Pats rally from 24-point deficit, top Broncos in OT

Stephen Gostkowski kicked a 31-yard field goal with 1:56 left in overtime to lift the host New England Patriots to a wild 34-31 victory Sunday against the Denver Broncos.

The winning field goal was set up when a Patriots punt bounced up and hit the Broncos’ Tony Carter. Nate Ebner recovered for the Patriots at the Broncos’ 13, setting the stage for Gostkowski’s heroics.

The Broncos (9-2) led 24-0 at the half, but the Patriots (8-3) scored four touchdowns and a field goal in their first five possessions after the break to take a 31-24 lead before the Broncos scored a late touchdown to force overtime.

Patriots star Tom Brady passed for 344 yards and three touchdowns. Broncos star Peyton Manning passed for 150 yards and two touchdowns with one interception.

Vikings-Packers ends in tie

Matt Flynn threw for 218 yards and a touchdown after replacing Scott Tolzien, and the Green Bay Packers rallied from a 16-point deficit in the fourth quarter to salvage a 26-26 tie against the visiting Minnesota Vikings.

After the Vikings (2-8-1) opened a 23-7 lead on Blair Walsh’s third field goal of the game early in the fourth quarter, Flynn led the Packers (5-5-1) to 16 unanswered points to tie the score.

The Packers’ Mason Crosby and Walsh then exchanged field goals in overtime before each team failed on their last possessions.

Best of the rest

Cam Newton capped a 12-play drive by tossing a one-yard touchdown pass to Greg Olsen with 43 seconds left, and the Carolina Panthers (8-3) extended their winning streak to seven consecutive games with a 20-16 victory against the host Miami Dolphins (5-6).

Dan Bailey kicked a 35-yard field goal as time expired to boost the visiting Dallas Cowboys (6-5) to a 24-21 victory against the New York Giants (4-7). Tony Romo threw two touchdown passes to Jason Witten for the Cowboys, who wasted a 21-6 lead before prevailing.

Philip Rivers threw a 26-yard touchdown pass to Seyi Ajirotutu with 24 seconds left, and the San Diego Chargers (5-6) ended a threegame skid with a 41-38 victory against the host Kansas City Chiefs (9-2). Rivers and Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith each threw three scoring passes.