NFL Notebook: Detroit and Miami Record Game-Winning Score on Final Play of the Game

 By Nancy Delander Beecher, Florida Sports Wire

NEW YORK –– A look at seven statistical highlights from games played on Sunday, Dec. 8, the 14th week of the 2024 season.

With two games remaining in Week 14, six games were decided by six-or-fewer points. Two teams – Detroit and Miami – recorded the game-winning score on the final play of the game.

There have been 98 games this season decided by six-or fewer points, the most such games through Week 14 in NFL history, and 112 games decided by seven-or-fewer games, tied with the 2016 season for the most such games through Week 14 in NFL history.

There have been 119 games decided by eight-or-fewer points this season, the third-most such games through Week 14 in NFL history, trailing only 2016 (122 games) and 2022 (121).

The Los Angeles Rams defeated Buffalo, 44-42, in the highest scoring game of the 2024 season, It marked the second game in NFL history featuring five combined touchdown passes, five combined rushing touchdowns and no turnovers (Kansas City vs. Denver on Dec. 19, 1965).

The Philadelphia Eagles extended their winning streak to nine games today, while the Detroit Lions won their franchise-record 11th consecutive game on Thursday. This marks the first time since 2009 (Indianapolis Colts and the San Diego Chargers in the AFC) in which two teams from a single conference have active winning streaks of nine-or-more games at the same time.

With a victory today, along with losses by Atlanta and Arizona, the Philadelphia Eagles clinched a postseason berth for the fourth-consecutive season, their longest streak since securing five straight playoff appearances from 2000-04.

With a victory on Thursday Night Football, the Detroit Lions clinched a postseason berth in consecutive seasons for the first time since securing three straight playoff appearances from 1993-95.

With a victory tonight on Sunday Night Football, the Kansas City Chiefs can clinch their ninth-consecutive AFC West division title.

Los Angels Rams running back Kyren Williams recorded two rushing touchdowns and wide receiver Puka Nacua totaled 12 receptions for 162 yards with two touchdowns (one receiving, one rushing) in the Rams’ 44-42 victory over Buffalo.

Nacua, playing in his 25th career game today, has 159 receptions, surpassing Michael Thomas (157 receptions) for the second-most by a player in his first 25 career games in NFL history. Only Odell Beckham Jr. (176 receptions) has more.

Nacua has 2,194 receiving yards, surpassing Justin Jefferson (2,175 receiving yards) for the fourth-most ever by a player in his first 25 career games. Only Odell Beckham Jr. (2,625 receiving yards), Charlie Hennigan (2,468) and Bill Groman (2,453) have more.

Nacua has 11 career games with at least 100 receiving yards, surpassing Justin Jefferson (10 games) for the second-most such games by a player in his first 25 career games in the Super Bowl era. Only Odell Beckham Jr. (15 games) has more.

Nacua is the fifth player ever with at least 10 receptions and 100 receiving yards in three games within his first 25 career games, joining Odell Beckham Jr. (four games), Lionel Taylor (four), Gary Clark (three) and Marques Colston (three).

Williams has 1,013 rushing yards and 12 rushing touchdowns this season and totaled 1,144 rushing yards and 12 rushing touchdowns last season. He is the fifth player since 2000 with at least 1,000 rushing yards and 12 rushing touchdowns in two of his first three career seasons, joining Shaun Alexander (2001-02), Adrian Peterson (2007, 2009), Clinton Portis (2002-03) and Pro Football Hall of Famer LaDainian Tomlinson (2002-03).

Buffalo quarterback Josh Allen totaled 424 yards (342 passing, 82 rushing) and six touchdowns (three passing, three rushing) in Week 14.

Allen is the first player in NFL history to record three touchdown passes and three rushing touchdowns in a single game.

Allen joined Kordell Stewart as the only players in NFL history with at least three touchdown passes and two rushing touchdowns in multiple career games.

Allen has five career games with at least two touchdown passes and two rushing touchdowns, surpassing Pro Football Hall of Famer Steve Young (four games) for the most in NFL history.

