Garrett's return lifts Rams; Bears defy odds with five turnovers

The Los Angeles Rams (5-4) secured their first winning season start of the year on Sunday, a milestone driven largely by the immediate impact of Myles Garrett. The reigning defensive player of the year returned from a knee injury that had kept him out for seven games and delivered a performance that defined the 20-13 victory over the Washington Commanders (2-5-1).

Garrett recorded three sacks, with his first stoppage also forcing a fumble. His return marked the first game played by the Rams defensive line alongside Aaron Donald, who recently emerged from retirement to join the team. The statistical difference was stark. Los Angeles had managed only 12 sacks across its previous eight games, a deficit that Garrett helped erase in a single afternoon.

The win carried a cost for the Rams offense. Star receiver Puka Nacua, who was targeted 19 times and caught 14 passes for 150 yards and a touchdown, suffered a reported knee injury on the final play. Medical staff planned to conduct further imaging on Monday to assess the damage. Nacua appeared in good spirits during post-game interactions but did not address the injury directly.

Washington's loss was compounded by a strange sequence at the end of the game. Facing a fourth down on the Rams' 31-yard line with seconds remaining, the Commanders opted for a short pass and a lateral rather than a field goal attempt or a shot at the end zone. Head coach Dan Quinn cited a planned deep ball and a short play with a lateral option as the intended strategy. He noted that the team did not love the execution of the final play.

In Chicago, the Bears (7-2) pulled off a statistical anomaly, becoming the first team since 2006 to win a game after committing five or more turnovers. The Bears held a 14-0 lead over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-6) but surrendered the ball five times, including four interceptions thrown by quarterback Caleb Williams. A fumble by Luther Burden III inside his own 20-yard line with under four minutes left gave Tampa Bay a late chance.

The Buccaneers capitalized by scoring a touchdown followed by a two-point conversion to tie the game at 24. Williams responded with a 38-yard pass in the final minute, setting up Cairo Santos for a 38-yard field goal as time expired. The six combined interceptions by Williams and Tampa Bay quarterback Baker Mayfield represented the most by two quarterbacks in a single game this season.

Kansas City (6-2) ended a two-game losing streak with a 35-12 victory over the New York Jets (2-7). Running back Kenneth Walker III led the offense with 102 rushing yards and a touchdown on the ground, adding 41 yards and two scores as a receiver. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes finished with 242 passing yards and two touchdowns after taking a hit that caused him to bend his arm awkwardly in the second quarter. He remained in the game for the duration.

Cleveland's Shedeur Sanders threw for 297 yards in his first start of his sophomore season, but the Browns (5-4) lost 23-22 to New Orleans in overtime. Sanders engineered a game-tying drive after receiving the ball with under a minute left in regulation. The Saints opened overtime with a long drive, but Sanders answered with an eight-play, 67-yard touchdown march. Cleveland's failed two-point conversion ended the game.

The New York Giants (5-2-1) beat the Philadelphia Eagles to improve their record and secure their first win in Philadelphia since 2013. Quarterback J.J. McCarthy left the game briefly with an injury but returned to close the contest. The Giants remain the only team with a winning record in the NFC East. Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Chargers (0-8) lost 44-22 to Houston, becoming the first team since the 2011 Indianapolis Colts to go winless after making the playoffs the previous year.

The Las Vegas Raiders (4-5) lost 38-17 at San Francisco, extending a slide that has seen them allow at least 30 points in six consecutive games. That streak is the longest in team history. The Raiders began the season 3-0 but have lost five of their last six games, raising questions about the status of first-round pick Fernando Mendoza.