NFL roundup: Five-star Darnold shines as Cousins slumps in Minnesota return | NFL

Atlanta Falcons 21–42 Minnesota Vikings

Sam Darnold completed 22 of 28 passes for 347 yards and a career-high five touchdowns, and the Minnesota Vikings pulled away for a comfortable win over the Atlanta Falcons.

Jordan Addison had eight catches for 133 yards and three touchdowns for Minnesota (11-2), who won their sixth consecutive game. Justin Jefferson had seven catches for 132 yards and two touchdowns. Kirk Cousins completed 23 of 37 passes for 344 yards and two interceptions in his return to Minnesota, where he spent the previous six seasons before leaving as a free agent. Tyler Allgeier (nine carries for 63 yards) and Bijan Robinson (22 for 92) rushed for one touchdown apiece for Atlanta (6-7)

Chicago Bears 13–38 San Francisco 49ers

Brock Purdy threw two touchdown passes and the San Francisco 49ers bounced back from two blowout losses to beat Chicago (4-9) and spoil interim coach Thomas Brown’s debut for the Bears. The 49ers (6-7) had been outscored by 53 points the past two weeks in losses at Green Bay and Buffalo that left their playoff hopes teetering. But San Francisco delivered a performance more reminiscent of a year ago when the Niners went to the Super Bowl. The Bears lost their seventh straight and didn’t get an emotional boost from the first in-season firing of a head coach in franchise history.

Carolina Panthers 16–22 Philadelphia Eagles

Saquon Barkley rushed for 124 yards to break the Eagles’ season record, Jalen Hurts threw two touchdown passes and ran for a score, and Philadelphia won their ninth straight game. The Eagles (11-2) maintained their position as the No 2 team in the NFC behind Detroit after a mostly lethargic effort against the Panthers (3-10). Barkley added another milestone in his MVP push when he used a nine-yard run in the fourth quarter to pass LeSean McCoy’s Eagles single-season rushing record of 1,607 yards, set in 2013. Barkley has 1,623 yards with four games left. Hurts’s passing numbers were a pedestrian 14 of 21 for 108 yards.

Cleveland Browns 14–27 Pittsburgh Steelers

Russell Wilson threw for 158 yards and two touchdowns and the Pittsburgh Steelers pulled away from the mistake-prone Cleveland Browns. The Steelers (10-3) beat Cleveland at home during the regular season for the 21st straight time even with leading receiver George Pickens missing due to a groin injury. Wilson connected with Van Jefferson and Pat Freiermuth for scores as the Steelers took a two-game lead over Baltimore in the AFC North. Jameis Winston threw for 211 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions for the Browns, who fell to 3-10.

Seattle Seahawks 30–18 Arizona Cardinals

Zach Charbonnet ran for a career-high 134 yards and two touchdowns, Geno Smith threw for 233 yards and a score, and the Seattle Seahawks beat the Arizona Cardinals to remain atop the NFC West. The Seahawks won their fourth straight to move to 8-5 and swept the season series from the Cardinals, who fell to 6-7. They have won seven in a row against their division rival. The Cardinals have lost three straight and are fading from the playoff picture. Kyler Murray threw for 259 yards and two touchdowns, but also threw interceptions on back-to-back passes in the first quarter.

Las Vegas Raiders 13–28 Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Baker Mayfield threw for 295 yards and three touchdowns, helping the Tampa Bay Buccaneers beat the Las Vegas Raiders and take over sole possession of first place in the NFC South. Mayfield tossed scoring passes of 15 yards and 29 yards to Jalen McMillan. Rachaad White scored TDs on a five-yard reception and a three-yard run as the Bucs (7-6) won for the third straight week against a last-place opponent to revive their hopes for a fourth consecutive division title. The Raiders (2-11) lost quarterback Aidan O’Connell to a knee injury in addition to extending the NFL’s longest current losing streak to nine games.

New York Jets 26–32 Miami Dolphins (OT)

Tua Tagovailoa tossed a 10-yard touchdown pass to Jonnu Smith on the first possession of overtime as the Miami Dolphins defeated the reeling New York Jets.

Tagovailoa passed for 331 yards and two touchdowns as Miami (6-7) kept their playoff hopes alive. Tyreek Hill caught 10 passes for 115 yards and one TD. Jaylen Waddle caught nine passes for 99 yards and a two-point conversion. The game featured six lead changes, and it was the ninth straight year that the Dolphins beat the Jets at home.

The Dolphins didn’t force a punt until they got two straight stops in the fourth quarter, allowing Miami to rally from an eight-point deficit. Anders Carlson made a 42-yard field goal with 52 seconds to give the Jets a 26-23 lead, but Jason Sanders nailed a 52-yarder with seven seconds left, sending the game to overtime. Aaron Rodgers passed for 339 yards and one touchdown, but New York (3-10) still lost their fourth straight game.

New Orleans Saints 14–11 New York Giants

Brian Bresee leaped over the Giants’ line to block a potential tying field goal with 11 seconds left, and the New Orleans Saints (5-8) held on for victory over New York after losing quarterback Derek Carr to an injury late in the fourth quarter. The Giants lost their eighth straight, one shy of the team record. Carr was hurt with just under four minutes to play when he dived for a first down near the Saints 40 and landed hard. The Saints gave the ball back to Giants (2-11) and Drew Lock drove them into position to force overtime, but Breese denied New York kicker Graham Gano.

Jacksonville Jaguars 10–6 Tennessee Titans

Tank Bigsby ran for an eight-yard touchdown with 6:46 left and the Jacksonville Jaguars snapped a five-game skid and ended the Tennessee Titans’ slim playoff hopes by scoring the final 10 points of the game to secure victory. Jacksonville came in already eliminated with Trevor Lawrence out for the rest of this season. The Jaguars leave with only their second victory in the past 11 trips to Music City and the second in the past three. The Titans needed to win out to even have a playoff dream. Their last, best chance ended with 1:11 left when Will Levis missed Nick Westbrook-Ikhine in the end zone to turn it over on downs. Both teams are 3-10.