Buffalo Bills player C.J. Gardner-Johnson admitted he “hurt my team” after being ejected for spitting toward Las Vegas Raiders player Brock Bowers during a Week 6 matchup that ended in a 33–30 victory for Buffalo.
Spitting Incident and Ejection in Las Vegas
The incident occurred just before halftime when Gardner-Johnson spat in the direction of Bowers following a verbal exchange. Officials immediately penalized the defender and ejected him from the contest. Speaking to reporters after the final whistle, Gardner-Johnson acknowledged the gravity of his actions. “It was nothing bad. He didn’t do anything to me. It was just a heated altercation during the game. … This gesture is not justified,” he said, according to Reuters. He added that he expects a fine from the league and intends to change his behavior.
Despite playing the second half without Gardner-Johnson, the Bills secured the 33–30 win, propelled by a standout performance from quarterback Josh Allen. In the third quarter, Allen eluded multiple defenders to shovel a pass from an awkward stance to Keon Coleman in the end zone. The play marked Allen’s 258th touchdown pass for Buffalo, tying him with franchise legend Jim Kelly.
Helmet-to-Knee Collision Halts Falcons Rookie Kendal Daniels
Earlier in the day, a collision overshadowed the Atlanta Falcons’ 23–31 loss to the Chicago Bears. Rookie Kendal Daniels attempted to tackle Colston Loveland but struck Loveland’s knee with the facemask of his helmet. Daniels remained motionless on the turf for several minutes as medical staff stabilized his neck and strapped him to a stretcher.
I thought Kendal Daniels held his own in his Falcons rookie debut. Athleticism flashed and he made a number of plays from the backside. Was solid in coverage but didn't get tested much. Needs to cleanup the tackling he had 2 critical misses. Also needs to process a hair quicker https://t.co/nNLs8GQVd7 pic.twitter.com/tHLMivamk0
Players from both squads knelt on the field while trainers attended to the 23-year-old. As medical personnel wheeled him away, Daniels raised his left hand into a fist. The Falcons announced he was transported to a hospital for a neck injury. Later in the evening, team updates and reporting from US sports journalist Will McFadden confirmed that Daniels was responsive, able to move his arms and legs, and cleared to walk back to the locker room on his own after initial evaluations.
Chicago capitalized on the momentum, securing a 31–23 victory behind the return of quarterback Caleb Williams. Williams, who sat out the previous three games with a thigh injury, threw a touchdown pass in his comeback.
Rams Suffer Defeat Without Surrendering a Touchdown
In Los Angeles, the Arizona Cardinals defeated the Los Angeles Rams 18–16 without the Rams surrendering a touchdown. Kicker Chad Ryland accounted for all 18 points by converting six field goals, marking the fourth loss in the sixth game for the Los Angeles team.
The Rams appeared poised to steal a late victory when Matthew Stafford connected with Colby Parkinson for a touchdown with 47 seconds remaining, followed by Punter Ethan Evans’ extra point to grab a 16–15 lead. However, Arizona answered immediately with a 21-yard completion and a defensive penalty against Los Angeles. With time expiring, Ryland split the uprights from 43 yards out to hand the Rams their loss in their own stadium against an opponent that entered the day with only one win.
London Heroics and Around the League
Across the Atlantic, Jacksonville Jaguars player Travis Hunter etched his name alongside rare company during the team’s latest game in London. Hunter caught a touchdown pass and followed it by intercepting a pass from the Houston Texans in the subsequent defensive series. The feat matched a single-game milestone last achieved by Brian Dawkins in 2002, who recorded both a touchdown catch and an interception in the same contest. Despite Hunter’s dual-threat performance, the Jaguars lost 34–31 after a late field goal by Houston.
In Kansas City, the Chiefs improved to five wins in five games with a 22–6 victory over the winless Chargers. Kenneth Walker rushed for two touchdowns. Tight end Travis Kelce briefly left the field after sustaining a right ankle injury during a tackle, though he returned to action with a bandaged ankle while his wife, Taylor Swift, watched from the stands.
Elsewhere, the Cleveland Browns erased a 10–0 deficit to defeat the Baltimore Ravens 13–10 on a late field goal. The Green Bay Packers defeated the Dallas Cowboys 23–13 in the night game to celebrate their third victory in a row. The defending champion Seattle Seahawks fell 17–14 in overtime to the Denver Broncos on Thursday, while the Detroit Lions, featuring Amon-Ra St. Brown, enjoyed a bye week.
