NFL teams
Associated Press 8y

NFL Today, Week 16

NFL, Cincinnati Bengals, Denver Broncos, New Orleans Saints, New York Jets, Detroit Lions, Atlanta Falcons, Houston Texans, Jacksonville Jaguars, Cleveland Browns, Minnesota Vikings, New York Giants, Pittsburgh Steelers, Indianapolis Colts, Seattle Seahawks, Miami Dolphins, Arizona Cardinals, Los Angeles Rams, Baltimore Ravens, Chicago Bears, Carolina Panthers, San Francisco 49ers, Kansas City Chiefs, New England Patriots, Green Bay Packers, Buffalo Bills, Dallas Cowboys

SCOREBOARD

Monday, Dec. 28

Cincinnati at Denver, 8:30 p.m. EST. AJ McCarron makes his second NFL start when the Bengals visit Brock Osweiler and the Broncos in a prime-time matchup that could go a long way to deciding the seeding in the AFC playoffs. It's just the sixth start for Osweiler, who took over for Peyton Manning in mid-November after the five-time MVP injured his left foot. The Broncos (10-4) are No. 1 in the league against the run and the pass, and the Bengals (11-3) have surrendered the fewest points in the NFL. A win would clinch a first-round bye for Cincinnati in the playoffs, while Denver is trying to hold off surging Kansas City in the AFC West.

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STARS

Passing

-Drew Brees, Saints, was 25 for 36 for 412 yards and three touchdowns, leading New Orleans to a 38-27 victory against Jacksonville.

-Ryan Fitzpatrick, Jets, passed for 296 yards and three touchdowns in New York's 26-20 overtime win against New England.

-Matthew Stafford, Lions, completed 29 of 37 passes for 301 yards and two touchdowns, powering Detroit to a 32-17 victory against San Francisco.

-Matt Ryan, Falcons, was 23 for 30 for 306 yards and a touchdown, leading Atlanta to a 20-13 win over Carolina.

-Brandon Weeden, Texans, threw two touchdown passes and ran for a score, helping Houston to a 34-6 victory at Tennessee.

-Blake Bortles, Jaguars, passed for 368 yards and four touchdowns, but Jacksonville lost 38-27 to New Orleans.

-Johnny Manziel, Browns, threw for 136 yards and rushed for 108 more in Cleveland's 17-13 loss at Kansas City.

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Rushing

-Adrian Peterson, Vikings, had 22 carries for 104 yards and a touchdown, leading Minnesota to a 49-17 victory against the New York Giants.

-Tim Hightower, Saints, had 27 carries for 122 yards and two TDs, helping New Orleans to a 38-27 win against Jacksonville.

-DeAngelo Williams, Steelers, rushed for 100 yards and two touchdowns in Pittsburgh's 20-17 loss at Baltimore.

-Frank Gore, Colts, had 15 carries for 85 yards and two TDs in Indianapolis' 18-12 win over Miami.

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Receiving

-Julio Jones, Falcons, had nine receptions for 178 yards and a touchdown in Atlanta's 20-13 victory against Carolina.

-Brandin Cooks, Saints, made five grabs for 123 yards and a 71-yard touchdown, helping New Orleans to a 38-27 win against Jacksonville.

-DeAndre Hopkins, Texans, had seven catches for 117 yards and a touchdown as Houston won 34-6 at Tennessee.

-Brandon Marshall, Jets, made eight catches for 115 yards and two TDs in New York's 26-20 overtime win over New England.

-Allen Robinson and Allen Hurns, Jaguars, each had more than 100 yards receiving in Jacksonville's 38-27 loss to New Orleans.

-Doug Baldwin, Seahawks, had eight receptions for 118 yards and a TD in Seattle's 23-17 loss to St. Louis.

-Jarvis Landry, Dolphins, caught seven balls for 111 yards, but Miami lost 18-12 at Indianapolis.

-Michael Floyd, Cardinals, had six receptions for 111 yards in Arizona's 38-8 win against Green Bay.

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Special Teams

-Matt Prater, Lions, kicked four field goals to help Detroit to a 32-17 win against San Francisco.

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Defense

-Kendall Langford, Robert Mathis and T.Y. McGill, Colts, had two sacks apiece as Indianapolis knocked off Miami 18-12.

-Dwight Freeney and Calais Campbell, Cardinals, combined for 5 1/2 sacks in Arizona's 38-8 victory over Green Bay.

-William Hayes, Rams, had three sacks as St. Louis won 23-17 at Seattle.

