Nov 27, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan (2) celebrates the touchdown with wide receiver Taylor Gabriel (18) in the second quarter of their game against the Arizona Cardinals at the Georgia Dome. Photo Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports
ATLANTA — The Atlanta Falcons bounced back after their bye week and in the process might have extinguished the Arizona Cardinals’ flickering playoff hopes.
Taylor Gabriel raced 35 and 25 yards from touchdowns on screen passes from Matt Ryan and the Falcons improved to 7-4 with a 38-19 victory over the Cardinals, who have dropped eight straight games at the Georgia Dome.
Ryan completed 26 of 34 passes for 269 yards, and the Falcons rushed for three touchdowns and 118 yards to maintain their hold on first place in the NFC South.
Cardinals running back David Johnson went past 100 yards from scrimmage for the 11th straight game, finishing with eight catches for 108 yards and a touchdown, and rushing 13 times for 58 yards. It wasn’t enough, though, for the Cardinals (4-6-1).
Chargers 21, Texans 13
HOUSTON — Philip Rivers tossed three touchdown passes and San Diego handed Houston its first home loss of the season.
The Chargers (5-6) won on the road for just the second time behind Rivers’ pinpoint passing and a strong performance from their defense, which forced four turnovers. Rivers finished 22 of 30 for 242 yards with scoring strikes to wide receivers Dontrelle Inman and Tyrell Williams and tight end Hunter Henry.
Rivers’ counterpart, Texans quarterback Brock Osweiler, wasn’t as sharp. Chargers cornerback Casey Hayward picked off Osweiler in the second quarter, leading to Rivers’ 21-yard strike to Williams that gave Chargers the lead for good. Osweiler added an errant pass in the fourth quarter that San Diego free safety Dwight Lowery corralled to snuff any legitimate hopes for a last-gasp rally by the Texans (6-5).
Giants 27, Browns 13
CLEVELAND — Eli Manning threw three touchdown passes to lead New York past winless Cleveland for its fifth straight victory.
The Giants (8-3) kept pace with the Dallas Cowboys (10-1) in the NFC East. The Browns (0-12) are the only winless team in the NFL.
Manning threw two touchdown passes to wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. and one to wide receiver Dwayne Harris.
Bills 28, Jaguars 21
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — LeSean McCoy rushed for 103 yards and two touchdowns to lead Buffalo over Jacksonville.
Tyrod Taylor was 12-of-18 passing for 166 yards and a touchdown and ran for 38 yards and another score in the Bills’ second consecutive comeback victory. The Bills (6-5) own a winning record after 11 games for just fourth time in 17 seasons and the Jaguars (2-9) have lost six straight.
Wide receiver Sammy Watkins returned for the Bills after missing the past eight games due to lingering pain in his left foot following offseason surgery to repair a stress fracture. Watkins recorded 80 yards on three receptions and drew a crucial pass interference penalty on the Bills’ fourth-quarter touchdown drive.
Dolphins 31, 49ers 24
MIAMI — Ryan Tannehill threw three touchdown passes to lead Miami over San Franciscoto for its sixth straight victory.
Dolphins linebacker Kiko Alonso also had a big game with a fumble recovery and an interception. It was his first two-turnover game since 2013, his rookie year. Tannehill, Miami’s first-round pick in 2012, completed 20 of 29 passes for 285 yards with no interceptions.
The Dolphins, who started this season 1-4 and haven’t made the playoffs since 2008, improved to 7-4, putting them in position for a possible wild-card berth.
The 49ers (1-10) have lost 10 games in a row, setting a franchise record for a team whose history dates to 1946. The previous record of nine consecutive losses was set in 1978.
Saints 49, Rams 21
NEW ORLEANS — Drew Brees shredded one of the NFL’s best defenses and humbled former defensive coordinator Gregg Williams with four touchdown passes and 310 yards to power New Orleans to a rout of Los Angeles.
It was a game that clearly was personal for Saints coach Sean Payton, who has had little love for Williams, who ran a cash-for-hits program that got Payton suspended by the NFL for the entire 2012 season.
After two of Brees’ touchdown passes, Payton pounded his fist, stared across the field at Williams and shouted some interesting taunts. The signal that this was something out of the ordinary came midway through the fourth quarter with the Saints leading 42-21. On third-and-3 from midfield, Brees threw a backwards lateral to wide receiver Willie Snead, who then wheeled and threw a 50-yard strike across the field to wide open running back Tim Hightower. That made it 49-21 with 1:15 left, and the Saints were on their way back into the NFC playoff picture with a 5-6 record.
Jared Goff, making only his second NFL start, showed poise and accuracy in throwing for three first-half touchdowns for the Rams (4-7).
Ravens 19, Bengals 14
BALTIMORE — Elvis Dumervil forced a fumble by Cincinnati quarterback Andy Dalton with just over a minute left and Baltimore recovered the ball to preserve the victory.
The Ravens snapped a five-game losing streak against the Bengals, dating to Nov. 10, 2013. The Ravens (6-5) also remained tied with the Pittsburgh Steelers for first place in the AFC North.
Baltimore kicker Justin Tucker became the first player since 2012 to make three field goals of 50 yards or longer in a half. Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco completed 25 of 36 passes for 234 yards with a touchdown and interception.
The Bengals (3-7-1) were playing without two of their top playmakers in receiver A.J. Green and (hamstring) and running back Giovani Bernard (knee). The losses ended any shot at a postseason run.
Titans 27, Bears 21
CHICAGO — Marcus Mariota completed 15 of 23 passes for 226 yards and two touchdowns, and Tennessee staved off a late comeback attempt for a win over Chicago.
Running back Derrick Henry, tight end Delanie Walker and wide receiver Rishard Matthews each scored for the Titans. Tennessee (6-6) nearly blew a 20-point lead in the fourth quarter but stopped the Bears inside the 10-yard line in the game’s final minute.
In his first career NFL start, Bears quarterback Matt Barkley completed 28-of-54 passes for 316 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions. Chicago (2-9) dropped its third game in a row.
