Texans extend winning streak to 7 with 23-21 victory over Raiders By KRISTIE RIEKEN AP Sports Writer The Associated Press HOUSTON
HOUSTON (AP) — Houston’s struggles Sunday in a victory over the Las Vegas Raiders left some on the Texans top-ranked defense feeling a bit disappointed.
“It’s hard to win this league,” defensive end Will Anderson Jr. said. “ With saying that, though, we have a standard in this building to where we want to play at and when we don’t feel like we play to that standard, everybody feels it. Sometimes it feels like, man we didn’t even win the game.”
C.J. Stroud threw a touchdown pass, Derek Stingley returned an interception for a score and the Texans beat Las Vegas 23-21 for their seventh straight victory and the Raiders’ ninth loss in a row.
While Anderson left the field feeling less than satisfied, coach DeMeco Ryans lauded his team for pulling out the win on a day it didn’t play its best.
“It doesn’t matter how it looks, it’s beautiful to get the win,” Ryans said. “I’m proud of our team for continuing to find ways to win.”
Houston (10-5) has its longest winning streak since a nine-game run in 2018. The Texans remain a game behind first-place Jacksonville — a winner in Denver on Sunday — in the AFC South. The Raiders are 2-13.
Stingley’s touchdown came in the first quarter, and Ka’imi Fairbairn made three field goals to help the Texans to the win on a day when their offense struggled.
Houston led by two with about eight minutes left when Stroud found a wide-open Dalton Schultz for a 1-yard touchdown strike that made it 23-14.
“We found a way to win,” Schultz said. “And in December, that’s all that we can ask for.”
Nick Chubb had a 30-yard run on that drive and a 23-yard pass interference call on Lonnie Johnson Jr. against Collins got Houston to the 2 to set up the score.
Raiders rookie Ashton Jeanty cut the lead to 23-21 when he scored on a 51-yard run with about 5 1/2 minutes left. He burst through the line before shedding a defender and waltzing into the end zone.
Houston faced third-and-20 at its 7 after that when Darien Porter was flagged for pass interference on Nico Collins to give the Texans a first down. Collins grabbed a 24-yard reception on the first play after the two-minute warning and Houston ran out the clock for the win.
Jeanty, the sixth overall pick in the draft, had 24 carries for 128 yards with a touchdown run and added a 60-yard touchdown reception to keep the Raiders in it.
“It was a beautiful day to watch Ashton,” coach Pete Carroll said. “His talent is so obvious to me and anyone who has watched him.”
Stroud threw for 187 yards and a touchdown and Collins had four receptions for 59 yards.
Las Vegas finished with 315 yards to break a streak of six straight games with less than 17 points and fewer than 275 yards, which was the longest such streak since Cleveland in 2008.
“This game was about how hard we would play and demonstrate how much we love the game,” Carroll said. “I thought that’s what we showed.”
Geno Smith threw for 201 yards and two touchdowns with the interception in his return after sitting out last week with back and shoulder injuries.
Jeanty put the Raiders on top when he grabbed a pass at about the 35 and dashed into the end zone, slipping out of a tackle on the way, for the 60-yard score with about 9 1/2 minutes let in the third. The score was the longest touchdown reception by a Raiders running back since Jamize Olawale had a 75-yard TD catch against Houston in 2016.
He joined Alvin Kamara (2017) and Christian McCaffrey (2017) as the only rookie running backs since 1970 to have five receiving touchdowns. His 188 yards from scrummage are the second most by a rookie in franchise history behind the 235 yards Bo Jackson gained against Seattle in 1987.
The Texans punted on their first two possessions of the second half before Fairbairn’s 49-yard field goal made it 16-14 with three minutes left in the third.
Stingley’s 31-yard interception return for a touchdown put the Texans up 7-0 early. It was the first touchdown for the All-Pro since high school and he kept the ball to give to his father. The Raiders tied it on a 7-yard reception by Brock Bowers early in the second quarter.
Houston went on top 10-7 on a 55-yard field goal with about nine minutes left in the first half.
A 50-yard field goal by Fairbairn left the Texans up 13-7 at halftime.
Injuries
Texans LB Jake Hansen injured his chest in the first quarter and did not return. … T Aireontae Ersery injured his hand in the fourth quarter.
Up Next
Raiders: Host the New York Giants next Sunday.
