Rams end drought, clinch NFC West
Jared Goff threw four touchdown passes and Todd Gurley had another big day to help the Rams hold off the Titans 27-23 on Sunday and clinch their first NFC West title since 2003.
“When you find a way to come on the road and finish up your road record 7-1 and win a division title, there’s only one thing you can say. Woooo! One more: Woooo!” said first-year coach Sean McVay.
Gurley bolstered his MVP argument with 118 yards rushing and 158 yards receiving with two TDs. He became only the third player in NFL history with such yardage in the same game, joining Ollie Matson (1954) and Herschel Walker (1986).
The Titans’ skid hit three, damaging their chances of ending a playoff drought stretching to 2008.
Alex Smith threw for 304 yards and a TD as the Chiefs clinched back-to-back AFC West titles for the first time in franchise history. Kareem Hunt ran for 91 yards and a score, and Tyreek Hill had six catches for 109 yards. CB Marcus Peters recovered a fumble and forced another, giving him a hand in five turnovers the last two weeks. The Dolphins’ long-shot playoff hopes ended.
Cam Newton’s 2-yard run with 35 seconds left gave the Panthers a spot in the NFC playoffs. Newton fumbled the snap from the shotgun but alertly picked it up and raced across the goal line. Damiere Byrd returned a kickoff 103 yards.
Making two defensive stands from inside their own 2-yard line, the Saints clinched their first playoff berth since 2013. The loss eliminated the Falcons in the NFC South, but they can clinch a wild-card berth by beating the Panthers next weekend. Ted Ginn caught a 54-yard TD pass and Mark Ingram ran for a 26-yard score.
Tom Brady’s two TD passes helped the Pats lock up a first-round bye. Dion Lewis ran 24 times for career-high 129 yards with rushing and receiving TDs.
Justin Coleman returned an INT 30 yards for a score and Russell Wilson threw for two TDs as the Seahawks eliminated the Cowboys. The Seahawks will need help but still have a chance to keep their five-year playoff streak alive.
Philip Rivers threw a TD pass to Antonio Gates and Melvin Gordon ran for a score as the Chargers stayed alive in the AFC. Rivers passed for 290 yards.
Jimmy Garoppolo led the 49ers to their fourth straight win, tossing two TD passes and running for another. Garoppolo completed 21 for 30 passes for 242 yards.
Giovani Bernard ran for 116 yards and a clinching score in the closing minutes, eliminating the Lions.
Kirk Cousins threw for 299 yards and three scores. He is the first QB in franchise history with three seasons of 25 or more TD passes.
The Cardinals got their first shutout in 25 years. Larry Fitzgerald caught nine passes for 119 yards and a TD. Antoine Bethea had two INTs.
Jordan Howard rushed for two TDs and Mitchell Trubisky threw for 193 yards.