Sunday in the NFL | Drake Maye leads the Patriots to the playoffs

Chargers 34 – Cowboys 17

Justin Herbert threw two passes and added a rushing touchdown to help the Los Angeles Chargers beat the Dallas Cowboys 34-17 on Sunday.

The Chargers (11-4), who won their fourth straight game, will have a chance to punch their ticket to the playoffs later today or tomorrow. They need a loss or a tie by the Indianapolis Colts or Houston Texans.

This would be the Chargers’ second playoff appearance in as many seasons since Jim Harbaugh became the team’s head coach.

Dak Prescott threw two passes on the first two possessions for the Cowboys (6-8-1), but he didn’t find the end zone the rest of the game.

The Dallas team has lost its last three games and will not be in the playoffs for the second year in a row.

In his third full game with a broken left hand, Herbert led the Chargers to a key drive on each of their three first-half offensive drives. Omarion Hampton had a five-yard rushing touchdown in the second half.

A 23-yard pass to Quentin Johnston was followed by a 25-yard pass to Ladd McConkey. Herbert then ran the last yard from the end zone to add a major.

Schuyler Dixon, Associated Press

Panthers 23 – Buccaneers 20

Bryce Young threw two touchdown passes and the Carolina Panthers beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 23-20 on Sunday to take first place in the National Association South Division.

The Carolina Panthers were happy when they left the locker room Sunday, but they weren’t satisfied.

The Panthers finally found a way to beat Baker Mayfield and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, as their 23-20 victory moved them into first place in the National Association South Division.

North Carolina’s troops, however, are aware they may have to pull off the feat again in two weeks.

The Panthers (8-7) can secure the section title next Sunday with a win against the Seattle Seahawks and a Buccaneers (7-8) loss to the Miami Dolphins. However, if both teams win or lose, they will have to beat the Buccaneers again in the final week of action.

The Panthers are looking to end a drought of seven years without making the playoffs and 10 years without a section title.

Their manager, Dave Canales, said the club’s dressing room was filled with “hope and belief” that things will turn around.

“Everything is still ahead of us,” he said. The boys deserved the opportunity to play important games at this time of the year. They deserved it because they worked hard and were responsible to their teammates. »

The Buccaneers were driving down the field with a chance to attempt a tying field goal or take the lead by a touchdown, but Mayfield and Mike Evans miscommunicated leading to Ransom’s interception.

They suffered their third straight loss and have won just one of their last seven outings after starting the season with a 6-2 record.

“The most important thing is that our confidence and camaraderie is good,” coach Todd Bowles said. However, this is not enough for now. We lack execution here and there. I hope to see him again in two weeks and play for some action. »

Steve Reed, Associated Press

Bills 23 – Browns 20

James Cook rushed for 117 yards and two touchdowns, Josh Allen stayed in the game despite a foot injury and the Buffalo Bills moved closer to making the NFL playoffs with a 23-20 victory over the Cleveland Browns on Sunday.

Ty Johnson also scored a touchdown for the Bills (11-4), who won their fourth straight and fifth in their last six outings.

Allen played in the second half despite injuring his right leg during the second quarter.

Allen tried to favor his leg after he was the victim of a quarterback sack, combined by Myles Garrett and Alex Wright for a 22-yard loss at the Bills one-yard line with 60 seconds left in the first half.

Garrett has 22 sacks in 2025 and he needs just one in the Browns’ (3-12) last two games to pass Michael Strahan and TJ Watt for the most sacks in a single season.

Allen completed 12 passes on 19 attempts for 130 yards. He added 17 yards on the ground, on seven carries.

Cook, who had at least 100 yards in his ninth game this season, crossed the goal line on runs of 44 yards and three yards.

Michael Badgley added a 41-yard field goal in the third quarter for the Bills.

In the loss, quarterback Shedeur Sanders completed 20 of his 29 passes for 157 yards and a touchdown. He was also the most prolific on the ground for the Browns with four rushes for 49 yards.

Sanders, however, was the victim of two interceptions that allowed the Bills to score 10 points.

Tight end Harold Fannin Jr. scored both of the Browns’ touchdowns, including one on a 1-yard run in the third quarter that cut the Bills’ lead to 23-17.

Joe Reedy, Associated Press

Jaguars 34 – Broncos 20

Trevor Lawrence threw three passes and scored a touchdown, leading the Jacksonville Jaguars to a 34-20 victory that ended the Denver Broncos’ 11-game winning streak on Sunday.

The Jaguars (11-4), leaders of the American South Section, won their sixth straight game and handed the Broncos (12-3) their first loss since the third week of the season.

It was also the Broncos’ first home loss since October 13, 2024, ending their 12-game home winning streak.

The Broncos’ lead over the Los Angeles Chargers in the American West was cut to just one game. The two teams will face each other in the 18th stage^e week.

Parker caught six passes for a career-high 145 yards and a touchdown.

The Broncos pulled ahead after cutting the deficit to 34-20, but on a fourth down 41 yards from the Florida end zone, Nix threw a very predictable pass to Pat Bryant that was easily intercepted by Jarrian Jones midway through the fourth quarter.

Bryant was later carried off on a stretcher after a violent tackle in the final minute of the game.

This game pitted the two most penalized teams in the NFL, and the Broncos committed two huge fouls during this offensive drive that ended with a Lawrence punt a yard short of the goal line.

Malcolm Roach was penalized for hitting Lawrence with his full weight and rookie Jahdae Barron was penalized for questionable pass interference in the end zone.

Lawrence, who is having his best moments in the NFL, suffered five sacks from the best defense in the league, but it did not affect his performance. He threw for 279 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions.

Nix threw for a career-high 353 yards, but he wasn’t as accurate as usual, which explains the two turnovers and an over-high pass that led to Bryant’s injury with 31 seconds left.

Arnie Stapleton, Associated Press

Steelers 29 – Lions 24

The Pittsburgh Steelers pushed the Detroit Lions to the brink of elimination with a 29-24 win on Sunday.

The Lions thought they had the win on the final play of the game, but Jared Goff’s pass was negated by an offensive interference penalty on Amon-Ra St. Brown.

On fourth down, Goff threw a pass to St. Louis. Brown near the end zone. The receiver pushed Steelers cornerback Jalen Ramsey to get loose and before he fell to the ground, St. Brown threw a lateral to his quarterback for what appeared to be a touchdown.

Officials consulted on the field for some time before announcing their decision, much to the dismay of Lions fans.

Jaylen Warren had two 45-yard rushing touchdowns in the fourth quarter and finished with a game-high 143 yards for the Steelers (9-6).

Pittsburgh, which leads the National Association North, has won its last three outings to put itself on top with two games remaining.

The Lions (8-7) suffered two straight losses for the first time in more than three years, ending their hopes of winning the Nationals’ North Sectional title for the third straight year. They are not eliminated yet, but their chances are pretty slim.

The Lions had two turnovers due to penalties in the final minute of the game. Goff threw a 1-yard pass to St. Brown with 22 seconds left, but freshman Isaac TeSlaa was penalized for an offensive obstruction.

Larry Lage, Associated Press