The Tampa Bay Buccaneers saved their playoff hopes alive with a giant win over the Carolina Panthers in Week 18 within the NFL, because the Seattle Seahawks additionally completed on a excessive notice heading into the postseason.
However there was nonetheless lots up for grabs throughout the remainder of the AFC and NFC, with the Atlanta Falcons hoping to select the Bucs to the divisional title, and the Houston Texans seeking to lengthen their profitable run to 9 video games heading into the playoffs.
Meet up with the scores, outcomes and highlights from Week 18 within the NFL as 101GreatGoals.com appears again on the motion.
Houston Texans 38-30 Indianapolis Colts
C.J. Stroud threw for a landing and ran for an additional, and Ka’imi Fairbairn’s 43-yard area objective with 12 seconds left lifted the Houston Texans to a 38-30 win over the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, extending Houston’s profitable streak to 9 video games and securing the No.5 seed within the AFC playoffs.
The Texans clinched a 3rd consecutive postseason berth regardless of resting key starters within the second half, together with Stroud, Will Anderson Jr., and Derek Stingley. Rookie Riley Leonard had 270 passing yards with two TDs and one speeding rating for Indianapolis but additionally threw an interception and misplaced a fumble.
Alec Pierce added 132 receiving yards with two touchdowns earlier than being ejected late within the third quarter.
Defensive deal with Tommy Togiai returned Leonard’s fumble 17 yards for a landing to pad Houston’s lead. Jonathan Taylor completed with 1,585 speeding yards for the season, second within the NFL.
Dallas Cowboys 17-34 New York Giants
The New York Giants closed their season on a excessive notice, defeating the Dallas Cowboys 34-17 to complete with back-to-back wins.
Rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart threw his 14th and fifteenth landing passes, connecting with Daniel Bellinger on a shovel pass-and-run and Tyrone Tracy, ending 22 of 32 for 231 yards.
Regardless of accidents and diseases, the Giants performed their starters the total recreation, treating it significantly.
Dallas, in contrast, approached it as a light-weight outing, with Dak Prescott exiting after halftime. Prescott accomplished seven of 11 passes for 70 yards and misplaced a fumble earlier than being changed by Joe Milton. He ended the season with 4,552 passing yards, second solely to his 2019 complete of 4,902.
Jaydon Blue and Phil Mafah scored their first NFL speeding touchdowns for Dallas, who misplaced to New York for the primary time since 2020, snapping a nine-game profitable streak in opposition to the Giants.
Cleveland Browns 20-18 Cincinnati Bengals
Myles Garrett set the NFL single-season sack report together with his twenty third sack, and Shedeur Sanders led a late drive capped by Andre Szmyt’s 49-yard area objective as time expired, giving the Cleveland Browns a 20-18 win over the Cincinnati Bengals Sunday.
Cleveland (5-12) scored each earlier touchdowns on protection, with Devin Bush returning an interception 97 yards and Sam Webb recovering a fumble for 47 yards. Sanders completed 11 of twenty-two for 111 yards, orchestrating the ultimate 40-yard, 10-play drive after Ja’Marr Chase’s 4-yard landing had put Cincinnati forward 18-17 with 1:29 left.
Joe Burrow was 29 of 39 for 236 yards with three TDs and one interception, whereas Chase had eight catches for 96 yards. Browns coach Kevin Stefanski’s future stays unsure, with a call anticipated Monday.
The win marked Cleveland’s first back-to-back victories in two years.
New Orleans Saints 17-19 Atlanta Falcons
The Carolina Panthers ended a seven-year playoff drought Sunday, claiming the NFC South regardless of shedding 16-14 to the Buccaneers.
Carolina benefited from the Falcons’ 19-17 win over New Orleans, giving the Panthers the division title with an 8-9 report and a 3-1 edge in opposition to the Saints and Falcons, together with a 2-0 mark over Atlanta.
Carolina turned the primary staff since at the very least 1990 to make the playoffs within the closing week regardless of a shedding report and a defeat of their closing recreation.
The Falcons secured their victory after Dee Alford returned an interception 59 yards to arrange Zane Gonzalez’s area objective, and Atlanta recovered an onside kick after a late Saints landing.
The Panthers now await their NFC wild-card opponent. If the Los Angeles Rams beat Arizona, they go to Charlotte; in any other case, San Francisco travels to Financial institution of America Stadium.
Inexperienced Bay Packers 3-16 Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings closed a irritating season with a 16-3 win over a resting Inexperienced Bay Packers staff Sunday.
J.J. McCarthy had a powerful first half, going 14 of 23 for 182 yards, earlier than exiting within the third quarter with a right-hand damage.
Backup Max Brosmer completed at quarterback, serving to Justin Jefferson attain 100 yards for the primary time in 12 video games.
Jefferson additionally secured his sixth consecutive 1,000-yard season, turning into solely the third receiver in NFL historical past to attain the feat. C.J. Ham contributed a brief speeding landing, whereas Dallas Turner had two of Minnesota’s 4 sacks, collectively setting Inexperienced Bay again 41 yards.
The Packers, with most starters resting and Clayton Tune making his second profession begin, managed simply minus-7 passing yards. A late Brandon McManus area objective prevented a shutout. Minnesota completed 9-8, claiming their fifth straight win to finish the 12 months.
Tennessee Titans 7-41 Jacksonville Jaguars
Trevor Lawrence threw three landing passes, setting the Jacksonville Jaguars’ single-season report for complete scores, because the staff routed Tennessee 41-7 to win the AFC South and safe a house playoff recreation.
The Jaguars (13-4) swept the Titans for the third time in 4 seasons, claiming their third division title in 9 years and surpassing 12 wins for under the second time in franchise historical past.
Lawrence accomplished 22 of 30 passes for 255 yards, discovering Brenton Unusual, Parker Washington, and Quintin Morris for scores, and performed into the fourth quarter to succeed in 4,000 passing yards for the third time in his profession.
Tennessee’s rookie Cam Ward left early with a shoulder damage, and backup Brandon Allen was ineffective, throwing an interception returned 58 yards by Antonio Johnson.
Jacksonville, winners of eight straight, will wait to be taught its playoff seeding and opponent, doubtless internet hosting Buffalo, Houston, or the Chargers.
