As we conclude Week 16 of the regular season, most teams still have something left to play for in Week 17, whether it be fighting for a higher seed or fighting for a playoff spot at all.
The Kansas City Chiefs (14-1) are an exception, as their slim 17-14 victory over the Atlanta Falcons (4-11) allowed them to clinch the No. 1 seed in the AFC and the conference’s only playoff bye.
The NFC’s No. 1 spot is still contested between three teams: the Green Bay Packers (12-3), New Orleans Saints (11-4) and Seattle Seahawks (11-4). The Packers have the most direct path to the No. 1 seed; if they defeat the Chicago Bears (8-7) in the final week, they lock up the top seed. Seattle on the other hand needs to win their last game and the Packers and Saints to lose their last games in order to get the bye.
This week still provided some memorable games for us to analyze, however.
New York Jets 23, Cleveland Browns 16
This games carries obvious significance for the Browns, as they would’ve clinched a playoff berth with a win over the 1-13 Jets. But this was also an important game for the Jets, too, as this win gives the Jacksonville Jaguars (1=14) the top pick in the 2021 NFL Draft and a shot at getting college phenom quarterback (QB) Trevor Lawrence out of Clemson.
This wasn’t the prettiest game for Browns’ QB Baker Mayfield, as he completed only 28 of 52 passes (roughly 52%) for 285 yards. While Mayfield didn’t throw any interceptions, he also didn’t throw any touchdowns, either.
Cleveland’s normally potent run game was held quiet in terms of yardage. The two-headed monster of running backs (RBs) of Nick Chubb (28) and Kareem Hunt (11) only combined for 39 yards on their combined 15 carries. Despite this, both RBs managed to earn a rushing touchdown, but the lack of yardage meant that the Browns had to rely on Mayfield’s arm to do the bulk of the work (which is not preferable).
The Browns had seven receivers record double-digit yards, but tight end (TE) Austin Hooper led the way with 71 yards on seven receptions. Defensive end (DE) Sheldon Richardson led the defense in tackles with 10 total. Fellow defensive end (DE) Myles Garrett and linebacker (LB) Oliver Vernon both picked up sacks.
The Jets actually had two players throw touchdowns this time around. QB Sam Darnold completed 16 of 32 passes for 175 yards and two touchdowns. Wide receiver (WR) Jamison Crowder also threw a 43-yard touchdown on a trick play.
The Jets’ run game was once again powered by the machine known as Frank Gore, who earned 48 yards on 14 carries. Darnold recorded 30 yards on seven carries.
Crowder led the Jets’ offense in receiving, picking up 92 yards and a receiving touchdown on seven receptions. WR Braxton Berrios and TE Christopher Herndon IV both earned receiving touchdowns as well.
LB Bryce Hager led the defense with 10 total tackles. The Jets’ pass rush made life hard for an overworked Mayfield with four sacks on the Browns’ signal caller.
This will be a very hard pill to swallow for Browns fans if Cleveland misses the playoffs again. Last year, the Browns had all the talent and hype in the world only to fall short, which was a first for the new Browns franchise. This year could go down as terrible too despite their first winning record since 2007 if they miss the playoffs after failing to beat a one-win squad that would’ve gave them a berth. Keep in mind the Browns haven’t made the playoffs since 2002.
The Jets lost the Lawrence sweepstakes, but I never thought that their main issue was the QB position. The primary issue in New York is coaching. Scraping the bottom of the coaching barrel would likely yield a better head coach than Adam Gase. The Jets can obviously win games; they just need the right personnel leading the way.
Indianapolis Colts 24, Pittsburgh Steelers 28
The Steelers’ free fall came dangerously close to extending to four-straight loss when they were down 24-7 against the Colts. However, the Steelers’ offense showed flashes of its early-season potency and made an impressive comeback.
Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger completed 34 of 49 passes for 342 yards and three touchdowns. While the passing attack excelled for Pittsburgh, the run game was still ineffective. RB James Connor led all rushers with 20 yards and a touchdown on five carries.
Pittsburgh’s receiving corps was led by WR JuJu Smith-Schuster, who picked up 96 yards and a touchdown on nine receptions. WR Diontae and TE Eric Ebron both picked up receiving touchdowns.
The defensive corps was commanded by LB Avery Williamson, who racked up 14 total tackles and a sack. Cornerback (CB) contributed with an interception.
QB Philip Rivers led the way for the Colts, completing 22 of 35 passes for 270 yards, a touchdown and an interception. The run game was led by RBs Jonathan Taylor (74) and Nyheim Hines (44), who combined for 118 yards. Taylor ran it into the endzone twice.
