Dak Prescott of the Cowboys
Dak Prescott had 347 yards and three TDs against the Eagles

The Philadelphia Eagles lost to the Dallas Cowboys on Christmas Eve, their second loss of the year.

The San Francisco 49ers made it eight in a row in their final game of the season, while the Minnesota Vikings created more NFL history with yet another close victory.

The Buffalo Bills and Kansas City Chiefs are locked in a battle for the top spot in the conference.

  • Get American Football alerts in the BBC Sport app
  • NFL fixtures and results

Dallas down Eagles as historic Vikings close the gap

The Philadelphia Eagles, who were without injured star quarterback Jalen Hurts, missed the chance to secure top spot in theNFC after the Dallas Cowboys came from behind to win 40-34

The Cowboys' quarterback threw three touchdown passes to erase a 10-point lead and the Eagles' back-up quarterback threw two touchdown passes but missed a last-second winning field goal.

The Eagles need to win one of their last two games to guarantee a first-round bye in the playoffs, but they will want to see Hurts back on the field as soon as possible.

Greg Joseph
Vikings kicker Greg Joseph gets held aloft after booting another game-winning field goal

With their 11th one- score win of the season, the Minnesota Vikings proved to be the undisputed kings of the close game and are just a game behind Philadelphia.

It was always going to be close against the New York Giants, who have won eight one-score games themselves this season, so it was predictable at the end as the Vikings followed up last week's biggest comeback in NFL history with another league record.

Greg Joseph kicked a team-record 61-yard field goal as time expired after the Giants tied the game with two minutes to go.

It's the fifth game-winning kick Joseph has made this season as the Vikings improved to 12-3) with a 27-24 victory that again highlighted how tough they are to beat in close games.

You don't stop smiling. You don't let it affect you. Joseph said you don't change. We know where we are and what we can do.

Bills & Chiefs remain in battle to be AFC top dogs

Josh Allen
Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills will spend Christmas morning in Chicago

The Buffalo Bills are the top seeds in the playoffs after a second-half surge saw them beat the Chicago Bears 35-13 and win their third straight division title.

The Bills weren't at their best for their sixth win in a row, but a clinical second half in a freezing Chicago means two more will seal the top seed, a week off and even more importantly, home field advantage throughout the playoffs.

The win wasn't enough to get the team the chance to wake up at home on Christmas morning because the airport in Buffalo was closed due to the weather.

"It's a shame we can't go home," said Sean McDermott. There are a lot of people out there who are worse off than we are.

The Buffalo Bills are 12-3) and the Kansas City Chiefs are 12-3) after their victories.

One of the best play-off games ever was played between the Bills and the Chiefs, and the teams are expected to play each other again.

Patriots shoot themselves in the foot... again

For the second week in a row, the New England Pats produced an uncharacteristic mistake late in the game that cost them a chance to win.

Last week a failed attempt at a trick in the last play of the game cost them at the Las Vegas Raiders while this week a Rhamondre Stevenson fumbled just outside the end zone condemned them to a fourth

I was doing more than I was supposed to. New England's play-off chances were hanging by a thread after Stevenson's fumbled the ball.

It should have been a lot easier for the Bengals after they went in at the half with a 22-0 lead, but with a play-off spot locked up, they are still in the hunt for the title.

Joe Burrow
Bengals QB Joe Burrow (No.9) says the team want to get back to the Super Bowl

"We need to do a better job of putting teams away, that's for sure," said the quarterback. There are teams that want to win the Super Bowl.

The Baltimore Ravens have booked their play-off spot after their 17-9 win over the Atlanta Falcons.

Baltimore will want quarterback Lamar Jackson to return as soon as possible in order to spark an attack, but their defence has excelled of late as they've only allowed over 14 points once in seven games.

San Francisco make it eight in a row

The San Francisco 49ers made it eight wins in a row with a 37-20 victory over the Washington Commanders, with Brock Purdy throwing two touchdown passes.

When he stepped in as San Francisco's third-choice quarterback after injuries to Jimmy Garoppolo and Trey Lance, many thought that the rookies picked last in the draft would do little.

Purdy doesn't think about getting more and more comfortable. When I wasn't playing, I had the same fire and drive. I want to prove to my teammates that I am worthy of their trust and respect.

The Detroit Lions' resurgence was halted by a 37-23 defeat at the Carolinas, while the New Orleans Saints and Houston Texans both won.

Watch on iPlayer bannerWatch on iPlayer footer