Jets avoid winless season with victory over stunned Rams
Sam Darnold and the New York Jets could have been forgiven for forgetting the victory formation, yet everybody knew where to stand when they got the chance at SoFi Stadium.
After 51 weeks and 13 games without a win, the Jets finally earned the chance to celebrate with pride.
“It’s the greatest feeling in sports to be able to ice the game out and know we had it,” Darnold said. “It’s the best."
The Jets (1-13) knew their 23-20 victory over the embarrassed Los Angeles
Rams on Sunday was never pretty. Everybody realized it also came with a major drawback: New York is no longer in position for the top pick in the NFL Draft.
Don’t try telling that to the joyful Jets who surged onto the field after the final whistle with the knowledge their names will not be attached to the ignominy of the third 0-16 season in NFL history.
Darnold passed for 207 yards in a steady performance, while Frank Gore rushed for a score that was his 100th career touchdown in the Jets' first win since the 2019 season finale.
Gore also made a decisive third-down reception with 2:12 left for the Jets, who ended the longest losing streak in franchise history with a strong start and a gritty finish.
Buccaneers 31, Falcons
●
27: Tom Brady did it again to Atlanta. This time, he didn’t even need overtime. Rallying visiting Tampa Bay from a pair of 17-point deficits, Brady recreated his Super Bowl miracle by leading the Buccaneers on five straight scoring drives in the second half for a victory over stunned Atlanta. The stakes weren’t nearly as high and the deficit wasn’t quite as daunting, but Brady’s latest blow to Atlanta took the Bucs (9-5) to the brink of their first playoff berth since 2007. It sure didn’t look that way when Atlanta raced to 17-0 by halftime, or when the Falcons (4-10) restored their margin to 24-7 after Brady finally guided the Bucs to a touchdown on the first possession of the second half.
Colts 27, Texans 20:
●
Philip Rivers threw a late, tiebreaking touchdown to Zach Pascal and host Indianapolis' defense recovered a fumble in the end zone with 19 seconds left to seal a victory over Houston.
Indy (10-4) has won three straight to retain a share of the AFC South lead with Tennessee, winners over Detroit. Houston (4-10) has lost three straight and five of six in this series.The
Colts won this one in similar fashion to the teams’ meeting two weeks ago.
The Texans had a chance to win that one in the final minute but Indy jumped on a bad snap to quarterback Deshaun Watson inside the red zone. Rivers was 22 of 28 with 228 yards and two scores. Jonathan Taylor had 16 carries for 83 yards and a touchdown.
Titans 46, Lions 25:
●
Ryan Tannehill ran for two touchdowns and threw three more, and Derrick Henry ran for 147 yards and a score to move host Tennessee closer to clinching its third playoff berth in four seasons as it routed Detroit. The Titans (10-4) did their part with their second straight victory and fourth in five games to stay atop the AFC South. With Indianapolis beating Houston 27-20, the Titans still hold the tiebreaker in the division over the Colts with two games remaining.
●Ravens 40, Jaguars
14: Baltimore built a 26point halftime lead against helpless Jacksonville and rolled to a victory that boosted their playoff chances and extended the visiting Jaguars’ losing streak to 13 games. Lamar Jackson threw three touchdown passes and ran for a score to carry the Ravens (9-5) to their third straight win following a three-game skid. Hopeful of reaching the postseason for the third year in a row, Baltimore is among several AFC teams vying for three wild-card spots.
Bears 33, Vikings
●
27: David Montgomery rushed for a career-high
146 yards and two touchdowns and Chicago trampled host Minnesota’s depleted defense and hung on for a victory to stay in the hunt for the expanded playoffs. The Bears (7-7), who entered the afternoon one game behind Arizona for the new third wild-card spot in the NFC, never trailed in winning at Minnesota for a third straight year.
●Cardinals 33, Eagles
26: Kyler Murray threw for a career-high 406 yards, DeAndre Hopkins had 169 yards receiving and a stellar touchdown catch, and host Arizona improved its position in the playoff race by beating Philadelphia. Arizona (8-6) won its second straight game as it tries to make the postseason for the first time since 2015. The Cardinals are in third place in their division behind the Rams and Seahawks and would currently be the No. 7 and final seed in the NFC playoffs.
Late Saturday — Packers 24, Panthers 16: A fast start helped host Green
Bay overcome a shaky second-half performance and remain on pace to earn the top seed in the NFC playoffs. Aaron Jones rushed for 145 yards and a touchdown as the NFC North champions reached the end zone on their first three series before hanging on to beatCarolina. Aaron Rodgers threw for a season-low 143 yards but produced a touchdown pass — his 40th of the season — and a touchdown run for the Packers.