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| The Miami Dolphins celebrate a big win. |
The Cleveland Browns (10-5) won their third consecutive game and took a step closer to clinching an AFC playoff spot with a convincing 36-22 road win against the slumping Houston Texans (8-7) as QB Joe Flacco passed for three touchdowns (along with two interceptions and 368 yards) while WR Amari Cooper hauled in two of the touchdown passes and had 11 receptions for 265 yards. The only Texans score until a pair of TD passes late in the game by reserve QB Davis Mills was a 98-yard kickoff return for touchdown by Dameon Pierce.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-7) continued their late season push for a third consecutive NFC South division title with a 30-12 rout of the visiting Jacksonville Jaguars (8-7), who dropped their fourth straight game as they had four turnovers (two fumbles, two INT) and QB Trevor Lawrence suffered a shoulder injury. Tampa Bay QB Baker Mayfield (283 passing yards) had two touchdown passes in the win, which was the fourth straight for the Bucs.
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| Lions Head Coach Dan Campbell talks about winning NFC North. |
In Atlanta, the Falcons (7-8) stayed alive in the NFC South division race with a 29-10 pounding of the Indianapolis Colts (8-7) with Younghoe Koo making five field goals and the offense using a balanced attack (177 rushing yards and 229 passing yards) in the easy win. The Colts only touchdown was a one-yard rushing score by RB Jonathan Taylor.
On Saturday, the host Pittsburgh Steelers (8-7) snapped a three-game skid with a 34-11 drubbing of the Cincinnati Bengals (8-7) as QB Mason Rudolph threw two TD passes along with 290 yards in his first start this season. Steelers WR George Pickens (four receptions for 195 yards) hauled in scoring passes of 86 and 66 yards and the defense intercepted Bengals QB Jake Browning three times.
The Buffalo Bills (9-6) made it three straight wins on Saturday night in Los Angeles as they held off the Chargers, 24-22 when kicker Tyler Bass made a 29-yard field goal with 28 seconds remaining. Buffalo QB Josh Allen had a TD pass and run (record setting 11th time this season) in the game to offset a TD run by Chargers QB Easton Stick and five field goals by Cameron Dicker. The Chargers dropped to 5-10 this season with their sixth loss in the last seven games.
The Los Angeles Rams (8-7) won at home, 30-22 on Thursday night against the New Orleans Saints (7-8) with QB Matthew Stafford leading the way with two TD passes and 328 passing yards. with Kyren Williams rushed for a touchdown and 104 yards. Wide receiver Puka Nacua had a scoring reception and hauled in nine catches for 164 yards. Meanwhile, Saints QB Derek Carr passed for 319 yards and three touchdowns and one interception in defeat.
The Seattle Seahawks (8-7) got a 20-17 road win against the Tennessee Titans (5-10) as QB Geno Smith had two TD passes, including the game winner (five yards) to Colby Parkinson with only 57 seconds left to play. Titans RB Derrick Henry (88 rushing yards) scored a touchdown on a two-yard run and also threw a scoring pass in the loss.
The Chicago Bears (6-9) came away with a 27-16 home win against the Arizona Cardinals (3-12) as QB Justin Fields (170 passing yards, one TD, one INT and 97 rushing yards on nine carries) scored a rushing touchdown and also connected with tight end Marcedes Lewis on a one-yard scoring pass while RB Khalil Herbert (20 carries for 112 yards) scored a rushing TD to pace the effort. The Cardinals fell behind 21-0 before making it interesting as QB Kyler Murray threw a pair of TD passes to get back to within 24-16 with 6:37 left in the game.
The Green Bay Packers (7-8) nearly squandered a 14-point fourth quarter lead, but held off the host Carolina Panthers (2-13) for a 33-30 victory as kicker Anders Carlson drilled a 32-yard field goal with 19 seconds remaining. Packers QB Jordan Love had two TD passes and also a rushing touchdown to offset two TD passes by Panthers QB Bryce Young (312 passing yards) as he led the team back to tie the game at 30-30 with four minutes left in the fourth quarter.
