Irish kicker Chrlie Smyth connected on his first ever regular season field goal attempt and also pulled off a late onside kick but his New Orleans Saints went down 21-17 at the Miami Dolphins.
Smyth was called up to the first team from the Saints' practice squad in the days before the game and was only confirmed as the kicker for today's contest 24 hours before the tie.
The Mayobridge man kicked his heels on the bench for much of the game when, having nicely clipped away the opening kick-off for his side, the Saints failed to get into advanced positions throughout a turgid first half.
The home side led 16-0 at half-time as the Saints little-known quarterback Tyler Shough struggled to make headway.
Ireland native Charlie Smyth makes his 1st career field goal attempt with a 56-yarder 👏
— NFL (@NFL) November 30, 2025
NOvsMIA on FOX/FOX Onehttps://t.co/HkKw7uXVnt pic.twitter.com/a6FwNhfuYl
The Dolphins had De'Von Achane rushing for 134 yards and a touchdown and Riley Patterson kicking four field goals as the Saints slipped to their 10th defeat.
Carolina Panthers pulled off an upset with a 31-28 win to end Los Angeles Rams' six-match winning run.
The Panthers, who were 6-6 going into the game, had quarterback Bryce Young complete 15 of 20 passes for 206 yards and throw three touchdowns but things were more difficult for opposite number Matthew Stafford.
Stafford was intercepted twice, Mike Jackson running in one for a 48-yard touchdown, as the Rams lost for the third time and remain level with Chicago at the top of the NFC.
San Francisco 49ers won for the ninth time as Brock Purdy rushed for a touchdown and passed for another in the second half of their 26-8 victory over Cleveland Browns. San Francisco racked up 19 unanswered points after going behind in the second quarter.
Houston Texans won a fourth consecutive game with quarterback CJ Stroud, back in the team, completing 22 of 35 passes for 276 yards in the 20-16 victory over divisional rivals Indianapolis Colts.
Nick Folk, who had earlier missed his first field goal of the season, kicked a last-gasp 56-yarder as the New York Jets snatched only their third win with a 27-24 victory over Atlanta Falcons, losing for the sixth time in seven games.
Trevor Lawrence threw for 229 yards and two touchdowns as the Jacksonville Jaguars beat Tennessee Titans, whose quarterback Cam Ward was sacked three times, 25-3 to join the Colts at the top of the AFC South.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers remain top of the NFC South after their 20-17 victory inflicted a fourth successive defeat, and ninth in 12 games, on the Arizona Cardinals.
