Buffalo thrills: Bills earn berth
The Bills snapped the longest current non- playoff drought in North American pro sports with a 22- 16 victory Sunday at Miami and Cincinnati’s victory at Baltimore. The Bills ( 9- 7) hadn’t made the postseason since 1999.
The Bills’ anxiety was compounded by the loss of 1,000yard rusher LeSean McCoy with a right ankle injury. He was carted off in the third quarter.
The frustration of a disappointing season got the best of the Dolphins ( 6- 10) with 6: 21 left, when receiver Jarvis Landry, running back Kenyan Drake and offensive lineman Jake Brendel were ejected following a fight.
Dolphins quarterback Jay Cutler took three snaps before he was replaced by David Fales. Fales, who came into the game with only two career completions, went 29- for- 42 for 265 yards with one touchdown and one interception. Cutler, 34, said he hasn’t decided whether he wants to play in 2018.
Steelers 28, Browns 24
The Browns joined the 2008 Lions as the only teams in NFL history to go 0- 16 when they failed to find a way to beat the host Steelers, who were resting quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and running back Le’Veon Bell.
The Browns had a chance late in the fourth quarter, but quarterback DeShone Kizer’s fourthdown pass bounced off Corey Coleman’s hands.
Kizer finished with 314 yards passing and two touchdowns to Rashard Higgins but also threw a fourth- quarter pick, his NFLleading 22nd of the season. He was sacked six times.
Browns coach Hue Jackson is expected to return despite a 1- 31 record and the Browns have two of the top four picks in the draft.
Landry Jones completed 23 of 27 passes for 239 yards with a touchdown and an interception, and rookie wide receiver JuJu Smith- Schuster caught nine passes for 143 yards and a score and returned a kickoff 96 yards for a touchdown for the AFC North champion Steelers ( 13- 3).
Patriots 26, Jets 6
The Patriots clinched the first seed in the AFC with the win, which gave them their seventh 13- win season, second in NFL history to the 49ers’ nine.
It was Bill Belichick’s 250th career regular- season victory, moving him into a tie with Tom Landry for third all- time.
Buccaneers 31, Saints 24
JameisWinston threw for 363 yards, including a 39- yard scoring pass to Chris Godwin with nine seconds remaining, to help the host Buccaneers snap a fivegame losing streak. Despite the loss, the Saints won the NFC South thanks to the Panthers losing to the Falcons.