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| Tom Brady scored winning TD for the Buccaneers to help clinch division title. |
In Tampa, the Bucs rallied from a 14-point deficit as quarterback Tom Brady (432 passing yards) had three TD passes and the go ahead scoring run from one yard with 1:58 left to play in a 30-24 win at home against the Carolina Panthers (6-10) to return to the NFC playoffs. All three of the touchdown passes went to wide receiver Mike Evans, who had ten receptions for 207 yards. Panthers QB Sam Darnold had three TD passes along with 341 passing yards in defeat.
The Giants were led by a tenacious defense and QB Daniel Jones, who rushed for two touchdowns and also had two scoring passes in the rout. Defensive back Landon Collins had a "pick six" 52-yard interception score and the New York defense limited the Colts (4-11-1) to just 252 yards in total offense.
In the AFC, the New England Patriots (8-8) dealt the Miami Dolphins (8-8) playoff chances a serious blow with a 23-21 home win as QB Mac Jones had two TD passes and Kyle Dugger ran an interception back 39 yards for a touchdown. The Dolphins dropped their fifth straight game as two interceptions thrown by quarterbacks Teddy Bridgewater and Skylar Thompson proved to make a difference in the losing effort. The Patriots can clinch the last AFC playoff spot with a win at Buffalo next week.
The Green Bay Packers (8-8) won their fourth straight game as they pounded the Minnesota Vikings, 41-17 to keep their playoff chances in tow. The Packers defense scored when Darnell Savage raced 75 yards for a touchdown off an interception, one of three the defense snared against Vikings QB Kirk Cousins as Minnesota (12-4) dropped to the third seed in the NFC playoffs. Green Bay QB Aaron Rodgers had both a scoring pass and run and a balanced offense (163 rushing yards and 152 passing) combined with the defense forcing the four turnovers, led the way. The Packers can clinch the last NFC playoff spot with a win at home against Detroit next week.
The Detroit Lions improved to 8-8 as they crushed the visiting Chicago Bears, 41-10, which was the ninth consecutive loss for the Bears (3-13) as the Lions piled up 504 yards in total offense, including 265 yards on the ground. Lions RB D'Andre Swift had a pair touchdowns, including a 21-yard scoring pass from QB Jared Goff (255 passing yards) who had three TD passes, including two to tight end Brock Wright.
The New Orleans Saints (7-9) stunned the Philadelphia Eagles, 20-10 for their third win a row as the defense scored (Marshon Lattimore with a 12-yard "pick six" INT) to seal the win and they also had six sacks. The Eagles (13-3) lost for the second straight time as reserve QB Gardner Minshew had a TD pass and the interception. Philadelphia can still clinch the top spot in the NFC playoffs with a win over the New York Giants next Sunday.
In Washington, the Commanders (7-8-1) lost for the third straight game and were eliminated from the NFC playoff race as they fell at home, 24-10 to the Cleveland Browns (7-9). Commanders QB Carson Wentz started for the first time in weeks and was intercepted three times as the Browns defense limited Washington to 260 total yards of offense. Browns QB Deshaun Watson had three TD passes in the win, including two to wide receiver Amari Cooper.
The Kansas City Chiefs (13-3) had a tough one at home, but managed to beat the Denver Broncos, 27-24 with QB Patrick Mahomes (328 passing yards and completions to ten different players) throwing for three touchdowns, including a pair to RB Jerrick McKinnon. The Broncos (4-12) hung tough as QB Russell Wilson threw a scoring pass and also ran for two more touchdowns, but they fell short as Kansas City beat them for the 15th consecutive time.
Last Thursday night, the Dallas Cowboys (12-4) knocked off the host Tennessee Titans, 27-13 behind a pair of TD passes from QB Dak Prescott to tight end Dalton Schultz and Ezekiel Elliottt added a scoring run to pace the win, which keeps Dallas in contention for the NFC East title. The Titans (7-9) lost for the sixth straight time, but can still win the AFC South division with a win at Jacksonville on Saturday night.
