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.
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. Browns 24, Commanders 10: Carson Wentz threw three interceptions in a Commanders loss to the Browns. The Commanders were later eliminated from the playoffs via a Packers win over the Vikings. 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.
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 and keep alive their hopes for the AFC’s No. 1 seed.
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. 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 to remain in the playoff chase. Seahawks 23, Jets 6: Geno
Smith threw two first-half touchdowns, Kenneth Walker III rushed for 133 yards and the Seahawks kept alive their postseason hopes with a win that eliminated the Jets from playoff contention.
49ers 37, Raiders 34: Robbie Gould made a 23-yard field goal with 6:53 left in overtime and the 49ers extended their winning streak to nine games with a victory over the Raiders on Sunday.
Packers 41, Vikings 17: Aaron Rodgers threw a touchdown pass and ran for a score, and the Packers continued their improbable playoff push by shutting down Justin Jefferson and the Vikings. Chargers 31, Rams 10: Austin Ekeler rushed for 122 yards, scored two touchdowns and became the fifth running back with 100 receptions in a season as the Chargers rolled to a victory over the Rams.