NFL - Week Sixteen Review

Following this weekend, the AFC playoffs picture is set while only two spots remain to be filled in the NFC as the 2016 NFL season goes into the final week.

The Pittsburgh Steelers (10-5) wrapped up the AFC North division with a resounding come-from-behind win at home against the Baltimore Ravens, 31-27 as quarterback Ben Roethlisberger threw a four-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Antonio Brown with only nine seconds left in the game.
The Ravens (8-7) squandered a double-digit lead as Pittsburgh rolled up 21 points in the fourth quarter as Roethlisberger had three touchdown passes in the victory, which was the sixth straight for the Steelers. Running back Le'Veon Bell had 122 yards rushing in the win and also scored twice.
By winning 34-31 on the road in Buffalo on Saturday, the Miami Dolphins (10-5) are going to the playoffs. Kicker Andrew Franks nailed a game-winning 27-yard field goal in overtime. Earlier, Franks made a 55-yard FG as time ran out in regulation to force the overtime.
Miami RB Jay Ajayi rushed for 206 yards and scored a touchdown while QB Matt Moore had two TD passes. Buffalo Bills QB Tyrod Taylor had three TD passes in the loss.
The Houston Texans (9-6) clinched the AFC South division on Saturday night with a 12-10 win over stubborn Cincinnati. Texans kicker Nick Novak made two field goals and RB Alfred Blue made the difference with a 24-yard TD run late in the fourth quarter. Bengals kicker Randy Bullock missed a potential game winning field goal (wide right) as time expired.
The fact Houston won the division with the win was made possible when Tennessee laid an egg in Jacksonville, losing 38-17 to the Jaguars, who ended a nine-game losing streak. In addition, Titans QB Marcus Mariota suffered a broken leg in the loss. The Jags defense limited the Titans to 263 yards in total offense.
The Kansas City Chiefs (11-4) clinched a playoff spot with a 33-10 thumping of the Denver Broncos (8-7), which eliminated Denver from playoff contention. Two big plays made a big impact for Kansas City as Tyreek Hill ran 70 yards for a score and tight end Travis Kelce caught an 80-yard TD pass from QB Alex Smith.
The New England Patriots continued to roll as they won at home, 41-3 against the hapless New York Jets. Tom Brady had three TD passes and RB LeGarrette Blount rushed for two more scores to pace the rout. The Pats defense came up with four turnovers in the game, including three interceptions.
Oakland won a 33-25 home decision against the Indianapolis Colts, but lost QB Derek Carr (three TD passes) for the season to a broken leg. Running back DeAndre Washington had two scoring runs for the Raiders (12-3) as they maintain a one-game lead over the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC West.
The Atlanta Falcons won the NFC South division as they toppled the Carolina Panthers, 33-16 behind a pair of touchdown passes from QB Matt Ryan.
The New Orleans Saints helped the Falcons clinch by beating the visiting Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 31-24 as RB Mark Ingram had two rushing touchdowns. Bucs QB Jameis Winston had a pair of TD passes and two interceptions in the loss. Tampa Bay (8-7) can still make the playoffs with a win in the final game and some help.

QB Aaron Rodgers and the Packers are rolling.

The Green Bay Packers (9-6) kept the pressure on the Detroit Lions for first place in the NFC North as they won at home, 38-25 against Minnesota. Packers QB Aaron Rodgers had 347 passing yards and four touchdown passes to earn the Heftyinfo NFL Player of the Week. Two of Rodgers TD passes went to WR Jordy Nelson, who had nine receptions for 154 yards in Green Bay's fifth consecutive victory.
The Washington Redskins (8-6-1) kept alive their playoff hopes as they routed the host Chicago Bears, 41-21 on Saturday afternoon.  Redskins QB Kirk Cousins had two rushing touchdowns and also a TD pass in the game as they piled up 478 yards in total offense while the defense intercepted five passes.
Arizona surprised the host Seattle Seahawks, 34-31 as kicker Chandler Catanzaro made a 43-yard field goal as time expired to give the Seahawks (9-5-1) their first home loss this season. Cardinals RB David Johnson scored three touchdowns to help lead the way. Seattle QB Russell Wilson had four TD passes in the loss . . .  The Dallas Cowboys (13-2) kept rolling even after clinching home field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs by throttling the Detroit Lions, 42-21 on Monday Night Football. QB Dak Prescott had three TD passes (including two to WR Dez Bryant) and RB Ezekiel Elliott rushed for two more scores to lead the way.


                                                     Elsewhere Around the NFL . . . . .   

The Philadelphia Eagles beat the visiting New York Giants, 24-19 last Thursday night as RB Darren Sproles scored a touchdown. Giants QB Eli Manning was intercepted three times . . .  The Cleveland Browns (1-14) finally won a game as the held off the visiting San Diego Chargers, 20-17 when Chargers kicker Josh Lambo shanked two field goals in the final minutes, including a miss as time was running out. Browns RB Isaiah Crowell scored two touchdowns in the win while the Chargers defense had nine QB sacks in defeat . . .  The San Francisco 49ers snapped a 13-game losing streak by rallying late in the fourth quarter in a 22-21 win at Los Angeles. Colin Kaepernick had two TD passes in the win and the 49ers defense limited the Rams (4-11) to a paltry 177 yards in offense.


WEEK SIXTEEN SCORES
Philadelphia 24, NY Giants 19
Miami 34, Buffalo 31 (OT)
Atlanta 33, Carolina 16
Washington 41, Chicago 21
Cleveland 20, San Diego 17
Green Bay 38, Minnesota 25
Jacksonville 38, Tennessee 17
New England 41, NY Jets 3
Oakland 33, Indianapolis 25
San Francisco 22, Los Angeles 21
New Orleans 31, Tampa Bay 24
Arizona 34, Seattle 31
Houston 12, Cincinnati 10
Pittsburgh 31, Baltimore 27
Kansas City 33, Denver 10
Dallas 42, Detroit 21