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Tuesday 18 december 2018
Bears clinch 1st playoff berth since 2010, beat Packers

By The Associated Press goals to give San Francisco
CHICAGO (AP) — Mitch- its first win in the rivalry since
ell Trubisky threw for two 2013, when Jim Harbaugh
touchdowns, Eddie Jack- was still coach.
son ended Aaron Rodgers' The Seahawks (8-6) had
NFL-record streak without their four-game winning
an interception and the streak snapped and missed
Chicago Bears clinched a chance to clinch a play-
the NFC North with a 24-17 off berth. Russell Wilson
victory over the Green Bay threw for 237 yards with two
Packers on Sunday. TD passes to Doug Baldwin
The Bears (10-4) secured and Chris Carson ran for 119
their first playoff appear- yards and a score for Seat-
ance since the 2010 team tle. But Wilson was unable
won the division, and to generate any points on
clinching with a rare vic- his final three drives.
tory over their heated rivals VIKINGS 41, DOLPHINS 18
made it all the more sweet. MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Dal-
The loss, coupled with Min- vin Cook had a career-high
nesota's 41-17 victory over 136 yards and two touch-
Miami, keeps the Packers downs on a season-high
out of the postseason for 19 carries as the Vikings re-
the second year in a row. committed themselves to
Chicago had dropped Chicago Bears linebacker Khalil Mack (52) sacks Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers running the ball.
nine of 10 against Green (12) during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 16, 2018, in Chicago. Latavius Murray added 68
Bay (5-8-1). But the Bears Associated Press rushing yards and a score
secured their first trip to the on 15 of the team's sea-
playoffs in eight years with half touchdowns and two Wentz and passed for 270 to clinch the NFC East as its son-high 40 attempts. The
their seventh win in eight interceptions. The Steelers yards, and Wendell Small- five-game winning streak Vikings (7-6-1) converted
games. (8-5-1) remained in front of wood rushed for two touch- ended. each of their first three
For a team that came into Baltimore in the AFC North downs in the Eagles' victory Mack starred in Sunday's drives under interim offen-
the season with four straight with two weeks to go in the over Los Angeles. big show. He set the tone sive coordinator Kevin Ste-
last-place finishes, it's quite season. Rookie Josh Adams also by running through a tack- fanski into touchdowns be-
a turnaround. But with the Chris Boswell, who has rushed for a score as the le for a 19-yard gain on his fore turning the game over
hiring of coach Matt Nagy struggled so badly this sea- Eagles (7-7) kept their play- first carry, wound up carry- to the defense. Anthony
and trade for Khalil Mack in son the team held open off hopes alive with a gritty ing 22 times and matching Barr and Danielle Hunter
a busy offseason, the Bears tryouts during the week, victory over the Rams (11- a career high with the two each had two of the nine
made a huge jump. atoned for a 32-yard miss 3), who lost consecutive scoring runs — all against sacks of Ryan Tannehill, to-
Trubisky gave them a 21- in the third quarter by drill- regular-season games for the league's No. 3 rushing taling 71 lost yards for the
14 lead early in the fourth ing a 48-yarder with 2:30 the first time in coach Sean defense. Dolphins (7-7). Miami came
quarter with a 13-yard pass remaining. McVay's tenure. It marked the first time since crashing down from the
to Trey Burton in the left Pittsburgh's defense, which The Eagles scored 17 con- Week 9 that Dallas allowed euphoria of defeating New
side of the end zone. After let fourth-quarter leads slip secutive points in the third a team to top the 100-yard England with that double-
stopping the Packers, Tarik away each of the last two quarter and then survived mark, and the Cowboys lateral 69-yard score on the
Cohen returned a punt games, made it stand. the Rams' late rally. They were shut out for the first final play last week.
44 yards to the 15. But he The Patriots (9-5) missed a got help from Los Angeles time in more than 15 years. Minkah Fitzpatrick returned
stepped out of bounds a chance to clinch their 10th returner JoJo Natson, who New England was the pre- an interception 50 yards for
yard short on a third-and-5 straight AFC East title when fumbled a punt return that vious team to achieve the a touchdown in the second
at the 10 when he easily Tom Brady's pass into the D.J. Alexander recovered feat with a 12-0 victory on quarter and Kalen Ballage
could have gotten the first end zone for Julian Edel- with 2:51 to play. Nov. 16, 2003. scored on a 75-yard run on
down. man was knocked down After Philadelphia's Jake El- Mack even outperformed the first snap of the second
That forced the Bears to by Pittsburgh's Morgan Bur- liott missed a field goal with Ezekiel Elliott, who came half to bring the Dolphins
settle for a field goal by nett. 1:08 left, Jared Goff got the into the weekend as the within 21-17. But on their
Cody Parkey, making it 24- Brady finished 25 of 36 for Rams to the Philadelphia NFL's leading rusher. Elliott next five possessions they
14. The Packers then drove 279 yards with a touch- 18 with 4 seconds to play had 18 carries for 87 yards netted a staggering mi-
to the 9, but on third down, down and an interception — but he couldn't connect and caught seven passes nus-27 yards on 16 plays.
Jackson picked off Rodg- while losing to the Steelers with Josh Reynolds on a for 41 yards. Though Chicago won
ers, ending his streak at 402 for the first time since 2011 pass to the goal line as time 49ERS 26, SEAHAWKS 23 the NFC North by beat-
passes. and just the third time in 14 expired. SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — ing Green Bay, the Vikings
STEELERS 17, PATRIOTS 10 career meetings. The un- COLTS 23, COWBOYS 0 Robbie Gould kicked a 36- moved a critical step closer
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Rookie characteristically sloppy INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Mar- yard field goal with 3:06 left to returning to the postsea-
running back Jaylen Samu- Patriots were flagged 14 lon Mack rushed for a ca- in overtime and the 49ers son. With enough help, they
els, making his second start times for 106 yards. reer-high 139 yards and two snapped a 10-game losing could clinch the second
in place of injured James EAGLES 30, RAMS 23 scores and the Colts shut streak against Seattle. wild-card spot next week.
Conner, ran for a career- LOS ANGELES (AP) — Nick out one of the league's hot- Nick Mullens threw for 275 TITANS 17, GIANTS 0
high 142 yards and made Foles and the Philadelphia test offenses. The Colts (8-6) yards and a touchdown EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP)
a critical third-down recep- Eagles hope they're about stayed in the AFC playoff to help the 49ers (4-10) win — Bruising halfback Der-
tion in the fourth quarter. to make another late-sea- hunt with their seventh win consecutive games for the rick Henry had his second
Pittsburgh snapped a son run that begins with an- in eight games and their first time this season. Richie straight big game with a
three-game losing streak as other big road win over the first shutout since a 27-0 vic- James Jr. returned a kick career-high 33 carries for
Ben Roethlisberger threw Rams. tory over Cincinnati on Oct. 97 yards for a touchdown 170 yards rushing and two
for 235 yards with two first- Foles took over for Carson 19, 2014. Dallas (8-6) failed and Gould kicked four field touchdowns.q