NFL - NEWS & NOTES

Happy for the Browns and Falcons, sad for the Vikings, fuck the Packers.

 

Amari Cooper’s record day powers Browns to 36-22 victory over Texans

The Browns’ wideout (Amari Cooper) put together the best game of his career, going off for 11 catches, 265 yards, and two touchdowns to help the Browns defeat the Texans 36-22 on Sunday.

Cooper’s banner day started on Cleveland’s first play from scrimmage, as quarterback Joe Flacco hit the receiver for a 53-yard gain down to Houston’s 6. A few plays later, Jerome Ford took a direct snap for a 4-yard touchdown to give the Browns an early 7-0 lead.

Then Cooper caught a 75-yard touchdown in the second quarter to put Cleveland up 14-0 and the Browns were off to the races. While the Texans scored on a 98-yard kick return. the Browns had a 22-7 halftime lead off of David Njoku’s 7-yard touchdown late in the second quarter.

Cooper blew it open with a 7-yard touchdown to cap an 18-play, 94-yard drive that took up most of the third quarter. Cooper had a drive-extending, toe-dragging catch along the left sideline on fourth-and-8 in Houston territory.

After the Browns scored on Kareem Hunt’s 1-yard touchdown to go up 36-7 in the fourth quarter, Cleveland took out Flacco, Cooper, and most of the team’s starters.

By that time, Cooper had racked up 10 catches for a career-high 252 yards with two touchdowns.

But the Texans scored two quick touchdowns — getting the league’s first successful onside kick since 2021. After that, the Browns needed to put Flacco and Cooper back in to seal it. So, Cooper caught a 13-yard pass on fourth-and-7 to move the chains and set a new Browns single-game record with 265 yards.

Josh Gordon had the previous record, recording 261 yards on 10 receptions in a 2013 loss to the Jaguars.

Cooper became just the second player in NFL history to record a game with 200 yards receiving with three different teams, joining Terrell Owens.

Cooper also set a new career-high with 1,265 receiving yards — becoming the first Browns wide receiver to have multiple seasons of 1,000 yards. Hall of Fame tight end Ozzie Newsome was the only previous Browns player to have multiple 1,000-yard seasons.

The Browns had to play most of the game without kicker Dustin Hopkins, who suffered a left hamstring injury while trying to chase down Dameon Pierce on his 98-yard kick return for a touchdown.

Flacco finished 27-of-42 for 368 yards with three touchdowns and two picks. In just his fourth game for Cleveland, Flacco joined Josh McCown as the only Browns players to throw for at least 300 yards in three consecutive games.

The Houston offense was stuck in the mud until Davis Mills came in late in the game. While Case Keenum was 11-of-17 for 62 yards with two interceptions, Mills was 15-of-32 for 149 yards with two touchdowns. Mills had been in the game sporadically in the first half, but Keenum was the clear No. 1 — likely to Houston’s detriment.

With the win, the Browns are now 10-5. This is just the team’s third 10-win season since coming back to the league in 1999 as an expansion franchise and the second under Stefanski. As the AFC’s current No. 5 seed, Cleveland will play the Jets on Thursday night and will clinch a playoff spot with a victory. The team will end the season against Cincinnati in Week 18.

Houston is still in the mix for a playoff spot at 8-7, but the path is tougher. Now at No. 8 in the AFC, the Texans will finish their home slate against the Titans next week before finishing the season at Indianapolis in Week 18. On a positive note, there’s a chance quarterback C.J. Stroud will be back for Houston next Sunday.

NBC

 

Lions clinch first division title in 30 years with win over Vikings



For the first time in three decades, the Detroit Lions have won their division.

The Lions beat the Vikings today in Minnesota, clinching the NFC North for the first time ever. The last time the Lions won their division, the year was 1993 and the division was the NFC Central.

The win means the Lions will host their first ever playoff game at Ford Field. The Lions still have two more games — against the Cowboys and a rematch with the Vikings — to determine their playoff seed, but they’ll be starting the playoffs at home, and Detroit fans will get to go to a playoff game. It’s been a long time.

Today’s win was hard-fought, and the Vikings were game despite being depleted by injuries. But the Lions ran the ball effectively with both Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery, and quarterback Jared Goff was solid if unspectacular. Amon-Ra St. Brown had his eighth 100-yard receiving game of the season.

Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson had an outstanding game, and K.J. Osborn played well, but the Vikings were hamstrung by injuries to wide receiver Jordan Addison and tight end T.J. Hockenson. Nick Mullens had 411 passing yards but also threw four interceptions.

The 7-8 Vikings remain alive for a wild card berth, but the 11-4 Lions are the clear class of the NFC North. This was their biggest win in decades.

PFT

 

Im a bit confused why Miami goes for it on 4th n goal from the 5, when its early and a 7-3 game... they come away with zero points.

 

Im liking what I see from Fields and the Bears.

 

Fields to Lewis, TD... 21-0, Bears

 

Dolphins avg 32 points per game, Dallas 31 points per game, #1 vs #2... so its 7-6 coming up on halftime.

 

KC looks very average, I dont really see them as a good Playoff threat in the AFC... been that way all season, imo.

 

Before this game is over, Mahomes will get himself killed... too much running on his part.

 

And now a pick... Scantling quit too, no help.

 

Ruled incomplete.

 

KC would have to play a road playoff game. Mahomes has never done that

 

WEEK 16 - Final Results are In.

 

Jackson finished 23-of-35 for 252 yards and he led the Ravens with 45 rushing yards. He’s also 20-1 against NFC teams for his career. McCaffrey, 103 YDS and a TD.

Purdy was purdy ugly at 18 for 32, 0 TD's and 4 INT's.

 

Well Capt Kirk and Nick Mullens you have company your not alone anymore Purdy that was some Meltdown in Ptime time what was it 5 INT

 

4 for Purdy and 1 for Darnold.