Vikings stay in last wildcard spot; Saints clinch top seed
Kirk Cousins threw a 44yard Hail Mary to Kyle Rudolph as time expired in the first half to put the Minnesota Vikings ahead and they beat the Detroit Lions 27-9 Sunday, moving a step closer to playing in the postseason.
The Vikings could have clinched a spot in the playoffs with a win and losses by Washington and Philadelphia this weekend. The Redskins lost to Tennessee on Saturday, and shortly after Minnesota walked into its locker room at Ford Field, the Eagles beat Houston on a game-ending field goal.
Minnesota (8-6-1) can still earn a spot in the postseason by closing the regular season with a win against NFC North winner Chicago at home, or by having wild-card hopefuls lose in Week 17.
COWBOYS 27, BUCS 20 >> The Dallas Cowboys wrapped up the NFC East title when Dak Prescott accounted for two touchdowns and Jaylon Smith returned a fumble 69 yards for a score in a win over the Buccaneers.
Smith’s long return came after a scrambling Jameis Winston lost the ball on a blind-side sack by Randy Gregory, who also recovered a fumble to set up a touchdown for a 14-point lead late in the third quarter. PATRIOTS 24, BILLS 12 >> The New England Patriots earned their 10th straight AFC East title with Sony Michel running for 116 yards and a touchdown in a victory over the Bills. FALCONS 24, PANTHERS 10 >> Matt Ryan threw for 239 yards and three touchdowns, and the Falcons handed the Panthers their seventh straight loss and knocked their NFC South rivals out of playoff contention.
BROWNS 26, BENGALS 18 >> Baker Mayfield threw three touchdown passes to thrill a sellout, holiday-spirited crowd that came out to boo former Cleveland coach Hue Jackson. The Browns beat the Bengals and swept their southern Ohio neighbors for the first time since 2002. JAGUARS 17, DOLPHINS 7 >> Blake Bortles came off the bench late in the third quarter with the score tied and provided a spark, helping the Jaguars eliminate the Dolphins from the AFC playoff race.
RAMS 31, CARDINALS 9 >> C.J. Anderson, playing five days after he was signed by Los Angeles, rushed for 167 yards — one shy of his career high — and the Rams bounced back from a pair of losses to beat the troubled Cardinals.
BEARS 14, 49ERS 9 >> Mitchell Trubisky threw one touchdown pass, Jordan Howard ran for another score and the Bears survived a fight and a late fumble to earn their eighth win in nine games over the 49ers. SAINTS 31, STEELERS 28 >> Drew Brees capped a 326yard passing performance with 2-yard touchdown to Michael Thomas with 1:25 left, and the Saints clinched the top seed in the NFC playoffs with a victory over Pittsburgh that dealt a significant blow to the Steelers’ playoff hopes.