Minnesota Vikings safety Lewis Cine (6) grimaces as he receives treatment after an injury during an NFL match between Minnesota Vikings and New Orleans Saints at the Tottenham Hotspur stadium in London, Sunday, Oct. 2, 2022. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)
Minneapolis (AP) The Detroit Lions won their first division title in 30 years on Sunday, defeating the injury-ravaged Minnesota Vikings 30-24 with two rushing scores from Jahmyr Gibbs, 106 receiving yards, and a third-quarter go-ahead touchdown by Amon-Ra St. Brown.
With 49 seconds remaining, Ifeatu Melifonwu intercepted Minnesota’s Nick Mullens at the five-yard line on an off-target ball to an open Justin Jefferson to seal the victory. Mullens was intercepted four times.
For the Lions (11-4), Jared Goff passed for 257 yards with no turnovers, and David Montgomery scored a rushing touchdown. Detroit has earned a home playoff game at Ford Field for the first time in 22 seasons, where an NFC North champions banner will soon be displayed. The final one came for winning the NFC Central in 1993.
Mullens threw for two touchdowns, a diving 26-yard reception by Jefferson with 29 seconds remaining in the first half and a six-yard pass to K.J. Osborn that gave the Vikings (7-8) a 21-17 lead early in the third quarter, one play after a 47-yard heave to Osborn.
The Browns (10-5) are almost guaranteed to make their second postseason berth since 2002. They have won by double digits for the third time since 1999, having previously done so in 2007 and 2020.
Joe Flacco passed for 368 yards, three touchdowns, and two interceptions in his fourth start for the Browns, who led 22-7 at halftime and cruised to their third straight win.
Cooper broke Josh Gordon’s Browns record of 261 receiving yards against Jacksonville on December 1, 2013. Cooper has 1,250 receiving yards, becoming the first receiver in franchise history to have two consecutive 1,000-yard seasons.
The Texans (8-7) saw their postseason hopes fade. Case Keenum threw for 62 yards and two interceptions in his second start in place.
Nashville, Tennessee (AP) – Geno Smith delivered his second touchdown pass of the fourth quarter, a five-yarder to Colby Parkinson with 57 seconds left, and Seattle edged Tennessee to stay in postseason contention.
The Seahawks (8-7) have won two consecutive games, but they still need to win out and get some help to secure their second playoff berth in three seasons. The Titans (5-10) have dropped three consecutive games this season.
Smith, who had missed the previous two games due to a groin injury, gave the Seahawks their first lead, 13-10, with an 11-yard touchdown pass to DK Metcalf in the left corner with 12:10 remaining.
With 3:21 remaining, Derrick Henry scored a 2-yard touchdown run to put Tennessee back up 17-13.
Smith responded by driving.
