American Football NFL round-up:The Washington Redskins and the Dallas Cowboys came back from the brink of defeat to win their National Football League games on Sunday and stay in contention for the playoffs as the New York Giants and San Francisco 49ers flexed their muscles.
On a roller-coaster week 14 the Redskins beat the Baltimore Ravens 31-28 in overtime despite losing star rookie quarterback Robert Griffin III to a knee sprain in the final quarter.
The Cowboys, still mourning the death of linebacker Jerry Brown who was killed in a car crash on Saturday, kicked a field goal as time expired to defeat the Cincinnati Bengals 20-19 in Ohio. Cowboys defensive tackle Josh Brent was released on $500,000 (€387,000) bail on Sunday after being charged with intoxication manslaughter in the crash that killed Brown.
The Giants, last season’s Super Bowl champions, romped up their highest score in more than a quarter of a century to hammer the New Orleans Saints 52-27.The Seattle Seahawks crushed the Arizona Cardinals 58-0, one of the biggest wins in NFL history.
The Green Bay Packers recorded their customary victory over the Detroit Lions at a snowy Lambeau Field.
The win lifted the 9-4 Packers into a one-game lead over Chicago in the NFC North.
The Atlanta Falcons suffered a shock 30-20 loss to the struggling Carolina Panthers, while the Indianapolis Colts inched closer to booking a spot in the post-season with a 27-23 win over the Tennessee Titans.
The Ravens (9-4) were on the verge of clinching their spot and the AFC North division when they led the Redskins 28-20 with 30 seconds to go and dangerman Griffin out of the game. But Redskins substitute quarterback Kirk Cousins threw an 11-yard touchdown pass to Pierre Garcon, then ran for the two-point conversion to force overtime.
The Redskins said Griffin’s injury was not season-ending.
Dallas head coach Jason Garrett said his players were still in a state of shock after hearing about the death of their team mate. “I keep using the word ‘numb’, but that’s how we all feel,” he said.
New York rookie David Wilson ran in three touchdowns to keep the Giants a game ahead of the Redskins and Cowboys in the NFC East.
The Falcons, already assured of their place in the playoffs, trailed 23-0 early in the third quarter against the Panthers, whose second year quarterback, Cam Newton, ran 116 yards and passed for 287.
Atlanta replied with three touchdowns but it was all too late to prevent the Panthers from recording another upset.
The Minnesota Vikings beat the Chicago Bears 21-14.
The Pittsburgh Steelers were beaten 34-24 at home by the San Diego Chargers, harming their chance of making the playoffs.
The Philadelphia Eagles beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 23-21 and end their eight-game losing streak.
The San Francisco 49s improved to 9-3-1, just ahead of the Seahawks (8-5) in the NFC West.
