|
 Atlanta's superstar receiver jumped over two Carolina defenders and
snagged a 70-yard pass from quarterback Matt Ryan for the go-ahead
score in the Falcons' 20-13 win over the Panthers on Sunday.
Carolina quarterback Cam Newton had two chances to lead comeback
drives late in the fourth quarter but couldn't get the Panthers
(14-1) in the end zone. On Carolina's final possession, Falcons
rookie linebacker Vic Beasley stripped Newton and defensive end
Malliciah Goodman recovered the fumble to seal the win.
Ryan scrambled to his left and heaved a deep ball to Jones, who was
covered by corner Charles Tillman and linebacker Luke Kuechly.
Neither could climb with Jones, who leaped up, made the catch and
strolled into the end zone for the winning touchdown for the Falcons
(8-7).
Jets 26, Patriots 20 (OT)
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Ryan Fitzpatrick's 6-yard touchdown pass to
wide receiver Eric Decker 2:37 into overtime gave New York a
dramatic -- and potentially controversial -- win over New England.
The Patriots (12-3) overcame a 14-point second-half deficit to force
overtime on quarterback Tom Brady's 9-yard touchdown pass to running
back James White with 1:55 left.
Patriots wide receiver and special teams captain Matthew Slater
apparently elected to kick off after New England won the coin toss,
though he appeared to be arguing with officials as the teams left
the field. Patriots coach Bill Belichick claimed in his postgame
remarks that he intended to kick off and had "no regrets" about the
decision.
A 48-yard pass to wide receiver Quincy Enunwa -- who dropped a
potential touchdown pass in the final minute of regulation -- set up
the winning score for the Jets, who now control their own destiny in
the race for an AFC wild-card spot. The Jets (10-5) will reach the
playoffs if they beat Buffalo next week.
Chiefs 17, Browns 13
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Kansas City won its ninth consecutive game,
beating Cleveland to reach the playoffs.
The victory along with Pittsburgh's loss to Baltimore assured the
Chiefs of a spot in the AFC playoffs, their second postseason berth
in three seasons under head coach Andy Reid.
The Chiefs' nine-game winning streak tied the club record that was
established in the 1969 season by a Kansas City team that went on to
win Super Bowl IV. It also left the Chiefs still lurking just behind
Denver on top of the AFC West standings, with the Broncos hosting
Cincinnati on Monday night.
Despite the big difference in the records the teams carried into the
game -- Kansas City is now 10-5, Cleveland is 3-12 -- the game was
one of the toughest the Chiefs played during their current streak.
They held a two-touchdown lead at halftime, but struggled to apply a
knockout punch.
Texans 34, Titans 6
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Houston quarterback Brandon Weeden snapped a
personal 11-game losing streak as a starter in the place where
everyone goes to get well.
Completing 15 of 24 passes for 200 yards and two touchdowns, Weeden
led the Texans to a rout of the inept Titans (3-12).
Racking up a quarterback rating of 116.7, Weeden broke the game open
in the third quarter with scoring strikes of 15 and 13 yards to wide
receivers DeAndre Watkins and Nate Washington, respectively.
In improving to 8-7, the Texans moved one step away from an AFC
South title. They can clinch by strength of victory tiebreaker
before Week 16 ends, or wrap it up in Week 17 with a home win over
Jacksonville.
Ravens 20, Steelers 17
BALTIMORE -- Ryan Mallett threw for a career-high 274 yards and
Baltimore shocked Pittsburgh.
The Ravens (5-10) swept the season series and have beaten the
Steelers in five of the past six meetings.
Mallett signed with the Ravens just 12 days ago after being cut by
the Texans earlier in the season. He completed 28 of 41 pass with a
touchdown.
The Steelers (9-6) are still in contention for a wild-card berth.
The loss ended Pittsburgh's 10-game winning streak in December
Colts 18, Dolphins 12
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. -- Running back Frank Gore scored two touchdowns
and Indianapolis kept its playoff hopes alive by defeating Miami.
The Dolphins had a first-and-goal from the Colts' 5 in the final
minute, but quarterback Ryan Tannehill threw three incomplete
passes. On fourth down, Colts defensive end Robert Mathis sacked
Tannehill.
The Colts (7-8), already without injured starting quarterback Andrew
Luck, lost backup Matt Hasselbeck (shoulder) with 5:33 left, and
Indianapolis ahead 8-6 at the time. Charlie Whitehurst came in and
played the rest of the game at quarterback. Miami (5-10) suffered
its third loss in a row and its seventh in the past nine games.
Bills 16, Cowboys 6
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- Running backs Mike Gillislee and Karlos
Williams combined for 169 rushing yards and a pair of touchdowns
while leading Buffalo over Dallas.
Quarterback Tyrod Taylor also rushed for 67 yards for the Bills
(7-8). Taylor now has 517 rushing yards on the season, a record for
Bills quarterbacks.
