There at the moment are three weeks left within the common season, the place the spots within the playoffs are being stuffed. Within the week earlier than Christmas, which groups may get an early current? Let’s have 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 recent 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 shortly flip the ball over on down resulting from their failure to transform a 4th down try from their 49-yard line. The Eagles may benefit from this turnover and convert it into their first factors of the sport. The offense, led by quarterback Jalen Hurts, made their method all the way down to the Commanders’ two-yard line. From right here, Saquon Barkley discovered the endzone for the speeding landing.
The great luck saved coming for Philadelphia, as on the primary play on the subsequent drive, Washington operating again Brian Robinson fumbled the ball, which the Eagles would recuperate. This restoration resulted in one other landing when backup quarterback Kenny Pickett discovered A.J. Brown for a four-yard landing cross. 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.
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The backup made his first mistake on the next drive from the Eagles. Pickett’s cross 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 cross. In response, the Eagles once more discovered the endzone with a 68-yard speeding landing from Barkley.
The Commanders would get again into the sport just a few 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 cross.
Nonetheless, Daniels made a mistake close to halftime when his cross 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 objective try. The kick was brief, that 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 objective 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 objective to widen their lead.
However, the Commanders had been in a position to shake off this error on their subsequent drive to get themselves again into the sport. Daniels and firm had been in a position to make their method all the way down to the Eagles’ four-yard line, and right here the quarterback discovered OlamideZaccheaus for the landing cross to make it a one-possession sport going into the fourth quarterback.
The Commanders may 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 objective for the Eagles, this time from 50 yards out, giving Philadelphia a slender two-point lead.
The lead was widened to 5 factors after the Eagles scored one other area objective of a drive that began after one other intercepted cross 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.
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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 cross, 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 artistic to search out the endzone. What we noticed was a number of lateral passes. These by no means finish effectively, and Philadelphia fumbled the ball on considered one of these passes, ending the sport.
The Washington Commanders had defeated the Philadelphia Eagles 36-33.
Jayden Daniels had one other robust sport, proving why he was a very good decide for the Commanders (and, in my eyes, ought to have been the primary decide as an alternative of Caleb Williams). For the Eagles, the defeat may end result from the absence of Hurts. Whereas Pickett did sufficient to maintain them within the sport, the end result could have been totally 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 at the very least 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, figuring out {that a} win right here would clinch the division.
A Convincing Kansas Win
The Kansas Metropolis Chiefs have had a wierd yr. They arrive into this week with a 13-1 file 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 method and last-minute area targets. This week, they confronted the Houston Texans, a group more likely to win the AFC South. Will the Chiefs be capable 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 shortly 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 cross 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 be capable to transfer all the way down to the Texans’ 15-yard line. From right here, Mahomes (coming off a particularly delicate ankle damage) scrambled for the endzone to file the 15-yard speeding landing to provide the Chiefs the lead.
In response to this, the Texans would be capable 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 objective try from kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn. This was profitable. Houston may take the lead on their subsequent drive when Stroud discovered Dalton Schultz for a 10-yard landing cross.
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However, this lead didn’t final lengthy. In response to this rating, the Mahomes lead offense may slowly drive down the sphere 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 turned 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 objective.
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 in a position to deliver themselves again into the sport. Ranging from the 50-yard line, Stroud and firm may transfer all the way down to the Chiefs’ 30-yard line. From right here, the quarterback discovered Tank Dell for the landing cross. Nonetheless, the PAT, which might have tied the sport, missed, protecting the Chiefs within the lead by one level.
A number of drives later, this lead was prolonged when Mahomes discovered Xavier Worthy for an eight-yard landing cross. 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 might stall, and a 38-yard Fairbairn area objective was the perfect they may do.
Houston wanted the Chiefs to each not rating any factors on their subsequent drive and for it to be over shortly, 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.
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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 extra time. 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 most likely probably the most convincing the Chiefs have had all season. However, they didn’t rating greater than 30 factors. In the event that they ever should face the Detroit Lions this yr, they may 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 decide of the draft. In a sport no one wished to win, who could be the unfortunate group to get the W?
