The Cleveland Daily Banner | Page 15

www.clevelandbanner.com Cleveland Daily Banner—Monday, January 4, 2016—15 Vikings win NFC North; Steelers slip in playoffs. After meeting with Eagles interim coach Pat Shurmur at midfield, Coughlin walked off the field, waving to the crowd just before walking into the tunnel. Coughlin, who led the Giants to two Super Bowl titles in his 12 seasons, has a year left on his contract. His future is expected to be decided soon by co-owners John Mara and Steve Tisch. The 69-year-old might retire and end his 20-year NFL head coaching career. VIKINGS 20, PACKERS 13 GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — The Minnesota Vikings won the NFC North by holding on for a 20-13 win Sunday night over the Green Bay Packers. Adrian Peterson ran for a touchdown, cornerback Captain Munnerlyn returned a fumble 55 yards for a score, and Minnesota (11-5) claimed its first division title since 2009. The Vikings will host the Seattle Seahawks for a wild-card playoff game next weekend. The Packers (10-6) will travel to Washington after watching their four-year reign atop the NFC North end. The upstart Vikings survived despite a shaky finish in hostile territory. The defense knocked away a desperation pass in the end zone from Aaron Rodgers on fourth down as time expired. Packers kicker Mason Crosby forced a fumble on Cordarrelle Patterson’s potentially field-flipping 70-yard kickoff return with 5:21 left. But the Packers’ next drive ended with Rodgers’ pass being intercepted in the end zone by Xavier Rhodes. BILLS 22, JETS 17 ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — Ryan Fitzpatrick threw interceptions on each of New York’s final three drives and the Jets’ playoff hopes were dashed. The Jets (10-6) would have made the postseason for the first time since 2010 with a win, but the defeat combined with Pittsburgh’s win at Cleveland ended those hopes. New York had a five-game winning streak stopped, and the loss came against former Jets coach Rex Ryan — fired by New York and hired by the Bills (8-8) last January. Fitzpatrick, who had thrown just one interception in the Jets’ winning streak, was picked off by Leodis McKelvin in the end zone early in the fourth quarter with New York driving. The game was decided when Fitzpatrick’s side-arm pass over the middle was intercepted by A.J. Tarpley with 11 seconds remaining. STEELERS 28, BROWNS 12 CLEVELAND (AP) — Ben Roethlisberger threw three touchdown passes, Pittsburgh’s defense dominated and the Steelers slipped into the AFC playoffs with the win over Cleveland, which REDSKINS 34, COWBOYS 23 Green BAy’s John Kuhn is brought down in the second half against the Minnesota Vikings Sunday, in Green Bay, Wis. fired coach Mike Pettine and GM Ray Farmer after the game. The Steelers (10-6) had to win and needed Buffalo to knock off the New York Jets to make the postseason. Pittsburgh did its part, then earned a wild-card berth when the Bills beat the 2217. Pittsburgh will play at Cincinnati next weekend. Roethlisberger threw for 349 yards, 187 to Antonio Brown, who had 13 catches and a TD. The Browns finished 3-13. DOLPHINS 20, PATRIOTS 10 MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Tom Brady was sacked twice and knocked down at least half a dozen times, and New England missed a chance to clinch the No. 1 seed in the AFC playoffs. Brady watched New England’s final offensive series from the sideline. With the Patriots eager to protect his health, he threw a season-low 21 passes, but even so was lucky to make it through the game in one piece. New England (12-4) ends up as a No. 2 seed after Denver defeated San Diego to earn the top seed. The Dolphins (6-10) wrapped up a disappointing season and are expected to embark on a search for their ninth coach since 2004. TEXANS 30, JAGUARS 6 HOUSTON (AP) — J.J. Watt and Whitney Mercilus led the defense and Jonathan Grimes scored twice to help the Texans clinch the AFC South. Houston will host Kansas City next weekend in the a wild-card game. Grimes had a 12-yard touchdown reception and added a 3yard rushing score in the second quarter to help Houston take a 20-3 lead by halftime. Kareem Jackson added a score on an interception return in the fourth quarter to pad the lead. Watt, playing without a cast for the first time since breaking his left hand Dec. 9, had had three sacks, forced a fumble and recovered another one to help the Texans (9-7) to their first division title and playoff berth since 2012. Blake Bortles threw for 239 yards with two interceptions for the Jaguars (5-11) $T