Author: Bobby Finger on Jezebel, shared by Tom Ley to Deadspin

Patriots close in on AFC top seed with 41-3 win over Jets (Yahoo Sports)

New England Patriots running back LeGarrette Blount gets a lift from teammates including Joe Thuney, left, and Shaq Mason, right, to celebrate his touchdown run against the New York Jets during the second half of an NFL football game, Saturday, Dec. 24, 2016, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

The Patriots gave away home-field advantage in the playoffs last season with back-to-back losses to the Jets and Dolphins. This time, New England wants to control its own fate. Tom Brady passed for 214 yards and three touchdowns , and the Patriots moved a step closer to securing home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs with a 41-3 win over the New York Jets on Saturday.


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Christmas gift: Browns get first win, beat Chargers 20-17 (Yahoo Sports)

Cleveland Browns running back George Atkinson (25) celebrates after the Browns defeated the San Diego Chargers in an NFL football game, Saturday, Dec. 24, 2016, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Ron Schwane)

On the verge of infamy and more embarrassment, the Browns triumphed. Two losses from an imperfect season, the Browns survived a last-second field goal attempt and got their first victory of the season after 14 losses on Saturday by beating the San Diego Chargers 20-17. San Diego’s Josh Lambo missed a 45-yard field goal as time expired, giving the Browns (1-14) their first win in 377 days.


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Rodgers, Nelson shred Vikings as surging Packers win 38-25 (Yahoo Sports)

Green Bay Packers' Aaron Rodgers scrambles away from Minnesota Vikings' Anthony Barr during the second half of an NFL football game Saturday, Dec. 24, 2016, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

Aaron Rodgers threw for 347 yards and four touchdowns, Jordy Nelson shredded Minnesota’s secondary for 154 yards and two scores, and the resurgent Green Bay Packers beat the Vikings 38-25 on Saturday. The Packers’ fifth straight win set up a winner-take-all showdown next week with Detroit for the NFC North title, while extinguishing the Vikings’ faint postseason hopes. Green Bay (9-6) built a 28-13 lead at halftime, with Rodgers accounting for all four scores in the half.


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Cousins leads way as Redskins pound Bears 41-21 (Yahoo Sports)

Washington Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins (8) points to fans as he leaves the field after beating the Chicago Bears 41-21 in an NFL football game, Saturday, Dec. 24, 2016, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

Kirk Cousins threw for a touchdown and ran for two more, and the Washington Redskins gave their fading playoff hopes a boost with a 41-21 victory over the Chicago Bears on Saturday. DeSean Jackson added 114 yards receiving, and Washington (8-6-1) intercepted Matt Barkley five times. It added up to an easy win for the Redskins after they relinquished control of the second wild card with a loss to Carolina on Monday night.


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Inspired Jaguars knock out Mariota, rout Titans 38-17 (Yahoo Sports)

FILE - In this Sunday, Dec. 18, 2016 file photo, Tennessee Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) throws during the first half of an NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs in Kansas City, Mo. The Tennessee Titans are on the verge of a record-tying turnaround and quite possibly the franchises biggest game in years. All they have to do is beat reeling Jacksonville on Saturday, Dec. 24, 2016 to make them a reality. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel, File)

Blake Bortles’ best game of the season helped the Jacksonville Jaguars beat the Tennessee Titans 38-17 on Saturday and end a nine-game losing streak. Rookie Jalen Ramsey returned an interception 30 yards on the ensuring play to set off a raucous – and long-awaited – celebration in Jacksonville. Bortles and the Jaguars (3-12) played inspired football from the opening kick and won for the first time this season at EverBank Field.


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