NFL roundup: James Cook, Bills roll over Cowboys

 

[December 18, 2023]  James Cook rushed for a career-high 179 yards and totaled two touchdowns to propel the Buffalo Bills to a 31-10 victory over the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday in Orchard Park, N.Y.

Cook reeled in an 18-yard touchdown pass from Josh Allen early in the second quarter and rushed for a 24-yard score early in the fourth. The second-year running back also set career-high totals in carries (25) and scrimmage yards (221).

Allen, who threw for just 94 yards, passed for a touchdown and rushed for another for an NFL-record 10th game in a single season.

The Bills (8-6) posted their second straight win by limiting the Cowboys' top-ranked scoring offense to just 195 total yards and 14 first downs. Dallas' Dak Prescott threw for just 134 yards and an interception and CeeDee Lamb rushed for a 3-yard touchdown.

The Cowboys (10-4) clinched a postseason berth for the third straight season prior to the game. They punched their ticket after the Atlanta Falcons dropped a 9-7 decision to the Carolina Panthers and the Green Bay Packers fell 34-20 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers earlier Sunday.

Ravens 23, Jaguars 7

Lamar Jackson threw a touchdown pass to Isaiah Likely and Baltimore clinched an AFC playoff spot with a victory over host Jacksonville.

Gus Edwards added a rushing score for Baltimore (11-3), which has won four straight games and eight of its past nine. Jackson completed 14 of 24 passes for 171 yards and an interception and added 97 yards on 12 rushes. Likely caught five passes for 70 yards and Justin Tucker kicked three field goals for the Ravens.

Trevor Lawrence completed 25 of 43 passes for 264 yards and one touchdown but also lost two fumbles for the Jaguars. Jamal Agnew caught a touchdown pass for Jacksonville (8-6), which lost its third straight game and fell into a tie for the AFC South lead with the Indianapolis Colts and Houston Texans.

Texans 19, Titans 16 (OT)

Ka'imi Fairbairn made a 54-yard field goal as time expired in overtime to lift Houston past Tennessee in Nashville.

It was the fourth field goal of the game for Fairbairn. Houston quarterback C.J. Stroud remained in concussion protocol following his injury last week in a 30-6 loss to the New York Jets, and Case Keenum was named the starter over Davis Mills. Keenum completed 23 of 36 passes for 229 yards with a game-tying touchdown and an interception.

Devin Singletary rushed for 121 yards on 26 carries and Noah Brown caught eight passes for 82 yards and a game-tying touchdown with 3:03 left for the Texans (8-6). Will Levis completed 17 of 26 passes for 199 yards for the Titans (5-9), who had won two of their past three games.

Dolphins 30, Jets 0

Raheem Mostert rushed for two scores to set a franchise single-season record for total touchdowns and Miami dismantled New York at Miami Gardens, Fla.

Bradley Chubb had a field day and matched his career high of three sacks to go with two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery as the AFC East-leading Dolphins (10-4) won for the fourth time in the past five games. Tua Tagovailoa completed 21 of 24 passes for 224 yards and one touchdown. Tyreek Hill (ankle) missed the contest as Jaylen Waddle stepped into the lead role and had eight receptions with a season-best 142 yards.

The Jets (5-9) lost for the sixth time in seven games with quarterback Zach Wilson departing late in the second quarter with a concussion. He completed 4 of 11 passes for 26 yards and was sacked four times.

Panthers 9, Falcons 7

Eddy Pineiro kicked a 23-yard field goal as time expired and Carolina turned its lone lead of the game into a victory against Atlanta at rainy Charlotte, N.C.

The game-winning drive covered 90 yards on 17 plays, chewing up the final 7 minutes, 35 seconds while knocking the Falcons (6-8) out of a share of first place in the NFC South. Quarterback Bryce Young was 18 of 24 for 157 yards as Carolina (2-12) won for the first time under interim coach Chris Tabor.

Falcons quarterback Desmond Ridder was 12 of 20 for 152 yards with a touchdown and a costly fourth-quarter interception. Atlanta had only 204 yards of total offense.

