by-play voice of Amazon Prime’s “Thursday Night Football,” is 80 years old. He will turn 81 in November and has worked on network sports television since 1971.

NFC West rivals Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers needed extra time to decide who would win “Thursday Night Football” from SoFi Stadium.

In a night defined by prolific offense, it was the 49ers’ defense and its rookies that made the difference.

Rookie safety Marques Sigle stonewalled Rams running back Kyren Williams on fourth-and-1 in overtime to seal a 26-23 win for San Francisco. Williams ended up short of the line to gain and that ended the Rams’ hopes for a game-winning finish to their lone overtime possession.

San Francisco took the upper hand early thanks to a prolific night from backup quarterback Mac Jones. With Brock Purdy still nursing a toe injury, Jones made his third start of the year and started hot. He completed his first eight passes in a row and ended the first half 11-of-13 passing with two touchdowns as the 49ers led 17-7.

San Francisco kicker Eddy Pineiro gave the 49ers a 20-7 lead midway through the third quarter before the Rams’ offense woke up and scored 13 points over two drives. Matthew Stafford’s second half powered one of his best nights of the year. The Rams’ quarterback ended the night completing 30 of 47 passes for 389 yards and three touchdowns.

Expert MLB daily picks: Unique MLB betting insights only at USA TODAY

Pineiro put the 49ers up 23-20 with a 59-yard field goal. On the ensuing Rams drive, another 49ers rookie made a play: defensive tackle Alfred Collins. He forced a Williams fumble before the Rams’ running back crossed the goal line on a long drive and, in doing so, gave the 49ers a chance to ice the game.

But Stafford and the Rams’ offense got the ball back quickly and drove 20 yards in 40 seconds at the end of the fourth quarter to set up Josh Karty for a game-tying field goal. He made it and the game went to overtime tied 23-23.

San Francisco’s offense had its best drive since the first half in overtime and went 37 yards in eight plays to set up a go-ahead field goal by Pineiro. His 41-yard kick caught a slice of the left upright but still went through to give San Francisco a 26-23 lead.

The Rams’ offense went 56 yards in five plays to set up 3rd and 6 from the 49ers’ 16-yard line. After those two timeouts, Sigle made the play to give the depleted 49ers another division win.

San Francisco moves to 4-1 on the season and into first place in the division. The 49ers are on the road again and will face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 6.

Los Angeles moves to 3-2 and head on the road as well in Week 6 and will face the Baltimore Ravens.

Rams vs. 49ers instant takeaways

Return of the Mac? Mac Jones had a career day for the 49ers, throwing for 342 yards and two touchdowns against a young, hungry and talented Rams defense. Jones filled in for an injured Brock Purdy, and did it admirably. There’s no controversy here, but the 49ers and their fans have seen enough from the 2021 first-round pick to feel comfortable with his stopgap performance moving forward.

Mac Jones had a career day for the 49ers, throwing for 342 yards and two touchdowns against a young, hungry and talented Rams defense. Jones filled in for an injured Brock Purdy, and did it admirably. There’s no controversy here, but the 49ers and their fans have seen enough from the 2021 first-round pick to feel comfortable with his stopgap performance moving forward. COTY Kyle? Kyle Shanahan picking up the win against the Rams with a depleted team is another feather in the cap for the coach. If this team can get, and stay, healthy, then they may find their way to another NFC championship game.

Kyle Shanahan picking up the win against the Rams with a depleted team is another feather in the cap for the coach. If this team can get, and stay, healthy, then they may find their way to another NFC championship game. Los Angeles rammed: The Rams have losses to the 49ers and the Eagles this season, presumably two teams who they’ll have to battle for en route to the playoffs or in the playoffs. While they were competitive, if Sean McVay wants to put a second ring on his fingers, then they’ll have to take care of business against the Ravens, Buccaneers, Seahawks and Lions the rest of the way.

Rams vs. 49ers highlights

Mac Jones stats vs. Rams

Mac Jones had a career day vs. the Los Angeles Rams.

Competions/Attempts: 33/49

33/49 Passing yards: 342

342 Touchdowns: 2

2 Passer rating: 100.9

100.9 Interceptions: 0

0 Sacks: 1

Rams go for it on fourth-and-1, stopped by 49ers

After a timeout to think it over, the Rams opted to run on fourth-and-1, rather than kick the game-tying field goal. That turned out to be the wrong decision, with the 49ers D stopping him short of the first down, securing the win.

Rams vs. 49ers score: Eddy Pineiro puts Niners ahead

The 49ers struck first in overtime, with Eddy Pineiro putting San Francisco three points ahead on the Rams courtesy of a field goal. The Rams have a chance to tie or take the win on this ensuing possession.

