The Pittsburgh Steelers came through and they did it.
They won their home game on Christmas Eve (Saturday evening) against the Las Vegas Raiders (6-9) by a score of 13-10 as they scored the winning touchdown with just 46 seconds remaining when rookie quarterback Kenny Pickett connected with wide receiver George Pickens on a 14-yard scoring pass. The Steelers (7-8) won their fourth game in the last five and did it on the night they honored the late Franco Harris, the legendary Steelers running back and Hall of Fame player who died last week just days before the team retired his jersey number 32 at halftime. Las Vegas led 10-3 at halftime as QB Derek Carr (174 passing yards, one TD, three INT) threw a 14-yard TD pass to WR Hunter Renfrow, but the Steelers defense shut them down the rest of the way to help lead the way to victory.
The surging Jacksonville Jaguars won, 19-3 against the host New York Jets last Thursday night and improved to 7-8 this season to get things started in Week Sixteen. Jags quarterback Trevor Lawrence scored on a one-yard run and kicker Riley Patterson made four field goals to provide the difference. The Jets (7-8) managed just one field goal and 227 yards in total offense as starting QB Zach Wilson was benched again.
The Buffalo Bills (12-3) overcame a sluggish start in frigid Chicago to beat the Bears (3-12) by a 35-13 final score as QB Josh Allen threw for two touchdowns to offset two interceptions and also had a touchdown run as the Bills piled up 254 rushing yards in the win. The Bears lost for eighth straight time as they only gained 209 yards in total offense.
The Kansas City Chiefs (12-3) won at home, 24-10 against the fading Seattle Seahawks to keep the pressure on Buffalo for the top spot in the AFC playoff race. Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes threw two TD passes and also ran for one to lead the way. The Seahawks (7-8) lost their third consecutive game and fifth in the last six games.
Cincinnati (11-4) won again as they toppled the host New England Patriots, 22-18 for their seventh straight victory. Bengals QB Joe Burrow (375 passing yards, three TD, two INT) had three TD passes in the first half as they built a 22-0 lead. The Patriots (7-8) battled back in the second half with cornerback Marcus Jones taking an interception back 69 yards for a score and two TD passes by QB Mac Jones, but they fell short.
The Minnesota Vikings won at home, 27-24 against the New York Giants (8-6-1) when kicker Greg Joseph made a team record 61-yard field goal as time ran out to improve to 12-3 this season. Vikings QB Kirk Cousins had three TD passes along with 299 passing yards. The Giants had tied the game 24-24 when running back Saquon Barkley scored on a 27-yard run and QB Daniel Jones (334 passing yards, one TD, one INT) converted the two-point pass.
The Dallas Cowboys (11-4) defeated the Philadelphia Eagles, 40-34 to prevent them from clinching the NFC East division title as kicker Brett Maher made two field goals in the final two minutes to seal it. Cowboys QB Dak Prescott passed for 347 yards and three touchdowns and also one interception that was brought back 42 yards by defensive end Josh Sweat for a score to give the Eagles (13-2) a 10-0 lead. Philadelphia backup QB Gardner Minshew started in place of Jalen Hurts (shoulder injury) and had a TD run and two scoring passes along with two picks thrown and 355 passing yards in defeat.
The Detroit Lions (7-8) saw their current hot streak halted as they were blown out in Carolina, 37-23 after falling behind 31-7 early in the second half. The Panthers (6-9) kept alive their playoff hopes as they gained 570 yards in total offense, including an astounding 320 yards rushing in the easy win. Carolina running backs D'Onta Formean (165 yards and one TD) and Chuba Hubbard (125 yards) each went over 100 yards for the game and QB Sam Darnold rushed and passed for a touchdown as well. Lions QB Jared Goff (355 passing yards) had three TD passes in the loss.
