The Detroit Lions have won their first division title since 1993, clinching the NFC North with a 30-24 win over the Minnesota Vikings.
The Lions have been one of the most unsuccessful franchises in American sport for some time, so the win to move to 11-4 and lock in the division was the best Christmas present Detroit’s long-suffering fans could have hoped for.
The NFC North title means Detroit will host a home playoff for the first time in 30 years.
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Head coach Dan Campbell, who many have credited in shifting the attitudes within the walls of the franchise and in turn the fortunes of the Lions, was emotional when discussing the significance of the result post-game.
“I’m proud of all the Lions fans out there who’ve been dying for this for years. That was for you,” he said.
Lions QB Jared Goff was typically solid again, passing for 257 yards and a touchdown with star WR Amon-Ra St. Brown recording 106 yards.
STAR BREAKS RARE RECORD AS 38-YEAR-OLD QB CONTINUES CAREER RESURGENCE
Quarterback Joe Flacco continued his remarkable comeback in the NFL as he led AFC playoff hopefuls the Cleveland Browns to a 36-22 win at the Houston Texans, but it was WR Amari Cooper who stole the show when breaking a franchise record for receiving yards in a single game.
Cooper eclipsed the previous Cleveland Browns receiving record of 262 (Josh Gordon) with his 11th catch in the final quarter.
The 265 yards is also the most recorded by anyone in a single game this season.
“I do truly feel like I’m unguardable. It’s all about opportunities, and I had a lot of opportunities today,” Cooper told NFL Network post game.
The Browns turned to Flacco, a 38-year-old who was without a team at the start of the season, as their fourth quarterback in an injury-plagued year earlier this month and he has kept them on track for a postseason berth.
He looked back to his very best on Sunday as he threw for three touchdowns and 368 yards in a win which took the Browns to a 10-5 record in the AFC.
Flacco, a Super Bowl winner with the Baltimore Ravens in 2012, was released by the New York Jets in the off-season and his career looked to be over until his unexpected return.
After a four-yard rushing touchdown from Jerome Ford set the Browns on their way, Flacco found Cooper wide left and the receiver raced into the end-zone for a 75-yard score.
The Texans responded immediately though, with Dameon Pierce showing his speed, power and agility as he returned the kick-off for a 98-yard touchdown.
Dustin Hopkins pulled his hamstring chasing Pierce, leaving Cleveland without a field goal kicker for the remainder of the game.
But the inspired Flacco delivered a magnificent throw to find David Njoku in the end-zone with a 21-yard pass to ensure Cleveland went on 22-7 up at the break.
The game was put beyond Houston’s reach when Flacco again connected with Cooper on a seven-yard pass and, at the start of the fourth, Kareem Hunt ran in from a yard to make it 36-7.
The Browns took out Flacco and many of their starters for the rest of the quarter, with the Texans notching two touchdowns to add some respectability to the scoreline.
DOLPHINS CLINCH PLAYOFF BERTH WHILE DOUBTS OVER COWBOYS LEGITIMACY REMAINS
The Miami Dolphins booked their place in the NFL playoffs after a last-second field goal from Jason Sanders gave them a thrilling 22-20 win over the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday.
Miami becomes the second team in the AFC to secure a playoff place, following the Baltimore Ravens, but they were pushed to the brink by Dallas and their quarterback Dak Prescott.
After a gruelling, physical encounter, Dallas got in front with a touchdown with just 3:27 left in the game after Prescott led an outstanding 17 play, 69-yard drive which culminated in a brilliant touchdown catch in the corner, under intense pressure from Brandin Cooks.
However, Miami quarterback Tua Tagovailoa responded in kind, managing the clock perfectly as he led Miami down the field with a 64-yard, 12-play drive to set up Sanders.
Sanders, who made all five of his field goal attempts including three from over 50 yards, made no mistake from 29 yards to seal a crucial victory over a Dallas side that had already grabbed a spot in the NFC’s playoffs.
“I think the key was the guys just having competitive greatness,” said Tagovailoa.
“The defence did a great job, the offence did a great job, this is a great team and this is a great team win. It was a team win.”
While the Cowboys have assured themselves of a playoff spot, the loss against the Dolphins is their second in a row and has done nothing to quieten the critics who believe Dallas aren’t able to beat the top sides.
WEEK 16 NFL SCORES
Saints 22 @ Rams 30
Bengals 11 @ Steelers 34
Bills 24 @ Chargers 22
Seahawks 20 @ Titans 17
Colts 10 @ Falcons 29
Browns 36 @ Texans 22
Packers 33 @ Panthers 30
Lions 30 @ Vikings 24
Commanders 28 @ Jets 30
Jaguars 12 @ Buccaneers 30
Cowboys 20 @ Dolphins 22
Cardinals 16 @ Bears 27
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