2023 NFL season, Week 17: What We Learned from Sunday's games

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• READ: Packers' victory puts them into win-and-in Week 18
• READ: Vikings make another QB change to no avail
• READ: Love: ‘Everyone remembers’ last win-and-in chance

Coral Smith's takeaways:

1. Love’s 4-TD day keys win. The first time Jordan Love faced the Vikings in Week 8, it wasn’t his best outing. The QB finished with a 72.1 rating, putting up only 10 points for what was at the time a fourth-straight loss. But in the Week 17 rematch, Love showed marked improvement and this time got the win, keeping the Packers’ postseason chances alive with some massive plays. Even with receivers Christian Watson and Dontayvion Wicks inactive, and rookie Jayden Reed getting ruled out at halftime due to a chest injury, Love threw for 256 yards and three touchdowns, finding rookie Reed twice and practice squad elevation Bo Melton once. He made a couple impressive throws off his back foot while being pressured, and by the time the clock hit midnight, Love had secured one of his best performances of the year, finishing with his second-highest passer rating (125.3) and third-highest completion percentage (72.7) of the season. He also tacked on a rushing TD. It definitely helped that the run game was firing on all cylinders as well, with Aaron Jones leading the charge with 120 yards on the ground, his second straight game of 100-plus yards. 
2. Vikings QB change short-lived. With Nick Mullens throwing six interceptions in two weeks, Minnesota turned to rookie Jaren Hall to hopefully play cleaner football versus the Packers. Unfortunately, the gamble did not pay off as head coach Kevin O’Connell hoped, and Hall was accountable for two turnovers of his own in the first half of Sunday’s game before Mullens replaced him for the third quarter. Hall’s final line was 67 yards on 5-of-10 passing, zero touchdowns, one interception and one fumble. Both turnovers led to Packers touchdowns on the ensuing possession, putting Minnesota in an early hole. Mullens was more effective, throwing for 113 yards and a touchdown with no turnovers of his own, but by that time the deficit was too big, and Minnesota’s playoff hopes grew even fainter with the loss.
3. Pack D comes out on top. In terms of defensive performances, Sunday was a reversal of fortune for the Packers and Vikings. Minnesota, which ranked No. 10 in points per game allowed coming into this weekend, appeared to be sorely missing injured players such as D.J. Wonnum, and permitted Green Bay to put up 470 total yards and 33 points, the second straight week allowing 30-plus points and the most yards allowed since Week 3. Crucially, the Vikings also had zero sacks, the first time this season they’ve been shut out in that category. In contrast, the Packers defense got to the Vikings QBs early and often, recording four sacks and forcing Hall and Mullens to make tough throws under pressure. In addition, the defense got two big takeaways, first an interception on a tip by Corey Ballentine and then a forced fumble by Preston Smith, recovered by Karl Brooks. It was an encouraging sight for Packers fans after the defense almost gave away a lead to the Panthers last week.

Next Gen stat of the game: The Packers pressured Vikings passers on 50.0% of dropbacks, their third-highest rate in a game this season. The Packers also had 13 different defenders generate at least one pressure, tied for the most players to do so for a team in a single game this season (Colts, Week 2).

NFL Research: With Sunday’s performance, Jordan Love joined Aaron Rodgers and Hall of Famer Brett Favre as the only Packers QBs to have five-plus games with at least three passing touchdowns and zero interceptions in a single season.

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Eric Edholm's takeaways:

1. Steelers remain in playoff race with a huge road win behind Mason Rudolph. Pittsburgh is 2-0 and has the only two 30-point games of its season with Rudolph at quarterback. Things looked dire a few weeks ago, but the Steelers somehow remain in the postseason race after beating the Seahawks in Seattle. Rudolph carried on with his cool, calm approach, turning in a second straight turnover-free performance and lifting the Steelers’ offense in ways unimaginable not long ago. He completed 18 of 24 passes for 274 yards, took only one sack and converted a key fourth-and-1 QB sneak in the fourth quarter. Rudolph has helped reignite George Pickens, who has had two big games with the latest QB change. Diontae Johnson also had some big catches, and a dominant run game set the tone early. What you notice with Rudolph – more so than with Kenny Pickett and Mitchell Trubisky – is the poise and control he shows in big moments. What this means for the future of the QB position in Pittsburgh is anyone’s guess. But for right now, Rudolph’s steady hand appears to be leading the Steelers into the postseason.
2. Seahawks suffered big blow to playoff chances with loss. Seattle controlled its destiny to get into the playoffs, needing to win its final two games to go in. You may now defenestrate that scenario. Losing makes it harder, as it requires a win over the Cardinals and some help from elsewhere. The Cardinals played the Seahawks respectably in the first meeting (a 20-10 loss), they have Kyler Murray back now and are coming off a massive win in Philadelphia. Sunday was a back-and-forth shootout – a tossup game well into the fourth quarter. But a few defensive breakdowns, including on a 34-yard pass to Pickens with 11 minutes left, and a Geno Smith fumble on a strip-sack with seven minutes to go cost them dearly. Seattle lost a timeout on an ill-fated challenge, and DK Metcalf dropped a would-be touchdown pass on the front side of the two-minute warning, and it was curtains when Seattle couldn’t recover the onside kick. The Seahawks aren’t done, but Sunday dealt them a serious playoff blow.
3. Mike Tomlin’s no-losing-seasons streak lives on. The Steelers still have unfinished business as far as making the playoffs. But at 9-7 following Sunday’s victory, Pittsburgh is guaranteed another winning season under Tomlin. Simply put, going .500 or better for 17 straight seasons is an incredible streak. Some Steelers fans might chuff at the mention of the streak, as this is a fanbase that defines itself by rings. Going 15 years without one, and 13 years without a Super Bowl appearance, has become the bottom line for some folks. But Tomlin is the ultimate survivor, and he’s proven it in an extremely trying season, even as Pittsburgh sits at two games above .500. The QB situation, the diva receivers, countless injuries, firing the offensive coordinator and back-to-back home losses to teams with 2-10 records put them behind the 8-ball – and the rest of the rack, for that matter. But with a little elbow grease, some duct tape and a whole lot of guts, the Steelers have rallied to play some of their best ball of the season the past two weeks. You could argue Tomlin should have gone to Rudolph sooner, but that might be forgiven if the Steelers sneak into the playoffs. A few weeks ago, there was major doubt. But now? Tomlin has this embattled team believing.