Indianapolis’s receiver corps was led by the dual-threat assault of WRs Zach Paschal (64 yards, touchdown) and T.Y. Hilton (60 yards). Defensively, LB Darius Leonard recorded 10 total tackles to lead all defenders.
For Pittsburgh, the wins secures an AFC North crown, their first since 2017. Indianapolis’s playoff hopes remain alive, but it is imperative that they win their Week 17 matchup against the Jaguars (who defeated them in Week 1). A loss would give the Tennessee Titans (10-5) the division by default, but a Colts win and a Titans loss would put Indianapolis the division.
Los Angeles Rams 9, Seattle Seahawks 20
Welcome to the de facto NFC West title game. Seattle found themselves in this situation in Week 17 of the 2019 season against the 49ers while the Rams’ last division title came in 2018.
Rams’ QB Jared Goff struggled against a revived Seahawks defense. Goff completed 24 of 43 passes for 234 yards and an interception. Without RB Cam Akers, fellow RB Darrell Henderson led the way, recording 62 yards on 12 carries.
LA’s receiving corps was led by WR Cooper Kupp, who picked up 66 yards on eight receptions. Defensively, LB Troy Reeder led the team in tackles with 11 total tackles. Seattle’s offensive line struggled with the Rams’ pass rush, as LB Leonard Floyd (2), nose tackle (NT) Sebastian Joseph (1), DT Aaron Donald (1) and NT Greg Gaines (1) all picked up sacks.
For the Seahawks, QB Russell Wilson completed 20 of 32 passes for 225 yards and a touchdown. RB Chris Carson led the ground game with 69 yards on 13 carries. WR D.K. Metcalf led all receivers with 59 yards on six receptions. TE Jacob Hollister got the game’s only touchdown.
The star of the game (which is hard to believe given the start of the season) was Seattle’s defense. The Seahawks’ defensive unit provided a crucial goal line stand and prevented the Rams from ever getting into the endzone.
LB Jordyn Brooks led the way with eight total tackles. Safety Jamal Adams, who now has the record for most sacks in a season by a defensive back, followed with eight total tackles. Safety Quandre Diggs picked up an interception while DT Jarran Reed (2) DE Alton Robinson (1) combined for three sacks.
With the win, Seattle claims the NFC West crown, arguably the toughest division in the league next to the AFC North. If the Seahawks want to make any noise in the postseason, they need their offense and defense to show up in the same game. The Seahawks defense started off the season on a historically bad pace while the offense was unstoppable. Now, that dynamic is flipped on its head.
The Rams still have a chance to enter the postseason, as they will compete with the Arizona Cardinals (8-7) and Chicago Bears (8-7) for the last wild card spot in the NFC (the other was claimed by Tampa Bay). If the Rams beat the Cardinals, they will punch their ticket in, so they have the most direct shot at the playoffs.
Around the League (prior to Week 17)
AFC East
#1: Buffalo Bills (12-3, clinched division)
#2: Miami Dolphins (10-5)
#3: New England Patriots (6-9, eliminated)
#4: New York Jets (2-13, eliminated)
AFC West
#1: Kansas City Chiefs (14-1, clinched conference)
#2: Las Vegas Raiders (7-8, eliminated)
#3: Los Angeles Chargers (6-9, eliminated)
#4: Denver Broncos (5-10, eliminated)
AFC North
#1: Pittsburgh Steelers (12-3, clinched division)
#2: Baltimore Ravens (10-5)
#3: Cleveland Browns (10-5)
#4: Cincinnati Bengals (4-10-1, eliminated)
AFC South
#1: Tennessee Titans (10-5)
#2: Indianapolis Colts (10-5)
#3: Houston Texans (4-11, eliminated)
#4: Jacksonville Jaguars (1-14, eliminated)
NFC East
#1: Washington Football Team (6-9)
#2: Dallas Cowboys (6-9)
#3: New York Giants (5-10)
#4: Philadelphia Eagles (4-10-1, eliminated)
NFC West
#1: Seattle Seahawks (11-4, clinched division)
#2: Los Angeles Rams (9-6)
#3: Arizona Cardinals (8-7)
#4: San Francisco 49ers (6-9, eliminated)
NFC North
#1: Green Bay Packers (12-3, clinched division)
#2: Chicago Bears (8-7)
#3: Minnesota Vikings (6-9, eliminated)
#4: Detroit Lions (5-10, eliminated)
NFC South
#1: New Orleans Saints (11-4, clinched division)
#2: Tampa Bay Buccaneers (10-5, clinched wild card)
#3: Carolina Panthers (5-10, eliminated)
#4: Atlanta Falcons (4-11, eliminated)
