Lions beat Vikings 31-9, win NFC North and No. 1 seed, dropping division rivals to No. 5
DETROIT (AP) — Jahmyr Gibbs scored three of his franchise-record tying four touchdowns in the second half, and the Detroit Lions beat the Minnesota Vikings 31-9 to win their second straight NFC North title and earn home-field advantage until the Super Bowl. The Lions and Vikings could meet again in two weeks. Detroit will have a much-needed bye for its banged-up team during the first week of the playoffs while Minnesota plays at the NFC West champion Los Angeles Rams next Monday night. Gibbs had 23 carries for 139 yards with a career-high three rushing touchdowns and caught five passes for 31 yards and another score.
Geno Smith throws career-high 4 TD passes in Seahawks’ 30-25 win over playoff-bound Rams
INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — Geno Smith passed for 223 yards and threw his career-best fourth touchdown pass to Noah Fant with 3:19 to play, and the Seattle Seahawks finished their 12th winning season in 13 years with a 30-25 victory over the playoff-bound Los Angeles Rams. Jimmy Garoppolo passed for 334 yards and two TDs in his debut for the Rams, who had already clinched the NFC West title through strength of schedule before they hosted the Seahawks. The Rams rested Matthew Stafford and nearly all of his offensive starters to stay healthy for a home playoff game next weekend.
Browns move quickly after 3-14 season, fire offensive coordinator Dorsey and O-line coach Dickerson
BEREA, Ohio (AP) — The Cleveland Browns fired offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey and offensive line coach Andy Dickerson following their 3-14 season. Dorsey and Dickerson were informed of the moves in the aftermath of the team’s 35-10 loss in Baltimore on Saturday. Dorsey and Dickerson were in Cleveland for just one season. Cleveland’s offense struggled under Dorsey, who was fired last season by Buffalo. The Browns scored more than 20 points in only three games and the unit was plagued by injuries. Dickerson had the tough job of replacing Bill Callahan, the former NFL head coach who left to join his son Brian’s staff with Tennessee.
Nix leads Broncos past Chiefs’ reserves 38-0 and into playoffs for 1st time since 2015 season
DENVER (AP) — The Denver Broncos are back in the playoffs for the first time since winning Super Bowl 50 following the 2015 season. They beat Kansas City’s bevy of backups 38-0 for their 10th win, their most since that Super Bowl team. The Chiefs sat several starters, including Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce, because they had already secured the AFC’s top seed and lone playoff bye. Because Mahomes last played on Christmas Day, it will be at least 24 days before he plays again in the divisional round Jan. 18 or 19. The Broncos head to No. 2 seed Buffalo.
Patriots fire coach Jerod Mayo shortly after beating Bills to finish his lone season at 4-13
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — The New England Patriots have fired coach Jerod Mayo after one season, beginning another reboot for the franchise just a year after it parted with longtime coach Bill Belichick. Owner Robert Kraft announced the firing in a statement shortly after New England closed its 4-13 season with a 23-16 win over the Buffalo Bills. Kraft called it “one of the hardest decisions” he’s had to make. A former Patriots linebacker who worked as an assistant under Belichick, Mayo started the season with a strong endorsement from Kraft. But he struggled to get the most out of a young roster that included rookie quarterback Drake Maye.
Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals keep their playoff hopes alive by edging the Steelers 19-17
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Joe Burrow passed for 277 yards and a touchdown, and the Cincinnati Bengals kept their slim playoff hopes alive with a 19-17 win over the floundering Pittsburgh Steelers. Burrow also threw an interception and his NFL record streak of consecutive games with at least 250 yards passing and three touchdowns came to an end. But he did enough to propel the 9-8 Bengals to their fifth straight win and keep them in the mix until the season’s final day. Cincinnati will earn the seventh seed in the AFC if Denver loses to Kansas City and Miami either loses to or ties the New York Jets on Sunday. The Steelers are heading to the playoffs on a four-game losing streak.