Allen has 11 career games with at least two rushing touchdowns, surpassing Cam Newton (10 games) for the second-most by a quarterback in NFL history. Only Jalen Hurts (15 games) has more.

Allen has nine rushing touchdowns this season, his fifth-career season with at least eight rushing touchdowns, the most by a quarterback in NFL history.

The Philadelphia Eagles totaled 209 rushing yards in their 22-16 victory over Carolina, as quarterback Jalen Hurts recorded three touchdowns (two passing, one rushing) and running back Saquon Barkley had 124 rushing yards.

Philadelphia is the first team since Washington in 1983 with at least 100 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown in 12 of their first 13 games of a season.

Hurts has 36 career games with a rushing touchdown, tied with Pro Football Hall of Famer Steve Young (36 games) for the third-most by a quarterback in NFL history. Only Cam Newton (64) and Josh Allen (50) have more.

Hurts has 13 rushing touchdowns in 2024, his third-consecutive season with at least 13 rushing touchdowns. He becomes the fourth player since 2000 to record at least 13 rushing touchdowns in three-or-more consecutive seasons, joining Pro Football Hall of Famer LaDainian Tomlinson (six straight seasons from 2002-07), Shaun Alexander (five straight from 2001-05) and Priest Holmes (three straight from 2002-04).

Barkley has a Philadelphia franchise-record 1,623 rushing yards this season, the second-most by a player in his first 13 games of a season since 2000, trailing only Chris Johnson (1,626 in 2009).

Minnesota quarterback Sam Darnold completed 22 of 28 pass attempts (78.6 percent) for 347 yards and five touchdowns with no interceptions and a 157.9 passer rating in the Vikings’ 42-21 victory over Atlanta.

Wide receiver Jordan Addison recorded eight receptions for 133 and three touchdowns – including a 49-yard touchdown reception – and wide receiver Justin Jefferson totaled seven receptions for 132 yards and two touchdowns in the victory.

Darnold is the ninth quarterback in NFL history and first since Aaron Rodgers on Oct. 20, 2019 with at least 325 passing yards, five touchdown passes, a completion percentage of 75-or-higher and a passer rating of 155-or-higher with no interceptions in a game.

Jefferson has 7,069 career receiving yards in 73 games, surpassing Torry Holt (82 games) as the third-fastest player in NFL history to reach 7,000 receiving yards. Only Pro Football Hall of Famer Lance Alworth (72 games) and Julio Jones (72) reached the mark in fewer games.

Today marked Jefferson’s 33rd career game with at least 100 receiving yards and 22nd career game with at least 125 receiving yards, both the most-ever by a player in his first five seasons.

Jefferson has 18 career games with at least 100 receiving yards and a touchdown reception, surpassing Charley Hennigan (18 games) for the fourth-most ever by a player in his first five seasons. Only Pro Football Hall of Famers Lance Alworth (24), Randy Moss (24) and Jerry Rice (21) have more.

Addison has five career touchdown receptions of at least 40 yards, becoming the first player with at least five touchdown receptions of at least 40 yards in his first two seasons since Ja’Marr Chase (eight touchdowns from 2021-22).

Miami quarterback Tua Tagovailoa completed 33 of 47 pass attempts (70.2 percent) for 331 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions and a 104.1 passer rating, while wide receiver Tyreek Hill recorded 10 receptions for 115 yards and a touchdown in the Dolphins’ 32-26 victory over the New York Jets in overtime.

Tagovailoa – who completed 29 of 40 passes with four touchdowns and no interceptions in Week 12 and completed 37 of 46 passes with two touchdowns and no interceptions in Week 13 – is the first player in NFL history with at least 40 pass attempts, multiple touchdown passes and no interceptions in three consecutive games within a single season.

Hill has 11 career games with at least 10 receptions, 100 receiving yards and a touchdown reception, tied with Antonio Brown (11 games) and Michael Thomas (11) for the second-most such games by a player in his first nine seasons in NFL history. Only Davante Adams (14 games) has more.

