NFL Week 15: Jaguars overwhelm Jets from start to finish, reach 10 wins

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Trevor Lawrence accounted for six touchdowns, including a career-high five passing, and the Jacksonville Jaguars overwhelmed the New York Jets from start to finish in a 48-20 drubbing Sunday.

Lawrence completed 20 of 32 passes for 330 yards and didn’t have a turnover for the third consecutive game. His passer rating of 136.7 was the best of his five-year NFL career.

He also ran for 51 yards and a score, a 15-yard scramble in the first quarter that helped set the tone. Lawrence rolled left, juked Will McDonald in the backfield and then scampered down the sideline.

Jacksonville (10-4) scored touchdowns on its first three possessions for the first time since 1998 and topped 40 points through three quarters for the first time since 2005. It was a drama-free day for the home team, which reached double-digit victories for just the second time in the last 18 seasons.

The Jets (3-11) allowed their most points since a 54-13 loss to New England in 2021. Like that one, not much went right in Jacksonville.

The Jaguars scored on the opening possession, and then the Jets lost 6 yards on a fourth-and-1 play that gave Jacksonville a short field. So the Jets trailed 14-0 before picking up a first down.

It was the worst possible scenario for Brady Cook, who the team said was the first undrafted rookie quarterback to start for the Jets since Bill Demory in 1973. Cook managed a souvenir, but not much else in the loss.

He connected with Adonai Mitchell for a 9-yard TD pass in the first quarter. Mitchell retrieved the ball and gave it to Cook on the sideline. It was one of the few highlights for the Jets.

Cook completed 22 of 33 passes for 176 yards, with three interceptions. Breece Hall found little room against the NFL’s top rushing defense, finishing with 23 yards on 12 carries.

Mitchell finished with seven receptions for 69 yards.

Jaguars running back Travis Etienne was on the receiving end of three of Lawrence’s TD passes. His last came went 45 yards on a screen pass and ended with him performing a flip into the end zone.

Commanders 29, Giants 21

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Jacory Croskey-Merritt ran for a touchdown, fellow rookie Jaylin Lane returned a punt 63 yards to the end zone and the Washington Commanders ended their season-derailing skid at eight games by beating the similarly woeful New York Giants 29-21 on Sunday.

The only NFL game this week with no playoff implications has a far bigger bearing on draft positioning. The Giants (2-12) lost their eighth in a row, moving a step closer to the top pick, a last-place finish in the NFC East and potentially front-office changes, with a coaching search already coming.

New York did not have the same expectation as Washington (4-10), which was coming off an improbable run to the conference championship game in Jayden Daniels’ AP Offensive Rookie of the Year season. Daniels didn’t play Sunday after aggravating a left elbow injury, so it was Marcus Mariota who quarterbacked the Commanders to their first victory since Oct. 5.

Mariota connected with top receiver Terry McLaurin on a 51-yard catch-and-run TD early in the fourth quarter. That was one of only 10 passes Mariota completed on 19 attempts for 211 yards, with a fumble.

That, along with a defensive effort that included Von Miller sacking Jaxson Dart to reach 136 1/2 in his career and pass Jared Allen for 12th on the all-time list, turned out to be enough. Dart had TD passes to Tyrone Tracy and Wan’Dale Robinson but also threw a costly interception and was incomplete on a fourth-and-goal attempt with 10 minutes left.

Tracy ran for the Giants’ first touchdown after falling behind 13-0, and his TD catch happened when they were down 22-7.

Dart went into the blue medical tent for an injury evaluation after taking a big hit on a designed run but missed only two plays before going back in. He finished 20 of 36 for 246 yards.

Texans 40, Cardinals 20

HOUSTON — C.J. Stroud threw for 260 yards and three touchdowns and the Houston Texans jumped out to a big early lead and cruised to a 40-20 victory over the slumping Arizona Cardinals on Sunday.

The Texans (9-5) have won six straight games for the first time since a nine-game winning streak in 2018 to improve their playoff hopes. It’s the sixth straight loss for the Cardinals (3-11), whose last win came on Nov. 3 against the Cowboys.

Houston got going immediately with its fastest score of the season when Stroud connected with Nico Collins on a 57-yard touchdown strike on the second play of the game. Collins took the short throw, escaped two diving defenders at around the 40 and ran untouched into the end zone for the score.

The Cardinals fumbled on the ensuing kickoff return and the Texans recovered. They couldn’t move the ball and settled for a 30-yard field goal that made it 10-0.

Woody Marks made it 17-0 when he scored on a 1-yard run on a direct snap later in the first quarter.

Arizona’s Michael Wilson had an 11-yard touchdown reception with about 11 minutes left but the 2-point conversion throw failed to leave Houston up 33-20.

The Texans padded the lead when Stroud found Collins again, this time on a 4-yard grab that made it 40-20. Collins had three receptions for 85 yards to give him 1,001 yards receiving for his third straight 1,000-yard season.

