Browns, Ravens and Titans secure NFL playoff berths
CLEVELAND Browns edged Pittsburgh Steelers 24-22 to reach the NFL playoffs for the first time since 2002 on Monday as the regular season moved to a dramatic conclusion.
Nick Chubb and Jarvis Landry each ran for a touchdown and Baker Mayfield threw for another as the Browns snapped the NFL’s longest active post-season drought while the Baltimore Ravens and Tennessee Titans also qualified for the playoffs, which start on Sunday.
“We wanted this. I could see that determination,” Browns coach Kevin Stefanski said.
“It’s not over. We’ve got work left to do. I like how this team responds when their back is up against the wall.”
Lamar Jackson threw for 113 yards and three touchdowns and ran 11 times for 97 yards to spark Baltimore over Cincinnati 38-3 to clinch an AFC (American Conference) wildcard berth.
Jackson became the first quarterback in NFL history with back-to-back 1000-yard rushing seasons while J.K. Dobbins ran for 160 yards and two touchdowns in the Ravens’ romp.
Green Bay’s Aaron Rodgers threw for 240 yards and four touchdowns Sunday to give the Packers a 35-16 victory at Chicago, a home-field edge in the NFL playoffs and a first-round bye. Rodgers completed 19-of-24 passes with second-quarter touchdown tosses of 3 yards to Robert Tonyan, 13 yards to Dominique Dafney and 72 yards to Marquez Valdes-Scantling plus a late 6-yarder clincher to Davante Adams as the Packers finished 13-3 with the National Conference (NFC) top seed.
“It was a good win for us. We had a lot to play for,” Rodgers said. “Very happy with our guys. Excited about the post-season.
Excited to be the number one seed.”
Adam Gase, who guided the New York Jets through a franchise record 13-game losing streak to start the 2020 season, was fired by the NFL club Sunday following their 28-14 season finale loss to the New England Patriots.
The Titans, who played later at Houston, secured a playoff spot when the Miami Dolphins were routed 56-26 at Buffalo.