Patriots, Texans win to capture NFL division crowns

WASHINGTON: Reigning Super Bowl champion New England and the Houston Texans clinched NFL division titles with victories Saturday, Houston sealing a playoff berth and the Patriots moving closer to a first-round bye. New England held off a late Buffalo fightback for a 24-17 home triumph to secure an 11th consecutive AFC East division title while the Texans forced five turnovers in a 23-20 victory at Tampa Bay to claim the AFC South crown. And the San Francisco 49ers edged the Los Angeles Rams 34-31 on Robbie Gould’s game-ending 33-yard field goal to boost their chances at a first-round bye. The result also clinched a playoff spot for Minnesota by eliminating the Rams from the hunt. Tom Brady, the 42-year-old Patriots quarterback with a record six Super Bowl titles, completed 26-of-33 passes for 271 yards and a touchdown and also ignited two fourth-quarter scoring drives to rally New England past the Bills, who fell to 3-32 all-time against Brady. “Amazing accomplishment and great win,” Brady said. “That’s a damn good football team we beat. Give credit to our guys. We came back in the fourth quarter. Our defense has been playing great all year. Another hard-fought game. I’m glad we won.” The Patriots (12-3) would secure a first-round playoff bye with a home victory next week over Miami (3-11).

“This was a playoff game. Next week is a playoff game,” Patriots coach Bill Belichick said. “We’ll keep building this thing and keep rolling. We’re in the playoffs now.” An offensive pass interference call wiped out a 33-yard Brady touchdown pass to Ben Watson early in the third quarter, forcing the Patriots to settle for a 51-yard Nick Folk field goal and a 13-10 lead.