Browns top Chargers, avoid shame of a winless season

CLEVELAND, Ohio - The Browns are winless no more.

Cleveland avoided that fate Saturday by beating the San Diego Chargers 20-17 for their first victory in more than a year. San Diego’s Josh Lambo missed a 45-yard field goal as time expired, giving the Browns (1-14) their first win in 377 days.

When the kick sailed right, Cleveland’s small crowd erupted in celebration and Browns players poured off their sideline as if they had just won the Super Bowl.

The Browns avoided becoming the second team to go 0-15, and no longer have to worry about joining the 2008 Detroit Lions as the only teams to lose all 16 games.

Cleveland built 10-point lead in the third quarter and hung on — defensive tackle Jamie Meder blocked a potential tying field goal with 3:49 left — to give coach Hue Jackson his first win with the Browns.

The win also snapped Cleveland’s 17-game losing streak dating to last season.

Blake Bortles’ best game of the season helped the Jaguars end a nine-game losing streak.

Bortles threw for 325 yards and a touchdown, and was on the receiving end of a 20-yard trick play that sealed the win with 5:25 remaining. Rookie Jalen Ramsey returned an interception 30 yards on the ensuing play to set off a raucous — and long-awaited — celebration in Jacksonville.

Bortles and the Jaguars (3-12) played inspired football and won for the first time this season at EverBank Field.

It was a debacle for the Titans, who had won three in a row and needed a victory to set up an AFC South title game next week against Houston. Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota appears to be done for the season, leaving late in the third quarter with an air cast on his right ankle.

Mark Ingram rushed for two-touchdowns and a game-sealing first down in the final minutes.

The Buccaneers (8-7) needed a win to keep pace with Green Bay (9-6) for the final NFC wild-card spot, but couldn’t keep up with the Saints’ explosive offense.

And their loss handed the NFC South to Atlanta, while giving the New York Giants a wild-card berth.

Matt Ryan threw for 277 yards and two touchdowns, Tevin Coleman had 135 yards from scrimmage, including a pivotal 55yard fourth-quarter TD run, and the Falcons moved a step closer to wrapping up a postseason berth.

The Panthers (6-9) were officially eliminated from playoff contention after making the Super Bowl last season.

Tom Brady passed for 214 yards and three touchdowns, and the Patriots moved a step closer to securing home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs.

A loss or tie by the Raiders against the Colts later Saturday would officially give New England the AFC’s top seed.

Derek Carr threw three touchdown passes in the second quarter before leaving in the fourth quarter with an injured right leg.

Carr’s injury leaves a dark cloud over the best season for the Raiders (12-3) in 14 years.

Aaron Rodgers threw for 347 yards and four touchdowns, while Jordy Nelson shredded Minnesota’s secondary for 154 yards and two scores.

The Packers’ fifth straight win set up a showdown next week with Detroit for the NFC North title, while extinguishing the Vikings’ faint postseason hopes.

Jay Ajayi ran for 206 yards and broke loose for a 57-yarder in overtime to set up Andrew Franks’ 27-yard field goal.

In winning for the ninth time in 10 games, the Dolphins (10-5) inched closer to their first playoff berth since 2008. Miami can secure the AFC’s final wildcard berth as early as Sunday if Denver loses to Kansas City.

Kirk Cousins threw for a touchdown and ran for two more, and the Redskins gave their fading playoff hopes a boost.

DeSean Jackson added 114 yards receiving, and Washington (8-6-1) intercepted Matt Barkley five times.

Colin Kaepernick threw a 10-yard touchdown pass with 31 seconds remaining and scrambled for a go-ahead 2-point conversion as the 49ers overcame a 14-point deficit to end a 13-game losing streak.

— Associated Press