Drew Brees #9 of the New Orleans Saints looks to pass. Source: AFP

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS 31 — CHICAGO BEARS 15

Drew Brees threw for 375 yards and three touchdowns and the New Orleans Saints beat the Chicago Bears 31-15 on Monday night to grab the NFC South lead. The Saints (6-8) moved into first place ahead of Carolina (5-8-1) and Atlanta (5-9) and came away with the win after dropping four of five. They also rebounded from a 41-10 loss to the Panthers.

Brees, shaky last week, was spectacular this time.

He completed 29 of 36 passes and reached the 4,000-yard mark for the ninth straight year. He threw two touchdown passes to Josh Hill and another to Marques Colston.

Pierre Thomas had five catches for 83 yards. David Hawthorne had three of New Orleans’ seven sacks and the Saints intercepted three of Jay Cutler’s passes to bring his NFL-leading turnover total to 24. The Bears dropped to 5-9.

Jimmy Graham #80 of the New Orleans Saints jumps over Kyle Fuller #23. Source: Getty Images

DENVER BRONCOS 22 — SAN DIEGO CHARGERS 10

Manning celebrates with fans after the Broncos defeated the San Diego Chargers. Source: AFP

Peyton Manning played through a thigh injury and flu-like symptoms and Connor Barth kicked five field goals to lead Denver to a 22-10 victory against the San Diego Chargers on Sunday that gave the Broncos their fourth straight AFC West title.

Manning came out of the game late in the second quarter. He apparently hurt his thigh while blocking linebacker Donald Butler on a run by C.J. Anderson.

He returned for the start of the third quarter and on Denver’s second possession threw a 28-yard touchdown pass to Demaryius Thomas to give the Broncos a 16-3 lead.

The Broncos (11-3) won their fourth straight game.

Denver’s 12th straight division road win tied San Francisco’s NFL record set from 1987-90.

The Chargers (8-6) entered the game as the AFC’s No. 6 seed and saw their wildcard chances diminished. They’ve lost two straight.

DALLAS COWBOYS 38 — PHILADELPHIA EAGLES 27

Dez Bryant #88 of the Dallas Cowboys celebrates after scoring a touchdown. Source: AFP

Dez Bryant caught a career-best three touchdown catches from Tony Romo and the Dallas Cowboys rallied to beat the Philadelphia Eagles 38-27 on Sunday night after wasting a 21-0 lead.

DeMarco Murray had a pair of TD runs to help the Cowboys (10-4) move ahead of the Eagles (9-5) into first place in the NFC East. The Eagles dominated the Cowboys in a 33-10 road win on Thanksgiving, but Dallas takes control of the division with two weeks left.

The Cowboys took a 21-0 lead early in the second quarter before Philadelphia rallied behind Mark Sanchez.

Chris Polk had TD runs of 1 and 5 yards and Darren Sproles ran in from the 1 to give the Eagles a 24-21 lead late in third quarter. But Romo and the Cowboys answered quickly with two touchdowns in a span of 2:51.

Murray scored on a 2-yard run to cap a 78-yard drive. Bryant finished with six receptions for 114 yards. He beat Fletcher on each of the TDs. Sanchez had 252 yards passing and two interceptions. LeSean McCoy was held to 64 yards rushing.

Dallas Cowboys go top of the NFL East following a 38-27 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles

CINCINNATI BENGALS 30 — CLEVELAND BROWNS 0

Jeremy Hill #32 of the Cincinnati Bengals celebrates after a 30-0 win. Source: AFP

Johnny Manziel spent his first NFL start being chased and taunted by Cincinnati defenders as the Bengals rudely welcomed the hyped rookie quarterback to the league with a 30-0 demolition of the Cleveland Browns on Sunday.

Manziel failed to live up to the overwhelming build-up surrounding his debut as the AFC North-leading Bengals (9-4-1) built a 20-point half-time lead and rolled to their fourth straight road win.

