Howard takes place in Bears’ history books

Jordan Howard became the first Bears running back to start his career with consecutive 1,000-yard seasons, achieving the feat with a 147-yard effort Sunday to reach 1,032 this season.

He helped Chicago end a five-game skid with a 33-7 win at Cincinnati.

“There’s a great running back tradition here, a lot to live up to,” Howard said. “So to do so, it’s a great feeling.”

• The Bills’ LeSean McCoy also topped the 1,000yard mark, reaching it for the sixth time in his career after rushing for 156 yards against the Colts. He’s at 1,007 on the season.

• Colts running back Frank Gore finished with a career-high 36 carries for 130 yards. It was Gore’s 42nd career 100-yard game — tying him with O.J. Simpson for 16th on the NFL list.

• With a 23-yard catch in the second half, Cardinals receiver Larry Fitzgerald moved past Randy Moss (15,292) into third place on the NFL career yards receiving list, trailing only Terrell Owens (15,934) and Jerry Rice (22,895).

• The Steelers’ Ben Roethlisberger become the first quarterback in NFL history to top 500 yards passing three times with his 506-yard performance against Baltimore.

For the title

Tom Brady and the Patriots have won eight games in row, and will clinch their ninth consecutive AFC East title with a win tonight against Miami. But they’ll have to do it without tight end Rob Gronkowski, who will serve a one-game suspension for a late hit against Buffalo.

Stat so?

Blizzard conditions in Buffalo kept the Bills and Colts to ground-oriented gameplans — and their 97 combined rushing attempts marked the most in a game since the Chiefs and Bears combined for 100 attempts in Week 10 of the 1981 season.

The Colts didn’t even attempt a pass in the first quarter, becoming the first NFL team to do so since the Panthers against Tampa Bay in Week 5 of last season.