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| Raiders kicker Dan Carlson (number 2) celebrates game winning kick in overtime. |
The back and forth affair saw the Raiders get out to a 10-0 lead before L.A. took a 14-10 lead late in the first half on running back Austin Ekeler's second touchdown in the game. The Raiders were able to score on a one-yard run by RB Josh Jacobs (132 rushing yards) just before halftime in a drive that saw them convert a 3rd-and-23 on a draw play and then a questionable pass interference penalty called on the Chargers defense in the end zone on third down. The second half was mostly Las Vegas as they put 12 more points on the board on a two-yard TD pass from QB Derek Carr to WR Hunter Renfrow and two more field goals.
In the fourth quarter, the Bolts made their comeback as Herbert threw two TD passes in the final five minutes to get it tied up. Each team kicked a field goal in the OT before Carlson's winning kick ended the marathon game. The Raiders will travel to Cincinnati next weekend in the wild card game while the Chargers were eliminated from the playoffs. A tie game would have sent both teams into the AFC playoffs and left the Pittsburgh Steelers out.
Earlier in the day, the Pittsburgh Steelers did what they needed to do as they topped the host Baltimore Ravens, 16-13 in overtime to finish the regular season at 9-7-1. Steelers kicker Chris Boswell made a 36-yard field goal with less than two minutes left in the OT session to win it. On the game winning drive, Pittsburgh's offense converted on two third downs and also a 4th-and-8 to help set up the winning kick.
The only touchdowns in the game were a 46-yard run by Baltimore's Latavius Murray (16 carries for 150 yards) and a six-yard TD pass from Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger to WR Chase Claypool with 2:54 left in the fourth quarter. The Ravens (8-9) lost their final six games this season to drop out of contention for the playoffs.
The Indianapolis Colts (9-8) blew their opportunity to make the AFC playoffs as they were beaten on the road by the Jacksonville Jaguars, 26-11 as Jags rookie QB Trevor Lawrence threw for two scores and kicker Matthew Wright made four field goals. The Colts were never in this one as they turned the football over twice and QB Carson Wentz was sacked six times while their vaunted rushing attack was limited to only 94 yards. Jacksonville (3-14) snapped a nine game losing streak and will have the top draft pick for the second straight year.
The Tennessee Titans (12-5) clinched the number one seed and home field advantage in the AFC playoffs with a 28-25 road win against the Houston Texans (4-13) as QB Ryan Tannehill had four TD passes to lead the way. Texans QB Davis Mills threw for three scores in the loss.
The New Orleans Saints (9-8) did their part to remain in the NFC playoff picture with a 30-20 road victory against the Atlanta Falcons (7-10) even without starting QB Taysom Hill, who left the game with an injury. New Orleans backup QB Trevor Siemian had two TD passes in relief and the defense forced three turnovers and had three sacks to help get the victory.
The Los Angeles Rams (12-5) and San Francisco 49ers went into overtime as the 'Niners overcame a 17-point deficit to eventually win, 27-24 and secure a playoff spot in the NFC. San Francisco (10-7) battled back behind QB Jimmy Garoppolo (316 passing yards) and wide receiver Deebo Samuel, who rushed for 45 yards (including a 16-yard TD run) and caught four passes for 95 yards and also threw a 24-yard TD pass to WR Jauan Jennings, who caught two scoring passes in the huge win.
The 49ers defense intercepted two passes and sacked Rams QB Matthew Stafford five times as they limited the Rams offense to just one touchdown in the second half. An interception by Ambry Thomas ended the game after 49ers kicker Robbie Gould drilled a 24-yard field goal with 2:45 left in overtime. Both the Rams and 49ers will be in the NFC playoffs along with the Arizona Cardinals, giving the NFC West division three playoff teams this season.
Arizona and Seattle battled it out and finally with 4:34 remaining in the final quarter, Seahawks running back Rashaad Penny (23 carries for 190 yards) raced 62 yards for the clinching touchdown (and a 38-27 lead) as the visiting Seahawks (7-10) defeated the already playoff bound Cardinals, 38-30. The loss for Arizona (11-6) gave the NFC West division title to the Los Angeles Rams. The Cards will face the Rams in L.A. next Monday night in the first ever third day of wild card playoffs.
