Scores, results and highlights from NFL Week 16 including Bills vs. Browns, Titans vs. Chiefs and Cowboys vs. Chargers
The Seattle Seahawks picked up a huge win over the Los Angeles Rams to kick off NFL Week 16.
It was a huge boost for Seattle in its battle for the NFC’s No. 1 seed, but it wasn’t the only drama in the league.
The Washington Commanders fell to the defending champion Philadelphia Eagles on Saturday, setting up a Sunday of fierce action.
Catch scores, results and highlights from NFL Week 16 as 101GreatGoals.com takes a look back at the action.
Dallas Cowboys 17-34 Los Angeles Chargers
Justin Herbert scored three touchdowns as the Los Angeles Chargers moved closer to a playoff spot with a 34-17 victory over the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday.
Herbert threw two scoring passes and added a rushing touchdown, guiding Los Angeles to a fourth straight victory. The Chargers improved to 11-4 and remained in position to secure a playoff spot later in the day, depending on results elsewhere.
Despite playing with his non-throwing hand heavily protected, Herbert was effective, completing 23 of 29 passes for 300 yards as the Chargers posted a season-high 452 total yards.
Dallas got off to a fast start, with Dak Prescott throwing touchdown passes on the team’s first two drives, but the offense stalled after that. The Cowboys were officially eliminated from playoff contention, extending a tough streak that saw them lose three straight games.
New York Giants 13-16 Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings defeated the New York Giants 16-13, earning a third straight victory with both teams already out of the playoffs.
Vikings quarterback JJ McCarthy scored on the ground earlier in the game, but was forced out late in the first half after injuring his throwing hand.
The setback came on a strip sack by Brian Burns, who dislodged the ball and allowed Tyler Nubin to return the fumble 27 yards for a Giants touchdown, briefly changing momentum before halftime.
With McCarthy sidelined, backup Max Brosmer stepped in and stabilized Minnesota in the second half. The rookie led a key drive in the fourth quarter that ended with Will Reichard converting a 30-yard field goal.
Miami Dolphins 21-45 Cincinnati Bengals
Joe Burrow responded to last week’s shutout, throwing for 309 yards and four touchdowns as the Cincinnati Bengals dominated the Miami Dolphins 45-21.
Even though both teams had already been eliminated from playoff contention, the first half was competitive, with Cincinnati holding a narrow 17-14 lead at the break.
The game turned decisively after halftime, as Miami committed four straight turnovers that the Bengals converted into 28 unanswered points.
Burrow was very efficient, completing 25 of 32 passes and posting a 146.5 passer rating before leaving early in the fourth quarter.
Chase Brown played a central role in the third-quarter surge, scoring three touchdowns in the span of one quarter, including two receiving scores and a 12-yard rushing touchdown. Ja’Marr Chase surpassed 100 receiving yards, while Tee Higgins and Mike Gesicki also found the end zone.
Miami rookie Quinn Ewers impressed early in his first career start, but struggled after the break as the Dolphins’ offense faded and Cincinnati pulled away.
Carolina Panthers 23-20 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Bryce Young threw for 191 yards and two touchdowns as the Carolina Panthers earned a 23-20 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to take first place in the NFC South.
Carolina improved to 8-7 and now controls its path to the division title following another timely response following last week’s loss to New Orleans. Tetairoa McMillan led the Panthers’ receivers with six catches for 73 yards, including a 22-yard touchdown run just before halftime that gave the hosts a 13-10 lead at the break.
The Buccaneers briefly got back in front early in the third quarter, but Young responded with an extended play that ended with a touchdown pass to Ja’Tavion Sanders. With the score tied late in the fourth quarter, Young converted a key third down to set up a 48-yard Ryan Fitzgerald field goal.
Tampa Bay advanced into Carolina territory on the final drive, but safety Lathan Ransom intercepted Baker Mayfield in the final seconds to seal the victory.
New Orleans Saints 29-6 New York Jets
Chris Olave caught touchdown passes from Tyler Shough and Taysom Hill as New Orleans defeated the New York Jets 29-6, marking the Saints’ third straight victory. Charlie Smyth contributed five field goals, tying a team record.
Shough, the 40th overall pick in last year’s draft, threw for 308 yards, surpassing 300 yards in a game for the first time and improving his starting record to 4-3. Hill added 116 total yards, including 42 rushing, 36 receiving and a 38-yard touchdown pass to Olave late in the game.
Cameron Jordan recorded two sacks, passing Hall of Famer Rickey Jackson on the NFL career sacks list and finishing the season with 8.5 sacks.
Jets rookie Brady Cook, making his second start, was sacked eight times, threw a fourth-quarter interception to rookie Jonas Sanker and lost a fumble that led to a 50-yard field goal. New York has now lost three games in a row and five games out of six, while setting an NFL record with 15 games without an interception.
Cleveland Browns 20-23 Buffalo Bills
James Cook had a crucial performance on the field as the Buffalo Bills strengthened their push for a playoff spot with a 23-20 victory over the Cleveland Browns.
Cook ran for 117 yards and scored twice, recording his ninth 100-yard game of the season as Buffalo improved to 11-4.
Ty Johnson also added a rushing touchdown, while Josh Allen played through a right foot injury suffered in the second quarter to guide the Bills to a fourth straight victory. Allen finished 12 of 19 for 130 yards and added 17 yards on the ground although he was clearly limited after halftime.
Cleveland remained competitive behind rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders, who threw for 157 yards and a touchdown, but also committed two costly interceptions that led directly to 10 Buffalo points. Tight end Harold Fannin Jr. accounted for both of the Browns’ touchdowns.
Tennessee Titans 26-9 Kansas City Chiefs
Cam Ward passed for 228 yards and two touchdowns as the Tennessee Titans ended a long home drought with a 26-9 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs.
The win was Tennessee’s first at Nissan Stadium since early November and ended an 11-game losing streak at home, tying the longest such streak in franchise history since moving to Tennessee.
Ward had his most efficient performance of the season, posting a passer rating of 122.3 and setting a new team record for rookie passing yards. He connected with Chig Okonkwo on a short shovel pass before halftime and then found fellow Chimere Dike at close range in the third quarter.
Tony Pollard added 102 yards rushing, his third straight 100-yard outing, while Tyjae Spears and Joey Slye also contributed to the scores.
Kansas City, already shorthanded and without Patrick Mahomes, suffered further disruption when Gardner Minshew went out injured. The Chiefs made just three field goals as their losing streak continued.