Quarterback Kellen Moore could not spark the Cowboys (4-11),
completing 13 of 31 passes for 186 yards and an interception.
Bears 26, Bucs 21
TAMPA -- Chicago Bears converted two fumbles into 10 points, leading
the way to a win over Tampa Bay.
[to top of second column] |
Running back Doug Martin took over the NFL rushing lead for the
Buccaneers, but his two fumbles were huge in shifting momentum to
the Bears, who got a second-quarter field goal off the first fumble
and a touchdown on the first play of the fourth quarter off the
second.
Chicago (6-9) got strong running -- and zero fumbles -- from Jeremy
Langford and Matt Forte in handing the Bucs (6-9) their third
straight loss
Lions 32, 49ers 17
DETROIT -- Matthew Stafford threw for 301 yards and two touchdowns
and Detroit snapped a nine-game losing streak to San Francisco.
Wide receiver Calvin Johnson, who may have been playing his final
home game, caught six passes for 77 yards and a touchdown for the
Lions.(6-9). Detroit will have to devote $24 million of its salary
cap next season to retain Johnson, who caught just two passes in the
previous two games, unless they restructure the perennial All-Pro's
contract.
Blaine Gabbert passed for 225 yards and two touchdowns for the 49ers
(4-11), who were shut out in the second half.
Cardinals 38, Packers 8
GLENDALE, Ariz. - Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer passed for two
touchdowns, rookie running back David Johnson accounted for 127
yards from scrimmage and a score, and the Cardinals registered nine
sacks en route to their ninth consecutive win.
Two of the sacks on quarterback Aaron Rodgers resulted in fumbles
and touchdown returns by the Cardinals' defense.
With the victory, a franchise-record 13th of the season, the
Cardinals secured no less than the No. 2 seed in the NFC and with
it, a first-round bye in the playoffs -- another franchise first.
Packers coach Mike McCarthy decided to remove Rodgers with 9:56 left
to play. Rodgers was 15 of 28 for 151 yards with one touchdown and
one interception.
Palmer finished 18 of 27 for 265 yards to go along with his two
touchdowns and one interception. Wide receiver Michael Floyd led the
Cardinals with six catches for 111 yards.
Saints 38, Jaguars 27
NEW ORLEANS -- Playing on a sore foot, quarterback Drew Brees threw
for 412 yards and three touchdowns, leading the Saints to victory.
Running back Tim Hightower produced 122 yards and two scores on 27
carries for the Saints (6-9).
Brees, who completed 25 of 36 passes in his 13th career 400-yard
game, did not practice during the week because of a torn plantar
fascia in his right foot, but the injury did not seem to faze him.
Brees led New Orleans on touchdown drives of 80, 98, 80 and 88
yards, and the Saints dominated the Jaguars with 537 yards in total
offense, and a 29-21 advantage in first downs.
Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles wound up 27-for-35 for 368 yards
with four touchdown passes and two interceptions.
Rams 23, Seahawks 10
SEATTLE -- St. Louis linebacker Akeem Ayers had two key fumble
recoveries, one of which he returned for a first-quarter touchdown,
sparking the Rams to a big early lead on the way to a road win.
It marked only the second time, and the first since 2004, that St.
Louis swept Seattle in two divisional games in the same season.
Ayers returned a fumble 45 yards for a touchdown to help propel the
Rams (7-8) to a 16-0 lead, then he cemented the win with another
recovery, falling on a fumble by Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson
at the St. Louis 11-yard line with 2:15 remaining.
The Seahawks (9-6) saw their five-game winning streak end. They had
already clinched a playoff berth and were out of contention for the
NFC West title before the game started, so the defeat had very
little bearing on Seattle's postseason outlook.
Seattle wide receiver Doug Baldwin (eight receptions, 118 yards)
caught a touchdown pass for the fifth week in a row, giving him a
franchise record of 14 for the season, but it wasn't enough in the
loss.
Vikings 49, Giants 17
MINNEAPOLIS -- Minnesota's defense picked off Eli Manning three
times and returned one of the interceptions for a touchdown in a
dominating win over New York.
Minnesota (10-5) clinched a playoff spot and also set up a game that
will decide the NFC North title in Week 17. The Vikings will travel
to Lambeau Field to play the Green Bay Packers next Sunday night.
Vikings running back Adrian Peterson rushed 22 times for 104 yards
and a touchdown. He heads into Week 17 with a 64-yard lead on Tampa
Bay Buccaneers running back Doug Martin for the NFL's rushing title.
Minnesota quarterback Teddy Bridgewater completed 15 of 25 passes
for 168 yards a touchdown before leaving the game late with the
Vikings leading the Giants (6-9) by 32 points.
[© 2015 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
Copyright 2015 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. |
