Mike Shanahan among coaches axed on "Black Monday"

Former Washington Redskins head coach Mike Shanahan delivers a statement after he was fired Monday, Dec. 30, 2013, at Redskins Park, in Ashburn, Va. Shanahan was fired after a morning meeting with owner Dan Snyder and general manager Bruce Allen. (AP Photo/ Evan Vucci) 

It didn't take long.

Barely 12 hours after the NFL's regular season ended, five head coaches were unemployed. Fired on Monday were Washington's Mike Shanahan, Detroit's Jim Schwartz, Minnesota's Leslie Frazier and Tampa Bay's Greg Schiano.

The Cleveland Browns didn't even wait that long, dismissing Rob Chudzinski on Sunday night after just one season on the job.

Shanahan, who won two Super Bowls in Denver in the 1990s, spent four seasons with the Redskins and was 24-40. Frazier had a little more than three seasons with the Vikings to compile an 18-33-1 mark, and Schwartz coached the Lions for five seasons, finishing 29-52.

Schiano only got two years with the Buccaneers, going 11-21. Tampa Bay also fired general manager Mark Dominik.

One coach allegedly on the hot seat was retained: Rex Ryan, who has one more year on his contract, is staying with the New York Jets after a surprising 8-8 record in his fifth season at the helm.

While some of the fired coaches might have seen it coming, Chudzinski certainly didn't despite going 4-12 and losing his final seven games and 10 of 11.

"I was shocked and disappointed to hear the news that I was fired," said Chudzinski, who grew up a Browns fan. "I am a Cleveland Brown to the core, and always will be. It was an honor to lead our players and coaches, and I appreciate their dedication and sacrifice. I was more excited than ever for this team, as I know we were building a great foundation for future success."

As the coaching searches begin, agents will float the names of their clients - Penn State's Bill O'Brien seems to be the hottest candidate and has interviewed for Houston's vacancy. The Texans (2-14), who own the top choice in May's draft after losing their final 14 games, released coach Gary Kubiak late in the season.

Whoever gets hired in each place will face mammoth rebuilding projects. Overall, the six teams seeking new coaches went 24-71-1.

The Lions will be eating $12 million in salary for the remainder of Schwartz' contract, which was recently extended, CBSSports.com's Will Brinson reports.

Shanahan had one season remaining on a five-year contract worth about $7 million a season. He blamed salary cap restraints for part of the Redskins' collapse from NFC East champion in 2012 to 3-13 and eight consecutive losses.

Washington was hit with a $36 million salary cap penalty over two seasons for dumping salaries into the 2010 uncapped season, and Shanahan said it prevented the team from pursuing free agents it had targeted.

But his real undoing, along with the poor records in three of his four seasons, was a contentious relationship with star quarterback Robert Griffin III. RG3 did not speak with the media on Monday.

"Redskins fans deserve a better result," Redskins owner Daniel Snyder said of Shanahan's firing. "We thank Mike for his efforts on behalf of the Redskins. We will focus on what it takes to build a winning team, and my pledge to this organization and to this community is to continue to commit the resources and talent necessary to put this team back in the playoffs."

Frazier took over for Brad Childress in Minnesota for the final six games of 2010. He got the Vikings to the playoffs as a wild card last season, riding an MVP year from running back Adrian Peterson. But he never solved the Vikings' quarterback situation - three QBs started in 2013 - and the defense, Frazier's specialty, ranked 31st overall and against the pass.

"It's a harsh business," safety Harrison Smith said. "As a player, we all love coach Frazier, as a coach, as a man. You can't meet a better guy. And also as a player, we didn't make enough plays on the field. So you just feel like you let him down a little bit."

Tony Gonzalez Runs Consecutive Games With Catch Record To 211

He'll end his career in sole possession of a magnificent record.

Tony Gonzalez plans to retire after this game. He'll do so with one hell of an NFL record.

With his five yard catch on the opening drive, Gonzalez has now reeled in catches in 211 consecutive games. He's one of only two players in NFL history to achieve that milestone, which speaks to his longevity and consistency over the course of his career.

