Dolphins end Patriots’ playoff streak
Undrafted rookie Salvon Ahmed and veteran Matt Breida combined for 208 yards rushing Sunday to lead the Miami Dolphins to a 22-12 victory over the visiting New England Patriots, who were eliminated from playoff contention, ending their NFLrecord run of 11 consecutive postseason appearances.
The Dolphins entered the game last in the league in yards per carry, and Ahmed became their first 100-yard rusher since 2018, totaling 122 yards.
Breida added 86 yards and the Dolphins totaled a season-high 250 against the Patriots, who were gashed for more than 150 on the ground for the fifth time this year.
Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa had a pair of short touchdown runs for the Dolphins (9- 5), who bolstered their wild- card chances and are assured of a winning record for only the second time since 2008.
The Patriots (6-8) will finish at .500 or worse for the first time since 2000, the year they drafted Tom Brady. BUCCANEERS 31, FALCONS 27 >> Tom Brady rallied Tampa Bay from a pair of 17-point deficits for a victory that took the Bucs (9- 5) to the brink of their first playoff berth since 2007.
Atlanta (4-10) raced to a 17- 0 lead by halftime and restored the margin to 24-7 after Brady finally guided the Bucs to a touchdown on the first possession of the second half.
Brady capped his latest rally with a 46-yard touchdown pass to Antonio Brown with 6:19 to go. Brady finished 31 of 45 for 390 yards and two TDs. CARDINALS 33, EAGLES 26 >> Kyler Murray threw for a 406 yards and three touchdowns, DeAndre Hopkins had 169 yards receiving and the go-ahead TD, and Arizona (8- 6) improved its position in the playoff race.
Philadelphia (4-9-1) trailed 16- 0 in the first quarter but rallied to tie the game at 26 in the third quarter after quarterback Jalen Hurts ran for a 7-yard touchdown.
Hurts, making his second career start, completed 24 of 44 passes for 338 yards and three touchdowns. SEAHAWKS 20, WASHINGTON 15 >> Russell Wilson and Seattle built a big lead and held on to beat Washington and clinch a playoff spot.
Wilson threw for a touchdown, Carlos Hyde ran 50 yards for a score, and the Seahawks (10- 4) picked off Washington quarterback Dwayne Haskins twice.
After a Haskins- led comeback from a 20-3 deficit fell short, Washington (6-8) had its winning streak snapped at four with Alex Smith out because of a calf injury. Haskins finished 38 of 55 for 295 yards, a TD pass and the two interceptions.
COLTS 27, TEXANS 20 >> Philip Rivers threw a late, tiebreaking touchdown to Zach Pascal and Indianapolis’ defense recovered a fumble in the end zone with 19 seconds left to seal the victory.
Indy (10- 4) has won three straight to retain a share of the AFC South lead with Tennessee.
TITANS 46, LIONS 25 >> Ryan Tannehill ran for two touchdowns and threw three more, and Derrick Henry ran for 147 yards and a score to move Tennessee (10- 4) closer to clinching its third playoff berth in four seasons.
RAVENS 40, JAGUARS 14 >> Lamar Jackson threw three touchdown passes and ran for a score to carry Baltimore (9- 5) to its third straight win while Jacksonville’s losing streak was extended to 13 games.
BEARS 33, VIKINGS 27 >> David Montgomery rushed for 146 yards and two touchdowns and Chicago (7-7) stayed in the hunt for the expanded playoffs.