Los Angeles Chargers book play-off place in style with big win
The Chargers clinched a wild card place in John Harbaugh’s first season in charge.
The Los Angeles Chargers clinched a place in the NFL play-offs by thrashing the New England Patriots 40-7.
Justin Herbert threw for 281 yards and three touchdowns as the Chargers secured a wild-card spot in John Harbaugh’s first season as head coach.
The Chargers quarterback connected with a diving Derius Davis on a 23-yard touchdown in the first quarter before finding star rookie wide receiver Ladd McConkey with a six-yard throw in the second.
Herbert brilliantly hit McConkey again in the third quarter for a 40-yard touchdown before running back JK Dobbins rushed for another score in his first game back from injury.
New England’s rookie quarterback Drake Maye threw a fine 36-yard touchdown to DeMario Douglas in the one bright moment for the 3-13 Patriots, who were booed off the field by the remaining home fans at the end of the game.
The Denver Broncos failed to clinch the final AFC play-off spot as they went down 30-24 to the Cincinnati Bengals in overtime.
Joe Burrow, who threw for 412 yards and three touchdowns, found Tee Higgins with little more than a minute remaining in the extra period to keep the Bengals’ hopes of reaching the pre-season alive as they claimed a fourth successive victory.
Previous touchdown passes to Higgins had twice put the Bengals ahead in regulation time, Bo Nix finding Courtland Sutton and Marvin Mims Jr – from 51 yards – to level the score each time.
Cade York hit the post with a field goal for the Bengals in overtime, but with the Broncos just needing to hold on for a tie to clinch a play-off berth, Burrow connected twice with Higgins on one final drive to snatch the win.
The Broncos need a win over the Kansas City Chiefs, who have already clinched the top seed in the AFC, to secure their first play-off appearance in nine years.
The Bengals need to beat AFC North rivals the Pittsburgh Steelers and hope other results go their way.
The Los Angeles Rams moved to within a whisker of the NFC West title as they edged out the Arizona Cardinals 13-9.
Kyren Williams went over from a yard in the second quarter for the Rams’ only touchdown, Joshua Karty adding two field goals before Ahkello Witherspoon made a diving interception in the end zone with 37 seconds remaining to clinch victory.
The win lifts the Rams to 10-6, one game clear of the Seattle Seahawks at the top of the division ahead of their meeting in the final round of matches next week.
Only a defeat and a string of other results going against them can cost the Rams the title in a tiebreaker which is heading all the way to relative strength of schedule.
