Dak rallies Cowboys past lowly Texans
ARLINGTON, TEXAS >> Ezekiel Elliott scored the goahead touchdown with 41 seconds remaining, and the Dallas Cowboys avoided a major upset with a 27-23 victory over the hapless Houston Texans on Sunday.
Houston appeared in position to end a seven-game losing streak after Dak Prescott’s interception inside the Dallas 10 with 5:37 to go and the Texans leading by three.
The Cowboys stiffened against a makeshift Texans offense, stuffing backup quarterback Jeff Driskel on a fourth-down run to give Prescott another shot starting just outside his own goal line.
The star quarterback delivered the second time, starting with a 21-yard completion to Dalton Schultz from the 2 on first down. Another 18-yarder to Schultz put Dallas at the Houston 4.
After Michael Gallup’s attempted TD catch was barely broken up, Elliott scored on third down from the 2 to cap the 98-yard, 11play drive.
LIONS 34, VIKINGS 23
DETROIT >> Jared Goff threw for 330 yards and three touchdowns, leading the surging Detroit Lions to a win over the NFC Northleading Minnesota Vikings.
The Vikings needed a win or tie to clinch the division title. Kirk Cousins threw for 425 yards, inluding a franchise-record 223 to Justin Jefferson on 11 catches. But Dalvin Cook ran for just 23 yards on 15 carries, and Minnesota couldn’t stop Goff.
Detroit has won five of six, its best stretch since its last postseason appearance in 2016.
RAVENS 16, STEELERS 13
PITTSBURGH >> J.K. Dobbins ran for 120 yards and a touchdown in his return from a knee injury, helping the Baltimore Ravens overcome the loss of backup quarterback Tyler Huntley to beat the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Huntley filled in for injured star Lamar Jackson but entered concussion protocol in the second half. He was replaced by undrafted rookie free agent Anthony Brown.
Justin Tucker kicked three field goals to help Baltimore end a four-game losing streak to the Steelers, who also lost their quarterback, Kenny Pickett, to concussion protocol.
JAGUARS 36, TITANS 22 NASHVILLE, TENN. >>
Trevor Lawrence threw for a career-high 368 yards and three touchdowns and also ran for a score and the Jacksonville Jaguars routed the Tennessee Titans for their first victory in Music City since 2013.
The Jaguars snapped a five-game skid against their oldest division rival with just their second victory in this series in 11 games. Doug Pederson also became the first Jacksonville coach to win in Nashville since Gus Bradley on
Nov. 10, 2013.
BENGALS 23, BROWNS 10 CINCINNATI >>
Joe Burrow shook off a sloppy start to throw two touchdown passes and the Cincinnati Bengals beat the Cleveland Browns, ending a fivegame skid to their Ohio rival.
The Bengals have won five straight and nine of 11. They remained tied for the AFC North lead with Baltimore, which beat Pittsburgh 16-14. Burrow picked up his first win in five starts against the Browns, whose playoff hopes are now all but nonexistent.