LANDOVER, Md. — Minutes after rolling to a 27-10 victory at Washington, the San Francisco 49ers watched the final minute of Philadelphia’s game at Arizona together in the visiting locker room.

A loud cheer erupted when the Eagles lost to Arizona in stunning fashion. After Brock Purdy threw two touchdown passes to bounce back from the worst game of his NFL career and results elsewhere fell their way, the Niners clinched the top seed in the NFC and the first-round bye and home-field advantage that comes with it.

“Thank you, Cardinals,” linebacker Fred Warner said. “Back in ‘19, it took us winning in Seattle on the very last play of the game to secure the 1 seed, and the fact that we were able to get it with one game left in the season is big.”

Wrapping up the No. 1 seed before Week 18 could be a significant advantage for San Francisco (12-4) after losing Christian McCaffrey to a calf injury against the Commanders. The do-it-all running back left the game in the third quarter after gaining 91 scrimmage yards on 18 touches, and coach Kyle Shanahan thinks it could be a strained calf muscle.

“We think he’ll be all right,” Shanahan said. “I don’t know if he would’ve been able to go next week or not, but we’ll have to find out more (Monday). He was moving around all right on the sideline, so hoping it’s not too bad.”

The Niners got touchdown catches from Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk and a rushing TD from Elijah Mitchell. Purdy, coming off throwing four interceptions in a humbling home loss to Baltimore, was 22 of 28 for 230 yards to reach 4,280 and break Jeff Garcia’s season franchise record of 4,278 set in 2000.

“To be able to come back and get the ball moving, throw it around to the guys and obviously get the offense to flow again and feeling it, it felt good,” Purdy said.

The defense, also looking to atone for some struggles against the Ravens, intercepted Sam Howell twice — once each by Charvarius Ward and Deommodore Lenoir.

Washington (4-12) was not much of an obstacle for the conference’s top team, as Howell added to his NFL lead in interceptions with his 18th and 19th of the season. He was starting only because journeyman Jacoby Brissett was sidelined by a hamstring injury after coach Ron Rivera decided earlier in the week to bench Howell.

“I thought Sam had some really good moments,” Rivera said. “Obviously there were a couple throws I promise you he would wish he had back, but he did a lot of good things.”

The Commanders have lost seven in a row, and as a result of the Cardinals win, could be in line to draft as high as second. While they’re looking ahead to an offseason of change under new ownership, the Niners have their eyes set on a long playoff run.

“We’re going to continue to get better,” Warner said. “We’ve got to make sure we’re our best when our best is needed for when our moment comes.”

Cardinals 35, Eagles 21

PHILADELPHIA — James Conner ran for a 2-yard touchdown with 32 seconds remaining, Kyler Murray threw three TD passes, and Arizona rallied from a 15-point deficit to stun Philadelphia.

The Eagles (11-5) could have won the NFC East with wins against Arizona and the New York Giants next week. Now, Dallas can win the division with a win next week at Washington, and San Francisco has locked up the top seed in the conference.

Jalen Hurts, who threw three touchdown passes, was picked off in the end zone on a desperate heave to end the game.

Murray finished 25 of 31 for 232 yards and got stronger as the game progressed, overcoming a 99-yard pick-6 by Sydney Brown early in the second quarter. Conner rushed for 128 yards on 26 carries for the Cardinals (4-12).

Former Eagles defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon got his biggest win yet as Arizona’s coach.

Bills 27, Patriots 21

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Josh Allen ran for two touchdowns, cornerback Rasul Douglas returned one of his two interceptions for a score, and Buffalo beat New England, setting up a showdown at Miami next weekend for the AFC East title.

The three-time division champion Bills (10-6) have already defeated the Dolphins (11-5) this season, and Miami blew a chance at clinching the division title by getting blown out at Baltimore.

Buffalo won its fourth straight and fifth in six games. The Bills gave up Jalen Reagor’s 98-yard return of the opening kickoff for a touchdown and settled for a touchdown and two field goals off three takeaways inside the Patriots 30. Allen concluded the opening drive of the third quarter with his second rushing TD — his 15th of the season — and the Bills held on from there.

The Patriots (4-12) are in jeopardy of finishing with their fewest wins in coach Bill Belichick’s tenure. Bailey Zappe threw three picks and receiver Pharaoh Brown lost a fumble.

Saints 23, Buccaneers 13

TAMPA, Fla. — Derek Carr threw for 197 yards and two touchdowns, and New Orleans moved into a tie atop the NFC South by halting Tampa Bay’s four-game winning streak.

Carr tossed TD passes of 4 yards to Juwan Johnson and 22 yards to Taysom Hill in the first half. The Saints’ defense did its part to keep the Bucs (8-8) from clinching their third consecutive division title by intercepting Baker Mayfield twice and forcing a pair of fumbles.

Tampa Bay can still repeat as NFC South champion by winning at division rival Carolina next week. The Saints (8-8) close with a division game at home against Atlanta.