The New York Jets (6-9) also squandered a big lead (27-7 at halftime) and fell behind the Washington Commanders (4-11) before rallying to win, 30-28 on a 54-yard field goal by Greg Zuerlein with five seconds left to play. Jets RB Breece Hall (20 carries for 95 yards) scored twice in the ground along with a TD pass from QB Trevor Siemian. Washington stormed back in the second half with QB Jacoby Brissett throwing a TD pass and RB Chris Rodriguez, Jr. getting two rushing scores and Antonio Gibson a two-yard TD run for a 28-27 lead with 4:52 remaining in the fourth quarter.
On Sunday night in Denver, the New England Patriots (4-11) surprised the Broncos, 26-23 when kicker Chad Rylund made a 56-yard field goal as time ran out. The Broncos (7-8) were dealt a serious blow for their playoff hopes with the defeat as they fell behind 23-7 in the third quarter as the Pats scored two touchdowns in six seconds on an 11-yard TD pass from QB Bailey Zappe (256 passing yards, two TD) to tight end Mike Gesicki and a one-yard fumble return for score by Cody Davis. But Denver QB Russell Wilson (238 passing yards) threw two fourth quarter TD passes and also two successful two-point conversions to tie it up at 23-23 with 2:53 left to play. But New England drove downfield in the last two minutes to get the game winning kick.
There were three Christmas Day games in the NFL and the early one in Kansas City saw the Las Vegas Raiders (7-8) stun the Chiefs, 20-14 as the defense dominated, getting two scores off turnovers with a fumble recovery for an eight yard touchdown by Bilal Nichols and later a "pick six" 33-yard interception return for another score by Jack Jones to take a 17-7 lead at the half. The Chiefs (9-6) lost for the fourth time in the last six games as they had a 7-3 lead midway through the second quarter when RB Isiah Pacheco scored on a 12-yard run. Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes was sacked four times while turning it over twice (fumble and INT) that resulted directly in the Raiders two touchdowns. Raiders kicker Daniel Carlson made two field goals to help account for the final outcome.
The Philadelphia Eagles beat the visiting New York Giants, 33-25 as QB Jalen Hurts (301 passing yards, one TD, one INT) scored a rushing TD and also threw a 36-yard scoring pass to WR DeVonta Smith while RB DeAndre Swift (92 rushing yards on 20 carries) scored on a five-yard run to pace the attack. Jake Elliott added four field goals for the Eagles (11-4) as they took over first place in the NFC East. The Giants (5-10) trailed 20-3 at halftime,but caught some breaks in the second half when Philly fumbled away the opening second half kickoff and RB Saquon Barkley scored a rushing TD and then Adoree' Jackson took an interception back 76 yards for a touchdown to trim the deficit to 20-18 entering the final quarter. Philadelphia outscored the Giants 13-7 in the fourth quarter and Kelee Ringo intercepted Tyrod Taylor's pass in the end zone as time ran out to seal the win.
The Monday Night Football Game in San Francisco was all Baltimore Ravens, especially in the second half as they improved to a league best 12-3 record with a 33-19 win against the 49ers (11-4), who saw their six game winning streak snapped. The Ravens defense intercepted five passes in the game, including four against 49ers starting QB Brock Purdy. Meanwhile, Ravens QB Lamar Jackson passed for two touchdowns and 252 yards while also rushing for 45 yards to lead the offense. The game was close with Baltimore leading 16-12 at the half, but they put it away with 17 unanswered points in the third quarter. 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey rushed for 103 yards on 14 carries and scored a touchdown in defeat.
WEEK SIXTEEN RESULTS
L.A. Rams 30, New Orleans 22
Pittsburgh 34, Cincinnati 11
Buffalo 24, L.A. Chargers 22
Detroit 30, Minnesota 24
N.Y. Jets 30, Washington 28
Seattle 20, Tennessee 17
Atlanta 29, Indianapolis 10
Green Bay 33, Carolina 30
Cleveland 36, Houston 22
Tampa Bay 30, Jacksonville 12
Chicago 27, Arizona 16
Miami 22, Dallas 20
New England 26, Denver 23
Las Vegas 20, Kansas City 14
Philadelphia 33, N.Y. Giants 25
Baltimore 33, San Francisco 19
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