Houston Texans win over Jaguars
Houston team take a 9-1 record into their next game in Detroit after holding on in thriller
Andre Johnson scored a touchdown on a 48-yard pass as the Houston Texans beat the Jacksonville Jaguars 43-37 in overtime for their fourth consecutive NFL success.
Houston kicker Shayne Graham booted a 25-yard field goal in the Texans' first overtime possession but the Jaguars' Josh Scobee answered with a 33-yard field goal kick of his own to keep the game going.
"Obviously, we struggled today," Houston coach Gary Kubiak said. "We gave up a lot of big plays defensively, we turned the ball over offensively, but we kept battling and we found a way to win the game another way."
The Jaguars had an opportunity to win when Derek Cox intercepted quarterback Matt Schaub and returned the ball to the Texans' 47.
But Jacksonville were unable to get the ball into the end zone. With just over 2-1/2 minutes remaining in the overtime, they decided to go for the win, opting not to punt on fourth-and-10.
Jacksonville quarterback Chad Henne's pass was incomplete, giving Houston the ball. Schaub ended it soon after with a pass to Johnson who raced down the sideline for the winning score with just two minutes to play.
Johnson finished with 14 catches for 273 yards, while Schaub threw for a career-high 527 yards with five touchdowns.
Houston now take a 9-1 record into their next game on the US Thanksgiving holiday on Thursday in Detroit.
New England quarterback Tom Brady threw two of his three touchdown passes to Rob Gronkowski as the Patriots routed the Indianapolis Colts 59-24.
Brady completed 24-of-35 passes for 331 yards, while Stevan Ridley and Shane Vereen each ran for fourth-quarter scores in the one-sided victory. It marked the fourth straight win for the Patriots.
Colts' rising star Andrew Luck compiled 334 passing yards and threw two touchdowns to T.Y. Hilton. However, the Indianapolis rookie also tossed three interceptions, two of which were returned for touchdowns.
"[I'm] disappointed in myself for committing four turnovers on my part and two of those went for immediate touchdowns," Luck said.
In the late game, Jacoby Jones returned a punt 63 yards for a touchdown, and the Baltimore Ravens defeated the Ben Roethlisberger-less Pittsburgh Steelers 13-10.
Joe Flacco had 164 yards on 20-of-32 passing for the Ravens, who have won 12 straight games against divisional opponents.
In Detroit, Aaron Rodgers had two touchdown passes as the Green Bay Packers beat the Lions 24-20 in an NFC North contest.
"We just had to have this win," Rodgers said. "We knew it was a struggle and we didn't play our best on offence. But when we needed it, everyone came through and this is a big one."
Robert Griffin threw for 200 yards and included a career-high four touchdowns as the Washington Redskins were too strong for the struggling NFC East rivals Philadelphia 31-6.
In other games, Dallas beat Cleveland 23-20 in overtime, the New York Jets beat St Louis 27-13, Cincinnati beat Kansas City 28-6, Atlanta beat Arizona 23-19, Tampa Bay beat Carolina 27-21 in overtime, New Orleans beat Oakland 38-17 and Denver beat San Diego 30-23.