Texans: At the Los Aneles Chargers on Saturday.
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Bijan Robinson leads Falcons to 2nd straight win, 26-19 over woeful Cardinals By DAVID BRANDT AP Sports Writer The Associated Press GLENDALE, Ariz.
GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Bijan Robinson had another outstanding game running the ball and catching it , talented tight end Kyle Pitts caught a touchdown pass , and the Atlanta defense made a big play in a critical moment.
This was what the Falcons were supposed to look like this season.
The good times have come too late for the Falcons to make a run at the postseason, but Sunday's 26-19 victory over the Arizona Cardinals was a reminder that this is a roster with the potential to produce positive results.
“It shows guys what this team should look like on a consistent basis, every time we're out there,” coach Raheem Morris said.
The Falcons (6-9) won for the second straight week, with both coming on the road. They've won three of their last five, bouncing back after a five-game skid that derailed their season.
Atlanta controlled much of the second half, building a 26-16 lead by early in the fourth quarter, but Arizona rallied and made a fourth-down defensive stop at its own 40-yard line with 2:05 left. That gave the Cardinals a chance to tie the game or take the lead.
Atlanta's C.J. Henderson — who was elevated from the practice squad on Saturday — made a diving interception of Jacoby Brissett's pass with 1:30 remaining to secure the win.
“I've been staying ready the entire time, so I wasn't surprised,” Henderson said.
Robinson had 92 yards receiving on seven catches, including a 13-yard touchdown, and added 76 yards rushing on 16 carries. The 23-year-old became the third player in franchise history to gain at least 2,000 yards from scrimmage in a season, joining Jamal Anderson (1998) and William Andrews (1981 and 1983).
“That's a real-deal stat — doing 2,000 from scrimmage,” Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins said. “It's hard to do if you're not healthy, so the fact that he's durable enough to do it is a big deal.”
Arizona (3-12) has lost seven straight and 12 of 13 since starting the season 2-0.
The Falcons pushed ahead 26-16 early in the fourth quarter when Cousins scored on a 1-yard run, which capped a 12-play, 66-yard drive. Arizona cut the deficit to 26-19 with 4:37 left on Chad Ryland's 34-yard field goal, taking advantage of Cousins' fumble at midfield.
“I loved the resilience,” Cardinals coach Jonathan Gannon said. “I thought we battled in there, but ultimately fell a little short. I thought a key component of the game is that we moved it, but had to settle for some field goals. They converted some touchdowns.”
Brissett completed 16 of 31 passes for 203 yards with a touchdown and an interception. The veteran has a 1-9 record as the Cardinals' starter since taking over for the injured Kyler Murray in Week 6.
Arizona tight end Elijah Higgins had 91 yards receiving on seven catches.
Atlanta rallied from an early 10-point deficit to tie the game at 16-all heading into halftime. Cousins hit Pitts for an 11-yard touchdown with 25 seconds left in the second quarter. Calais Campbell, Arizona's 39-year-old defensive end, blocked the extra-point attempt to keep the Falcons from taking the lead.
Arizona tried a 50-yard field goal to take the lead just before the break, but Ryland's kick was no good, bouncing off the right upright.
Ryland also missed a 44-yard attempt in the third quarter wide right.
The Cardinals took a 10-0 lead midway through the first quarter after Michael Wilson made a circus catch for a 32-yard touchdown . Falcons cornerback Cobee Bryant and Wilson tumbled into the end zone as they fought for possession and the ball bounced between them, eventually settling between Wilson's legs without hitting the ground.
Cardinals tight end Trey McBride caught four passes for 27 yards, which snapped a personal streak of 16 straight games with at least five receptions. The 16-game streak was an NFL record for a tight end.
Injuries
Cardinals: CB Max Melton (heel), LT Paris Johnson Jr. (knee) and S Jalen Thompson (hamstring) were among six inactives. ... CB Garrett Williams (Achilles tendon) left in the first quarter and had to be carted off the field after the non-contact injury. ... Rookie DL Walter Nolen III (knee) was carted off in the third quarter. ... DL Josh Sweat (ankle) was hurt during the first quarter and initially returned, but was ruled out in the third quarter.
Up next
Falcons: Host the Los Angeles Rams on Monday, Dec. 29.
Cardinals: At Cincinnati next Sunday.
