Jaguars make statement but Lions & Ravens on brink – best of week 16

Just another week in the NFL, with wild finishes, big comebacks, upsets, big-name injuries, and play-off spots decided.

Aaron Rodgers roughly sums up week 16 by describing the conclusion of Pittsburgh’s victory in Detroit as “chaos.”

The New England Patriots defeated the Baltimore Ravens, Seattle Seahawks, San Francisco 49ers, Philadelphia Eagles, and Chicago Bears in the post-season, earning them play-off tickets for five teams.

Denver’s 11-game winning streak was over, but Trevor Lawrence and the Jags’ handling of their business on the road against the AFC top seeds was incredibly impressive.

Former top draft pick Lawrence, who has 16 passing and two rushing touchdowns in Jacksonville’s current six-game winning streak, deserves a lot of credit from head coach Liam Coen.

Lawrence was resilient, bouncing back after allowing five sacks from the best pass rush in the league, and clinical, rushing four touchdowns on five red-zone passes against one of the best defenses in the area.

Bo Nix threw for a lot of yards, but Jacksonville’s defense shut the Broncos down just as it appeared like a 12th comeback win of the season was in order. The Jags’ 34 points were Denver’s most allowed all season.

A complete team performance, paired with Parker Washington’s electric receiving day, should cause AFC contenders to be concerned because the Jags have a tough squad and a travel-friendly game.

Are Dak Prescott, Joe Burrow, and Patrick Mahomes already out? Could Lamar Jackson and Jared Goff join the big-name quarterbacks who aren’t in this year’s play-offs?

The Baltimore Ravens and Detroit Lions are both expected to win the Super Bowl this year, but their losses on Sunday leave them both without a thread.

Baltimore fell behind the Steelers in the AFC North game due to a back injury that forced the two-time MVP to miss out on.

If their final-day showdown with Pittsburgh proves to be that close, the Ravens are 5-11 without Jackson.

Following a wild ending in Detroit, the Steelers had previously held on to victory.

After a heated discussion between the officials, the Lions realized they had won with a final-gasp touchdown.

Because they now need to win both games and hope the Packers lose both to sneak in, that one choice drastically altered Detroit’s chances of winning the play-offs.

His sophomore season has been stellar, filled with comebacks and frantic finishes where he has made the remarkable seem like just another day at the office, despite a mixed rookie campaign for Williams, the 2024 draft pick.

The Bears have won six games with inside the final two minutes thanks to Johnson’s play calling and Williams’ execution; this is the first time since the NFL combined in 1970.

Chicago is now playing in the play-offs for the first time since 2020, after only five wins overall, and Johnson, who spearheaded Detroit’s all-powerful offense, has been instrumental in the turnaround.

Williams, an intriguing character who appeared to have struggled to transition from college to the NFL, has also been a part, or perhaps just needed the right coach.

The Bears are so dangerous because of their ability to defend. Williams is only the second quarterback under 25 to have returned six times in a season after Peyton Manning in 1999.

Before Williams led Chicago to 19 in the fourth quarter and overtime, the Bears had just three points in three quarters when the game was at its worst.

If San Francisco beats Indianapolis on Monday, the Seahawks, Eagles, Patriots, Bears, 49ers, and Bills will all join them.

Five of the seven NFC spots have already been filled, with the Packers and Buccaneers competing for the NFC South title while the Packers will undoubtedly take the Lions for the final wildcard.

Although there is only one confirmed spot in the AFC, positioning is more important in general.

Only one of the final two games will allow Myles Garrett to break the 22.5% single-season record, which he already has in the game, which allowed him to have half a sack.

After another 300-yard game and two touchdowns in a 34-17 win over Dallas, Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh thinks Justin Herbert is having an MVP season.

The Bolts have a shot in the play-offs, but Herbert will face a significant test against Houston next week; a “MVP calibre” game against the league’s best defense will catch the eye.

The Steelers’ 22nd season without a losing record, the longest streak in NFL history, was secured by head coach Mike Tomlin’s 200th victory.

The Seahawks’ epic victory over the Rams on Thursday marked all kinds of history, most notable for the team’s 16-plus-point deficit leading to a 155-point deficit before that victory.

Detroit and Denver travel to Kansas City this year in an effort to improve their AFC West title defense and also win the game against their stricken rivals, while Denver and Detroit each play their play-off lives as they do in Minnesota.

There will be a couple of belters in week 17 on Saturday when the Texans host the Chargers and Green Bay hosts Baltimore, where all four teams will battle for play-off spots.

While what many thought might be a potential Super Bowl match-up takes place in Buffalo when the Bills host defending champion Philadelphia on Sunday, the Seahawks face the Panthers in a fascinating game.