The Los Angeles Rams (11-3) and New Orleans Saints (12-2) had already clinched their division title last week, but this week the Chicago Bears (10-4) clinched the NFC North title to punch their playoff ticket. In the AFC, the Kansas City Chiefs and Los Angeles Chargers (both 11-3) are both playoff bound and one of them will likely be the top seeded team in the AFC playoffs.
As for the action this weekend, the Chargers beat the Chiefs in Kansas City last Thursday night, 29-28 in an exciting game that was decided in the final seconds when quarterback Philip Rivers (313
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| Chargers WR Mike Williams celebrates clutch winning catch. |
It was the third touchdown of the game for Williams (seven receptions for 76 yards with two TD and a rushing TD also) and he also caught the two-point conversion pass from Rivers to make the final score and propel the Chargers into a first place tie with the Chiefs in the AFC West. Kansas City QB Patrick Mahomes passed for 243 yards and two touchdowns in the loss.
The Bears clinched their division by beating the Green Bay Packers, 24-17 in Chicago behind a pair of scoring passes from QB Mitch Trubisky and a rushing TD by running back Jordan Howard. The Bears defense sacked Packers QB Aaron Rodgers five times and also intercepted a pass. Green Bay
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| Bears Coach Matt Nagy celebrates division clinching win. |
The Minnesota Vikings (7-6-1) blew out the visiting Miami Dolphins, 41-17 as they rushed for 220 yards and sacked Miami QB Ryan Tannehill nine times. Vikings RB Dalvin Cook (19 carries for 136 yards) scored twice on the ground to lead the way. Minnesota is still the sixth seeded team in the NFC playoff picture with the win.
The Indianapolis Colts blanked the Dallas Cowboys, 23-0 to improve to 8-6 and snapped Dallas' five-game win streak. It was the first time in over 15 years the Cowboys (8-6) were shut out. Colts RB Marlon Mack ran for two scores while accumulating 139 yards rushing on 27 carries to lead the charge.
The Tennessee Titans (8-6) kept pace with the Colts in the AFC Wild Card race with a 17-0 shutout victory on the road against the New York Giants. Derrick Henry scored two rushing touchdowns and went for 170 yards (on 33 carries) in the winning effort.
The Baltimore Ravens (8-6) held off the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 20-12 as they rushed for 242 yards and the defense limited the Bucs to just 241 yards in offense. The win keeps the Ravens in the sixth and final playoff spot in the AFC race.
The Pittsburgh Steelers (8-5-1), the team that Baltimore is chasing in the AFC North race, won at home 17-10 against the New England Patriots (9-5) behind a pair of TD passes from QB Ben Roethlisberger. New England lost two consecutive games in December for the first time since 2002 season.
Elsewhere Around the NFL . . . . . . .
The Philadelphia Eagles (7-7) kept their playoff hopes alive with a 30-23 road win against the Los Angeles Rams (11-3) in the Sunday night game. QB Nick Foles, filling in for injured starter Carson Wentz, was efficient and running back Wendell Smallwood scored two rushing touchdowns and Josh Adams added another. Rams RB Todd Gurley scored twice on the ground, but was hampered with a leg injury in the game, limiting him to only 48 rushing yards. Rams QB Jared Goff threw for 339 yards, but was intercepted twice in defeat . . . The Houston Texans (10-4) beat the New York Jets, 29-22 on Saturday afternoon as QB Deshaun Watson (294 passing yards) had two TD passes and kicker Ka'imi Fairbairn made five field goals to lead the way . . . The San Francisco 49ers surprised the visiting Seattle Seahawks, 26-23 in overtime as kicker Robbie Gould made a 36-yard field goal to win it. The Seahawks (8-6) blew a chance to wrap up a wild card playoff spot in the NFC as QB Russell Wilson threw for two scores in the loss . . . The Washington Redskins (7-7) beat the Jacksonville Jaguars, 16-13 as kicker Dustin Hopkins drilled a 36-yard FG as time expired to keep their playoff hopes alive . . . The Cleveland Browns (6-7-1) knocked off the host Denver Broncos, 17-16 on Saturday night as QB Baker Mayfield had two TD passes. It was the second straight loss for Denver (6-8) as QB Case Keenum was picked off twice in the loss . . . The Atlanta Falcons snapped a five-game losing streak with a 40-14 trouncing of the Arizona Cardinals as QB Matt Ryan had a pair of TD passes and RB Tevin Coleman (145 rushing yards on 11 carries) scored a touchdown while their defense recorded seven QB sacks . . . The Buffalo Bills beat the visiting Detroit Lions, 14-13 behind a rushing and passing TD from QB Josh Allen . . . The Cincinnati Bengals (6-8) thrashed the Oakland Raiders, 30-16 for a home win as RB Joe Mixon (27 carries for 129 yards) scored two times to pace the easy win . . . The New Orleans Saints topped the host Carolina Panthers, 12-9 on Monday Night Football, sending the Panthers (6-8) to their sixth straight defeat as Will Lutz kicked two field goals and RB Alvin Kamara scored on a 16-yard TD run early in the fourth quarter. The Saints defense held Carolina to 247 yards in total offense.
WEEK FIFTEEN RESULTS
LA Chargers 29, Kansas City 28
Houston 29, NY Jets 22
Cleveland 17, Denver 16
Chicago 24, Green Bay 17
Baltimore 20, Tampa Bay 12
Indianapolis 23, Dallas 0
Tennessee 17, NY Giants 0
Cincinnati 30, Oakland 16
Atlanta 40, Arizona 14
Buffalo 14, Detroit 13
Washington 16, Jacksonville 13
Minnesota 41, Miami 17
Pittsburgh 17, New England 10
San Francisco 26, Seattle 23 (OT)
Philadelphia 30, LA Rams 23
New Orleans 12, Carolina 9
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