Griffin leads Redskins to win

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Counted out by their own coach six weeks ago, the Washington Redskins and Robert Griffin III are on the brink of their first division title in 13 years.

Griffin threw a pair of touchdown passes in his first game back from a knee injury, Kai Forbath set the NFL record for consecutive field goals to begin a career, and the Redskins held on to beat the Philadelphia Eagles 27-20 on Sunday for their sixth straight win.

The Redskins (9-6) can clinch the NFC East with a victory over Dallas at home next Sunday.

SAINTS 34, COWBOYS 31, OT

ARLINGTON, Texas — Garrett Hartley kicked a 20-yard field goal in overtime, and New Orleans damaged Dallas’ playoff hopes.

Drew Brees threw for 446 yards and three touchdowns and led a drive to the winning kick. The Saints lucked out before the winning kick when a fumble by Marques Colston rolled forward about 20 yards to the Dallas 2. Jimmy Graham recovered.

The Cowboys lost despite rallying for two touchdowns in the final 3:35 of regulation. Tony Romo, who threw for 416 yards and four scores, hit Miles Austin for the tying touchdown with 15 seconds left in regulation.

COLTS 20, CHIEFS 13

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Andrew Luck threw for 205 yards to break the single-season rookie record, and his touchdown pass to Reggie Wayne late in the fourth quarter put Indianapolis in the playoffs.

Luck surpassed Cam Newton’s year-old record of 4,051 yards passing by a rookie in the second quarter, and then came through in the closing minutes. He marched Indy to the Chiefs 7, then found Wayne in the back of the end zone on third-and-goal for the go-ahead score.

BENGALS 13, STEELERS 10

PITTSBURGH — Josh Brown kicked a 43-yard field goal with 4 seconds remaining to put Cincinnati in the playoffs and eliminate Pittsburgh from postseason contention.

Dalton completed 24 of 41 for 278 yards and two interceptions for the Bengals (9-6), who snapped a five-game losing streak to Pittsburgh (7-8).

RAVENS 33, GIANTS 14

BALTIMORE — Joe Flacco threw for 309 yards and two touchdowns as Baltimore won the AFC North.

The Ravens (10-5) led 24-7 at halftime and cruised to the finish behind a short-handed defense that harassed quarterback Eli Manning and limited New York (8-7) to 186 yards.

The victory ended a three-game skid for the Ravens and assured them of a home playoff game in the first weekend of January.

BRONCOS 34, BROWNS 12

DENVER — Denver won its 10th straight game as Peyton Manning threw three touchdown passes for the 72nd time of his career.

Denver (12-3) pulled into a tie for first place in the AFC with Houston, which fell 23-6 to the Vikings. Manning finished with 339 yards on 30-for-43 passing.

If Denver defeats Kansas City at home next week and Houston loses at Indianapolis, the Broncos would be the AFC’s top seed.

BEARS 28, CARDINALS 13

GLENDALE, Ariz. — Chicago’s defense scored two touchdowns to keep the Bears’ playoff hopes alive.

Charles Tillman returned an interception 10 yards for a score, the third pick he’s brought back for a touchdown this season and the eighth overall by Chicago, one shy of the NFL record. Zack Bowman returned a fumble 1 yard for another Bears score.

Brandon Marshall caught six passes for 68 yards and a TD, breaking the Bears franchise record for yards receiving in a season in the process.

The Cardinals (5-10) lost for the 10th time in 11 games.

PATS 23, JAGUARS 16

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Tom Brady overcame a rough start by throwing two touchdown passes for playoff-bound New England.

Brady threw two interceptions in the first quarter, the second helping the Jaguars (2-13) build a 10-0 lead.

Brady hooked up with Wes Welker for a 2-yard score on the second play of the fourth quarter, putting the Patriots (11-4) ahead 23-13.

CHARGERS 27, JETS 17

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — San Diego sacked Greg McElroy 11 times, ruining the quarterback’s first NFL start, and Philip Rivers threw two touchdown passes for the Chargers.

McElroy, the third-stringer who was starting for the benched Mark Sanchez, moved the offense for the Jets (6-9) early but faced pressure all game.

Rivers had touchdown tosses of 37 yards to Danario Alexander and 34 yards to Antonio Gates.

PANTHERS 17, RAIDERS 6

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Cam Newton threw for 171 yards and a touchdown and ran for 60 yards and another score as Carolina won for the fourth time in its last five games.

The Panthers (6-9) held the Raiders to 189 total yards and 12 first downs in a game featuring several shoving matches, plenty of heated exchanges and six unnecessary roughness penalties — including one that sidelined Oakland quarterback Carson Palmer for the day.

The Panthers built a 14-3 lead at halftime. Newton accounted for 231 of the 271 yards.

RAMS 28, BUCS 13

TAMPA, Fla. — Sam Bradford tossed a pair of touchdown passes and rookie cornerback Janoris Jenkins scored his fourth TD of the season.

Bradford connected with Lance Kendricks on an 80-yard scoring play on the first play of the third quarter. The Rams (7-7-1) intercepted Josh Freeman four times, turning three of the turnovers into TDs, including Jenkins’ pick and 41-yard return early in the second quarter.

Steven Jackson rushed for 81 yards and one TD, moving within 10 yards of reaching 1,000 for the eighth consecutive season for the Rams. Tampa Bay fell to 6-9 after its fifth straight loss.

DOLPHINS 24, BILLS 10

MIAMI — Reggie Bush caught two touchdown passes and scored on a short run for Miami.

Six minutes after they won, the Dolphins (7-8) were eliminated from playoff contention when Cincinnati beat Pittsburgh.

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