NFL playoff picture gets a little clearer
The NFL playoff picture got clearer after the early games, as the Detroit Lions were eliminated, the Saints and Panthers locked up spots; and the Kansas City Chiefs won the AFC West again.
The Chargers stayed alive with a win over the Jets, 29-13. The Patriots remained in position for the top seed in the AFC with a 37-16 win over the Bills. Buffalo remains tied with the Chargers and Titans, who lost 27-23 to the Rams, for a wild-card spot.
Atlanta is out of the NFC South race, but can make it three division teams in the playoffs by beating Carolina next week. The Panthers secured a playoff spot Sunday with a 22-19 win over Tampa Bay.
The Chiefs won their third straight game, a 29-13 division-clinching win over Miami, which was eliminated officially.
The Bengals eliminated the Lions with a 26-17 victory.
The Browns remained on track for a winless season, losing 20-3 to Chicago.
Todd Gurley carries Rams to victory over Titans and NFC West title
With the chance to win the NFC West, the Rams put the ball in the hands of Todd Gurley.
The star running back came through Sunday, amassing 276 yards from scrimmage and two touchdowns in a 27-23 victory over the Tennessee Titans that improved the Rams record to 11-4 and clinched their first division title since 2003.
Gurley rushed for 118 yards in 22 carries and caught 10 passes for 158 yards and two touchdowns before an estimated crowd of 50,000 at Nissan Stadium as the Rams stayed on track for a No. 3 seed in the playoffs.
Chargers beat Jets 14-7 to keep slim playoff hopes alive
The Chargers held up their end of the bargain.
They scraped together a 14-7 victory over the New York Jets to stay alive in the playoff hunt while their fate was being handled by other teams across the league.
Philip Rivers threw for 290 yards and a touchdown, Melvin Gordon ran past 1,000 yards on the season, and veteran Antonio Gates had his best game of the year in the win.
The Charger defense held the Jets to just one score — a 57-yard run from Bilall Powell. Other than that, the group, despite missing starting linebacker Denzel Perryman and defensive tackle Corey Liuget, never let the Jets really threaten, even after New York opened the game by recovering an onside kick.
While the teams traded punts, the Chargers finally got on the board in the second quarter, with Rivers and Gates hooking up for a score. After Powell’s run, the Chargers responded with an eight-play drive capped by Gordon’s 12th touchdown on the season.
Rams 27, Titans 23: Kupp gives Rams lead with 14-yard touchdown catch
Titans 23, Rams 20: Titans take lead before fourth quarter
Rams 20, Titans 20: DeMarco Murray ties it up with a touchdown
Chargers 14, Jets 7: Melvin Gordon scores a touchdown
Big plays by tight ends Antonio Gates and Sean McGrath set up a 1-yard touchdown run for Melvin Gordon.
After a kick from Nick Rose, the Chargers lead 14-7 with 4:57 left in the third quarter.
Rams 20, Titans 13: Watkins caps drive with a touchdown
Chargers 7, Jets 7: Powell takes off for a 57-yard touchdown
After a missed field goal from new kicker Nick Rose, the Jets tied the game up with a big 57-yard touchdown run by running back Bilal Powell.
After the extra point, the Jets and Chargers are tied 7-7 with 10 minutes left in the third quarter.
Rams 13, Titans 13: Tennessee ties it up with another field goal
Rams 13, Titans 10: Gurley scores on an 80-yard catch and run
Titans 10, Rams 6: Scoop and score for the Tennessee defense
Chargers 7, Jets 0: Rivers to Gates for the touchdown
The Chargers got on the board first with Philip Rivers finding Antonio Gates for a three-yard touchdown.
After new kicker Nick Rose drilled the point after, the team took a 7-0 lead with 8:55 left in the first half.
Rams 6, Titans 3: Tennessee settles for a field goal
Former Rams and Titans coach Jeff Fisher looking to coach again
Former Rams and Tennessee Titans coach Jeff Fisher is in attendance at Sunday’s game between the Rams and Titans at Nissan Stadium, and he said that he is looking to coach again in the NFL.
“I have every intention of getting back to coaching,” said Fisher, 59, adding, “I feel young and charged up and so I want to give it another shot.”
Fisher was fired by the Rams with three games left in the 2016 season. He has tracked the Rams, and their surge to a 10-4 record and top of the NFC West, under first-year coach Sean McVay.
Rams 6, Titans 0: Todd Gurley gives Rams their first touchdown
Jared Goff is living up to his promise and potential for the Rams
A year ago on Christmas Eve, Jared Goff stood at the Coliseum podium after another wrenching loss and made a pledge.
