Cam Newton came up big in the Panthers' game versus the Vikings, while the Cowboys, Packers, and Lions all kept their playoff hopes alive with big wins.
The Colts and Bills played in perfect football conditions (video).
Panthers (9-4) defeat Vikings (10-3) - 31-24
Quarterback Case Keenum got picked off on the Vikings' first possession after throwing an errant pass up for grabs. The Panthers took advantage of the turnover as Jonathan Stewart burst through a hole for a 60-yard touchdown run. But Keenum responded by marching the Vikings 75 yards in 10 plays, hitting tight end Kyle Rudolph for an 18-yard touchdown.
Cam Newton clapped right back, taking the Panthers' offense down-the-field to go up 14-7. Stewert plowed into the end zone for his second score of the game. Two Minnesota field goals made it 14-13 at halftime.
Carolina immediately tacked on 10 points in the third quarter. After Devin Funchess caught an 18-yard touchdown pass from Newton, the Vikings fumbled on the first play of their next series, which led to a Panthers' field goal. Down 11 halfway through the fourth quarter, Minnesota got back into the game on a 52-yard touchdown pass from Keenum to Adam Thielen (successful two-point conversation). Newton threw an interception on the Panthers' next possession, which led to a Vikings field goal and tied the score 24-24.
With less than three minutes remaining, Newton redeemed himself for the turnover by taking a quarterback keeper up-the-middle for 62 yards to the Minnesota eight-yard line.
Stewert's third touchdown of the game gave Carolina the win.
Packers (7-6) defeat Browns (0-13) - 27-21 OT
With one more week until Aaron Rodgers returns, Green Bay pulled out all of the stops versus the Browns to keep their playoff hopes alive.
On their first possession of the game, the Packers faked a punt in their own territory. Six plays later, quarterback Brett Hundley scrambled out-of-the-pocket and found a wide open Jamaal Williams for a 30-yard touchdown.
The Browns tied the score on their first series when DeShone Kizer lasered a pass to Josh Gordon for an 18-yard score.
The game remained 7-7 until the Cleveland offense traveled 70 yards in 12 plays halfway through the second quarter. Duke Johnson Jr. caught a seven-yard touchdown pass from Kizer. With a 14-7 advantage, the Browns took a commanding lead in the third on Kizer's third touchdown pass of the game. But Hundley came back on the Packers' next drive, leading Green Bay 75 yards in 13 plays to pull within seven. Williams scored his second touchdown on a short goal-line run.
The Packers' playoff hopes were fading with less than three minutes left. But that's when Trevor Davis sliced and diced his way 65 yards through the Browns' punt return team, taking the ball down to the Cleveland 25.
Hundley hit DeVante Adams in the end zone with 17 seconds left to send the game into overtime.
Green Bay intercepted Kizer on the Brown's first possession and won the game when Hundley found Adams again.
Cowboys (7-7) defeat Giants (2-11) - 30-10
Eli Manning returned as the starting quarterback for the Giants after getting benched last Sunday (Dec. 3). The game was tied 3-3 in the second quarter when Manning tossed a one-yard score to put New York ahead 10-3. Dallas tied the game on their next possession; Dez Bryant took a Dak Prescott pass 50 yards to the house for a touchdown. The game was 10-10 at halftime and remained that way throughout the third quarter.
But the Cowboys turned on the offense in the fourth. A 20-yard touchdown pass from Prescott to Jason Witten put Dallas up 17-10.
After a Giant's punt, Rod Smith took a Prescott pass 81 yards to give the Cowboys a 23-10 lead. Smith quickly found the end zone again after a Manning interception led to another Dallas touchdown drive. Prescott threw for 332 yards and three touchdowns.
Bills (7-6) defeat Colts (3-10) - 13-7
December in Buffalo!
The passing game for both teams was rendered nearly useless because of the conditions, but the Bills did manage to piece together a scoring drive just before halftime. LeSean McCoy ripped off a 23-yard run and 25-yard to get deep into Colts' territory. With 38 seconds left and no timeouts, quarterback Nathan Peterman spiked-the-ball to stop the clock. If the Indianapolis defense was expecting a run, the Bullafo offense caught them off-guard.
Peterman hit Kelvin Benjamin for a 21-yard pass down-the-sideline and then again on the next play for an eight-yard score.
