Pittsburgh @ Buffalo
1 2 3 4 FINAL
PITTSBURGH 3 0 0 7 10
BUFFALO 0 10 0 7 17
BUFFALO – The Buffalo Bills (12-1) yet again proved they could win any type of game with their 17-10 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers (7-6) in blizzard-like conditions.
With the Steelers fighting to keep their playoff hopes alive, Ben Roethlisberger committed a pair of atrocious interceptions, one in the end zone on a well-timed jump by cornerback Damarious Randall, to lead his squad towards their second consecutive defeat.
"That's a great defense over there," Roethlisberger said. "They made plays and we did not."
Aaron Rodgers, no stranger to clutch-performances, orchestrated what may end up being the signature play of the 2016 season if his Bills are able to make a Super Bowl run.
Up 10-3, early in the 4th quarter, with Pittsburgh gaining momentum, Rodgers faced a 3rd-and-14 from his own 17-yard line.
With no receivers open and his pocket collapsing, Rodgers was set to collide head on with a hard-charging James Harrison which would have resulted in a sack deep in his own territory.
Rodgers instead pivoted with Houdini-like quickness, shoving aside Harrison, before unleashing a sure-to-be intercepted pass towards a well-covered Tyler Lockett 30-yards down the field near the sideline.
The ball made it through the smallest of available windows into Lockett's arms.
Five plays later, Buffalo was back in the endzone, up 17-3, on their way to their 12th victory of the season.
"You guys (writers) keep talking about destiny and all that stuff," Rodgers said. "We'll just happy to have clinched a playoff berth."
Rodgers finished 22-27 with 242 passing yards and a TD.
In addition to Lockett's steady play, tight end Luke Willson contributed nine catches for 93 yards and a TD.
The Bills next host the Cleveland Browns.
With the Steelers fighting to keep their playoff hopes alive, Ben Roethlisberger committed a pair of atrocious interceptions, one in the end zone on a well-timed jump by cornerback Damarious Randall, to lead his squad towards their second consecutive defeat.
"That's a great defense over there," Roethlisberger said. "They made plays and we did not."
Aaron Rodgers, no stranger to clutch-performances, orchestrated what may end up being the signature play of the 2016 season if his Bills are able to make a Super Bowl run.
Up 10-3, early in the 4th quarter, with Pittsburgh gaining momentum, Rodgers faced a 3rd-and-14 from his own 17-yard line.
With no receivers open and his pocket collapsing, Rodgers was set to collide head on with a hard-charging James Harrison which would have resulted in a sack deep in his own territory.
Rodgers instead pivoted with Houdini-like quickness, shoving aside Harrison, before unleashing a sure-to-be intercepted pass towards a well-covered Tyler Lockett 30-yards down the field near the sideline.
The ball made it through the smallest of available windows into Lockett's arms.
Five plays later, Buffalo was back in the endzone, up 17-3, on their way to their 12th victory of the season.
"You guys (writers) keep talking about destiny and all that stuff," Rodgers said. "We'll just happy to have clinched a playoff berth."
Rodgers finished 22-27 with 242 passing yards and a TD.
In addition to Lockett's steady play, tight end Luke Willson contributed nine catches for 93 yards and a TD.
The Bills next host the Cleveland Browns.
Arizona @ Miami
1 2 3 4 FINAL
ARIZONA 0 3 7 0 10
MIAMI 0 14 10 0 24
MIAMI – The Miami Dolphins (12-1) clinched their second consecutive playoff berth with their 24-10 victory over the Arizona Cardinals Sunday.
Rookie quarterback Jacoby Brissett out-paced his counterpart from Arizona with a 13-14, 187 yard, two TD afternoon that yielded a perfect 158.3 passer rating.
"At the end of the day, we're all just trying to do our jobs and to do what it takes to get the win," Brissett said. "I've said it all year: This is a team that will rely on running the football first to support our amazing defense. Our ground game makes it possible for our passing game to take flight."
In a game that lacked drama, Miami's defense held Arizona to 42 yards rushing, giving opponents 35 combined rushing yards over the past two weeks (after last week's -7 yards allowed against the Rams).
