Mostert, Dolphins cruise vs. Jets
Raheem Mostert scored two more touchdowns to set Miami’s single-season record with 20, Tua Tagovailoa threw for 224 yards and a score, and the Dolphins shut out the visiting Jets, 30-0, Sunday 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 and gave the ninth-year running back his 17 th rushing touchdown of the season — one more than Ricky Williams, who set the record in 2002. The score was also Mostert’s 19th overall, which broke the team record of 18 set by wide receiver Mark Clayton in 1984.
Tagovailoa was 21 of 24 with a 60-yard touchdown pass to Jaylen Waddle. Mike White mopped up for the final 8:32.
Jets quarterback Zach Wilson’s day was cut short when he left late in the first half with a concussion. New York (5-9) was shut out for the first time since Week 3 of the 2021 season at Denver.
The loss, combined with wins by Houston and Cleveland, eliminated the Jets from playoff contention for the 13th straight season — and severely lessened the chances of quarterback Aaron Rodgers returning this season from a torn Achilles’ tendon suffered in Week 1.
Hill, who entered Week 15 as the NFL’s leading receiver, missed the first game of his Dolphins tenure after injuring his left ankle in a loss to the Titans last Monday night. He has 1,542 yards receiving and was on pace for the first 2,000-yard receiving season in league history. His absence made room for a standout game from Waddle, who had a season-high 142 yards on eight catches.
Waddle hauled in a 60-yard touchdown catch from Tagovailoa in the second quarter that put the Dolphins ahead 17-0. Mostert then gave the Dolphins a 24-point halftime lead with his second touchdown, a 1-yard score in which he was again untouched.
Wilson had spent much of the afternoon running from a domineering Miami defensive front that sacked him four times, one of which resulted in a fumble that gave the Dolphins the ball at the Jets’ 1 and led to the first score. He was 4 of 11 with 26 yards before being hurt and replaced by Trevor Siemian, who was 14 of 26 with 110 yards and two interceptions by safety Brandon Jones.
Ravens 23, Jaguars 7 — Lamar Jackson (171 yards passing; 97 rushing) threw a touchdown pass and made the play of the game when he avoided a sack and threw to Isaiah Likely near the goal line to set up a Gus Edwards 1-yard TD plunge, and visiting Baltimore (11-3) clinched a postseason berth by beating Jacksonville (8-6), which lost its third straight and fell into a tie atop the AFC South with Houston and Indianapolis. The Ravens won their fourth in a row to move a step closer to securing the No. 1 seed and home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs, but lost promising rookie running back Keaton Mitchell to a knee injury. Trevor Lawrence threw for 264 yards, including a 65-yard TD pass to Jamal Agnew, but fumbled twice, including one in the fourth quarter that essentially sealed the Jaguars’ fate. The Ravens’ Justin Madubuike tied an NFL record held by four others by recording at least a half-sack in 11 consecutive games.
Browns 20, Bears 17 — Joe Flacco passed for 374 yards and led host Cleveland (9-5) to 13 points in the fourth quarter, including Dustin Hopkins’s go-ahead 34-yard field goal with 32 seconds left, and the defense withstood Justin Fields’s Hail Mary on the final play, in a win over Chicago (5-9). 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. The Browns got the ball back with 1:50 left and the 38-year-old Flacco, who was signed Nov. 20 and made his third start for Cleveland, completed two passes to tight end David Njoku for 65 yards to set up Hopkins’s kick. The Bears blew a 10-point lead in the fourth quarter.
Texans 19, Titans 16 — Ka’imi Fairbairn kicked a 54-yard field goal as time expired in overtime and visiting Houston (8-6) rallied from a 13-point deficit without star rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud for a win Nashville that ensured coach Mike Vrabel’s Titans (5-9) of a second straight losing season. The Texans remained in the playoff hunt despite missing several key players, including Stroud, top receiver Nico Collins, right tackle George Fant, and a pair of defensive starters. In place of Stroud, Case Keenum threw for 229 yards and helped Houston outgain the Titans, 340-204. Titans rookie quarterback Will Levis (17 of 26, 199 yards, interception) left with 1:49 left in overtime after being sacked for the seventh time with his left leg caught underneath him in the pile. Buccaneers 34, Packers 20 —
Baker Mayfield threw for 381 yards and four touchdowns, and visiting Tampa Bay (7-7) won its third straight, over Green Bay (6-8). Mayfield went 22 of 28 and threw touchdown passes to Mike Evans, Rachaad White, Ko Kieft, and David Moore to help the Buccaneers keep pace with New Orleans atop the NFC North. Mayfield’s passer rating was a perfect 158.3. Chris Godwin had 10 catches for 155 yards for the Buccaneers. The Packers lost their second straight to deal its playoff hopes a major blow. Jordan Love was 29 of 39 for 284 yards with two touchdown passes. This marked the third straight year in which Mayfield faced the Packers at Lambeau Field in December, each time for a different team, but the first time he left with a win. Saints 24, Giants 6 — Derek Carr passed for 218 yards and three touchdowns, the defense sacked Tommy DeVito seven times, and host New Orleans (7-7) defeated New York. It was a redemptive performance for Carr, who was booed while struggling in recent home games. He connected on 23 of 28 passes without a turnover in one of his most efficient outings of his first season with the Saints. And he did it without top receiver Chris Olave, who was scratched because of an ankle injury. One of Carr’s scoring passes went for 1 yard to Jimmy Graham, who caught his third scoring pass in three games. DeVito had led the Giants to three straight wins but was 20 of 34 for 177 yards and left the game briefly after a hit.
Rams 28, Commanders 20 — Matthew Stafford passed for 258 yards and hit Cooper Kupp and Demarcus Robinson for touchdowns in Inglewood, Calif., leading Los Angeles (7-7), which has won four of five to push its way into the playoff picture, past freefalling Washington (4-10). Kupp’s eight receptions for 111 yards were highlighted by a 62-yard TD catch right after halftime. Kyren Williams overcame the first two lost fumbles of his two-year career to rush for 152 yards and a touchdown while his Rams slid into an NFC wild-card position. Jacoby Brissett relieved Commanders quarterback Sam Howell and made things interesting by leading two fourth-quarter touchdown drives.