Peterman got knocked out of the game in a scoreless third quarter. But at the start of the fourth, Jacoby Brissett helped inch the Colts' offense 77 yards in 19 plays to tie the game 7-7. Indianapolis converted two fourth downs on the drive before tight end Jack Doyle caught a touchdown and did a snow angel in the end zone. Joe Webb came in to replace Peterman and threw a pick late in the fourth. The Colts missed a field to win the game.
In overtime, Bills' receiver Deonte Thompson took a short pass 34 yards into Colts' territory. Three plays later, McCoy ran 21 yards to paydirt to give Buffalo the victory.
Lions (7-6) defeat Buccaneers (4-9) - 24-21
Detroit did what the Lions rarely do to open a game, go up early. Theo Riddick ran a score in from two yards to put Detroit up 7-0 in the first quarter. But Tampa Bay answered on their next drive. Jameis Winston led the Buccaneers 75 yards in 11 plays to tie the score 7-7. The Lions and Buccaneers combined for one punt, one interception, and two fumbles over their next four possessions. Stafford threw a five-yard touchdown pass to give Detroit the lead before another turnover implosion ensued.
From the end of the second quarter to the beginning of the third, the two teams fumbled twice, punted twice, and threw three interceptions. The Lions went up 21-7 on Theo Riddick's second score of the game.
But Tampa Bay cut the deficit back to seven with a touchdown of their own. After a Detroit punt, Winston drove the Buccaneers 72 yards to tie the game. With three minutes still remaining, Stafford had plenty of time to march the Lions 49 yards for the game-winning field goal.
Chiefs (7-6) defeat Raiders (6-7) - 26-15
The Chiefs came into the game having lost four straight games. Their offense has been putrid for three of those games, but it was the defense that let them down versus the Jets last Sunday (Dec. 3). Against the Raiders, everything was clicking. Kansas City scored on their first four possessions, but managed to find the end zone just once to keep the score 16-0 at halftime.
The Chiefs padded 10 more points to their lead before Oakland finally scored a touchdown on a Marshawn Lynch 22-yard run.
An onside kick gave the Raiders the ball right back and they scored again! A two-point conversation made it 26-15. But any hopes for a miracle Oakland comeback were dashed with an interception on their next drive. Chiefs running back Kareem Hunt rushed for 116 yards and a touchdown.
49ers (3-10) defeat Texans (4-9) - 26-16
After a win last Sunday (Dec. 3) versus the Bears, the 49ers were looking to win their second game in-a-row with Jimmy Garoppolo starting at quarterback. The score was just 3-3 until San Francisco drove 68 yards in six plays to go up 10-3. Running back Carlos Hyde punched in a score from one-yard out.
But the Texans responded with a touchdown drive of their own. Backup quarterback T.J.
Yates found DeAndre Hopkins in the end zone (the extra point was missed). The 49ers tacked on a field goal just before halftime to go up 13-9.
A scary moment in the first half occurred when starting Texans quarterback Tom Savage got knocked out-of-the-game.
Houston came out of halftime to go ahead 16-13 as Yates found Hopkins again for a 29-yard score. A San Francisco field goal tied the game; the 49ers jumped ahead for good when Garoppolo hit tight end Garrett Celek for a touchdown. Garoppolo had 334 yards passing, along with a touchdown and interception.
Bears (4-9) defeat Bengals (5-8) - 33-7
Offensive highlights have been few and far between for the Bears outside of an occasional play from rookie running back Tarik Cohen.
But the Bears scored on their opening drive, marching 51 yards in four plays as Jordan Howard dashed into the end zone from 21 yards out (the extra point was missed). Cincinnati raced ahead 7-6 when Andy Dalton hit Brandon LaFell for a 14-yard score. Chicago kicked field goals on their next two possessions to go up 13-7 at intermission.
Following halftime, the Bears pounced on the Bengals. A four-yard rushing touchdown from quarterback Mitchell Trubisky made it 19-6. The Chicago defense then picked off Dalton; seven plays and 43 yards later, it was 26-6 and the rout was on. Chicago turned another Bengals' turnover into points to make it 33-7. Along with his rushing score, Trubisky had 271 yards passing and a touchdown. Howard ran for 147 yards and two touchdowns.