-Harrison Smith, Vikings, returned an interception 35 yards for a touchdown during Minnesota's 49-17 win over the New York Giants.

-Daryl Smith and Jimmy Smith, Ravens, each had an interception in Baltimore's 20-17 victory over Pittsburgh.

-Darrelle Revis, Jets, had an interception in New York's 26-20 overtime win against New England.

-Quintin Demps, Texans, returned a fumble 33 yards for a touchdown in Houston's 34-6 win at Tennessee.

-Harold Jones-Quartey, Bears, had an interception and forced a fumble as Chicago won 26-21 at Tampa Bay.

-Kawann Short, Panthers, had two sacks in Carolina's 20-13 loss to Atlanta.

-Kenny Vaccaro, Saints, had two sacks in New Orleans' 38-27 win against Jacksonville.

-Ahmad Brooks, 49ers, had 1 1/2 sacks, but San Francisco lost 32-17 at Detroit.

-Marcus Peters, Chiefs, got his eighth interception as Kansas City beat Cleveland 17-13 for its ninth straight win.

-Jamie Collins, Patriots, returned a fumble 14 yards for a TD, but New England lost 26-20 at the New York Jets.

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WORTH NOTING

Kansas City beat Cleveland 17-13 for its ninth consecutive victory and clinched a playoff spot when Pittsburgh lost to Baltimore. The Chiefs and 1986 Jets are the only teams in NFL history with a nine-game win streak and five-game losing streak in the same season. ... Atlanta star Julio Jones had nine catches for 178 yards in a 20-13 win against Carolina. He has 127 receptions and 1,722 yards this season, joining Marvin Harrison in 2002 as the players in NFL history with at least 125 catches and 1,700 yards receiving in a season. ... Carolina's Cam Newton got his eighth rushing touchdown in the Panthers' 20-13 loss at Atlanta. He is the first player with at least 30 passing touchdowns and eight rushing TDs in a single season. ... San Francisco wide receiver Anquan Boldin had five catches to run his career total to 1,004. He is the 13th player to reach 1,000 receptions.

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WHAT A TANDEM

Brandon Marshall had eight catches for 115 yards and two touchdowns, helping the New York Jets to a 26-20 overtime win against New England. Marshall ran his total for his first season with New York to a franchise-record 101 receptions. He is the first player in NFL history with six seasons with at least 100 receptions. Eric Decker had a 6-yard TD catch in overtime, marking the eighth game this season with Marshall and Decker each catching a touchdown pass, the most by teammates in the same season in NFL history.

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BREES' DAY

Playing through a right foot injury, Drew Brees passed for 412 yards and three touchdowns as New Orleans knocked off Jacksonville 38-27. It was Brees' 13th career 400-yard passing game, tying Hall of Famer Dan Marino for second-most such games in NFL history and moving within one of the record held by Peyton Manning. Brees' 71-yard pass to Brandin Cooks was his 16th career touchdown throw of at least 70 yards, tying Manning and Aaron Rodgers for most ever.

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INJURIES

Indianapolis quarterback Matt Hasselbeck left in the second quarter at Miami with a right shoulder injury. Charlie Whitehurst stepped in and led the Colts to an 18-12 victory. Hasselbeck said he was "not super optimistic" he would be available to play next Sunday against Tennessee. ... Houston linebacker Jadeveon Clowney left early in the fourth quarter at Tennessee with an injured left foot. Coach Bill O'Brien said he thought Clowney, the top overall pick in the 2014 draft, was fine. ... New England offensive tackle Sebastian Vollmer (left leg) was carted off in the first quarter. ... Buffalo defensive tackle Marcell Dareus left a win over Dallas and said he didn't have a lot of feeling in his hand. The diagnosis was a neck injury. Guard John Miller (ankle) and wide receiver Marcus Easley (knee) also were sidelined, with Easley being carted off. ... Dallas safety Barry Church broke his right arm. ... Bears defensive lineman Eddie Goldman left with a right ankle injury in the third quarter of a win over Tampa Bay. Running back Matt Forte (back) sat out the latter part of game.

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QUOTABLE

"I wanted to beat them because we got skunked up there." -- wide receiver Roddy White after Atlanta beat Carolina 20-13 on Sunday just two weeks after the Falcons lost 38-0 to the Panthers.

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QUOTABLE II

"This might sound brash, but we believed the whole time that we were going to beat Pittsburgh. Records, score, how good they're playing -- nothing matters when you're playing Pittsburgh." -- Baltimore cornerback Jimmy Smith after the Ravens' 20-17 win against the Steelers.

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