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| Saints running back Alvin Kamara scored six rushing touchdowns in big win. |
The Kansas City Chiefs had a rough go of things, but managed to eventually beat the visiting Atlanta Falcons, 17-14 when Atlanta kicker Younghoe Koo missed a 39-yard field goal in the closing seconds. The Chiefs improved to 14-1 and clinched home field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs as QB Patrick Mahomes had a pair of TD passes to offset two TD tosses from Falcons QB Matt Ryan.
Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers had four touchdown passes as his team rolled past the visiting Tennessee Titans, 40-14 on a snowy Sunday night at Lambeau Field. The Packers (12-3) jumped out to a 19-0 lead before the Titans (10-5) came back with a pair of scores to trim the deficit to 19-14 early in the third quarter. From there it was all Packers with wide receiver Devante Adams hauling in eleven receptions for 142 yards and three touchdowns and the team also rushed for 234 yards in the win, led by A.J. Dillon, who had 124 rushing yards and two touchdowns.
The Pittsburgh Steelers (12-3) stormed back in the second half to defeat the visiting Indianapolis Colts, 28-24 as QB Ben Roethlisberger threw for 348 yards and three scores to lead the way. The Colts held a 24-7 lead early in the third quarter before the Steelers mounted the comeback. The Pittsburgh defense sacked Colts QB Philip Rivers five times and picked off one pass to help secure the win.
On Christmas Day, the New Orleans Saints (11-4) celebrated with a huge 52-33 win at home over the Minnesota Vikings (6-9) as running back Alvin Kamara had a record day by scoring SIX rushing touchdowns while gaining 155 yards on the ground on 22 carries as they clinched the NFC South division. The Saints gained 583 total yards in offense as they pulled away in the fourth quarter.
The Baltimore Ravens (10-5) continued their charge toward a playoff spot as they throttled the visiting New York Giants, 27-13 for their fourth consecutive victory. The Ravens went ahead 14-0 after one quarter. Ravens QB Lamar Jackson had two TD passes and rookie running back J.K. Dobbins scored a rushing touchdown to pace the win. The Baltimore defense registered six QB sacks and held the Giants (5-10) to just 54 rushing yards.
The Miami Dolphins pulled off a miracle finish as they toppled the Raiders, 26-25 in Las Vegas on Saturday night as QB Ryan Fitzpatrick came off the bench to provide the spark that led to the win by throwing for 182 yards and a touchdown and also completed an improbable 34-yard pass that was aided by a face mask penalty against the Raiders. That play set up a game winning 44-yard field goal by Jason Sanders with two seconds left to keep the Dolphins (10-5) in the thick of the AFC playoff race.
Dolphins running back Myles Gaskin had a big game by rushing for 87 yards and catching two TD passes (one on a 59-yard scoring pass play) on five receptions for 82 yards. The Raiders (7-8) were eliminated from playoff contention as they lost for the fifth time in six games as QB Derek Carr passed for 336 yards and one touchdown.
Elsewhere Around the NFL . . . . . . . . .
The Chicago Bears (8-7) defeated the host Jacksonville Jaguars, 41-17 for their third straight win to keep them in playoff contention as QB Mitch Trubisky threw for two scores and ran for another while RB David Montgomery (95 rush yards) also scored a touchdown, sending the Jaguars (1-14) to their 14th consecutive loss . . . The New York Jets (2-13) dealt a big blow to the playoff hopes of the Cleveland Browns, winning 23-16 at home as their defense limited the Browns (10-5) to only 45 rushing yards while also getting two fumble recoveries and four QB sacks. Jets QB Sam Darnold had two TD passes in the win while the Browns had to play the game without their starting wide receivers, who missed it due to league protocols regarding the COVID-19 virus . . . The Dallas Cowboys (6-9) blasted the visiting Philadelphia Eagles, 37-17 for their third straight win as QB Andy Dalton had three TD strikes (along with 377 passing yards) with two of them to WR Michael Gallup (six receptions for 121 yards) while Cee Dee Lamb caught a TD pass and also scored on a 19-yard run as the 'Pokes racked up 513 yards in total offense. The Eagles (4-10-1) were eliminated from playoff contention as they lost for the sixth time in seven games while turning the football over three times . . . The Washington Football Team (6-9) lost at home against the Carolina Panthers, 20-13 as starting QB Dwayne Haskins was benched in favor of Taylor Heinicke, who had a TD pass late in the fourth quarter to provide the final outcome. It has also been announced that Washington released Haskins from the team roster. The Panthers (5-10) scored on a fumble recovery and also on a one-yard run by Mike Davis and a TD pass from QB Teddy Bridgewater as they built a 20-0 lead in the second quarter . . . On Saturday, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (10-5) clinched a playoff spot as they crushed the host Detroit Lions, 47-7 with QB Tom Brady passing for 348 yards and four touchdowns in the first half as the Bucs rolled up 588 yards in total offense. Tampa Bay backup QB Blaine Gabbert also added a pair of scoring passes in the second half in the rout . . . The San Francisco 49ers (6-9) used a strong defensive effort as they won at Arizona, 20-12 on Saturday with QB C.J. Beathard throwing for three touchdowns while the defense had three sacks and forced two turnovers as the Cardinals (8-7) fell out of a playoff spot heading into final game next weekend . . . The Los Angeles Chargers (6-9) won their third straight game, 19-16 over the Denver Broncos when kicker Mike Badgley made a 37-yard field with 41 seconds remaining. Chargers QB Justin Herbert set an NFL record for rookies with his 28th touchdown pass this season on a nine-yard scoring pass to RB Austin Ekeler. Denver (5-10) trailed 13-0 at the half but rallied to tie the game 16-16 late in the fourth quarter when Brandon McManus made his third field goal (a 52-yard kick) in the game, but the 'Bolts defense intercepted two passes, including on the final play of the game on a desperation pass to the end zone to seal the win . . . The Cincinnati Bengals (4-10-1) broke loose on offense for a 37-31 road win against the Houston Texans (4-11) as reserve QB Brandon Allen had two TD passes and RB Samaje Perine rushed for two more scores, including a 46-yard burst in the third quarter, to lead the way. Texans QB Deshaun Watson had three TD passes in defeat . . . The Monday night game was all Buffalo Bills (12-3) as they routed the host New England Patriots, 38-9 behind four TD passes by quarterback Josh Allen. Bills WR Stefon Diggs had nine receptions for 145 yards and three touchdowns and the Buffalo defense limited the Patriots (6-9) to only 78 passing yards while also getting three sacks.
Week Sixteen Results
New Orleans 52, Minnesota 33
Tampa Bay 47, Detroit 7
San Francisco 20, Arizona 12
Miami 26, Las Vegas 25
Chicago 41, Jacksonville 17
N.Y. Jets 23, Cleveland 16
Pittsburgh 28, Indianapolis 24
Cincinnati 37, Houston 31
Baltimore 27, N.Y. Giants 13
Kansas City 17, Atlanta 14
Seattle 20, L.A. Rams 9
L.A. Chargers 19, Denver 16
Dallas 37, Philadelphia 17
Carolina 20, Washington 13
Green Bay 40, Tennessee 14
Buffalo 38, New England 9
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