Browns 20, Bears 17

Joe Flacco overcame three interceptions to guide a fourth-quarter comeback and Dustin Hopkins made the go-ahead field goal from 34 yards out for host Cleveland to top Chicago.

Flacco finished the day 28-for-44 passing for 372 yards and two touchdowns for the Browns (9-5), who have won five of seven games. David Njoku caught 10 passes for 104 yards and a touchdown and Amari Cooper added four receptions for 109 yards and a score.

Dec 17, 2023; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Buffalo Bills running back James Cook (4) runs the ball pressured by Dallas Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons (11) in the second half at Highmark Stadium./Gregory Fisher-USA TODAY Sports

The Browns fought past a strong defensive effort by Chicago (5-9), which got 2.5 sacks from Montez Sweat and an interception return for a touchdown by Terrel Edmunds. The Bears were eliminated from playoff contention.

Buccaneers 34, Packers 20

Baker Mayfield completed 22 of 28 passes for 381 yards and four touchdowns and Tampa Bay pulled away from host Green Bay.

Chris Godwin finished with 10 catches for 155 yards to lead the Buccaneers (7-7). Mike Evans, Rachaad White, Ko Kieft and David Moore had one touchdown catch apiece from Mayfield, who finished with season highs in passing yards and touchdowns.

Jordan Love completed 29 of 39 passes for 284 yards and two touchdowns for the Packers (6-8). Tucker Kraft and Jayden Reed each hauled in a touchdown catch.

Saints 24, Giants 6

Derek Carr threw three touchdown passes and host New Orleans did not allow a touchdown en route to defeating New York.

Carr completed 23 of 28 passes for 218 yards and connected with 10 different receivers, including three different targets for scores. Alvin Kamara contributed 66 rushing yards and 44 receiving yards on five receptions for the Saints (7-7).

Giants rookie quarterback Tommy DeVito, who left the game briefly to be checked for a concussion before returning, completed 20 of 34 passes for 177 yards as New York (5-9) saw its three-game winning streak end.

Chiefs 27, Patriots 17

Patrick Mahomes threw for a pair of touchdowns and Kansas City rattled off 20 straight points to beat New England in Foxborough, Mass.

Mahomes completed 27 of 37 passes for 305 yards and was picked off twice as the Chiefs (9-5) snapped a modest two-game skid. Rashee Rice hauled in nine receptions for 91 yards and a score. Clyde Edwards-Helaire finished with 101 total yards of offense (37 rushing, 64 receiving) and a TD reception, while running back Jerick McKinnon caught a touchdown and threw for another.

Bailey Zappe threw for 180 yards, a touchdown and an interception on 23-for-31 passing for the Patriots (3-11), which have 11 losses in a season for the first time since 2000.

49ers 45, Cardinals 29

Brock Purdy threw four touchdown passes, two apiece to Christian McCaffrey and Deebo Samuel, and San Francisco defeated Arizona in Glendale, Ariz.

Purdy completed 16 of 25 passes for 242 yards as the Niners (11-3), who have won six straight, remained atop the NFC standings and clinched the West title. McCaffrey added a 1-yard scoring run and finished with 187 total yards. He ran for 115 yards on 18 carries and made five catches for 72 yards.

James Conner ran for 86 yards and a touchdown for the Cardinals (3-11), who were coming off a bye week. Kyler Murray went 26-of-39 passing for 211 yards and an 8-yard touchdown strike to Elijah Higgins in the final minute. Murray was picked off twice.

Rams 28, Commanders 20

Matthew Stafford threw for two touchdowns, Kyren Williams ran for one and Los Angeles held off Washington in Inglewood, Calif., to move into the last playoff spot in the NFC.

Stafford completed 25 of 33 passes for 258 yards while Williams rushed for 152 yards on 27 attempts for his fifth 100-yard game of the year. In improving to 7-7, Los Angeles handily outgained Washington 445-297.

Coming off a Week 14 bye, the Commanders (4-10) looked much like the team that has stumbled to 10 losses in its past 12 games. Washington couldn't consistently move the ball most of the day, earning only seven first downs for three-plus quarters.

--Field Level Media
 

[© 2023 Thomson Reuters. All rights reserved.]
 This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.  Thompson Reuters is solely responsible for this content.