Minshew, Colts outlast Titans in OT
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Indianapolis Colts may start slow.
They sure know how to finish.
Gardner Minshew threw a 4-yard touchdown pass to Michael Pittman with 2:31 left in overtime as the Colts beat the Tennessee Titans 31-28 for their fourth straight victory to keep pace in the playoff race in the AFC.
“It’s awesome to see our guys fight every single week and just keep finding ways to win,” firstyear Colts coach Shane Steichen said.
The Colts (7-5) had to score a touchdown after Nick Folk made a 46-yard field goal with 4:19 left in overtime to put Tennessee up 28-25.
Indianapolis came in holding the seventh and last spot in the AFC. The Colts left town having swept their AFC South rival for the first time since 2018.
“It really feels good to beat them back to back because they beat us back to back, and we’ve been trading off,” Pittman said of sweeping the Titans. “So it feels good to give it back to them.”
Tennessee (4-8) lost its first true home game this season and has yet to win consecutive games overall.
The Titans not only blew a 17-7 lead, but Folk missed his first extra point this season with 5:26 left in regulation that could have put Tennessee up 26-25.
49ERS 42, EAGLES 19
Brock Purdy threw for 314 yards and four touchdowns, Deebo Samuel scored three TDs and Philadelphia’s quarterback Jalen Hurts briefly exited to get checked for a concussion in visiting San Francisco’s lopsided win.
The fiery NFC championship game rematch also featured the 49ers scoring touchdowns on six straight drives and a pair of ejections that showed this year’s title game might not run again through Philly, after all.
The 49ers (9-3) left Philly 10 months ago battered in the NFC championship game behind injuries to Purdy and his backup, and they never stood a chance in that 31-7 loss.
The Eagles (10-2) suffered a scare when Hurts, a Houston native and former Channelview High School star, jogged off the field in the fourth and went straight to the locker room. He was cleared to play and returned to action with about 10 minutes left.
PACKERS 27, CHIEFS 19
Jordan Love connected with Christian Watson on two of his three touchdown passes as resurgent Green Bay won its third straight game, taking down Patrick Mahomes and visiting Kansas City.
The Packers scored touchdowns on three of their first four drives and never trailed, with their defense making two big stops in the last 5 1⁄2 minutes. Green Bay knocked down Mahomes’ pass into the end zone on the game’s final play.
The Packers (6-6) improved their December record to 16-0 under coach Matt LaFleur. The only team ever to win more consecutive December games was the San Diego Chargers with 18 straight from 2006-09, before their move to Los Angeles.
LIONS 33, SAINTS 28
Sam LaPorta had career highs of nine catches for 140 yards, including an early touchdown and a crucial first-down snag in the final minutes, as Detroit defeated host New Orleans to post its best record through 12 games since 1962.
Jared Goff passed for 213 yards and two TDs for the Lions (9-3), who raced to a three-touchdown lead and then held off a valiant comeback bid by the Saints.
DOLPHINS 45 COMMANDERS 15
Tyreek Hill had two touchdowns among his 157 yards receiving as visiting Miami routed Washington to pad its lead atop the AFC East and get to 9-3 for the first
time since 2001.
Tua Tagovailoa was 18-of-24 passing for 280 yards, including TD passes of 78 and 60 yards to Hill, the NFL’s leading receiver who was left wide open on his 11th and 12th trips to the end zone this season.
RAMS 36, BROWNS 19
Matthew Stafford threw three touchdown passes and Puka Nacua became the first rookie wide receiver to reach 1,000 yards in a season for Los Angeles as the team extended its winning streak to three in a row with a victory over visiting Cleveland.
The Rams have won three straight for the first time since winning the Super Bowl after the 2021 season.
CHARGERS 6, PATRIOTS 0
Justin Herbert threw for 212 yards and set up a pair of Cameron Dicker field goals that were all Los Angeles needed on a cold and rainy day for their first shutout in six years and a victory over host New England and its latest hapless quarterback, Bailey Zappe.
CARDINALS 24 STEELERS 10
James Conner ran for 105 yards and a pair of touchdowns against his old team as visiting Arizona earned the franchise’s first win in Pittsburgh since 1969.
BUCCANEEERS 21 PANTHERS 18
Tampa Bay’s Mike Evans scored on a 75-yard reception and joined Jerry Rice as the only players in NFL history to string together 10 consecutive seasons with 1,000-plus yards receiving while helping his team to a home win over struggling Carolina.
FALCONS 13, JETS 8
Desmond Ridder threw a 20-yard touchdown pass to MyCole Pruitt as visiting Atlanta took over sole possession of first place in the NFC South by slogging its way to an ugly victory over punchless New York.