Updated at 8.40am
DAK PRESCOTT’S THREE touchdown passes sparked the Dallas Cowboys to a franchise-record ninth consecutive NFL victory Sunday while New England’s Tom Brady threw four touchdown passes in a triumphant homecoming.
Prescott, a rookie who stepped in for injured Tony Romo and sparked the Cowboys to an NFL-best 9-1 start, completed 27 of 36 passes for 301 yards in a 27-17 home win over Baltimore.
“It means we’ve got a great team who believes in ourselves,” Prescott said of having the NFL’s top record. “We’re not going to flinch. We’re not going to blink.”
Playing a day after attending his father’s funeral, Dez Bryant caught six passes for 80 yards, including two touchdown tosses, while Cole Beasley added a touchdown reception as Dallas kept a two-game edge atop the NFC North division over the New York Giants, who downed Chicago 22-16.
“Been a challenging week for him and he has done a great job maintaining his focus,” Cowboys coach Jason Garrett said of Bryant.
Dallas running back Ezekiel Elliott ran 25 times for 97 yards against the NFL’s top rushing defense to break the Cowboys’ rookie rushing record of 1,007 yards set by Tony Dorsett in 1977.
“It means a lot,” said Elliott, who has an NFL-high 1,102 rushing yards this season, within reach of Eric Dickerson’s all-time NFL rookie rushing mark of 1,808 yards.
The Ravens fell to 5-5 but still share the AFC North division lead with Pittsburgh, which beat winless Cleveland 24-9 to grab a share of the top spot.
Dallas led only 24-17 before a 6 1/2-minute march late in the fourth quarter resulting in a field goal to create the final margin.
“We should beat this team,” Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco said. “We should beat this team and I’m not kidding.”
New England kept pace with the Cowboys in the fight for the NFL’s rest record, improving to 8-2 with a 30-17 triumph at San Francisco in Brady’s first game in the region where he grew up.
Brady completed 24 of 40 passes for 280 yards and four touchdowns while LeGarrette Blount rushed for 124 yards on 19 carries.
Colin Kaepernick completed 16 of 30 passes for 206 yards and two touchdowns for the 49ers (1-9), who matched a club record with their ninth consecutive loss.
Wilson tosses TD, grabs TD
Seattle’s Russell Wilson completed 18 of 31 passes for 272 yards and a touchdown while catching a 15-yard touchdown pass from receiver Doug Baldwin on a trick play in a 26-15 victory over Philadelphia, handing the Eagles a fifth consecutive road defeat.
Kansas City’s five-game overall win streak and 10-game home win streak were snapped by Tampa Bay 19-17. Jameis Winston threw for 331 yards, including a 3-yard touchdown pass to Alan Cross midway into the fourth quarter to put the Buccaneers ahead to stay.
Ryan Tannehill’s 9-yard touchdown pass to DeVante Parker with 36 seconds remaining lifted Miami over host Los Angeles 14-10. Jared Goff, this year’s top pick in the NFL Draft, completed 17 of 31 for 134 yards in his first start for the Rams.
Andre Roberts returned a punt 55 yards for a touchdown and Rafael Bush returned an interception 39 yards for another touchdown as Detroit beat visiting Jacksonville 26-19.
Kirk Cousins completed 21 of 30 passes for 375 yards and three touchdowns while Robert Kelley ran for 137 yards and three touchdowns as Washington ripped Green Bay 42-24 while Andrew Luck’s two touchdown passes helped host Indianapolis down Tennessee 24-17.
Injuries hit Bills, Bengals
Injuries stole the show in Buffalo’s 16-12 win at Cincinnati, with the Bills losing top rusher LeSean McCoy to a left thumb injury and top receiver Robert Woods with a left knee injury and Cincinnati losing receiver A.J. Green with a right hamstring injury and rusher Giovani Bernard with a left knee injury.
Xavier Rhodes returned one of his two interceptions 100 yards for a touchdown while Cordarrelle Patterson began the second half with a 104-yard kickoff return touchdown to spark Minnesota’s 30-24 victory over visiting Arizona.
NFL Results – Sunday’s early games
- Buffalo Bills 16 @ 12 Cincinnati Bengals
- Pittsburgh Steelers 24 @ 9 Cleveland Browns
- Baltimore Ravens 17 @ 27 Dallas Cowboys
- Jacksonville Jaguars 19 @ 26 Detroit Lions
- Tennessee Titans 17 @ 24 Indianapolis Colts
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers 19 @ 17 Kansas City Chiefs
- Arizona Cardinals 24 @ 30 Minnesota Vikings
- Chicago Bears 16 @ 22 NY Giants
- Philadelphia Eagles 15 @ Seattle Seahawks 26
- New England Patriots 30 @ San Francisco 49ers 17
- Green Bay Packers 24 @ Washington 42