49ers 26, Rams 23

Rams vs. 49ers score: Josh Karty hits 48-yarder to

After the Rams stopped the 49ers and forced them to punt, Matthew Stafford put the offense in position to kick a game-tying field goal with seconds left in the game. Karty came through, sending the game to OT.

49ers 23, Rams 23

Kyren Williams fumbles one one-yard line, 49ers recover

The Rams were threatening just yards from pay dirt, but a Kyren Williams fumble on the one-yard line led to a San Francisco recovery with 1:03 left in the game. The Rams have all three timeouts remaining.

49ers vs. Rams score: Eddy Pineiro puts San Francisco ahead

A 59-yard boot from the San Francisco kicker puts the Niners ahead with 2:52 left in the game.

49ers 23, Rams 20

Kendrick Bourne stats

The 49ers wide receiver, reunited with Kyle Shanahan and Mac Jones, has 10 receptions for 142 yards vs. the Rams. That’s a career high for the wideout.

Stafford nearly intercepted, Rams punt for first time in second half

Matthew Stafford fired a pass Davante Adams’ way on third-and-1 from the Rams’ 39-yard line and the pass was nearly picked off by 49ers linebacker Dee Winters. The Rams settled for their first punt since the first quarter and pinned the 49ers’ offense at their own 2-yard line.

San Francisco takes over with 8:04 to go in the game.

49ers go three-and-out, punt back to Rams once again

Los Angeles held San Francisco to just two yards on three plays as Mac Jones’ third-down pass falls incomplete intended for former Ram Demarcus Robinson. Thomas Morstead’s punt puts the Rams back on offense at their own 30-yard line with 9:11 to go in the game.

49ers vs. Rams score: Rams tie game on Kyren Williams TD

Los Angeles got a crucial third-down conversion near midfield and then went 50 yards in two plays to get deep into the red zone. Matthew Stafford connected with Kyren Williams from eight yards out on second-and-goal to tie the game.

Rams kicker Josh Karty missed the extra point after it was blocked by Jordan Elliott and the game is tied with 10:39 left in the fourth quarter.

Rams tackle McCaffrey for loss to force punt

Christian McCaffrey was stopped three yards behind the line of scrimmage on third-and-1 by Rams linebacker Nate Landman. San Francisco punted for just the second time tonight and the Rams will take over on their own 12-yard line with 14:03 to go in the game.

49ers vs. Rams score: San Francisco holds lead entering fourth quarter

The 49ers offense made a crucial fourth-down conversion at their own 36-yard line to extend their sixth drive of the night. San Francisco will face 3rd and 1 to open the fourth quarter from their own 47-yard line.

Rams vs. 49ers score: Puka Nacua dives across goal line for TD

Los Angeles moved the ball quickly down the field following the Pineiro field goal to respond with points of their own. The Rams went 69 yards in seven plays and less than three minutes of game time to score on a one-yard strike from Matthew Stafford to Puka Nacua.

Josh Karty’s extra point is good and the Rams have cut it to a one-score game once again with 3:45 left in the third quarter.

49ers 20, Rams 14

Rams vs. 49ers score: Pineiro FG extends 49ers’ lead

San Francisco went 55 yards in 12 plays to score their first points of the second half. Quarterback Mac Jones was slow to get up after third-and-goal from the Rams’ 2-yard line. Eddy Pineiro made his second field goal of the night to make it a 13-point game with 6:13 left in the third quarter.

49ers 20, Rams 7

49ers QB depth chart

With Mac Jones hobbled, here’s a quick look at the QBs suited up for “Thursday Night Football”:

Mac Jones

Adrian Martinez

Mac Jones hurts knee on third-and-goal

The 49ers’ starting quarterback tonight went down hard after releasing a throw toward Jake Tonges on third-and-goal. He was grabbing at his knee after Jared Verse landed on him but eventually jogged off the field.

Mac Jones injury

The former first-round pick started two games earlier this season for the 49ers before missing Week 4 against Jacksonville with a knee injury. He aggravated a PCL injury he suffered during the offseason and had to miss a week, leaving starter Brock Purdy as the best option in the 49ers’ loss to the Jaguars.

Josh Karty misses 53-yard FG

Los Angeles took the opening kick of the second half and went 28 yards in six plays, culminating in a dropped pass by running back Kyren Williams. Josh Karty missed wide right from 53 yards out and the San Francisco offense will get the ball back with 12:46 to go in the third quarter.

Rams vs. 49ers score: Eddy Pineiro gives San Francisco two-score lead at half

San Francisco’s offense marched 48 yards in 11 plays over two minutes to move the 49ers into scoring range. With two seconds left in the first half, kicker Eddy Pineiro knocked through a 37-yard field goal to give San Francisco a 10-point lead.

Los Angeles will receive the second-half kickoff.

49ers 17, Rams 7

49ers defensive coordinator

The 49ers defensive coordinator is Robert Saleh. Saleh rejoined the 49ers this offseason after his unsuccessful tenure with the Jets between 2021 and 2024. He was fired by the Jets in 2024 and spent time on the Packers sidelines the same season.

Saleh previously coached the 49ers defense between 2017 and 2020.

49ers vs. Rams score: Kyren Williams gets LA on the board

Los Angeles converted a key third-and-4 from their own 32 on a Matthew Stafford pass to rookie Terrance Ferguson. Stafford’s next three passes went for 47 yards as the Rams scored from 14 yards out on a pass to Williams.

Josh Karty’s extra point is good and the Rams have made it a one-score game with 2:09 to go in the first half.

49ers 14, Rams 7

49ers coaching staff

Head coach: Kyle Shanahan

Defensive coordinator: Robert Saleh

Offensive coordinator: Klay Kubiak

Rams defense forces 49ers’ first punt of the game

San Francisco couldn’t capitalize on the fumble recovery as Mac Jones didn’t connect with Kendrick Bourne on 3rd and 5 from the Rams’ 48. Thomas Morstead’s punt gives Los Angeles the ball back on their own 15-yard line with 6:11 to go in the first half.

Blake Corum fumbles, 49ers take over

Rams running back Blake Corum couldn’t hold on to Matthew Stafford’s pitch on first-and-10 and the San Francisco defense capitalizes. Defensive end Trevis Gipson fell on it to end the Rams’ latest drive and give the ball back to San Francisco’s offense.

Mac Jones and company will take over with 8:51 to go in the first half on their own 30-yard line.

Mac Jones stats

The San Francisco 49ers’ backup is dealing to start “Thursday Night Football” tonight. Jones completed his first eight passes in a row and now sits at 11 of 13 passing (84.6%) for 131 yards and two touchdowns.

Rams vs. 49ers score: Christian McCaffrey finds end zone

San Francisco’s star running back scored a touchdown for the third time in four weeks to cap off the 49ers’ second drive of the game. Quarterback Mac Jones found him from one yard out on 2nd and goal to give the 49ers a two-touchdown lead. Eddy Pineiro’s extra point is good to seal the 14-point lead.

Los Angeles takes over on its own 30-yard line with 13:36 to go in the first half.

49ers 14, Rams 0

Rams-49ers score: San Francisco up and threatening and end of 1

San Francisco’s closing in on the red zone for the second time tonight as the first quarter comes to a close. The 49ers’ offense has gone 67 yards in 14 plays – including two crucial fourth-down conversions on short runs by Mac Jones and Brian Robinson Jr.

The 49ers offense is facing 3rd and 9 from the Rams’ 25 when the second quarter begins.

49ers 7, Rams 0

What happened to Nick Bosa?

The 2022 Defensive Player of the Year has been the 49ers’ top pass rusher for the last four years but won’t be back on the field in 2025. He suffered a torn ACL in Week 3 against the Arizona Cardinals and will be out for the remainder of the season.

Bryce Huff sacks Matthew Stafford, Rams punt

With San Francisco down edge rusher Nick Bosa for the rest of the season, the 49ers’ defense is counting on other players to step up in the pass rush. Bryce Huff made a statement early with a sack on Matthew Stafford that pushed the Rams back 11 yards on 2nd and 10.

Los Angeles couldn’t get the yardage back and settled for a punt. San Francisco’s offense will take over again at their own 9-yard line with 6:59 to go in the first quarter.

Rams-49ers score: Mac Jones finds Jake Tonges for first TD

San Francisco used a heavy dose of Christian McCaffrey to power the 49ers’ opening drive; he accounted for 40 yards on five touches (two catches, three carries). But quarterback Mac Jones instead found tight end Jake Tonges wide open in the middle for a six-yard touchdown pass.

Eddy Pineiro’s extra point attempt is good and the 49ers take a 7-0 lead with 10:09 to go in the first quarter.

Mac Jones starts hot

The 49ers quarterback, filling in for an injured Brock Purdy, has started the game 4-for-4 passing for 71 yards.

Rams vs. 49ers kicks off with ‘dirty ball’

Los Angeles won the coin toss and opted to defer to the second half. Rams kicker Josh Karty’s boomed a knuckleball-style kick to start the game and 49ers returner Skyy Moore fumbled it. After it bounced high in the air, Moore corralled it and the 49ers offense started its drive on their own 28 yard line.

49ers vs. Rams kickoff time

Kickoff time: 8:15 p.m. ET

The Rams will host the 49ers for a clash at SoFi Stadium at 8:15 p.m. ET on Thursday, Oct. 2. The game will begin at 5:15 p.m. local time and will mark the second consecutive week NFC West teams have faced off on “Thursday Night Football.”

What channel are the 49ers on?

