There are actually three weeks left in the common season, the place the spots within the playoffs are being stuffed. Within the week earlier than Christmas, which groups might get an early current? Let’s take a look at how the Washington Commanders, Baltimore Ravens, and Kansas Metropolis Chiefs (amongst others) fared in Week 16.
The Commanders Damage the Eagles
This yr, the Washington Commanders have put themselves into playoff competition with the assistance of latest quarterback Jayden Daniels. This week, they confronted the Philadelphia Eagles. The Eagles have additionally had a superb yr, and a win towards their NFC East rivals would give them the division title.
The Commanders had the sport’s first possession however would rapidly flip the ball over on down on account of their failure to transform a 4th down try from their 49-yard line. The Eagles might reap the benefits of this turnover and convert it into their first factors of the sport. The offense, led by quarterback Jalen Hurts, made their manner all the way down to the Commanders’ two-yard line. From right here, Saquon Barkley discovered the endzone for the dashing landing.
The nice luck stored coming for Philadelphia, as on the primary play on the subsequent drive, Washington working again Brian Robinson fumbled the ball, which the Eagles would get better. This restoration resulted in one other landing when backup quarterback Kenny Pickett discovered A.J. Brown for a four-yard landing move. As one can see, Hurts was not concerned on this play. It is because earlier within the drive, he left the sport with what was later dominated as a concussion and didn’t return.
The backup made his first mistake on the next drive from the Eagles. Pickett’s move was intercepted on the sting of his group’s crimson zone. This error was one thing that the Commanders would capitalize on, as Daniels discovered Jamison Crowder for a six-yard landing move. In response, the Eagles once more discovered the endzone with a 68-yard dashing landing from Barkley.
The Commanders would get again into the sport a couple of drives later. On a drive that began from their four-yard line, the Daniels lead offense went all the way down to the Eagles’ 32-yard line. From right here, Daniels discovered Terry McLaurin for the landing move.
Nonetheless, Daniels made a mistake close to halftime when his move was intercepted. In response, the Eagles moved the ball all the way down to the Commanders’ 38-yard line. This arrange kicker Jake Elliot with a 56-yard area aim try. The kick was brief, which means that the Eagles had a 21-14 lead over the Commanders at halftime.
The Eagles had the primary possession of the second half and will get one thing from it. Ranging from their 25-yard line, the offense went all the way down to the Commanders’ six-yard line however no additional. This arrange Elliot with a 24-yard area aim try, which he was profitable with.
The Commanders once more fumbled the ball in response, which the Philadelphia protection would scoop up. With their new possession, the Eagles moved the ball all the way down to the Washington 22-yard line slowly, and Elliot kicked one other area aim to widen their lead.
However, the Commanders had been capable of shake off this error on their subsequent drive to get themselves again into the sport. Daniels and firm had been capable of make their manner all the way down to the Eagles’ four-yard line, and right here the quarterback discovered OlamideZaccheaus for the landing move to make it a one-possession sport going into the fourth quarterback.
The Commanders might take the lead on their subsequent drive when Daniels discovered Zaccheaus for a 49-yard landing drive. In response, Elliot would kick one other area aim for the Eagles, this time from 50 yards out, giving Philadelphia a slim two-point lead.
The lead was widened to 5 factors after the Eagles scored one other area aim of a drive that began after one other intercepted move from Daniels. Nonetheless, with underneath two minutes left within the sport, the previous LSU Tiger was given the ball once more, and all he wanted to do was discover the endzone.
Ranging from their 43-yard line, the Washington offense went all the way down to the Eagles’ nine-yard line. Daniels discovered Crowder for the landing move, his fifth of the sport. The Commanders then tried a two-point conversion. This was profitable, giving them a three-point lead.
With six seconds to play, the Eagles needed to be inventive to search out the endzone. What we noticed was a choice of lateral passes. These by no means finish properly, and Philadelphia fumbled the ball on one in all these passes, ending the sport.
The Washington Commanders had defeated the Philadelphia Eagles 36-33.
