Bucs rally to win division
Tom Brady and the Buccaneers are headed back to the playoffs, confident they’re still capable of making this a special season.
Brady threw for 432 yards and three long touchdowns to Mike Evans, and Bucs (8-8) erased a double-digit, fourth-quarter deficit for the second week in a row to clinch their second straight NFC South championship with a 30-24 victory over the Panthers on Sunday.
“Every year you try to win the division and we won the division. It doesn’t matter how you win the division. My heart ain’t got much left in it, but it feels great,” coach Todd Bowles said.
Evans finished with 10 catches for 207 yards, scoring on receptions of 63, 57, and 30 yards and becoming the first player in NFL history to begin a career with nine consecutive seasons with 1,000-plus yards receiving.
Jaguars 31, Texans 3: Travis Etienne ran for 108 yards and a touchdown before halftime, Tyson Campbell returned a fumble for a score and the Jaguars snapped a nine-game skid against by routing the Texans for their fourth straight victory overall. The Jags are in first place in the AFC South and would win the division for the first time since 2017 with a victory at home next week. Saints 20, Eagles 10: The loss denied the Eagles their chance at clinching the NFC East and the No. 1 seed in the NFC. The Eagles played for the second straight week without injured quarterback Jalen Hurts. He might have to play next week in the finale against the Giants to give the Eagles their best shot at securing a first-round bye and home-field advantage in the playoffs. The Saints improved to 7-9 and remain in contention for a playoff spot.
Giants 38, Colts 10: Daniel Jones threw two touchdown passes and ran for two more and the Giants routed the Colts to make the playoffs for the first time since 2016.
Chiefs 27, Broncos 24: Patrick Mahomes threw for 328 yards and three touchdowns, two of them to Jerick McKinnon, and the Chiefs overcame another sloppy start to hold off the Broncos on Sunday. Isiah Pacheco and Blake Bell also scored for the Chiefs, who beat the Broncos for the 15th consecutive time while keeping alive their hopes for the AFC’s No. 1 seed and lone postseason bye.
Patriots 23, Dolphins 21: Kyle Dugger intercepted Teddy Bridgewater and returned it 39 yards for a go-ahead touchdown late in the third quarter, and the Patriots kept their playoff hopes alive by rallying to beat the Dolphins. Falcons 20, Cardinals 19: Younghoe Koo made a 21-yard field goal on the final play, lifting the Falcons over the Cardinals to end a fourgame skid.
Lions 41, Bears 10: Jared Goff threw two of his three touchdown passes to Brock Wright in the first half, and the Lions beat the Bears 41-10 to remain in the playoff chase.