As anticipated, neither facet had the perfect begin to this sport, with the primary 4 drives ending in a punt. Nonetheless, the Jaguars broke this streak close to the top 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 speeding 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 speeding landing to tie the sport.
The Raiders had been in a position to take the lead on their subsequent drive. Las Vegas may make it to the Jaguars’ 31-yard line, however no additional. This arrange a 49-yard area objective try from kicker Daniel Carlson. He would achieve success with the kick, giving the Raiders a slender three-point lead.
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This was prolonged to 6 factors of the next drive from the Raiders, as Carlson kicked a 37-yard area objective.
There have been no different scores from the primary half, nevertheless it must 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 top of the primary half, the Raiders had one other area objective try, with Carlson kicking from 46 yards out. Nonetheless, this kick went extensive of the goalposts.
In response to this missed area objective, the Jaguars shortly returned to the sport. From the Jaguars’ 38-yard line, Jones discovered Brian Thomas with a deep cross that discovered the endzone for a 62-yard landing cross. 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 in a position to advance all the way down to the sphere and attain the Jaguars’ seven-yard line. Right here, Ameer Abdullah discovered the endzone for the speeding landing to retake the lead for the Raiders.
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Neither group may 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 decide 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 offers the Jaguars a 3-12 season and places them into the race for the quantity two decide.
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 may go both method. 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 be capable 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 operating 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 Probably for a nine-yard landing cross to provide the Ravens the early lead.
However, this lead didn’t final lengthy. In response to this, the Steelers’ offense led by Russell Wilson, was in a position to make their method all the way down to the Ravens’ one-yard line. Right here, he discovered MyCole Pruitt for the landing cross.
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Nonetheless, the Steelers would make a pricey mistake just a few drives later. Wilson was in a position to 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 may transfer all the way down to the Steelers’ 14-yard line earlier than the quarterback discovered Rashod Bateman for the landing cross.
Baltimore was in a position to lengthen their lead on the next drive when kicker Justin Tucker had a 51-yard area objective. In response, Steelers kicker Chris Boswell kicked a 51-yard area objective to finish the half.
This meant that the Ravens had a 17-10 lead over the Steelers at halftime.
Pittsburgh was in a position to 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 method all the way down to the Ravens’ 12-yard line. Right here, Wilson discovered Cordarrelle Patterson for the tying landing cross.
Nonetheless, the scores didn’t stay stage for lengthy. On the next drive, Jackson discovered Mark Andrews for a seven-yard landing cross for the Ravens to retake the lead. Nonetheless, Baltimore didn’t have all of it of their method. On their subsequent drive, Jackson threw an interception within the Steelers crimson zone. Nonetheless, just a few performs later, Wilson threw an interception, and this may be returned to the endzone for a Choose 6 landing, which solely made the Ravens’ lead even bigger.
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With the end result all however safe, the Ravens added to their rating close to the top of the sport when Tucker kicked a 23-yard area objective.
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 file 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 Night time 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 effectively, however the Chargers had been in a position to 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 improbable 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 traditional 34-17:win over the Bears, protecting their hopes of a division title alive.
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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 most important 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 objective from Cardinals kicker Chad Ryland as time ran out despatched the sport to extra time, wherein Chuba Hubbard scored the profitable landing to provide Carolina a shock 36-30 win.
The Minnesota Vikings saved up with the Detroit Lions this week as they defeated the Seattle Seahawks. A late landing from Justin Jefferson gave the Vikings a slender 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.
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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 Night time 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 destroy my weekend? This week, they performed the Atlanta Falcons, with their new quarterback Michael Penix Jr. The Giants had been nonetheless the identical struggling Aspect. Penix has a superb debut, main the Falcons to a 34-7 win. With the win for the Raiders, the Giants at the moment are in possession of the primary decide of the draft. Can they preserve 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 probably 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.
