skip to main content

NFL: Prescott and Burrow star as play-off race heats up

Updated / Monday, 27 Dec 2021 10:21
Dak Prescott starred in Sunday's late game
Dak Prescott starred in Sunday's late game

Dak Prescott threw for 330 yards and four touchdown passes to lead hosts Dallas past Washington 56-14 in the Sunday night game at Arlington, Texas.

While Dallas clinched the division title earlier in the day, there was no letup in the Cowboys as they scored touchdowns on five straight possessions in the first half.

Ezekiel Elliott scored two touchdowns, one on a run and theother on a reception. DeMarcus Lawrence added a deft interception and nimble 40-yard return for another score as Dallas (11-4) beat Washington (6-9) for the second time in 15 days, pushing their NFC East rivals to the brink of elimination from the postseason.

Prescott completed all but one of his first 21 passes and finished 28 of 39 before retiring to the sideline in the third quarter. Washington's Tyler Heinicke faced a swarming Cowboys defense that sacked him four times and limited Washington to 257 yards.

Heinicke completed 7 of 22 passes for 121yards with a touchdown and two interceptions. Trevon Diggs picked off Heinicke's first pass of the night for his league-leading 11th interception this year.

Meanwhile, emotions boiled over on the Washington sideline when star defensive tackle Jonathan Allen (26) threw a punch at team-mate Daron Payne.

The incident between the two former Alabama teammates happened in the second quarter with Washington trailing 28-7.

The two were conversing when Payne (24), who was standing, poked his finger into the left side of Allen's head. Allen swatted Payne's hand away with his left hand and stood up and threw a hard right-handed punch that grazed the defensive tackle's face.

Other Washington defensive players got between the two to break up the scuffle. Payne still was vehemently upset minutes later while Allen was sitting nearby.

After the contest, Payne had cooled off and said the incident was "wrong place, wrong time."

"You got brothers? You guys fight, right?" Payne told reporters. "It's all good."

Washington coach Ron Rivera said after the contest that there would be no punishment.

"I've talked with them and as far as I'm concerned, that's where it's gonna stay," Rivera said. "... What my players say to me is really nobody's business."

Earlier, the showdown for the AFC North lead turned into a showcase for Joe Burrow as the Cincinnati Bengals hammered the visiting Baltimore Ravens 41-21.

Burrow had his best game as a pro as he completed 37 of 46 passes for a career-high and franchise-record 525 passing yards and four touchdowns.

Tee Higgins had career highs with 12 catches for 194 yards and two touchdowns. Fellow wideout Ja'Marr Chase added 125 yards receiving, and Joe Mixon added 135 scrimmage yards and two scores for the Bengals, who scored on each of their first seven possessions.

The win gave Cincinnati (9-6) sole possession of first place in the AFC North with two games to play. The Bengals swept the Ravens in both meetings this season for the first time since 2015, and did so with a combined score of 82-38.

Baltimore (8-7), who had a combined 33 players on the injured reserve and reserve/COVID lists Friday, lost their fourth in a row. Journeyman quarterback Josh Johnson, making his first start since 2018, played well for the Ravens, who were without starting quarterback Lamar Jackson (ankle) and backup Tyler Huntley (Covid list).

Sony Michel ran for 131 yards and a touchdown, while Brandon Powell returned a punt for a score as the Los Angeles Rams clinched a playoff berth with a 30-23 victory over Minnesota in Minneapolis.

The Rams (11-4) overcame three interceptions by Matthew Stafford, who was 21-of-37 passing for 197 yards. Stafford did connect with Odell Beckham Jr for the wide receiver's fourth touchdown in the last five games, while the Rams' Cooper Kupp continued his productive season with ten catches for 109 yards.

Kirk Cousins had 315 yards on 27-of-38 passing with a touchdown and an interception for Minnesota (7-8), which had won four of their previous six games. Justin Jefferson had eight receptions for 116 yards.

Josh Allen passed for 314 yards and three touchdowns and rushed for 64 yards to help the Buffalo Bills reclaim the AFC East lead with a 33-21 win over the New England Patriots in Foxborough.

Allen's first touchdown pass of the day was the 100th of his NFL career, making him the first quarterback in history to record 100 passing TDs and 20 rushing TDs in his first four seasons. He finished 30-of-47 passing on the day.

Isaiah McKenzie had 11 catches for 125 yards and a touchdown for Buffalo (9-6), who won their second straight game while the Patriots (9-6) suffered their second straight loss following a seven-game winning streak.

Patrick Mahomes passed for 258 yards and three touchdowns as Kansas City claimed their eighth straight victory, sixth consecutive AFC West title and a play-off spot by throttling visitors Pittsburgh 36-10.

The Chiefs (11-4), who came in allowing an average of 13.3 points a game during their winning streak, secured three takeaways and did not allow the Steelers (7-7-1) to score a touchdown until 2:54 remained.

