Dolphins end Patriots’ postseason streak
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Undrafted rookie Salvon Ahmed and veteran Matt Breida combined for 208 yards rushing Sunday to lead the Miami Dolphins to a 22-12 victory over the New England Patriots, who were eliminated from playoff contention, ending their NFL-record run of 11 consecutive postseason appearances.
The Dolphins (9-5) bolstered their wild-card chances and are assured of a winning record for only the second time since 2008.
The Patriots (6-8) will finish at .500 or worse for the first time since 2000, the year they drafted Tom Brady.
They fall one year short of matching the Dallas Cowboys’ NFL record of 20 consecutive winning seasons.
BUCCANEERS 31, FALCONS 27
Rallying visiting Tampa Bay from a pair of 17-point deficits, Tom Brady recreated his Super Bowl miracle by leading the Buccaneers on five straight scoring drives in the second half for a victory, stunning 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.
SEAHAWKS 20, WASHINGTON 15
Russell Wilson threw for a touchdown, Carlos Hyde ran 50 yards for a score, and visiting Seattle (10-4) picked off Washington quarterback Dwayne Haskins twice. Shaquill Griffin and D.J. Reed each had an interception as the league’s worst passing de
fense played strong until the fourth quarter.
CHIEFS 32, SAINTS 29
Patrick Mahomes had his full repertoire of sidearm throws, basketball-style push passes and underhanded flips on display while passing for 254 yards and three touchdowns, and visiting Kansas City extended its winning streak to nine games.
While Drew Brees passed for 234 yards and three touchdowns in his return from injured reserve, he completed less than half of his passes and was intercepted for just the fourth time this season.
The victory kept the defending Super Bowl champion Chiefs
(13-1) in pole position to capture the AFC’s lone playoff bye. The Saints (10-4), meanwhile, missed a chance to clinch the NFC South for a second straight wee.
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 as it tries to make its first postseason since 2015.
Jalen Hurts completed 24 of 44 passes for 338 yards and three touchdowns.
JETS 23, RAMS 20
Sam Darnold passed for 207 yards and visiting New York finally earned the first victory of its miserable season, holding on for a win that erased the possibility of the third winless 16-game season in NFL history.
Jared Goff passed for 209 yards for Los Angeles, which could have clinched a playoff berth with a victory over the NFL’s worst team.
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.
Matthew Stafford threw for 252 yards and a touchdown before being pulled for Chase Daniel after Tennessee went up 39-18 with 9:00 left.
RAVENS 40, JAGUARS 14
Baltimore built a 26-point halftime lead against helpless visiting Jacksonville and rolled to a victory that boosted their playoff chances and extended the 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.
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.
BROWNS 20, GIANTS 6
Baker Mayfield led two 95yard touchdown drives and visiting Cleveland moved closer to ending its 17-year playoff drought with a victory over New York.
Mayfield finished 27 of 32 for 297 yards with scoring passes to Jarvis Landry and Austin Hooper.
Colt McCoy, who started 21 games for the Browns from 201013, was 19 of 31 for 221 yards for the Giants, who are tied with Dallas a game behind Washington for first place in the NFC East.