Jayden Daniels had one other sturdy sport, proving why he was an excellent choose for the Commanders (and, in my eyes, ought to have been the primary choose as a substitute of Caleb Williams). For the Eagles, the defeat might end result from the absence of Hurts. Whereas Pickett did sufficient to maintain them within the sport, the end result might have been completely different if Hurts performed all the sport. The victory improves the Commanders to 10-5 and retains them mathematically within the race for the NFC East for no less than yet one more week. The Eagles fall to 12-3.
Subsequent week, the Commanders face the Atlanta Falcons, whereas the Eagles face the Dallas Cowboys, realizing {that a} win right here would clinch the division.
A Convincing Kansas Win
The Kansas Metropolis Chiefs have had an odd yr. They arrive into this week with a 13-1 report and are simply one of many favorites to win the Tremendous Bowl. However they’ve by no means scored greater than 30 factors in a sport this season, and plenty of of these wins have been selected penalties which have gone their manner and last-minute area objectives. This week, they confronted the Houston Texans, a group prone to win the AFC South. Will the Chiefs have the ability to win this sport convincingly, or will or not it’s luck once more?
The Texans had the sport’s first possession, however they’d rapidly make a mistake. Texans’ quarterback C.J. Stroud moved his offense all the way down to the 43-yard line. He then threw a deep move to Nico Collins, intercepted by the Kansas Metropolis offense.
The error could be pricey for Houston. The Chiefs offense, led by quarterback Patrick Mahomes, would have the ability to transfer all the way down to the Texans’ 15-yard line. From right here, Mahomes (coming off a particularly gentle ankle harm) scrambled for the endzone to report the 15-yard dashing landing to present the Chiefs the lead.
In response to this, the Texans would have the ability to shake off their earlier mistake, and the offense reached the Chiefs’ 15-yard line. Nonetheless, the drive would stall right here, establishing a 33-yard area aim try from kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn. This was profitable. Houston might take the lead on their subsequent drive when Stroud discovered Dalton Schultz for a 10-yard landing move.
However, this lead didn’t final lengthy. In response to this rating, the Mahomes lead offense might slowly drive down the sector and attain the Texans’ three-yard line. From right here, Kareem Hunt moved the ball into the endzone to return the result in Kansas Metropolis.
Issues grew to become even higher for the Chiefs when Stroud threw one other interception. This error would once more flip into factors, with returning Chiefs’ kicker Harrison Butker discovering the uprights for a 44-yard area aim.
This meant that at halftime, the Chiefs had a 17-10 lead over the Texans,
On their first drive of the second half, the Texans had been capable of deliver themselves again into the sport. Ranging from the 50-yard line, Stroud and firm might transfer all the way down to the Chiefs’ 30-yard line. From right here, the quarterback discovered Tank Dell for the landing move. Nonetheless, the PAT, which might have tied the sport, missed, retaining the Chiefs within the lead by one level.
Just a few drives later, this lead was prolonged when Mahomes discovered Xavier Worthy for an eight-yard landing move. In response to this, and needing a landing, Houston slowly moved all the way down to the Chiefs’ 20-yard line on their drive. Nonetheless, that is the place it will stall, and a 38-yard Fairbairn area aim was the most effective they might do.
Houston wanted the Chiefs to each not rating any factors on their subsequent drive and for it to be over rapidly, giving the Texans one other probability to attain. Sadly, neither of these items occurred. Butker discovered the uprights from 27 yards out on a drive that took over six minutes to finish.
Nonetheless, there have been 5 minutes left on the clock, and all Houston needed to do was rating a landing and a two-point conversion to take the sport to time beyond regulation. So, what did they do? Nothing they went backward on this drive, ending any probability of victory.
The Kansas Metropolis Chiefs had defeated the Houston Texans 27-19.
This week was in all probability one of the vital convincing the Chiefs have had all season. However, they didn’t rating greater than 30 factors. In the event that they ever need to face the Detroit Lions this yr, they are going to wrestle to maintain up with the high-power offense. The win means the Chiefs enhance to 14-1 for the season, whereas the Texans fall to 9-6.
Subsequent week, each groups play on Christmas Day (so, by the point that is printed, they’d have already performed), because the Chiefs face the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Texans face the Baltimore Ravens.
Raiders win… However do they?
From among the finest groups within the NFL to 2 of the worst. The Jacksonville Jaguars and the Las Vegas Raiders have struggled all yr, with the Raiders in a battle with the New York Giants for the primary choose of the draft. In a sport no one needed to win, who could be the unfortunate group to get the W?