As I write this, Gonzo has two catches for 28 yards and should be plenty involved the rest of the way. We salute you, GOAT.

NFL Playoff Picture: Road to MetLife Stadium becomes clearer today

The Week 16 NFL schedule should bring some clarity to the NFL playoff picture. Which teams will continue on the Road to MetLife Stadium for Super Bowl 48, and which teams will be eliminated?

With two weeks left in the 2013 NFL season the road to Super Bowl 48 at MetLife Stadium still involves a tremendous amount of mystery, just the way the league likes it.

When play begins Sunday 19 of the NFL's 32 teams will still have a mathematical chance of making it to the playoffs.

"This is an amazing league," says Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaught whose team is in control in the AFC North. "Everybody is so close and that’s what makes it great."

Use this as your open thread to discuss today's non-New York Giants' games. Below is a look at your Week 16 playoff scenarios.

Week 16 NFL Playoff Scenarios

AFC

CLINCHED:
Denver - playoff spot
Indianapolis - AFC South
Kansas City - playoff spot

Denver Broncos
Denver clinches AFC West division and a first-round bye with:
1) DEN win + KC loss
Denver clinches home-field advantage throughout AFC playoffs with:
1) DEN win + KC loss + NE loss or tie

New England Patriots 
New England clinches AFC East division with:
1) NE win or tie OR
2) MIA loss or tie New England clinches a first-round bye with:
1) NE win + CIN loss or tie + IND loss or tie
OR
2) NE tie + CIN loss + IND loss New England clinches a playoff spot with:
1) CIN loss or tie

Cincinnati Bengals 
Cincinnati clinches AFC North division with:
1) CIN win + BAL loss or tie
OR
2) CIN tie + BAL loss
Cincinnati clinches a playoff spot with:
1) CIN win + MIA loss or tie OR
2) CIN tie + MIA loss

Baltimore Ravens
Baltimore clinches a playoff spot with:
1) BAL win + MIA loss +SD loss or tie

Miami Dolphins

Miami clinches a playoff spot with:
1) MIA win + BAL loss + CIN loss

NFC

CLINCHED:
Seattle - playoff spot

Seattle Seahawks
Seattle clinches NFC West division and home-field advantage throughout NFC playoffs with:
1) SEA win or tie OR
2) SF loss or tie

New Orleans Saints
New Orleans clinches NFC South division and a first-round bye with:
1) NO win
New Orleans clinches a playoff spot with:
1) ARI loss OR
2) NO tie + SF loss or tie OR
3) NO tie + ARI tie OR
4) SF loss + ARI tie

Carolina Panthers
Carolina clinches a playoff spot with:
1) CAR win OR
2) CAR tie + ARI loss OR
3) CAR tie + SF loss OR
4) ARI loss + SF loss

San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco clinches a playoff spot with:
1) SF win OR
2) ARI loss OR
3) SF tie + ARI tie

Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia clinches NFC East division with:
1) PHI win + DAL loss or tie OR
2) PHI tie + DAL loss

Chicago Bears
Chicago clinches
NFC North division with:
1)CHI win + DET loss or tie + GB loss

Tony Romo throws late TD as Cowboys rally past Redskins DALLAS COWBOYS

Romo's Late TD Lifts Cowboys

The Cowboys rallied in the fourth quarter and Tony Romo found DeMarco Murray with 1:08 remaining for the game-winning touchdown.Tags: NFL, Cowboys, Redskins, highlight, Tony Romo, Dez Bryant,Alfred Morris, Demarco Murray

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LANDOVER, Md. -- On fourth down, feeling the season was on the line, Tony Romo dropped back, scrambled forward and found the correct color uniform. DeMarco Murray made the catch, his momentum taking him into the end zone for the winning score.

For much of the second half, Romo and Dallas Cowboys had flirted with their usual December swoon.

A recently signed fullback lost a fumble. The quarterback threw a bad interception. An eight-point lead became a nine-point deficit. Murray lost 9 yards on a third-and-goal at the 1.

