LOS ANGELES — C.J. Anderson busted loose in driving snow flurries for a game-winning touchdown run Sunday as the Denver Broncos rallied to beat New England 30-24 in overtime, handing the Patriots their first loss of the season.
Denver’s defense thwarted quarterback Tom Brady and the Patriots on the first overtime possession, and running back Anderson broke free from a couple of Patriot defenders for the 48-yard winning run.
“This league is about overcoming adversity many, many, many times over. Not just once,” said Denver coach Gary Kubiak.
Quarterback Brock Osweiler, making his second career start in place of injured future hall-of-famer Peyton Manning, was 23-of-42 for 270 yards, including a touchdown pass to wide receiver Andre Caldwell in the final moments of regulation. Osweiler was intercepted once.
Brady completed 23-of-42 for 280 yards, connecting with running back Brandon Bolden and tight ends Scott Chandler and Rob Gronkowski for touchdowns.
Gronkowski took a hard hit trying to make a catch with just under three minutes remaining and was carted off the field with a knee injury. Gronkowski, who finished with six catches and 88 yards, is expected to see team doctors Monday.
Osweiler gave Denver (9-2) its first lead of the night 24-21 when he completed a four-yard touchdown pass to Caldwell with 1:09 remaining in regulation.
That was enough time for Brady to drive the Patriots to Denver 29-yard line. With no time left, kicker Stephen Gostkowski drilled a 47-yard field goal amidst the snow flurries to send the game into overtime.
Cardinals 19, 49ers 13: Quarterback Carson Palmer scored on a seven-yard scramble with 2:28 left to play, lifting the Arizona Cardinals to a 19-13 victory over the upset-minded San Francisco 49ers Sunday at Levi’s Stadium.
Palmer’s touchdown run capped a 14-play, 85-yard drive for the Cardinals (9-2).
Palmer completed 24 of 40 passes for 271 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions. Wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald caught 10 passes for 66 yards.
Seahawks 39, Steelers 30: Quarterback Russell Wilson passed for a season-high 345 yards and five touchdowns to lead the Seattle Seahawks to a 39-30 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers Sunday.
Wilson’s 80-yard touchdown pass to Doug Baldwin, the Seattle receiver’s third score of the day, with 2:01 remaining gave Seattle (6-5) a nine-point lead and essentially put the game away.
The Seahawks had to overcome 456 passing yards from Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, who went 36 for 55 with a touchdown and also threw two interceptions.
Backup Landry Jones, who took a shotgun snap on a play that started out of field-goal formation and took the field for the Steelers’ final drive while Roethlisberger underwent concussion tests, threw two interceptions.
In other games it was: Bengals 31, Rams 7; Vikings 20, Falcons 10; Texans 24, Saints 6; Raiders 24, Titans 21; Chiefs 30, Bills 22; Colts 25, Buccaneers 12; Chargers 31, Jaguars 25; Redskins 20, Giants 14; Jets 38, Dolphins 20. — Agencies
