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 Dalton suffered a fractured thumb and will miss at least one game
and possibly two. He is scheduled to see a hand specialist on
Monday.
It was a disastrous day for the Bengals, whose hopes of securing the
top overall seed in the AFC took hit with Dalton and tight end Tyler
Eifert leaving the game with injuries.
AJ McCarron replaced Dalton and finished 22 of 32 for 280 yards and
two TDs to go along with a pair of interceptions as the Bengals
(10-3) failed to clinch the AFC North title.
Patriots 27, Texans 6
HOUSTON -- After Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski connected on a pair of
timely conversions in the first half, New England unleashed its
ferocious defense in the second half to pummel Houston.
Gronkowski set up a touchdown in the first quarter and caught
another late in the second to provide the Patriots with what proved
to be an insurmountable 11-point lead at the intermission.
The cushion was comfortable thanks to the New England defense, which
harassed Texans quarterback Brian Hoyer relentlessly while snapping
a brief two-game skid. The Patriots (11-2) recorded six sacks while
regaining possession of the top spot in the AFC standings.
Panthers 38, Falcons 0
CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Cam Newton threw three touchdown passes,
including two in the first half to wide receiver Ted Ginn Jr., as
unbeaten Carolina shut out Atlanta.
The Panthers (13-0) continued their franchise-best start to the
season and clinched an opening-weekend bye in the NFC when the
playoffs begin next month. They moved closer to securing home-field
assignments throughout the playoffs.
The Falcons (6-7) lost their sixth game in a row, further damaging
remote chances to reach the playoffs.
Seahawks 35, Ravens 6
BALTIMORE -- Russell Wilson threw five touchdown passes to lead
Seattle over struggling Baltimore.
The Seahawks (8-5) have won six of their past seven games and look
like a legitimate Super Bowl contender once again. It was the first
game this season not decided by eight points or fewer for the Ravens
(4-9).
Wilson completed 23 of 32 passes for 292 yards. Wide receiver Doug
Baldwin had three touchdown receptions, and he now has eight in the
past three games.
Eagles 23, Bills 20
PHILADELPHIA -- Philadelphia ruined LeSean McCoy's homecoming and
kept pace in the NFC East race with a victory over Buffalo.
The Eagles (6-7) stay tied for first place on NFC East with the
Washington Redskins. Both are now a half-game ahead of the New York
Giants, who play the Miami Dolphins on Monday night.
McCoy, the Eagles' all-time leading rusher, was traded to the Bills
(6-7) in the offseason and he did not leave on good terms with coach
Chip Kelly. McCoy, who said this past week that he would not shake
hands with Kelly, ended up with 74 yards on 20 carries.
Redskins 24, Bears 21
CHICAGO -- Kirk Cousins passed for 300 yards and a touchdown and
rushed for another touchdown as Washington held on to beat Chicago.
Redskins tight end Jordan Reed hauled in nine passes for 120 yards
and a touchdown. Washington (6-7) snapped a nine-game road losing
streak and earned its first win away from home since Oct. 27, 2014.
Bears quarterback Jay Cutler completed 19 of 31 passes for 315 yards
and two touchdowns. Wide receiver Alshon Jeffery caught six passes
for 107 yards and a touchdown for Chicago (5-8), which dropped to
1-6 at home.
Jaguars 51, Colts 16
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Jacksonville used three lengthy scoring plays
of 49 yards or more in a little more than four minutes and Blake
Bortles threw three second-half touchdowns in a rout of
Indianapolis.
The scoring surge started late in the first half when Jaguars
defensive end Andre Branch knocked the ball out of Indianapolis
quarterback Matt Hasselback's hands before scooping it up and going
49 yards for a touchdown.
Bortles led the Jaguars on three consecutive long scoring drives.
The first was an 80-yard march in eight plays and finished with a
4-yard pass to Allen Robinson. It was Bortles' 10th touchdown pass
in the last three weeks, the most by a Jaguars quarterback ever
during a three-game stretch.