But there was one chance left to pull off a win. Romo-to-Murray converted the fourth-and-goal at the 10 with 1:08 remaining Sunday, giving the Cowboys a 24-23 victory over theWashington Redskins.

Coming Through In The Clutch

Tony Romo has been heavily criticized throughout his career for crucial mistakes that have contributed to Dallas' late-season collapses. But since Romo became the Cowboys' starter in 2006, only Peyton Manning has more game-winning drives in the fourth quarter or overtime.

Most Game-Winning Drives in 4th Quarter or Overtime Since 2006

Player	GW Drives
Peyton Manning	25
Tony Romo	23
Matt Ryan	23
Drew Brees	23
-- ESPN Stats & Information

"We just had to make a play," Dallas receiverDez Bryant said. "Tony did a Houdini."

It's a magic moment that matters only if the Cowboys can win one more. The victory ended a two-game skid -- as well as a four-game December losing streak -- and sets up a winner-take-all, regular-season finale for the NFC East title next week, when the Cowboys (8-7) host the Philadelphia Eagles.

"Today we felt like we were playing for everything," Romo said. "Next week will be the same thing."

The Cowboys, who beat Philadelphia 17-3 on Oct. 20, set themselves up to quash two years of 8-8, collapse-around-Christmas misery.

"I know in some ways we've gotten hit with just the fact of losing the last couple of years in the final game," Romo said. "I think we're the only team that keeps getting themselves in position to win the NFC East every year -- that's a credit. It's also a negative in the fact that we didn't do it the last couple of years."

The Cowboys melted down big-time last week against the Green Bay Packers, blowing a 23-point lead with Romo throwing two interceptions in the waning minutes.

On Sunday, the Cowboys fell flat in the third quarter instead of the fourth, leaving just enough time for a comeback.

"Coming back and playing well and working hard can help your character. Now, I don't recommend the way we came back today as a way to get there," Dallas owner Jerry Jones said with a smile. "I would've liked for it to be a little easier and confident."

The Redskins (3-12) aren't building much of anything. They lost their seventh straight, the second in a row by one point, both with Kirk Cousins starting in place of shut-down franchise player Robert Griffin III.

Pierre Garcon (11 catches, 144 yards) provided the home team highlight by breaking Art Monk's single-season franchise reception record, while veteran linebacker London Fletcherplayed in what is expected to be his final home game before retiring. Embattled coach Mike Shanahan clinched his worst record in his 20 seasons as a head coach.

"Everybody on the team is fed up at this point," Washington linebacker Perry Riley said. "We should be winning. Need to be winning. We're not winning. And that's frustrating."

Romo completed 17 of 27 passes for 226 yards with two touchdowns and played much of the game with back pain. He was limping noticeably after a couple of plays in the fourth quarter.

"I took a hit that kind of triggered it a little bit. ... I felt it after that play, the rest of the game," Romo said. "You just play through it, just like anything in football."

The Cowboys led 14-6 at halftime before committing turnovers on back-to-back drives -- a fumble by Tyler Clutts and an interception by DeAngelo Hall. The Redskins scored on three straight possessions and took a 23-14 lead on the first play of the fourth quarter.

But Romo converted a fourth-and-6 at the Washington 40-yard line to set up a field goal that cut the lead to six with 6:09 to play. The Cowboys started the go-ahead drive at their 13 with 3:39 remaining. A 51-yard pass to Terrance Williams set up the winning score, with the Cowboys surviving the 9-yard loss by Murray when knocking on the door at the 1.

"A couple of self-inflicted wounds in the second half hurt us," Dallas coach Jason Garrett said. "But you keep playing. Our guys scratched, clawed, and fought."

Game notes

Michael Spurlock, signed Wednesday because of an injury to Dwayne Harris, set up a TD with a 62-yard punt return in the first quarter. ... Murray ran for 96 yards, becoming the first Cowboys back to rush for 1,000 yards since Julius Jones in 2006. ... The Cowboys are 5-0 in the NFC East; the Redskins are 0-5. ... Injuries: Cowboys RB Phillip Tanner (head) and Redskins LBs Brian Orakpo (right groin) and Nick Barnett (sprained left knee).