UNDATED (AP) — The Tennessee Titans and Indianapolis Colts won’t be playing next week. That’s great news only to the Titans.
The Titans have wrapped up the No. 1 seed in the AFC playoffs and a first-round bye with a 28-25 win at Houston. Ryan Tannehill was 23 of 32 for 187 yards and four touchdowns as Tennessee finished 12-5 to edge Kansas City for the top seed. Tannehill threw three touchdown passes in the second quarter to put the Titans up 21-0 at halftime before Tennessee escaped with a win.
The Colts eliminated themselves from the AFC playoffs with a stunning 26-11 loss at Jacksonville. NFL rushing champ Jonathan Taylor was held to 77 yards and the Jaguars turned a pair of Carson Wentz turnovers into 10 points to improve to a league-worst 3-14.
First overall pick Trevor Lawrence had his best game of the season, completing 23 of 32 passes for 223 yards and two touchdowns.
Elsewhere around the NFL:
— The Buccaneers hammered the Panthers, 41-17 to secure the No. 2 seed in the NFC playoffs. Tom Brady completed 29 of 37 passes for 326 yards and three touchdowns before taking the last half of the fourth quarter off, finishing with a career-best 5,316 yards passing and a Bucs single-season record 43 TD passes. Mike Evans caught two of Brady’s TD passes, giving him a club-record 14 scoring receptions this year.
— The Bills clinched their second consecutive AFC East title after Devin Singletary scored twice in the final 8:21 in a 27-10 win over the Jets. The Bills limited the the Jets to a franchise-low 53 yards of total offense and four first downs, the fewest allowed by Buffalo in franchise history. Buffalo also sacked Jets rookie Zach Wilson nine times, the most by Buffalo since getting 10 in a 23-0 win over Washington in 2011.
— The Steelers and Raiders are going to the playoffs as AFC wild cards after Daniel Carlson drilled a 47-yard field goal as time expired in overtime, giving Vegas a 35-32 win over the Chargers and eliminating Los Angeles. Derek Carr threw two scoring strikes to Hunter Renfrow and Josh Jacobs rushed for 132 yards and a TD. Justin Herbert threw for three TD’s, including a last-second scoring toss in regulation before the Raiders earned their fourth straight win. A tie would have put the Chargers in the postseason.
— The Steelers avoided elimination when Chris Boswell made a 36-yard field goal with 1:56 remaining in OT to complete their 16-13 win over the Ravens. Ben Roethlisberger threw for a touchdown and kept the winning drive alive with a fourth-down pass that moved the chains. Roethlisberger said it was likely the final regular-season game in a career that spanned 18 seasons.
— Jaylen Waddle had a touchdown grab and set the NFL rookie record for receptions in the Dolphins’ 33-24 victory against the Patriots. Duke Johnson rushed for 117 yards and a score to help Miami complete its first sweep of New England since 2000. Jones completed 20 of 30 passes for 261 yards for the Patriots, who are going to the playoffs as a wild card.
— The 49ers clinched a playoff spot by beating the Rams for the sixth straight time, 27-24 in overtime. Robbie Gould nailed a 24-yard field goal in OT before Ambry Thomas picked off a pass to secure San Francisco’s second postseason berth in eight years. Jauan Jennings caught a 14-yard touchdown pass from Jimmy Garoppolo with 26 seconds left in regulation, salvaging the Niners’ playoff hopes.
— The Rams still claimed the NFC West title with the Cardinals’ 38-30 loss to Seattle. Russell Wilson threw for three TDs and Rashaad Penny ran for 190 yards and a touchdown. James Conner scored two touchdowns in the third quarter before Arizona lost for the sixth time in 10 games after a 7-0 start.
— The Saints were 30-20 winners over the Falcons, but San Francisco’s win knocked New Orleans out of the playoffs. Trevor Siemian led back-to-back scoring drives following two Atlanta turnovers late in the first half, and the Saints overcame the loss of quarterback Taysom Hill to an injury. The Falcons were hurt by three turnovers, including two fumbles by running back Mike Davis.
— Aaron Rodgers threw two touchdown passes before sitting out the second half of the Packers’ 37-30 loss to the Lions. Backup Jordan Love threw two interceptions late in the game, dropping the NFC’s No. 1 seed to 13-4. Detroit took a 24-13 lead early in the third on a reverse flea-flicker with Jared Goff throwing a 36-yard touchdown pass to Brock Wright.
— Kirk Cousins passed for 172 yards and three touchdowns in the second half to lead a Vikings comeback in a 31-17 downing of the Bears. Justin Jefferson had the tying score and K.J. Osborn caught the go-ahead touchdown while Minnesota outscored Chicago, 28-3 in the second half. Darnell Mooney had 12 catches for 126 yards to pass the 1,000-yard receiving mark for the Bears, who may have played their final game under head coach Mike Nagy.
— Washington was a 22-7 winner at the Giants as Antonio Gibson ran for a career-high 146 yards, scored a touchdown and became the team’s first 1,000-yard rusher since 2018. Bobby McCain returned the first of his two interceptions 30 yards for a touchdown, and Joey Slye kicked three field goals as Washington finished 7-10. The Giants are 10-22 in two seasons under coach Joe Judge, whose future with the team is believed to be tenuous.
— Case Keenum threw touchdown passes to Jarvis Landry and Demetric Felton as the Browns beat the AFC North-champion Bengals, 21-16. Keenum filled in for Baker Mayfield, who will undergo shoulder surgery on Jan. 19. Cincinnati played without starting QB Joe Burrow, who is nursing injuries heading into the playoffs.
NFL-NEWS
Broncos fire coach Vic Fangio after 3 losing seasons
UNDATED (AP) — Vic Fangio has been fired as coach of the Broncos after going 19-30 in three seasons.
The move comes one day after Denver’s season-ending 28-24 loss to Kansas City. Fangio had a fourth year left on his contract with a team option for 2023.
Fangio got the job after more than three decades as an assistant, and he burnished his reputation as a defensive master during his time in Denver.
The Broncos finished 7-10 this season. They went 7-9 in Fangio’s first year and 5-11 last season.