The Rams had just been beaten by the San Francisco 49ers to fall to 4-11, and their then-rookie quarterback told reporters that he needed to be better because, ultimately, “it comes back to the quarterback every time.”
The struggling No. 1 pick of the 2016 draft said he intended to do “everything in my heart and soul to get it all fixed.”
Chargers coach Anthony Lynn trying to make best of bi-coastal marriage
Anthony Lynn is so engrossed in his job as first-year coach of the Chargers, he doesn’t have much time to watch TV, surf the web or peruse the newspaper. He spends more time at the team’s facility than away from it.
But Lynn does have a vested interest in local news happening 3,000 miles away.
That’s because his wife, Stacey Bell, is co-anchor of NBC 4 New York’s weekday newscasts. Since Lynn took the coaching job in Los Angeles, he and his wife have lived on opposite coasts, finding ways to see each other about once every two weeks.
Chargers vs. Jets: inactives
Rams vs. Titans: inactives
AFC notes: From A to Z
Baltimore Ravens: Ravens have won five straight December home games and are 36-15 at home all-time. Kicker Justin Tucker hasn’t missed an extra-point attempt.
Buffalo Bills: Kelvin Benjamin had 104 yards receiving in his only game against Patriots, as a Panther. He has just 120 yards receiving in four games with the Bills.
Cincinnati Bengals: The Bengals have scored 17 points and had only 495 yards over the last 10 quarters. Andy Dalton has had one score and three interceptions in that time.
CHARGERS: Anthony Lynn was an assistant for the Jets from 2009-14, including a stint as assistant head coach under Rex Ryan in his final season in New York.
Cleveland Browns: The Browns are tied for the third-most yards per carry (4.6) and are led by running back Isaiah Crowell’s 788 yards rushing and two scores.
Denver Broncos: Linebacker Von Miller is one of three players to have 10-plus sacks in six of their first seven seasons. He leads the league with 83 1/2 sacks since 2011.
Houston Texans: End Jadeveon Clowney is second in the league with 20 tackles for a loss and has had a career-high nine sacks. He also has two forced fumbles.
Indianapolis Colts: Jacoby Brissett has four rushing touchdowns, one short of a franchise record by a quarterback set by Andrew Luck as a rookie in 2012.
Jacksonville Jaguars: The Jaguars have lost eight straight in the Pacific time zone by an average of 20.9 points. Last win out west came Jan. 2, 2005, at Oakland.
Kansas City Chiefs: The Chiefs can clinch back-to-back AFC West titles for the first time in franchise history with a win over Miami or a Chargers loss at New York Jets.
Miami Dolphins: Cameron Wake needs one sack to become the 11th player since 1982 with a double-digit sack season at age 35 or older. He’s had 90 1/2 over nine seasons.
New England Patriots: The Patriots can lock up a first-round bye this week with a win over the Bills combined with either a Pittsburgh or Jacksonville loss.
N.Y. Jets: The Jets have scored on 21 straight red-zone possessions, including 13 touchdowns. End Leonard Williams had his first career interception last week.
Oakland Raiders: Pro Bowl end Khalil Mack seeks sack in sixth straight game. Linebacker Bruce Irvin has five sacks and two forced fumbles over the last four games.
Pittsburgh Steelers: Rookie receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster had six catches for 114 yards receiving last week, and is third among rookies with five touchdown catches.
Tennessee Titans: Derrick Henry has 375 yards rushing in the fourth quarter, second most in NFL. Delanie Walker has had a TD catch in three of last four games.
NFC notes: From A to Z
Arizona Cardinals: At 34, Larry Fitzgerald needs eight receptions and 18 yards to become the oldest player to have 100 catches and 1,000 yards receiving in a season.
Atlanta Falcons: Julio Jones ranks third with 1,215 yards receiving (with three touchdowns) and has averaged 96.4 yards in his last seven games against the Saints.
Carolina Panthers: Cam Newton needs 31 yards rushing to move into third place all-time among quarterbacks. Jonathan Stewart has five touchdowns in the last four games.
Chicago Bears: With a 13-33 record over three seasons, John Fox could be coaching his final home game for the Bears, who have lost six of their last seven games.
Dallas Cowboys: Dak Prescott leads all quarterbacks with 12 rushing touchdowns over two seasons. A win over Seattle keeps Dallas alive in wild-card race.
Detroit Lions: Lions Pro Bowl corner Darius Slay had two interceptions vs. Bears, his second two-pick game of the season. He leads NFL with seven interceptions.
