Miami Dolphins (11-3) – Dallas Cowboys (10-5): 22-20
The Dolphins were the most accomplished. Trailing with 3mn27 remaining, Tua Tagovailoa and his teammates moved up part of the field using the entire clock to put Jason Sanders in position for the winning field goal. Successful kick and first victory against a team with a positive record for Miami.
Tua Tagovailoa (24/37, 293 yards, 1 TD) and Tyreek Hill (9 rec, 99 yards) did most of the work on the last offensive to get a victory synonymous with qualifying for the playoffs. They responded well to Dak Prescott (20/32, 253 yards, 2 TDs) and Brandin Cooks (2 rec, 14 yards, 1 TD) who perhaps thought they had done the hardest by connecting on a superb touchdown to pass in front with less than four minutes to go before the buzzer.
Dallas pays for its lack of realism in the evening. From the first offensive of the game, Prescott let the ball escape when he was only a short yard from the end zone. If he made up for it by finding an untenable CeeDee Lamb (6 rec, 118 yards, 1 TD) to pass in front a little later, the Miami defense finished to calm it all down. Raheem Mostert (11 races, 46 yards – 1 rec, 4 yards, 1 TD) put the Dolphins back in front at the break (13-7). Jason Sanders was then the Florida hero, scoring three field goals in the second half, including the game-winner.
This victory officially sends Miami to the playoffs.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-7) – Jacksonville Jaguars (8-7): 30-12
Crossed destinies for these two Florida franchises. Trevor Lawrence (17/29, 211 yards, 1 TD, 2 int) was intercepted on two of his first three possessions, before injuring his shoulder in the third quarter. Tampa Bay took advantage of these errors. Behind the first interception, Baker Mayfield (26/35, 283 yards, 2 TDs) found Mike Evans (7 rec, 86 yards, 2 TDs) for a touchdown. Same sanction after the second. The Buccaneers led 20-0 at halftime.
Then 27-0 after a fumble by Lawrence just after the restart. This time it was Rachaad White (20 races, 39 yards, 1 TD – 6 rec, 38 yards) who applied the sanction. Nothing seemed to go in the right direction for Jacksonville, who had to play CJ Beathard (11/15, 94 yards, 1 TD) at the end of the match. And even if he saved the honor, that does not hide the fact that the Jaguars have a fourth defeat. Only the defeats of the Colts and the Texans in the 7 p.m. meetings allow Doug Pederson's men to remain at the top of the AFC South.
It’s quite the opposite for Tampa Bay. Mayfield is playing efficiently, Evans is as solid as ever and White now brings something every week. Todd Bowles' team has a grip on the NFC South, with a chance to close it out next week against the Saints.
Chicago Bears (6-9) – Arizona Cardinals (3-12): 27-16
The Bears are doing well. Justin Fields (15/27, 170 yards, 1 TD, 1 int) and Cole Kmet (4 rec, 107 yards) started the match on the floor. Chicago's offense scored three touchdowns in a row while the defense contained Kyler Murray (24/38, 230 yards, 2 TDs). Enough to lead 21-0. But Kmet was injured. DJ Moore (3 rec, 18 yards) too, even if he ended up coming back. And the Bears started to see Murray and his team coming back at them.
A touchdown from Greg Dortch (2 rec, 45 yards, 1 TD) even revived hope 6mn37 from the end. Especially since the Cardinals defense managed a stop in the process.
But this time, Chicago didn't let the game slip away. The Illinois defense stopped Murray on a fourth attempt, before the offense took advantage of this good position on the opponent's field to add a field goal. It's not yet a dominating game, and Fields was less effective after the break, but Chicago is showing signs of progress and the intensity is there.
Denver Broncos (7-8) – New England Patriots (4-11): 23-26
The Patriots won't make the playoffs, but they can keep themselves busy by crushing other teams' dreams. Chad Ryland may have done that by completing a 56-yard kick with two seconds left to give New England the victory and lower the Broncos' record in the process. A little redemption for the rookie kicker, who has been in great difficulty since the start of the season, and who had even missed an extra point earlier in the match.
Denver could, however, seem to have done the hardest part. Trailing 23-7 at the end of the third quarter, Russell Wilson (25/37, 238 yards, 2 TDs) led his team to two touchdowns in a row to equalize, before the defense recovered the ball with 1mn42 on the chrono. Except that the following offensive gives nothing and New England recovers the leather with 58 seconds to play. Bailey Zappe (25/33, 256 yards, 2 TDs) takes advantage. A 27-yard pass to Devante Parker (4 rec, 64 yards) breaks the situation. A few more yards scored by Ezekiel Elliott and Mike Gesicki made the difference to get close enough to Ryland, who took the victory.
A kick that probably spells the end of Denver's playoff dreams.