"We got a hungry team over here," Khalil Mack said. "The next three weeks will end up defining this regular season, but the real season starts in the playoffs."
Mack finished the day with seven tackles, four for loss, and 1.0 sacks.
The Dolphins next face the New York Jets, in a game that has been flexed to Sunday Night due to the playoff implications.
Rookie quarterback Jacoby Brissett out-paced his counterpart from Arizona with a 13-14, 187 yard, two TD afternoon that yielded a perfect 158.3 passer rating.
"At the end of the day, we're all just trying to do our jobs and to do what it takes to get the win," Brissett said. "I've said it all year: This is a team that will rely on running the football first to support our amazing defense. Our ground game makes it possible for our passing game to take flight."
In a game that lacked drama, Miami's defense held Arizona to 42 yards rushing, giving opponents 35 combined rushing yards over the past two weeks (after last week's -7 yards allowed against the Rams).
"We got a hungry team over here," Khalil Mack said. "The next three weeks will end up defining this regular season, but the real season starts in the playoffs."
Mack finished the day with seven tackles, four for loss, and 1.0 sacks.
The Dolphins next face the New York Jets, in a game that has been flexed to Sunday Night due to the playoff implications.
New York Jets @ San Francisco
1 2 3 4 FINAL
NEW YORK 14 7 0 7 28
SAN FRANCISCO 7 7 0 10 24
SAN FRANCISCO – Don't tell the New York Jets (7-6) that any win in the NFL should be celebrated. After their 28-24 victory in northern California, you could hear a pin drop in the (victorious) visitor's locker room as the team processed their narrow victory over the San Francisco 49ers.
"Pitiful quarterback play again," Todd Bowles said. "I said it. I need these guys - whoever is under center, to value the ball; No reason this game should have been that close."
After falling quickly behind 7-0, the Jets seemed to take control with three straight scores, including a pick-six by rookie Jalen Ramsey.
But then the turnover bug bit New York in two critical moments allowing the undermanned San Francisco squad to hang around.
For a team fighting for their playoff lives who have now put themselves into a tie for the 6th and final playoff spot, this 4-point victory was not enough.
"We let too many get away early," David Johnson said. "This felt like one of those games. I'm glad we pulled it out, but it's got to stop man. Crazy that we let it get like this still after all we've been through."
Johnson finished with an eye-popping 166 yards rushing (with only 16 carries) and a score.
The Jets ended with a second score on defense as cornerback Sean Smith also made a house call with a 68-yard INT returned for a score.
New York, now in a 4-way tie with Denver, New England, and Pittsburgh for the 6th and final playoff spot, will host the 12-1 Miami Dolphins Sunday Night on NBC.
The Patriots will take on Denver earlier in the day; If New England were able to defeat the Broncos and the Jets the Dolphins, the Week 16 matchup between NE & NYJ would essentially be for the AFC's #6 seed.
"Pitiful quarterback play again," Todd Bowles said. "I said it. I need these guys - whoever is under center, to value the ball; No reason this game should have been that close."
After falling quickly behind 7-0, the Jets seemed to take control with three straight scores, including a pick-six by rookie Jalen Ramsey.
But then the turnover bug bit New York in two critical moments allowing the undermanned San Francisco squad to hang around.
For a team fighting for their playoff lives who have now put themselves into a tie for the 6th and final playoff spot, this 4-point victory was not enough.
"We let too many get away early," David Johnson said. "This felt like one of those games. I'm glad we pulled it out, but it's got to stop man. Crazy that we let it get like this still after all we've been through."
Johnson finished with an eye-popping 166 yards rushing (with only 16 carries) and a score.
The Jets ended with a second score on defense as cornerback Sean Smith also made a house call with a 68-yard INT returned for a score.
New York, now in a 4-way tie with Denver, New England, and Pittsburgh for the 6th and final playoff spot, will host the 12-1 Miami Dolphins Sunday Night on NBC.
The Patriots will take on Denver earlier in the day; If New England were able to defeat the Broncos and the Jets the Dolphins, the Week 16 matchup between NE & NYJ would essentially be for the AFC's #6 seed.