In Houston, the visiting Jacksonville Jaguars (8-8) blasted the Texans, 31-3 with balanced offense (169 rush yardage and 168 passing yards) while the defense scored a touchdown on a 12-yard fumble return by Tyson Campbell. Jags Running back Travis Etienne went for 104 rushing yards and had a 62-yard TD jaunt as well. The Texans (2-13-1) fell behind 21-0 in the first half and never recovered in this game.
The Seattle Seahawks (8-8) stayed alive in the NFC playoff hunt as they walloped the visiting New York Jets, 23-6 behind two TD passes from QB Geno Smith and three forced turnovers by the defense, including two interceptions. The Jets (7-9) were eliminated from playoff contention as they lost for the fifth straight time.
The San Francisco 49ers (12-4) outlasted the host Las Vegas Raiders, 37-34 in overtime to get their ninth consecutive win as kicker Robbie Gould made a 23-yard field goal to win the game. The winning kick was set up by a 56-yard interception return by safety Tashaun Gipson. The see-saw battle had four lead changes as the Raiders (6-10) went with backup QB Jarrett Stidham (365 passing yards with three TD, two INT) and he connected with WR Davante Adams (seven receptions for 153 yards) twice for scores. 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey (121 rush yards and six catches for 72 yards) had a 14-yard scoring run and QB Brock Purdy threw two scoring passes to help the winning effort.
The battle of Los Angeles went the Chargers way as they crushed the Rams, 31-10 with running back Austin Ekeler scoring two rushing touchdowns (including a 72-yard TD romp) and QB Justin Herbert throwing for a pair of scores to lead the way. It was the fourth straight victory for the Chargers (10-6), who moved up to the number-five spot in the AFC playoff picture. The Rams (5-11) managed only 277 yards in total offense and twelve first downs as they lost for the eighth time in the last ten games.
The Atlanta Falcons won at home, 20-19 against the Arizona Cardinals (4-12) when kicker Younghoe Koo made a 21-yard field goal as time ran out. The Falcons (6-10) got running touchdowns from Tyler Allgeier and Cordarrelle Patterson to help out in the win. Arizona QB David Blough threw for 222 yards and a touchdown in defeat.
In the Sunday night game in Baltimore, the Pittsburgh Steelers (8-8) rallied from ten points down to beat the Ravens, 16-13 when rookie QB Kenny Pickett threw a ten-yard scoring pass to RB Najee Harris with just 56 seconds remaining. From there, the defense came through as safety Minkah Fitzpatrick intercepted a pass by Baltimore QB Tyler Huntley to seal the win. The Ravens (10-6) went ahead 10-3 at the half when QB Tyler Huntley threw a seven-yard TD pass to WR Isaiah Likely, but couldn't hold on and dropped back to the sixth seed in the AFC playoffs.
NOTE - The Monday Night Football game in Cincinnati between the Bengals and Buffalo Bills was suspended and then postponed after Bills safety Damar Hamlin collapsed after a collision with Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins in the first quarter. Hamlin was taken off the field in an ambulance after being administered CPR by medical personnel and transported to a local hospital, where he was listed in critical condition. Further details were pending.
WEEK SEVENTEEN RESULTS
Dallas 27, Tennessee 13
N.Y. Giants 38, Indianapolis 10
Detroit 41, Chicago 10
New England 23, Miami 21
Cleveland 24, Washington 10
New Orleans 20, Philadelphia 10
Atlanta 20, Arizona 19
Jacksonville 31, Houston 3
Kansas City 27, Denver 24
Tampa Bay 30, Carolina 24
Seattle 23, N.Y. Jets 6
Green Bay 41, Minnesota 17
L.A. Chargers 31, L.A. Rams 10
San Francisco 37, Las Vegas 34 (OT)
Pittsburgh 16, Baltimore 13
Buffalo - Cincinnati (Game postponed)
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