Jacoby Brissett threw for 249 yards with three touchdowns and an interception in his ninth start for the injured Kyler Murray.

Trey McBride had 12 receptions for a career-high 134 yards with two touchdowns for the Cardinals. He has an NFL-leading 105 receptions to become the first tight end in NFL history with at least 100 receptions in consecutive seasons. He has 1,037 yards receiving this season for his second straight 1,000-yard season.

Kamari Lassiter intercepted Brissett’s pass in the end zone on the opening drive of the second half. Lassiter downed the ball for a touchback before celebrating his career-high fourth interception of the season with a backflip.

The Texans cashed in on the error when Dalton Schultz grabbed a 4-yard TD pass that made it 30-7 with about 4 ½ minutes left in the third.

McBride’s second touchdown catch cut the lead to 30-14 near the end of the third quarter.

Kaʻimi Fairbairn’s 33-yard field goal pushed the lead to 33-14 early in the fourth.

The Cardinals had minus-7 yards of offense and were down by 17 when they got going late in the first quarter. They used a 13-play, 71-yard drive capped by a 2-yard reception by McBride to cut the lead to 17-7 early in the second.

A 55-yard field goal by Fairbairn extended the lead to 20-17 with about nine minutes left in the second. He added a 22-yard field goal with less than two minutes to go in the first half and had a 52-yard attempt blocked just before the break.

Eagles 31, Raiders 0

PHILADELPHIA — Jalen Hurts rebounded from his worst NFL game to throw three touchdown passes, Saquon Barkley had a 2-yard touchdown run and the Philadelphia Eagles snapped a three-game losing streak with a 31-0 win over the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday.

The Eagles (9-5) were able to get their maligned offense under embattled coordinator Kevin Patullo right against the woeful Raiders and finally showed signs of life with a nice mix of play calling in bitter cold temperatures and topped 21 points for the first time in six games.

Hurts had his moments — that included a shovel pass for a score to Dallas Goedert on a day that started with the field blanketed in several inches of snow. Hurts also hit DeVonta Smith on a 44-yard reception on a drive that stalled in the second quarter and settled for a field goal by Jake Elliott and a 10-0 lead. He pitched a 4-yard TD pass to Goedert in the third for a 24-0 lead.

Yes, their first three TDs that totaled 10 yards — and a dynamite defensive effort — was enough to beat down a Raiders (2-12) team that lost their eighth straight game and got an anemic performance out of Kenny Pickett in his first start at quarterback for the injured Geno Smith.

Hurts needed a personal win in his first game since he thew four interceptions and lost a fumble in an overtime loss to the Los Angeles Chargers. Hurts’ season has been erratic – he threw five picks against only two touchdowns the last two games, 10 months after he won Super Bowl MVP. Coach Nick Sirianni scoffed at a “ ridiculous ” question on his weekly Philadelphia sports talk radio appearance when he was asked if Hurts would keep his starting job this season.

Hurts turned the game into a blowout when he threw a 27-yard touchdown to A.J. Brown early in the fourth for a 31-0 lead. He finished 12 of 15 for 175 yards passing.

The Eagles also staved off talk they were on the brink of their second December collapse under Sirianni in the last three seasons. The 2023 Eagles started 10-1 and finished 11-6 and were bounced in their first playoff game.

Hurts and this year’s Eagles have the benefit of a soft schedule down the stretch that started against the Raiders and includes two games with the Washington Commanders. The Eagles still control the NFC East and have a home playoff game in sight — and yes, they can still repeat as Super Bowl champions, even as Barkley recently noted how it seemed “the sky’s falling outside the locker room.”

Barkley is still well off his 2,000-yards rushing pace from a season ago but added 78 yards rushing and his TD run sent the Eagles into halftime with a 17-0 lead.

Bills 35, Patriots 31

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Josh Allen threw three touchdown passes, and James Cook ran for two TDs and caught another as the Buffalo Bills rallied from a 21-0 deficit to beat New England 35-31 on Sunday, preventing the Patriots from clinching the AFC East title.

Allen finished 19 of 28 for 193 yards. Cook ran 22 times for 107 yards for the Bills (10-4), who avoided being swept by a division opponent for the first time since 2019. Buffalo reached 10 wins for the seventh consecutive season.

The Bills overcame a double-digit deficit for the third time this year after previously rallying against Baltimore (down 15 points in the fourth quarter) and Cincinnati (down 10).

The Patriots (11-3) lost their first division game of the season and their 10-game win streak ended. They haven’t won the AFC East since 2019 but still lead the Bills by one game with three games left.

Drake Maye had a pair of touchdown runs, and TreVeyon Henderson ran for scores of 52 and 65 yards. Henderson finished with 14 carries for 148 yards.