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Trevor Lawrence's 4 TDs propel Jaguars past Broncos 34-20, ending Denver's 11-game winning streak By ARNIE STAPLETON AP Pro Football Writer The Associated Press DENVER
DENVER (AP) — Trevor Lawrence is playing the best ball of his five-year career and now he has a signature win to show for it.
Lawrence threw three touchdown passes and ran for a score, leading the Jacksonville Jaguars to a resounding 34-20 win that snapped the Denver Broncos' 11-game winning streak Sunday and added some spice to the AFC playoff picture.
“I feel great with our offense right now, what we’re able to do, the passing game, guys are making plays, giving them opportunities down the field, and we’re protecting well," Lawrence said. “We’re doing a lot of things well. We just got to not take it for granted."
Lawrence has been on a six-week heater, mastering the nuances of first-year coach Liam Coen’s offense and stoking his connection with trade-deadline addition Jakobi Meyers. The Jaguars had outscored their previous five opponents by a cumulative 171-72, but this was Lawrence’s best performance of his breakout season.
“He's doing it all,” Coen said. “He’s doing everything that you want your guy to be doing, and he’s doing it at a high level right now.”
The AFC South-leading Jaguars (11-4) won their sixth straight game and handed the Broncos (12-3) their first loss since Week 3. It was also Denver's first defeat at home since Oct. 13, 2024, ending the Broncos' 12-game home winning streak.
Although they remain atop the AFC playoff race, the Broncos' lead over the Los Angeles Chargers in the AFC West was sliced to one game. The teams play in Week 18. Denver has a short turnaround with a trip to face Kansas City on Christmas night.
“It's always good to have a short week after a loss like this," defensive tackle Malcolm Roach said, echoing the sentiment in the Broncos' subdued locker room.
After Broncos rookie RJ Harvey pinballed his way for a 38-yard touchdown to tie it at 17 on the opening drive of the second half, it was all Jacksonville.
Lawrence scored on a 1-yard keeper, then hit Parker Washington for 63 yards to set up Travis Etienne's 10-yard TD catch. After Bo Nix fumbled his exchange with running back Jaleel McLaughlin — “Both of us wanted the ball,” Nix explained — Lawrence drove Jacksonville for its fifth consecutive score, a 26-yard field goal by Cam Little that made it 34-17.
On a day Meyers was held to 45 yards on four catches, Washington caught six passes for a career-best 145 yards and a TD.
“We knew we were going to be in a crazy atmosphere today, and we’ve answered the adversity many times throughout this season, and we continue to do that,” Washington said. “I feel like that’s our edge.”
The Broncos were driving after pulling within 34-20. But on fourth down from Jacksonville's 41, Nix telegraphed a throw to Pat Bryant that was easily intercepted by Jarrian Jones. Later, Bryant was carted off after he took a vicious hit in the final minute.
In a matchup of the NFL's two most penalized teams, Denver committed two big penalties on a drive that ended with Lawrence taking it in from the 1 to give Jacksonville the lead for good.
Lawrence was sacked five times by the league's best pass rush — the Broncos have a franchise record-tying 63 sacks on the season — but he still threw for 279 yards with three TDs and no interceptions. Jacksonville was 4 of 5 in the red zone against the league's best red-zone defense.
Nix laments Bryant's injury
Nix threw for a career-best 353 yards, but he wasn't his usual sharp self, turning it over twice and throwing a regrettable high pass that led to Bryant's injury with 31 seconds remaining. Bryant was strapped to a body board and carted off.
“He’s got movement. That’s encouraging,” Denver coach Sean Payton said. “He was moving his hands and his legs.”
Bryant was injured on a whiplash tackle by Montaric Brown after his leaping catch. The officials picked up the flag, however, ruling Brown hadn’t hit him in the neck or head area, although replays appeared to show the crown of Brown’s helmet hitting Bryant’s chin.
Nix was shaken up watching as Bryant was tended to by the medical team.
“You never want to see somebody in that situation and I feel responsible because I threw it," he said. “You really pray he's OK and can be back out there as soon as he can.”
Broncos hindered by their home crowd
On their first scoring drive, Lawrence and the Jaguars actually benefited from the din that rattled Empower Field when Jacksonville was flagged for a false start. Blitzing safety P.J. Locke, however, said he didn't hear the whistle and put a vicious blind-side hit on Lawrence. Only that 15-yard penalty was enforced, jump-starting Jacksonville's TD drive.
