Return TDs spark Bills
Nyheim Hines ignited an emotionally charged atmosphere celebrating injured safety Damar Hamlin by returning two kickoffs for touchdowns, and the Bills clinched the AFC’s second playoff seed with a 35-23 win over the Patriots on Sunday in Orchard Park, New York.
The loss, coupled with the Dolphins beating the Jets, eliminated the Patriots (8-9) from the playoffs for the second time in three years and just the fourth time in 23 seasons under coach Bill Belichick.
The Bills will host the division rival Dolphins in the wild-card round.
The Bills (13-3) closed their season by winning their final seven games and overcame an emotional week in which Hamlin collapsed after going into cardiac arrest and had to be resuscitated on the field in Cincinnati on Monday night.
Dolphins 9, Jets 6: Jason Sanders kicked a go-ahead 50-yard FG with 18 seconds left, and the host Dolphins made the playoffs for the first time since 2016.
Bengals 27, Ravens 16: Joe Burrow threw for a TD and Joe Mixon ran for another as the Bengals took advantage of four Ravens turnovers to win at home and set up a rematch in the first round of the playoffs.
Eagles 22, Giants 16: Jalen Hurts returned from a sprained shoulder and threw for 229 yards as the host Eagles clinched the NFC East title and No. 1 NFC seed. The Giants will face the Vikings next week.
49ers 38, Cardinals 13: Brock Purdy threw three TD passes and the 49ers clinched the No. 2 NFC seed with the victory at home.
Cardinals DL J.J. Watt had two sacks in the final game of his career.
Commanders 26, Cowboys 6: Dak Prescott completed just 14 of his 37 passes and threw an INT that was returned for a TD and the playoff-bound Cowboys lost on the road.
Seahawks 19, Rams 16: Jason Myers kicked a 32-yard FG midway through OT, and the Seahawks edged the visiting Rams. The Seahawks needed the Lions to beat or tie the Packers on Sunday night to make the playoffs. That game ended too late for this edition.
Steelers 28, Browns 14: Najee Harris ran for 84 yards and a TD and the Steelers won at home but were eliminated from the playoffs when the Dolphins won.
Broncos 31, Chargers 28: Russell Wilson threw for 283 yards and three TDs and Justin Simmons forced two fumbles to lift the host Broncos
over the playoff-bound Chargers.
Texans 32, Colts 31: Davis Mills threw a TD pass to Jordan Akins on fourth down with 50 seconds left and then connected with Akins on the 2-point conversion as the visiting Texans won but cost themsleves the first pick in April’s draft. Vikings 29, Bears 13: The host Bears fell to the playoff-bound Vikings, setting a franchise record with their
14th loss. They will get the No. 1 pick in the draft for the first time since 1947.
Falcons 30, Buccaneers 17:
Rookie Desmond Ridder’s first two career TD passes powered the host Falcons past the playoff-bound Bucs after Tom Brady broke his own NFL record for completions in a season.
Eddy Pineiro kicked a 42-yard FG as time expired and the Panthers won on the road.