San Francisco: KTVU (Fox 2)

49ers vs. Rams where to watch

Amazon Prime will broadcast the Rams vs. 49ers matchup in Week 5. The streaming giant owns the rights to the NFL’s “Thursday Night Football” broadcast package and will have its typically crew of Al Michaels (play-by-play), Kirk Herbstreit (game analyst) and Kaylee Hartung (sideline reporter) will be on the call for the game.

NFL fans watching the game nationally will need to have an Amazon Prime subscription to access Thursday’s game. However, the NFL has an arrangement for the viewers in the local markets of each team – Los Angeles and San Francisco – to watch a simulcast of the game on local TV stations.

Below is a look at the local channels that will air the contest:

Los Angeles : KTTV (Fox 11)

: KTTV (Fox 11) San Francisco: KTVU (Fox 2)

Jared Verse stats

The Rams pass rusher is following up a stellar rookie season with an equally impressive start to 2025. Through four games, Verse has 18 pressures, per PFF: Two sacks, five QB hits and 11 hurries. He grades out at a 91.8 overall, and his 91.5 pass-rush grade ranks No. 5 overall in the NFL (minimum 20% of 157 pass-rush snaps).

Colby Parkinson stats

Colby Parkinson’s in his second season as a tight end for the Rams and had his best game of 2025 so far in Los Angeles’ Week 4 win over Indianapolis. The former Seahawk caught both of his targets for 17 yards.

49ers record 2025

The 49ers are 3-1 on the season and are tied for first in the NFC West.

Rams inactives vs. 49ers

No surprises for the Rams as they enter their divisional matchup with the 49ers.

QB Stetson Bennett IV

TE Tyler Higbee

OL Rob Havenstein

OL Beaux Limmer

DE Desjuan Johnson

49ers inactives vs. Rams

The 49ers will be without quarterback Brock Purdy, as he continues to work his way back from a turf toe injury. Here are the rest of the inactives for the game tonight:

QB Brock Purdy

RB Jordan James

WR Jordan Watkins

WR Ricky Pearsall

WR Jauan Jennings

DL Robert Beal

LB Nick Martin

Los Angeles Rams vs. San Francisco 49ers predictions, picks

All six members of USA TODAY Sports’ expert picks panel believe the Rams will beat the 49ers on “TNF.” Below are their projected scores for the contest:

Jarrett Bell : Rams 31, 49ers 24

: Rams 31, 49ers 24 Nick Brinkerhoff : Rams 27, 49ers 23

: Rams 27, 49ers 23 Chris Bumbaca : Rams 27, 49ers 18

: Rams 27, 49ers 18 Nate Davis : Rams 31, 49ers 23

: Rams 31, 49ers 23 Tyler Dragon : Rams 24, 49ers 20

: Rams 24, 49ers 20 Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz: Rams 31, 49ers 17

2025 Los Angeles Rams schedule

Los Angeles Rams record 2025

The Rams are 3-1 on the season and are tied for first place in the NFC West.

2025 San Francisco 49ers schedule

J.J. McCarthy’s starting debut for the Minnesota Vikings looked like it would be of the inauspicious variety.

Then came the fourth quarter, at which point McCarthy reminded everyone of why the Vikings were confident letting Sam Darnold walk in free agency.

McCarthy and the Vikings scored 21 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to stun the Bears in a 27-24 victory. McCarthy led three consecutive touchdown drives, throwing the first two touchdowns of his career to Justin Jefferson and Aaron Jones before taking the final score in himself.

McCarthy finished the game completing 13 of 20 passes for 143 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. He also ran for 25 yards and a touchdown on his lone scramble.

Meanwhile, the Bears got off to a strong start to the Ben Johnson era when Caleb Williams led a touchdown drive to open the game. But following that, the Bears went 10 drives without finding the end zone again. They didn’t get another offensive touchdown until their final drive, at which point Chicago was trailing by 10 points.

Expert MLB daily picks: Unique MLB betting insights only at USA TODAY

That will leave Johnson wanting to find more consistency as he heads into his second game as the Bears coach against his former team, the Detroit Lions.

USA TODAY Sports tracked the action from Monday night’s Bears vs. Vikings game. Below is a look at the highlights and notable moments from the contest.

Final score: Vikings 27, Bears 24

Bears force 3-and-out, trail with no timeouts remaining

The Vikings have six 3-and-outs in the game but this one was productive as they ran the clock down to 16 seconds before punting the ball away.

Chicago takes over with 9 seconds remaining on its own 20.

Caleb Williams throws first TD pass of 2025 to Rome Odunze, Bears trail 27-24

The Bears quickly drove down the field in 51 seconds, resulting in a 1-yard touchdown grab by second-year wideout Rome Odunze. Big chunk plays on the drive came in the form of an acrobatic Cole Kmet catch for 31 yards and later a 15-yard roughing the passer penalty on Ivan Pace Jr. which set up the Bears on the goal line.

