It took more than 60 minutes, but the Packers lived to see another day in their overtime victory. The Jets and Chiefs had an epic back-and-forth offensive battle that was close to the very end. The Patriots continue to win, while the 49ers look good with their new signal caller.
Packers (6-6) defeat Buccaneers (4-8) 26-20 OT
The Packers have been so bad without Aaron Rodgers that they’ve already found themselves in must-win mode. The Buccaneers got quarterback Jameis Winston back after he'd missed the previous three weeks and opened the game strong in Lambeau, going on a 10-play, 75-yard touchdown drive.
Green Bay answered with a field goal and went ahead 10-7 on Jamaal Williams' plunge into the end zone. The Packers need all the scoring help they can get and got some from their defense, returning a Winston fumble for a touchdown.
A Buccaneers' field goal cut the lead to 17-10 at halftime and another kick made it a four-point game. Tampa Bay took the lead after a 12-play, 78-yard drive; Winston hit tight end Cameron Brate for an 11-yard score. But the Packers tied the game 20-20 on their next possession. Both teams failed to put any more points on the board in regulation. After the overtime kickoff, the Packers drove 72 yards in eight plays to keep their playoff hopes alive. Aaron Jones ran the game-winning score in from 20 yards out.
Vikings (10-2) defeat Falcons (7-5) 14-9
The Falcons scored the first points of the game with a field goal, but the Vikings jumped ahead on a nine-play, 53-yard drive, scoring on a short pass from Case Keenum to Jerick McKinnon. Atlanta kicked a second field goal to make it a one-point game at halftime and knocked the third one through the uprights to go up 9-7 early in the third.
But touchdowns more times than not beat field goals, and Keenum put the Vikings up for good 14-9 with a pass to tight end Kyle Rudolph. Keenum had 227 yards passing along with his two scores.
Patriots (10-2) defeat Bills (6-6) 23-3
This clip perfectly encompasses the Patriots' offensive woes in the first half.
But Buffalo’s offense was even more anemic.
New England held just a 9-3 halftime lead but began to get their offense in gear in the third quarter. The Patriots scored touchdowns on their first two second-half possessions. Rex Burkhead ran each score in to put New England up 23-3. Bills' quarterback Tyrod Taylor was knocked out of the game and replaced by Nathan Peterman, who is infamous for his performance in San Diego. Peterman was just 6-of-15 passing but managed to avoid throwing an interception.
Jets (5-7) defeat Chiefs (6-6) 38-31
After two disastrous weeks, the Chiefs finally found some offense. But so did the Jets. Kansas City scored on their first two possessions to quickly go up 14-0. Alex Smith found tight end Travis Kelce for both scores.
However, New York clapped back, scoring touchdowns on their next two drives. Running back Bilal Powell and Josh McCown each ran one in. The Chiefs missed and then made a field goal to go up three, but McCown hit Matt Forte just before the half to put the Jets on top 21-17.
A third-quarter field goal gave New York a seven-point edge, but a splash play (79-yard pass) from Smith to Tyreke Hill tied the game 24-24. The Jets kicked in two field goals to take a six-point lead, but it was deja vu all over again as Smith found Hill deep to grab a one-point lead. A "splash" play of their own got the Jets into the red zone and McCown put New York back ahead with a one-yard touchdown run. In addition to his two rushing scores, McCown threw for 331 yards and a touchdown.
Ravens (7-5) defeat Lions (6-6) 44-20
Each week, the Lions get themselves in an early hole. The Ravens, still fighting for a playoff berth, jumped out to a 20-0 lead in the first half. Quarterback Joe Flacco torched Detroit's secondary, throwing for 192 yards and two touchdowns by halftime. The Lions finally got on the board in the third quarter when running back Theo Riddick rushed in a four-yard score. Detroit's inevitable comeback continued when Tion Green found the end zone for another Lions touchdown (the extra point was missed).
Baltimore extended their lead to 27-13 on an Alex Collins' touchdown in the fourth. But Detroit wouldn't go away; Matthew Stafford marched 75 yards in just five plays, tossing a one-yard score to Nick Bellore.
It wasn't until the Ravens were up 10 that the wheels fell off for Detroit. The game effectively ended when Stafford threw a pick and was injured on the play. Baltimore rubbed salt in the Lions' wound, scoring twice in the final four minutes.
Jaguars (8-4) defeat Colts (3-9) 30-10
Poor Jacoby Brissett. The Jaguars defense was on him like white on rice. The Colts had just 117 yards of total offense in the first half as Jacksonville quarterback Blake Bortles threw two first-half touchdowns. The Jaguars were up 16-3 at halftime and pushed their lead to 24-3 after rookie Leonard Fournette ran for a five-yard score (successful two-point conversion). The Colts responded with a Brissett 40-yard pass to T.Y.
Hilton to slash the deficit back to 14, but Indianapolis wouldn't score again.
Dolphins (5-7) defeat Broncos (3-9) 35-9
The Broncos quarterback situation is a disaster. Last Sunday (Nov. 25), Paxton Lynch was horrible against Oakland and Trevor Siemian may have been worse on Sunday (Dec. 3). Siemian threw two interceptions in the first half, including a pick-six, as the Dolphins raced out to a 16-3 halftime lead.
Miami nudged its lead to 19-3 with a field goal and had a chance to go up more after blocking a punt, but fumbled the ball right back to Denver two plays later. The Broncos failed to do anything with the opportunity. Jay Cutler kept Denver in the game by throwing a pick-six of his own to make the score 19-9 (the two-point conversation failed).
But Miami put the game away on their next drive when Kenyon Drake ran the ball in from 42 yards out. Cutler had 235 yards passing, along with two touchdown and two interceptions.
Titans (8-4) defeat Texans (4-8) 24-13
If the Titans want to prove that they’re a true contender then they need win games like this at home. Houston went up early 10-0. But Tennessee battled back, driving 75 yards in 10 plays and scored on a Marcus Mariota scramble into the end zone. The Titans tacked on a field goal to tie the game at the half.
After an eight-minute drive in the third quarter, the Texans missed a field goal to take the lead. The Titans took advantage on their next possession, marching 80 yards to go up 17-10; Mariota hit Delanie Walker for a 24-yard touchdown pass.
The Texans kicked a field goal and had a chance to go ahead late, but an interception ended the drive. Running Derrick Henry iced the game on a 75-yard run as Tennessee was running out-the-clock.
49ers (2-10) defeat Bears (3-9) 15-14
The Jimmy Garappolo era began in Chicago, but even he can’t stop plays like this.
That Tarik Cohen punt return touchdown put the Bears up 14-6 in the second quarter. And while the newly anointed Garappolo was able to move the ball in the first half, the 49ers could only manage three field goals. A fourth San Francisco field goal made it a two-point game in the third quarter. And while touchdowns beat field goals (see Vikings over Falcons), there's an exception to every rule. A fifth 49ers' field goal won the game at the very end. Garappolo passed for 293 yards and a pick.