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TITANS 41, TEXANS 38
HOUSTON — The Tennessee Titans received the AFC South on Sunday. All it took was Derrick Henry surpassing 2,000 yards speeding and rookie Sam Sloman’s 37-yard area objective that bounced off the upright and thru for a 41-38 victory over the Houston Texans.
Henry ran for a career-high 250 yards within the victory that gave Tennessee (11-5) its first AFC South title since 2008 and is the fifth straight loss for the Texans (4-12). The Titans wanted the air sport to arrange Sloman’s winner, although: a 52-yard reception by A.J. Brown moments after a 51-yard area objective by Houston tied it with 18 seconds left.
Tennessee will host Baltimore (11-5) subsequent weekend.
Henry completed the common season with a franchise-record 2,027 yards speeding to turn out to be the eighth participant in NFL historical past to run for two,000 yards. He handed Chris Johnson, who had 2,006 yards in 2009.
Henry had landing runs of 52 and 6 yards in his third straight 200-yard speeding sport in opposition to the Texans.
BROWNS 24, STEELERS 22
CLEVELAND — Cleveland is again within the playoffs, qualifying for the primary time since 2002 by surviving a late Pittsburgh rally for a win over the Steelers, who rested quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and a number of other different starters.
The Browns (11-5) almost blew a 15-point lead within the fourth quarter, however stopped Pittsburgh’s 2-point conversion try after which recovered an onside kick with 1:22 left to carry on.
Per week of COVID-19 disruptions concluded in celebration because the Browns ended what had been the NFL’s longest postseason drought. Their reward: One other sport in opposition to the AFC North champion Steelers, in Pittsburgh subsequent weekend.
Nick Chubb had a landing run, Baker Mayfield threw a TD go and the Browns held on as Mason Rudolph introduced again the Steelers (12-4), who had the posh of sitting their greatest gamers after clinching the division final week.
Rudolph’s 2-yard TD go to JuJu Smith-Schuster with 1:23 left pulled the Steelers inside 24-22. However Rudolph badly overthrew rookie Chase Claypool on the 2-point try, and Browns tight finish Stephen Carlson then fell on the following kick underneath a pile of our bodies.
COLTS 28, JAGUARS 14
INDIANAPOLIS — Jonathan Taylor rushed for a franchise-record 253 yards and two scores, capping Indianapolis’ playoff-clinching victory over Jacksonville with a 45-yard landing run with 3:35 to go.
Philip Rivers threw for one more rating and the Colts’ protection shut out the Jaguars over the ultimate quarter to assist protect the victory.
Indianapolis (11-5) will make its first postseason look since 2018 and its second since 2015. The Colts would be the No. 7 seed and face Buffalo on the street.
Jacksonville (1-15) misplaced its closing 15 video games and can have the No. 1 general draft decide in April.
Taylor was sensational, carrying 30 instances whereas becoming a member of Corridor of Famer Edgerrin James as the one gamers in franchise historical past to run for 200 yards in a sport. James set the franchise report of 219 yards at Seattle in October 2000. James additionally rushed for 204 yards at Chicago in November 2004.
WASHINGTON 20, EAGLES 14
PHILADELPHIA – Alex Smith threw two landing passes and Washington captured the lowly NFC East.
The Washington franchise, which modified its nickname in July after years of protests about it, grew to become the primary workforce within the Tremendous Bowl period to succeed in the playoffs following a 2-7 begin.
Led by Smith and first-year coach Ron Rivera, who overcame a type of pores and skin most cancers throughout the season, Washington (7-9) is the third workforce to win a division title with a shedding report throughout a full 16-game season. Seattle (2010) and Carolina (2014) beforehand did it and every received a playoff sport.
Washington earned the NFC’s No. 4 seed and can host Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (11-5) in a wild-card sport subsequent Saturday evening.
RAMS 18, CARDINALS 7
INGLEWOOD, Calif. — John Wolford handed for 231 yards and rushed for 56 extra in his NFL debut, and Los Angeles is headed to the playoffs with a victory over Arizona.
Troy Hill returned an interception 84 yards for a landing to steer yet one more dominant defensive efficiency by the Rams (10-6), who earned their third postseason berth in 4 years underneath coach Sean McVay.
Wolford bounced again from an interception on his first profession throw with a gentle effort instead of Jared Goff for the Rams, who would have gotten into the playoffs even with a loss as a result of Inexperienced Bay beat Chicago whereas a couple of minutes had been left at SoFi Stadium.
Regardless of failing to attain an offensive landing for the second straight sport, Los Angeles nonetheless snapped its two-game skid heading to the postseason with its eighth consecutive win over Arizona (8-8).
PACKERS 35, BEARS 16
CHICAGO — Aaron Rodgers threw for 4 touchdowns, breaking his franchise report for scoring passes in a season, and Inexperienced Bay clinched the No. 1 seed within the NFC by beating playoff-bound Chicago.
The Packers (13-3) earned a bye whereas successful their sixth in a row and beat Chicago (8-8) for the nineteenth time in 22 video games, counting the postseason.
