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| Ravens QB Lamar Jackson celebrates big win to clinch top spot in AFC playoffs. |
On Sunday, the Ravens absolutely crushed the visiting Miami Dolphins (11-5) by a 56-19 score as quarterback Lamar Jackson finished the game with five touchdown passes along with 321 passing yards and a perfect passer rating in the game. The Baltimore defense intercepted Miami QB Tua Tagovailoa (237 passing yards, two TD, two INT) twice along with getting a fumble recovery and had three sacks while the balanced offense gained 491 total yards (331 passing, 160 rushing) in the rout.
On Thursday night in Cleveland, former Ravens QB Joe Flacco continued his resurgence for the Browns (11-5) as he had three TD passes (one interception) and 309 passing yards in a 37-20 win against the New York Jets (6-10) to help them clinch an AFC playoff spot. The Browns piled up 428 yards in total offense as they built a 34-17 lead at the half. The Jets had one offensive TD in the loss while Jermaine Johnson took an interception back 37 yards for a score late in the second quarter prior to Flacco's third TD pass in the game.
The San Francisco 49ers (12-4) clinched the home field edge throughout the NFC playoffs with a 27-10 road win against the Washington Commanders (4-12) as QB Brock Purdy threw for two touchdowns while RB Elijah Mitchell scored a rushing touchdown. Washington tied the score 10-10 on a three-yard TD pass from QB Sam Howell to WR Terry McLaurin, but from there it was all 49ers the rest of the way.
The Arizona Cardinals (4-12) pulled off perhaps the stunner of the entire regular season as they went into Philadelphia and beat the Eagles, 35-31 in comeback fashion as QB Kyler Murray passed for 232 yards and three touchdowns (one INT) to lead the balanced offense, which piled up 449 total yards (221 rushing and 228 passing yards). Meanwhile, Arizona RB James Conner (26 carries for 128 yards) scored twice with a rushing and receiving touchdown in the big come from behind (15-point halftime deficit) win. The Eagles (11-5) built a 21-6 halftime edge as rookie DB Sydney Brown took an interception back 99 yards for a touchdown and 14-3 lead in the second quarter, but they fell flat in the second half as QB Jalen Hurts (three TD, one INT) connected with tight end Dallas Goedert on a nine-yard scoring pass for a 28-21 lead. But the Cardinals stormed back behind a TD pass from Murray and Conner's second score (two-yard run) with only 32 seconds left.The New Orleans Saints dominated the host Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 23-13 to force a first place tie with the Bucs (both teams are 8-8) in the NFC South race. Saints QB Derek Carr had two TD passes as they built a 20-0 lead after three quarters. Bucs QB Baker Mayfield (309 passing yards, two TD, two INT) threw a pair of TD passes in the final quarter, but it wasn't close enough to prevent the loss.
Meanwhile, another team from the NFC South blew a chance to make it a three-way tie as the Atlanta Falcons (7-9) were blown out, 37-17 in snowy Chicago by the Bears (7-9) as they gained 432 total yards with QB Justin Fields (268 passing yards) running and throwing for a score while RB Khalil Herbert ran for 124 yards and a touchdown and wide receiver DJ Moore caught nine passes for 159 yards and a touchdown. The Chicago defense intercepted four passes, including two by cornerback Tyrique Stevenson. The Falcons got a rushing and passing TD from QB Taylor Heinicke in defeat.
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| Controversial penalty call helped Dallas win. |
In Dallas on Saturday night, the Cowboys (11-5) benefited from a penalty against the Detroit Lions (11-5) in a 20-19 victory as an illegal touching (the football) call was flagged against the Lions as they attempted a two-point conversion try in the final 23 seconds. The refs said the wrong offensive lineman checked in as eligible to make the catch, so the flag dropped as the Lions celebrated the short lived successful two-point conversion pass.
The Cowboys jumped on top 7-3 late in the first quarter when QB Dak Prescott (345 passing yards, two TD, one INT) hit wide receiver CeeDee Lamb (13 receptions for 227 yards) on a 92-yard scoring pass. Lions running back David Montgomery later scored on a three-yard run and the game was tied 10-10 entering the fourth quarter. Prescott threw his second TD pass in the fourth quarter and kicker Brandon Aubrey drilled his second field goal for a 20-13 lead before Lions QB Jared Goff (271 passing yards, two INT) threw an 11-yard TD pass to WR Amon-Ra St. Brown before all the controversy on the failed two-point attempt.
The Indianapolis Colts (9-7) toppled the visiting Las Vegas Raiders, 23-20 to stay in the thick of the AFC playoff chase as QB Gardner Minshew connected with WR Alec Pierce on a 58-yard TD strike along with Jonathan Taylor's five-yard scoring run and three field goals. The Raiders (7-9) were eliminated from playoff contention as QB Aidan O'Connell threw two TD passes to Davante Adams.
