Cowboys reach playoffs
Associated Press
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Associated Press
ARLINGTON, Texas — Tony Romo helped dump a bucket on Jason Garrett and playfully shoved him the same way the Dallas coach often does to his players.
The Cowboys had long since known their four-year playoff drought was over Sunday when they finally got to celebrate in the final seconds of a dominating 42-7 win over Indianapolis that clinched the NFC East title.
A special moment made perfect sense for the quarterback with a history of crushing late-season failures and a coach who kept getting Dallas to meaningful finales but couldn’t shake questions about his future because he couldn’t break through with a postseason trip.
“In so many ways, this is such a long journey and to get to a point to achieve your first goal of winning the division title, a lot goes into that,” said Garrett, in his fourth full season. “I think the way you play in securing that matters, and I thought we played really, really well.”
Romo threw four touchdown passes and broke Troy Aikman’s franchise record for yards passing while the Cowboys (11-4) emphatically ended a three-game home losing streak, scoring touchdowns on their first four possessions.
Dallas had an opening for its first division title and postseason berth since 2009 because of Philadelphia’s 27-24 loss at Washington on Saturday. The Eagles were eliminated with the Cowboys’ win.
The Colts (10-5) didn’t have much to play for with the AFC South title secured, and looked like it while they barely avoided their first shutout loss in 21 years.
“Yeah, it was a dismal start,” said Andrew Luck, who threw for a season-low 109 yards with two interceptions and was pulled in the third quarter with the game out of hand.
The Cowboys had already ended their three-year rut of 8-8 finishes that included losses in finales that kept them out of the playoffs. But they had to keep winning to make sure they got in.
Seahawks 35, Cardinals 6
GLENDALE, Ariz. — Russell Wilson threw for two touchdowns and ran for another, Seattle set a franchise record with 596 yards of offense and the streaking Seahawks closed in on another NFC West title with a romp over the Arizona Cardinals.
Seattle (11-4) moved into a tie with Arizona (11-4) for first in the NFC West and the Seahawks hold the tiebreaker by virtue of two wins over the Cardinals.
Wilson had the longest run of his career (55 yards) and matched the longest pass of his career (80) in the Seahawks’ fifth straight victory.
Marshawn Lynch sat out the first quarter with what the team called an “upset stomach,” then came in to score on a 6-yard run in the second quarter and a spectacular, multiple tackle-breaking 79-yard scoring run in Seattle’s 21-point fourth quarter.
Steelers 20, Chiefs 12
PITTSBURGH — Ben Roethlisberger passed for 220 yards and a touchdown, Le’Veon Bell added a score and the Steelers locked up a postseason berth.
Pittsburgh (10-5) faces Cincinnati next week for the AFC North title. Either way, the Steelers will be playing January football for the first time since Tim Tebow and Denver stunned the defending AFC champions in the wild-card round three years ago.
Antonio Brown caught seven passes and a touchdown for Pittsburgh, which has won seven of nine.
Kansas City’s Alex Smith passed for a season-high 311 yards but was sacked six times. The Chiefs (8-7) have lost four of five and need to beat San Diego next Sunday and receive plenty of help to make it back to the playoffs for a second straight year under coach Andy Reid.
Falcons 30, Saints 14
NEW ORLEANS — Julio Jones returned from a hip injury to catch seven passes for 107 yards, and the Falcons remained in playoff contention.
Matt Ryan completed 30 of 40 passed for 322 yards and a touchdown, and Devonta Freeman ran for a 31-yard score for Atlanta (6-9), which can win the NFC South by beating Carolina next week.
The Saints (6-9), who committed three turnovers in the fourth quarter, lost their fifth straight at home and were eliminated.
Jimmy Graham fumbled inside the Atlanta 1-yard line early in the fourth quarter. The Saints had a chance to drive for a winning score inside the final three minutes, but Robert McClain’s interception of Drew Brees in Saints territory set up a field goal, and Osi Umenyiora returned Brees’ fumble for an 86-yard TD as time expired.
Panthers 17, Browns 13
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Cam Newton threw for one touchdown and ran for another as Carolina (6-81) took over sole possession of first place in the NFC South. The victory sets up the winner-take-all showdown next Sunday at Atlanta.
The winner will join the 2010 Seattle Seahawks as the only teams in NFL history to reach the postseason in a non-strike-shortened season with a losing record.
Newton threw for 201 yards and ran for 63 yards just 12 days after the quarterback suffered two fractures in his lower back following an automobile accident. Jonathan Stewart ran for 122 yards and caught a 9-yard touchdown pass from Newton.
Johnny Manziel made his second NFL start for Cleveland (7-8) but left with 1:49 remaining in the first half with a hamstring injury and did not return.
Packers 20, Buccaneers 3
TAMPA, Fla. — Aaron Rodgers threw for 318 yards and one touchdown to help the Packers clinch a wild-card playoff berth.
