Seahawks’ loss clinches a playoff spot for Rams
The punishing runs from Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren and a handful of clutch throws from Mason Rudolph have lifted the Pittsburgh Steelers into the final week of the regular season with their playoff hopes still alive.
Harris rushed for a season-high 122 yards and bullied his way into the end zone for a pair of touchdowns, and the Steelers took their playoff hopes into Week 18 with a 30-23 win over the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday.
The loss by the Seahawks clinched a playoff spot for the Rams, who earlier in the day edged the New York Giants 26-25
Using a physical running attack that faced little resistance from Seattle, the Steelers (9-7) pushed their way into the final week of the regular season with a chance at the postseason after two straight wins and ensured that Mike Tomlin’s team would yet again avoid a losing record.
“We got to win out. This is kind of playoffs for us, so us executing right now is kind of the biggest thing,” Harris said.
Harris had not hit the century mark rushing this season, his closest coming when he ran for 99 yards against Cincinnati. But he combined with Warren for a running punch that Seattle struggled to stop.
“I was really disappointed missing this opportunity, right here at home,” Seattle coach Pete Carroll said. “Everybody was ready. This was a great one and we missed it. We weren’t right on defense in the run game again. It’s been repetitive. You can see it.”
at Ravens 56, Dolphins 19: Lamar Jackson threw for 321 yards and five touchdowns, finishing with a perfect passer rating and helping Baltimore (13-3) clinch the top seed in the AFC with a rout of Miami (11-5).
Isaiah Likely caught two touchdown passes for the Ravens, who won their sixth straight game and also wrapped up their first AFC North title since 2019, Jackson’s first MVP season. Now Baltimore can rest Jackson — and anyone else it chooses — in the regular-season finale against Pittsburgh.
Miami is also postseason bound, but now the winner of next weekend’s Dolphins-Bills game will take the AFC East. And now the Dolphins face a potentially significant injury. Linebacker Bradley Chubb — with his team down 30 points — had to be carted off with 3:05 left after hurting his knee.
Cardinals 35, at Eagles 31: James Conner ran for a two-yard touchdown with 32 seconds remaining, Kyler Murray threw three touchdown passes, and Arizona (4-12) rallied from a 15-point deficit to stun Philadelphia (11-5).
The Eagles could have won the NFC East with wins against Arizona and the New York Giants next week. Now, Dallas can win the division with a win next week at Washington.
Jalen Hurts, who threw three touchdown passes, was picked off in the end zone on a desperate heave to end the game.
49ers 27, Commanders 10: Brock Purdy bounced back from the worst game of his NFL career to throw two touchdown passes, and San Francisco (12-4) clinched the top seed in the NFC by beating Washington (412).
Philadelphia’s stunning home loss to Arizona, combined with Detroit’s defeat at Dallas on Saturday, allowed the 49ers to secure a firstround bye and home-field advantage.
The 49ers only concern could be the status of running back Christian McCaffrey, who left the game in the third quarter because of a right calf injury.
Saints 23, at Buccaneers 13: Derek Carr threw for 197 yards and two touchdowns, and New Orleans (8-8) moved into a tie atop the NFC South by halting a four-game winning streak by Tampa Bay (8-8).
Carr tossed touchdown passes of four yards to Juwan Johnson and 22 yards to Taysom Hill in the first half.
Tampa Bay can still repeat as NFC South champion by winning at division rival Carolina next week.
at Bills 27, Patriots 21: Josh Allen ran for two touchdowns, cornerback Rasul Douglas returned one of his two interceptions for a score, and Buffalo (10-6) beat New England (412), setting up a showdown at Miami next weekend for the AFC East title. .
Buffalo won its fourth straight and fifth in six games. The Bills gave up Jalen Reagor’s 98-yard return of the opening kickoff for a touchdown and settled for a touchdown and two field goals off three takeaways inside the Patriots 30. Allen concluded the opening drive of the third quarter with his second rushing touchdown — his 15th of the season — and the Bills held on from there.
at Jaguars 26, Panthers 0: Travis Etienne scored twice, including a 62yard touchdown that was his longest run of the season, and Jacksonville (9-7) blanked Carolina (2-14) to end a four-game skid.
The Jaguars won for the first time in December — and with quarterback Trevor Lawrence watching from the sideline — to set up a regular-season finale at Tennessee that will help decide the AFC South.
Jacksonville can clinch the division with a victory next weekend. A loss to the Titans would hand the AFC South to the winner of the Houston-Indianapolis game.
at Chiefs 25, Bengals 17: Harrison Butker was a career-best six for six on field-goal attempts and Kansas City (10-6) rallied past Cincinnati (8-8) to win the AFC West for the eighth straight season.
Patrick Mahomes had 245 yards passing and a touchdown for the Chiefs, who also secured the AFC’s No. 3 seed and at least one home playoff game. Isiah Pacheco ran 18 times for 130 yards, and Rashee Rice had five catches for 127 yards.
The Bengals led by 10 early but found themselves trailing 25-17 when Butker hit the last of his field goals — a 46-yarder through blustery wind — with 2:59 left.
at Texans 26, Titans 3: C.J. Stroud threw for 213 yards and a touchdown in his return from a concussion, and Houston (9-7) rolled past Tennessee (5-11).
A victory next week at Indianapolis will guarantee the Texans their first postseason berth since 2019.
at Colts 23, Raiders 20: Gardner Minshew threw a touchdown pass, Jonathan Taylor ran for a score, and two late defensive penalties helped Indianapolis (9-7) beat Las Vegas (7-9) to stay in the AFC playoff chase.
The Raiders had their two-game winning streak end and were eliminated from the postseason.
at Bears 37, Falcons 17: Justin Fields threw for 268 yards with a touchdown pass and a rushing touchdown in what could be his final home game for Chicago (7-9), which dealt a blow to the playoff hopes of Atlanta (7-9).
D.J. Moore finished with nine catches for 159 yards and a touchdown, and Khalil Herbert ran for 124 yards and a score as the Bears rolled.
at Cowboys 20, Lions 19: Dak Prescott threw for 345 yards and two touchdowns, and Dallas (11-5) stopped Detroit (11-5) on the third try of a two-point conversion with 23 seconds left, extending its home winning streak to 16 games Saturday night.