NFL GAME RECAPS

NFL Recaps: Gurley, Rams clinch NFC West title

The Sports Xchange

December 24, 2017 at 2:45 pm.

Dec 24, 2017; Nashville, TN, USA; Los Angeles Rams running back Todd Gurley (30) catches a pass and rushes for a touchdown against the Tennessee Titans during the first half at Nissan Stadium. Photo Credit: Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports

Dec 24, 2017; Nashville, TN, USA; Los Angeles Rams running back Todd Gurley (30) catches a pass and rushes for a touchdown against the Tennessee Titans during the first half at Nissan Stadium. Photo Credit: Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Los Angeles Rams running back Todd Gurley became the first player in 31 years to rush for 100-plus yards and produce 150-plus receiving yards in a single game, scoring two touchdowns as Los Angeles clinched the NFC West title with a 27-23 win over the Tennessee Titans on Sunday.

Gurley ran 21 times for 115 yards while catching 10 passes for 158 yards and touchdowns of 3 and 80 yards. The last player to pull off the 100-150 double was Herschel Walker of the Dallas Cowboys in 1986.

Los Angeles (11-4) clinched its first division title since 2003 and its first playoff berth since 2004. Tennessee (8-7) lost its third straight game, officially sealing the AFC South title for Jacksonville. The Titans can still wrap up a playoff spot next week by beating Jacksonville.

Saints 23, Falcons 13

NEW ORLEANS — Drew Brees threw a 54-yard touchdown pass to Ted Ginn Jr., and Mark Ingram II ran 26 yards for a score to power New Orleans to a playoff-clinching victory over Atlanta.

The Saints (11-4) earned the playoff berth after missing the postseason during the past three 7-9 seasons. The Falcons, who had won five of their previous six games by averaging 24.7 points a game, failed to score a touchdown in the first 57 minutes and fell to 9-6.

New Orleans can win the NFC South with a victory at Tampa Bay next week or a Carolina loss at Atlanta. The Panthers are also 11-4, but the Saints hold the tiebreaker based on their sweep of the regular-season series.

Panthers 22, Buccaneers 19

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Cam Newton picked up his own bobbled snap and ran for a 2-yard touchdown with 35 seconds left, lifting Carolina to a playoff-clinching victory against Tampa Bay.

Carolina converted a fourth down on the play prior to the touchdown, needing 1 yard after the Buccaneers (4-11) jumped offside. Jonathan Stewart got the yard, setting up Newton’s game-winning run. It was a 10-play, 59-yard drive.

The Panthers (11-4) remain tied with the Saints for first place in the NFC South. Carolina would hold a wild-card spot in the playoffs unless it wins next week at Atlanta while the Saints lose at Tampa Bay.

Patriots 37, Bills 16

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — New England moved a step closer to wrapping up the top seed in the AFC playoffs with a win over Buffalo.

While the Patriots (12-3) won for the 10th time in 11 games, the Bills (8-7) were dealt a serious blow in their bid to end a 17-year playoff drought. Tom Brady finished 21 of 28 for 224 yards with two touchdown passes and one interception that was returned for a score.

Patriots running back Mike Gillislee snapped a 16-16 tie with a 1-yard run late in the third quarter, and Dion Lewis ran for a career-high 129 yards and a touchdown. Lewis also scored on a nifty 12-yard screen pass to help break the game open in the fourth.

Bears 20, Browns 3

CHICAGO — Jordan Howard rushed for two touchdowns, rookie quarterback Mitchell Trubisky ran for one, and Chicago kept Cleveland winless.

If the Browns (0-15) lose next week’s finale at Pittsburgh, they would join the 2008 Detroit Lions as the only NFL teams to go 0-16. With the Sunday defeat to the Bears (5-10), Cleveland secured the No. 1 pick in the 2018 NFL Draft.

Howard’s touchdowns were his eighth and ninth this season, giving the second-year running back four in his past three games.

Redskins 27, Broncos 11

LANDOVER, Md. — Kirk Cousins threw three touchdown passes, and the Redskins’ defense turned in another stellar effort as Washington beat Denver.

Cousins completed 19 of 37 passes for 299 yards against the NFL’s top-ranked defense in terms of yardage allowed. He was intercepted once. Ryan Kerrigan had two sacks for Washington (7-8).

Quarterback Brock Osweiler got the start and was largely ineffective, completing 22 of 38 passes for 193 yards, with an interception and a lost fumble for Denver (5-10). He was sacked four times.

Chiefs 29, Dolphins 13

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Alex Smith surpassed the 4,000-yard passing mark for the first time in his 12-year career as Kansas City clinched back-to-back AFC West titles for the first time in franchise history.

Smith delivered again for the Chief (9-6) in the best season of his career, completing 25 of 39 passes for 304 yards and a touchdown. With the game tied at 3-all, Smith gave the Chiefs a lead they would not relinquish when he found wide receiver Tyreek Hill on a third-and-15 pass deep down the middle for a 52-yard gain. That set up a 9-yard touchdown pass from Smith to tight end Travis Kelce for a 10-3 lead.

Jakeem Grant caught four passes for 107 yards and a touchdown for Miami (6-9).

Bengals 26, Lions 17

CINCINNATI — Giovani Bernard rushed for 116 yards on 23 carries and a touchdown as Cincinnati eliminated Detroit playoff contention.

Detroit (8-7) needed a win and plenty of help to make the postseason, but fell flat against the struggling Bengals (6-9).

Cincinnati quarterback Andy Dalton, who had a 27.3 passer rating last week, the second-lowest of his career, passed for 238 yards and a touchdown on Sunday.

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