Sunday in the NFL | Lions win first section title in 30 years

When the Detroit Lions played Minnesota two years ago, in Dan Campbell’s first season at the helm of the team, the six-foot-five head coach started crying during his post-match press conference, overcome by the emotion of a cruel defeat.

The team most famous in the NFL for its failure accumulations has made major strides in many ways.

Helped by two rushing touchdowns from Jahmyr Gibbs and another from Amon-Ra St. Brown which allowed them to take the lead, the Lions earned their first section title in 30 years when they defeated the crippled Vikings of the Minnesota by a score of 30-24 Sunday afternoon.

“I’m proud of all the Lions fans who have dreamed of this for years,” Campbell said. “It was for you too. »

Ifeatu Melifonwu intercepted a pass from Nick Mullens — his team’s fourth interception of the game — at the Lions’ five-yard line with 49 seconds left in the fourth quarter.

Mullens made an imprecise pass to Justin Jefferson, who was left completely exposed, three plays after Jefferson made a spectacular leaping catch in the air, despite the presence of two rivals, for a first down on a third down and 27 yards to go.

“When you lose the turnover battle, you are most likely going to lose the game every time,” Jefferson analyzed.

For the Lions, quarterback Jared Goff accumulated 257 passing yards without committing a single turnover. Running back David Montgomery added a touchdown for the Lions (11-4), who delivered another solid performance on offense.

The Lions are guaranteed to play a playoff game for the first time in 22 years at Ford Field, where a banner commemorating their NL championship will fly.

The last banner was raised to underline their title of the Central section of the National Association, in 1993.

“I can’t even imagine it because I’m only 24,” Melifonwu said.

After the game, Campbell made a point to salute offensive linemen Taylor Decker and Frank Ragnow, while the team’s two longest-tenured players had tears in their eyes.

“You don’t realize what it means to you until it happens,” Ragnow said.

The Lions reached the plateau of 11 wins for the first time in nine years. Their 20 victories since the start of the 2022 season represent a high in the team’s history over a two-year span.

“It was the opportunity,” St. Brown said. We couldn’t let her slip away. »

In the loss, Mullens threw two touchdown passes, a 26-yard touchdown pass to Jefferson with 29 seconds left in the first half, and a six-yard touchdown pass to KJ Osborn that gave the Vikings a lead a 21-17 lead early in the third quarter.

But like the previous week in an overtime loss to the Cincinnati Bengals, turnovers had a big influence on the outcome of the game.

“I’m proud of our players and the way they fought,” said Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell.

“We must salute the work of Dan and his team. »

Dave Campbell, Associated Press

The Patriots play spoilsport and beat the Broncos

Chad Ryland made a 56-yard field goal, his longest, with two seconds left in regulation and the New England Patriots came to spoil the party with a 26-23 victory over the Broncos. Denver, Sunday evening.

The Patriots (4-11) scored two touchdowns within six seconds of each other in the third quarter, before resisting a comeback attempt by the Broncos (7-8) in the fourth quarter.

Ryland completed a final seven-play, 44-yard drive that began with 58 seconds left in the game.

The Broncos had tied the game with two touchdowns, each completed by a two-point conversion.

Ryland was last among starting kickers in the NFL heading into the game, having made just 13 of 20 field goal attempts (65%). The rookie missed a 47-yard field goal in the first quarter and a one-point conversion in the third quarter.

Following their loss, the Broncos’ chances of making the playoffs are down to just 6%.

Facing a 23-7 deficit, Russell Wilson completed touchdown passes to Lucas Krull and Brandon Johnson.

Johnson and Javonte Williams caught passes from Wilson on two-point attempts, allowing the Broncos to tie the score.

For the Patriots, Bailey Zappe threw two touchdown passes for 256 yards, completing 25 of 33 passes.

For his part, Wilson amassed 238 yards. He completed 25 of his 37 pass attempts.

Arnie Stapleton, Associated Press

Team record for Cooper in Browns win over Texans

Amari Cooper set a team record with 265 passing yards, scored two touchdowns and scored a two-point conversion to help the Cleveland Browns defeat the Houston Texans 36-22 on Sunday .

The old Browns record belonged to Josh Gordon, who had 261 yards against the Jacksonville Jaguars on 1^er December 2013.

Cooper has 1,250 passing yards this season, making him the first wide receiver in team history to have two consecutive seasons with at least 1,000 passing yards.

The Browns (10-5) cannot secure a playoff spot this week, but remain in good position to qualify for only the second time since 2002.

In his fourth start with the Browns, Joe Flacco threw three touchdown passes and amassed 368 yards. He was the victim of two interceptions.

Cooper caught touchdown passes of 75 and seven yards, in addition to making a 53-yard catch on the first play of the game to lead his team to the first major of the duel.

The Browns, who won their third straight game, led 22-7 at halftime.

The Texans (7-8) didn’t help themselves in their quest for a playoff spot. Case Keenum had just 62 passing yards with two interceptions in his second game in the absence of freshman sensation CJ Stroud, who is sidelined with a concussion .

Davis Mills took over for Keenum late in the third quarter.

The Browns quickly took the lead thanks to Jerome Ford’s touchdown run, on a four-yard run. Cooper then made it 14-0 following his 75-yard reception early in the second quarter.

Dameon Pierce cut the lead in half by returning the punt 98 yards and into the end zone.

Kicker Dustin Hopkins, who wanted to catch Pierce during the sequence, was injured and never returned to the game. The Browns did not attempt a conversion the rest of the game.

Kristie Rieken, Associated Press

Dolphins beat Cowboys 22-20

Thanks to his fifth field goal of the game, the latter from a distance of 29 yards at the end of regulation time, Jason Sanders allowed the Miami Dolphins to defeat the Dallas Cowboys 22-20 and thus secure a place in the playoffs on Sunday.

Tua Tagovailoa threw a touchdown pass and rushed for 293 yards for the Dolphins (11-4), who lead the AFC East. It was the first time all season that the Dolphins won against a team with a positive record.

Tyreek Hill caught two passes from Tagovailoa during the game-winning offensive sequence for the Dolphins, who ran out the final 3:27 of play.

Hill, who leads the league in passing, caught nine balls for 99 yards. He did not participate in his team’s last match due to an ankle injury.

Dak Prescott completed 20 of his 32 pass attempts for 253 yards and two touchdowns for the Cowboys (10-5). Already assured of participating in the playoffs, the Cowboys slipped a half-game behind the Philadelphia Eagles in the Eastern section of the National Association.

Prescott completed an eight-yard touchdown pass to Brandin Cooks and the Cowboys took a 20-19 lead.

Sanders’ first field goal of the game, from 57 yards in the first quarter, was his longest of his career. He added field goals of 52, 54 and 35 yards to help his team build a 19-10 lead late in the third quarter.

CeeDee Lamb grabbed six balls for 118 yards for the Cowboys, including a 49-yard catch in the first quarter for a major.

Raheem Mostert scored his 21^e touchdown of the season for the Dolphins, an NFL high, shortly before halftime.

Mostert amassed 46 yards rushing, allowing him to surpass the 1,000-yard plateau in a season for the first time in his career.

Jay Ajayi was the last Dolphins running back to have 1,000 rushing yards in a single campaign, in 2016.

Dolphins wide receiver Robbie Chosen left the game in the first quarter with a possible concussion and did not return to the game.

Alanis Thames, Associated Press