Sunday in the NFL | Chiefs win in overtime

Jerick McKinnon helps Chiefs win

Jerick McKinnon rushed 26 yards for an overtime touchdown as the Kansas City Chiefs beat the Houston Texans 30-24 on Sunday.

McKinnon’s middle finger helped the Kansas City squad win a seventh straight AFC Western Division title.

During the locker room celebrations, Chiefs star quarterback Patrick Mahomes was quick to note that his team’s accomplishment was just the beginning of what it wants to achieve this season.

“When we start every season, the first thing we talk about is winning the West Division,” Mahomes said. This is our first objective and we have accomplished it. »

The Chiefs (11-3) had the ball first in overtime, but had to punt. Texans quarterback Davis Mills then fumbled the ball and it was picked up at the 26 line by Willie Gay.

The next play, McKinnon, who also caught a touchdown pass, was not tackled on his way to the end zone.

McKinnon mentioned that Mahomes reminded him before the game to keep both hands on the ball.

“I told him I was going to make the touchdown,” McKinnon said. Juju (Smith-Schuster) looked at me and he said he had my block and I just had to find him in the field. It happened exactly that way. »

The Texans (1-12-1) tied the game 24-24 on a 29-yard field goal with about five minutes remaining in the fourth quarter. The Chiefs had a chance to win before overtime, but Harrison Butker’s 51-yard field goal attempt missed the mark.

The Chiefs overcame two turnovers and 102 penalty yards to claim a seventh win in their last eight outings.

Mills had 121 passing yards and threw two touchdown passes. The Texans suffered their ninth straight loss, their longest losing streak since 2013, when they lost 14 straight games.

“This team only won one game, but they don’t play like they did,” Texans head coach Lovie Smith said. Players show up every day, they improve, they give us a chance to win. »

The Chiefs’ title streak tied the Rams for the second longest in NFL history (1973 to 1979). The New England Patriots have the longest streak with 11 consecutive American East Division titles, from 2009 to 2019.

“I think one of the hardest things in the NFL is having consistent success,” Chiers owner Clark Hunt said. The rules are set to make it tough, by the draft or the salary cap. It’s a true testament to the hard work General Manager Brett Veach and Head Coach Andy Reid have done over the years. »

The Chiefs trailed most of the game and were down five points early in the fourth quarter. Patrick Mahomes made a five-yard run for a major and the two-point convert gave the visitors a 24-21 lead.

Mahomes threw for two touchdown passes and for 336 passing yards. He became the fifth player in NFL history to throw at least 35 touchdown passes in four or more seasons. He joined Tom Brady (6), Aaron Rodgers (6), Drew Brees (4) and Peyton Manning (4).

Kristie Rieken, Associated Press

Giants defeat Commanders 20-12 in Sunday night game

Kayvon Thibodeaux and Daniel Jones shone in the limelight in the traditional duel on Sunday night and the New York Giants beat the Washington Commanders 20-12 to bolster their chances of qualifying for the playoffs and jeopardize those of a rival. .

After declaring, “Airtime loves me,” Thibodeaux was dominant and attacked the quarterback by entering the backfield early and often.

He stripped Taylor Heinicke of the ball, recovered it to score a touchdown, and finished with three tackles that caused a loss. However, he did not complete the game and left the field with 48 seconds to play.

Jones was 0-9 in his first nine prime-time games for the Giants (8-5-1). The New York club had lost 11 times in a row in these situations.

He took on 21 of 32 throw-ins for 160 yards and led an 18-play offense in the second quarter, which started at the 3-yard line and lasted 8:35.

Saquon Barkley finished that streak with a 3-yard run into the end zone.

For his part, Heinicke completed 17 of his 29 passes for gains of 249 yards. He also threw a touchdown pass to Jahan Dotson for the Commanders (7-6-1).

Terry McLaurin caught six passes for 70 yards, eclipsing the 1,000 yard mark for a third straight season and becoming the first Washington player to do so since Henry Ellard of 1994-96.

Associated Press

Jaguars surprise Cowboys

Rayshawn Jenkins intercepted a Dak Prescott pass and returned it 52 yards for a touchdown that gave the Jacksonville Jaguars a 40-34 victory over the Dallas Cowboys in overtime on Sunday.

“It’s a sequence you’ve been dreaming about since you were 8 years old. Ever since I started playing this game, I’ve dreamed of being the guy who makes a game like this for us to get a win,” said Jenkins, who became the first player in the history of the NFL with 18 tackles and two interceptions in the same game. “It was enough cool to do. »

Noah Brown failed to catch Prescott’s low pass, but Jenkins grabbed the ball almost at ground level. He then walked away untouched the other way to end the Jaguars’ 20-game losing streak against National Association teams. It’s an NFL record.

“I was running for my life,” Jenkins said. My hamstrings were about to fire… the total. »

Prescott took to the field as the Jaguars celebrated one of their most unlikely wins in club history. The Cowboys (10-4) saw their five-game winning streak come to an end.

“It’s an unlucky rebound for us; it’s a hell of a game on their part,” Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy said.

This failure prevented the Cowboys from securing a playoff spot. The Jaguars (6-8), meanwhile, were able to gain ground on the Tennessee Titans in the South American Division.

Jacksonville won the overtime toss and had a chance to win thanks to Trevor Lawrence, who threw for 318 yards and four touchdowns. But the Jaguars only ran three plays before kicking the ball, giving the Cowboys a chance to win after blowing a 27-10 lead.

Prescott’s pass on third down proved to be the catalyst for what came next.

Prescott found takers on 23 of 30 passes for 256 yards. Three of his passes led to touchdowns, two of them to Brown, and two of his throw-ins were intercepted.

Prescott spotted Brown for a 13-yard major with 3:02 left in the game, which seemed to indicate victory. Lawrence lost the ball in a scrimmage on the next possession, but won it back and led his team into position for a 40-yard field goal from Riley Patterson on the last play of regulation.

Lawrence threw three touchdown passes to Zay Jones. Travis Etienne gained 103 yards with the ground game.

The Jaguars scored 21 straight points to rally from a 27-10 deficit and take a 31-27 lead in the fourth quarter. But Prescott and the Cowboys fought back with a 13-game streak that included three third-down conversions.

Ezekiel Elliott rushed for 58 yards and a touchdown for the Cowboys, joining Hall of Famer Emmitt Smith as the only running backs in club history with touchdowns in seven straight games.

Mark Long, Associated Press