UNDATED (AP) — The Packers became the first team this season to clinch a division title, wrapping up the NFC North with a 31-30 win over Baltimore after the Ravens missed another big 2-point conversion in the final minute.
With Lamar Jackson out with a sprained ankle, Tyler Huntley nearly led Baltimore all the way back from a 31-17 deficit. His 8-yard touchdown run with 42 seconds left pulled the Ravens within one, but Huntley’s 2-point conversion pass was incomplete.
It was the third consecutive loss for Baltimore, which also lost to Pittsburgh two weekends ago on a missed 2-point conversion in the final seconds.
Aaron Rodgers threw three touchdown passes — tying Brett Favre on Green Bay’s career list with 442.
In other NFL action:
— New Orleans’ defense gave Tom Brady fits again, shutting down Tampa Bay’s high-powered offense as the Saints put the Buccaneers’ division title celebration plans on hold with a 9-0 victory. Despite playing without coach Sean Payton on the sideline, the Saints beat the Bucs for the seventh straight time during the regular season — fourth since Brady left New England for Tampa Bay in 2020. The victory gave New Orleans a sweep of the season series between the NFC South rivals and boosted the Saints into playoff position with three games remaining.
— Kyler Murray had a shaky performance and that helped the Detroit Lions stun the Arizona Cardinals 30-12. The Cardinals started the day tied for the NFL’s best record, but blew its chance to return to the playoffs for the first time since 2015. The Lions were mired at the bottom of the league standings before the first snap but improve to 2-11-1.
— Ben Roethlisberger ran for his first touchdown in three years and Chris Boswell kicked four field goals as the Pittsburgh Steelers kept their playoff hopes alive with a 19-13 win over Tennessee. The Steelers forced the Titans into four turnovers and needed every single one of them. Tennessee drove deep into Pittsburgh territory in the final moments but cornerback Joe Haden stuffed Titans receiver Nick Westbrook-Ikhine short of a first down at the Pittsburgh 10 in the final seconds.
— The Cincinnati Bengals beat the Denver Broncos 15-10 Sunday in a showdown of teams fighting to stay in the logjammed AFC playoff chase. The Bengals didn’t get their usual offensive production, but the defense stepped up big and thwarted Denver’s great ground game. The Broncos lost starting quarterback Teddy Bridgewater to a head injury and he was carted off the field and hospitalized.
— Kyler Murray had a shaky performance and that helped the Detroit Lions stun the Arizona Cardinals 30-12. The Cardinals started the day tied for the NFL’s best record, but blew its chance to return to the playoffs for the first time since 2015. The Lions were mired at the bottom of the league standings before the first snap but improve to 2-11-1.
— The 49ers maintained their wild-card position, winning for the fifth time in six games, 31-13 over the Atlanta Falcons. The Niners scored touchdowns on four straight drives to make easy work of the Falcons. Jimmy Garoppolo threw for 235 yards and a TD, while San Francisco ran for three more scores.
— The NFL-East leading Dallas Cowboys inched closer to their first playoff berth since 2018, riding their defense to a 21-6 win over the error-plagued New York Giants. Defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence forced a fumble and made two other big plays that led to touchdowns. The defense forced four turnovers in all, including Trevon Diggs’ NFL-leading 10th interception.
— The Buffalo Bills beat the offensively challenged Carolina Panthers 31-14. Josh Allen threw three touchdown passes, but mostly stayed in the pocket because of a sprained left foot. Running back Devin Singletary kept Buffalo moving on the ground, running for a season-high 86 yards and a 16-yard TD run to open the scoring.
— The Miami Dolphins have pushed their winning streak to six games and the Jets are finishing last in the AFC East again. DeVante Parker caught an 11-yard pass from Tua Tagovailoa for the go-ahead score with 3:37 left as the Dolphins rallied to beat the Jets 31-24.
— Tremon Smith returned a kickoff 98 yards for a touchdown, and the Houston Texans beat woeful Jacksonville 30-16. Smith somehow escaped five defenders near the 30-yard line before coasting the rest of the way. It was Houston’s first kickoff return for a score since Oct. 4, 2009.
Broncos QB Bridgewater in hospital with head injury
UNDATED (AP) — Broncos quarterback Teddy Bridgewater was taken to a hospital for a head injury after he was carted off the field in the third quarter of Denver’s 15-10 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals.
Bridgewater was hurt in a scary collision that also sent Bengals linebacker Joe Bachie from the game with a leg injury. Bridgewater had movement in his extremities, and coach Vic Fangio said he’d be held overnight for observation but was expected to be OK.
Elsewhere:
New York Jets safety Elijah Riley was taken off the field on a backboard after being injured during the third quarter of a 31-24 loss to the Miami Dolphins. Riley injured his neck in a collision with teammate Kyle Phillips. He appeared to raise his right arm skyward as players from both the Jets and Dolphins went to his side to offer a kind word.
Defending champion Tampa Bay lost several key players to injuries in a 9-0 loss to New Orleans. The list included wide receivers Chris Godwin and Mike Evans, running back Leonard Fournette and linebacker Lavonte David.
Jacksonville Jaguars safety Rayshawn Jenkins broke his right ankle trying to make a tackle on Tremon Smith’s 98-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in a 30-16 loss to the Tennessee Titans. Jenkins was placed in an air cast and carted off the field in the first quarter. His season is likely done.
New York Giants wide receiver Sterling Shepard is done for the season after tearing his left Achilles tendon late in a 21-6 loss to the Dallas Cowboys.