Payton expects his team to bounce back
Payton figured the Broncos will handle their first loss in three months the same way they navigated all that winning since September.
“I said to them, one of the things you've managed to do each week is get on to the next challenge,” Payton said. “So I think the same thing has to apply, especially on a short week like this. You've shown the ability to digest the game before and then get onto the next challenge. And you have to do the same after a tough loss.”
Injuries
Jaguars: RG Patrick Mekari (back) was hurt.
Broncos: Lost TE Nate Adkins (knee) and ILB Dre Greenlaw (hamstring) to injuries.
Up next
Jaguars: At Indianapolis next Sunday.
Broncos: Visit Kansas City on Christmas night.
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Panthers rookie Lathan Ransom goes from goat to hero in one week after game-clinching interception By STEVE REED AP Sports Writer The Associated Press CHARLOTTE, N.C.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Carolina Panthers rookie safety Lathan Ransom has experienced the dramatic highs and lows of playing in the NFL in his first season.
One week after a crucial penalty that led to a costly loss to the New Orleans Saints, Ransom redeemed himself on Sunday by intercepting Baker Mayfield with 42 seconds left to seal the Panthers' 23-20 win over the Buccaneers — allowing Carolina to vault into sole possession of first place in the NFC South.
“I faced a lot of adversity, and I heard noise from everybody last week,” Ransom said. “... (But) that’s how you shake back.”
Ransom couldn't have felt much worse last week on the flight home from New Orleans after he was flagged for hitting sliding Saints quarterback Tyler Shough with 9 seconds left on a bang-bang play. Officials flagged Ransom for unnecessary roughness, and the 15-yard penalty turned a difficult 61-yard field goal attempt into a far more makable one from 46 yards.
Charlie Smyth put it through the uprights to complete the Saints' 20-17 come-from-behind win.
Had the Panthers defeated the Saints, they would have only needed to beat the Bucs on Sunday to clinch the NFC South and end a seven-year playoff drought. Instead, the loss left the Panthers on the outside of the playoff bubble.
Ransom said he was hard on himself.
But the fourth-draft pick from Ohio State decided early last week that instead of dwelling on the mistake he'd use it as motivation.
“I understand that the game is not won or lost by one play, but people behind their phone are going to have their own opinions,” Ransom said. “I just heard all the noise — listened to it and used it as fuel for this game.”
Ransom leaned on the support last week of veteran defensive leaders such as Jaycee Horn, Derrick Brown and Mike Jackson, who shares the locker next to him.
Jackson and others advised to look ahead, not back and keeping playing at full speed.
“He responded like a grown man should," Jackson said. “At the end of day, everyone was talking trash to him, like he shouldn't be in the game and this and that. And today he responded like he should be. I'll just say I'm proud of him. Because at the end of the day it's grown man football and he showed that.”
Panthers coach Dave Canales greeted Ransom on the sideline with a huge hug after interception, and smiled as he spoke about the rookie after the game.
“That’s a great story,” Canales said. “That’s fantastic and it’s just about belief and having confidence in our guys to be able to be studs about the things we need to work on and be studs about the different decisions that come up. I love that for Lathan — for him to be able to make the winning play, the biggest play of the game for us.”
The Panthers will need more big plays from Ransom and other young players if they hope to dethrone the Buccaneers, who have won the last four NFC South titles.
Carolina can clinch the division with a win next week against Seattle and a Tampa Bay loss to Miami. But if the Bucs win, it will come down to a rematch in Week 18 for the division title.
“I’ve learned a bunch throughout the season, especially from that first game,” Ransom said. “You’re going to learn. It’s a learning process. You’re playing with the best of the best. I learn more and more every game and I try to take those teachings into the next game.”
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Steelers outlast Lions 29-24 in wild finish when penalty on St. Brown negates Goff's winning TD By LARRY LAGE AP Sports Writer The Associated Press DETROIT
DETROIT (AP) — The Pittsburgh Steelers survived a wild finish, pushing Detroit to the brink of playoff elimination and boosting their chances of winning their division for the first time in five years.
Pittsburgh held on for 29-24 win over the Lions on Sunday when Jared Goff’s touchdown on the final play was negated by an offensive pass-interference penalty on Amon-Ra St. Brown.