Browns 24, 49ers 10
CLEVELAND -- Cleveland snapped a seven-game losing streak and
running back Isaiah Crowell rushed for two touchdowns to beat San
Francisco in Johnny Manziel's return as the starting quarterback.
Manziel, who was banished to the bench two weeks ago for lying to
the team about partying, threw for 270 yards on 21-of-31 passing for
one touchdown and one interception.
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The victory assured the Browns (3-10) will not tie the 1999
expansion team (2-14) for the worst record in franchise history. It
also snapped a five-game losing streak at FirstEnergy Stadium.
Chiefs 10, Chargers 3
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Kansas City extended its winning streak to seven
games with a victory over San Diego.
The victory moved the Chiefs to 8-5 overall and they continue to
lead the run for an AFC wild-card slot.
Rain began falling Sunday morning and it did not stop from opening
kickoff to the game's final play. While field conditions appeared
solid, it was impossible for either team to keep the football dry
and the chains moving.
Saints 24, Buccaneers 17
TAMPA, Fla., -- Drew Brees threw for two touchdowns and converted
third downs all day, leading New Orleans over Tampa Bay.
The Buccaneers (6-7) saw their wild-card hopes take a hit as they
weren't able to score at length on the NFL's worst defense. Tampa
Bay had a chance to tie the game late, but punted rather than face a
fourth-and-10 with 4:21 left.
The Saints (5-8) converted 12 third downs, including two key
conversions on their final drive to eat up clock with the lead.
Brees threw for 312 yards and Tim Hightower, filling in for the
injured Mark Ingram, rushed for 81 yards and a touchdown.
Jets 30, Titans 8
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Ryan Fitzpatrick threw three first-half
touchdown passes and New York remained in the thick of the AFC
wild-card race by cruising to a win over Tennessee.
Fitzpatrick finished 21-of-36 for 263 yards and no interceptions as
the Jets (8-5) extended their winning streak to three games -- their
first three-game streak since Nov. 27-Dec. 11, 2011.
Fitzpatrick threw touchdown passes to wide receiver Brandon Marshall
(six catches for 125 yards), wide receiver Eric Decker (seven
catches for 74 yards) and running back Bilal Powell (five catches
for 46 yards).
Rams 21, Lions 14
ST. LOUIS -- Todd Gurley's 49-yard run in the third quarter led to
his go-ahead touchdown two plays later and St. Louis snapped a
five-game losing streak with a win over Detroit.
Gurley's 5-yard score at the 3:57 mark of the period capped an
80-yard drive, nearly equaling the Rams' total yardage to that
point. Prior to that possession, they managed only 111 yards and
seven first downs in their first game under interim offensive
coordinator Rob Boras, who replaced the fired Frank Cignetti on
Monday.
Rams quarterback Case Keenum, who returned to the lineup after
missing two games with a concussion, completed 14 of 22 passes for
124 yards with an interception.
Raiders 15, Broncos 12
DENVER -- Derek Carr threw for two touchdowns in the second half and
the Raiders' defense, led by Khalil Mack's five sacks, did not allow
an offensive touchdown as Oakland shook off a sluggish start to beat
the Denver.
Carr completed 12 of 29 for 135 yards in helping Oakland (6-7) snap
an eight-game losing streak to Denver (10-3).
Broncos quarterback Brock Osweiler lost for the first time in four
starts in place of the injured Peyton Manning, who watched the game
from the sideline. Osweiler finished 35 of 51 for 308 yards.
Packers 28, Cowboys 7
GREEN BAY, Wis. -- Green Bay got touchdown passes from Aaron Rodgers
on back-to-back possessions in the first half and 239 total yards
from running back Eddie Lacy and James Starks in a victory over
Dallas.
Lacy finished 124 yards and a touchdown on the ground, and Starks
scored on a 13-yard catch and a 30-yard run. Green Bay (9-4)
finished with 230 rushing yards. Rodgers completed 22 of 35 passes
for 218 yards and the two scores.
Darren McFadden paced the Cowboys (4-9) with 111 yards on nine
carries. Matt Cassel finished 13-for-29 for 114 yards and no
touchdowns with one interception.
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