Monday 11 December 2017 06:26, UK
Kareem Hunt ran for 116 yards and a touchdown as the Kansas City Chiefs snapped a four-game losing streak with a 26-15 win over the Oakland Raiders on Sunday.
A stingy Chiefs (7-6) defense shut down Derek Carr and Raiders (6-7) offense for three quarters before then holding off a late rally by the visitors.
Alex Smith threw for 268 yards and Charcandrick West had a touchdown run for the Chiefs, who held the Raiders without points until Marshawn Lynch's 22-yard touchdown run with just under nine minutes to go.
Carr was 24 of 41 for 211 yards with a touchdown and two picks, a far cry from his performance when the teams met in October. Carr threw for 417 yards and three touchdowns that day, including the winning toss to Michael Crabtree on the final play of the game.
That loss was part of a midseason swoon for Kansas City, who started the season 5-0 but then lost six of seven to fall into a tie for the division lead and put its once-solid playoff prospects in peril. The Chiefs gave them a boost again on Sunday.
The Chiefs got four field goals from Harrison Butker, three in the first half, to go with Hunt's one-yard touchdown run, to see them take a 16-0 lead into the break.
That was added to with a further Butker field goal and West's score before the Raiders tried to make it interesting late, recovering an onside kick after Lynch's TD. Carr connected with Jared Cook on fourth down for another score, and a successful two-point conversion trimmed the Chiefs' lead even more.
But after receiving the kick-off, the Chiefs' Albert Wilson made a juggling catch to convert a third down, and that allowed the reigning AFC West champs to mostly run out the clock.
In other news, Raiders receiver Amari Cooper left the game in the second quarter with a right leg injury when he was blocking downfield on a run by DeAndre Washington and a defender rolled into the back of him.
Elsewhere, in the other early games in the NFL....
Vikings 24-31 Panthers
Jonathan Stewart's third touchdown run of the game, a one-yard leap with just under two minutes remaining, lifted Carolina (9-4) past Minnesota (10-3) and into a tie for first place in the NFC South with the New Orleans Saints.
The Vikings, meanwhile, had an eight-game winning streak snapped and lose possession of the No 1 seed in the NFC.
Colts 7-13 Bills (OT)
LeSean McCoy ran for a 21-yard touchdown with less than two minutes remaining in overtime to give Buffalo (7-6) the victory over Indianapolis (3-10) in incredibly snowy conditions.
McCoy rushed for 158 yards on a career-high 32 carries and surpassed 1,000 yards on the season as the Bills overcame relentless snow, swirling winds and near whiteout conditions to keep their playoff hopes alive.
Packers 27-21 Browns (OT)
Green Bay (7-6) overcame a 14-point, fourth-quarter deficit and inflict another crushing defeat over still-winless Cleveland (0-13) in overtime.
The game-winner was a 25-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Brett Hundley to wide receiver Davante Adams that keeps the Packers' playoff hopes alive in the NFC. Starting QB Aaron Rodgers could return to action next week.
Lions 24-21 Buccaneers
Matt Prater kicked a 46-yard field goal with 20 seconds remaining, allowing Detroit (7-6) to keep alive its flickering NFC playoff hopes.
Tampa Bay (4-9), who had five turnovers, had rallied from a two-touchdown deficit in the fourth-quarter to tie things up at 21-21.
Cowboys 30-10 Giants
Running back Rod Smith had an 81-yard touchdown reception and a 15-yard scoring run in the fourth quarter as the Cowboys (7-6) beat the Giants (2-11) in this NFC East clash.
The Giants had long-time starting QB Eli Manning back under center after being benched last week for Geno Smith - he was 31 of 46 passing, for one touchdown and two interceptions.
49ers 26-16 Texans
Jimmy Garoppolo recorded his second victory in as many starts as San Francisco (3-10) won a second straight, beating Houston (4-9).
Garoppolo passed for 334 yards, one touchdown and one interception. His TD pass snapped a 16-16 tie and helped lift the 49ers to victory.
Bears 33-7 Bengals
Mitchell Trubisky passed for 271 yards and a touchdown, while running back Jordan Howard rushed for 147 yards and two scores to lift Chicago (4-9) to a convincing win over Cincinnati (5-8), snapping a five-game losing streak.