Next Gen stat of the game: Steelers QB Mason Rudolph targeted out-breaking routes on 37.5% of his attempts in Week 17, completing all nine of those for 149 yards and generating a +34.0% CPOE, the highest mark by a Steelers quarterback this season.

NFL Research: Mike Tomlin’s streak of 17 straight seasons without a losing season is the most ever from the start of a head-coaching career. With Sunday’s win at Seattle, Tomlin moved past George Halas (16) into third on the all-time list of consecutive non-losing seasons behind Bill Belichick (19, from 2001-2019) and Tom Landry (20, from 1965 to 1985).

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Nick Shook's takeaways:

1. Jarrett Stidham earns bittersweet win. The backup quarterback found himself in a familiar situation entering Week 17, replacing his team's starter for their penultimate game for a second straight season. This time around, he was replacing Russell Wilson, but unlike last season, Stidham was able to lead his team to a victory. It was a solid showing for Stidham, who completed 20 of 32 passes for 224 yards and a touchdown, but one in which he also showed some signs of rust, struggling with accuracy. All in all, though, Stidham (and Lil'Jordan Humphrey, whose heroic effort produced the game's only touchdown) did enough to justify Sean Payton's decision to replace Wilson with him Sunday. The downside: Kansas City's win over Cincinnati officially eliminated Denver from AFC West contention, its lone remaining path to the postseason entering Sunday, guaranteeing its season will be over after next week. 
2. Chargers come up short with familiar performance. Easton Stick put together another game that included plenty of minor positives, completing 24 of 38 passes for 220 yards and rushing five times for 31 yards. But much like their last two outings, the Chargers couldn't finish drives. They failed to reach the end zone Sunday, went just 2 for 11 on third down and had a chance late in this game only because of the margin on the scoreboard. It was yet another sad day for Los Angeles' offense, which might (and should) look fairly different by the start of the 2024 season.
3. AFC West completes another underwhelming year. After all of that -- the Broncos' resurgence, Wilson's benching, the firings of Brandon Staley and Josh McDaniels, Jimmy Garoppolo's benching, and the Chiefs' struggles -- we've arrived at the same familiar result in the AFC West. The Chiefs are once again division champions, and have only the rest of the division to blame for not making it more interesting. Credit is due to Denver for turning things around after a dreadful start, but while Broncos fans will feel some sense of pleasure from seeing their team post their highest win total (eight, and potentially nine after next week) since 2016, it's still a disappointing outcome. Denver's recent slide and the decision to sit Wilson tainted the feeling of Sunday's game, so much that at one point early in the fourth quarter, the CBS broadcast team deemed it necessary to point out plenty was still at stake for the sleepwalking Broncos. Fortunately, a turnover changed that, but they couldn't control the result in Kansas City, ending another season short of the playoffs. They can head into the offseason with some positive momentum by winning next weekend, but that offseason isn't going to be an easy one to sort out, either.

Next Gen stat of the game: Lil'Jordan Humphrey gained plus-35 yards after catch over expected on his 54-yard touchdown reception Sunday, the most earned by a Broncos player this season.

NFL Research: Khalil Mack set a season career-high with his 16th sack in 2023 (101.5 career sacks).

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• READ: Chiefs clinch eighth straight AFC West title
• READ: Chiefs CB Sneed on WR Chase's comments: 'Check the stats'

Kevin Patra's takeaways:

