Saquon Barkley became the ninth running back in NFL history to rush for 2,000 yards in a single season as the Philadelphia Eagles clinched the NFC East title with victory over the Dallas Cowboys.
The 27-year-old achieved the feat with a 23-yard run during the fourth quarter of the Eagles' crushing 41-7 success at Lincoln Financial Field.
Barkley is 100 yards short of Eric Dickerson’s record of 2,105 yards, set in 1984 for the Los Angeles Rams, ahead of next week’s regular season finale against the New York Giants.
However, he could be rested for that game in order to protect him from injury ahead of the play-offs.
SAQUON BARKLEY. 2K RUSHING YARDS. pic.twitter.com/HDS8Jy1MRK
— NFL (@NFL) December 29, 2024
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers kept alive their dreams of reaching the play-offs by overcoming the Carolina Panthers 48-14.
Veteran quarterback Baker Mayfield produced a dominant performance at Raymond James Stadium, registering five passing touchdowns to equal a Buccaneers franchise record.
The Buffalo Bills clinched the AFC conference number two seed for the post season with a 40-14 success over the New York Jets at Highmark Stadium.
Josh Allen passed for 182 yards and two touchdowns, while rushing for another.
Buffalo finish the 2024 regular season undefeated at home, with eight wins from as many games.
Malik Nabers takes it 31 yards to the house!
— NFL (@NFL) December 29, 2024
📺: #INDvsNYG on FOX
📱: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/dNnvHpxsFL
The Indianapolis Colts’ hopes of reaching the play-offs were ended by a 45-33 defeat to the New York Giants.
Malik Nabers exploded for 171 yards and two touchdowns and Ihmir Smith-Marsette broke a 100-yard kick-off return to give the Giants their highest-scoring output under head coach Brian Daboll.
Quarterback Drew Lock threw four touchdown passes and accounted for a fifth on the ground to seal the win.
Jayden Daniels hit Zach Ertz for a 2-yard touchdown with 2:42 left in overtimeas the Washington Commanders beat the Atlanta Falcons 30-24 on Sunday night to secure their first pla-yoff berth since the 2020 season.
The Commanders (11-5) clinched a wild-card berth with their fourth straightwin and could finish as high as the sixth seed in the NFC.
Elsewhere, Mac Jones threw two touchdowns to help the Jacksonville Jaguars defeat the Tennessee Titans 20-13.
Jones connected on 15 of 22 passes for 174 yards, finding Parker Washingtonand rookie Brian Thomas Jr for scores, as Jacksonville (4-12) left Tennessee(3-13) behind in the AFC South cellar.
Fins For the Win! 🐬
— Miami Dolphins (@MiamiDolphins) December 30, 2024
😂 @AI_XLV & @ffvmousvon_ 👈 pic.twitter.com/mmVKbDlWXN
Tyler Huntley completed 22 of 26 passes for 225 yards, one touchdown and nointerceptions and ran for another score to lead Miami Dolphins past host Cleveland Browns 20-3.
The Dolphins (8-8) kept their playoff hopes alive and must beat the Jets nextweek and hope the Denver Broncos lose to the Kansas City Chiefs to secure the AFC's final wild-card play-off berth.
Brock Bowers set a pair of rookie receiving records and Ameer Abdullah notchedthe first 100-yard rushing game of his 10-year career in Las Vegas Raiders seeing off hosts New Orleans Saints 25-10.
Bowers caught seven passes for 77 yards, giving him 1,144 yards on the seasonto surpass Mike Ditka's 63-year-old rookie tight end record. He also eclipsedthe rookie reception record with his 106th catch, besting Puka Nacua's mark from last season. Abdullah finished with 115 yards on 20 carries as the Raiders (4-12) won their second straight game.
Sam Darnold completed 33 of 43 passes for a career-best 377 yards to go with three touchdowns and one interception and Minnesota Vikings escaped with a 27-25 win over the Green Bay Packers in Minneapolis.
Justin Jefferson had eight catches for 92 yards for Minnesota (14-2), whichwon its ninth game in a row. Jalen Nailor, Jordan Addison and Cam Akers hadone touchdown reception apiece for the Vikings.
Additional reporting: Reuters
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