Hill has five touchdown receptions in 2024, becoming the fifth player ever with at least five touchdown receptions in each of his first nine seasons, joining Pro Football Hall of Famers Marvin Harrison and Don Hutson as well as Marques Colston and Amari Cooper.

San Francisco quarterback Brock Purdy completed 20 of 25 pass attempts (80 percent) for 325 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions and a 145.4 passer rating, while tight end George Kittle recorded six receptions for 151 yards in the 49ers’ 38-13 victory over Chicago.

Purdy has six career games with a passer rating of 140-or-higher, surpassing Ed Brown (five games from 1954-56) and Frank Filchock (five games from 1939-40) for the most such games by a quarterback in his first three seasons in NFL history

Purdy has 13 career games with a passer rating of 120-or-higher, surpassing Russell Wilson (12 games) for the most such games by a quarterback in his first three seasons in NFL history

Kittle has 7,074 receiving yards in 109 career games, surpassing Antonio Gates (119 games) as the third-fastest tight end to reach 7,000 receiving yards in NFL history. Only Rob Gronkowski (100 games) and Travis Kelce (104) reached the mark in fewer games.

Kittle has 19 career games with at least 100 receiving yards, surpassing Antonio Gates (18 games) and Pro Football Hall of Famer Jackie Smith (18) for the fourth-most by a tight end in his first eight seasons in NFL history. Only Rob Gronkowski (26 games), Travis Kelce (25) and Pro Football Hall of Famer Kellen Winslow Sr. (24) have more.

Kittle has five career games with at least 150 receiving yards, becoming the third tight end in NFL history with five such career games, joining Pro Football Hall of Famer Shannon Sharpe (six games) and Travis Kelce (five, heading into Sunday Night Football).

Additional notes from Week 14:

Pittsburgh quarterback Russell Wilson recorded two touchdown passes with no interceptions as the Steelers improved to 10-3 with a 27-14 victory over Cleveland.

Wilson has 73 career games with at least two touchdown passes and no interceptions, tied with Pro Football Hall of Famer Peyton Manning (73 games) for the fifth-most such games in NFL history. Only Tom Brady (122 games), Aaron Rodgers (108), Drew Brees (88) and Pro Football Hall of Famer Brett Favre (74) have more.

The New York Jets’ Aaron Rodgers and Davante Adams connected for a touchdown in Week 14, their 79th touchdown connection, including the postseason, and third this season.

Rodgers and Adams surpassed Ben Roethlisberger and Antonio Brown (78 touchdowns) for the fourth-most touchdown connections between a quarterback-wide receiver duo in NFL history, including the postseason. Only the Pro Football Hall of Fame duos of Peyton Manning and Marvin Harrison (114 touchdowns) and Steve Young and Jerry Rice (92), as well as Hall of Famer Dan Marino and Mark Clayton (82) have more.

Carolina wide receiver Adam Thielen recorded nine receptions for 102 yards in Week 14.

Thielen has 8,063 career receiving yards, becoming the fourth undrafted player in the common-draft era with at least 8,000 career receiving yards, joining Antonio Gates (11,841 receiving yards), Rod Smith (11,389) and Wes Welker (9,924).

Thielen has 25 career games with at least 100 receiving yards, joining Rod Smith (30 games) and Wes Welker (28) as the only undrafted players since 1967 with 25 career games with 100-or-more receiving yards.

Las Vegas tight end Brock Bowers recorded three receptions for 49 yards in Week 14.

Bowers has 87 receptions this season, surpassing Sam LaPorta (86 receptions in 2023) for the most receptions by a rookie tight end in NFL history.

Bowers has 933 receiving yards, surpassing Jeremy Shockey (894 receiving yards in 2002) for the third-most receiving yards by a rookie tight end in NFL history. Only Pro Football Hall of Famer Mike Ditka (1,076 receiving yards in 1961) and Kyle Pitts (1,026 in 2021) have more.