1. Chiefs use big plays to secure eighth straight AFC West title. The offensive inconsistencies, frustrating drops, red zone issues and head-scratching turnovers continued, but Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs generated big plays to blast past the Bengals. Isiah Pacheco dashed for gains of 35 and 37 in the first half. Mahomes connected on four plays of 20-plus yards, including two massive ones in the third quarter. On third-and-4 backed up, Mahomes connected with Justin Watson for 41 yards to give a meandering offense life. On the next drive, the QB hit a streaking Rashee Rice for 67 yards, K.C.'s longest pass play of the season. The drives ended in field goals but added a much-needed burst to an offense that lacked continuity. On a day when the offense went 3 of 12 on third downs, 1 of 3 in the red zone, and settled for six field goals, the big plays made the difference. 
2. Bengals sputter after stellar start. Jake Browning and the Cincy offense executed perfectly early, marching up and down the field, possessing the ball, and keeping Mahomes on the sideline. The Bengals scored on their first three possessions, holding the ball for drives of 8:39, 6:29 and a short-field 4:23 TD skirt after a Mahomes fumble. In the first half, Cincinnati held a 21:50 to 8:10 time of possession advantage and a 17-13 lead. The opening drive of the third quarter played out similarly, with the Bengals driving to the Chiefs 6 yard line, but Joe Mixon was stuffed on a fourth-and-1. The offense withered from there, generating one first down on its next three drives as the Chiefs kicked four straight field goals to take an eight-point advantage. Credit Steve Spagnuolo's defense for ratcheting up the pressure, including sacking Browning four times on the final drive -- forcing Cincy to burn all its timeouts. It was the type of second-half performance from K.C.'s defense we've become used to this season. 
3. Harrison Butker kicks Chiefs to AFC West title, eliminates Bengals. Each time the Chiefs' drive stalled, Butker flipped the ball through the uprights, slowly turning a deficit into a victory. The Chiefs kicker split the uprights on six of K.C.'s final seven possessions. The win clinched K.C.'s eighth consecutive division title. It's a remarkable run, particularly during a season when things haven't clicked for Mahomes and the offense. The loss eliminates Zac Taylor's squad in a year highlighted by injury. It was admirable that the Bengals were even in this position after Joe Burrow went out. With big offseason decisions looming, things remain bright in Cincy despite the elimination. 

Next Gen stat of the game: L'Jarius Sneed shadowed Ja'Marr Chase on 21 of 34 routes (61.8%), holding Chase to two receptions and 27 yards on three targets.

NFL Research: Patrick Mahomes joined HOFer Peyton Manning as the only players with 4,000-plus passing yards in six or more of a player's first seven seasons. Mahomes' only season under 4,000 was his rookie season in 2017 when he only started one game.

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• READ: Dolphins DE Chubb feared to have suffered significant injury
• READ: Battista: Multidimensional Baltimore show dominance once again

Nick Shook's takeaways:

1. Ravens drop another scoring bomb. Fresh off a statement win in which Baltimore scored at will against San Francisco, the Ravens did one better Sunday, dropping an outrageous 56 points on a Dolphins defense that resembled a colander more than a professional unit responsible for limiting an opponent. With Lamar Jackson leading the way, Baltimore made it look easy, scoring four touchdowns on its first five possessions, and finishing with eight end zone trips. Much like they did against the 49ers, the Ravens capitalized on turnovers, turning two of their three takeaways into scores. And even without the turnovers, the Ravens simply couldn't be denied. This is the well-oiled machine most expected to see when Todd Monken took over as offensive coordinator, and he earned his extended face time on the CBS broadcast Sunday.
2. Dolphins fail to keep up with elite opponent. Miami had finally cleared a pesky hurdle last week by defeating Dallas, but perhaps that win was nothing more than fool's gold, because it was outclassed by Baltimore Sunday. The Dolphins started strong, going 75 yards in eight plays for an emphatic opening-drive touchdown, but small errors -- Tyreek Hill's bobble of a would-be touchdown catch, Tua Tagovailoa's two interceptions -- piled up and eventually buried them. For the first time in a while, Miami's aggressive, high-flying offense was neutralized, and their style of play ended up hurting them. The 375 yards gained felt hollow, given that they scored just 19 points. And by the third quarter, it became clear they didn't belong in the same stadium as the Ravens, a painful reality to confront in Week 17.
3. Lamar Jackson adds another bullet to MVP resume. Jackson has quickly built momentum in the most valuable player race in recent weeks, and on Sunday, he followed up a stellar performance in San Francisco with a perfect outing. Perfect is the proper descriptor, thanks to his perfect 158.3 passer rating earned by completing 18 of 21 passes for 321 yards and five touchdowns. Jackson looked like he was playing backyard football at times, dropping to pass, extending plays and finding targets so wide open it was fair to wonder if Miami had 11 defenders on the field. Everything worked for the Ravens, who are firing on all cylinders entering the final week of the season -- one in which Jackson just might win the league's top individual award.

Next Gen stat of the game: The blitz was useless against Lamar Jackson Sunday, as the quarterback completed 5 of 6 passes for 171 yards and two touchdowns against Miami's blitz in the first half. It was Jackson's most passing yards against the blitz in any half of his career.

NFL Research: Lamar Jackson moved into a tie for the most games with a perfect passer rating in NFL history (three), joining the likes of Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Kurt Warner and Ben Roethlisberger.