The Bears are down three after Cairo Santos nailed the extra point, and they have one timeout remaining with 2:02 to go in the fourth quarter.

Vikings 27, Bears 24

Vikings score TD on third consecutive possession, extend lead

Minnesota drove 68 yards for a touchdown on its third straight possession in the fourth quarter. The Vikings had the ball up three and were attempting to run more time off the clock but they pushed the ball down the field behind Jordan Mason and Aaron Jones.

J.J. McCarthy scores the first rushing touchdown of his career and the Vikings have 21 unanswered points. The Bears trail by 10 with 2:53 to go in the fourth quarter.

Vikings 27, Bears 17

Vikings partially block Bears punt midway through fourth quarter

The Vikings defense has buttoned up in the second half. Brian Flores’ unit has stopped the Bears on six consecutive third downs, including a third-and-14 on Chicago’s most recent drive.

Then, Minnesota’s special teams got in on the action with Eric Wilson partially blocking a punt.

The Vikings have the ball up three and can potentially run more time off the clock as they nurse a 3-point lead.

J.J. McCarthy tosses second TD to Aaron Jones, gives Vikings lead

For the first time in the 2025 NFL season, the Vikings have a lead. After Tyrique Stevenson was whistled for a controversial pass interference penalty, McCarthy found his running back Jones wide open for an easy touchdown toss.

McCarthy then found Adam Thielen on the ensuing 2-point conversion to give the Vikings a 3-point fourth-quarter lead.

Vikings 20, Bears 17

Bears go 3-and-out, Vikings sack Caleb Williams for first time

Following Minnesota’s first touchdown of the season, Javon Hargrave sacked Caleb Williams on the first snap of the Bears’ ensuing drive. Chicago could not gain the yardage back on the next two plays and were forced to punt.

Myles Price managed to bring the ball back 22 yards, setting up the Vikings in excellent field position at the 50-yard line.

J.J. McCarthy connects with Justin Jefferson for first NFL TD pass

The first three quarters were forgettable for McCarthy, but the Vikings finally found the end zone for the first time in 2025 early in the fourth quarter. Jordan Mason gained 30 yards on the ground before McCarthy connected with Justin Jefferson for a 13-yard touchdown. Jefferson was quiet with just one reception entering the fourth quarter, but he added a 17-yard grab earlier in the drive.

Minnesota’s two-point conversion failed but the Vikings showed signs of life with 12:13 to go in the fourth quarter.

Bears 17, Vikings 12

Cairo Santos misses 50-yard field goal attempt outside the right upright

The Bears enjoyed a quality drive toward the end of the third quarter, but it was stalled by an offensive holding penalty, which forced Chicago to settle for a long-range field goal attempt.

Santos came on to attempt the 50-yard kick and missed it outside to the right upright. The Bears hold an 11-point lead with Minnesota taking over at its own 47.

Bears 17, Vikings 6

End of third quarter: Bears hold 17-6 lead, in field goal range to open fourth quarter

The Bears methodically moved the ball down the field on their most recent drive, leaning on D’Andre Swift and the running game. Swift rushed five times for 32 yards on the drive before a holding call by right tackle Darnell Wright stalled the drive in Vikings territory.

Chicago faced a third-and-30 but Williams connected with Olamide Zaccheaus to get the Bears into field goal range as time expired in the third.

Adam Thielen drop leads to another 3-and-out for Minnesota

The Vikings veteran wide receiver, Adam Thielen, failed to make a catch on third and short that would have given the Vikings and J.J. McCarthy a first down. The pass was broken up by Tyrique Stevenson.

Minnesota punted the ball back to Chicago who take over at its own 24.

Bears second drive after halftime stalls, forced to punt

Caleb Williams connected with DJ Moore for 22 yards but then failed to move the ball further down the field. Notably, rookie Luther Burden made his first NFL catch on the drive, but he went three yards backwards on the grab.

Chicago punted the ball back to Minnesota, who will take over on its own 23-yard line.

Vikings go 3-and-out after J.J. McCarthy sacked again

Two things have plagued McCarthy in his NFL debut above all else: sacks and delay of game penalties. He had one of each on the drive following his pick-6, which allowed the Bears to easily stop the Vikings and force another punt.

The Vikings now have five 3-and-outs and have not shown much rhythm on offense throughout the game.

Nahshon Wright intercepts J.J. McCarthy, returns it for TD

McCarthy made a big mistake on a third-and-long in field goal range. He tried to force the ball to Justin Jefferson, and it was picked off by Wright, who had a clear lane to take it 74 yards for a touchdown.

Cairo Santos makes the extra point to extend Chicago’s lead to 11 points.

Bears 17, Vikings 6

Dayo Odeyingbo flagged for roughing the passer

The Bears got good pressure on J.J. McCarthy to open the second half, but Odeyingbo hit McCarthy a fraction of a step late and high after the quarterback delivered an incompletion. That resulted in a 15-yard penalty that put the Vikings in field goal range.

