San Francisco and Minnesota finished close victories Sunday, while Las Vegas overturned an 11-point second-half deficit to beat New Orleans.
The 49ers beat Arizona 36–30, the Vikings defeated Tampa Bay 23–16 and the Raiders closed out a 35–27 victory over the Saints. All three September 27 results are final.
49ers 36, Cardinals 30 — Final
SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Brock Purdy threw four touchdown passes, including a 20-yard scoring strike to George Kittle with 1:31 remaining, as San Francisco held off Arizona’s second-half comeback.
Kittle’s second touchdown restored a nine-point lead after Jacoby Brissett’s one-yard scoring run had brought the Cardinals within 29–27. Chad Ryland kicked a 49-yard field goal with 34 seconds left, but Arizona finished six points short.
Purdy completed 15 of 27 passes for 297 yards without an interception. Kittle caught six passes for 82 yards and two touchdowns. Christian McCaffrey rushed for 75 yards and a touchdown and added four receptions for 41 yards.
San Francisco’s first touchdown came on an 82-yard catch-and-lateral play: Mike Evans caught Purdy’s pass before pitching to Deebo Samuel Sr., who covered the final 80 yards. Evans also caught a 23-yard touchdown pass.
The 49ers led 23–6 in the third quarter before Brissett threw scoring passes to Michael Wilson and Jeremiyah Love. Brissett finished 38 of 52 for 280 yards, two passing touchdowns and no interceptions. Wilson caught 11 passes for 89 yards, Trey McBride had nine for 75, and Love rushed for 90 yards.
Evans left with a rib injury. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported that he would undergo a full evaluation Monday, according to the league’s injury roundup.
Vikings 23, Buccaneers 16 — Final
TAMPA, Fla. — Will Reichard made two fourth-quarter field goals as Minnesota protected a lead that Tampa Bay had cut to one point.
Reichard connected from 56 yards with 3:10 left and from 43 yards with 33 seconds remaining. Myles Price’s 86-yard punt-return touchdown and Jordan Addison’s 41-yard scoring reception had helped the Vikings build their 17–10 halftime advantage.
Kyler Murray finished 15 of 29 for 168 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Addison caught five passes for 90 yards, while Aaron Jones Sr. rushed for 58 yards and added five catches for 34.
Baker Mayfield completed 17 of 34 passes for 217 yards, a touchdown and an interception and was sacked six times. Emeka Egbuka led Tampa Bay with five catches for 62 yards. Ted Hurst III caught the Buccaneers’ touchdown pass from 40 yards out.
Tampa Bay coach Todd Bowles said Mayfield dislocated his right thumb in the fourth quarter and would undergo an MRI Monday, according to NFL.com’s postgame injury update. Minnesota receiver Justin Jefferson was ruled out with an ankle injury, and Tampa Bay receiver Jalen McMillan left with a knee injury. Their next-game availability remained unresolved.
Raiders 35, Saints 27 — Final
NEW ORLEANS — Kirk Cousins threw fourth-quarter touchdown passes to Cody White and Brock Bowers as Las Vegas answered 14 straight Saints points with 19 unanswered points of its own.
White’s four-yard touchdown with 9:21 left put the Raiders ahead 28–27. Bowers caught another four-yard scoring pass with 6:22 remaining, and Matt Gay’s extra point made the margin eight.
Bowers finished with 10 catches for 116 yards and a touchdown. Cousins completed 22 of 33 passes for 248 yards and three touchdowns without an interception. Mike Washington Jr.’s 36-yard touchdown run had started the comeback late in the third quarter.
Tyler Shough threw four touchdown passes, two apiece to Juwan Johnson and Noah Fant, to give New Orleans a 27–16 lead. The Raiders then regained control. Shough finished 29 of 42 for 250 yards, four touchdowns and an interception; Chris Olave had nine catches for 107 yards.
New Orleans lost a fumble on a Shough sack with 2:21 remaining, then forced a punt. On the Saints’ final possession, Nakobe Dean forced a Juwan Johnson fumble and Eric Stokes recovered. Cousins took two kneel-downs to finish the game.
Raiders coach Klint Kubiak said receiver Jack Bech suffered a broken forearm. Bech is expected to go on injured reserve, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported. Las Vegas lineman Jackson Powers-Johnson (groin) and Saints running back Travis Etienne did not return. The league report did not specify Etienne’s injury.
The Ravens–Cowboys finish is covered in our separate game report.
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This page is an original Sporting Page summary. The reporting remains with ESPN game box scores and scoring summaries.
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