Green Bay Packers: The Packers have been eliminated from the playoffs and will miss the postseason for the first time since 2008, Aaron Rodgers’ first full season as a starter.
Minnesota Vikings: The Vikings have clinched the NFC North, their second division title in last three seasons. The only other team to win the title since 2010 is the Packers.
New Orleans Saints: The Saints have three players with more than 1,000 total yards: Mark Ingram (1,420), Alvin Kamara (1,336) and Michael Thomas (1,085).
N.Y. Giants: Orleans Darkwa’s four rushing scores through Week 15 are the most by a Giant since Andre Williams (seven) and Rashad Jennings (four) in 2014.
Philadelphia Eagles: Nick Foles tied the NFL record with seven touchdown passes against the Raiders in 2013. He had four touchdown throws vs. Giants last week.
RAMS: Last week, Todd Gurley became the first running back since 2010 to have three-plus touchdowns rushing and a touchdown receiving in the same game.
San Francisco 49ers: The 49ers, who have held four straight foes to fewer than 100 yards rushing for first time since 2013, faces NFL’s top rushing attack (Jaguars).
Seattle Seahawks: Seahawks have lost two in a row. Their last three-game losing streak came in 2010, when they earned a wild-card spot in the playoffs with a record of 7-9.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Brent Grimes is going for his third straight game vs. Panthers with a pick. Tampa Bay allows an NFL-worst 276.1 yards passing per game.
Washington Redskins: Defensive lineman Anthony Lanier had two sacks, a forced fumble and three pass breakups vs. Cardinals. He has five sacks in last five games.
NFL Week 16 scores and schedule
Sunday’s schedule
RAMS at Tennessee Titans, 10 a.m.
CHARGERS at New York Jets, 10 a.m.
Cleveland Browns at Chicago Bears, 10 a.m.
Detroit Lions at Cincinnati Bengals, 10 a.m.
Miami Dolphins at Kansas City Chiefs, 10 a.m.
Buffalo Bills at New England Patriots, 10 a.m.
Atlanta Falcons at New Orleans Saints, 10 a.m.
Denver Broncos at Washington Redskins, 10 a.m.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Carolina Panthers, 10 a.m.
Jacksonville Jaguars at San Francisco 49ers, 1:05 p.m.
New York Giants at Arizona Cardinals, 1:25 p.m.
Seattle Seahawks at Dallas Cowboys, 1:25 p.m.
Monday’s schedule
Pittsburgh Steelers at Houston Texans, 1:30 p.m.
Oakland Raiders at Philadelphia Eagles, 5:30 p.m.
Saturday’s results
at Baltimore Ravens 23, Indianapolis Colts 16
Minnesota Vikings at Green Bay Packers
Chargers vs. New York Jets: How they match up
CHARGERS (7-7) AT N.Y. JETS (5-9)
When Chargers have the ball
The Chargers’ offense really sputtered in Kansas City, besieged by turnovers in the second half. Philip Rivers forced the issue on the first of his three interceptions, and the Chargers couldn’t get their top playmakers — Keenan Allen and Hunter Henry — in the passing game. The team will be without Henry (lacerated kidney) for the rest of the season, so getting Allen a heavy workload Sunday will be important. Also, Antonio Gates gets a chance to step into a featured role. One player who didn’t struggle last week, Melvin Gordon, should also get a chance to have a featured role in the game plan. Gordon needs 69 yards to reach 1,000 on the season for the first time in his career. Ex-USC star Leonard Williams is a dangerous player along the Jets’ front defensive line. And in the back, rookie safety Jamal Adams, who was picked one draft spot before Mike Williams, has been one of the best in his class. Mike Williams, on the other hand, has battled injuries and still is searching for the first touchdown of his NFL career. The Chargers are banged up, especially on the offensive line with both starting tackles hurt, but should still have an edge on this side of the ball.
When Jets have the ball
Had quarterback Josh McCown not landed on injured reserve with a broken left hand, the Chargers defense would be facing a much greater challenge. But with their offensive leader down, the Jets have turned things over to Bryce Petty, who might be getting his final chance in New York. There’s always a challenge when preparing for a quarterback without a lot of experience or history on film. He has a trio of running backs to lean on, but his best weapon is receiver Robby Anderson. Trouble is, he’ll be facing one of the best defensive backfields in the NFL. Cornerback Casey Hayward is healthier than he was a week ago. Edge rushers Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram need to get fully back on track and create turnovers with their pressure. The Chargers will be without some key pieces in the middle of the defense, and Denzel Perryman’s absence at linebacker probably will loom largest. He helped elevate the Chargers’ rush defense midway through the season, and it will be up to a thin linebacker corps to pick up the slack.
