Bengals QB Joe Burrow, Buccaneers QB Baker Mayfield highlight Players of the Week

The search for Burrow's magnum opus might end with his performance in Saturday's thrilling 30-24 overtime win over the Broncos in Week 17. The Bengals quarterback went 39-of-49 passing for 412 yards and had four total touchdowns (three passing, one rushing), orchestrating and scoring the go-ahead TD late in regulation and generating the game-winner in OT. What Burrow went through to achieve it all -- seven sacks, 15 QB hits -- is the context which makes his effort all that more impressive, and Cincinnati remains alive in the postseason hunt because of its burgeoning superstar.

Mayfield was nearly perfect with Tampa Bay's season on the line on Sunday, completing 27 of 32 attempts for 359 yards and a career-high five touchdown passes. The Buccaneers' 48-14 blowout win over the Panthers launched Tampa Bay into the pole position in the NFC South with one game remaining, and Mayfield was a major part of it.

The main culprit of Miami's defensive dominance in Week 17, Dodson earns his first weekly honor after producing 15 tackles, one interception, a pass-break-up and a QB hit in Sunday's 20-3 win over the Browns.

Gardner-Johnson bounced back from a Week 16 ejection with two interceptions in a 41-7 win over the division-rival Cowboys in Week 17. The Eagles DB returned his first pick 69 yards for a game-opening, tone-setting TD. CJGJ's second INT thwarted a Dallas drive and led directly to a half-ending Eagles score. Philly clinched the NFC East and the No. 2 seed thanks in no small part to Gardner-Johnson's heroics.

Dicker continued his tremendous season on Saturday by striking true on all four of his field goals in a 40-7 win over the Patriots. Adding four successful point-after attempts to his perfect day, Dicker's 16 total points helped earn the Chargers clinch a playoff appearance.

The journeyman Smith-Marsette reached his destination on Sunday, running back the opening kickoff of the second half 100 yards for a touchdown. Smith-Marsette's score, his first career TD off a kickoff return, put the Giants up 15 points over the Colts, a lead they would never relinquish in a 45-33 victory, their first home win of the season.