“It’s been playoff-type football for us the last three weeks,” Aaron Rodgers said.
The Steelers (9-6) have won three straight after a midseason slump, surging into the AFC North lead with two games remaining.
“I’m just so appreciative of the men that I work with and the fight they displayed individually and collectively,” coach Mike Tomlin said. “Certainly weren’t perfect, a lot of adversity, some of it created by us. But they didn't blink and that’s what’s required this time of year.”
In a couple of weeks, the Lions will likely have a chance to sleep in because their season probably be over.
They almost pulled off an amazing comeback after trailing by 12 points with four-plus minutes left, but they had two touchdowns negated by penalties in the final minute.
On the last play of the game, Goff threw a fourth-down pass to St. Brown just short of the goal line. The receiver pushed off cornerback Jalen Ramsey to get free, and before the Steelers could bring St. Brown to the ground, he threw a lateral to the quarterback to set up an apparent score by Goff.
Officials huddled for a couple of minutes on the field before announcing the decision to the dismay of the crowd.
With 22 seconds left, rookie Isaac TeSlaa was called for pass interference for setting a pick that freed up St. Brown, negating Goff's 1-yard TD pass.
“That's a bad call,” Goff said.
Detroit (8-7) dropped two straight games for the first time in more than three years, ending its outside shot to win a third straight NFC North title. While the Lions haven’t been eliminated from the playoffs, they have an 8% chance of earning a spot, according to the NFL.
“We know the percentages,” said Goff, who threw two of his three touchdown passes in the fourth quarter. “We know we’re not eliminated. We know some things need to go our way.”
The running game certainly didn't go Detroit's way on Sunday.
Jaylen Warren had two 45-yard touchdown runs in the fourth quarter and finished with a career-high 143 yards for the Steelers, who had a 230-15 advantage in rushing yards.
Detroit’s defense, which allowed Pittsburgh to gain a season-high 481 yards, forced the Steelers to settle for a 37-yard field-goal try with 2:05 left, and Chris Boswell missed it.
The Lions had a fourth-and-2 from their 35 and Pittsburgh was called for pass interference and tripping on consecutive plays, moving the ball to the Steelers 35 and setting up the wild finish.
Rodgers finished 27 of 41 for 266 yards. He threw a 45-yard touchdown pass to Kenneth Gainwell to close the first half that was initially ruled incomplete, then changed to a TD after a review. Gainwell made the catch while lying on his left side and got his right arm under the ball, then popped to his feet and scampered to the end zone.
Goff was sacked by blitzing Kyle Dugger for a safety to give the Steelers a 12-10 lead in the third quarter.
Pittsburgh converted a pair of fourth downs on the ensuing drive and elected not to go for it a third time from the Lions 5, settling for a field goal and a five-point lead after a 17-play, 64-yard drive that took nearly 10 minutes.
The Steelers went ahead 3-0 when Boswell capped their first possession with a 59-yard field goal.
The Lions could have tied the game on the ensuing possession, but coach Dan Campbell went for it on fourth-and-goal from the 3 and Goff’s pass to St. Brown in the end zone was broken up by Joey Porter Jr.
Did Campbell regret that decision after seeing that a field goal in the end would have won the game?
“No,” he said without elaborating.
Metcalf scuffles with a fan
Steelers receiver DK Metcalf swiped at a fan leaning over the railing in the front row during the second quarter.
Metcalf and the fan, wearing a black-and-blue shirt and a blue wig, were speaking to each other before the two-time Pro Bowler threw a right hand toward the man’s face. Metcalf did not appear to make much, if any contact.
Although game officials didn't penalize Metcalf, the league will review the incident and he could face discipline.
Steelers extend their streak
Pittsburgh secured its 22nd straight season with at least a .500 record, breaking the NFL record it previously shared with the Dallas Cowboys, who had a 21-year run without a losing season from 1965-85. Tomlin has finished at .500 or better in each of his 19 seasons.
Injuries
Steelers: CB Brandin Echols (groin) left the game in the second quarter. ... Two starters were inactive — OLB T.J. Watt (lung) and OG Isaac Seumalo (triceps) — along with reserve OLB Nick Herbig (hamstring).
Lions: C Graham Glasgow (knee) and C Trystan Colon (wrist) were inactive, giving 24-year-old Kingsley Eguakun his first start after he played in two games sparingly in September, and G Kayode Awosika (foot) missed his third straight game.
