Bills playoff hopes dashed by the lowly Raiders

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Raiders 26, Bills 24

Oakland: With their playoff hopes at stake, the Buffalo Bills couldn't manage to stop Derek Carr and the lowly Oakland Raiders. Carr threw two touchdown passes and Sebastian Janikowski kicked four field goals to help the Raiders knock the Bills from playoff contention. The Bills (8-7) needed to win their final two games and get some help to end the NFL's longest active playoff drought at 14 seasons. But they failed at the easiest part – beating the lowly Raiders (3-12) – and will miss the playoffs for a 15th straight year. Oakland has the second longest active postseason drought at 12.

Steelers 20, Chiefs 12

Pittsburgh: Ben Roethlisberger passed for 220 yards and a touchdown, Le'Veon Bell added a score and the Pittsburgh Steelers locked up a postseason berth with a methodical 20-12 win over the Kansas City Chiefs. Pittsburgh (10-5) faces Cincinnati next week for the AFC North title. Pittsburgh has won seven of nine.

Falcons 30, Saints 14

New Orleans: Julio Jones returned from a hip injury to catch seven passes for 107 yards, and the Falcons remained in playoff contention. Matt Ryan completed 30 of 40 passed for 322 yards and a touchdown, and Devonta Freeman ran for a 31-yard score for Atlanta (6-9), which can win the NFC South by beating Carolina next week. The Saints lost their fifth straight at home and were eliminated.

Panthers 17, Browns 13

Charlotte: Cam Newton threw for one touchdown and ran for another as Carolina (6-8-1) took over sole possession of first place in the NFC South. The victory sets up the winner-take-all showdown next Sunday at Atlanta. The winner will join the 2010 Seattle Seahawks as the only teams in NFL history to reach the postseason in a non-strike-shortened season with a losing record. Newton threw for 201 yards and ran for 63 yards just 12 days after the quarterback suffered two fractures in his lower back following an automobile accident. Jonathan Stewart ran for 122 yards.

Giants 37, Rams 27

St. Louis: Odell Beckham Jr. caught two touchdown passes and rolled up 148 yards receiving against a defence that hadn't allowed a TD in three straight games. Beckham set a franchise rookie record with his 10th and 11th TD catches, shattered another rookie mark for receptions and topped 1,000 yards while shrugging off a pair of late hits in the second quarter. The second led to a brawl and three ejections, none of them to starters. The Giants (6-9) had a season-best 514 yards in total offence and have won three in a row heading into their finale at home against the Eagles. They had lost seven straight before the current streak started.

Packers 20, Buccaneers 3

Tampa: Aaron Rodgers threw for 318 yards and one touchdown to help the Packers clinch a wild-card playoff berth. Eddie Lacy scored on a 44-yard run, Jordy Nelson caught a one-yard TD pass in the fourth quarter and had nine receptions for 113 yards, while Randall Cobb finished with 11 catches for 131 yards. Green Bay closes the regular season at home against Detroit, and a victory will give the Packers another NFC North crown.

Patriots 17, Jets 16

East Rutherford, N.J.: Jonas Gray scored the go-ahead touchdown on a one-yard run early in the fourth quarter after the Patriots intercepted Geno Smith, and New England clinched a first-round playoff bye. Tom Brady threw a three-yard TD pass to Rob Gronkowski for the Patriots (12-3), who could earn home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs if Denver loses at Cincinnati on Monday night.

Lions 20, Bears 14

Chicago: Joique Bell scored the go-ahead touchdown on a sweet run in the fourth quarter, and Ndamukong Suh had two sacks. Calvin Johnson added six catches for 103 yards for Detroit (11-4), which came away with a narrow victory over a struggling team after locking up its second trip to the postseason in 15 years. Lions quarterack Matthew Stafford hit the 4,000-yard mark for the fourth straight year.

Texans 25, Ravens 13

Houston: Running back Arian Foster threw a touchdown pass, Randy Bullock made a franchise-record six field goals and Houston's defence dominated to keep slim playoff hopes alive. The Ravens (9-6) now need some help next week to get into the postseason after Joe Flacco threw a season-high three interceptions and the offence struggled all day. Houston (8-7) remains in the hunt with the victory, but needs several teams to lose next week. With three quarterbacks hurt, the Texans started Case Keenum, who got his first win in nine NFL starts.

Dolphins 37, Vikings 35

Miami Gardens, Fla.: Dolphins owner Stephen Ross, buoyed by a thrilling comeback win, said Joe Philbin will return as coach next season. Ross made his announcement in the locker room shortly after the Dolphins won on a safety. Rookie Terrence Fede blocked a punt for a safety with 41 seconds left, and Ryan Tannehill threw four touchdown passes. The Dolphins overcame a 14-0 deficit to take the lead, but trailed again after giving up 15 points in an 11-second span in the fourth quarter. Philbin's job had been considered in jeopardy because the Dolphins will miss the playoffs for the sixth year in a row. But they're 8-7 and have a shot at a winning season, if not the playoffs.

Chargers 38, 49ers 35

Santa Clara, Calif.: Nick Novak kicked a 40-yard field goal nearly five minutes into overtime after Philip Rivers rallied San Diego back from a 21-point deficit in the second half for a victory over San Francisco on Saturday night.

Redskins 27, Eagles 24

Landover, Md.: Kai Forbath kicked 26-yard field goal with five seconds left to lift Washington past Philadelphia. The Redskins snapped a six-game losing streak. The Eagles lost their third in a row to fall to 9-6. The Redskins improved to 4-11. Robert Griffin III returned as the Washington starter and won in his first complete game in more than a year. He went 16 for 23 for 220 yards with one interception.