Cowboys stuff Giants; Lions stun Cardinals
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence forced a fumble and made two other big plays that led to 15 points and the NFL-East leading Dallas Cowboys inched closed to their first playoff berth since 2018 with a 21-6 win over the error-plagued New York Giants on Sunday.
Dak Prescott threw a touchdown pass, Ezekiel Elliott scored on a 13-yard run, and the defense forced four turnovers, including Trevon Diggs’ NFL-leading 10th interception. The Cowboys (10-4) won their third straight. Greg Zuerlein added three field goals.
Graham Gano kicked field goals of 35 and 42 yards as the Giants (4-10) lost their third straight game with backup Mike Glennon starting for the injured Daniel Jones (neck).
LIONS 30, CARDINALS 12
Kyler Murray had a shaky performance, and that helped Detroit stun visiting Arizona.
Arizona (10-4), coming off a loss on Monday night to the NFC West-rival Los Angeles Rams, missed its chance to get in the playoffs for the first time since 2015 with a win over a team it was favored to beat by nearly two TDs.
Murray was 23-of-41 for 257 yards with a touchdown and an interception, adding up to a 72.9 passer rating.
Jared Goff, meanwhile, was the best quarterback on the field in one of many surprises at Ford Field.
He completed 21 of 26 passes for 216 yards with three touchdowns for the Lions (2-11-1).
STEELERS 19, TITANS 13
Ben Roethlisberger ran for his first touchdown in three years, Chris Boswell kicked four field goals and host Pittsburgh kept its playoff hopes alive with a win over Tennessee.
The Steelers (7-6-1) forced the Titans (9-5) into four turnovers and needed every one of them to win for the second time in three games. The Titans let a winnable game slip away, trimming their lead over Indianapolis in the AFC South to one game.
Despite the miscues, Tennessee drove deep into
Pittsburgh territory in the final moments, but wide receiver Nick WestbrookIkhine was tackled inches short of the first down at the Steelers’ 11 with 27 seconds to go.
SAINTS 9, BUCCANEERS 0
New Orleans’ defense gave Tom Brady fits again, shutting down Tampa Bay’s high-powered offense as the Saints put the host Buccaneers’ divisiontitle celebration plans on hold with a victory over the reigning Super Bowl champions.
Despite playing without coach Sean Payton (COVID-19) on the sideline, the Saints (7-7) beat the Bucs (10-4) for the seventh straight time during the
regular season — fourth since Brady left New England for Tampa Bay in 2020.
BILLS 31, PANTHERS 14
Josh Allen threw three touchdown passes and Devin Singletary ran for a season-high 86 yards as Buffalo defeated visiting Carolina.
Buffalo (8-6) was at risk of its first three-game skid in three years. The Bills have won four of nine games and kept a hold of at least a wild-card spot.
The Panthers (5-9) dropped their fourth straight and lost for the ninth time in 11 games.
DOLPHINS 31, JETS 24
DeVante Parker caught
an 11-yard touchdown pass from Tua Tagovailoa for the decisive points and Duke Johnson rushed for two scores as host Miami (7-7) beat New York to extend its winning streak to six games.
Brandin Echols had a 20-yard interception return for a score midway through the fourth period for the Jets (3-11).
BENGALS 15, BRONCOS 10
Khalid Kareem snatched the ball from backup quarterback Drew Lock on second-and-goal early in the fourth quarter and Cincinnati stayed in the thick of the logjammed AFC playoff race with a win at Denver.
The Bengals (8-6) won despite star rookie receiver Ja’Marr Chase being held to a single catch for 3 yards and Tee Higgins managing only 23 yards on two catches. The Broncos (7-7) saw their postseason hopes whittled with their fourth home loss.
Lock was in for Teddy Bridgewater, who was taken to the hospital in the third quarter for further evaluation of a head injury after he was carted off following a scary collision that also sent Bengals linebacker Joe Bachie from the game with a leg injury. Bridgewater had movement in his extremities and coach Vic Fangio said he’d be held overnight for observation but was expected to be OK.
PACKERS 31, RAVENS 30
Aaron Rodgers threw three touchdown passes — tying Brett Favre on Green Bay’s career list — and the Packers (11-3) became the first team this season to clinch a division title, wrapping up the NFC North with a win at Baltimore.
With Lamar Jackson out with a sprained ankle, Tyler Huntley nearly led Baltimore (8-6) back from a 31-17 deficit. His 8-yard scoring run with 42 seconds left pulled the Ravens within one, but Huntley’s two-point conversion pass was incomplete.
49ERS 31, FALCONS 13
Jimmy Garoppolo threw for 235 yards and a touchdown, San Francisco ran for three more scores and the 49ers (8-6) won for the fifth time in six games, beating visiting Atlanta (6-8).