The Los Angeles Chargers beat the Denver Broncos on "Thursday Night Football" to open Week 16. On Saturday, the Kansas City Chiefs bested the Houston Texans 27-19. Then, the Baltimore Ravens rolled over the AFC North rival Pittsburgh Steelers 34-17 to clinch a playoff spot.
The action continued on Sunday. Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor rushed for 218 yards and three touchdowns, and rookie quarterback Michael Penix Jr. performed well in his debut, leading the Atlanta Falcons past the New York Giants.
Later, the San Francisco 49ers were officially eliminated from the playoffs after their loss to the Miami Dolphins, and the Buffalo Bills narrowly escaped the New England Patriots.
Our NFL Nation reporters reacted to all the action, answering lingering questions coming out of each game and detailing everything else you need to know for every team. Let's get to it.
Jump to:
PIT-BAL | DEN-LAC | HOU-KC
CLE-CIN | LAR-NYJ | NYG-ATL
TEN-IND | DET-CHI | PHI-WSH
ARI-CAR | MIN-SEA | NE-BUF
SF-MIA | JAX-LV
Las Vegas 19, Jacksonville 14
Raiders
Did the Raiders wreck their draft slot and, if so, do they care? Most likely, and most definitely not. The Raiders, in desperate need of a franchise quarterback, entered this week projected to have the No. 2 overall pick. But they ended their 10-game losing streak with the win. Las Vegas not only improved to 3-12 but also fell back in the draft order. Of course, winning their first game since Sept. 29 was paramount for the emotional standing of Raiders players, who now travel to New Orleans before closing at home against the Chargers. A three-game winning streak to end the season? Wilder things have happened.
Describe the game in two words: As advertised. Brock Bowers continued his masterful rookie season, hauling in 11 passes for 99 yards to become just the third rookie tight end in league history to have a 1,000-yard receiving season. Bowers now has 101 catches on the season for 1,067 yards, which pulled him within nine yards of Mike Ditka for the most receiving yards by a rookie tight end in NFL history.
What we learned about the QB today: Aidan O'Connell will not go quietly into the night. Two weeks after being carted off the field in Tampa Bay, he used his arm to lead the Raiders to their first win since Week 4 by passing for 257 yards. He also scrambled for a career-best 20 yards and holds the keys to where they draft in April. -- Paul Gutierrez
Next game: at Saints (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)
Jaguars
Is wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. already the Jaguars' best player? It'd be hard to argue otherwise. Not only is he the first rookie receiver in Jaguars history to surpass 1,000 yards, but he's also just their third drafted player to surpass 1,000 yards. Offensive coordinator Press Taylor said this week that Thomas' football IQ is so high he learned all three receiver spots and can operate at a high level at each. With Christian Kirk (collarbone), Gabe Davis (knee) and tight end Evan Engram (shoulder) out with injuries, the Jaguars needed Thomas to step up his production and he has. He had 100-yard games the past two weeks and 27 catches in the past three games.
What we learned about the QB today: Mac Jones isn't doing much to help his chances for an audition next season. He started the game 4-for-13 and missed several simple completions. Even the 62-yard touchdown to a wide-open Thomas was underthrown. With a fourth-and-11 and the game on the line, he threw a checkdown.
Describe the game in two words: Injury fest. The Jaguars lost three starters or key players to injury in the first half: safety Darnell Savage (concussion), left tackle Walker Little (ankle) and linebacker Ventrell Miller (ankle). Right tackle Anton Harrison (shoulder) and cornerback Tyson Campbell (shoulder) also left the game in the second half. Injuries have decimated the roster this season. -- Mike DiRocco
Next game: vs. Titans (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)
Miami 29, San Francisco 17
Dolphins
Do the Dolphins have a new No. 1 receiver? Tyreek Hill is the Dolphins' leader in both targets (108) and receiving yards (834), but tight end Jonnu Smith and running back De'Von Achane are tied for the team lead with 76 receptions. Since Week 12, Smith and Hill are tied for the most targets on the team with 43 apiece. With two games remaining, Smith is just 32 yards behind Hill for the team lead.
Describe the game in two words: Diverse production. With Jaylen Waddle out, Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa targeted seven different receivers at least two times. Most of the Dolphins' receptions came courtesy of Achane and Smith, although Hill also snagged his seventh touchdown of the season.
Most surprising performance: Miami snapped a six-game streak of failing to eclipse 100 rushing yards with 168 on Sunday. Achane led the way with a season-high 121 rushing yards (his first time breaking 100 all season) and his performance was punctuated by his longest touchdown run of 2024. He scored from 50 yards out to ice the game with two minutes remaining. -- Marcel Louis-Jacques
Next game: at Browns (Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET)
Brock Purdy is hit as he's thrown and gets picked off by Malik Washington. A couple plays later, the Dolphins put it away with a De'Von Achane touchdown.
