NFL round-up: Miami miracle downs Patriots while Rodgers sets NFL record

Kenyan Drake ran the last 52 yards as the Miami Dolphins scored on a pass and double lateral on the final play on Sunday to beat the New England Patriots 34-33.

The Patriots were 16 seconds from clinching their 10th consecutive AFC East title when the Dolphins scored on the 69-yard play to rally from a 33-28 deficit.

NFL (@NFL)

IT’S A MIAMI MIRACLE! 😱😱😱 #FinsUp#NEvsMIA pic.twitter.com/qvzsiI9a5g

December 9, 2018

Ryan Tannehill threw a 14-yard pass to Kenny Stills, who lateraled to DeVante Parker, who quickly lateraled to Drake. He found a seam and beat two Patriots to the corner of the end zone defensive back JC Jackson and tight end Rob Gronkowski, who was on the field as part of the Patriots’ prevent defense. The Dolphins’ bench emptied as teammates mobbed Drake.

Tom Brady threw for 358 yards and three scores, but the stunned Patriots (9-4) lost in Miami for the fifth time in their past six visits.

Atlanta Falcons 20-34 Green Bay Packers

Aaron Rodgers threw two touchdown passes and set an NFL record for interception-free football, and the Green Bay Packers beat the Atlanta Falcons 34-20 to win their first game under interim head coach Joe Philbin.

Rodgers was 21 of 32 for 196 yards, including a 24-yard touchdown pass to Randall Cobb in the left side of the end zone for a 27-7. That throw gave Rodgers 359 consecutive attempts without an interception, breaking the league record previously held by New England’s Tom Brady (358 in 2010-11).

Baltimore Ravens 24-27 Kansas City Chiefs

Harrison Butker atoned for a 43-yard miss as time expired with a 36-yard field goal in overtime, and the Kansas City Chiefs stopped the Baltimore Ravens on fourth down to clinch a playoff spot with a 27-24 victory Sunday. The Chiefs (10-2) twice converted on fourth down before Patrick Mahomes threw a tying touchdown pass to Damien Williams with 53 seconds left. Moments later, Justin Houston strip-sacked Lamar Jackson to give Butker a chance to win the game for Kansas City in regulation. He missed that one. He didn’t miss his second chance.

New York Giants 40-16 Washington

Saquon Barkley rushed for 170 yards, including a 78-yard touchdown to surpass 1,000 for the season, Eli Manning threw for three scores and the New York Giants routed the Redskins to effectively end Washington’s already-slim playoff hopes.

New York Giants (@Giants)

Hi @Saquon…Bye @Saquon!!! 78 Yards!!!
WATCH IT AGAIN AND AGAIN!#ProBowlVote#ProBowlVote#ProBowlVote#ProBowlVote#ProBowlVote pic.twitter.com/V4pD0NpXrE

December 9, 2018

The Giants intercepted new Washington quarterback Mark Sanchez twice with Curtis Riley scoring on a pick-six in the first quarter. It was Sanchez’s ninth career interception returned for a touchdown. Sanchez, making his first NFL start since 2015, was 6 of 14 for 38 yards and the two interceptions and didn’t have a completion longer than 10 yards. He was later benched for Josh Johnson.

New Orleans Saints 28-14 Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Drew Brees threw for one touchdown and ran another to help the New Orleans Saints rally from an 11-point halftime deficit to clinch their second straight NFC South title with a 28-14 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Brees shrugged off a pair of turnovers to throw a TD pass to Zach Line, then scored on a one-yard sneak as the Saints (11-2) avenged a season-opening loss to Bucs (5-8) and also rebounded from a defeat last week at Dallas.

Carolina Panthers 20-26 Cleveland Browns

Baker Mayfield outplayed Cam Newton, Jarvis Landry caught a touchdown pass and ran for another score and the Cleveland Browns damaged Carolina’s playoff hopes with a 26-20 win over the Panthers, who dropped their fifth straight.

Cleveland Browns (@Browns)

HOW?!?! 😱

Mayfield (somehow) finds Landry deep on 3rd and 17!#CARvsCLE pic.twitter.com/kL5kLRW4lF

December 9, 2018

Mayfield bravely threw a 51-yard TD pass into traffic to Landry, who had a three-yard scoring run and added a long run on a similar call early in the fourth quarter to set up a go-ahead touchdown.

Playing the spoiler role down the stretch, the Browns (5-7-1) improved to 3-2 under interim coach Gregg Williams, who needed just five games to match former Browns coach Hue Jackson’s win total over two-plus seasons. The Panthers (6-7) suffered a loss that could haunt them for months and will increase the heat on coach Ron Rivera.

Indianapolis Colts 24-21 Houston Texans

Andrew Luck threw for 399 yards and two touchdowns and TY Hilton had 199 receiving yards to lead the Indianapolis Colts to a road win over the Houston Texans. The Colts (7-6) snapped a nine-game winning streak by the Texans (9-4), trimming Houston’s lead over the AFC South to two games with three remaining. Houston cut Indianapolis’ lead to 24-21 with less than three minutes remaining. With the Colts facing a critical third-and-one at midfield, Luck drew Jadeveon Clowney offside to secure a first down and the win.

New York Jets 27-23 Buffalo Bills

Sam Darnold one-upped fellow rookie Josh Allen, rallying the New York Jets to a 27-23 win over the Buffalo Bills.

Elijah McGuire scored on a fourth-and-goal run from the one with 1:17 remaining to cap a drive during which Darnold completed three of five passes for 52 yards. The rookie quarterback showed off his deft touch on a 37-yard pass to Robby Anderson, who made an over-the-shoulder catch up the right sideline. It was Darnold’s first career fourth-quarter comeback and came in his first game back after missing three with a strained right foot.