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    Thursday, October 17, 2024

    NFL roundup: Love leads Packers past Lions

    Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love throws during the first half of an NFL football game against the Detroit Lions, Thursday, Nov. 23, 2023, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)
    Green Bay Packers running back AJ Dillon (28) looks for a gap during the second half of an NFL football game against the Detroit Lions, Thursday, Nov. 23, 2023, in Detroit. (AP Photo/David Dermer)
    Dallas Cowboys wide receiver KaVontae Turpin (9) celebrates with running back Tony Pollard (20) after scoring a touchdown against the Washington Commanders during the second half of an NFL football game Thursday, Nov. 23, 2023, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth)
    San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey (23) falls into the endzone for a touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks, Thursday, Nov. 23, 2023, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)

    Packers 29, Lions 22

    Jordan Love set the tone with a 53-yard pass to Christian Watson on the first snap and finished with a career-high-tying three touchdowns, leading Green Bay to a win over NFC North-leading Detroit on Thursday.

    The Packers (5-6) were in control of a game they never trailed, taking advantage of Jared Goff's career-high three fumbles — returning one for a score in the first quarter — and Dan Campbell's aggressiveness on fourth down.

    The Lions (8-3) went for it five times on fourth down and only converted once on the final touchdown drive. One of the failed attempts was a decision to fake a punt with a run from their 23 in the third quarter down by nine points.

    Three plays after the failed fake, Love threw a 16-yard touchdown pass to Watson to give Green Bay a 29-14 lead.

    Goff pulled Detroit within seven points with a 12-yard touchdown pass to Josh Reynolds and 2-point conversion pass to Sam LaPorta with 41 seconds left, but couldn't get any closer four days after rallying from a 12-point deficit in the last few minutes in a comeback win over Chicago.

    The Lions were called for an illegal formation when they attempted an onside kick, a fitting end for them on an afternoon that started poorly and didn't get much better to deflate what was a fired-up crowd.

    Love was 22 of 32 for 268 yards with three touchdowns. He had a career-long 37-yard run on a play designed for him to run on third down late in the fourth quarter to seal the win.

    Rashan Gary led Green Bay's dominant performance on defense by forcing a career-high two fumbles, recovering one of them, and tying a career high with three sacks of Goff on the same field where the former Michigan star tore a knee ligament last season.

    Goff finished 29 of 44 for 332 yards with two touchdowns, including one on a 7-yard pass to LaPorta on Detroit's first drive.

    Cowboys 45, Commanders 10

    DaRon Bland set an NFL record with his fifth interception return for a touchdown this season, Dak Prescott threw four TD passes and Dallas pulled away for a Thanksgiving victory over Washington.

    The Cowboys (8-3) extended their longest home winning streak in 42 years to 13 games. Dallas won 18 in a row at home from 1979-81.

    The Dallas lead going into the fourth quarter was less than two touchdowns for the first time in five home games this season, but the Cowboys ended up tying a 55-year-old franchise record with a seventh victory by at least 20 points this season.

    A Dallas defense that gave up more than 200 yards for the first time in three games stiffened at key points in the second half, stopping the Commanders on fourth down three times.

    Sam Howell threw for 300 yards and had a rushing touchdown, but was sacked at his 24-yard line on fourth down early in the fourth quarter, setting up CeeDee Lamb's touchdown and 2-point conversion catches for a 21-point Dallas lead.

    Washington (4-8) lost for the eighth time in 10 games since a 2-0 start and dropped to 2-9 as the most common Thanksgiving opponent for their NFC East rivals.

    Prescott threw for 331 yards in his fifth consecutive game with at least two TD passes, one shy of his career best. Rico Dowdle, Brandin Cooks and KaVontae Turpin had the other scoring grabs.

    Bland capped a 25-point fourth quarter when he stepped in front of Howell's pass intended for Jahan Dotson and ran free along the Dallas sideline before having to cut back inside to avoid the pursuing Washington quarterback.

    Receiver Terry McLaurin and running back Brian Robinson Jr. were the last hope for a tackle just outside the 10-yard line, but Bland sidestepped both and cruised across the goal line.

    Bland came into the game sharing the NFL record with Philadelphia's Eric Allen (1993), Kansas City's Jim Kearney (1972) and Houston's Ken Houston (1971).

    49ers 31, Seahawks 13

    Christian McCaffrey rushed for 114 yards and two touchdowns in the first half, and San Francisco built a 21-point lead by halftime, rolling to a win over Seattle.

    The 49ers (8-3) won their fourth straight against their division rivals and have a two-game lead over Seattle in the NFC West. San Francisco won its third straight following a three-game losing streak and picked up its 10th straight win against an NFC West opponent.

    McCaffrey was terrific, running through arm tackles and breaking off a handful of big plays. McCaffrey rushed for touchdowns of 8 and 1 yards as the 49ers built a 24-3 halftime advantage.

    Deebo Samuel also ran for a 2-yard touchdown on San Francisco's opening possession and Brock Purdy was nearly flawless in the first half, completing 15 of 20 passes.

    Purdy threw an interception that was returned for a touchdown early in the third quarter, but avoided any other miscues and put a capper on the victory with a 28-yard scoring pass to Brandon Aiyuk with 7:51 left that sent some Seahawks fans headed for the exits.

    Purdy finished 21 of 30 for 209 yards, and while he wasn't perfect like last week against Tampa Bay, he outplayed the quarterback on the other side.

    Seattle's Geno Smith was playing banged up after leaving last Sunday's loss to the Los Angeles Rams in the second half with an injury in his right arm, near his elbow. He'll have more bumps and bruises after the 49ers finished with him.

    Smith was 18 of 27 for 180 yards. He was sacked six times, threw an interception in the first half and nearly had a few more throws picked off. The Seahawks' first five possessions gained 15 total yards, and when Seattle tried to rally in the second half, Smith took a couple of untimely sacks.

    Smith also ran to argue with an official after there was no flag for defensive holding or pass interference on a throw intended for Jaxson Smith-Njigba in the end zone that would have given Seattle first-and-goal late in the third quarter. Seattle settled for a field goal and never threatened again.

    Seattle's last chance at a rally ended when Zach Charbonnet was stopped on fourth-and-1 at the San Francisco 21 with 4:14 remaining. The Seahawks (6-5) lost for the second time in five days and have dropped three of the last four.

    Seattle has scored just three offensive touchdowns in the past four games and has just one in its last eight quarters.

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