Mahomes completed 23 of 30 passes, finding Byron Pringle for two scores. Pringle caught a team-high six passes for 75 yards. Kansas City added 127 yards rushing but lost Clyde Edwards-Helaire to a collarbone injury. Ben Roethlisberger never got in sync with his Pittsburgh receivers, going 23 of 35 for 159 yards. Najee Harris rushed for 93 yards on 19 carries.

Tom Brady threw for 232 yards and a touchdown to punch his ticket to the playoffs as Tampa Bay breezed to a 32-6 win over Carolina in Charlotte.

The Buccaneers (11-4) wrapped up a postseason berth by clinching the NFC South for the first time since 2007. They relied heavily on their defense, which held the Panthers (5-10) without a touchdown.

Tampa Bay, who were shut out a week earlier by the New Orleans Saints, didn't score until 4:13 remained in the first quarter on Ke'Shawn Vaughn's 55-yard rush. Antonio Brown caught ten passes for 101 yards in his return from a suspension related to falsifying Covid vaccination information.

Rex Burkhead ran for a career-high 149 yards and two touchdowns as short-handed Houston damaged the Los Angeles Chargers' AFC playoff hopes with a 41-29 upset at home.

Rookie quarterback Davis Mills hit 21 of 27 passes for 254 yards and a pair of touchdowns, including a 13-yard strike on a slant to Nico Collins with 2:32 remaining for an 11-point lead.

Houston (4-11) recorded a season-high points total despite missing four starters along the offensive line due to Covid-19, as well as leading receiver Brandin Cooks.

Justin Herbert completed 27 of 35 passes for 336 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions as the Chargers (8-7) tumbled outside the playoff field with two weeks remaining.

Nick Foles threw a 15-yard touchdown pass to Jimmy Graham with 1:01 remaining and completed a subsequent two-point conversion to Damiere Byrd as the Chicago Bears eliminated hosts Seattle from playoff contention.

The Bears (5-10) rallied from a ten-point deficit in the fourth quarter, pulling to 24-17 on Cairo Santos' 35-yard field goal with 10:46 remaining. Foles was 24 of 35 for 250 yards. David Montgomery rushed for 45 yards and added a team-high 61 yards on seven receptions. He scored on a one-yard run in the second quarter.

Seattle's Rashaad Penny rushed for 135 yards, two shy of his career-high set two weeks ago at Houston, and a touchdown. Russell Wilson was 16 of 27 for 181 yards and two touchdowns as the Seahawks (5-10) played in the snow at home for the first time since 2008.

Matt Ryan passed for 215 yards and a touchdown as hosts Atlanta topped Detroit 20-16.

Cordarrelle Patterson had a rushing touchdown for Atlanta (7-8), and Kyle Pitts caught six passes for 102 yards. Linebacker Foyesade Oluokun clinched the win with an interception in the final minute.

Amon-Ra St Brown caught nine passes for 91 yards and scored the lone touchdown for the Lions (2-12-1), who had won two of their previous three games.

Rookie Zach Wilson scored the longest rushing touchdown by a quarterback in franchise history to help the New York Jets to a 26-21 win over reeling Jacksonville.

Wilson completed 14 of 22 passes for 102 yards and a touchdown and rushed for 91 yards - including a 52-yard touchdown run. Michael Carter added 118 yards rushing and Braxton Berrios had a 102-yard kickoff return touchdown for the Jets (4-11).

Rookie Trevor Lawrence completed 26 of 39 passes for 280 yards for the Jaguars (2-13), who extended their losing streak to seven games. The Jaguars also had a chance to tie the game after Dare Ogunbowale's one-yard run pulled them to within 23-21 with 5:25 remaining, but Lawrence's pass to Jacob Hollister was incomplete on an attempted two-point conversion.

Jalen Hurts threw for two touchdowns, Boston Scott rushed for another and hosts Philadelphia shook off a slow start to rout the New York Giants 34-10.

Hurts completed 17 of 29 passes for 199 yards as the Eagles (8-7) strengthened their playoff chase with their third straight win.

Quarterback Jake Fromm struggled mightily in his first career start, going 6 of 17 for 25 yards and one interception for the Giants (4-11). Fromm was replaced by Mike Glennon midway through the third quarter; Glennon finished 17 of 27 for 93 yards and one TD, with one interception.

Derek Carr was 20-for-25 passing for 201 yards and a touchdown, Peyton Barberran for a score, and hosts Las Vegas beat Denver 17-13.

Hunter Renfrow caught a touchdown pass and Josh Jacobs rushed for 129 yards for Las Vegas (8-7), who overcame three turnovers.

Drew Lock was 15-for-22 passing for 153 yards, and Javonte Williams had a rushing touchdown for the Broncos (7-8), who had just eight first downs and158 total yards and saw their slim playoff hopes take another hit.

More stories on

Read Next