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Eric Edholm's takeaways:

1. Bills offense struggles, but gets key win. The Bills took care of business as far as the playoffs are concerned, even if there’s work left to do, beating the Patriots after their shocking loss in Foxboro earlier this season. But it wasn’t easy. Josh Allen struggled to get into a groove early, completing only two of his first 11 pass attempts for 5 yards. The protection was shaky early. There were at least four dropped passes on Allen’s first 20 pass attempts, but he also misfired on multiple passes. Basically, the whole operation was out of sync as the Patriots threw a bunch of man-coverage looks at the Bills. Thankfully, the defense forced four first-half turnovers to give Buffalo a 20-14 halftime lead. Allen caught lightning in a bottle on the opening touchdown drive of the third quarter – strangely, Stefon Diggs wasn’t on the field for any of it – to take a 13-point lead. When Diggs reappeared on the following drive, Allen overthrew him on what could have been an 88-yard TD. Midway through the fourth quarter, Allen almost cost his team dearly with a careless fumble at midfield – one he was lucky Buffalo recovered. The Bills moved the ball better in the second half, and Allen ran for two scores, but the Patriots made Buffalo work for every play.
2. Bailey Zappe rallied after awful start, but Patriots must consider other QB options. It’s clear the Patriots are headed toward another QB crossroads this offseason, given the benching of Mac Jones and the inconsistencies of Zappe, even as he’s rallied the team multiple times. Zappe was responsible for three of the Patriots’ four turnovers, all on interceptions. The first two (both in the first nine-plus minutes of the game) led to 10 Buffalo points, and the third was a pick-six. Even with the Patriots returning the opening kickoff 98 yards for a stunning touchdown, Zappe’s turnovers (plus Pharaoh Brown’s fumble) put the Patriots behind at the half. Who knows what the future holds for the Patriots, from Bill Belichick on down? Belichick returning might increase the chances of Zappe getting a shot to start next season, but the Patriots must bring in serious competition. He was sharper in the second half but threw for only 96 yards and took two of his three sacks as the Patriots’ comeback came up short. There were problems all over for the Patriots Sunday, and missing a field goal (and a delay of game on a second would-be try) didn’t help. Zappe might be the kind of QB who thrives on a loaded roster, but that’s not where the Patriots are now – and likely won’t be after one offseason.
3. Rasul Douglas leads Bills’ strong defensive effort. Looking back, how big a steal was Douglas? The Packers weren’t out of contention when they sent the cornerback and a 2024 fifth-rounder to Buffalo for a 2024 third-rounder. Douglas has become the alpha dog of the cornerback room and has vastly improved the play and flexibility of this defense. He helped force Zappe’s first INT by making a play on the ball, which was corralled by a diving Ed Oliver. Douglas stepped in front of Zappe’s pass for DeVante Parker for his first interception and then pounced on Zappe’s errant pass for a pick-six, brilliantly weaving his way through the Patriots’ offensive players for a score. In a game where Buffalo was struggling offensively, it needed every one of these plays. He also almost came up with a fumble recovery, but the play was called back by penalty. It was also a big game for Oliver, who had a diving pick and a sack, dominating up front. That’s two smart recent moves by general manager Brandon Beane – trading for Douglas and signing Oliver long term – that are keeping the Bills’ defense playing at a high level.

Next Gen stat of the game: Jalen Reagor reached a top speed of 20.62 mph on his 98-yard kick-return TD, the fastest speed by a Patriots ball carrier this season. In pursuit of Reagor, Bills kicker Tyler Bass reached 20.58 mph, the fastest play by a kicker in the NGS era (since 2016).

NFL Research: Josh Allen has eight rushing touchdowns over his past five games (Weeks 12-17), which made him the first QB in the Super Bowl Era with eight or more rushing TDs in a five-game span.

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Eric Edholm's takeaways:

1. Justin Fields thrives, making Bears’ offseason decision more fascinating. Fields carved up a pretty good Falcons defense Sunday, throwing for a touchdown and rushing for another as the Bears dominated Atlanta from start to finish. He could have had more production, too, but Tyler Scott failed to haul in two targets – one good throw, the other terrific – in the end zone. There’s still the issue of the offense bogging down at times, especially when the Bears have gotten past the scripted part of the game plan, but Sunday was a far more complete offensive performance than we’ve seen in recent weeks. Everyone knows what is at stake with one game remaining in the season. Fields is entering an offseason where Chicago must decide on his future. There’s the fifth-year-option decision, and Fields is eligible for a contract extension. The Bears also have major draft assets that could lead them to prefer a flashier, newer passer. But Fields is doing everything he can to convince the Bears to keep him and use that ammunition to build around him. Since the win over Washington, they’ve won five of his eight starts with three close losses to contending teams.
2. Falcons guaranteed losing record. The Falcons fell behind early as the defense allowed three TD drives of 60-plus yards in the Bears’ first four possessions. Atlanta’s offense was equally as disappointing, with missed field-goal attempts on its first two promising drives and two three-and-outs and an interception to close out the first half. Without the one-play, 75-yard TD drive (a Tyler Allgeier catch and run), it would have been 21-zip at halftime. This came after a report Sunday morning from the NFL Insiders that Falcons head coach Arthur Smith and general manager Terry Fontenot were likely to return in 2024. The Falcons have not been knocked out of the playoffs yet thanks in part to Tampa Bay’s loss Sunday. But their lack of execution and urgency early cost them. Quarterback Taylor Heinicke played a very solid game last week against the Colts but was overmatched in Chicago, throwing three picks – all inside his own 40-yard line – before Desmond Ridder replaced him, throwing his own pick for good measure. 
3. Future looking brighter in Chicago. It was a good day on the field for the Bears, who dominated the Falcons. But it was also a good day off the field, too. Before kickoff, the NFL Insiders reported that head coach Matt Eberflus – barring disaster – was likely to return in 2024. Sunday’s performance likely only improved those chances. And before the Bears even finished their game off, they were awarded the No. 1 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, thanks to Carolina losing. The Fields decision hovers over everything that happens this offseason, and we still don’t know the future of general manager Ryan Poles, so there’s plenty to sort out. But Poles set the team up with the fruitful pre-draft trade a year ago, which already has given Chicago two critical building blocks on offense with wide receiver DJ Moore and right tackle Darnell Wright. The Bears have two first-round picks, including the first overall selection that could, depending on which underclassmen declare, be even more valuable than last year’s was. Since the 0-4 start, the Bears have gone 7-5 with a plus-49 point differential, and that includes a four-game stretch that Fields missed. The arrow is pointing up for the Bears. 

