Dolphins score on lateral to stun Patriots
Dolphins 34, Patriots 33: Kenyan Drake ran the last 52 yards as the host Miami Dolphins (7-6) scored on a pass and double lateral on the final play to beat the New England Patriots (9-4).
The Patriots were 16 seconds from clinching their 10th consecutive AFC East title when the Dolphins scored on the 69-yard play to rally from a 33-28 deficit.
Ryan Tannehill threw a 14-yard pass to Kenny Stills, who lateraled to DeVante Parker, who quickly lateraled to Drake. He found a seam and beat two Patriots to the corner of the end zone – defensive back J.C. Jackson and tight end Rob Gronkowski, who was on the field as part of the Patriots’ prevent defense.
The Dolphins’ bench emptied teammates mobbed Drake.
Browns 26, Panthers 20: Baker Mayfield outplayed Cam Newton, Jarvis Landry caught a touchdown pass and ran for another score and the host Cleveland Browns (5-7-1) damaged Carolina’s playoff hopes with a win over the Panthers (6-7), who dropped their fifth straight.
Mayfield bravely threw a 51-yard TD pass into traffic to Landry, who had a 3yard scoring run and added a long run – on a similar call – early in the fourth quarter to set up a go-ahead touchdown.
Chiefs 27, Ravens 24 (OT): Harrison Butker atoned for a 43-yard miss as time expired with a 36-yard field goal in overtime, and the host Kansas City Chiefs (10-2) stopped the Baltimore Ravens (7-6) on fourth down to clinch a playoff spot.
The Chiefs twice converted on fourth down before Patrick Mahomes threw a tying touchdown pass to Damien Williams with 53 seconds left.
Saints 28, Buccaneers 14: Drew Brees threw for one touchdown and ran another to help the New Orleans Saints (11-2) rally from an 11-point halftime deficit to clinch their second straight NFC South title with a victory over the host Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-8).
Brees shrugged off a pair of turnovers to throw a 1-yard TD pass to Zach Line, then scored on a 1-yard sneak as the as Saints avenged a season-opening loss to Bucs and also rebounded from a defeat last week at Dallas.
Packers 34, Falcons 20: Aaron Rodgers threw two touchdown passes and set an NFL record for interception-free football, and the host Green Bay Packers (57-1) beat the Atlanta Falcons (4-9) to win their first game under interim head coach Joe Philbin.
Aaron Jones ran for a 29-yard score in the third quarter. The defense limited quarterback Matt Ryan after a gameopening touchdown drive to hand Atlanta its fifth straight loss.
Giants 40, Redskins 16: Saquon Barkley rushed for 170 yards, including a 78yard touchdown to surpass 1,000 for the season, Eli Manning threw for three scores and the New York Giants (5-8) routed the host Redskins (6-7) to effectively end Washington’s already-slim playoff hopes.
Barkley gashed the Redskins’ defense for 12.1 yards a carry to become the first Giants rookie to break 1,000 and set a single-season franchise rookie record with his 13th touchdown.
Colts 24, Texans 21: Andrew Luck threw for 399 yards and two touchdowns and T.Y. Hilton had 199 receiving yards to lead the Indianapolis Colts (7-6) to a road win over the Houston Texans (9-4).
The Colts snapped a nine-game winning streak by the Texans, trimming Houston’s lead over the AFC South to two games with three remaining.
Jets 27, Bills 23: Sam Darnold oneupped fellow rookie Josh Allen, rallying the New York Jets (4-9) to a win over the host Buffalo Bills (4-9).
Elijah McGuire scored on a fourthand-goal run from the 1 with 1:17 remaining to cap a drive during which Darnold completed three of five passes for 52 yards. The rookie quarterback particularly showed off his deft touch on a 37-yard pass to Robby Anderson, who made an over-the-shoulder catch up the right sideline.
49ers 20, Broncos 14: George Kittle caught an 85-yard touchdown pass on the way to 210 yards receiving and became the 49ers’ first tight end to reach the 1,000-yard milestone, leading host San Francisco (3-10) past the sluggish, injury-plagued Denver Broncos (6-7).
Kittle finished just shy of Shannon Sharpe’s NFL record by a tight end of 214 yards receiving, not having a catch nor as many chances in the second half. Kittle had seven receptions in all on nine targets.
Chargers 26, Bengals 21: Philip Rivers threw for 220 yards and Michael Badgley kicked four field goals – including a teamrecord 59-yarder – as the host Los Angeles Chargers (10-3) held off the Cincinnati Bengals (5-8).
Rivers completed 19 of 29 and threw a touchdown in what was not one of the team’s best games.
Raiders 24, Steelers 21: Derek Carr threw a 6-yard touchdown pass to Derek Carrier with 21 seconds left before Chris Boswell slipped on a potential game-tying 40-yard field goal attempt on the final play as the host Oakland Raiders (3-10) beat the Pittsburgh Steelers (7-5-1).
Ben Roethlisberger returned from a rib injury to lead a go-ahead touchdown drive that Carr answered for the Raiders. Big Ben then connected on a 48-yard hook-and-lateral pass play that put Boswell in position for the tying kick. But he lost his footing and sent the kick into the line, sending the Steelers to their third straight loss.
Cowboys 29, Eagles 23 (OT): The host Dallas Cowboys (8-5) pushed their lead over Philadelphia and Washington in the NFC East to a commanding two games with three games to play, with a wild overtime win over the Eagles (6-7).
Amari Cooper’s third touchdown of the game came with 1:55 left in the extra session, a 15-yard reception off a deflected third-and-8 pass by Dak Prescott to end it. Cooper finished with 217 yards on 10 catches. The Eagles never had the ball in overtime.
Bears 15, Rams 6: Eddie Goldman led a dominant effort by the defense, and the Chicago Bears (9-3)shut down Jared Goff and Los Angeles’ high-powered offense in a victory over the NFC West champion Rams (11-2).
The Rams missed a chance to secure a first-round playoff bye and fell into a tie with New Orleans for home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs.