The Blitz Read: Turnovers help Bills, Vikings pull off upsets of NFC favorites

Ron Clements

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The Blitz Read: Turnovers help Bills, Vikings pull off upsets of NFC favorites image

The two teams to play in last season's NFC championship game entered the 2016 campaign as favorites in the NFC.

But three weeks into the season, both the Carolina Panthers and Arizona Cardinals are 1-2. Turnovers plagued each team as reigning MVP Cam Newton threw three interceptions in a 22-10 loss to the Minnesota Vikings while Arizona's Carson Palmer was picked four times in the 33-18 loss at Buffalo.

Newton started hot, completing his first nine passes against the Vikings, but finished 21 of 35 for 262 yards. He was also sacked eight times, including a first-quarter safety by Danielle Hunter to get the Vikings on the board after Carolina jumped out to a 10-0 lead. 

Palmer was 26 of 50 for 287 yards without a touchdown after throwing five TDs and zero picks in Arizona's first two games. The Cardinals were favored to beat the struggling Bills, but instead Buffalo's defense took over and the Cardinals have still just one victory in Buffalo — a 28-23 win on Oct. 31, 1971. 

Minnesota's defense and special teams have scored three touchdowns in three games while racking up 15 sacks and five interceptions. 

MORE: Cardinals loss and stats | Panthers loss, stats, info

While the Cardinals and Panthers are struggling to start the season, the Vikings and Philadelphia Eagles are the only remaining unbeaten teams in the NFC. The Eagles cruised to a 34-3 win over the previously unbeaten Pittsburgh Steelers. The New England Patriots, Baltimore Ravens and Denver Broncos are the only 3-0 teams remaining in the AFC. 

Injury report

The Washington Redskins were the team hardest hit by injuries Sunday. In their 29-27 win over the New York Giants, the Redskins lost cornerback DeAngelo Hall with a torn right ACL. They also lost cornerback Bashaud Breeland and offensive lineman Shawn Lauvao with ankle injuries and center Kory Lichtensteiger with an injured calf. Wide receiver DeSean Jackson briefly left with an injured knee and ankle, but did return in the second half.  

The Giants lost cornerbacks Eli Apple (hamstring) and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie (groin) in the same game. 

Vikings guard Alex Boone was carted off the field in the first half with a hip injury and did not return.

Panthers defensive tackle Vernon Butler, the team's first-round draft pick, suffered a high ankle injury and also didn't return to the game. 

Green Bay Packers tight end Jared Cook was on crutches and in a walking boot after injuring his right ankle in Green Bay's 34-37 win over the Detroit Lions. The Packers also lost fullback Aaron Ripkowski wtih a back injury in the first half, leaving the team with only two healthy running backs — Eddie Lacy and James Starks.

Lions safety Tavon Wilson suffered a neck injury and never returned the game at Lambeau Field. 

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Pittsburgh linebacker Lawrence Timmons was taken to a local hospital after sustaining a shin injury in the second quarter. The Steelers also lost guard Ramon Foster (chest), safety Rob Golden (right hamstring) and wide receiver Eli Rogers (toe) during the game.

San Diego Chargers linebacker Manti Te'o was carted off the field at Lucas Oil Stadium with an Achilles injury and did not return. He was on the sideline in the second half on crutches and wearing street clothes with his left foot in a boot. 

Broncos safety T.J. Ward suffered a neck injury late in the first quarter of Denver's 29-17 win at Cincinnati and tackle offensive tackle Russell Okung left with a back injury early in the game. Both players were able to return to the game. 

Miami Dolphins tight end Jordan Cameron was evaluated for a concussion after taking a hit to the head during Miami's 30-24 overtime victory over Cleveland. 

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson sprained his left knee in the third quarter of Seattle's 37-18 win over the San Francisco 49ers. While he did not return, the Seahawks did not seem overly concerned about the injury. 

Chicago Bears running back Jeremy Langford was carted off with an ankle injury during the third quarter of a 31-17 loss to the Dallas Cowboys.