Next Gen stat of the game: Justin Fields faced his lowest pressure rate in a game this season (35.9%) against the Falcons. Most of his production came on longer dropbacks (257 of 268 passing yards on dropbacks over 2.5 seconds).

NFL Research: Bears WR DJ Moore had nine receptions on 13 targets for 159 receiving yards (his second-most receiving yards in a game this season) and a receiving touchdown Sunday against the Falcons. Moore has reached the 1,300-yard mark for the first time in his career, moving into fifth place all time for most receiving yards in a Bears season – 1 yard behind Jeff Graham (1,301 in 1995). Moore needs 208 receiving yards in Week 18 to tie Brandon Marshall for the franchise’s all-time single-season receiving mark.

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Nick Shook's takeaways:

1. Texans get mojo back with C.J. Stroud. After a couple of weeks of painful offensive showings, Houston rediscovered the production level that has powered much of their 2023 turnaround. Stroud completed 24 of 32 passes for 213 yards, and the Texans finished with 312 yards of offense while largely riding out the final quarter of Sunday's game. It came in familiar fashion, with Nico Collins leading the Texans in receiving and Devin Singletary carrying the load on the ground. The lone difference: Houston struggled on third down and mustered just one offensive touchdown. But Stroud's return provided Houston with more than mere hope when possessing the ball and, in a game against an offensively challenged opponent, that was more than enough to help them get back to winning.
2. Titans crawling toward finish. Will Levis' return lasted less than two quarters, and by halftime, Tennessee had gained just 79 yards as an offense. At one point, a 32-yard Ryan Tannehill pass to Chris Moore nearly doubled Tennessee's total output in one play. Tannehill put together a solid day in relief of Levis, but the play that knocked Levis out -- a Jerry Hughes strip-sack and fumble-recovery touchdown by Sheldon Rankins -- typified the afternoon for the Titans, a team playing like the offseason can't come soon enough. Tennessee was dominated in the trenches and failed to produce a legitimate offensive threat, essentially just watching the time pass from the start of Sunday's game through its conclusion. They've fought amid adversity at times this season, but they're just not an inspired operation at this point, and will have plenty of needs to address this offseason.
3. Houston's defense returns to form. Will Anderson is coming on strong as the season nears its conclusion, adding two sacks to his rookie total of seven on Sunday. The fashion in which they occurred -- on consecutive plays to end the first half -- underscored a dominant day for the Texans, who surrendered 168 yards to Tannehill, but prevented Tennessee from reaching the end zone. The Titans entered Houston's red zone once all afternoon, went 1 for 12 on third down and finished with 187 yards of total offense. After getting detonated by Cleveland a week earlier, Houston needed this type of game.

Next Gen stat of the game: C.J. Stroud completed 20 of 22 passes under 10 air yards Sunday, totaling 150 yards and a touchdown in his return to the lineup.

NFL Research: Will Anderson's two sacks helped him set the Texans' franchise record for the most sacks in a season by a rookie with seven.

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Michael Baca's takeaways:

1. Colts remain in position with admirable team win. In what was essentially a playoff game for both teams, the Colts remain alive within a muddled AFC playoff race with Sunday’s win. Shane Steichen’s squad did it by continuing its tendency of great team play and limiting mistakes. Jonathan Taylor led the charge with 96 rushing yards (21 carries), scoring a touchdown on the opening drive and being that reliable force for a Gardner Minshew-led offense. Minshew never tried to do too much, completing 15 of 23 passes for 224 yards for one touchdown while taking only one sack. Highlighting the Colts’ great O-line play, Minshew was pressured on a season-low 24.0% of his dropbacks, completing 4 of 5 passes under pressure for 85 yards and a touchdown (11 for 18 for 139 yards when not under pressure). The Colts would also only take what they could get, converting field goals on all three of their final possessions. Two of which came in the red zone, a concern for a Colts team looking to make some playoff noise, but Steichen’s crew did it again in another one-possession game and hosts Houston next week with its playoff aspirations on the line in Week 18.
2. Raiders eliminated from playoff contention with loss. After a messy first half offensively, Aidan O’Connell and Co. made a late charge with their playoff hopes on the line, scoring 10 points on their last two possessions and leaving their fate to an onside kick in the final seconds. Las Vegas did it all without much of an effective rushing attack sans Josh Jacobs, but interim head coach Antonio Pierce’s squad fought to the bitter end despite becoming an absurdly predictable offense late. O’Connell looked for Davante Adams on virtually every play – and with good reason. The All-Pro wideout couldn’t be stopped, grabbing 13 balls for 126 yards (21 targets) and two touchdowns, the second of which coming during the Raiders’ last-minute comeback attempt. The field goal that ended up being the difference came at fault of the Raiders, who were flagged for offsides on Matt Gay’s first attempt that went no good. After he made the second try, the Raiders’ comeback was all that more improbable, and Rodney Thomas put the lid on their season by successfully recovering the onside attempt.
3. Colts’ receiving corps is underrated. They weren’t targeted very much, but plays made by Colts WRs were the difference in this one. Rookie Josh Downs’ 50-yard catch and run set up Taylor’s TD run on the opening drive, second-year WR Alec Pierce’s only reception was a 58-yard TD to make it a two-score game entering halftime, and Michael Pittman continued to be a reliable No. 1 with a majority of his five receptions (46 yards) coming in key situations. The Colts aren’t an offensive juggernaut by any stretch, but the pieces are there for them to one day be an explosive threat. Considering what Steichen has done with this offense with a backup at the helm in Year 1, Indianapolis is in good hands thanks to a few solid WR draft picks over the last few seasons.