As anticipated, neither aspect had the most effective begin to this sport, with the primary 4 drives ending in a punt. Nonetheless, the Jaguars broke this streak close to the tip of the primary quarter. This drive began from the Raiders’ 29-yard line, and the Jags’ offense, led by quarterback Mac Jones, introduced the group all the way down to the one-yard line. Tank Bigsby discovered the endzone for a dashing landing to take the lead.
This lead didn’t final lengthy. On the next drive, the Raiders’ offense, led by Aidan O’Connell, would attain the one-yard line just like the Jaguars on the previous drive. From right here, Alexander Mattison discovered the endzone for the dashing landing to tie the sport.
The Raiders had been capable of take the lead on their subsequent drive. Las Vegas might make it to the Jaguars’ 31-yard line, however no additional. This arrange a 49-yard area aim try from kicker Daniel Carlson. He would achieve success with the kick, giving the Raiders a slim three-point lead.
This was prolonged to 6 factors of the next drive from the Raiders, as Carlson kicked a 37-yard area aim.
There have been no different scores from the primary half, nevertheless it ought to be famous that the Jaguars fumbled the ball on the subsequent two drives. This meant that the Raiders had a 13-7 lead over the Jaguars at halftime.
Like the primary half, the second half didn’t open with the highest quality soccer. Close to the tip of the primary half, the Raiders had one other area aim try, with Carlson kicking from 46 yards out. Nonetheless, this kick went large of the goalposts.
In response to this missed area aim, the Jaguars rapidly returned to the sport. From the Jaguars’ 38-yard line, Jones discovered Brian Thomas with a deep move that discovered the endzone for a 62-yard landing move. This gave Jacksonville a one-point lead because the fourth quarter started.
However, the lead didn’t final lengthy. On the next drive, O’Connell and the Raiders’ offense was capable of advance all the way down to the sector and attain the Jaguars’ seven-yard line. Right here, Ameer Abdullah discovered the endzone for the dashing landing to retake the lead for the Raiders.
Neither group might launch a reputable problem to the crimson zone for the remainder of the sport. This meant the Las Vegas Raiders had defeated the Jacksonville Jaguars 19-14.
The standard of this sport was not nice, however this end result was extremely vital for the race to the primary choose within the 2025 NFL Draft. With the Raiders’ win, they improved to 3-12 for the season, leaving just one two-win group within the NFL (any guess who?). The defeat additionally provides the Jaguars a 3-12 season and places them into the race for the quantity two choose.
Subsequent week, the Raiders face the New Orleans Saints, whereas the Jaguars play the Tennessee Titans.
The Ravens open up the AFC North
The Baltimore Ravens and the Pittsburgh Steelers are in a decent battle for the AFC North division. With three video games left to play, it might go both manner. The 2 groups met this week, the place the Ravens knew {that a} win would create a tie on the division’s prime.
The Ravens would have the ability to get the primary factors of the sport. On a drive that began from the Steelers’ 41-yard line, the Ravens offense, led by Lamar Jackson (however on this particular drive, it was working again Derrick Henry who did all of the work), moved all the way down to the nine-yard line. From right here, Jackson discovered Isiah Seemingly for a nine-yard landing move to present the Ravens the early lead.
However, this lead didn’t final lengthy. In response to this, the Steelers’ offense led by Russell Wilson, was capable of make their manner all the way down to the Ravens’ one-yard line. Right here, he discovered MyCole Pruitt for the landing move.
Nonetheless, the Steelers would make a pricey mistake a couple of drives later. Wilson was capable of scramble all the way down to the Ravens’ four-yard line. Right here, he fumbled the ball, which the Ravens recovered. Then, on the next drive, Jackson and firm might transfer all the way down to the Steelers’ 14-yard line earlier than the quarterback discovered Rashod Bateman for the landing move.
Baltimore was capable of prolong their lead on the next drive when kicker Justin Tucker had a 51-yard area aim. In response, Steelers kicker Chris Boswell kicked a 51-yard area aim to finish the half.
This meant that the Ravens had a 17-10 lead over the Steelers at halftime.
