NFL Summary: Allen leads Bills’ exciting comeback; The Chiefs in shock after their defeat against the Texans | NFL
Cincinnati Bengals 34-39 Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills (9-4) rallied from a 10-point deficit in the fourth quarter to beat the Cincinnati Bengals (4-9). Josh Allen threw three touchdowns and ran for one, and Christian Benford scored the go-ahead run on a 63-yard interception return. Allen’s 40-yard TD run broke his record for longest by a Bills quarterback. Buffalo turned the game around with big plays on defense on a snowy afternoon. Benford and defensive end AJ Epenesa intercepted Joe Burrow on consecutive plays from scrimmage, giving the Bills three touchdowns in a 4:20 span in the fourth quarter.
Houston Texans 20-10 Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs (6-7) face the very real possibility of missing the playoffs for the first time since the 2014 season after losing to the Houston Texans (8-5) on Sunday Night Football. According to Next Gen Stats, the loss leaves the Chiefs with a 14% chance of reaching the playoffs. Patrick Mahomes was intercepted three times, although he was repeatedly disappointed by drops from his receivers and questionable calls from head coach Andy Reid. He also had to deal with a fierce Texan defense, which deprived him of time in the pocket. The Chiefs defense was excellent in the second half and the margin of defeat would have been greater without their efforts. The Texans, meanwhile, have won five straight and occupy the wildcard spot in the AFC.
Pittsburgh Steelers 27-22 Baltimore Ravens
Aaron Rodgers threw for 284 yards and a touchdown and even ran for a touchdown in perhaps his best game with the Steelers, and Pittsburgh (7-6) took sole possession of first place in the AFC North, holding on to victory over the Ravens (6-7) when a Baltimore touchdown with 2:43 left was overturned by a replay. Isaiah Likely took a pass from Lamar Jackson with two hands in the end zone, and both feet fell, but as he was about to take another step with his right foot, Joey Porter Jr released the ball. It was initially a touchdown, but then went incomplete. The Ravens eventually turned the ball over on downs.
Chicago Bears 21-28 Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers (9-3-1) overtook the Chicago Bears (9-4) for first place in the NFC North. Keisean Nixon intercepted Caleb Williams’ pass in the end zone with 22 seconds remaining to seal Green Bay’s victory over Chicago. The Bears were facing fourth-and-one from the Green Bay 14-yard line when Williams faked a handoff and rolled to his left. Tight end Cole Kmet had positioned himself behind Nixon in the end zone, but Nixon was able to catch the underpass. Josh Jacobs scored the game-clinching touchdown on a two-yard run with 3:32 left as the Packers won their fourth straight game and ended Chicago’s five-game winning streak.
Indianapolis Colts 19-36 Jacksonville Jaguars
Trevor Lawrence threw two touchdowns and Travis Etienne rushed for two more to lead the Jacksonville Jaguars to a blowout victory in a crucial AFC South game as the Colts lost Daniel Jones to a torn Achilles tendon. Lawrence completed 17 of 30 passes for 244 yards. Brian Thomas Jr caught three passes for 87 yards, while Tim Patrick had 78 yards and a touchdown on five catches. Jacksonville (9-4) won its fourth straight game to become sole owner of first place in the AFC South. Indianapolis (8-5) lost Jones in the first quarter and ESPN later announced its season was over. The offense continued to move the ball at times with its backup, rookie Riley Leonard, but struggled to finish drives.
Los Angeles Rams 45-17 Arizona Cardinals
Matthew Stafford threw for 281 yards and three touchdowns, Puka Nacua and Blake Corum both scored twice and the Los Angeles Rams (10-3) beat the Arizona Cardinals. The Rams (10-3) scored 35 unanswered points to bounce back from last week’s loss to the Panthers. They won for the seventh time in eight games. Los Angeles is tied with the Seahawks for the division lead, one game ahead of the 49ers. The reeling Cardinals (3-10) have lost five straight and 10 of their last 11 after starting the season 2-0.
Denver Broncos 24-17 Las Vegas Raiders
The Denver Broncos finally won a game where they didn’t fall behind. Bo Nix passed for 212 yards and rushed for a touchdown, and the Broncos beat the Las Vegas Raiders. The Raiders lost quarterback Geno Smith, who injured his right hand and shoulder in the third quarter and was replaced by Kenny Pickett. The Broncos improved to 11-2. They tied New England for first in the AFC and ended their NFL winning streak of nine straight wins. The Raiders (2-11) have lost seven straight.
New Orleans Saints 24-20 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The New Orleans Saints upset the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to tighten the NFC South race. Rookie quarterback Tyler Shough scored two touchdowns for lowly New Orleans, which improved to 3-10. The Saints were 8.5 point underdogs. They frustrated Baker Mayfield and the Buccaneers in a sloppy game played mostly during a storm. The four-time defending division champion Bucs fell to 7-6. They lost for the fourth time in five games and found themselves tied for first place with Carolina. The Bucs and Panthers meet twice in the last three games.
Seattle Seahawks 37-9 Atlanta Falcons
Rashid Shaheed returned the second-half kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown, Seattle’s defense had three turnovers and the Seahawks beat the hapless Atlanta Falcons. Seattle improved to 10-3 and is aiming for a division title, perhaps even a top seed in January. Sam Darnold threw for 249 yards and three touchdowns, including two scores to Jaxon Smith-Njigba. The Seahawks broke away from a 6-6 halftime tie with a 31-point loss to the Falcons over the final two quarters. The Falcons fell to 4-9 and were officially eliminated from playoff contention.
Tennessee Titans 31-29 Cleveland Browns
Cam Ward threw two touchdown passes and Tony Pollard passed for two touchdowns as the Tennessee Titans ended a seven-game losing streak. The Titans kept Cleveland (3-10) out of the end zone in the second half until the Browns scored two touchdowns in the final minutes — and followed both with failed two-point conversion attempts — to create drama between two struggling teams. Shedeur Sanders threw seven yards to Harold Fannin II for a touchdown with 1:03 left, but a two-point conversion pass failed. Pollard rushed for 161 yards on 25 carries as the Titans (2-11) won despite managing just 292 total offensive yards. Tennessee racked up its highest point total of the season. Ward was 14 of 28 for 117 yards and threw an early interception.
Washington Commanders 0-31 Minnesota Vikings
JJ McCarthy threw a career-high three touchdown passes in his first game without a turnover, returning from his last injury absence in fine form for the Minnesota Vikings in a victory that sent the Washington Commanders to their eighth straight loss. McCarthy completed 16 of 23 passes for 163 yards in his seventh NFL start. He sat out last week with a concussion as the Vikings were shut out for the first time in 18 years. McCarthy hit his tight ends for all three scores, two against Josh Oliver and one against TJ Hockenson. The Vikings are 5-8. The commanders are 3 to 10.
Miami Dolphins 34-10 New York Jets
Tua Tagovailoa remained undefeated against the New York Jets, leading the Miami Dolphins (6-7) to victory over their AFC East rivals. With the win, Tagovailoa improved to 7-0 against the Jets (3-10) as a starter. The Dolphins have now won five of their last six games. De’Von Achane ran for 92 yards and a touchdown before leaving with a rib injury. Jaylen Wright chipped in with a career-high 107 yards. The Jets, now eliminated from playoff contention, saw rookie quarterback Brady Cook make his NFL debut after Tyrod Taylor left with a groin injury. Miami’s defense and special teams also played a key role in the victory.