49ers
Now that the 49ers are officially eliminated, what's left for them in the final two weeks? From a draft perspective, the Niners would be doing themselves no favors by winning any more games, but there is still plenty on the line for many of the players on the roster. Quarterback Brock Purdy will become eligible for a contract extension on Jan. 6 and a finishing flourish would be helpful for his price tag. Meanwhile, San Francisco has 24 players scheduled for restricted or unrestricted free agency, including linebacker Dre Greenlaw, cornerback Charvarius Ward and safety Talanoa Hufanga. The final two weeks will offer more time to evaluate their youngsters for what figures to be a busy offseason.
Describe the game in two words: Season summary. Sunday's loss almost perfectly encapsulated their year. One third-quarter offensive possession featured a starter getting injured (left tackle Jaylon Moore), a pair of costly penalties by rookie receiver Ricky Pearsall and another special teams miscue as kicker Jake Moody missed from 41 yards. It was quintessential 2024 Niners football.
What we learned about the QB today: If, as expected, the 49ers are going to invest heavily in Purdy, they'd be wise to also divert more resources into protecting him. As offensive line coach Chris Foerster put it this week, that group hasn't been good enough this year, and Sunday's game offered plenty of additional evidence. Purdy was under pressure again for much of the day. -- Nick Wagoner
Next game: vs. Lions (Monday, 8:15 p.m. ET)
Buffalo 24, New England 21
Bills
How much of a concern is this overall performance moving forward? There are pieces of this performance that should be flagged but not at sky-is-falling levels. Some defensive issues are longstanding, such as on third-down (New England converted 6-of-11) and against the run (127 yards), though four starters sat out the game. The offense, on the other hand, showed uncharacteristic problems. This is only the fourth time the Bills have scored less than 25. Quarterback Josh Allen has shown enough in this potential MVP season that this wasn't representative of what this unit is capable of.
Most surprising performance: The offense. Signs of the unit that has scored 30 points in a record-tying eight straight games were minimal. There were flashes, largely courtesy of running back James Cook. But there were uncharacteristic miscues, like multiple fumbles that the Bills managed to recover, dropped passes and Allen struggling under pressure.
Describe the game in two words: Turnover battle. After the defense gave up two Patriots touchdowns on the opening drives, it only allowed one more touchdown and ended the Patriots' first three drives of the second half with takeaways, including a fumble recovery touchdown by nickel corner Taron Johnson. -- Alaina Getzenberg
Next game: vs. Jets (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)
Patriots
Could staying close with the Bills be a sign of better things in the future? Yes. Entering with three wins and having long-ago been eliminated from playoff contention, this was the type of frigid game on the road against a top opponent that could have turned ugly fast for first-year head coach Jerod Mayo's team. Instead, the Patriots set the tone by controlling the clock and line of scrimmage in the first half (leading 14-7). But they couldn't sustain momentum in the second half against a more talented team. The Patriots finish the season with home games against the Chargers and Bills, and will look to build momentum heading into 2025.
Most surprising performance: Mayo calling for a successful fake punt from the Patriots' own 23 on fourth-and-1 in the second quarter. This was the type of aggressive coaching some hoped he would have adopted earlier in the season. The play contributed to one of the Patriots' best halves all year, as rookie quarterback Drake Maye was in command before a drastic decline in the second half.
Eye-popping stat: The Patriots couldn't hold on to a 14-0 lead. Including the playoffs, they had won 63 straight games in which they led by 14-plus points, the second-longest streak by any team this century -- behind the 104-game streak of the Steelers from 2002-17. The last time the Patriots blew a 14-point lead was Week 13 of 2015 against the Eagles. -- Mike Reiss
Next game: vs. Chargers (Saturday, 1 p.m. ET)
Minnesota 27, Seattle 24
Vikings
How does this impact the Vikings' chances at No. 1 seed? As crazy as it sounds, the Vikings now have a clear path to the top seed in the NFC. They'll clinch it if they win their final two games, which are against the Packers and the Lions. That's thanks in part to the Eagles' loss Sunday to Washington. The Vikings technically remain in second place in the NFC North, but at 13-2 they control their seeding destiny.
Eye-popping stat: Quarterback Sam Darnold completed 14-of-25 pass attempts for 192 yards and a touchdown on attempts over 2.5 seconds, including his lowest completion percentage above expected (minus-11.0%) on such attempts in a game this season, per NFL Next Gen Stats. On quick pass attempts, Darnold completed 8-of-10 attempts for 54 yards and two touchdowns (plus-12.5% CPOE), his first game with multiple touchdowns on quick passes this season.
Biggest hole in the game plan: With veteran safety Harrison Smith (foot) sidelined for the first time all season, the Vikings clearly were a step slow in lining up and getting their coverages set for much of the game. The Seahawks seemed eager to capitalize, as they dropped back on 38 of their first 54 plays. But Minnesota's secondary delivered when it mattered, clinching the win on an interception by Theo Jackson. -- Kevin Seifert
Next game: vs. Packers (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)
Vikings' Theo Jackson comes up with a game-sealing interception, and joins teammates in a "Camp Rock" dance celebration.