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By the numbers

The Ravens had to sweat out a 19-17 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars and Baltimore quarterback Joe Flacco turned in a record performance. Flacco finished 29 of 40 for 214 yards and two interceptions, but he completed a franchise-record 21 straight passes. Flacco's streak was just three shy of tying the NFL record for consecutive completions in the same game. Flacco's streak stopped on dropped pass by Mike Wallace in the corner of the end zone.

Broncos quarterback Trevor Siemian threw for 312 yards and four touchdowns in Denver's win at Cincinnati. Siemian, a second-year quarterback from Northwestern, is the first quarterback in NFL history with at least 300 passing yards and four touchdowns without an interception to win his first career road start.

MORE: Siemian certainly looks for real

New York Jets quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick had a rough outing Sunday with six interceptions as the Kansas City Chiefs forced eight turnovers in their 24-3 victory at Arrowhead Stadium. To put that into perspective, Bills quarterback Tyrod Taylor threw six interceptions in 14 games last season; Browns quarterback Josh McCown had four picks in eight games last year; Brock Osweiler had just six picks in eight games for the Broncos last season. Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers tossed eight interceptions all of last season, but has three seasons with six or fewer interceptions. 

But it happens to the best of them. Hall of Famer Ken Stabler is one of six quarterbacks in NFL history with seven interceptions in a game. Hall of Famers Brett Favre, Norm Van Brocklin, Joe Namath, George Blanda and Bobby Layne all threw six interceptions in a game. Namath and Blanda each had three such games. 

Highlights

There weren't many highlights for the Cardinals, but cornerback Patrick Peterson had an incredible one-handed interception early in the second quarter against the Bills.

One of the big plays in Baltimore's win over the Jaguars was C.J. Mosley's one-handed INT.

Bills safety Aaron Williams returned a botched field goal attempt 53 yards for a touchdown.

Jamison Crowder took a short pass on third-and-15 and got a key block from guard Trey Williams before darting 55 yards for a go-ahead touchdown in Washington's victory. 

The Los Angeles Rams offense finally scored its first touchdowns of the season, but the defense found the end zone as well. After Robert Quinn's strip-sack of Tampa Bay quarterback Jameis Winston, Ethan Westbrooks picked up the fumble and rumbled 77 yards as the Rams waited out a 37-32 road victory. 

T.Y. Hilton's 63-yard touchdown from Andrew Luck with 1:17 remaining in the fourth quarter gave the Indianapolis Colts a 26-22 win over the Chargers. 

Ezekiel Elliott defied gravity on this 14-yard run in the third quarter, leaping Bears safety Chris Prosinski like a hurdle.

Quotables 

Bills coach Rex Ryan said his team is "going to enjoy" Sunday's upset of the Cardinals because not many gave the Bills much of a chance to get their first victory. But now it's onto next week's opponent and Ryan doesn't care who the Patriots use at quarterback after Jimmy Garoppolo and Jacoby Brissett are both injured while Tom Brady is still suspended. 

"I don't care who plays quarterback because I know Brady ain't," Ryan said. "I don't care who plays quarterback. Steve Grogan can play quarterback.

"If (Bill) Belichick's playing quarterback, we're coming after him. I promise you that."

Aaron Rodgers after throwing for four touchdowns in Green Bay's win over the Lions: "I don't think anybody gives a you know what if the offense is back or not. It's just about winning and we got a win."

Thursday's game

Patriots 27, Texans 0

Sunday's games

Bills 33, Cardinals 18
Vikings 22, Panthers 10
Packers 34, Lions 27
Broncos 29, Bengals 17
Ravens 19, Jaguars 17
Raiders 17, Titans 10
Dolphins 30, Browns 24, OT
Redskins 29, Giants 27
Seahawks 37, 49ers 18
Rams 37, Buccaneers 32
Colts 26, Chargers 22
Chiefs 24, Jets 3
Eagles 34, Steelers 3
Cowboys 31, Bears 17

MORE: NFL live scoreboard — highlights, scores, stats, video

Monday's game

Falcons at Saints, 8:30 p.m. ET

Ron Clements