Up next
Steelers: At Cleveland next Sunday.
Lions: At Minnesota on Christmas Day.
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Bijan Robinson becomes 3rd Falcons player with 2,000 scrimmage yards in a season By JOHN MARSHALL AP Sports Writer The Associated Press GLENDALE, Ariz.
GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Bijan Robinson had about 200 family and friends in the stands to witness his return to the desert.
They got a chance to see the former Tucson high school star reach a milestone.
Robinson became the third player in Falcons history to eclipse 2,000 scrimmage yards in a season, finishing with 168 yards and a touchdown reception in Atlanta's 26-19 win over the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday.
The do-everything running back rushed for 76 yards and caught seven passes for 92 yards. He has 2,026 total yards, joining Jamal Anderson (1998) and William Andrews (1981 and 1983) in the Falcons' 2,000-yard club. His 5,376 yards in three seasons is third-most in NFL history for a player aged 23 or younger.
“I meant a lot to me to do that in Arizona, in front of the people who supported me as a kid,” Robinson said. “It was a huge moment, not only for me but everyone who was watching.”
They've been watching since Robinson starred at Tucson's Salpointe Catholic High School. He went on to have a stellar college career at Texas and has continued to churn out yards since the Falcons selected him with the eighth overall pick of the 2023 draft.
This season has been his best yet.
A year after rushing for 1,456 yards, Robinson is within reach of a career high this season, at 1,250 yards with two games left. He's also become even more of a threat catching passes out of the backfield, pulling down 71 catches for 776 yards and three touchdowns after finishing with 64 catches for 684 yards a year ago.
Robinson is behind Christian McCaffrey (5,443) and Barry Sanders (5,391) for most scrimmage yards in NFL history before turning 24 — and he has two more weeks to add to those totals.
“I've got got a lot of love for that guy, what he brings to football team, not just as a player but a human,” Falcons coach Raheem Morris said.
Robinson entered the game leading the NFL with an average of 132.7 scrimmage yards and again showed off his versatility against the Cardinals.
The 5-foot-10, 215-pounder caught a 41-yard pass in the second quarter, broke off an 11-yard run and capped the Bijan-only three-play drive by turning a swing pass into a 13-yard touchdown that pulled the Falcons within 13-10.
Robinson added a 29-yard run in a drive spanning the third and fourth quarters that led to a TD.
“Sometimes you think you’re going to have him bottled up and he makes productive plays,” Cardinals coach Jonathan Gannon said.
Next up is the Falcons' single-season record.
Andrews had 2,176 scrimmage yards in 1983, leaving Robinson 150 shy of the mark. The Falcons close out the season with home games against the Los Angeles Rams and New Orleans, giving him a chance to notch another place in history in front of his new home fans.
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Commanders QB Marcus Mariota leaves game against Eagles with an injured right hand The Associated Press LANDOVER, Md.
LANDOVER, Md. (AP) — Washington Commanders quarterback Marcus Mariota, starting in place of the shut-down Jayden Daniels , hurt his right hand and was replaced by third-stringer Josh Johnson early in the third quarter Saturday night against the Philadelphia Eagles .
Mariota was shaken up at the end of the opening drive of the second half. He went into the blue medical tent on Washington’s sideline, then later jogged toward the locker room, and the Commanders said Mariota was evaluated for a concussion and cleared. But the team also said he was questionable to return with an injured right hand.
Mariota was 7 for 14 for 95 yards when he left. Washington led 10-7 at the time, but Philadelphia then put together 17-play, 83-yard TD drive to go ahead 14-10.
This was Mariota's eighth start of the season in place of Daniels for the Commanders, who are sitting last season's AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year the rest of the way.
Johnson had made brief appearances earlier this season but hadn't thrown a pass.
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Bears activate LB Tremaine Edmunds from injured reserve prior; Jacobs, Watson available for Packers The Associated Press CHICAGO
CHICAGO (AP) — The NFC North-leading Chicago Bears activated linebacker Tremaine Edmunds from injured reserve prior to their showdown against the Green Bay Packers on Saturday night.
Edmunds had missed the previous four games due to a groin injury. He had four interceptions and was third on the team behind league leader Kevin Byard and Nahshon Wright.
