Titans put wraps on AFC No. 1 seed
The Tennessee Titans clinched the top seed in the AFC for the first time in 14 years, beating the host Houston Texans 2825 on Sunday behind Ryan Tannehill’s career-high tying four touchdown passes.
The 12-5 Titans, who secured their second straight AFC South title last week, have the No. 1 seed in the AFC for the third time since leaving Houston in 1997 and first since 2008.
Tannehill threw three touchdown passes in the second quarter to put the Titans up 21-0 at halftime.
But the Texans (4-13) came alive in the second half, scoring 18 unanswered points to get within 3 before Julio Jones caught his first touchdown pass of the season on a 3-yard grab that made it 28-18 with about seven minutes remaining.
Houston cut the lead to 3 again when Danny Amendola’s second touchdown reception of the game from Davis Mills made it 28-25 with 4½ minutes to go.
Mills, the rookie out of Stanford, passed for 301 yards and three TDs. SEAHAWKS 38, CARDINALS 30 >> Russell Wilson threw three touchdown passes, Rashaad Penny ran for 190 yards and a score, and Seattle spoiled host Arizona’s shot at the NFC West title.
The Cardinals (11-6) were still in the running for the NFC West title with a win, especially when the 49ers beat the Rams.
Arizona will settle for the No. 5 seed after starting the season with a 7-0 record. It is 4-6 since that hot start, including losing four of its last five.
Seattle finishes 7-10 and won’t be in the postseason for just the second time in the past 10 years.
The Cardinals trailed 1710 at halftime but James Conner scored two touchdowns in the third quarter — one on a 20-yard pass from Kyler Murray and another on a 1-yard run. BILLS 27, JETS 10 >> Buffalo clinched its second consecutive AFC East title after Devin Singletary scored twice in the final 8:21 in a win over visiting New York.
The Bills (11-6) limited the Jets to a franchise-low 53 yards of total offense and four first downs — the fewest allowed by Buffalo in franchise history. Buffalo also sacked Jets rookie Zach Wilson nine times, LIONS 37, PACKERS 30 >> Aaron Rodgers threw two touchdown passes in the first half and sat out the second half with nothing at stake as Detroit beat topseeded Green Bay (13-4).
D’Andre Swift scored the go-ahead touchdown with 1:54 remaining on a 14-yard run for the Lions (3-13-1). Jared Goff passed for 238 yards and two TDs. DOLPHINS 33, PATRIOTS 24 >> Jaylen Waddle had a touchdown grab and set the NFL record for receptions in a rookie year, Duke Johnson rushed for 117 yards and a score, and Miami beat playoff-bound New England.
Xavien Howard returned an interception for a TD for the Dolphins (9-8), who swept the Patriots for the first time since 2000.
Brandon Bolden had two touchdowns — one rushing, one receiving — for New England (10-7). BUCCANEERS 41, PANTHERS 17 >> Tom Brady topped 5,000 yards passing for the second time in his career and Tampa Bay (13-5) set a franchise record for regular-season victories with a win over Carolina.
Brady completed 29 of 37 passes for 326 yards and three touchdowns, finishing with a career-best 5,316. BROWNS 21, BENGALS 16 >> Case Keenum threw two TD passes as Cleveland ended its dismal season with a home win over Cincinnati, which left quarterback Joe Burrow at home and played its backups.
The Browns (8-9) completed a sweep of the surprising AFC North champion Bengals (10-7). SAINTS 30, FALCONS 20 >> Trevor Siemian came off the bench to throw two TD passes and visiting New Orleans beat Atlanta.
The Saints (9-8) were eliminated from the playoff picture when the 49ers beat the Rams.
VIKINGS 31, BEARS 17 >> Kirk Cousins passed for 172 yards and three touchdowns in the second half to rally Minnesota (8-9) past Chicago (6-11). WASHINGTON 22, GIANTS 7 >> Antonio Gibson ran for 146 yards and a touchdown as Washington (7-10) beat New York (4-13).