The Rams rode a healthy dose of Todd Gurley to a 21-14 win over the Lions at the Edward Jones Dome. The rookie running back had 16 carries for 140 yards and two touchdowns as St. Louis snapped a five-game skid to improve to 5-and-8. The Rams host the Buccaneers on “Thursday Night Football.”
The Bears suffered a 24-21 loss to Washington at Soldier Field. Jay Cutler threw for 315 yards and two touchdowns for Chicago, which fell to 5-and-8 with its second straight loss. Zach Miller and Alshon Jeffery had touchdown grabs in the loss. Chicago visits Washington on Sunday.
Blake Bortles threw for three touchdowns and ran for another as the Jaguars blew out the Colts 51-16 at EverBank Field. Robert Mathis scored the lone touchdown for Indianapolis on a fumble recovery in the end zone. Quarterback Matt Hasselbeck threw for 252 yards before leaving the game with a rib injury. The loss snapped a 16-game winning streak for the Colts against AFC South opponents, the longest division streak in NFL history.
The Bengals will likely have to go the rest of the way without their starting quarterback. Andy Dalton fractured his right thumb during Sunday’s 33-20 loss to the Steelers. ESPN reports he will likely miss the rest of the season.
The Panthers had no problem improving to 13-and-0 as they pounded the Falcons, 38-0. Cam Newton threw three touchdown passes for Carolina, which clinched a bye in the first round of the playoffs with the victory.
The Patriots stopped their two-game losing streak and clinched a playoff spot with a 27-6 win over the Texans. Tom Brady threw a pair of touchdown passes to help New England improve to 11-and-2. The Pats haven’t lost three straight games since 2002.
Patrick Kane extended his franchise-record points streak to 26 games in the Blackhawks’ 4-0 win over the Canucks. Kane assisted on Duncan Keith’s score in the first period. Wayne Gretzky holds the all-time record of 51 games.
The Avalanche scored twice in the first period and never looked back in a 3-1 win over the Blues at Scottrade Center. Vladimir Tarasenko’s power-play goal in the third got St. Louis close, but Carl Soderberg put the game away for Colorado in the final minute. The Blues skate against the Jets in Winnipeg tomorrow night.