Winless no more!
INGLEWOOD, Calif. — After 51 weeks and 13 games without a victory, the New York Jets finally earned the chance to celebrate something.
They knew their 23-20 victory over the embarrassed Los Angeles Rams on Sunday was never pretty, and everybody realized it also came with a major drawback: New York is no longer in position for the top pick in the NFL draft.
Don't try telling that to the joyful Jets who surged onto the SoFi Stadium field after the final whistle with the knowledge their names will not be attached to the ignominy of the third 0-16 season in NFL history.
Sam Darnold passed for 207 yards in a steady performance, while Frank Gore rushed for a score that was his 100th career touchdown in the Jets' first win since the 2019 season finale. Gore also made a decisive third-down reception with 2:12 left for the Jets (1-13), who ended the longest losing streak in franchise history with a strong start and a gritty finish.
Coach Adam Gase got his first win of the year only after New York blew most of a 17-point lead in the second half.
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Undrafted rookie Salvon Ahmed and veteran Matt Breida combined for 208 yards rushing Sunday to lead the Miami Dolphins to victory over the New England Patriots, who were eliminated from playoff contention, ending their NFL-record run of 11 consecutive postseason appearances.The Dolphins entered the game last in the league in yards per carry, and Ahmed became their first 100-yard rusher since 2018, totaling 122 yards and scoring a 2-point conversion on a trick play.Breida added 86 yards and the Dolphins totaled a season-high 250 against the Patriots.
ATLANTA — Tom Brady did it again to the Atlanta Falcons.This time, he didn't even need overtime.Rallying Tampa Bay from a pair of 17-point deficits, Brady recreated his Super Bowl miracle by leading the Buccaneers on five straight scoring drives in the second half for a victory over the stunned Falcons.The stakes weren't nearly as high and the deficit wasn't quite as daunting, but Brady's latest blow to Atlanta took the Bucs (9-5) to the brink of their first playoff berth since 2007.
LANDOVER, Md. — Russell Wilson and the Seahawks built a big lead, and Seattle's suddenly opportunistic defense held on to beat Washington and clinch a playoff spot.Wilson threw for a touchdown, Carlos Hyde ran 50 yards for a score, and the Seahawks (10-4) picked off Washington quarterback Dwayne Haskins twice. Shaquill Griffin and D.J. Reed each had an interception as the league's worst passing defense played strong until the fourth quarter.
NEW ORLEANS — Patrick Mahomes had his full repertoire of side-arm throws, basketball-style push passes and underhanded flips on display while passing for 254 yards and three touchdowns, and Kansas City extended its winning streak to nine games.The Kansas City defense did its part to spoil Drew Brees' return from rib fractures and a punctured lung that had kept the record-setting passer out four games.While Brees passed for 234 yards and three TDs, he completed less than half of his passes.
GLENDALE, Ariz. — Kyler Murray threw for a career-high 406 yards, DeAndre Hopkins had 169 yards receiving and a stellar touchdown catch, and Arizona improved its position in the playoff race by beating Philadelphia.Arizona (8-6) won its second straight game as it tries to make the postseason for the first time since 2015. The Cardinals are in third place in their division behind the Rams and Seahawks and would currently be the No. 7 and final seed in the NFC playoffs.The Eagles (4-9-1) trailed 16-0 in the first quarter, but rallied to tie the game at 26 in the third quarter after quarterback Jalen Hurts ran for a 7-yard touchdown.
INDIANAPOLIS — Philip Rivers threw a late, tiebreaking touchdown to Zach Pascal and Indianapolis' defense recovered a fumble in the end zone with 19 seconds left to seal a victory over Houston.Indy (10-4) has won three straight to retain a share of the AFC South lead with Tennessee, winners over Detroit. Houston (4-10) has lost three straight and five of six in this series.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Ryan Tannehill ran for two touchdowns and threw three more, and Derrick Henry ran for 147 yards and a score to move Tennessee closer to clinching its third playoff berth in four seasons as it routed Detroit.The Titans (10-4) did their part with their second straight victory and fourth in five games to stay atop the AFC South.
BALTIMORE — Baltimore built a 26-point halftime lead against helpless Jacksonville and rolled to a victory that boosted their playoff chances and extended the Jaguars' losing streak to 13 games.Lamar Jackson threw three touchdown passes and ran for a score to carry the Ravens (9-5) to their third straight win following a three-game skid. Hopeful of reaching the postseason for the third year in a row, Baltimore is among several AFC teams vying for three wild-card spots.
MINNEAPOLIS — David Montgomery rushed for a career-high 146 yards and two touchdowns and Chicago trampled Minnesota's depleted defense and hung on for a victory to stay in the hunt for the expanded playoffs.
ARLINGTON, Texas — Tony Pollard ran for two touchdowns with Ezekiel Elliott sidelined by an injury for the first time in the two-time rushing champion's career, and Dallas beat San Francisco.
