NFL - Week Sixteen Recap

Justin Herbert and the Chargers stormed back for the big win on Thursday night.

The NFL playoff picture is taking shape as teams have clinched spots in the post-season while others still have hopes. 

In Los Angeles last Thursday night, the Chargers (9-6) toppled the Denver Broncos, 34-27 in a big comeback effort, shutting down the Broncos (9-6) on offense (just two field goals) while scoring 21 points to move back into second place in the AFC West division. Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (284 passing yards) had a pair of scoring passes (also one INT), including the game clincher with 2:27 left to play when he hit WR Hassan Haskins on a 34-yard scoring pass. Denver had a 21-10 lead thanks to a pair of TD passes from rookie QB Bo Nix (263 passing yards) and a three-yard scoring run by Audric Estime. Just before halftime, the Chargers benefited from an obscure rule after fair catch interference that allowed kicker Cameron Dicker to attempt a "free kick" 57 yard field goal to trim the deficit to 21-13. From there, it was all Chargers as they won the game.

On Saturday, the Kansas City Chiefs (14-1) won 27-19 over the Houston Texans (9-6) as QB Patrick Mahomes overcame a high ankle sprain (suffered in last week's action) by running 15 yards for a score and also threw a scoring pass while Kareem Hunt scored a touchdown on the ground. Texans QB C.J. Stroud threw for two touchdowns in the loss.

In Baltimore on Saturday, the Ravens (10-5) knocked off the Pittsburgh Steelers, 34-17 with QB Lamar Jackson  passing for three touchdowns while running back Derrick Henry ran for 162 yards on 24 carries to pace the balance offensive attack (220 rushing yards and 198 passing yards) and pull the Ravens into a first place tie with the Steelers (10-5) in the AFC North division. The game was back and forth with the Steelers tying the game 17-17 when QB Russell Wilson threw his second TD pass. The Ravens went back in front 24-17 when Jackson connected with tight end Mark Andrews for a seven yard TD pass. Early in the fourth quarter, Steelers DB Minkah Fitzpatrick intercepted Jackson and then Baltimore DB Marlon Humphrey settled things with a "pick six" INT return for a 31-17 lead two plays later. 

 

The Sunday action saw the Washington Commanders (10-5) stun the visiting Philadelphia Eagles with a big comeback and a 36-33 decision that snapped the Eagles ten game win streak. Commanders rookie QB Jayden Williams (pictured right) had five touchdown passes to offset five turnovers by the team to earn the hard fought win and prevent the Eagles (12-3) from clinching the NFC East. Williams threw a nine-yard scoring pass to WR Jamison Crowder with six seconds left to play. The Eagles led 21-7 after the first quarter as Saquon Barkley (150 rushing yards on 29 carries) scored twice, including a 68-yard run. Quarterback kenny Pickett threw a scoring pass as well after coming in for injured starter Jalen Hurts (concussion). The Eagles led, 27-14 entering the fourth quarter when Daniels threw two scoring passes to Olamide Zaccheaus for a 28-27 lead. Philadelphia countered with two field goals by Jake Elliott (33-28 lead) before the last second score by Washington. 

The Detroit Lions improved to 13-2 with a 34-17 shellacking of the host Chicago Bears (4-11), who dropped their ninth consecutive game. Lions QB Jared Goff (336 passing yards) had three TD passes while Jahmyr Gibbs (23 carries for 109 yards) scored a rushing touchdown. Bears rookie QB Caleb Williams had two scoring passes in defeat.

The Los Angeles Rams (9-6) won on the road, 19-9 against the New York Jets (4-11) as RB Kyren Williams scored a rushing TD and went for 122 yards on 23 carries while QB Matthew Stafford completed a scoring pass to tight end Tyler Higbee for their fourth straight win. Jets QB Aaron Rodgers had a TD pass and also lost a fumble in the loss.

The Atlanta Falcons (8-7) stayed alive in the NFC playoff picture with a 34-7 trouncing of the New York Giants (2-13) for the home win as rookie QB Michael Penix (making his first NFL start) managed the offense with RB Bijan Robinson rushing for 94 yards and scoring two rushing touchdowns while Jessie Bates III (55 yards) and Matthew Juson (27 yards) each had "pick six" interceptions. Giants QB Drew Lock had a TD pass along with the two interceptions thrown in the loss, which was the Giants tenth consecutive defeat, a franchise record.

The Indianapolis Colts (7-8) beat down the visiting Tennessee Titans, 38-30 behind a huge game from RB Jonathan Taylor (218 rushing yards on 29 carries, three TD), including TD jaunts of 65 and 70 yards as they built a 38-7 lead in the third quarter. Titans QB Mason Rudolph (253 passing yards, three INT) had two TD tosses and RB Tyjae Spears scored two rushing touchdowns to make it interesting, but the Titans fell to 3-12 this season.