Justin Herbert and Chargers secure AFC’s No. 5 seed with 34-20 win over Raiders
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Justin Herbert passed for 346 yards and two touchdowns, and the Los Angeles Chargers secured the fifth seed in the AFC playoffs with a 34-20 victory Sunday over the Las Vegas Raiders. The Chargers closed the regular season with a three-game winning streak under first-year coach Jim Harbaugh. They will visit the fourth-seeded Houston Texans in a wild-card playoff game on Saturday. Las Vegas, which had won back-to-back games, finished 4-13 with coach Antonio Pierce facing an uncertain future. This was the Chargers’ first victory at Las Vegas since 2020 and their first season sweep of their AFC West rival since 2018.
Kyler Murray throws 4 TD passes and the Cardinals beat the 49ers 47-24 in finale
GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Kyler Murray threw for 242 yards and four touchdowns, two to Greg Dortch, and the Arizona Cardinals beat the injury-depleted San Francisco 49ers 47-24. Arizona finished 8-9 to win four more games than last year, but still missed the playoffs for a third straight season. San Francisco lost seven of its final eight to finish 6-11. That’s the Niners’ worst record since 2018. Rookie Marvin Harrison Jr. had a touchdown catch to finish with eight, tying the Cardinals rookie record held by Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin. Joshua Dobbs threw for 326 yards with two TDs and two interceptions for the 49ers.
Buccaneers beat Saints 27-19 to clinch NFC South and wide receiver Mike Evans surpasses 1,000 yards
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Baker Mayfield used his legs and arm to help the Tampa Bay Buccaneers clinch their fourth straight NFC South title while putting Mike Evans over 1,000 yards receiving. Mayfield fired a 32-yard touchdown pass to Jalen McMillan for the go-ahead score and then scrambled 28 yards for a crucial first down on the next drive, leading the Buccaneers to a 27-19 victory over the New Orleans Saints on Sunday. Evans caught a 9-yard pass on the final play of the game to surpass 1,000 yards for the 11th straight season, tying Jerry Rice for the most in NFL history.
Colts owner Jim Irsay says he’s retaining GM Chris Ballard and coach Shane Steichen
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay intends to bring back longtime general manager Chris Ballard and coach Shane Steichen for another season. Irsay made the announcement in a letter to fans. Indy struggled late in the season and missed the playoffs for a fourth straight year, leading to speculation that both men could lose their jobs. The Colts finished 8-9. Fans chanted “Fire Ballard” during the fourth quarter of Sunday’s 26-23 overtime victory over AFC South foe Jacksonville. Irsay says he understands fans were clamoring for changes but he believes Ballard and Steichen give the Colts the best chance of being successful next season.
Mike McCarthy ‘absolutely’ wants to return as Cowboys coach, owner Jerry Jones still not definitive
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Mike McCarthy says he absolutely wants to return as the coach of the Dallas Cowboys. Jerry Jones has dropped multiple hints that McCarthy would be back, but the team owner was far from definitive about McCarthy’s future after a 23-19 loss to Washington finished a 7-10 season. Jones says he hasn’t yet decided on whether he will extend the coach’s contract. The Cowboys were already out of playoff contention before the finale. McCarthy was on an expiring contract after five seasons, including going 12-5 and to the playoffs in each of the previous three years.
Playoff-bound Texans cruise to 23-14 win over the Titans, who land No. 1 draft pick
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — C.J. Stroud completed all six of his passes for 50 yards and a touchdown Sunday on the Texans’ opening drive before going to the bench as Houston snapped a two-game skid going into the AFC playoffs with a 23-14 victory over the Tennessee Titans. The Texans also avoided being swept by the team they replaced in Houston. They will host the Los Angeles Chargers in a wild-card game. The Titans’ loss combined with New England’s win over Buffalo ends Tennessee’s season of misery with the No. 1 pick overall in the NFL draft in April.