LIONS' PLAYOFF HOPES ON HOLD AFTER 42-21 LOSS TO COWBOYS

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) Matthew Stafford lost to his hometown team again, and the playoff plans are on hold for the Detroit Lions.

Dez Bryant threw his first career touchdown pass between a pair of scoring catches, Ezekiel Elliott ran for two TDs and the Dallas Cowboys kept the Lions from clinching a postseason spot with a 42-21 win Monday night.

Despite a second straight loss following five consecutive victories, Detroit (9-6) still controls its postseason fate. The Lions will be at home against Green Bay (9-6) with the NFC North title at stake in the finale Sunday.

''It's a one-game season,'' Stafford said. ''If you told me in Week 17 we would have a game at our place and got a chance to win the division, I'd take it all day.''

Stafford, a championship-winning high school quarterback in the Dallas area, had a 1-yard scoring plunge , but was sacked four times - matching a season high - almost two years after losing a wild-card game at Dallas.

He was 26 of 46 for 260 yards, including an interception that set up Elliott's 1-yard touchdown early in the third quarter to break a 21-all halftime tie. Read more....

For NFL news, video highlights, game-day coverage, schedules, stats, scores and more only at feeltheaction.com

LIONS EYE HIGH-STAKES FINALE VS PACKERS AFTER LOSS TO DALLAS

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) Matthew Stafford moved on quickly from another loss to his hometown team.

The Detroit quarterback was already thinking about his home field, where the Lions will play Green Bay for the NFC North title in the regular season finale Sunday after missing a chance to clinch a playoff spot in a 42-21 loss to the Dallas Cowboys.

''If we get a win, we win the division and get a home playoff game,'' said Stafford, who lost Monday night on the same field where he dropped to 0-2 in the playoffs with a wild-card loss two years ago. ''That's the focus right now, and I can just see it standing right there.''

The Lions (9-6) lost a second straight game coming off five consecutive victories, with Dez Bryant throwing his first career touchdown pass between a pair of scoring catches while rookie sensation Ezekiel Elliott rushed for two more TDs for the Cowboys (13-2).

Dallas, which tied a franchise record for wins reached two other times, had already clinched the top seed in the NFC.

Detroit faces a short week after a long flight home, looking to avenge a 34-27 loss at the Packers in Week 3. Green Bay (9-6) has won five straight. Read more....

For NFL news, video highlights, game-day coverage, schedules, stats, scores and more only at feeltheaction.com

THE LATEST: COUNTY OKS NEGOTIATIONS FOR $1.3B RAIDERS DEAL

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) The Latest on a $1.3 billion stadium financing deal for the Oakland Raiders (all times local):

9:00 p.m.
The Oakland City Council is taking up a proposal to open negotiations with an investment group to build a new football stadium that might sway the Oakland Raiders to stay.

The Alameda County Board of Supervisors approved the idea earlier Tuesday.

If the city council agrees, the county and city can start negotiating a formal agreement for a $1.3 billion stadium project that includes $350 million in public money.

The agreement to negotiate does not include the Raiders at this stage.

The push for a new stadium is being led by Hall of Famer Ronnie Lott and former quarterback Rodney Peete, who are working with Fortress Investment Group.

Team owner Mark Davis already has committed to moving the Raiders to Las Vegas, where a $1.9 billion stadium project has been approved. Read more....

For NFL news, video highlights, game-day coverage, schedules, stats, scores and more only at feeltheaction.com

LA RAMS VS SEATTLE SEAHAWKS - 12/15/2016 - PREVIEW AND PREDICTION

The LA Rams debut new interim head coach Fassel as they had to Seattle to take on the Seahawks. Both teams were defeated in bad losses just a week ago, and the Rams loss led to the firing of head coach Jeff Fisher, more firings through out the organization are likely to come.

The Rams will likely be in disarray for this week without their head coach, but maybe just maybe they can finally find some resemblance of  a run game with Fassel at the helm. The Seahawks have been amazing with the 12th man behind them as they're undefeated at home.

The Rams haven't been able to do much of anything on offense this season as they rank dead last in scoring this season. The Rams will need new coach Fassel to be on his A-game just to not get embarrassed on the road this week.

The Rams running game was projected to be one of the best in the NFL this season, but Gurley can't get much of any help from a pass game or the offensive line as they currently rank 30th in rushing yards per game. Not to mention the defense has not been what it used to be in recent years as they're rated as the 19 ranked defense in the league this season.  Read more...

For NFL news, video highlights, game-day coverage, schedules, stats, scores and more only at feeltheaction.com

LUCK THROWS FOR 4 TDS, COLTS ROUT JETS 41-10

EAST RUTHERFORD, New Jersey (AP) Indianapolis quarterback Andrew Luck bounced back well after a week out with concussion symptoms and led the Colts to a 41-10 romp past the New York Jets on Monday.

''To get back out there and do some decent things, that's fun,'' Luck said after throwing for four touchdowns, three to Dwayne Allen. ''Sitting out is no fun.''

Luck missed last week's loss to Pittsburgh, cleared the NFL's concussion protocol on the weekend, and came back in style with a prime-time performance. He lifted Indianapolis (6-6) into a tie for the lead in the AFC South with Tennessee and Houston.

''The quarterback was outstanding,'' coach Chuck Pagano said. ''It's always great to have your starting quarterback under center.''

Allen and T.Y. Hilton were his main targets as he made 22 of 28 pass attempts for 278 yards, and they received little opposition from the Jets (3-9).

The Colts toyed with the lifeless Jets from the beginning, when New York's Jeremy Ross got to only his 11-yard line with the opening kickoff return. A three-and-out gave Luck the ball, and seven plays later, he hit a wide-open Allen for a 7-0 edge.

Indy needed only four plays on its next series, with Allen even more open for a 21-yard reception to make it 14-0. At that juncture, the Colts had gained 120 yards, the Jets 6.

The Jets (3-9) finally found some spark as Matt Forte turned a short pass into a 40-yard gain, but that drive stalled and Nick Folk made a 38-yard field goal. Read more...

For NFL news, video highlights, game-day coverage, schedules, stats, scores and more only at feeltheaction.com

JETS EMBARRASSED BY COLTS, TURN TO PETTY FOR LAST 4 GAMES

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) It was ugly. And, embarrassing. And mostly downright pitiful.
The New York Jets were thoroughly outplayed and outclassed by Andrew Luck and the Indianapolis Colts, hitting rock bottom in a season that has been spiraling for weeks with a brutal 41-10 loss in front of a national TV audience Monday night.

''I thought for the first time this year, we got our (butts) handed to us,'' coach Todd Bowles said. ''That's very disappointing.''

Luck returned after missing a game with a concussion by throwing for four touchdowns, three to Dwayne Allen. It was 24-3 at halftime, and the game was over at that point.

''I thought they kicked our (butts),'' Bowles said, repeating that often in his postgame news conference. ''It's very troubling when you get your (butt) kicked.''

An ineffective Ryan Fitzpatrick was benched in the third quarter for Bryce Petty, who will start the final four games for the Jets (3-9).

''The plan was to start him the last four games, anyway,'' Bowles said. ''So, we just started a half early.''

It was the culmination of an awful night - and the epitome of what has been a terrible year - for the Jets. Read more...

For NFL news, video highlights, game-day coverage, schedules, stats, scores and more only at feeltheaction.com