With Robert Griffin III sidelined with a sprained right knee, the Washington Redskins rallied behind backup Kirk Cousins to tie the game in the final minute of regulation, then Kai Forbath kicked a 34-yard field goal in overtime on Sunday for a 31-28 victory over the Baltimore Ravens.
Griffin was hurt at the end of a 13-yard scramble while attempting to lead the game-tying drive with the Redskins trailing 28-20. He left for one play, returned for four, then was no longer able to continue.
Cousins stepped in and hit Pierre Garcon for an 11-yard touchdown pass, then ran in the two-point conversion with 29 seconds to play.
Photo: AFP
The Redskins have won four straight to improve to 7-6. The Ravens lost back-to-back games for the first time since 2009 and fell to 9-4.
COWBOYS 20, BENGALS 19
In Cincinnati, Ohio, the grieving Cowboys rallied for a significant win on Dan Bailey’s 40-yard field goal as time ran out.
Dallas overcame a nine-point deficit in the closing minutes behind Tony Romo, who held his hand over his heart during a moment of silence to honor teammate Jerry Brown before the kickoff.
Brown died in a car accident early on Saturday. Defensive lineman Josh Brent, who was driving, remained in jail in Irving, Texas, charged with intoxication manslaughter.
The Cowboys (7-6) learned about Brown’s death on their flight to Cincinnati on Saturday. Coach Jason Garrett told his team that the best way to honor Brown was to play well in a game with playoff implications for both teams.
A late comeback was just enough to beat the Bengals (7-6).
Romo threw a 27-yard touchdown pass to Dez Bryant, then led the drive to Bailey’s kick.
GIANTS 52, SAINTS 27
In East Rutherford, New Jersey, rookie David Wilson returned a kickoff 97 yards for one touchdown, ran for two more scores and piled up 327 all-purpose yards and Eli Manning threw four touchdown passes to lead the Giants.
The win allowed New York (8-5) to maintain their one-game lead in the NFC East over Washington and Dallas. The loss all but ended the playoff hopes of Drew Brees and the Saints (5-8), who turned the ball over four times in losing their third straight.
Manning had TD passes of six yards to Martellus Bennett, five yards to Domenik Hixon, 25 yards to Hakeem Nicks and 10 yards to Victor Cruz. Wilson scored on runs of six and 52 yards and finished with 100 yards on 13 carries on the biggest day of his career.
SEAHAWKS 58, CARDINALS 0
In Seattle, Washington, Marshawn Lynch had three touchdown runs and Seattle set a franchise record for points. The Seahawks forced eight turnovers. Richard Sherman and Bobby Wagner each had two interceptions.
Seattle (8-5) kept firm grasp on the final NFC wild-card spot and kept alive slim chances of catching San Francisco in the NFC West race. The Seahawks also picked up their first division victory and assured coach Pete Carroll of his first eight-win season in three years with them.
The 58-0 victory was the biggest shutout in Seattle’s history. Leon Washington’s three-yard TD run with 2:32 left set a franchise record for points.
Arizona (4-9) was shut out for the first time since 2003 against Seattle. The effortless performance will only raise questions about Ken Whisenhunt’s future as coach. Arizona lost their ninth straight overall.
PACKERS 27, LIONS 20
In Green Bay, Wisconsin, Green Bay are a victory away from clinching the NFC North title after beating Detroit.
DaJuan Harris rushed for a score in his first appearance for the Packers, Aaron Rodgers added the longest TD run of his career, and Mike Daniels returned a fumble 43 yards as the Packers (9-4) opened a one-game lead over Chicago.
If Green Bay beat the Bears next weekend at Soldier Field, and they will win the NFC North for a second straight year.
The loss was the fifth straight for Detroit (4-9). This was not quite as excruciating as the previous three, though, when the Lions gave up fourth-quarter leads and fell by a total of nine points.
The Packers have won 22 straight at home against the Lions, the longest streak in the NFL.
49ERS 27, DOLPHINS 13
In San Francisco, Frank Gore ran for a one-yard touchdown and reached 1,000 yards rushing for the sixth time in his career.
Gore finished with 63 yards, Anthony Dixon also had a one-yard scoring run and Colin Kaepernick ran for a late 50-yard touchdown and threw for 185 yards in his fourth straight start since being promoted over Alex Smith.
In other play on Sunday, it was:
‧ Vikings 21, Bears 14
‧ Browns 30, Chiefs 7
‧ Chargers 34, Steelers 24
‧ Colts 27, Titans 23
‧ Jets 17, Jaguars 10
‧ Eagles 23, Buccaneers 21
‧ Rams 15, Bills 12
‧ Panthers 30, Falcons 20
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