Bears open second half with 3-and-out after three straight Caleb Williams incompletions

The Bears could not start the second half the same way they did the first. Ben Johnson’s squad came out of the locker room and dialed up three consecutive passing plays. None were completed, so Chicago punted the ball back to Minnesota.

Myles Price, an undrafted rookie returner, managed to bring the ball back 21 yards, setting up the Vikings in great field position at Chicago’s 49-yard line.

Caleb Williams stats at halftime

Williams has been the better of the two quarterbacks through two quarters. The second-year quarterback completed 13 of 16 passes for 112 yards, which included a stretch of 10 consecutive completions to start the game. He has a passer rating of 95.8 at the half.

Williams has also made plays with his legs, adding 32 yards and a touchdown on four carries. Impressively, he has not been sacked once after leading the league in that category last season (68).

J.J. McCarthy stats at halftime

McCarthy has had an up-and-down start to his first NFL game. The first-year starter has completed 5 of 8 passes for 48 yards while adding 11 yards on one scramble.

McCarthy has been sacked twice but hasn’t turned the ball over. He has a 79.2 passer rating at the half.

Halftime score update: Bears lead Vikings 10-6

The Bears and Vikings are engaged in a grind-it-out defensive showdown on “Monday Night Football.” Chicago scored a touchdown on its first offensive drive, but since then, the teams have largely traded field goals and punts.

Caleb Williams has enjoyed a quality first half for the Bears and is looking comfortable in Ben Johnson’s offensive system. Meanwhile, J.J. McCarthy got off to a slow start to his debut but managed to complete a 28-yard strike to Jalen Nailor just before halftime to set up Minnesota’s final score.

The Bears will get the ball after halftime, looking to build upon their lead and find the end zone for the second time.

Will Reichard nails 59-yard field goal, setting new career-long

The Vikings didn’t have much time to get into field goal range after the Bears scored, but J.J. McCarthy managed to find Jalen Nailor for a 28-yard gain. That positioned Reichard for a 59-yard field goal attempt, which he made.

Reichard’s field goal tied the record for the longest ever made at Soldier Field. The Vikings are now trailing by just 4 with 6 seconds remaining in the first half.

Bears 10, Vikings 6

Cairo Santos sneaks 42-yard field goal inside right upright

The Bears enjoyed a quality drive toward the end of the first half, but a nice tackle by Vikings cornerback Byron Murphy Jr. on wide receiver Rome Odunze forced Chicago to settle for a mid-range field goal attempt.

Santos came on to attempt the 42-yard kick and kept it inches inside the right upright. The Bears now have a 7-point lead with 24 seconds left in the first half.

Bears 10, Vikings 3

Vikings punt it back to Bears

The last three possessions of this “Monday Night Football” clash have all ended with punts. The latest saw the Vikings kick it back to the Bears after they lost 9 yards thanks to a couple of penalties and J.J. McCarthy incompletions.

Vikings force Bears punt for second time

Caleb Williams had about as impressive of a 2-yard scramble as you’ll see on third down, but it wasn’t enough for Chicago to move the chains. The Bears punted the ball back to the Vikings as a result.

Minnesota will now look to mount a second scoring drive, trailing 7-3 with 5:52 left in the first half.

Vikings go 3-and-out again after Justin Jefferson stopped short of first down

Minnesota could not capitalize on Chicago’s inability to convert on fourth down. J.J. McCarthy hit a couple of short passes to Aaron Jones and Justin Jefferson, but the latter was stopped short of the line to gain on third down.

Ryan Wright’s punt went just 32 yards, setting up the Bears with good field position at their own 35-yard line.

Bears go for it on fourth-and-3, fail to convert

The Detroit Lions were one of the most aggressive teams when it came to going for it on fourth down during Ben Johnson’s time there. He carried over that trend to his first game as Bears coach.

However, Chicago couldn’t convert the fourth-and-3. Caleb Williams overthrew an open DJ Moore beyond the sticks, resulting in an incompletion and a turnover on downs.

Where is Sam Darnold playing?

Darnold is playing for the Seattle Seahawks. He signed a three-year deal with the Seahawks in free agency. The Vikings let him walk to allow J.J. McCarthy to take over as the team’s starting quarterback.

Vikings get on board with 31-yard field goal

J.J. McCarthy has led the first scoring drive of his NFL career. The Vikings couldn’t punch in a touchdown, but Will Reichard made a chip shot, 31-yard field goal with ease to cut Minnesota’s deficit to 4 points.

McCarthy had a nice 11-yard scramble on the drive, but the biggest play was a 42-yard pass interference penalty running back Aaron Jones drew on Bears cornerback Nahshon Wright.