For the Packers, star running back Josh Jacobs and receiver Christian Watson were available after being listed as questionable. Right tackle Zach Tom and safety Evan Williams were out.
Jacobs, a three-time Pro Bowler, reinjured his knee early in last week's loss at Denver, though he continued to play and finished with a rushing and receiving touchdown. Watson (chest/shoulder), Tom (back/knee) and Williams (knee) exited that game.
The Bears (10-4) held a narrow lead over Green Bay (9-4-1) in the division. They were looking to get payback for a loss at Lambeau Field two weeks ago that briefly knocked them out of first place.
Chicago rebounded with an easy win over Cleveland and regained the division lead with the Packers losing at Denver. Green Bay also lost star pass rusher Micah Parsons to a season-ending knee injury in that game.
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3 players are ejected after a brawl late in the Eagles' game against the Commanders By HOWARD FENDRICH AP National Writer The Associated Press LANDOVER, Md.
LANDOVER, Md. (AP) — The heated rivalry between the Eagles and Commanders boiled over in the fourth quarter Saturday night, when three players were ejected after a fight broke out among several members of both teams in the aftermath of Saquon Barkley's 2-point conversion that increased Philadelphia's lead to 19 points with about 4 1/2 minutes left.
Two players on Washington's defense — lineman Javon Kinlaw and safety Quan Martin — and one Eagles player — offensive lineman Tyler Steen — were disqualified after being flagged for unnecessary roughness during the brawl in the 29-18 victory that allowed Philadelphia to clinch a second NFC East title in a row.
There was some punching, a ton of pushing and shoving, and a lot of jawing, too, as the scrum spread across the grass. Six flags were thrown by officials as the chaos ensued.
“I guess it was a theme. ... The fans were fighting ... and I guess it carried over to the game. It’s chippy out there, and we have a lot of history with this team, especially since I’ve been here,” said Barkley, who gained 132 yards on 21 carries and scored a touchdown. “This team don’t like us. It’s just the truth. And we don’t like them, either.”
Commanders coach Dan Quinn didn't directly answer the question when he was asked at his postgame news conference whether it was disrespectful for the Eagles to go for 2 after the late TD in a lopsided game.
But Quinn did issue something that sounded akin to a warning, noting that these NFC East rivals meet on Jan. 4 in Philadelphia to close the season.
“If that’s how they want to get down, all good,” Quinn said. “We’ll play them again in two weeks.”
When Washington linebacker Bobby Wagner was asked a question about respect, too, this is what he had to say: “It is what it is, Bro. I don’t care. Is it disrespectful? Maybe. But we’ve still got to stop them. That’s how I look at it.”
Eagles coach Nick Sirianni said he was not running up the score and considered his decision a simple case of numbers, preferring a 19-point lead to an 18-point edge.
“We wanted to make sure we went up that way, just in case. That was what our math told us in that particular case,” Sirianni said. “It’s a division game. It’s always back-and-forth. … That’s the team we played in the NFC championship game last year. I know how badly they wanted to beat us. I know how badly we wanted to beat them. We’ve always got to keep our cool in moments like that. But that’s NFC East football. … They’ve got tough guys. We’ve got tough guys.”
Eventually, when order was restored, and Wagner, Barkley and Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts spoke with each other on the field.
Barkley said later Wagner made a point that the Eagles running back understood: “Hopefully you don’t break your hand just to say you’re a tough guy. It’s not really worth it. And you lose a lot of money” because of fines.
“We’ve got to be better. We’ve got to be smarter,” Barkley said. “I’ve got to be smarter. I shouldn’t put myself in that situation. It’s really not worth it.”
Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin understood why Eagles coach Nick Sirianni decided to go for 2 there. And like his teammate Wagner, McLaurin was not offended.
“Eagles vs. Commanders, man. That’s how it goes. ... There’s a lot of history, obviously. They were beating us. They’re not going to throw in the towel. They’re not going to take it easy on us. They were going for 2 to bury us. As a team, it’s not like you’re going to tell them, ‘Don’t go for 2.’ We have to stop them,” McLaurin said. “I don’t really take any bad blood from what they did, but you don’t want to see the game get out of hand and guys possibly getting hurt. It comes with this rivalry between us and them. I don’t think that will ever change, to be honest.”
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Jalen Hurts and the Eagles win their second NFC East title in a row by beating the Commanders 29-18 By HOWARD FENDRICH AP National Writer The Associated Press LANDOVER, Md.