Pittsburgh was capable of get themselves again into the sport early within the third quarter. On a drive that began on their 12-yard line, the Wilson lead offense made its manner all the way down to the Ravens’ 12-yard line. Right here, Wilson discovered Cordarrelle Patterson for the tying landing move.
Nonetheless, the scores didn’t stay stage for lengthy. On the next drive, Jackson discovered Mark Andrews for a seven-yard landing move for the Ravens to retake the lead. Nonetheless, Baltimore didn’t have all of it of their manner. On their subsequent drive, Jackson threw an interception within the Steelers crimson zone. Nonetheless, a couple of performs later, Wilson threw an interception, and this could be returned to the endzone for a Decide 6 landing, which solely made the Ravens’ lead even bigger.
With the end result all however safe, the Ravens added to their rating close to the tip of the sport when Tucker kicked a 23-yard area aim.
The Baltimore Ravens had defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers 34-17.
This end result opens up the AFC North. Each groups are tied with a 10-5 report with two video games to play. As talked about above, these two groups additionally play on Christmas day, with the Ravens going through the Houston Texans and the Steelers going through the Chiefs.
What Occurred within the Different Video games?
The week’s Thursday Evening Soccer sport was a battle of two former Oregon Duck quarterbacks, as Bo Nix’s Denver Broncos confronted Justin Herbert’s Los Angeles Chargers. Each quarterbacks carried out properly, however the Chargers had been capable of maintain on for a 34-27 win. This win retains each groups within the race for a wildcard spot within the playoffs.
The Detroit Lions continued their unbelievable season with a win over NFC North rivals the Chicago Bears. Lions quarterback Jared Goff threw for 336 yards and three touchdowns because the Lions cruised to a standard 34-17:win over the Bears, retaining their hopes of a division title alive.
The Cincinnati Bengals continued to salvage their season this week towards the struggling Cleveland Browns. In a sport the place the Browns didn’t do a lot on offense, Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow threw for 3 touchdowns as Cincinnati defeated their AFC North rivals 24-6.
One of many principal rivals for the Houston Texans’ AFC South title is the Indianapolis Colts. They confronted the three-win Tennessee Titans in what was a must-win sport. Regardless of a late comeback from the Titans, the Colts held on for a 38-30 win to maintain them within the race for the division.
The Los Angeles Rams performed the New York Jets this week. The Rams stayed within the race for the NFC West title with a simple 19-9 win over the Jets.
The Carolina Panthers and Arizona Cardinals had a really entertaining duel in a sport that had implications for the Cardinals’ playoff hopes. A area aim from Cardinals kicker Chad Ryland as time ran out despatched the sport to time beyond regulation, by which Chuba Hubbard scored the successful landing to present Carolina a shock 36-30 win.
The Minnesota Vikings stored up with the Detroit Lions this week as they defeated the Seattle Seahawks. A late landing from Justin Jefferson gave the Vikings a slim 27-24 win.
The Buffalo Payments strengthened their case for a possible Tremendous Bowl look as they confronted the New England Patriots. Nonetheless, whereas the Payments received the sport 24-21, Patriots quarterback Drake Maye shone, throwing for 261 yards and two touchdowns.
The poor Season for the San Francisco 49ers formally ended this week with their defeat to the Miami Dolphins. Tua Tagovalioa led the Dolphins to a convincing 29-17 win to take final yr’s NFC champions out of the playoffs.
The Dallas Cowboys salvaged season continued with a 26-24 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
This week, the Monday Evening Soccer sport was between the Inexperienced Bay Packers and the New Orleans Saints. The Packers would ship the primary shutout of the season as they recorded a 35-0 win.
And eventually, how did the New York Giants spoil my weekend? This week, they performed the Atlanta Falcons, with their new quarterback Michael Penix Jr. The Giants had been nonetheless the identical struggling Facet. Penix has a superb debut, main the Falcons to a 34-7 win. With the win for the Raiders, the Giants are actually in possession of the primary choose of the draft. Can they hold it? I hope so.
So, that was Week 16 within the 2024 NFL Season. Subsequent week, it’s Christmas, so the video games are unfold all through the week. The possible headliner comes on Sunday, because the Minnesota Vikings face the Inexperienced Bay Packers in what might be an important sport within the race for the NFC North title.