NFL Research: Michael Pittman Jr. (104) became the first Colts player to have 100+ receptions in a season since Reggie Wayne in 2012 (106) and Josh Downs tied the Colts’ rookie record with 65 reception in 2023. 

Next Gen stat of the day: DeForest Buckner generated six QB pressures and a sack on 17 pass rushes (35.3%) in the first half of the Colts Week 17 win over the Raiders.

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Brenna White's takeaways:

1. Jacksonville's defense shuts out Carolina. After this season, the Panthers will need to make some investments to beef up their offensive line. All season long, Bryce Young has been getting tormented, and Sunday was no different. Young was sacked six times, with four of them before the first half ended. One of the biggest threats fighting his way to Young was linebacker Josh Allen, who made franchise history. With two minutes left of the second quarter, Allen got a good hit on Young for a loss of seven yards and now leads the Jaguars with 16.5 sacks, a team single-season record. The Panthers had six drives end with a punt, with all of them being three-and-outs. The Panthers also only had seven first downs. Then, to cap off the matchup, Young threw a pass intended for Tommy Tremble that was snatched by Antonio Johnson with just three minutes left, sealing the shutout win for Jacksonville. The Jags' defense dominated and bullied this Carolina offense in its regular-season home finale.
2. Beathard, Engram, Etienne keep Jags in playoff race. After injuring his shoulder last week against the Buccaneers, Trevor Lawrence was ruled out for this matchup and missed a game for the first time in his career. Without Lawrence, it was up to C.J. Beathard to bring fans a victory in Jacksonville, and Beathard delivered. It didn’t always look pretty, but Evan Engram was there somewhere, with six receptions for 60 yards. Engram became the eighth tight end in NFL history to have 100 or more receptions in a single season. Travis Etienne also showed up when he needed to, with 16 carries for 102 yards and two touchdowns. On the Jags’ first drive of the second half, it took just one play before Etienne got the ball into his hands before flying down the field, breaking tackles for a 62-yard touchdown. After this big win, the Jaguars are closer to winning the AFC South. 
3. Young improvement needed for No. 1 overall pick. After a tough day in Jacksonville, Bryce Young will be feeling this loss tomorrow. Nothing was going right for the Carolina offense. On his opening drive, Young looked to be moving the ball, but after a series of unfortunate events, they had to punt it away, as they did on almost every drive. Young made a few promising short passes to Adam Thielen, but much more improvement needs to be seen. The Panthers ended the day with 124 total yards, the fewest in a game for the franchise since Week 16, 2010, at Pittsburgh, per NFL Research. Defenses have been getting to Young too quickly. However, the blame cannot be placed solely on the O-line. Young needs to learn to get the ball out quicker and more accurately. The Panthers clinched the worst record in the league, solidifying the Bears the No. 1 overall draft pick in 2024 after they traded to acquire Young with the No. 1 overall pick in 2023. With one more game to go, the Panthers will get to end their season at home as they look to the future and all the offseason work that will need to be done.  

NFL Research: Josh Allen's three sacks against Carolina tied his single-game best and he now has a career-high 16.5 sacks in 2023, setting a new franchise record. 

Next Gen Stat of the game: C.J. Beathard was perfect against the Panthers blitz in Week 17, completing 6 of 6 pass attempts for 97 yards (16.2 yards per attempt).

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• READ: Rams clinch wild-card spot thanks to win, Seahawks loss

Kevin Patra's takeaways:

1. Rams overcome mistakes, hang on for pivotal road win. Matthew Stafford looked as rattled as he has all season, missing several balls high and taking bad third-down sacks late. The Rams gobbled up yards in the first half, generating 222 yards through two quarters, but miscues allowed the Giants to stay in the game. L.A. turned it over on downs on the opening drive, Stafford threw an interception, and Demarcus Robinson fumbled late. The Rams struck quickly in the second half thanks to a Puka Nacua 80-yard catch-and-run and Kyren Williams' heroics, but the offense bogged down late. It was not a pretty outing for Sean McVay's club: three turnovers, including two Stafford interceptions, dropped passes, bad penalties, missed tackles, two botched extra points, allowing a punt return TD. It took a Giants missed-two point try and a missed 54-yard field goal for the Rams to escape with the W. At this stage of the season, McVay will take any win he can get, but they'll need to play better to advance in January.
2. Tyrod Taylor gives Giants a shot at victory. Brian Daboll's decision to start the veteran looked like the right one. Taylor opened up the Giants offense, showing a willingness to take shots that had been absent. The veteran QB stayed in rhythm, churning out first downs and keeping drives alive. With the game feeling like it could get away from Big Blue, Taylor uncorked a perfect deep shot to Darius Slayton for an 80-yard third-quarter TD. There were some misses under pressure, and Taylor's miscue on a late two-point try proved costly. But on balance, Daboll's offense ran better than it has in weeks. Taylor's ability to maneuver the pocket and use his legs was vital. The QB's 31-yard scramble to set up a field goal chance in the final seconds nearly stole the win. In a year that backup quarterbacks have played a pivotal role, the 34-year-old showed why he'll continue to have a job.
3. Rams clinch playoff spot. Sunday’s win, to move to 9-7, coupled with a Seahawks loss to Pittsburgh in the late window clinched a playoff spot for McVay’s squad. In what was widely expected to be a rebuilding year with an uber-young defense, it’s an incredible run for L.A. to return to the postseason after missing out last season. Sunday’s victory was the sixth in the past seven games for the Rams, with the only loss coming in overtime in Baltimore. L.A. is a hot team no one in the NFC wants to play.

Next Gen stat of the game: Tyrod Taylor completed 9 of his 14 passes against the blitz for 169 yards, a TD, and an INT in Week 17 against the Rams.

NFL Research: Puka Nacua’s 1,445 receiving yards are the third-most by a rookie in NFL history. He needs 29 receiving yards in Week 18 to set a new record. The WR’s 101 catches are second-most behind Jaylen Waddle’s 104 (2021).

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• READ: Sirianni after loss: We need to get issues ‘fixed fast’

Christian Gonzales' takeaways:

1. Jonathan Gannon’s squad shows resilience in win. It was a rough first half for the first-year head coach in his return to Philadephia. With two trips in the red zone in the first 30 minutes, Kyler Murray and Co. managed to only get two field goals. However, the second half was a different story. In Arizona’s first drive in the third quarter, Michael Carter ignited the Cardinals’ offense. Carter capped off the drive with impressive runs for 16 and 21 yards. Shortly after, Murray dropped a 6-yard pass to Carter for Arizona’s first touchdown. James Conner contributed a highlight reel on the next drive with a one-handed TD catch to tie the game at 21. Rookie Michael Wilson, who had not caught a pass since Week 10, kept the Cardinals afloat with a TD catch after a Philly score. With two minutes left in the game, Murray led the Cardinals down the field with crucial first-down passes to Greg Dortch and Rondale Moore. Conner put the finishing touches on Arizona’s seven-play, 70-yard drive with his second TD of the game, shaking up the NFC playoff picture after a thrilling victory.
2. The Eagles’ second half struggles continue. After being held to under 20 points in three out of the last four games, Jalen Hurts and Philadelphia’s offense appeared to have found their footing to start the game. Hurts distributed the ball to A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith, Dallas Goedert and Julio Jones, who had two TDs in the first half. On the other side of the ball, Eagles cornerback Sydney Brown returned a Murray pass for a 99-yard pick-six to give the Eagles a 14-3 lead in the second quarter. Hurts finished the half throwing 11 of 13 for 114 yards and two touchdowns. With a 21-6 lead heading into the locker room, Nick Sirianni’s squad didn’t keep its foot on the pedal. The offense looked flat in the second half, while the defense let Murray extend plays with his legs and carve up Philly’s defense. Since taking over the defensive play-calling duties, Matt Patricia’s Eagles allowed a season-high 29 points in the second half, per NFL Research. 
3. Upset wins are nothing new for the Cardinals. This season, Arizona has wins over the Cowboys, Steelers and now the Eagles, who are all in the playoff hunt heading into Week 18. With Murray out for Arizona’s first 10 games due to a torn ACL, the Cardinals (4-12) are 3-4 in their last seven games with their franchise QB in the lineup. Ever since the team parted ways with Zach Ertz, second-year tight end Trey McBride has emerged as a true TE1 for Arizona. McBride has had six-plus catches in seven of the last nine games, and Murray’s return has elevated both their play. 

Next Gen stat of the game: Eagles safety Sydney Brown reached a top speed of 21.52 mph on his 99-yard pick-six. It was the fastest play by an Eagles ball carrier in over two seasons. Brown traveled 126.7 yards on the play, the most distance traveled on a pick-six since Week 5, 2018 (Marcus Maye, 140.7 yards).

NFL Research: Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray, who completed 25 of 31 passes for 232 yards and three touchdowns, one interception and a 116.7 passer rating, had his first game with a 100-plus passer rating in a game since Week 9, 2022 (minimum two pass attempts).

