Al Drago/Associated Press
Backup quarterbacks securing big wins. An overtime thriller in Baltimore. And the end of a ridiculously promising rookie season for Cincinnati’s Joe Burrow. Sunday was a reminder of how unpredictable the N.F.L. can be, as well as how cruel it can be.
Here’s what we learned:
The N.F.L. can break your heart. Joe Burrow, Cincinnati’s rookie quarterback, had largely lived up to his hype, regardless of the Bengals’ poor record. But his season came to an abrupt end after he was sandwiched between a pair of Washington defenders in the third quarter and crumpled to the ground with an injury to his left knee.