San Francisco won for the eighth straight time with a 37-20 home victory against the Washington Commanders (7-7-1) behind solid defense (two turnovers and limiting Washington to 79 rushing yards) and two TD passes by QB Brock Purdy. The 49ers (11-4) had balanced offense (218 passing yards and 153 rushing) as well with RB Christian McCaffrey scoring a rushing TD and also WR Ray-Ray McCloud, who went 71 yards for the touchdown to open the scoring.
Tennessee (7-8) lost their fifth straight game and saw their once solid playoff chances take a big hit when they lost at home, 19-14 to the Houston Texans (2-12-1) while getting just 88 yards passing in the loss. The Texans rallied in the final quarter when QB Davis Mills threw a six-yard TD pass to WR Brandin Cooks with 2:52 remaining.
The Baltimore Ravens (10-5) beat the visiting Atlanta Falcons, 17-9 with QB Tyler Huntley throwing a TD pass and Justin Tucker kicking three field goals to eliminate the Falcons (5-10) from playoff contention.
In snowy Cleveland, the New Orleans Saints fell behind 10-0 in the first half before coming back for a 17-10 win to improve to 6-9 and stay in contention in the NFC South division race. Saints QB Andy Dalton was limited to just 92 passing yards, but running back Alvin Kamara (four-yard run) and Taysom Hill (eight-yard run) each had rushing touchdowns to lead the way. The Browns (6-9) were eliminated from playoff contention in the AFC.
On Christmas Day, three games were played and two were rather forgettable as the Los Angeles Rams (5-10) crushed the visiting Denver Broncos, 51-14 while Tampa Bay (7-8) won on the road at Arizona, 19-16 in overtime.
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| Miami QB Tua Tagovailoa threw three interceptions in the fourth quarter. |
In Los Angeles, the Rams cruised past the listless Denver Broncos (4-11) as they built a 31-6 halftime lead. Rams RB Cam Akers scored three touchdowns and QB Baker Mayfield threw a pair of scoring passes while defensive back Decobie Durant took a "pick six" interception back 85 yards to account for the final score. Broncos QB Russell Wilson (214 passing yards) was intercepted three times and replaced by Brett Rypien, who threw the fourth interception that resulted in the touchdown for the Rams defense, which also had six sacks in the rout.
In the Sunday night game, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers remained atop the NFC South division with the 19-16 overtime win against the Arizona Cardinals (4-11) who were playing the game with third string QB Trace McSorley, who passed for 217 yards with one interception in the loss. Cardinals RB James Conner scored on a 22-yard run with 10:53 to go in the fourth quarter for a 16-6 lead. From there, the Bucs came back as QB Tom Brady (281 passing yards, one TD, two INT) threw a three-yard scoring pass to RB Rachaad White with 8:07 left, followed by kicker Ryan Succop making a 42-yard field goal with two minutes left to tie it up at 16-16 and force the OT as the Bucs defense forced three turnovers in the game, including two fumbles. Succop made the 40-yard field goal with 3:41 left in OT to win it.
The Los Angeles Chargers (9-6) clinched an AFC playoff spot with a 20-3 road victory against the Indianapolis Colts on Monday Night Football. Chargers running back Austin Ekeler rushed for two touchdowns and the defense intercepted three passes and had seven sacks to lead the way as the Colts (4-10-1) managed just 173 yards in total offense.
WEEK SIXTEEN RESULTS
Jacksonville 19, N.Y. Jets 3
Minnesota 27, N.Y. Giants 24
Buffalo 35, Chicago 13
New Orleans 17, Cleveland 10
Baltimore 17, Atlanta 9
Carolina 37, Detroit 23
Cincinnati 22, New England 18
Kansas City 24, Seattle 10
Houston 19, Tennessee 14
San Francisco 37, Washington 20
Dallas 40, Philadelphia 34
Pittsburgh 13, Las Vegas 10
Green Bay 26, Miami 20
L.A. Rams 51, Denver 14
Tampa Bay 19, Arizona 16 (OT)
L.A. Chargers 20, Indianapolis 3
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