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• READ: Bowles: Bucs would've lost no matter who we played

Kevin Patra's takeaways:

1. Saints D demolishes Baker Mayfield, Bucs early to keep playoff hopes alive. Dennis Allen's defense clowned the Bucs through three quarters, smothering receivers, offering no breathing room in the run game and discombobulating Mayfield. On Tampa's first eight non-kneel drives, the Saints' defense forced four three-and-outs, two interceptions and a fumble. It took the Bucs into the fourth quarter, down 20-0, to find any traction and make things interesting late. The Saints' defensive front slamming the door repeatedly on the Bucs' run plays forced Tampa into a host of long downs and distance, allowing defensive backs to squat on routes on third downs. Needing a win to keep their playoff hopes alive, the Saints D took over the contest early.
2. Juwan Johnson shines as Saints offense finds groove down the stretch. Derek Carr continued his efficient play in recent weeks, dicing up the Bucs' defense, particularly with over-the-middle throws early. Sunday, the QB repeatedly found his tight end targets in key spots, including several third-down darts. Of Carr's 197 passing yards, 133 and both touchdowns went to TEs. Johnson stood out during preseason and training camp but never found a groove this season after early injuries. This week, he set career highs with 90 yards on eight catches and opened the scoring with a first-drive TD. Johnson's ability to open up the middle of the field gave Carr easy reads, and the TE made some fantastic grabs along the way. After struggling for much of the early part of the season, Carr and the Saints' offense has played well of late. Doing so Sunday while missing Alvin Kamara (ankle) for the bulk of the contest is a good sign heading into Week 18.
3. Saints NFC South hopes remain alive. One team played like its backs were against the wall. The other sleepwalked early -- perhaps knowing they had another game in hand. New Orleans needed a victory to keep hope alive for the NFC South title. The Saints took it to the Bucs and set up must-wins in the season finale. New Orleans needs a win over the Falcons next week and a Bucs loss to Carolina to secure the division. Todd Bowles' team put up a stinker Sunday, but the path to the division title still runs through Tampa. A win over the 2-14 Panthers would secure the Bucs third consecutive division title.

Next Gen stat of the game: Derek Carr completed 10 of his 13 passes on third down for 95 yards and a touchdowns (+15.0% CPOE). Carr has completed +5.6% of his third down passes over expected over his last four games (second-highest in the NFL), improving from -3.4% CPOE over Weeks 1-13 (25th). 

NFL Research: Derek Carr has thrown two-plus passing touchdowns in four consecutive games, the longest streak by a Saints quarterback since Drew Brees had a five-game streak in 2019-2020. 

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• READ: Niners wrap up NFC's No. 1 seed
• READ: After another loss, Commanders sit at No. 2 spot in draft

Michael Baca's takeaways:

1. Niners lock up NFC’s No. 1 seed. Brock Purdy had a splendid bounce-back game after last week’s four-interception debacle, leading the 49ers to points on five of seven possessions in Sunday’s win. Purdy was near flawless, completing 22 of 28 passes for 230 yards, two touchdowns and a 124.7 passer rating. With an efficient rushing attack at his side and a clean pocket (zero sacks allowed), Purdy was his usual self, pinpointing his receivers with great accuracy and making the right throws on the fly in the few instances plays were broken. Purdy set a new 49ers single-season franchise mark with 4,280 passing yards on the season. Doing it in 16 games makes the accomplishment all that more satisfying amid his MVP-level campaign. All in all, it was an ideal display for Kyle Shanahan’s well-oiled machine coming off a loss as the 49ers approach another potential Super Bowl run. With Philadelphia falling to Arizona on Sunday, San Francisco earned the No. 1 seed in the NFC with the win and has an opportunity to get some rest before the playoffs in Week 18.
2. Sam Howell falters in second half. Fate led the second-year quarterback back into the starting role after being benched this week in favor of Jacoby Brissett, who was inactive due to a hamstring injury. Howell was solid in the first half, completing 9 of 13 passes for 100 yards with a touchdown to keep Washington competitive entering halftime. He smartly keyed in on Terry McLaurin in big situations, connecting with the star wideout four times for 61 yards and a score in the first half. Brian Robinson Jr. (76 scrimmage yards) made life easier for Howell and Co. as a whole, but things took a turn to start the fourth quarter once Howell threw an interception in the red zone, which was the beginning of the end for the Commanders. Howell would throw another bad pick on Washington’s next possession and the 49ers saw how flustered he gets under pressure and without a rushing attack. Howell’s solid start turned into an overall bad outing, finishing 17-of-28 passing for 169 yards (TD, two INTs) and a 60.0 passer rating.
3. Chirstian McCaffrey injures calf; Eli Mitchell sees action. San Francisco’s star running back exited in the fourth quarter without returning due to a calf injury. It wasn’t clear when or how McCaffrey suffered the injury, but the 49ers did get a good look at his backup. Mitchell took advantage of the extra playing time, generating 80 yards off 17 carries (4.7 YPC) with a TD and maintaining the 49ers’ offensive prowess to seal the victory. Of course, Deebo Samuel (35 yards off three carries) was a force to be reckoned with out of the backfield in this one and his role was seemingly tempered as the game got away from Washington. Samuel will continue to be San Francisco’s wild card in the postseason and Mitchell offered a nice change of pace on Sunday, but McCaffrey’s calf injury is a cause for concern. Locking in a first-round bye week, however, makes it a great overall afternoon for San Francisco.

Next Gen stat of the game: Brock Purdy was nearly perfect as a passer without pressure against the Commanders, completing 20 of 22 for 206 yards and a touchdown (+13.9% CPOE).

NFL Research: Brock Purdy passed Justin Herbert and tied Russell Wilson for the most games with a 110-plus passer rating in a player’s first two seasons. 

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