The Bears are headed to the playoffs for the second time in coach Matt Nagy’s three years regardless of the loss as a result of Arizona fell to the Los Angeles Rams. Chicago shall be at New Orleans (12-4).
Rodgers joined Peyton Manning (2004 and 2013) as the one gamers to throw for at the least 45 touchdowns in a number of seasons. He now has 48, surpassing his earlier excessive of 45 in his first MVP season of 2011.
Davante Adams broke Sterling Sharpe’s report for receptions in a season and tied his mark for landing catches in a yr. Adams had six receptions to bump his whole to 115 and surpass Sharpe’s mark of 112 in 1993. His 6-yard rating late within the sport gave him 18 TDs, matching Sharpe’s workforce report in 1994.
RAVENS 38, BENGALS 3
CINCINNATI — Baltimore used a club-record 404 yards speeding to clinch a playoff spot, beating Cincinnati as Lamar Jackson threw three landing passes and have become the primary NFL quarterback to hurry for greater than 1,000 yards in two consecutive seasons.
The Ravens rolled up 525 whole yards, and the 404 speeding yards had been essentially the most surrendered by a Bengals protection. Rookie J.Ok. Dobbins rushed for 160 yards and two touchdowns, together with a 72-yard scoring romp within the third quarter.
Baltimore received its fifth straight sport and superior to the postseason for a 3rd consecutive season.
Jackson rushed for 97 yards and threw for 113 earlier than taking a seat within the third quarter. He has run or handed for at the least one landing in 36 straight begins, the longest lively streak within the NFL.
One other Ravens playoff look didn’t look possible only a few weeks in the past. They began 5-1 however slumped amid a COVID-19 outbreak and accidents to key gamers. They rebounded to win 4 straight and put themselves ready to safe the postseason spot heading into the season finale in opposition to Cincinnati (4-11-1) which had received two straight.
Baltimore (11-5) scored on its first two drives, a 34-yard Justin Tucker area objective adopted by a 43-yard landing go from Jackson to Miles Boykin.
BILLS 56, DOLPHINS 26
ORCHARD PARK — Josh Allen and Buffalo positioned an emphatic stamp on a breakout season with a rout of Miami in a sport that helped knock the Dolphins out of the playoffs.
Miami’s postseason hopes ended when the Indianapolis Colts beat Jacksonville later within the day. The Payments will host the Colts subsequent week.
The Dolphins (10-6) additionally didn’t get outcomes they wanted to clinch their third playoff berth in 18 years early within the day when Cleveland beat Pittsburgh and Baltimore routed Cincinnati.
Allen threw three landing passes and Isaiah McKenzie scored thrice, together with returning a punt return 84 yards, in a sport Buffalo blew the sport open by scoring on 4 consecutive second-quarter possessions.
With the win, the Payments (13-3) clinched the AFC’s No. 2 playoff seed in finishing a season by which they matched a single-season report for wins, set in each 1990 and ’91, and received their first East Division title in 25 years.
GIANTS 23, COWBOYS 19
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Rookie Xavier McKinney intercepted Dallas’ Andy Dalton ultimately zone with 1:15 remaining, giving the Giants a victory.
New York’s postseason probabilities evaporated hours later when Washington beat Philadelphia 20-14 to win the NFC East.
The Giants (6-10) fell in need of changing into the primary workforce to qualify for the playoffs with six victories in a 16-game common season and the primary to take action after beginning 1-7.
Dallas (6-10) almost ripped that away. Dalton rallied Dallas with a bloody left hand after being stepped on by defensive deal with Leonard Williams within the third quarter, and he had the Cowboys on the doorstep when Williams received shut once more.
Dalton scrambled round on a damaged play, prevented being sacked by Williams for a fourth time, however ended up floating one into the center of the top zone. McKinney caught it simply, his first profession interception.
SEAHAWKS 26, 49ERS 23
GLENDALE, Ariz. — Russell Wilson related on two fourth-quarter landing passes to Tyler Lockett and Seattle rallied for a win over San Francisco to finish the season on a four-game successful streak.
Seattle (12-4) had an opportunity to earn the No. 1 seed within the NFC playoffs however stayed at No. 3 after the New Orleans Saints and top-seeded Inexperienced Bay Packers each received. The Seahawks will host the division rival Los Angeles Rams within the wild-card spherical subsequent weekend.
The 49ers (6-10) had been eradicated from playoff rivalry a number of weeks in the past and have been primarily based in Arizona for greater than a month due to coronavirus restrictions of their house county. The workforce nonetheless pushed the playoff-bound Seahawks all afternoon.
Third-stringer C.J. Beathard accomplished 25 of 37 passes for 273 yards and a landing however fumbled late within the fourth quarter, which arrange Collins’ landing. Tristan Vizcaino made his first three NFL area targets after being signed by the 49ers earlier this week.
BUCCANEERS 44, FALCONS 27
TAMPA, Fla. — Tom Brady threw for 399 yards and 4 touchdowns, serving to playoff-bound Tampa Bay clinch the fifth seed within the NFC with an everyday season-ending win over Atlanta.