Eddie Lacy scored on a 44-yard run, Jordy Nelson caught a 1-yard TD pass in the fourth quarter and had nine receptions for 113 yards, while Randall Cobb finished with 11 catches for 131 yards.
A 21-13 loss to Buffalo a week ago cost Green Bay (11-4) sole possession of first place in the division. It also hurt its chances for earning home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs. Green Bay closes the regular season at home against Detroit, and a victory will give the Packers another NFC North crown.
The Bucs (2-13) have lost five straight and remain in contention for the first overall pick in the 2015 draft.
Patriots 17, Jets 16
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Jonas Gray scored the go-ahead touchdown on a 1-yard run early in the fourth quarter after the Patriots intercepted Geno Smith, and New England clinched a first-round playoff bye.
Tom Brady threw a 3-yard TD pass to Rob Gronkowski for the Patriots (12-3), who could earn home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs if Denver loses at Cincinnati on Monday night.
With the Jets (3-12) leading 13-10 late in the third quarter, Smith’s pass for Jace Amaro hung in the air for an easy interception by Jamie Collins — and led to Gray’s score minutes later.
Nick Folk’s 52-yard field goal attempt could have given New York a lead with just over five minutes left, but it appeared to be partially blocked and fell short. Brady and the Patriots then ran out the clock.
Lions 20, Bears 14
CHICAGO — Joique Bell scored the go-ahead touchdown on a sweet run in the fourth quarter, and Ndamukong Suh had two sacks.
Calvin Johnson added six catches for 103 yards for Detroit (11-4), which came away with a narrow victory over a struggling team after locking up its second trip to the postseason in 15 years. The Bears (5-10) benched quarterback Jay Cutler this week in favor of the undistinguished Clausen.
The Lions secured a playoff spot with Philadelphia’s loss to Washington on Saturday. They were hoping to lock up their first division championship since 1993. But because the Packers beat Tampa Bay, the NFC North race will come down to next week’s game at Green Bay.
Matthew Stafford overcame two interceptions and completed 22 of 39 passes for 243 yards. He hit the 4,000-yard mark for the fourth straight year.
Texans 25, Ravens 13
HOUSTON — Running back Arian Foster threw a touchdown pass, Randy Bullock made a franchise-record six field goals and Houston’s defense dominated to keep slim playoff hopes alive.
The Ravens (9-6) now need some help next week to get into the postseason after Joe Flacco threw a season-high three interceptions and the offense struggled all day.
Houston (8-7) remains in the hunt with the victory, but needs several teams to lose next week.
With three quarterbacks hurt, the Texans started Case Keenum, who got his first win in nine NFL starts.
Foster ran for 96 yards. But his highlight came when he took a pitch from Keenum and, with a defender in his face, threw a 5-yard touchdown pass to C.J. Fiedorowicz to make it 16-0 in the second quarter.
Raiders 26, Bills 24
OAKLAND, Calif. — Derek Carr threw two touchdown passes and Sebastian Janikowski kicked four field goals to help the Raiders knock the Bills from playoff contention.
The Bills (8-7) needed to win their final two games and get some help to end the NFL’s longest active playoff drought at 14 seasons. But they failed at the easiest part, beating the lowly Raiders (3-12), and will miss the playoffs for a 15th straight season.
Oakland has the second-longest active postseason drought at 12 years but has done a good job of playing spoiler in recent weeks, beating Kansas City, San Francisco and Buffalo the past five weeks.
Dolphins 37, Vikings 35
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Dolphins owner Stephen Ross, buoyed by a thrilling comeback win, said Joe Philbin will return as coach next season.
Ross made his announcement in the locker room shortly after the Dolphins won on a safety.
Rookie Terrence Fede blocked a punt for a safety with 41 seconds left, and Ryan Tannehill threw four touchdown passes. The Dolphins overcame a 14-0 deficit to take the lead, but trailed again after giving up 15 points in an 11-second span in the fourth quarter.
Philbin’s job had been considered in jeopardy because the Dolphins will miss the playoffs for the sixth year in a row. But they’re 8-7 and have a shot at a winning season if not the playoffs.
Minnesota fell to 6-9.
Rams 37, Giants 27
ST. LOUIS — Odell Beckham Jr. caught two touchdown passes and rolled up 148 yards receiving against a defense that hadn’t allowed a TD in three straight games.
Beckham set a franchise rookie record with his 10th and 11th TD catches, shattered another rookie mark for receptions and topped 1,000 yards while shrugging off a pair of late hits in the second quarter.
The Giants (6-9) had a season-best 514 yards in total offense and have won three in a row heading into their finale at home against the Eagles. They had lost seven straight before the current streak started.
Kenny Britt made nine catches for 103 yards and Tre Mason had 13 carries for 76 yards and a score for the Rams (6-9).
