Brady seizes all-time win mark
TOM Brady piloted the New England Patriots to a 26-10 victory over the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday, his 201st NFL triumph breaking the all-time record for wins by a quarterback.
“We’re in the locker room with a walking legend,” Patriots cornerback Malcom Butler said after Brady threw for one touchdown pass in the victory that took the Patriots to 10-2 for the season.
He broke out of a tie with now-retired Peyton Manning for No1 on the all-time wins list, including regularseason and post-season contests.
“He has the most wins in quarterback history in the NFL, but he still comes to work like he hasn’t accomplished anything,” Butler added of Brady – who might have passed the milestone sooner but for his four-game Deflategate suspension to start this season.
The record put Brady in the spotlight, but the Pats defence also came up big, holding the Rams to 25 yards of offence in the first half – the fewest yards ever allowed by New England in a half.
It was the kind of performance New England needed as they adjust to life without star tight end Rob Gronkowski, who will miss the rest of the season after back surgery this week.
LeGarrette Blount, raced 43 yards for a touchdown on a fourth-and-one play on New England’s first possession.
The 39-year-old Brady hit Chris Hogan with a 14-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter and Stephen Gostkowski kicked four field goals.
Kansas City safety Eric Berry, riding on the emotion of his return to his hometown of Atlanta, produced a spectacular display that included a game-winning interception return in the Chiefs’ 29-28 win over the Falcons.
Berry, who beat Hodgkin’s lymphoma, had a 37-yard interception return for a touchdown in the first half, then picked off an attempted conversion pass in the fourth quarter and raced 99 yards for what proved the deciding two points.
“The last time I came home during the season it was to get chemotherapy,” said Berry, who handed his touch- down ball to his mother in the stands.
“This time it was to play a game, so I was thankful for the opportunity. I take pride in a lot of things people take for granted. I cherish everything that comes my way.”
Redskins loss puts Cowboys through
The Dallas Cowboys – who notched their 11th straight win on Thursday – officially became the first team to clinch a playoff berth when NFC East rivals Washington dropped a 31-23 decision to Arizona.
The Seattle Seahawks demolished the Carolina Panthers 40-7.
Thomas Rawls rushed for 106 yards and two touchdowns against a Panthers defence that came into the contest as the second-best in the league against the run.
Carolina’s night started with dressing room drama, with quarterback Cam Newton benched for the opening play for violating team dress code.
Back-up Derek Anderson’s opening pass was intercepted to set up a Seahawks field goal on Seattle’s first possession – setting a tone for the rest of the game.
The Seahawks improved to 8-3-1, although their post-season hopes may have taken a hit when five-time Pro Bowl defender Earl Thomas broke his lower left leg in a second-quarter collision with teammate Kam Chancellor while breaking up a pass.
“A lot is running through my mind, including retirement,” Thomas, 27, tweeted before half-time.
In Oakland, Derek Carr threw for 260 yards and two touchdowns as the Raiders roared back with 29 unanswered points to beat the Buffalo Bills 38-24.
Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco had a big day, throwing for 381 yards and four touchdowns in a 38-6 blowout win over Miami.
The Chicago Bears routed the San Francisco 49ers 26-6 at a snowy Soldier Field.
Niners QB Colin Kaepernick was sacked five times and completed just one pass for four yards before he was benched in the fourth quarter in favour of Blaine Gabbert.