Flacco rallies Browns to win over Bears
>> Joe Flacco passed for 374 yards and led Cleveland to 13 points in the fourth quarter, including Dustin Hopkins' go-ahead 34-yard field goal with 32 seconds left, and the Browns withstood a Hail Mary on the final play to beat the Chicago Bears 20-17 on Sunday.
Flacco was intercepted three times but made some brilliant throws in the closing minutes to rally the Browns, including a 51-yard touchdown pass to Amari Cooper with 3:08 left that tied it at 17-all.
The Browns (9-5) got the ball back with 1:50 left and the 38-year-old Flacco, who was signed on Nov. 20 and made his third start for Cleveland, completed two passes to tight end David Njoku for 65 yards to set up Hopkins' kick.
After blowing a 17-7, fourth-quarter lead, the Bears (5-9) nearly pulled off a stunning finish.
Justin Fields lofted a pass from the 45-yard line to the end zone on the game's last play. The ball was deflected toward Bears receiver Darnell Mooney, who was lying on his back, but it bounced off his hands and Cleveland's D'Anthony Bell made the interception.
TEXANS 19, TITANS 16 (OT) >> Ka'imi Fairbairn kicked a 54-yard field goal as time expired in overtime, and Houston rallied from a 13-point deficit without C.J. Stroud to beat Tennessee.
The Texans (8-6) entered the day one spot outside of the AFC's seven-team playoff field. They kept pace by winning without several key players, including Stroud — their standout rookie quarterback — and top receiver Nico Collins, right tackle George Fant and a pair of defensive starters.
Case Keenum made his first start since Week 17 of the 2021 season for Cleveland. Keenum threw for 229 yards and helped Houston outgain the Titans 340-204. Devin Singletary ran for 121 yards.
Titans rookie quarterback Will Levis left with 1:49 left in overtime after being sacked for the seventh time with his left leg caught underneath him in a pile. Tennessee (5-9) clinched a second consecutive losing season. BUCCANEERS 34, PACKERS 20 >> Baker Mayfield threw for 381 yards and four touchdowns, and Tampa Bay beat Green Bay for its third straight win.
Mayfield went 22 of 28 and threw touchdown passes to Mike Evans, Rachaad White, Ko Kieft and David Moore to help the Buccaneers (7-7) keep pace
with New Orleans atop the NFC North. Mayfield's passer rating was a perfect 158.3.
Chris Godwin had catches for 155 yards the Bucs.
SAINTS 24, GIANTS 6 >> Derek Carr passed for 218 yards and three touchdowns, and New Orleans sacked Tommy DeVito seven times in a win over New York.
Carr connected on 23 of 28 passes without a turnover in one of the more efficient outings of his first season with New Orleans (7-7). His scoring passes went for 7 yards to Keith Kirkwood, 24 to Juwan Johnson and 1 to Jimmy Graham, who caught his third scoring pass in three games.
The Saints remained tied atop the NFC South with Tampa Bay.
DOLPHINS 30, JETS 0 >> Raheem Mostert scored two 10 for
touchdowns to set Miami's single-season record with 20, Tua Tagovailoa threw for 224 yards and a score, and the Dolphins blanked New York without star receiver Tyreek Hill.
Mostert walked into the end zone untouched on a 2-yard run that put AFC East-leading Miami (10-4) ahead 7-0. His second TD was from 1 yard out and made it 24-0 late in the second quarter. He has 18 rushing TDs and two receiving.
Tagovailoa was 21 of 24 and threw a 60-yard touchdown pass to Jaylen Waddle. He was replaced by Mike White with 8:32 remaining and the Dolphins up by 30.
CHIEFS 27, PATRIOTS 17 >> Running back Jerick McKinnon threw for one touchdown and ran for another, and Patrick Mahomes huge blow in a game played in a steady downpour.
The Falcons (6-8) entered the game tied with New Orleans and Tampa Bay for first place in the NFC South, but now need help to get into the postseason after the Saints and Buccaneers both won.
Bryce Young threw for 167 yards in his second NFL win and Chuba Hubbard ran for 87 yards for Carolina (2-12), which snapped a six-game skid.
The Falcons led 7-6 when Desmond Ridder threw into traffic and was intercepted at the Carolina 5 by safety Xavier Woods. Young, who had struggled all afternoon, led the Panthers on a 17-play, 90-yard drive that took all 7:35 off the clock.
Ridder finished 12 of 22 for 152 yards with one touchdown and the one pick.
BILLS 31, COWBOYS 10 >> James Cook had a careerbest 179 yards rushing and scored twice as Buffalo dominated on the ground, and the Bills beat Dallas, passed for 305 yards and ending the Cowboys' fivegame two scores to help Kansas winning streak.
City beat New England. Josh Allen threw for just
The Chiefs (9-5) snapped 94 yards for the Bills (86), a two-game skid and maintained who won consecutive control of the AFC games for the first time West race. With Taylor since a three-game winning Swift again on hand to streak ended on Oct. cheer him on, Travis Kelce 1. Buffalo gained ground in caught five passes for 28 the AFC playoff race, moving yards, but also had a potential one game ahead of Denver touchdown bounce and Pittsburgh. off his hands. RAMS 28, COMMANDERS 20
Bailey Zappe, making his >> Matthew Stafford passed third straight start in place for 258 yards and hit Cooper of the benched Mac Jones, Kupp and Demarcus completed 23 of 31 passes Robinson for touchdowns, for 180 yards for the Patriots. leading Los Angeles to a New England (3-11) lost victory over freefalling for the sixth time in seven Washington. games and remains in contention Kupp's eight receptions for one of the top for 111 yards were highlighted two picks in next year's NFL by a 62-yard TD draft. catch right after halftime
PANTHERS 9, FALCONS 7 >> for the Rams (7-7), who have Eddy Pineiro kicked a 23yard won four of five to push field goal as time expired, their way into the playoff and Carolina dealt picture even in a self-described Atlanta's playoff hopes a remodeling season.