ANOTHER dramatic week of American football is almost in the books with Sunday’s action done and dusted.
Here’s the best of the action from Week 15 of the NFL season, including a big win for New England in the AFC and a monster day for Todd Gurley.
DOLPHINS 16 BILLS 24
LeSean McCoy scored twice and passed 10,000 career rushing yard to keep Buffalo’s playoff bid on track.
Tyrod Taylor also scored on a 9-yard touchdown run and Shareece Wright and Jordan Poyer intercepted Miami’s Jay Cutler on consecutive drives.
Rookie Tre’Davious White sealed the win by intercepting Cutler with 28 seconds remaining to seal the third win in four for the 8-6 Bills.
RAVENS 27 BROWNS 10
Joe Flacco threw a touchdown pass and ran for a score as the Ravens beat the Browns again.
Flacco scored on a 2-yard run and threw a 33-yard TD pass to Benjamin Watson as the Ravens (8-6) took control with two touchdowns in the final three minutes of the first half.
Baltimore stayed on course to reach the playoffs to leave Cleveland just two defeats from a 0-16 season.
PACKERS 24 PANTHERS 31
Cam Newton threw for 242 yards and four touchdowns to spoil Aaron Rodgers’ return from a broken collarbone.
Damiere Byrd had two touchdown catches and Christian McCaffrey had 136 yards from scrimmage as the Panthers improved to 10-4.
Green Bay’s playoff hopes all but ended with the defeat at Bank of America Stadium.
SICKNESS AND IN HEALTH Adrian Phillips suffers ankle injury, and his wife rushes down from stands to check on him
BENGALS 7 VIKINGS 34
Eric Kendricks had an interception return for a touchdown and Case Keenum passed for 236 yards and two scores to clinch the NFC North title for Minnesota.
Running backs Latavius Murray and Jerick McKinnon combined for 37 touches and 242 yards for the Vikings (11-3), who got back to winning ways after defeat in Carolina.
There was an emotional moment in the fourth quarter too when quarterback Teddy Bridgewater returned to the field for the first time since suffering a torn ACL in August 2016.
JETS 19 SAINTS 31
Mark Ingram ran for two touchdowns and gained 151 yards from scrimmage, including a late 50-yard TD run to help New Orleans overcome the Jets.
The Saints suffered from three turnovers before Ingram and Michael Thomas lifted them to safety.
Thomas became the second NFL player with at least 90 receptions in his first two seasons with nine catches for 93 yards, including a pivotal fourth-quarter touchdown.
EAGLES 34 GIANTS 29
Nick Foles threw four touchdown passes in his first start replacing the injured Carson Wentz to secure a first-round playoff bye.
Foles hit 24 of 38 passes for 237 yards and no interceptions as the Eagles recovered from an early 14-point deficit at Metlife Stadium.
Eli Manning threw for a season high 434 yards, but the Giants fell to 2-12 this year.
CARDINALS 15 REDSKINS 20
Anthony Lanier sacked Blaine Gabbert and forced a fumble that Preston Smith recovered as Washington held on to beat Arizona.
Smith also intercepted Gabbert and Lanier batted down three passes and had two sacks as they gave the Redskins (6-8) a glimpse of their potential as significant pieces of the defence for years to come.
TEXANS 7 JAGUARS 45
MOST READ IN SPORT
RAMS 42 SEAHAWKS 7
Todd Gurley rushed for 152 yards and scored four touchdowns as the LA Rams battered the Seattle Seahawks.
The matchup to determine first place in the NFC West was completely one-sided to move the Rams to the cusp of their first division title since 2003.
It was an embarrassing loss for Seattle and the worst during Pete Carroll’s eight seasons in charge.
PATRIOTS 27 STEELERS 24
New England snatched a controversial victory in Pittsburgh after Jesse James’ touchdown was chalked off.
The Steelers thought they had taken the lead with 28 seconds to play when Ben Roethlisberger found the tight end.
But, after review, James was adjudged to have dropped the ball as be went to the ground in a dubious call that had Heinz Field outraged.
New England moved into the No 1 seed in the AFC ahead of Pittsburgh and in the driving seat for home-field advantage in the playoffs.
TITANS 23 49ERS 25
Jimmy Garoppolo led one final scoring drive in the closing seconds to cap a fantastic first home start in a 49ers jersey.
Robbie Gould kicked a game-winning 45-yard field goal as time expired in a 25-23 win over the Titans at Levi’s Stadium.
Garoppolo threw for a career-high 381 yards and a touchdown during a dominant day to give the 49ers (4-10) a three-game winning streak in a lost season.
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