Dec 10, 2017; Charlotte, NC, USA; Carolina Panthers running back Jonathan Stewart (28) scores the winning touchdown in the fourth quarter at Bank of America Stadium. Photo Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Jonathan Stewart’s third touchdown run of the game was a 1-yard leap with 1:47 remaining, lifting the Carolina Panthers past the Minnesota Vikings 31-24 on Sunday afternoon at Bank of America Stadium.
The Panthers (9-4) pulled into a tie for first place in the NFC South with the New Orleans Saints. The Vikings (10-3) had an eight-game winning streak snapped.
Carolina quarterback Cam Newton ran 62 yards on second down to take the ball to the Minnesota 8-yard line to set up the winning score.
The Vikings failed to pick up a first down after Carolina’s go-ahead score.
Chiefs 26, Raiders 15
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Kansas City shook off the absence of All-Pro cornerback Marcus Peters with one of its stronger defensive outings of the season, knocking off Oakland to remain atop the tight AFC West race.
Alex Smith finished 20 of 34 for 268 yards with an interception and Kareem Hunt led the Chiefs on the ground with 116 yards and a touchdown on 25 carries as Kansas City (7-6) ended a four-game losing streak.
Tight end Travis Kelce had seven receptions for 74 yards and Tyreek Hill caught four passes for 75 yards as the Chiefs avenged an earlier one-point loss at Oakland (6-7).
Lions 24, Buccaneers 21
TAMPA, Fla. — Matt Prater kicked a 46-yard field goal with 20 seconds remaining, allowing Detroit to keep its flickering NFC playoff hopes with a victory over turnover-plagued Tampa Bay.
Detroit quarterback Matthew Stafford completed five straight pass attempts on a nine-play, 49-yard drive that led to Prater’s winning kick.
Stafford, whose status was unknown all week because of an injury to his right throwing hand, completed 36 of 44 passes for 381 yards and one touchdown. Meanwhile, running back Theo Riddick had a pair of scoring runs for the Lions (7-6). The Buccaneers (4-9) had five turnovers.
Bills 13, Colts 7 (OT)
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — LeSean McCoy ran for a 21-yard touchdown with 1:39 remaining in overtime to give Buffalo a victory over Indianapolis Colts.
McCoy rushed for 158 yards on a career-high 32 carries and surpassed 1,000 yards on the season as the Bills (7-6) weathered relentless snow, swirling winds and near whiteout conditions to keep their playoff hopes alive.
Frank Gore rushed for 130 yards on a career-high 36 carries for the Colts (3-10). Jacoby Brissett was 11-of-22 passing for 69 yards and a touchdown pass to tight end Jack Doyle.
Cowboys 30, Giants 10
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Running back Rod Smith had an 81-yard touchdown reception and then followed that with a 15-yard scoring run in the fourth quarter as Dallas manhandled hapless New York.
Dak Prescott completed 20-of-30 passes for 332 yards and three touchdowns for the Cowboys (7-6).
The Giants (2-11), meanwhile, turned to their tight ends to help them break the 3-3 deadlock. Eli Manning, back under center after being benched last week for Geno Smith, connected with rookie Evan Engram for a 35-yard reception to the Cowboys’ 21-yard line. Fellow tight end Rhett Ellison finished off the successful drive with a 1-yard reception from Manning.
Packers 27, Browns 21 (OT)
CLEVELAND — The Green Bay Packers overcame a 14-point, fourth-quarter deficit and beat Cleveland on a 25-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Brett Hundley to wide receiver Davante Adams.
The Packers (7-6) kept their playoff hopes alive in the NFC. The Browns (0-13) missed out on their best chance to get into the win column.
Hundley threw the winning touchdown pass with 5:05 left in overtime.
49ers 26, Texans 16
HOUSTON — Jimmy Garoppolo recorded his second victory in as many starts as San Francisco claimed a win over Houston.
Garoppolo passed for 334 yards and produced his first touchdown pass with the 49ers, a 6-yard strike to tight end Garrett Celek with 1:53 remaining in the third quarter. That scoring pass snapped a 16-16 tie and helped lift the 49ers (3-10) to their second consecutive road triumph.
San Francisco kicker Robbie Gould drilled field goals of 52, 35, 25 and 41 yards to aid the cause. The 49ers knocked out Texans quarterback Tom Savage in the second quarter. Backup T.J. Yates engineered consecutive scoring drives upon entering the game, capping both with touchdown passes to receiver DeAndre Hopkins for the Texans (4-9).
Bears 33, Bengals 7
CINCINNATI — Mitchell Trubisky passed for 271 yards and a touchdown and Jordan Howard rushed for 147 yards and two scores, lifting Chicago to a victory over Cincinnati.
Kendall Wright had 10 catches for 107 yards, helping Chicago (4-9) snap a five-game losing streak. Tarik Cohen ran for 80 yards for the Bears, who rushed for 228 yards.
Cincinnati (5-8) was minus four defensive starters, including top tacklers Vontaze Burfict and Nick Vigil, but it was a miserable afternoon for the Bengals and quarterback Andy Dalton, who passed for 141 yards with a touchdown and interception.
