Miami @ Baltimore
1 2 3 4 FINAL
MIAMI 0 14 7 0 21
BALTIMORE 7 0 0 7 14
BALTIMORE – On a dreary northeast day, the Miami Dolphins (11-1) kept the floundering Ravens at bay with a 21-14 victory.
In a game that provided much less drama than the 7-point differential may suggest, the Dolphins yielded only 188 yards, with a staggering negative seven on the ground.
"That was the game plan coming in," Bobby Wagner said. "We want to get people to throw the ball against us - the ground game won't come easy."
Wagner finished with another solid game picking up a pair of sacks to go along with his 10 tackles.
Offensively Miami was their typically efficient selves, for the most part, but allowed a pair of Justin Tucker field goal attempts to be blocked - keeping the Ravens in the game much longer than they should have.
"We'll keep working on it," Tucker said. "But that's obviously frustrating to us all, leaving points and field position out there."
League MVP candidate Chris Ivory posted 111 yards and two TDs on 19 carries.
Rookie Jacoby Brissett also finished 16-18 for 130 yards through the air.
The Dolphins will host the Arizona Cardinals Sunday in Miami.
In a game that provided much less drama than the 7-point differential may suggest, the Dolphins yielded only 188 yards, with a staggering negative seven on the ground.
"That was the game plan coming in," Bobby Wagner said. "We want to get people to throw the ball against us - the ground game won't come easy."
Wagner finished with another solid game picking up a pair of sacks to go along with his 10 tackles.
Offensively Miami was their typically efficient selves, for the most part, but allowed a pair of Justin Tucker field goal attempts to be blocked - keeping the Ravens in the game much longer than they should have.
"We'll keep working on it," Tucker said. "But that's obviously frustrating to us all, leaving points and field position out there."
League MVP candidate Chris Ivory posted 111 yards and two TDs on 19 carries.
Rookie Jacoby Brissett also finished 16-18 for 130 yards through the air.
The Dolphins will host the Arizona Cardinals Sunday in Miami.
Buffalo @ Oakland
1 2 3 4 FINAL
BUFFALO 7 3 3 0 13
OAKLAND 0 7 3 0 10
OAKLAND – The Buffalo Bills (11-1) squeaked by with their third consecutive 3-point victory over the Oakland Raiders 13-10 in northern California.
The Buffalo ball control offense again focused on short crossing routes to the league's leading receiver Tyler Lockett.
Lockett finished with 15 catches for 133 yards receiving.
"My body can take it," Lockett said. "We all just want to do whatever it takes to get a win. Whether it's by three or thirty-three man, a win is a win."
The Kansas State product is on pace to challenge teammate Todd Gurley's 150 receptions in a season NFL record.
The Bills committed a pair of costly red zone turnovers that could have spelt disaster for their hopes of earning the AFC's #1 seed.
Late in the 3rd quarter, Aaron Rodgers telegraphed a pass that was picked off in the endzone (taking a sure three points off the board).
On the next drive, with a 4th-and-Goal from the 6-inch line, Rex Ryan opted to go for the win, forsaking a field goal that would have put his team up by six with just minutes to go.
Fullback Jerome Felton fumbled away the ball reaching for the goalline.
The Raiders were able to move the ball to the 45-yard line of the Bills for a 62-yard Sebastian Janikowski field goal attempt that ended up sailing wide right.
"A win and then we move on," Rex Ryan said. "It wasn't pretty, but we gutted it out."
Buffalo continued to receive strong play by linebacker Jelani Jenkins and tackle Geno Atkins.
The pair combined for two sacks and multiple quarterback pressures on a day that saw the defense give up only 176 total yards.
The Bills will face yet another test as they head home to host the 7-5 Pittsburgh Steelers.
The Buffalo ball control offense again focused on short crossing routes to the league's leading receiver Tyler Lockett.
Lockett finished with 15 catches for 133 yards receiving.
"My body can take it," Lockett said. "We all just want to do whatever it takes to get a win. Whether it's by three or thirty-three man, a win is a win."
The Kansas State product is on pace to challenge teammate Todd Gurley's 150 receptions in a season NFL record.