Bears 7, Vikings 3

End of first quarter: Bears hold early 7-0 lead in Ben Johnson’s debut

So far, so good for Johnson. The Bears scored a touchdown on his first drive as the team’s coach, and Caleb Williams has looked a lot more comfortable than he did at any point during his rookie season.

Williams completed all nine of his passes in the first quarter for 56 yards. More impressively, he ran for 21 yards and a touchdown on two carries, finding plenty of running room behind his improved offensive line.

Meanwhile, his opponent and fellow 2024 draftee J.J. McCarthy completed his only passing attempt in the quarter but was sacked twice on two 3-and-outs to open the game. The 22-year-old is making his first-ever NFL start, so it may take time for him to settle into his new role.

Bears forced to punt after Rome Odunze tackled for loss on screen pass

Caleb Williams continued to make plays both on the ground and through the air on Chicago’s second drive, but he had his worst throw of the day on a third-and-2. He threw a quick screen to Odunze, but the pass was behind the receiver, who had to adjust to it and go to the ground to make the catch.

Odunze was quickly touched down, and the Bears punted the ball back to the Vikings with less than a minute remaining in the first quarter.

Who was the Vikings quarterback last year?

Sam Darnold was the Vikings quarterback last season. He started all 17 games for Minnesota in 2024 and led them to a 14-3 record. He posted a career-best 66.2% completion rate, 4,319 yards, 35 touchdowns and 12 interceptions and made the Pro Bowl for the first time in his career.

Darnold signed with the Seattle Seahawks in free agency after the Vikings decided to make J.J. McCarthy, their first-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, their starting quarterback.

J.J. McCarthy sacked for second time as Vikings go 3-and-out again

For the second consecutive possession, the Vikings have been forced to punt because of a third-down sack of McCarthy. This time, the first-year starter tried to scramble into an open lane but was tripped up and failed to make it back to the line of scrimmage.

The Bears will get the ball back on their own 25-yard line with a 7-point lead.

What does ‘VMH’ stand for on Bears jersey?

The Bears added the “VMH” jersey patch to pay tribute to their former owner Virginia Halas McCaskey, who died in February at the age of 102.

Caleb Williams scrambles 9 yards for first NFL rushing TD

Williams did not have a rushing touchdown during his first NFL season. His first score of the 2025 campaign saw him run to his left and power through a Jeff Okudah hit to get the Bears on the board.

Williams went 6 of 6 passing for 51 yards on the first drive as well. Cairo Santos makes the extra point to give the Bears an early 7-0 lead.

Bears 7, Vikings 0

Bears hold Vikings to three-and-out to open the game

J.J. McCarthy’s first NFL drive ended with a sack by Gervon Dexter Sr. McCarthy completed a pass to Josh Oliver on second down, but Chicago’s defense came up with the stop on third down to force the game’s first punt.

What time is the Bears vs. Vikings game tonight?

Start time: 8:15 p.m. ET (7:15 p.m. CT)

The Bears vs. Vikings matchup is scheduled to kick off at 8:15 p.m. ET. The Vikings travel to Soldier Field in Chicago to face off against their divisional foe.

What TV channel is the Bears vs. Vikings game?

TV channel: ESPN

ESPN is the broadcast home of “Monday Night Football.” Joe Buck and Troy Aikman have the call, with Lisa Salters patrolling the sidelines.

Bears vs. Vikings odds, moneyline, O/U

Bears vs. Vikings prediction

Week 1 has delivered an abundance of entertainment and the show could be starting in Chicago with Ben Johnson in town. The Bears have the prized head coach now to pair with their prized No. 1 overall pick, Caleb Williams. Meanwhile, the Vikings are coming off a 14-3 season but J.J. McCarthy is making his NFL debut.

Chicago made incredible strides in improving its personnel this offseason most notably in the trenches where games are won and lost. It’s time to believe in the product. Minnesota will be without No. 2 wide receiver Jordan Addison tonight because of a suspension, and his absence will be notable because Chicago’s defense will key in on Justin Jefferson. Chicago shows us they are ready for prime time. – Tom Viera

Prediction: Bears 24, Vikings 20

Bears vs. Vikings live stream

Live stream: Fubo | ESPN+

Cord-cutters looking for a live stream for the matchup can turn to Fubo. Fubo carries NBC, as well as CBS, FOX, NFL Network and the ESPN family of networks, meaning you can catch NFL action through the remainder of the season.

ESPN+, the proprietary streaming service of ESPN, will also carry the game.

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Which NFL team has the most Super Bowl wins?

The Steelers are tied with the New England Patriots for the most Super Bowl wins with six.

Pittsburgh and Dallas have the unique distinction of playing each other more than any other team combination in Super Bowl history with three matchups.