Bengals rookie Jeremy Hill rushed for 148 yards and two touchdowns, backing up his postgame trash talk of the Browns following a loss to them last month.

Manziel, promoted over the slumping Brian Hoyer to spark the Browns (7-7), finished 10 of 18 for 80 yards and two interceptions. He was sacked three times, under pressure all afternoon and had Bengals players imitating his signature “money-rubbing” gesture more than once.

The Bengals got their first shutout since Dec. 21, 2008 in Cleveland.

Cleveland Browns are embarrassed by divisional rivals the Cincinnati Bengals with a 23-0 scoreline in week 16 of the NFL

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS 41 — MIAMI DOLPHINS 13

Julian Edelman #11 of the New England Patriots reacts with Tom Brady #12 after catching a touchdown pass during the third quarter. Source: AFP

New England clinched the AFC East title for the sixth straight season as Tom Brady threw two touchdown passes in a big third quarter.

Leading 14-13 at half-time, the Patriots scored on four consecutive series while piling up 24 points, the most in any third period in team history.

New England (11-3) can secure home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs by beating the New York Jets and Buffalo Bills. Miami (7-7) saw its slim postseason hopes dwindle further.

The Dolphins cut the lead to one point at half-time on Ryan Tannehill’s 32-yard touchdown pass to Mike Wallace.

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS 17 — HOUSTON TEXANS 10

Bjoern Werner #92 of the Indianapolis Colts and members of the defence celebrate a fumble recovery. Source: AFP

Andrew Luck threw two touchdown passes and the Colts won their second straight AFC South title. Indianapolis (10-4) has won four straight.

It sure wasn’t easy. Luck was 18 of 34 with 187 yards and one interception on the same day Reggie Wayne passed Peyton Manning for the most games and wins in franchise history. Wayne has played in 209 games, winning 142.

Houston (7-7) lost starting quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick with a left leg injury in the second quarter. Rookie Tom Savage replaced Fitzpatrick and was ineffective, going 10 of 19 for 127 yards.

The Texans took a 7-0 lead on Kendrick Lewis’ 27-yard interception return. Luck tied it with a 26-yard pass to Hakeem Nicks. Luck hooked up with Dwayne Allen on a 3-yard pass to make it 14-7 before half-time. Indy sealed it with a late field goal.

The Indianapolis Colts have edged the Houston Texans 17-10 in the NFL.

SEATTLE SEAHAWKS 17 — SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS 7

Defensive tackle Jordan Hill of the Seattle Seahawks celebrates with defensive end O'Brien Schofield. Source: AFP

Marshawn Lynch rushed for 91 yards and a touchdown, and Russell Wilson threw a touchdown pass to rookie Paul Richardson, as the Seahawks knocked archrival San Francisco from playoff contention.

The defending Super Bowl champions remained in contention for a division title and No. 1 seed in the NFC.

After a sluggish, sloppy first half, Seattle (10-4) awoke in the final 30 minutes behind the running of Lynch and a defence that shut-out the 49ers, holding them to 67 yards. Colin Kaepernick was sacked six times and the 49ers didn’t run a play past the Seattle 38 in the second half.

Lynch scored on a 4-yard run late in the third quarter and the Seahawks took advantage of a short field on their next drive, capped by Wilson’s strike to Richardson.

The loss and Detroit’s win eliminated San Francisco (7-7) from contention.

DETROIT LIONS 16 — MINNESOTA VIKINGS 14

Golden Tate #15 of the Detroit Lions celebrates a second-quarter touchdown. Source: AFP

Matt Prater’s 33-yard field goal with 3:38 remaining lifted Detroit into a tie for first place in the NFC North.

The Lions (10-4) are now even atop the division with Green Bay, which lost to Buffalo earlier in the day, but Detroit didn’t have an easy time, spotting the Vikings (6-8) a 14-0 lead before a pair of second-quarter interceptions helped the Lions start their rally.