The Cincinnati Bengals (7-8) won a home game, 24-6 against the Cleveland Browns (3-12) as QB Joe Burrow threw for 252 yards with three TD passes to lead the way. The Browns had three turnovers in the loss.

The Carolina Panthers (4-11) played spoiler to the playoff hopes of the Arizona Cardinals (7-8) with a 36-30 win at home in overtime as RB Chuba Hubbard (152 rushing yards, two TD) ran 21 yards for the winning score. Cardinals kicker Chad Ryland nailed a 58-yard field goal as time expired to force the overtime. Panthers QB Bryce Young had two TD passes along with a 23-yard scoring run to offset a TD pass and run by Arizona QB Kyler Murray. The Cardinals were eliminated from playoff contention.

In Buffalo, the Bills (12-3) overcame an early 14-0 deficit to defeat the New England Patriots, 24-21 as RB James Cook (11 carries for 100 yards) had two TD runs and Taron Johnson recovered a fumble for a defensive score to lead the way. The Patriots (3-12) had a 14-0 advantage thanks to rookie QB Drake Maye (261 passing yards, two TD, one INT) throwing a scoring pass and Rhamondre Stevenson scoring on a 14-yard run. Bills QB Josh Allen had a TD pass and one interception thrown and also suffered a right elbow injury in the game, but he stayed in the game. 

The Minnesota Vikings improved to 13-2 with their eighth straight victory as they beat the host Seattle Seahawks, 27-24 and kept pace with the Detroit Lions in the NFC North division. The Vikings led 17-14 at halftime as QB Sam Darnold (246 passing yards, three TD) threw for two scores. The Seahawks (8-7) took a 24-20 lead with 4:21 remaining in the fourth quarter when QB Geno Smith (314 passing yards, three TD, two INT) hit tight end A.J. Barner for a four-yard touchdown pass. But Minnesota took a 27-24 lead just 30 seconds later when Darnold hooked up with WR Justin Jefferson (pictured above right), who had ten receptions for 144 yards, for the second time (this one a 39-yard scoring pass) and then the Vikings defense got the game clinching interception to close it out. 

The San Francisco 49ers were eliminated from playoff contention when the Los Angeles Rams won earlier in the day and proceeded to drop to 6-9 as they lost on the road, 29-17 to the Miami Dolphins (7-8). 49ers QB Brock Purdy had a pair of TD passes along with 313 yards and one interception. Meanwhile, the Dolphins had five field goals by Jason Sanders and also a TD pass from Tua Tagovailoa and a 50-yard TD run by De'Von Achane to pace the winning effort and stay afloat in the AFC playoff chase. 

The Las Vegas Raiders (3-12) snapped a ten game losing streak with a 19-14 win at home against the Jacksonville Jaguars (3-12) as running back Ameer Abdullah scored on a seven-yard run early in the fourth quarter. Jaguars QB Mac Jones had a TD pass and 247 passing yards in defeat.

On Sunday night, the Dallas Cowboys outlasted the visiting Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 26-24 as DaRon Bland recovered a fumble to stop the Bucs last drive to end the game.  The Cowboys (7-8) raced out to a 20-7 lead in the second quarter as QB Cooper Rush (292 passing yards) threw a TD pass and RB Ezekiel Elliott scored on a one-yard run. The Buccaneers (8-7) battled back in the final quarter as QB Baker Mayfield (303 passing yards, two TD, one interception) threw a 13-yard scoring pass to Ryan Miller with 2:36 remaining. But that would be the way it would end as Tampa Bay fell to second place in the NFC South division.

The Green Bay Packers (11-4) clinched a playoff spot with a 34-0 win against the New Orleans Saints (5-10) at cold and blustery Lambeau Field on Monday night. Four different players scored touchdowns and QB Jordan Love had a scoring pass to lead the way while the defense had three sacks, forced two turnovers and limited the Saints to just 196 yards in total offense. 

 

WEEK SIXTEEN RESULTS 

L.A. Chargers 34, Denver 27

Kansas City 27, Houston 19 

Baltimore 34, Pittsburgh 17 

Detroit 34, Chicago 17 

L.A. Rams 19, N.Y. Jets 9 

Atlanta 34, N.Y. Giants 7 

Cincinnati 24, Cleveland 6 

Indianapolis 38, Tennessee 30

Washington 36, Philadelphia 33

Carolina 36, Arizona 30 (OT) 

Minnesota 27, Seattle 24

Las Vegas 19, Jacksonville 14 

Buffalo 24, New England 21

Miami 29, San Francisco 17 

Dallas 26, Tampa Bay 24

Green Bay 34, New Orleans 0