In Buffalo, the Bills (10-6) made it four wins in a row as they held off the stubborn New England Patriots, 27-21 with QB Josh Allen scoring two rushing touchdowns and defensive back Rasul Douglas taking an interception back 40 yards for another score to lead the way as their defense forced four turnovers (three interceptions, one fumble). New England (4-12) grabbed a quick 7-0 lead when Jalen Reagor took the opening kickoff back 98 yards for a score. Buffalo scored the next 20 points and led 20-14 at halftime. Allen scored his second rushing TD for a 27-14 lead and Pats RB Ezekiel Elliott had a six-yard TD run to account for the final outcome.
The Kansas City Chiefs (10-6) knocked off the visiting Cincinnati Bengals, 25-17 as kicker Harrison Butker made six field goals and QB Patrick Mahomes (245 passing yards) threw a TD pass to make the difference in the final outcome. The win clinched the AFC West division for the Chiefs, their eighth consecutive division crown while the Bengals (8-8) were eliminated from playoff contention. The Kansas City defense sacked Bengals QB Jake Browning (one rushing and passing TD in defeat) six times as they shut out Cincy in the second half.
The Jacksonville Jaguars (9-7) shutout the Carolina Panthers (2-14) by a 26-0 count to stay in a three-way tie for first place with Houston Texans and Indianapolis Colts with RB Travis Etienne scoring two rushing touchdowns while gaining 102 yards on 16 carries and Brandon McManus kicking four field goals. The Panthers gained just 124 total yards in offense and QB Bryce Young was sacked six times in the blowout loss.
The Houston Texans (9-7) won at home, 26-3 against the Tennessee Titans (5-11) as C.J. Stroud had a TD pass and Sheldon Rankins ran a fumble back 13 yards for another score to pace the easy win. The Texans defense limited the Titans to 187 yards in total offense and registered six QB sacks.
The Los Angeles Rams (9-7) continued their push to make the NFC playoffs as they survived, 26-25 against the New York Giants (5-11) for the road win, which coupled with the Seattle Seahawks losing to Pittsburgh, clinched an NFC playoff spot. Running back Kyren Williams scored three times on the ground as the rams overcame three turnovers and two big scoring plays by the Giants, which included an 80-yard scoring pass from Tyrod Taylor to WR Darius Slayton and a 94-yard punt return TD by Gunner Olszewski to get to withing one point, but the two-point pass attempt failed. Giants kicker Mason Crosby missed on a 54-yard field goal in the closing seconds.
The Pittsburgh Steelers (9-7) guaranteed another winning season as they topped the host Seattle Seahawks, 30-23 and more importantly stayed in contention for an AFC playoff spot. Meanwhile, Seattle fell to 8-8 and will now need help to get into the NFC playoffs. Steelers running back Najee Harris scored two rushing touchdowns and had 122 yards on 27 carries as they gained 468 total yards with 202 rushing yards. Seattle QB Geno Smith passed for 290 yards and one touchdown in the loss.
In Denver, the Broncos knocked off the injury depleted Los Angeles Chargers, 16-9 as backup QB Jarrett Stidham threw a 54-yard TD pass to WR Lil' Jordan Humphrey to get to 8-8 this season, but they were eliminated from playoff contention as Pittsburgh, Indianapolis, Houston, Jacksonville and Buffalo all won their games. The Chargers (5-11) lost for the seventh time in the last eight games.
In the Sunday night game in Minnesota, the Green Bay Packers (8-8) destroyed the Vikings, 33-10 with QB Jordan Love (256 passing yards) throwing three TD passes and rushing for another in the easy win. Two of the scoring passes went to WR Jaylen Reed (six receptions for 89 yards) and one to WR Bo Melton, who had six receptions for 105 yards. The Vikings (7-9) were eliminated from playoff contention and were never in this one as they fell behind 23-3 at the half while turning the ball over twice. The Packers had a balanced attack on offense with RB Aaron Jones going for 120 yards rushing on 20 carries while the defense had four sacks and limited Minnesota to 211 yards in total offense.
WEEK SEVENTEEN RESULTS
Cleveland 27, N.Y. Jets 20
Dallas 20, Detroit 19
Houston 26, Tennessee 3
Chicago 37, Atlanta 17
New Orleans 23, Tampa Bay 13
Baltimore 56, Miami 19
Indianapolis 23, Las Vegas 20
Buffalo 27, New England 21
Jacksonville 26, Carolina 0
Arizona 35, Philadelphia 31
San Francisco 27, Washington 10
L.A. Rams 26, N.Y. Giants 25
Pittsburgh 30, Seattle 23
Kansas City 25, Cincinnati 17
Denver 16, L.A. Chargers 9
Green Bay 33, Minnesota 10
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