Even at the end, Detroit had to sweat out a 68-yard field goal attempt by Minnesota’s Blair Walsh on the game’s final play. The kick was short.

Detroit Lions coach Jim Caldwell discusses speculation linking former NRL star Jarryd Hayne to his NFL team.

NEW YORK JETS 16 — TENNESSEE TITANS 11

John Conner #38 of the New York Jets is congratulated by teammate Breno Giacomini #68 after scoring a touchdown. Source: AFP

Chris Ivory scored on a 1-yard touchdown run with 3:09 left in a game marked by a brawl between teams playing only for pride, with the loser hoping for better draft position.

The Jets (3-11) got their first road win this season in the first NFL game to end with a 16-11 score. They also snapped a three-game skid.

Geno Smith threw for 179 yards and a TD. He also was apparently hit by Titans defensive tackle Jurrell Casey, starting a brawl in the third quarter. Casey was flagged, but not ejected.

The Titans (2-12) now have lost eight straight and 11 of 12 in their worst skid since 1994 when home was in Houston. They got the ball twice late, and reached the Jets 9 after three laterals on the final play came up short.

BUFFALO BILLS 31 — GREEN BAY PACKERS 13

Fred Jackson #22 of the Buffalo Bills celebrates after beating the Green Bay Packers. Source: AFP

Bacarri Rambo intercepted two Aaron Rodgers passes and Marcus Thigpen scored on a 75-yard punt return.

Defensive end Mario Williams also forced Rodgers to fumble, which led to running back Eddie Lacy being tackled in the end zone for a safety with 1:51 left. Dan Carpenter hit all three field goal attempts, including a 51-yarder in the second half to help keep Buffalo (8-6) in the AFC playoff picture.

The Bills were also have their first eight-win season since going 9-7 in 2004.

The Packers (10-4) had a five-game win streak snapped, blowing an opportunity to get closer to their sixth consecutive playoff berth.

Rodgers finished 17 of 42 for 185 yards, and two interceptions.

PITTSBURGH STEELERS 27 — ATLANTA FALCONS 20

Ben Roethlisberger #7 of the Pittsburgh Steelers shakes hands with Matt Ryan #2 of the Atlanta Falcons. Source: AFP

Ben Roethlisberger threw for 360 yards and William Gay returned an interception for a touchdown as the Steelers (9-5) remained a half-game behind Cincinnati in the AFC North with their second straight win.

The Falcons (5-9) ensured themselves of a losing season and slipped out of first place in the NFC South.

Pittsburgh led 13-0 after Gay picked off Matt Ryan’s pass over the middle on the first play of the second quarter, returning it 52 yards. The Steelers extended the lead to 27-13 with Le’Veon Bell’s 1-yard run in the opening minute of the fourth period.

The Falcons made a game of it, pulling within a touchdown on Ryan’s 4-yard pass to Roddy White. But the Steelers clinched the victory with their final possession, converting twice on third down to run out the clock.

The Buffalo Bills have snapped the Green Bay Packers winning streak in the NFL, winning 21-13.

BALTIMORE RAVENS 20 — JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS 12

Quarterback Joe Flacco #5 of the Baltimore Ravens. Source: AFP

The Ravens sacked rookie Blake Bortles eight times and returned a blocked punt for a touchdown.

Baltimore (9-5) gained only 31 yards rushing through three quarters and scored just once with its offense on the field. But the defence was solid, and special teams helped the Ravens stay in the thick of the AFC playoff chase.

Terrell Suggs was credited with 2 1/2 sacks and rookie Timmy Jernigan, starting for the suspended Haloti Ngata, had two.

Jacksonville (2-12) tried just about everything in its bid to pull off an upset, including an onside kick and a fake punt. Both worked, but it wasn’t enough to earn the Jaguars their first win on the road.

