Chiefs subdue Saints to win ninth straight
Jets finally beat someone, Pats eliminated from playoffs, Bucs rally to defeat Falcons
Patrick Mahomes threw three touchdown passes and the visiting Kansas City Chiefs won their ninth consecutive game by defeating the New Orleans Saints 32-29 on Sunday in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.
Mahomes completed 26 of 47 passes for 254 yards as the Chiefs improved their NFL-best record to 13-1.
Drew Brees returned from a four-game absence due to rib and lung injuries to complete 15 of 34 passes for 234 yards with three touchdowns and an interception as the Saints (10-4) lost their second straight after a nine-game winning streak.
The Chiefs led at halftime, but Brees threw a 24-yard touchdown pass to Latavius Murray on the first possession of the third quarter to give the Saints their only lead at 15-14.
Mahomes answered on the ensuing possession with a five-yard touchdown pass to Mecole Hardman that gave Kansas City a 21-15 lead at the end of the third quarter.
Le'Veon Bell's 13-yard touchdown run and Mahomes' two-point pass to Travis Kelce increased the Chiefs' lead to 29-15 with 13:44 to go.
Mahomes fumbled on Kansas City's next possession, and Kwon Alexander recovered for the Saints at the Chiefs 25. Three plays later, Brees tossed a 14-yard touchdown to Alvin Kamara to pull New Orleans within 29-22 with 9:43 left.
The Chiefs' Harrison Butker kicked a 22-yard field goal before Brees threw a 17-yard touchdown pass to Lil'Jordan Humphrey to cut the Chiefs' lead to 32-29 with 2:06 left. Kansas City then gained two first downs and ran out the clock.
Brees' first three passes were incomplete and his fourth one was intercepted by L'Jarius Sneed, leading to Mahomes' five-yard TD pass to Tyreek Hill and a 7-0 lead at the end of the first quarter.
On the first play of the second quarter, Mahomes threw a oneyard touchdown pass to Kelce for a 14-0 lead.
DARNOLD, JETS TOP RAMS FOR FIRST WIN OF 2020
Sam Darnold threw for 207 yards in his homecoming and the New York Jets pulled off their first victory of the season, defeating the Los Angeles Rams 23-20 at Inglewood, Calif.
The Jets' defence held the Rams to just three points and 97 total yards in the first half, and 303 yards in the game, to avoid becoming the first team to go winless in a season since the Cleveland Browns in 2017. The Rams (9-5) were more than two-touchdown favourites and needed a victory to become playoff eligible.
Rams quarterback Jared Goff threw for 209 yards with two touchdowns and one interception, while rookie Cam Akers overcame a first-half ankle injury to rush for 63 yards on 15 carries.
TAGOVAILOA SCORES TWICE TO HELP MIAMI
Rookie quarterback Tua Tagovailoa ran for a pair of fourth-quarter touchdowns as the host Miami Dolphins defeated the New England Patriots 22-12.
The loss eliminated the Patriots from making the playoffs, the first time in 12 years that coach Bill Belichick's team didn't reach the post-season.
Tagovailoa passed for 145 yards (one interception), keeping Miami (9-5) on track for its first playoff berth since 2016. The Dolphins are guaranteed to make the playoffs if they win their final two regular-season games.
New England (6-8) was led by Nick Folk, who made four field goals. Quarterback Cam Newton passed for 209 yards. However, the Patriots had their streak of 19 consecutive winning seasons snapped.
In addition, the Patriots lost cornerback Stephon Gilmore — the NFL's reigning Defensive Player of the Year — to a knee injury in the second quarter; he did not return.
Miami played without four of its top offensive playmakers: wide receiver DeVante Parker (hamstring), tight end Mike Gesicki (shoulder), running back Myles Gaskin (COVID protocol); and kick returner Jakeem Grant (hamstring). Starting guard Ereck Flowers (ankle) was also out, and his backup Solomon Kindley (leg) left in the third quarter.
New England headed to the fourth quarter with a 9-7 lead.
However, the Patriots failed to get into the end zone for the third straight game.
BUCCANEERS RALLY FROM 17 DOWN TO BEAT FALCONS
Tom Brady threw a 46-yard touchdown pass to Antonio Brown with 6:19 remaining and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers overcame a 17-point deficit to defeat the Falcons 31-27 in Atlanta.
Brady completed 31 of 45 passes for a season-high 390 yards and tossed two touchdowns, with most of the production coming in the second half. The winning points came on Brown's first touchdown since joining the team last month.
Matt Ryan threw for three touchdowns, but the Falcons failed to put a dent in the Buccaneers' bid for a playoff spot. Instead, it was another lead that Atlanta (4-10) didn't protect.
Ryan finished 34 of 49 for 356 yards in the first of two meetings scheduled across the final three weeks of the regular season.
Atlanta ended its home slate with a 2-6 record.
The Buccaneers (9-5), who improved to 5-2 on the road, scored on their first five second-half possessions before punting, giving Atlanta the ball at the Falcons' 12-yard line with 2:40 remaining.
Four plays later, the Falcons were stopped on downs after picking up only seven yards.
Tampa Bay wiped out a 17-0 halftime deficit in less than 19 minutes, tying the game at 24 on Ryan Succop's 27-yard field goal with 11:15 remaining.