Bucs top Panthers to grab South title
CHARLOTTE — The Buccaneers won their first NFC South title since 2007 on Sunday when Tom Brady threw for 232 yards and a touchdown and Antonio Brown made a grand return to the NFL in a 32-6 rout of the Panthers.
In his first game since Oct. 13 after missing eight games, Brown saw a prominent role on offense with Mike Evans and Chris Godwin sidelined by injuries, catching 10 passes for 101 yards while being targeted 15 times by Brady. Brown has been plagued by an ankle injury and was suspended three games for breaking COVID-19 protocols prior.
RAMS 30, VIKINGS 23
Brandon Powell returned a punt 61 yards for a touchdown in the third quarter to lift the visiting Rams into the playoffs.
The victory also sent the Rams’ NFC West rival Cardinals into the postseason.
Sony Michel rushed for a season-high 131 yards and a score, Matt Gay kicked three field goals, and the Aaron Donald-led defense did its part, keeping the Vikings out of the end zone on two first-half trips inside the 10-yard line.
Matthew Stafford suffered through his first three-interception game since Sept. 10, 2018, when he was picked off four times for Detroit against the Jets.
BENGALS 41, RAVENS 21
Joe Burrow threw for a franchise-record 525 yards and four touchdowns, and the Bengals took sole possession of first place in the AFC North with a victory over the depleted Ravens in Cincinnati.
Burrow, the second-year QB who broke Boomer Esiason’s team record of 522 yards, was 37 of 46 and threw two touchdown passes to Tee Higgins and one each to Tyler Boyd and Joe Mixon as the Bengals (9-6) swept the Ravens for the first time since 2015. Cincinnati won, 41-17, at Baltimore on Oct. 24.
FALCONS 20, LIONS 16
In Atlanta, Matt Ryan threw a tie-breaking, 12-yard touchdown pass to Hayden Hurst early in the fourth quarter and the Falcons held on late to beat the Lions to preserve their slim playoff hopes.
Foye Oluokun’s interception of Lions fill-in quarterback Tim Boyle’s pass at the Atlanta 1 with 33 seconds remaining preserved the win. It was the first interception of the game for Boyle, who made his second career start as Jared Goff remained on the reserve/COVID-19 list.
Atlanta wide receiver Russell Gage’s lost fumble with 2:18 remaining set up the Lions’ last possession at the Atlanta 37. The fumble was forced by Jalen Reeves-Maybin and recovered by Dean Marlowe.
The Falcons (7-8) began the day knowing they had to win their final three regular-season games to protect hopes of making the playoffs.
CHIEFS 36, STEELERS 10
Patrick Mahomes threw for 258 yards and three touchdowns, Byron Pringle caught two of the TD passes, and the host Chiefs beat the Steelers to clinch their sixth consecutive AFC West title.
The Chiefs (11-4) remained a game ahead of Tennessee for first place in the AFC with their eighth straight win. That would give them the conference’s lone first-round bye and home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs.
BEARS 25, SEAHAWKS 24
Jimmy Graham caught a 15-yard touchdown pass from Nick Foles with 1:01 remaining, Damiere Byrd made an acrobatic reception for the 2-point conversion, and the visiting Bears beat the Seahawks.
Making his first start since last season, Foles led the Bears 80 yards in the closing minutes, capping the drive with his TD toss to Graham, who spent three seasons with the Seahawks. On the 2-point attempt, Foles threw late, but Byrd got his knee down in the end zone with multiple Seattle defenders trying to push him over the back line.
It was a stunning conclusion to rare snow game in Seattle that eliminated the Seahawks (5-10) from the NFC playoff picture.
RAIDERS 17, BRONCOS 13
Josh Jacobs rushed for 129 yards and the Raiders came from behind to defeat the Broncos in Las Vegas to stay relevant in the AFC playoff picture.
With the win, the Raiders (8-7) severely damaged the postseason chances for AFC West rival Denver (7-8), which dropped its third game in the last four.