NFC North standings

Green Bay Packers (1-0) Minnesota Vikings (0-0) Chicago Bears (0-0) Detroit Lions (0-1)

NFL Week 1 final scores

Thursday, Sept. 4

Philadelphia Eagles 24, Dallas Cowboys 20

Friday, Sept. 5

Los Angeles Chargers 27, Kansas City Chiefs 21

Sunday, Sept. 7

Las Vegas Raiders 20 , New England Patriots 13

, New England Patriots 13 Pittsburgh Steelers 34 , New York Jets 32

, New York Jets 32 Tampa Bay Buccaneers 23 , Atlanta Falcons 20

, Atlanta Falcons 20 Indianapolis Colts 33 , Miami Dolphins 8

, Miami Dolphins 8 Arizona Cardinals 20 , New Orleans Saints 13

, New Orleans Saints 13 Washington Commanders 21 , New York Giants 6

, New York Giants 6 Cincinnati Bengals 17 , Cleveland Browns 16

, Cleveland Browns 16 Jacksonville Jaguars 26 , Carolina Panthers 10

, Carolina Panthers 10 San Francisco 49ers 17 , Seattle Seahawks 13

, Seattle Seahawks 13 Green Bay Packers 27 , Detroit Lions 13

, Detroit Lions 13 Los Angeles Rams 14 , Houston Texans 9

, Houston Texans 9 Denver Broncos 20 , Tennessee Titans 12

, Tennessee Titans 12 Buffalo Bills 41, Baltimore Ravens 40

Bears inactives vs. Vikings

Vikings inactives vs. Bears

Caleb Williams has arrived for ‘Monday Night Football’ vs. Vikings

The 2024 No. 1 overall pick arrived at Soldier Field wearing a jersey of Bears legend Brian Urlacher.

J.J. McCarthy arrives for his NFL debut

Justin Jefferson arrives for ‘Monday Night Football’ in style

Perennial contender for Offensive Player of the Year, Justin Jefferson, has arrived at Soldier Field before kickoff of his sixth NFL season.

NFL MVP odds 2025

Ben Johnson has arrived for Bears debut

Chicago has a new coaching staff in 2025, headlined by Ben Johnson, who makes his way onto the field for his NFL head coaching debut on “Monday Night Football.”

WR Adam Thielen is back in Vikings uniform

Adam Thielen takes a pay cut with Vikings

Thielen was originally set to play the 2025 NFL season on a one-year, $8.5 million restructured contract he inked with the Panthers during the offseason, per Spotrac.com. The deal provided the 35-year-old an opportunity to earn an additional $4 million, which were tied to receiving yards, receptions and playoff results. Tom Pelissero reports Thielen agreed to reduce his salary by $2 million. He also removed the $4 million in potential incentives from his contract.

The Vikings still have just under $16.2 million in cap space thanks to Thielen’s adjustments. That ranks 13th-most in the NFL, per OverTheCap.com, and positions the team with some flexibility to improve its roster during the 2025 NFL season. – Jacob Camenker

The NFL preseason offers fans a sneak peek into the upcoming season. It’s a chance for teams to fine-tune their game plans and get ready for the season ahead. Here’s all you need to know about Week 3 of the NFL preseason schedule, including dates, times, and TV channels (all times Eastern).

2025 NFL Preseason Schedule and Scores

Week 3 Schedule

Thursday, Aug 21

Friday, Aug 22

Saturday, Aug 23

Aaron Rodgers not playing in Preseason, Will the Steelers start the season strong? | The Herd Colin Cowherd said that he’s “okay” with Aaron Rodgers not playing in the preseason. He discusses Mike Tomlin being “comfortable” with what he sees out of Rodgers, and if the Steelers can start off strong this season.

Week 2 Scores

2025 Pro Football Hall of Fame Game

Week 1 Scores

When did the 2025 NFL Preseason start?

The 2025 NFL Preseason began with the Pro Football Hall of Fame Game on Thursday, July 31st at 8 p.m. ET. The Los Angeles Chargers faced off against the Detroit Lions at the Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, OH.

Where can I watch the NFL Preseason? What channel will it be on?

The majority of NFL preseason games air on each team’s local TV affiliate network. Five other national broadcasts will appear on FOX, Amazon Prime Video, CBS, ESPN and NBC.

Many games will also be available on NFL Network.

How can I stream the NFL Preseason or watch without cable?

FOX games can be streamed on FoxSports.com or the FOX Sports app. You can also stream games on other channels with services such as YouTube TV or Fubo TV.

All games not on national TV will stream live on NFL+ for out-of-market fans who want access to exclusive live games that are not being aired in their local area.

How can I watch the NFL Preseason for free?

If you have an over-the-air antenna that picks up your local channels, you can watch games on FOX, NBC or CBS for free.

How many games does each team play in the NFL Preseason?

In 2021, the number of preseason games for each NFL team went from four to three as the regular season schedule increased from 16 to 17 games.

What are the NFL Preseason standings?