49ers Hold Off Rams in OT, Lions Edge Bears

Jim Tomsula praised his players for delivering a win at season's end, then lost his job shortly after.

Phil Dawson kicked a 23-yard field goal 11:33 into overtime for his fourth of the game, and the 49ers held off the St. Louis Rams 19-16 on Sunday in Tomsula's finale.

His firing was announced about two hours after the game ended at 6:58 p.m. PST.

"Jimmy has been a valuable member of the 49ers organization for the last nine years," CEO Jed York said in a statement. "We all know he is a man of high character, and his contributions on the field and in our community have always been greatly appreciated.

"This entire organization is proud and grateful to have worked so closely alongside Jimmy. We all wish him and his family great success in the future."

York was scheduled to address reporters Monday morning.

"I'm not going to make this about Jim and Jim's job status here today," Tomsula said after the game.

"I got a group of guys here, players that just won a football game. They've been through a very tough season. They've stuck together. They went and won a game in overtime. They fought like crazy. And today is about those players. My job status, anything going forward there, can be handled throughout the rest of the week."

Dawson came through after Greg Zuerlein's 48-yard field goal attempt was blocked by Dontae Johnson, giving San Francisco the ball back with 4:49 to play.

Lions 24, Bears 20

For now, he is taking a business-as-usual approach. And that meant a win to close out a losing season on Sunday.

Matthew Stafford threw for 298 yards and three touchdowns and Calvin Johnson had 137 yards receiving in a 24-20 win over the Chicago Bears.

Detroit (7-9) avoided a last-place finish in the NFC North with its sixth win in eight games. Whether the Lions bring back Caldwell for a third season is uncertain.

"I'm not going to discuss anything that's out of my control," said Caldwell, 18-14 in two seasons with the Lions. "We're just going about business the way we've been doing."

He led them to a rare playoff appearance last year, but a 1-7 start put his future in doubt. Caldwell survived a midseason purge that saw offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi get fired and ownership drop the ax on president Tom Lewand and general manager Martin Mayhew the following week.

"You don't go 1-7 and come back and go 6-2 if your team doesn't believe in your coach," Stafford said. "We definitely do."

President Rod Wood said the Lions will start requesting interviews for general manager candidates on Monday and whoever they hire will determine if Caldwell stays.

Colts 30, Texans 24

Chuck Pagano's backup plan worked. But the Colts didn't get the help they needed and failed to make the playoffs.

Recently signed quarterbacks Josh Freeman and Ryan Lindley each threw one touchdown pass in the first half Sunday, and Jerrell Freeman opened the second half with a 23-yard interception return to give the Colts a season-closing 30-24 victory over Tennessee.

The Colts won a game to avoid their first losing season since 2011. They just didn't get enough help to make the playoffs and now they'll wait to find out their coach's fate.

Indy could have made the playoffs with a Houston loss -- and if seven other games fell exactly the right way.

Instead, the Texans' 30-6 victory over Jacksonville ended that hope and perhaps Pagano's tenure in Indy.

"To sit there and go 5-3 with Matt Hasselbeck at quarterback and then to pull off, I don't know if this has ever happened before in the history of the National Football League, where you bring in two guys off the street and basically get three days to prepare these guys and go win a football game," Pagano said.

The past two weeks might be the most creative coaching Pagano has done in his four-year tenure.

Indy (8-8) needed two wins to stay in the playoff hunt and managed to get both despite using four different quarterbacks including two, Freeman and Lindley, who were signed Tuesday after spending the whole season out of the NFL.

Sunday, January 3 Scoreboard
    
Buffalo 22, New York Jets 17

Miami 0, New England 10

New Orleans 20, Atlanta 17
    
Cincinnati 24, Baltimore 16

Pittsburgh 28, Cleveland 12
    
Houston 30, Jacksonville 6
    
Indianapolis 30, Tennessee 24

Washington 34, Dallas 23

Philadelphia 35, New York Giants 30

Detroit 24, Chicago 20
    
Carolina 38, Tampa Bay 10
    
Kansas City 23, Oakland 17
    
Denver 27, San Diego 20

Seattle 36, Arizona 6
  
San Francisco 19, St. Louis 16 (OT)

Minnesota 20, Green Bay 13

Saturday, January 9 Schedule (All Times Central)

Kansas City at Houston, 3:20 p.m.

AFC WILD CARD PLAYOFF

Pittsburgh at Cincinnati, 7:15 p.m.

AFC WILD CARD PLAYOFF

Sunday, January 10 Schedule (All Times Central)

Seattle at Minnesota, 12:05 p.m.

NFC WILD CARD PLAYOFF

Green Bay at Washington, 3:40 p.m.