Miami defeated the New England Patriots, 33-24 to finish with a 9-8 record while the Patriots (10-7) will be a wild card team in the AFC playoffs and will take on the Buffalo Bills on the road on Saturday night. The Dolphins took advantage of three Patriots turnovers, including a 37-yard "pick six" interception touchdown return by Xavien Howard in the first quarter as they raced out to a 14-0 lead.
The Pats battled back to within 27-24 late in the game when Brandon Bolden scored twice and RB Damien Harris also scored. The Miami defense scored their second touchdown of the game on a fumble recovery in the end zone on the final play of the game. The Dolphins pulled a surprise on Monday as they announced Head Coach Brian Flores was being fired after three seasons.
Meanwhile, the Buffalo Bills (11-6) defeated the visiting New York Jets, 27-10 to win their second consecutive AFC East division title as RB Devin Singletary scored twice on rushing touchdowns to secure the win. The Jets (4-13) managed just 54 yards in total offense and four first downs as the Bills defense had NINE quarterback sacks and limited the Jets to only five net yards passing in the rout.
Elsewhere Around the NFL . . . . . . . . . . . . .
The Kansas City Chiefs (12-5) toppled the host Denver Broncos, 28-24 on Saturday with rookie linebacker Nick Bolton going 86 yards on a fumble recovery return to ice the game. Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes had two TD passes in the victory while Denver QB Drew Lock scored twice on the ground. The Broncos finished the season at 7-10 and then fired Head Coach Vic Fangio on Sunday . . . On Saturday night in Philadelphia, the Dallas Cowboys (12-5) whooped the Eagles, 51-26 as they played most of their starters while the already playoff bound Eagles (9-8) rested nearly all of theirs in the game. Cowboys QB Dak Prescott threw for five touchdowns in the win as Dallas secured the number three seed in the NFC playoffs . . . The Minnesota Vikings (8-9) roared back to defeat the Chicago Bears, 31-17 after falling behind 14-0 in the home field win. Vikings DB Patrick Peterson sealed the effort with a 66-yard INT return for a score. Both the Vikings and Bears (6-11) announced they had fired their head coaches (Mike Zimmer and Matt Nagy) along with the teams' general managers on Monday morning . . . The Washington Football Team (7-10) defeated the host New York Giants, 22-7 as the defense dominated, scoring a TD on a 30-yard interception return by Bobby McCain, who had two picks in the win and limiting the Giants (4-13) to just 177 yards in total offense . . . Detroit (3-13-1) won at home, 37-30 against the Green Bay Packers (13-4) to finish the season on high note as QB Jared Goff threw for two scores. The Packers (already the top seed in the NFC playoffs) rested many starters in the second half, including QB Aaron Rodgers, who had two TD passes in the first half. Packers backup QB Jordan Love was intercepted twice in the loss . . . The Cleveland Browns held off the playoff bound Cincinnati Bengals, 21-16 to finish their disappointing season at 8-9. Meanwhile, the 10-7 Bengals will host the Las Vegas Raiders in the wild card round next weekend. The Browns got two TD passes from backup QB Case Keenum in the win while Cincinnati rested many starters . . . Tampa Bay (13-4) locked up the number two seed in the NFC playoffs with a 41-17 thumping of the visiting Carolina Panthers (5-12) as QB Tom Brady had three TD passes and finished the 2021 season as the league's passing yardage leader as well as throwing for the most touchdowns. Carolina lost their final seven games to end the season.
WEEK EIGHTEEN RESULTS
Kansas City 28, Denver 24
Dallas 51, Philadelphia 26
Minnesota 31, Chicago 17
Detroit 37, Green Bay 30
Jacksonville 26, Indianapolis 11
Cleveland 21, Cincinnati 16
Pittsburgh 16, Baltimore 13 (OT)
Washington 22, N.Y. Giants 7
Tennessee 28, Houston 25
New Orleans 30, Atlanta 20
Tampa Bay 41, Carolina 17
Miami 33, New England 24
Buffalo 27, N.Y. Jets 10
Seattle 38, Arizona 30
San Francisco 27, L.A. Rams 24 (OT)
Las Vegas 35, L.A. Chargers 32 (OT)
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