The Bills committed a pair of costly red zone turnovers that could have spelt disaster for their hopes of earning the AFC's #1 seed.
Late in the 3rd quarter, Aaron Rodgers telegraphed a pass that was picked off in the endzone (taking a sure three points off the board).
On the next drive, with a 4th-and-Goal from the 6-inch line, Rex Ryan opted to go for the win, forsaking a field goal that would have put his team up by six with just minutes to go.
Fullback Jerome Felton fumbled away the ball reaching for the goalline.
The Raiders were able to move the ball to the 45-yard line of the Bills for a 62-yard Sebastian Janikowski field goal attempt that ended up sailing wide right.
"A win and then we move on," Rex Ryan said. "It wasn't pretty, but we gutted it out."
Buffalo continued to receive strong play by linebacker Jelani Jenkins and tackle Geno Atkins.
The pair combined for two sacks and multiple quarterback pressures on a day that saw the defense give up only 176 total yards.
The Bills will face yet another test as they head home to host the 7-5 Pittsburgh Steelers.
Indianapolis @ New York Jets
1 2 3 4 FINAL
INDIANAPOLIS 7 7 0 10 24
NEW YORK 7 3 21 21 52
NEW YORK – After a dominant 2nd half surge which saw New York put up 42 points, the Jets dismantled Andrew Luck and the Colts 52-24.
If the 2016 New York Jets (6-6) find themselves as observers once the playoffs begin, they will have no one to blame outside of their locker room.
The team is ripe with talent and is currently playing some of the best football in the league.
But, with the team finally back to .500 and with only four games remaining, a team that should easily challenge for the AFC Championship this year, may have to sit and watch as six other AFC squads chase Super Bowl glory.
"That second half really showed what this team is capable of," Aaron Donald said. "Every week is the playoffs for us - We know we need some help."
Donald picked up a sack and a scoop-and-score touchdown during the team's flurry of scoring in the second half.
Rookie Jalen Ramsey also took an interception to the house early in the third quarter to start the rally.
"Man, this team is clicking," Ramsey said. "We just gotta keep the train rolling."
Quarterback Sam Bradford, who was given another chance to grab hold of the starting quarterback job, had an uninspiring first half performance including a pick-six that left his team down 14-10 at the half.
Once Jimmy Garoppolo went back under center, the team took flight in all three phases.
Garoppolo finished 8-13 for 175 yards and three touchdowns, connecting often with speedy rookie Tyreek Hill.
Dante Fowler Jr. and Hassan Ridgeway also picked up 1.5 sacks each.
The Jets next travel across country to face the San Francisco 49ers before their brutal 3-game final stretch against the 11-1 Dolphins, 7-5 Patriots, and the 11-1 Bills.
If the 2016 New York Jets (6-6) find themselves as observers once the playoffs begin, they will have no one to blame outside of their locker room.
The team is ripe with talent and is currently playing some of the best football in the league.
But, with the team finally back to .500 and with only four games remaining, a team that should easily challenge for the AFC Championship this year, may have to sit and watch as six other AFC squads chase Super Bowl glory.
"That second half really showed what this team is capable of," Aaron Donald said. "Every week is the playoffs for us - We know we need some help."
Donald picked up a sack and a scoop-and-score touchdown during the team's flurry of scoring in the second half.
Rookie Jalen Ramsey also took an interception to the house early in the third quarter to start the rally.
"Man, this team is clicking," Ramsey said. "We just gotta keep the train rolling."
Quarterback Sam Bradford, who was given another chance to grab hold of the starting quarterback job, had an uninspiring first half performance including a pick-six that left his team down 14-10 at the half.
Once Jimmy Garoppolo went back under center, the team took flight in all three phases.
Garoppolo finished 8-13 for 175 yards and three touchdowns, connecting often with speedy rookie Tyreek Hill.
Dante Fowler Jr. and Hassan Ridgeway also picked up 1.5 sacks each.
The Jets next travel across country to face the San Francisco 49ers before their brutal 3-game final stretch against the 11-1 Dolphins, 7-5 Patriots, and the 11-1 Bills.