Carr completed 24 of 32 passes and outshined Mayfield, who went 22 of 33 for 309 yards with two late TD passes. He was sacked twice and didn’t get the Bucs into the end zone until the fourth quarter.

Rams 26, Giants 25

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Kyren Williams ran for 87 yards and a career-best three touchdowns, and Los Angeles beat New York to move closer to the playoffs.

Matthew Stafford threw for 317 yards and a touchdown but also had his first two interceptions in the last five games as the Rams (9-7) held on to win their third straight and sixth of seven.

Gunner Olszewski scored on a 94-yard punt return to get New York (5-11) within a point with 3:27 to play. After an encroachment penalty on the extra point attempt, coach Brian Daboll elected to go for a 2-point conversion — but Tyrod Taylor missed a wide-open Saquon Barkley.

Later, a 31-yard run by Taylor allowed Mason Crosby to attempt a game-winning 54-yard field goal, but it was short. Taylor threw for 319 yards and a touchdown in his first start since replacing Tommy DeVito.

Williams, the NFL’s second-leading rusher coming in, scored on runs of 4, 2 and 28 yards.

Jaguars 26, Panthers 0

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Travis Etienne scored twice, including a 62-yard TD that was his longest run of the season, and Jacksonville blanked Carolina to end a four-game skid.

The Jaguars (9-7) won for the first time in December — and with quarterback Trevor Lawrence watching from the sideline — to set up a regular-season finale at Tennessee that will help decide the AFC South.

Jacksonville can clinch the division with a victory next weekend. A loss to the Titans would hand the AFC South to the winner of the Houston-Indianapolis game.

Lawrence missed the game with a sprained throwing shoulder, ending his consecutive starts streak at 51. C.J. Beathard completed 17 of 24 passes for 178 yards without a turnover in his first start since 2020.

The Panthers (2-14) dropped to 0-9 on the road and were held scoreless for the first time since losing to Atlanta in Week 12 of 2002.

Texans 26, Titans 3

HOUSTON — C.J. Stroud threw for 213 yards and a touchdown in his return from a concussion, and Houston rolled past Tennessee.

Houston (9-7), Indianapolis and Jacksonville all won Sunday to leave the three teams with identical records in the AFC South. A victory next week at Indianapolis will guarantee the Texans, who won just three games last season, their first postseason berth since 2019.

The Texans had a 17-point lead at halftime with some help from defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins, who returned a fumble by rookie quarterback Will Levis for a score in the second quarter.

Levis injured his foot on the play and Ryan Tannehill took over. Tannehill threw for 168 yards but couldn’t get the Titans in the end zone as Tennessee (5-11) fell to Houston for the second time in three weeks.

Colts 23, Raiders 20

INDIANAPOLIS — Gardner Minshew threw a touchdown pass, Jonathan Taylor ran for a score, and two late defensive penalties helped Indianapolis beat Las Vegas to stay in the AFC playoff chase.

Indy (9-7) remained in a first-place tie atop the AFC South with Houston and Jacksonville. The Colts host the Texans next week.

The Raiders (7-9) had their two-game winning streak end and were eliminated from the postseason.

Minshew finished 15 of 23 for 224 yards. Taylor had 21 carries for a season-high 96 yards.

Las Vegas’ Aidan O’Connell was 30 of 47 with 299 yards and two TDs, both to Davante Adams, who had 13 receptions for 126 yards.

Bears 37, Falcons 17

CHICAGO — Justin Fields threw for 268 yards with a touchdown pass and a rushing TD in what could be his final home game for Chicago, which dealt Atlanta’s playoff hopes a big blow.

D.J. Moore finished with nine catches for 159 yards and a touchdown, and Khalil Herbert ran for 124 yards and a score as the Bears (7-9) overwhelmed the Falcons (7-9).

Chicago grabbed a 21-7 halftime lead and rolled to its fourth win in five games. The Bears intercepted Taylor Heinicke three times and Desmond Ridder once.

Fields completed 20 of 32 passes. He also ran for 45 yards. The Bears could end up with the top overall pick in the draft because of an offseason trade with Carolina and will have to decide whether to move on from him.

Broncos 16, Chargers 9

DENVER — Jarrett Stidham threw for 224 yards and a touchdown in his first start in place of the benched Russell Wilson, and Denver beat Los Angeles.

Stidham earned his first career win as a starter thanks to some timely plays such as a nifty 54-yard catch-and-run for a score by Lil’Jordan Humphrey and a stellar defensive performance. The Broncos (8-8) forced one turnover, allowed two third-down conversions on 11 attempts and kept the Chargers (5-11) out of the end zone.

Denver was eliminated from the playoffs because Kansas City beat Cincinnati.

Easton Stick, making his third start in place of the injured Justin Herbert, threw for 220 yards without a turnover for the Chargers.

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