Tom Brady threw four touchdown passes, three to Randy Moss, and the young defense put together its third straight solid game as the Patriots beat the Jaguars 35-7 in Foxborough, clinching the AFC East and further dimming Jacksonville’s slim postseason chances.
For the Patriots (10-5), it was another encouraging outing in what had been an inconsistent season. They took the division after missing the playoffs last season for the first time since 2002.
“It’s big, believe me. . . . It’s been a long journey for us,” Brady said. “You start out in the beginning of January last year not making the playoffs. . . . We put a lot into it over the course of these 12 months and it really pays off when it goes the way you hope it does.”
Brady completed 23 of 26 passes for 267 yards.
Jacksonville dropped its third straight game and fourth in its last five after going 6-4.
Texans 27, Dolphins 20
In Miami, the Texans raced to an early 27-point lead, then held on to beat the Dolphins.
The Texans (8-7) scored on their first five possessions and won despite being outscored 20-0 in the final 31 minutes. Houston kept alive its slim hopes of making the playoffs for the first time, while defending AFC East champion Miami (7-8) was all but eliminated.
“It’s unacceptable for us to play like this when the season is on the line,” Dolphins running back Ricky Williams said.
The Dolphins rallied, and a field goal cut the deficit to 27-20 with 2:30 left before Houston recovered an onside kick and ran out the clock.
Matt Schaub went 20 for 31 for 286 yards and two scores for the Texans. Andre Johnson scored once and made five catches for 71 yards for his second consecutive 1,500-yard season.
Steelers 23, Ravens 20
In Pittsburgh, Jeff Reed’s 38-yard field goal put Pittsburgh ahead with 5:25 remaining and the Steelers finally managed to hold a fourth-quarter lead to remain in playoff contention and further jumble the AFC postseason race.
The Steelers (8-7), their season seemingly ended by a late-season five-game losing streak, won their second in a row. They go into the final weekend with a chance to sneak into the playoffs.
Joe Flacco threw two touchdown passes to Todd Heap, but the Ravens (8-7) — who could have clinched a wild-card spot with a victory and losses by two other contenders — now face a win-or-else game at Oakland next Sunday.
Eagles 30, Broncos 27
In Philadelphia, Brian Dawkins couldn’t will the Broncos to victory in his emotional return to Philadelphia. David Akers kicked a 28-yard field goal with 4 seconds remaining, lifting the Eagles.
Kyle Orton rallied the Broncos from a 27-10 deficit in the third quarter, but Donovan McNabb led the Eagles on a winning drive in the final minutes.
Rookie wide receiver Jeremy Maclin set up Akers’ kick with an outstanding, 27-yard catch along the sideline to the Broncos 13.
Bengals 17, Chiefs 10
In Cincinnati, Carson Palmer’s touchdown pass to Chad Ochocinco completed a 98-yard drive in the closing minutes, sending Cincinnati to the AFC North championship at the end of a rough week.
The Bengals (10-5) moved into the playoffs for only the second time in the past 19 years after dealing with the death of receiver Chris Henry. The teary practices and locker-room grief seemed to show against the Chiefs (3-12), who stayed close in a mistake-filled game.
Browns 23, Raiders 9
In Cleveland, Jerome Harrison had 148 yards rushing and the Browns won their third straight, extending a surprising streak that Eric Mangini can use to strengthen his case to Mike Holmgren that he deserves to remain Cleveland’s coach.
Oakland’s Sebastian Janikowski kicked a 61-yard field goal — the fourth longest in league history — on the final play of the first half.