Joe Burrow’s 3-yard touchdown pass to Tee Higgins in overtime nullified the late-game heroics of Bo Nix, and the Cincinnati Bengals beat the Denver Broncos 30-24 on Saturday to stay alive in the AFC playoff picture.

Burrow and the Bengals got the last laugh after a wild, back-and-forth fourth quarter in which neither team punted.

The Broncos forced overtime when rookie quarterback Nix delivered a 25-yard touchdown pass to Marvin Mims Jr. with eight seconds left in regulation to cap a 70-yard drive.

The improbable swings continued into the extra session, when Cincinnati’s Cade York missed a 33-yard field goal attempt that would have won the game on the third drive of overtime.

Burrow and Higgins bailed out their kicker on the Bengals’ next drive, however, delivering the game-winning score with 1:10 left, one play after the pair connected for a crucial 31-yard gain. Both players logged gaudy stats as Cincinnati played to extend their season.

Burrow had 412 yards and three passing touchdowns, plus he added a rushing score. Higgins caught all three of Burrow’s touchdown passes and finished with 11 catches for 131 yards.

The win kept the Bengals (8-8) alive for the final wild-card berth in the AFC and gave them the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Broncos (9-7).

Nix continued his late-season surge with a strong outing, throwing for 219 yards and three touchdowns, but he did throw a fourth-quarter interception that led to a Cincinnati scoring drive.

The Broncos would clinch a playoff spot with a win next weekend over the Kansas City Chiefs, who have already secured the No. 1 seed in the AFC and a first-round bye.

The Bengals would need a road win over the Pittsburgh Steelers and a Denver loss for a post-season berth.

Boomshakalaka. YES LAWWWD! pic.twitter.com/oTPqiA9n6t

— Cincinnati Bengals (@Bengals) December 29, 2024

Rams edge Cardinals to keep NFC West lead

Ahkello Witherspoon made a diving interception in the end zone with 37 seconds left, and the Los Angeles Rams held on for a 13-9 win over the Arizona Cardinals to remain a game up in the NFC West.

With the Cardinals looking for a go-ahead touchdown, Kyler Murray’s pass to Trey McBride at the goal line deflected off McBride’s helmet and into the air, leading to Witherspoon’s interception and spoiling a productive night for the Arizona pair.

Arizona controlled the ball for nearly 37 minutes and had 24 first downs to Los Angeles’ 12, but the Rams’ little-known defence made key plays at the right times.

Puka Nacua had 10 catches for 129 yards, and Kyren Williams scored the Rams’ only touchdown as they extended their winning streak to five games.

Los Angeles (10-6) will enter Week 18 a game up in the NFC West on the Seattle Seahawks (9-7), who edged the Chicago Bears 6-3 on Thursday night.

The Cardinals, who were already eliminated from play-off contention, were led by Murray’s 321 passing yards, but he was also sacked four times and threw two interceptions.

McBride became the 10th tight end in league history with 100 receptions in a season. He finished the night with 12 catches for 123 yards and a touchdown.

Chargers rout Patriots to clinch berth

Justin Herbert threw a season-high three touchdown passes, J.K. Dobbins was productive in his first game back from injured reserve and the Los Angeles Chargers (10-6) secured a spot in the playoffs with a 40-7 rout over the New England Patriots.

Los Angeles’ lead-leading defence smothered the lowly Patriots, and the Chargers out-gained New England 428 yards to 181. Los Angeles controlled the ball for over 40 minutes of possession.

Herbert was 26 of 38 for 281 yards, throwing two touchdowns to rookie Ladd McConkey and one to Derius Davis.

Dobbins, who had been out for a month with a knee injury, returned to gain 76 yards on 19 carries, including a 2-yard touchdown.

Patriots rookie quarterback Drake Maye was sacked four times and was limited to 117 yards and a touchdown on 22 pass attempts.

Jim Harbaugh has won 10+ games in his first season as head coach with the Chargers, the 49ers and Michigan.

He's the fifth coach to have double-digit wins in his first season with two different NFL teams but the only one of those to also do so at the collegiate level. pic.twitter.com/v6JuKy5Pvk

— OptaSTATS (@OptaSTATS) December 28, 2024