CAROLINA PANTHERS 19 — TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS 17

Charles Johnson #95 of the Carolina Panthers salutes the crowd. Source: AFP

Derek Anderson threw for 277 yards and a touchdown, Graham Gano kicked four field goals and the Panthers improved their chances in the NFC South playoff race.

The win, coupled with Atlanta’s loss to Pittsburgh, left the Panthers a half-game behind New Orleans in the division. Carolina (5-8-1) can move into first place if the Saints lose to Chicago on Monday night.

Anderson was 25 of 40 and improved to 2-0 as a starter in place of Cam Newton, sidelined while recovering from a car accident Tuesday that left him with two fractures in his lower back.

Greg Olsen tied a career high with 10 catches for 110 yards, and rookie Kelvin Benjamin had eight grabs for 104 yards.

Josh McCown threw a touchdown pass and ran for another for the Bucs (2-11).

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS 31 — OAKLAND RAIDERS 13

Alex Smith #11 of the Kansas City Chiefs celebrates a touchdown with Travis Kelce #87. Source: AFP

Alex Smith threw for 297 yards and two scores, while Kansas City shut down Derek Carr and the Oakland offense.

Knile Davis had touchdowns running and receiving, and De’Anthony Thomas returned a punt 81 yards for another score as the Chiefs (8-6) got even for a 24-20 loss to Oakland (2-12) last month.

The Chiefs led 10-6 early in the third quarter before scoring three touchdowns in 4 minutes, 42 seconds. The last was a 70-yard throw from Smith to Davis, who had taken over the majority of running back duties after Jamaal Charles took a shot to the head.

Charles passed concussion testing and returned briefly to the game.

Carr finished 27 of 56 for 222 yards, throwing a TD pass in the final minute. The Raiders’ rookie also was sacked four times and fumbled a snap that led to a Kansas City touchdown.

NEW YORK GIANTS 24 — WASHINGTON 13

Odell Beckham Jr. #13 of the New York Giants takes a reception. Source: AFP

Eli Manning threw three touchdown passes to rookie Odell Beckham Jr. and the Giants took advantage of an overturned touchdown at the end of the half.

Manning and Beckham combined 12 times for 143 yards, with touchdown passes covering 10, 35 and 6 yards. The win was the second straight for the Giants (5-9) after seven consecutive losses.

Washington (3-11) blew a touchdown and command of the game on a fumble by Robert Griffin III as time expired at the end of the first half. Griffin scrambled for an apparent 8-yard touchdown for a 17-7 lead, diving over the pylon, then running on to the field and spiking the ball with emphasis.

A video review by referee Jeff Triplette determined that Griffin lost control of the ball diving over the pylon and the play was ruled a touchback.

The call incensed veteran receiver Santana Moss so much that he bumped an official while arguing and was ejected.

ARIZONA CARDINALS 12 — ST LOUIS RAMS 6

Drew Stanton is carted off the field after being injured against the St Louis Rams. Source: AFP

Arizona overcame the loss of quarterback Drew Stanton to injury and beat St. Louis 12-6 on Thursday, moving closer to securing a spot in the NFL playoffs.

Chandler Catanzaro kicked four field goals to account for all the Cardinals points, while the Rams’ points also came from their kicker Greg Zuerlein.

St. Louis had held its two previous opponents — Washington and Oakland — scoreless and that shutout streak lasted until Catanzaro’s first field goal in the second quarter.

The defeat eliminated the Rams from playoff contention.

It was the second time running that the Cardinals had lost a quarterback to injury during a game against St. Louis, with Carson Palmer suffering a season-ending knee injury last month, yet both times they won.

Michael Floyd’s 49-yard reception set up Catanzaro’s 44-yard field goal that put the Cardinals up 6-3 midway through the second. Catanzaro made kicks of 51 yards and 46 yards in the second half.

It was a tough game for quarterbacks, with not a single touchdown scored in Arizona's win over St Louis.