Dec 24, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns cornerback Tramon Williams (22) and strong safety Briean Boddy-Calhoun (20) celebrate as San Diego Chargers kicker Josh Lambo (2) bows his head after missing a field goal at the end of regulation at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Browns won 20-17. Photo Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
CLEVELAND — A stout defense and a blocked field goal late in the fourth quarter Saturday helped the Cleveland Browns hold off the San Diego Chargers 20-17 for their first victory of the season.
Defensive end Jamie Meder blocked a 32-yard field goal try by Josh Lambo with 3:45 left to help the Browns (1-14) win for the first time since Dec. 13, 2015.
Isaiah Crowell rushed for 54 yards and a pair of touchdowns for Cleveland, which lost starting quarterback Robert Griffin III to a concussion in the fourth quarter.
Philip Rivers threw for 321 yards with two TDs and one interception for San Diego (5-10), which got the ball back one more time with 1:46 to play and no timeouts. Lambo missed a 45-yard field try with no time remaining.
Patriots 41, Jets 3
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Tom Brady threw for three touchdown passes in less than three quarters, LeGarrette Blount ran for two touchdowns and Stephen Gostkowski kicked the 300th field goal of his NFL career, leading New England to a blowout of woeful New York.
The win, their sixth straight, moved the Patriots (13-2) closer to securing home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs. It reduced their magic number to one, meaning a New England win at Miami next Sunday or an Oakland Raiders loss either later Saturday or next week and the Patriots are home for two possible playoff games.
Brady tossed touchdown passes to tight ends Martellus Bennett and Matt Lengel and running back James White in the first half as New England led 27-0 at the end of a rainy first half and cruised home in better weather after halftime, completing the series sweep of the Jets.
The Jets (4-11), who avoided the shutout on a 29-yard Nick Folk field goal with 6:16 left. Quarterback Bryce Petty (shoulder) left the game in the first half.
Packers 38, Vikings 25
GREEN BAY, Wis. — After playing through hamstring and calf injuries that left him hobbling the past month, Green Bay’s Aaron Rodgers put on a clinic against rival Minnesota. Rodgers was 28 of 38 for 347 yards with four touchdowns, no interceptions and a passer rating of 136.6 as the Packers extended their winning streak to five games.
The Packers (9-6) will play for the NFC North championship at Detroit on Jan. 1. The Lions (9-5) play at Dallas on Monday. The Vikings (7-8) lost for the eighth time in 10 games and are eliminated from postseason contention.
Jordy Nelson was Rodgers’ favorite target with nine catches for 154 yards and two touchdowns.
Sam Bradford threw for 382 yards and three touchdowns, with 12 receptions for 202 yards and two touchdowns by Adam Thielen for Minnesota, which has lost eight of 10 since a 5-0 start.
Falcons 33, Panthers 16
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Matt Ryan threw two touchdown passes and Matt Bryant kicked four field goals as Atlanta inched closer to claiming the NFC South title by dismantling Carolina at Bank of America Stadium.
A Tampa Bay loss or tie later in the day at New Orleans would give the Falcons (10-5) the crown, or otherwise they meet the Buccaneers next weekend at home.
Ryan’s first scoring pass set a franchise single-season record at 33 touchdown strikes and sent the Falcons on their way to their third consecutive victory and fourth win in the last five games. Ryan completed 27 of 33 passes for 277 yards without an interception.
A two-game winning streak ended for Carolina (6-9). Quarterback Cam Newton was 18-for-43 for 198 and one touchdown pass. He threw two first-half interceptions.
Dolphins 34, Bills 31 (OT)
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Andrew Franks drilled a 27-yard field goal with 47 seconds left in overtime after making a 55-yard kick late in regulation as Miami continued its playoff push by edging Buffalo at New Era Field.
The loss eliminated the Bills (7-8) from playoff contention for the 17th straight season, extending the longest postseason drought in North American sports.
Jay Ajayi rushed for 206 yards and a touchdown for the Dolphins (10-5), which will clinch a playoff spot if Denver loses at Kansas City on Sunday. He set up the Franks’ winning field goal with a 57-yard on the first play of the drive. In two games against the Bills this season, Ajayi has rushed for 420 yards.
Tyrod Taylor completed 26 of 39 passes for a career-high 329 yards and three touchdowns as the Bills set a franchise record with 589 yards of offense.
Redskins 41, Bears 21
CHICAGO — Kirk Cousins ran for two touchdowns and passed for another as Washington kept its playoff hopes alive by thumping Chicago.
Chris Thompson scored Washington’s first two touchdowns — on a 7-yard run and a 17-yard reception — as the Redskins (8-6-1) raced out to an early 17-0 lead following a short week. Mack Brown broke free for a 61-yard touchdown run 57 seconds left to finish the rout. That made him Washington’s rushing leader in the game with 82 yards on eight carries.
Cousins, who broke his own team record for passing yards in a single season in last week’s loss to Carolina, distributed the ball effectively against the scuffling Bears (3-12) in half-empty Soldier Field.
Cousins completed 18 of 29 passes for 270 yards. He scored on 9-yard end run late in the second quarter, then barreled through a scrum and over the goal line in the third quafrter as he ran five times himself for 30 yards.
Jaguars 38, Titans 17
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Jacksonville snapped a franchise-worst nine-game losing streak with a surprising win over Tennessee.
Blake Bortles and Allen Robinson finally found the groove they had for most of last season, and the Jaguars knocked Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota out of the game with a fractured right fibula.
The Jaguars (3-12) looked nothing like the team that was crushed 36-22 by the Titans on “Thursday Night Football” on Oct. 27, and they dealt Tennessee’s playoff hopes a tremendous blow in a resurgent effort.
The Titans (8-7) will be eliminated from the AFC South race if the Houston Texans beat the Cincinnati Bengals on Saturday night. Mariota’s right ankle appeared to be twisted awkwardly when he was sacked from behind by rookie defensive tackle Sheldon Day late in the third quarter.