The victory, which implies the Bucs (11-5) will face the NFC East champion, Washington or the Giants, on the street within the membership’s first postseason sport in 13 years, might have include a steep value.
Star receiver Mike Evans was carted to the locker room with a left knee harm late within the first quarter and didn’t return.
Brady threw landing passes of 29 and 4 yards to Chris Godwin. The six-time Tremendous Bowl champion additionally tossed scoring passes of 25 and 30 yards to Antonio Brown, ending with a Tampa Bay single-season report 40 in his first season with the Bucs.
Brady additionally joined Aaron Rodgers, Drew Brees, Peyton Manning and Dan Marino as the one gamers with a number of seasons of at the least 40 TD passes. Rodgers has completed it thrice, the others twice.
Matt Ryan accomplished 29 of 44 passes for 265 yards and two touchdowns for the Falcons (4-12).
SAINTS 33, PANTHERS 7
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Drew Brees threw for 201 yards and three touchdowns, the Saints had 5 interceptions and New Orleans defeated Carolina to wrap up the No. 2 seed within the NFC playoffs.
The Saints will host the seventh-seeded Chicago Bears within the wild-card spherical subsequent weekend.
Ty Montgomery ran for 105 yards on 18 carries for the Saints (12-4), who grew to become the primary workforce to brush the NFC South by going 6-0 for the reason that division was shaped in 2002.
The Saints nonetheless managed to run for 156 yards regardless of enjoying with out Alvin Kamara, who tied an NFL report with six TDs in a Week 16 win over the Vikings, and Latavius Murray. Each operating backs had been positioned on the COVID-19/reserve record.
Taysom Hill had 41 yards speeding, together with a 3-yard TD run.
Carolina’s Teddy Bridgewater was benched halfway by way of the third quarter after throwing his second interception ultimately zone into double protection. The previous Saints QB completed 13 of 23 for 176 yards and was changed by P.J. Walker, who was intercepted thrice.
The Panthers (5-11) had been additionally with out their high two operating backs Christian McCaffrey and Mike Davis due to harm and managed simply 74 yards speeding.
RAIDERS 32, BRONCOS 31
DENVER — Darren Waller caught Derek Carr’s 2-point conversion go with 24 seconds left, and Las Vegas rallied to beat Denver regardless of committing 4 turnovers.
The Broncos (5-11) reached the Las Vegas 45-yard line with 9 seconds left and Brandon McManus’ 63-yard field-goal strive was blocked by Maxx Crosby, who additionally blocked McManus’ report 70-yard try on the final play of the primary half.
Josh Jacobs’ 1-yard TD run capped a seven play, 77-yard drive for the Raiders (8-8), who snapped a nine-game shedding streak in season finales.
CHARGERS 38, CHIEFS 21
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Justin Herbert threw for 302 yards and accounted for 4 touchdowns in opposition to a workforce of largely Kansas Metropolis backups, and the Chargers rolled to a victory because the Chiefs turned their consideration to the postseason and Los Angeles to the precarious way forward for coach Anthony Lynn.
The Chiefs (14-2) already had wrapped up the No. 1 seed and the AFC’s lone first-round bye, so coach Andy Reid selected relaxation over reps by sitting quarterback Patrick Mahomes, security Tyrann Mathieu and a number of other of his greatest gamers.
In the meantime, reviews surfaced earlier within the day that Lynn might be fired as quickly as Monday, when he’s anticipated to satisfy with possession. The Chargers (7-9) completed the yr with 4 straight wins, and Herbert has emerged as a franchise QB, however Lynn’s destiny might have been sealed once they missed the playoffs for the second consecutive yr.
PATRIOTS 28, JETS 14
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Cam Newton had three landing passes and caught one other, and New England rallied to beat New York.
The win snapped a three-game shedding streak for New England (7-9), which earned its tenth straight win over the Jets (2-14), however received’t be enjoying within the postseason for the primary time for the reason that 2008 season.
It marked Newton’s first sport with a number of passing touchdowns this season. He completed 21 of 30 for 242 yards. He additionally ran 11 instances for 79 yards.
New England trailed 14-7 early within the third quarter, however outscored the Jets 21-0 the remainder of the best way in what was possible Adam Gase’s closing sport as New York’s coach.
Sam Darnold, whose future with the Jets can also be unsure, was 23 of 34 for 266 yards, a landing and two second-half interceptions.
VIKINGS 37, LIONS 35
DETROIT — Kirk Cousins threw for 405 yards and three touchdowns, lifting Minnesota to a win over Detroit in a matchup of groups ending disappointing seasons.
The Vikings (7-9) failed for the fourth time in a decade to make two straight journeys to the playoffs. They received 5 of six halfway by way of the season to return to the postseason race, however dashed hopes by shedding three straight earlier than closing with a win at Detroit.
The Lions (5-11) misplaced their final 4 video games and eight of 10 after going into November with a .500 report underneath former coach Matt Patricia.
Detroit’s protection broke franchise data by permitting 519 factors and 6,716 yards, breaking marks set by its winless workforce in 2008 and rating among the many worst in NFL historical past.
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