When they kick
The Chargers hope to get some kicks from Nick Rose on Sunday (Ooh, the more they get of them, the stranger it feels, yeah). OK, now that the Seal joke is out of the way ... the Chargers will be using their fourth kicker this season, claiming Rose on waivers from Washington earlier this week. He has a strong leg, which should help on kickoffs. If he performs well, he has a chance to be the team’s long-term solution at the position. The Jets’ kicker, Chandler Catanzaro, has a big leg too. He’s hit his last 10 field-goal attempts.
Dan Woike’s prediction
The Jets were supposed to have a historically bad roster and through good coaching and strong effort willed themselves into five wins this season. The Chargers absolutely must win if they want to have a chance to advance to the playoffs, but they have not played a game this season with this many players banged up. This late in the season, though, the Chargers’ second-stringers who are being asked to step in should be ready for the bigger role. The Chargers live to sweat out some scoreboard watching.
CHARGERS 24, JETS 16
Rams vs. Tennessee Titans: How they match up
RAMS (10-4) AT TENNESSEE TITANS (8-6)
When Rams have the ball
The Rams are riding a high after routing the Seattle Seahawks 42-7. The Rams are tied for first with Philadelphia in scoring, averaging 31.3 points per game. Sean McVay’s play calling could be affected without the security blanket that kicker Greg Zuerlein provided before he had season-ending back surgery last week. Running back Todd Gurley, one of five Rams players voted into the Pro Bowl, is in the NFL most-valuable-player discussion after rushing for 152 yards and scoring four touchdowns against Seattle. Gurley has scored a league-best 17 touchdowns (14 on runs and three on passes). Gurley is taking pressure off quarterback Jared Goff, who has 24 touchdown passes and seven interceptions. Goff, a Pro Bowl alternate, will face a Titans secondary that will be without at least one starting cornerback, LeShaun Sims. Rams receiver Robert Woods came back from an injury that sidelined him for three games and caught six passes against the Seahawks. He also blocked well for Gurley. Rookie Cooper Kupp has a team-best 58 catches for 804 yards and four touchdowns. Linebacker Wesley Woodyard is the Titans’ leading tackler and also has five sacks. Former USC tackle Jurrell Casey has five sacks, and free safety Kevin Byard six interceptions.
When Titans have the ball
Quarterback Marcus Mariota, the No. 2 pick in the 2015 draft, leads an offense that ranks 19th in scoring (21.1 points a game) and 22nd in yards per game (316.1). Mariota is completing 63% of his passes, 12 for touchdowns, but has had 14 intercepted. He also has rushed for five touchdowns. Mariota completed 23 of 33 passes for 241 yards and two touchdowns in last week’s loss to the San Francisco 49ers. Veteran Delanie Walker has a team best 68 catches for 778 yards and five touchdowns. Rishard Matthews caught six passes for 95 yards and a touchdown against the 49ers. Running backs DeMarco Murray and Derrick Henry each have rushed for more than 600 yards and have scored five touchdowns. The Rams’ defense is coming off a dominating effort against the Seahawks. They sacked Russell Wilson seven times. Lineman Aaron Donald, a Pro Bowl selection for the fourth time in four NFL seasons, has 11 sacks as he continues his drive for a contract extension. Linebacker Robert Quinn has 8 1/2 sacks. Cornerback Troy Hill played well against the Seahawks and will start again opposite Trumaine Johnson. Backup lineman Matt Longacre will be sidelined because of a back injury. Carlos Thompson will play in his place in the rotation.
When they kick
Former Penn State kicker Sam Ficken, who has never attempted a field goal in an NFL regular season game, is replacing Zuerlein, the NFL’s leading scorer. Johnny Hekker, a four-time Pro Bowl selection, is averaging 47.6 yards per kick. Kick returner Pharoh Cooper also was voted into the Pro Bowl. Ryan Succop of the Titans has made 29 of 35 field-goal attempts. Brett Kern averages 51.6 yards per punt. Former USC All-American Adoree’ Jackson, the 18th pick in the 2017 draft, averages 21.3 yards per kickoff return, 9.3 yards per punt return.
Gary Klein’s prediction
The Rams looked like a Super Bowl contender in their victory last week at Seattle. A win over the Titans would enable the Rams to clinch their first NFC West title since 2003. The Titans can keep alive their playoff hopes if they knock off the Rams, but that’s not likely to happen.
RAMS 36, TITANS 13