The Tampa Bay Buccaneers kept their NFL play-off chances in their hands by coming from behind on Christmas Day to beat the Arizona Cardinals.
However, veteran quarterback Tom Brady’s struggles continued despite the 19-16 win.
The visitors remained top of the NFC South after overcoming a 10-point deficit in the fourth quarter.
Kicker Ryan Succop was the game winner with four field goals, including the game-winning 40-yard in overtime.
Tampa can clinch the division and a postseason berth when they host the Carolina Panthers on New Year’s Day, though loss would open the door for their opponents and the New Orleans Saints.
The NFC South has been a shoddy division in the 2022 season, with the Buccaneers leading despite going 7-8 and the Panthers and Saints both 6-9.
Brady, playing his first game on Christmas Day, left State Farm Stadium with the unenviable statistic of throwing at least two interceptions in three straight games for only the second time in the league’s 23 years.
But he still managed to earn his 11th overtime victory in the regular season.
“It was harder than we should have had and harder than we wanted it to be,” the 45-year-old said.
“They played very well in defense and we still had some long runs and turnovers, but we got through and found a way to win.”
the Green Bay Packers remain in play-off contention after a 26-20 victory at the Miami Dolphins.
Miami quarterback Tua Tagovailoa threw three interceptions in the fourth quarter as the Packers won for the third straight week.
Aaron Rodgers threw for 238 yards and a touchdown as the Packers improved to 7-8 in the NFC.
They need two more wins in the final two games of the regular season and another result to claw their way to a fourth consecutive play-off campaign.
“Our defense came in and played exceptionally well,” Rodgers said. “We were down 20-10 and scored the last 16 points. Offensively, we struggled in the red zone. But it was special.”
Green Bay was helped by Christmas Eve losses to the Detroit Lions, Seattle Seahawks and Washington Commanders.
“Everything we needed to happen this weekend happened,” Rodgers added. “I’m really proud of our team. We found a way to win and the way our defense stepped up the last few practices was exceptional.”
The Dolphins’ fourth straight 8-7 loss means they now need two wins or a win in New England and the New York Jets losing to Seattle in Week 17 to make the postseason of the AFC.
There were emotional scenes in Pittsburgh as the Steelers picked up a last-minute win over the Las Vegas Raiders.
The victory came four days later the death of former Steelers great Franco Harris and two days after the 50th anniversary of the “immaculate reception,” when Harris caught a deflected pass and scored the game-winning touchdown in the final minute of a 1972 playoff against the Raiders.
Harris’ number 32 jersey was retired at halftime of the Christmas Day game and his team kept their slim hopes of a play-off alive with the 13-10 victory after Kenny Pickett found George Pickens on a touchdown pass from 14 yards with 46 seconds remaining.
Veteran quarterback Russell Wilson had a day to forget as his Denver Broncos were beaten 51-14 by the Los Angeles Rams.
Wilson threw two interceptions on his first three pass attempts, while Baker Mayfield’s 85.7% completion rate set a new single-game record for the Rams.
The former overall number one, who only joined the defending Super Bowl champions on Dec. 9, threw for two touchdowns as he went 24 of 28 for 230 yards.
The Rams, who like their opponents are not in play-off contention, led 31-6 at halftime and never looked back.