LANDOVER, Md. (AP) — As the percussive horns of Stevie Wonder's “Sir Duke” filled the air, Philadelphia Eagles coach Nick Sirianni — wearing a black T-shirt bearing the words, “Been there, won that” — made the rounds in the locker room, offering hand clasps and back slaps to his players after they accomplished something that hadn't happened in two decades: win a second consecutive NFC East title.
“Gets better and better,” running back Saquon Barkley said as he walked through the scene Saturday night, “each time.”
This was not a terrific performance by the reigning Super Bowl champions, from a fumble on the opening kickoff to a pair of penalties on the tush push to three wide-left field-goal tries to a halftime deficit. Still, Barkley, Jalen Hurts and the Eagles eventually got going in the right direction and clinched their division yet again by beating the Washington Commanders 29-18.
“I'm just happy,” Hurts said, “we were able to check that off.”
The game included a late brawl when Barkley tacked on a 2-point conversion that increased the Eagles' lead to 19 points before the Commanders scored a meaningless TD.
Starting plays under center far more frequently than he did earlier in the season, Hurts completed 22 of 30 throws — with 15 of those caught by A.J. Brown or DeVonta Smith — for 185 yards, two touchdowns and no turnovers. He connected with Smith from 5 yards out in the first half and with Dallas Goedert from 15 in the third quarter to cap a 17-play, 83-yard, 10 1/2-minute drive.
“We’ve slowly been playing better and better on the offensive side of the ball,” said Goedert, whose 10th TD reception this season tied a record for Philadelphia tight ends that was first set in the 1960s.
Hurts also did plenty of damage on the ground, gaining 40 yards on seven carries for the Eagles (10-5), who have followed a three-game losing streak by winning two in a row. They are the first team to top the NFC East in back-to-back seasons since Philadelphia did it every year from 2001 to 2004; the gap since then was the longest drought without a repeat champ for any division in NFL history.
Barkley added a 12-yard TD run for the Eagles, part of his 21-carry, 132-yard performance that raised his season rushing total above 1,000 yards.
A year after going 12-5, the Commanders have lost nine of 10 to fall to 4-11.
“It certainly feels terrible,” coach Dan Quinn said, “to hear that record.”
Chants of “E-A-G-L-E-S, Eagles!” frequently rang out in the Commanders' stadium, and cries of “Cooooop!” greeted Cooper DeJean's interception of Josh Johnson, Washington's third-string quarterback, who came in when Marcus Mariota went out after the opening drive in the third quarter with an injured right hand while Washington led 10-7.
Mariota started Saturday in place of Jayden Daniels , the reigning AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year who led the Commanders to the NFC title game last season — where they lost 55-23 to Philadelphia — but has been shut down in 2025 after dealing with a series of injuries and appearing in only seven games.
The chilly evening started inauspiciously for Philadelphia. Will Shipley coughed up the opening kickoff when he was hit by Mike Sainristil. But just as they have over the course of the season, the Eagles got through what wasn't working and ended up in the right place.
“This division’s had so much parity throughout the years,” Sirianni said. “Obviously our goals are much higher. We’ve raised the expectations.”
Jake Elliott, leaning left
The Eagles' Jake Elliott managed to send three field-goal attempts wide left in the first half. Elliott hadn’t missed more than one in a game this season. But he was off on a 43-yarder in the first quarter, couldn’t get a 57-yarder to go through the uprights in the second — and after that was wiped out by a penalty on Washington, Elliot went wide left once more, from 52. “I have the utmost confidence in Jake,” Sirianni said.
Brandon Graham, again
DE Brandon Graham, 37, whose two sacks last week made him the oldest Eagles player to record one, added another Saturday.
Injuries
Eagles: LB Nakobe Dean (hamstring) exited in the first quarter.
Commanders: Mariota was evaluated for a concussion and cleared, but his hand sidelined him. ... WR Jaylin Lane (ankle) left in the first quarter. ... RG Sam Cosmi and DT Johnny Newton were evaluated for concussions. ... OT Brandon Coleman hurt his shin.
Up next
Eagles: At the Bills on Dec. 28.
Commanders: Host the Cowboys on Thursday night.
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This story has been corrected to fix the spelling of Stevie Wonder’s first name.
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