Trailing 35-31 with 2:43 to play, the Patriots had fourth-and-5 on their own 22. Maye was flushed out of the pocket and had a pass batted down by Joey Bosa.

The Bills ran out the clock from there.

With light snow falling, the temperature at kickoff was 32 degrees Fahrenheit (0 degrees Celsius). The conditions didn’t slow down a Patriots offense that scored on four of its first five possessions to take a 24-7 lead into halftime.

Buffalo punted on all but one of its first-half possessions. But it marched down the field on the first drive of the third quarter, getting a 58-yard kickoff return by Ray Davis and a 20-yard run by Allen to set up Allen’s 4-yard touchdown pass to Dawson Knox.

After a three-and-out by New England, the Bills needed just over five minutes and 11 plays to cap a 70-yard drive with Cook’s 3-yard TD run.

Maye had a deep pass intercepted by Tre’Davious White on the Patriots’ next drive. The Bills took over on the New England 9 and drove across midfield, where they faced fourth down on the Patriots 45.

Allen kept the drive alive, completing a 37-yard pass to Dalton Kincaid. He then found Knox for a 14-yard TD to put the Bills in front 27-24.

That lead lasted just 14 seconds. On New England’s next offensive play, Henderson scampered down the sideline for a 65-yard score.

The Bills struck right back, capping a seven-play, 65-yard drive with Cook’s 11-yard touchdown run that made it 35-31 with 6:48 remaining.

Bosa returned for Buffalo after a one-game absence with hamstring and wrist injuries. The Bills played without linebacker Terrel Benford (elbow) for the third straight game, as well top cornerback Christian Benford (toe).

Their absences were evident as the Patriots moved the ball at ease early. Maye used a 30-yard pass to Kayshon Boutte to set up his own 8-yard touchdown that capped an eight-play, 73-yard opening drive.

Maye’s 7-yard scramble for a touchdown put the Patriots up 14-0.

Chargers 16, Chiefs 13

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Los Angeles Chargers eliminated the Kansas City Chiefs from playoff contention when Derwin James picked off a pass by Gardner Minshew — who had just taken over for the injured Patrick Mahomes — in the closing seconds to preserve a 16-13 victory over the reigning AFC champions Sunday.

Justin Herbert, playing through a broken left hand, threw for 210 yards and a touchdown, and the Chargers (10-4) ensured consecutive 10-win seasons for the first time since 2006-07 by completing a rare regular-season sweep of Kansas City.

Mahomes was trying to rally the Chiefs in the closing seconds, completing a series of passes to get across midfield by the 2-minute warning. But on the next play, he was scrambling toward the Kansas City sideline and throwing the ball away when he was spun to the ground by defensive lineman Da’Shawn Hand, leaving the two-time MVP clutching his left knee.

Mahomes was taken briefly to the blue injury tent, then helped to the locker room with a towel draped over his head.

Minshew took over and completed three straight passes, giving Chiefs fans hope on a day that began with wind chills near zero and their playoff chances about the same. But with 20 seconds to go, Minshew unloaded a pass intended for Travis Kelce, and James — his longtime divisional foil — leaped up to pick it off, allowing Los Angeles to escape.

Mahomes was held to 189 yards with no touchdowns and an interception. Kansas City (6-8) managed just 239 yards as a team.

The Chargers beat the Chiefs in their opener in September in Brazil, setting each of the clubs on their season-long trajectory.

Los Angeles arrived for the rematch Sunday trying to extend the momentum built in last week’s win over the Super Bowl champion Eagles, and edge closer to a second straight playoff berth. Kansas City welcomed its longtime rival knowing a loss, coupled with the wrong results in three other games, would eliminate the AFC juggernaut completely.

The Chiefs played appropriately inspired for most of the first half.

They moved swiftly downfield with Mahomes darting in from 12 yards out for a touchdown on their opening drive. They added a field goal later in the first half, and another by Harrison Butker gave them a 13-3 lead with 38 seconds left before the break.

That’s when the Chargers started playing like a playoff-bound team. And the Chiefs like one that should be sitting at home.

Herbert completed three passes in five plays to cover 60 yards, and KeAndre Lambert-Smith’s first career TD catch got the Chargers within a field goal. Cameron Dicker knotted the game on their opening possession of the second half, then he gave them the lead when he drilled a 49-yarder on a cold, windy day at Arrowhead Stadium with 2:40 to go in the third quarter.

The Chiefs tried to answer down the stretch, despite a rash of injuries that had left them with a patchwork offensive line.

But just like so often this season, a promising drive went haywire in the red zone. Tyquan Thornton’s spectacular catch was forgotten when Mahomes’ pass was picked off by Daiyan Henley on a jump ball thrown to Kareem Hunt at the goal line.

Mahomes would ultimately end the game in the Kansas City locker room.

The Chargers would ultimately end the Chiefs’ season with one more interception in the final seconds.