Panthers stun Rams, Jags go top after Texans beat Colts – best of Sunday’s gamespublished at 00:59 GMT 1 December
Rams suffer huge upset loss in Carolina
Many had the Rams as the best team in the NFL and Matthew Stafford as MVP before this game, but Stafford doubled his interception total for the season as they lost a ding-dong shootout 31-28.
After two interceptions in 11 games Stafford threw two in the first half, including a pick six, and added a fumble later on to end a six-game winning run and drop to 9-3 and out of the NFC top seed – being replaced by Chicago.
Credit the Panthers though, especially the excellent Bryce Young who threw three TDs and Chuba Hubbard who had 124 total yards to propel the Panthers to 7-6 and challenging Tampa Bay for the NFC South.
Bills beat up on Rodgers & Steelers
Aaron Rodgers played through the pain of a fractured wrist, but also took a whack on the nose as he and his team were dominated by the Buffalo Bills, who ran for a record 249 yards for a visiting team in Pittsburgh’s stadium.
Josh Allen scored a record 76th rushing touchdown and James Cook ran for 144 of those rushing yards as Buffalo’s ground and pound mantra worked wonders against a Pittsburgh side powerless to stop them.
The Bills remain well in the play-off hunt at 8-4 as they chase the Patriots, while the Steelers drop to 6-6 and face a huge battle with Baltimore next week.
Broncos win ninth in a row after overtime thriller in Washington
The Denver Broncos extended their winning streak to nine matches to beat Washington Commanders 27-26 in overtime to stay top of the AFC West, Bo Nix leading the way with one TD and 321 passing yards.
The Broncos led 13-7 in the second quarter and 20-14 heading into the fourth but were routinely pegged back. RJ Harvey scored a touchdown for Denver in overtime before Washington responded with a Marcus Mariota TD pass to Terry McLaurin.
But Nik Bonitto batted away two-point conversion attempt that would have won it for the Commanders to give the Broncos victory.
In the absence of injured quarterback Jayden Daniels, Mariota scored two TDs and threw 294 passing yards but couldn’t stop the Commanders from slipping to a seventh consecutive defeat.
Image source, Getty ImagesTexans turn up heat to beat Colts
A fourth straight win for the Texans here and a huge one as beating the Colts blew the AFC South wide open, with Indy losing two in a row.
It was tight, as you’d expect with Houston’s top-ranked defence, but after being tied 13-13 going into the fourth quarter, Nico Collins’ touchdown proved to be the difference.
Jags top AFC South after third win in a row
That result in Indy meant the Jags moved to the top of the AFC South with an easy 25-3 win at the hapless Titans – a third win in a row moving them to 8-4
Trevor Lawrence has 229 yards passing and two touchdowns and the Jags ran in another to cruise to victory – and set up a huge game next week against the Colts.
