Cody Kessler, already the third quarterback to start for the Browns this season, was knocked out of the game with chest and rib injuries late in the first quarter when he was drilled by Patriots linebacker Dont’a Hightower.

The Minnesota Vikings sprinted to a big early lead, and played their evolving brand of smothering defence to remain unbeaten with a 31-13 win over the Houston Texans.

The Vikings (5-0) led 24-0 in the second quarter, putting up points on three of their first four drives, and held Houston to just a pair of field goals until late in the game.

David Johnson powers Arizona Cardinals to much-needed win over San Francisco 49ers

Quarterback Sam Bradford completed 22 of 30 passes for 271 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions.

Houston (3-2) failed to find a rhythm with quarterback Brock Osweiler under siege as he was sacked a season-high four times and went 19-of-42 passing with a touchdown and an interception.

Ben Roethlisberger threw four touchdown passes to give himself a Steelers’ all-time best 15 through five games as Pittsburgh shut out the New York Jets in the second half of a 31-13 victory.

Roethlisberger, nearly error-free until losing a fumble in the fourth quarter, went 34-of-47 for 380 yards and no interceptions.

Minnesota Vikings deny Odell Beckham Jr and mystify Eli Manning in 24-10 win over New York Giants

He hit 14 consecutive passes at one point during the second half, as the Steelers (4-1) came back from an early 13-7 deficit to win their seventh in a row at home.

Matt Prater kicked a 29-yard field goal with 1:28 remaining as the Detroit Lions rallied back after giving away a 14-point lead to edge the previously unbeaten Philadelphia Eagles 24-23, while Andrew Luck’s 35-yard touchdown pass to TY Hilton with 3:43 remaining proved to be the game-winner in the Indianapolis Colts’ come-from-behind 29-23 victory against the Chicago Bears.

The Washington Redskins’ defence put together its best game of the season to hold Baltimore scoreless in the second half and leading the way for a 16-10 victory over the Ravens, while Marcus Mariota threw three touchdown passes and ran for another as the Tennessee Titans defeated the Miami Dolphins 30-17. The Titans improved to 2-4. Miami, playing without seven starters, fell to 1-4.

The Dallas Cowboys rode their dynamic rookie combo of Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliott past the Cincinnati Bengals 28-14.

Roethlisberger throws five touchdowns as the Pittsburgh Steelers rampage on the Kansas City Chiefs

Prescott and Elliott accounted for four touchdowns as the Cowboys (4-1) won their fourth in the row.

A go-ahead interception by cornerback Nickell Robey-Coleman and a late Tyrod Taylor touchdown pass lifted the Buffalo Bills to a 30-19 road victory over the Los Angeles Rams, while Atlanta quarterback Matt Ryan led five scoring drives against Denver’s vaunted defence as the Falcons won their fourth straight after beating the Broncos 23-16.

Derek Carr threw for 317 yards and two touchdowns, Amari Cooper caught six passes for 138 yards and a score as the Oakland Raiders defeated San Diego 34-31 as the Chargers’ late game woes continued.

And finally, with starting cornerbacks Sam Shields and Damarious Randall inactive, the Green Bay Packers and their 29th ranked pass defence held New the York Giants’ offense in check most of the way en route to a 23-16 win.