A short week 3 is down for the count

With only 5 games played this week, many teams get a nice week-long breather while a handful try to either change their luck or keep their momentum going. The Washington Football Team continues to show that they're a force to be reckoned with, while the Green Bay Packers and Boston Patriots show that they aren't. The Cardinals' offensive troubles continue to stall and the Lions are looking to be a surprise middle-of-the-pack team. Write-ups coming later. You can check out all the action here: ANFL Inaugural Season Week 3 - 1966.

Washington Football Team @ Denver Broncos

The Denver Broncos hosted the imposing Washington Football team this week. While the Football Team was favored by a -11.5 spread, the Denver Broncos' offense performed at a higher clip, 344 combined yards to the Football Team's 279. The scoring began with QB Nate Torres finding WR Brock Swenson for a 33-yard TD towards the end of the first quarter. WAS QB Pete Green responds with a rushing TD near the top of the second quarter. Immediately following Green's TD, the kick-off was returned for a 98-yard TD by CB Tyler Davis! The ensuing drive began with a loss of 5 yards (RB Austin Wyatt) and QB Pete Green going down with injury. Back-up QB Casey Jones will have to fill in for Green until he returns. The Broncos finish the half up 20-7, after another TD pass (this time to WR Cookie Lawhorn for 10 yards). The worst case scenario for Washington!

After a 3rd quarter that was stuck in the mud for both offenses, Casey Jones provided a much needed spark by throwing 2 TDs to WRs Matthew Berg and Tino Hussey. Now up 21-20, the Football Team seals the deal with 1:51 remaining courtesy of RB William Harvey's 3 yard touchdown. Washington wins 28-20, a comeback win for the ages. 

WSH QB Pete Green will be out for 3 weeks with a sprained shoulder. DEN RB Hunter Hobbs suffered a sprained elbow, but will return next week. DEN WR Cookie Lawhorn will be out for 2 weeks with a sprained ankle.

New York Jets @ Houston Oilers

The Houston Oilers continue to flex their might as they host the New York Jets. On the first play of offense, HOU QB Clay Thomas finds WR Thanasi Young streaking for an 80-yard TD reception. QB Leonard Smith matches minutes later, and HOU RB Alex Redwine counters with a rushing TD to bring the score 14-7 going into the second quarter. A pair of traded FGs leads to QB Clay Thomas finding WR Chaz Ryder for a 45-yard completion to end the half with the Oilers in the driver's seat 24-10.

Houston scores twice in the 3rd quarter, with both touchdowns going to RB Ben Blount (1 rushing, 1 receiving). NYJ QB Leonard Smith finds Hunter Green at the top of the 4th for a TD to bring the score to 37-17. Desperate to find a way to come back, NYJ attempts and recovers an ensuing onside kick! They have to settle for a FG with 2:04 to go. After unsuccessfully attempting another onside kick, the Oilers win 37-20.

New York Giants @ Green Bay Packers

Ogbonna season is back for the Giants as they face the Green Bay Packers to try and find their first win. Like he never missed any time, NYG Davonte' Ogbonna threw a first quarter TD to RB Johnnie Roderick. Green Bay RB Cory Johnson responds in the middle of the second quarter with a 51-yard rushing touchdown to tie it. An Ogbonna-to-Nate-Bates TD pass puts NYG ahead 14-7 at the half. 

The Packers and Giants trade possessions the rest of the game, and in the fourth quarter NYG RB Johnnie Roderick goes down with injury. Luckily for the Giants, he was able to snag one more TD through the air to put the Giants up and put the game away at 20-7. A key storyline to follow for the Green Bay Packers is the amount of turnovers being committed. QB Axel Applegate already has 6 interceptions and only 4 touchdowns through three games.

Atlanta Falcons @ Boston Patriots

The Atlanta Falcons punch in their second win on the road against the winless Boston Patriots. After a quiet first quarter, BOS CB Micah Dunn picked off QB James Washington for a pick-six in the top of the second quarter. Immediately following that play, Atlanta responds immediately with a 102-yard KR TD by CB Derrick Wilson! Both teams continue trading scores and field goals to tie the game at half 17-17.

At the bottom of the 3rd and top of the fourth, ATL QB James Washington is able to find favorite target WR Joe Ridenhour twice for deep TD passes (66 and 47 yard receptions, respectively). BOS QB Tim Burton finds TE Nolan Foster with 2:06 remaining but the Patriots aren't able to score again, Atlanta wins 31-23.

Detroit Lions @ St. Louis Cardinals

The St. Louis Cardinals try to hold down their next as the Detroit Lions visit. Both teams trade field goals to start the game, but at the 9:50 mark in the second quarter, S Wade Bravo picks off QB Davaugh Augustin for a 66-yard pick-six! By the end of the first half, the Detroit Lions hold a slim 13-10 lead. The third quarter features no scoring, but a key injury to STL RB D'Angelo Scales with 10:48 remaining hampers the Cardinal's flexibility.

The fourth quarter starts with S Alfonso Taylor scurrying for a 69-yard punt return. Detroit leads comfortably at 20-10. A lost fumble in the red zone would be devastating for St. Louis, if not for the heroics of OL DJ Caldwell who recovers the fumble and rumbles in to bring the game within 3 points. With a minute to go, St. Louis goes up 24-20 after Augustin finds WR Mike Riley for a 6-yard completion. QB Yuri Ramsey finds WR Terry Ndlovu for a 74-yard completion with 0:42 remaining. The following play, Ndlovu does what he does best and runs in the game-winning TD. Lions win a close one 27-14.