WEEK 16 RECAPS
PANTHERS 22, BUCCANEERS 19
Cam Newton scored on a 2-yard run with 35 seconds remaining to lift the Panthers into the NFC playoffs. The Panthers trailed most of the second half, but Newton drove them 59 yards before scoring on a what could have been a game-losing play. Newton fumbled the snap from the shotgun, alertly picked it up and then dived across the goal line for the go-ahead score.
CHIEFS 29, DOLPHINS 13
Alex Smith threw for 304 yards and a touchdown, Kareem Hunt ran for 91 yards and a score and the Chiefs clinched back-to-back AFC West titles for the first time in franchise history. Tyreek Hill had six catches for 109 yards, and Harrison Butker converted five field goals, as the Chiefs dashed what faint postseason hope the Dolphins still harbored.
PATRIOTS 37, BILLS 16
Tom Brady passed for a pair of touchdowns and the Patriots stayed on track to claim home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs. Dion Lewis caught a touchdown pass and rushed for a 4-yard score. He carried 24 times for a career-high 129 yards. New England locked up a first-round bye with Jacksonville’s loss. Even with the loss, the Bills remain in contention to break their 17-year playoff drought.
CHARGERS 14, JETS 7
Philip Rivers threw a touchdown pass to Antonio Gates and Melvin Gordon ran for a score, and the Chargers stayed alive in the AFC playoff race. The Chargers entered the weekend needing to win both of their remaining games — including next Sunday at home against Oakland — and get lots of help elsewhere.
BENGALS 26, LIONS 17
Giovani Bernard ran for 116 yards and a clinching touchdown in the closing minutes that eliminated the Lions from playoff contention and gave Marvin Lewis a good moment in what was possibly his final home game as Bengals coach. Matthew Stafford and the Lions couldn’t take advantage of an injury-depleted team that gave indifferent performances the last two games.
BEARS 20, BROWNS 3
The Browns got pushed to the brink of a winless season, hurt by two more interceptions by DeShone Kizer and two turnovers in the red zone against Chicago. One more loss and the Browns will join the 2008 Detroit Lions as the only teams to go 0-16. Last year, Cleveland was 0-14 before getting its only victory on Dec. 24. The Browns will wrap up the season at AFC North leader Pittsburgh next week.
REDSKINS 27, BRONCOS 11
Kirk Cousins threw for 299 yards and three touchdowns in what could be his final home game for the Redskins. Cousins was 19-of-37 with TD passes to Jamison Crowder, Josh Doctson and Vernon Davis and an interception. He became the first quarterback in Washington history with three seasons of 25 or more TD passes.
SEAHAWKS 21, COWBOYS 12
Justin Coleman put Seattle in front for good with a 30-yard interception return for a touchdown, and the Seahawks won a playoff elimination game against Dallas in Ezekiel Elliott’s return from a six-game suspension. Dallas is eliminated from the postseason, and the Seahawks still have a chance to keep their five-year playoff streak alive.
49ERS 44, JAGUARS 33
Jimmy Garoppolo threw two touchdown passes and ran for a third score against one of the NFL’s stingiest defenses as the San Francisco 49ers won their fourth straight. The day wasn’t a total loss for the Jaguars, who clinched their first division title since 1999 earlier in the afternoon when Tennessee lost at home to the Rams.
CARDINALS 23, GIANTS 0
Larry Fitzgerald had a big day in what might have been the final home game of his prolific career, and the Arizona Cardinals shut out an opponent for the first time in 25 seasons. Fitzgerald caught nine passes for 119 yards and a touchdown. He even completed a pass for the first time (in three career tries), a 21-yarder to Jaron Brown.