Seahawks
Can the Seahawks still make the playoffs? They're still very much alive mathematically, though getting in as NFC West champs is their only real shot since they'll have a hard time catching Washington for the third wild-card spot. With the Rams winning earlier in the day to take a full-game lead in the division (including a head-to-head win), the Seahawks likely need not only a win over Los Angeles in Week 18 at SoFi Stadium, but also a Rams loss next week at home to Arizona in order for Seattle to win the NFC West.
Describe the game in two words: Unforced errors. It's hard enough to beat a 12-win team with your best game. It's even harder when you're making unnecessary mistakes. The most glaring one for Seattle was Tre Brown lining up in the neutral zone on a third-down play in the first half, which negated a sack. Brown, who started in place of Riq Woolen, was then beat for a touchdown.
What we learned about the QB today: Geno Smith's season is still an enigma. Despite getting little help from his run game and perhaps not 100% coming off a knee injury, Smith threw three touchdown passes and led five scoring drives. But he threw three more interceptions -- giving him 16 on the season -- and was nearly picked off two other times. -- Brady Henderson
Next game: at Bears (Thursday, 8:15 p.m. ET)
Carolina 36, Arizona 30
Panthers
Will Bryce Young be the Panthers' starting quarterback going into next season? One hundred percent. Panthers coach Dave Canales was impressed by how Young handled himself following a four-turnover game last week and said before Sunday's game that Young was his guy for the rest of this season. The top pick of the 2023 draft came through with an impressive performance in beating the Cardinals (two touchdown passes and one rushing score) and proved time and again over the past two months that he can deliver at a high level.
Describe the game in two words: Building block. The Panthers had nothing to play for but pride, while the Cardinals needed a win Sunday to remain in playoff contention. Even with its porous run defense (the Cardinals had 206 yards rushing), the Panthers showed they can play with anybody. Over the past month, they came close to upending the Chiefs, Buccaneers and Eagles.
Early prediction for next week: Carolina will continue to play spoiler as they did Sunday and will beat Tampa Bay, a team the Panthers came within a lost fumble in overtime of beating in Week 13. The Bucs are battling with Atlanta for the NFC South title, but the Panthers are showing they won't be a pushover down the stretch. -- David Newton
Next game: at Buccaneers (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)
Cardinals
What will the next two weeks look like for the Cardinals? Now that they've been eliminated from playoff contention, the Cardinals will head into the offseason after games at the Rams and at home versus the 49ers. Arizona has already been playing a number of younger players, but that number could increase as it tries to evaluate who it has for the future. Specifically, offensive linemen Christian Jones and Jon Gaines II could see more snaps in the last two games.
Eye-popping stat: Before he left the game with a knee injury, running back James Conner averaged 6.2 yards before contact per rush in the first half, according to ESPN Research. Entering Sunday, he was averaging 2.3 yards before contact per rush. He had 111 rushing yards in the first half, including 74 before contact.
Biggest hole in the game plan: Containing Bryce Young on the ground. The Panthers quarterback had 68 rushing yards Sunday, 57 of which came within a four-play span in a second-quarter drive. He ripped off a 34-yard run and then scored three plays later on a 23-yard run. -- Josh Weinfuss
Next game: at Rams (Saturday, 8 p.m. ET)
Washington 36, Philadelphia 33
Commanders
Does Sunday's win lock up rookie of the year honors for quarterback Jayden Daniels? It should -- by a large margin. It's hard to imagine a rookie offensive player doing more than Daniels, who started off strong yet is doing more down the stretch. He now has 22 touchdown passes, including five to beat the Eagles and nine over the past three games. He also rushed for 82 of the Commanders' 114 yards Sunday. Washington's offense did not have a lot going for it with five turnovers, but Daniels bailed it out with big pass plays, including the 10-yard winning throw with six seconds left.
Describe the game in two words: Unlikely comeback. The Commanders had no business winning after turning the ball over five times, which led to 13 points for the Eagles. Yet, Daniels made all the difference. And the Commanders also contained running back Saquon Barkley to 27 yards on 16 carries in the second half.
Biggest hole in the game plan: The run game. Washington's run game was all or nothing -- and the all was its rookie quarterback. The Commanders' line couldn't move the Eagles' front all afternoon. This has become a reoccurring issue, as their running backs rushed for only 34 yards against the Saints last week. -- John Keim
Next game: vs. Falcons (Sunday, 8:20 p.m. ET)
Eagles
What's the significance of Jalen Hurts' injury? Hurts exited the game in the first quarter because of a concussion. Time will tell if he clears protocol for next week. The No. 1 seed is a long shot after the Eagles lost and the Lions won Sunday. According to ESPN Analytics, the Eagles would have a 80% win probability versus the Cowboys and an 84% win probability in the regular-season finale against the Giants with Hurts playing. That drops to 66% against Dallas and 72% against New York with Kenny Pickett as the starter.
Eye-popping stat: Saquon Barkley rushed for 109 yards and a pair of touchdowns in the first quarter, highlighted by a 68-yard TD scamper down the left sideline late. He is the first player with 100-plus rushing yards and two-plus rushing touchdowns in an opening quarter since the Vikings' Adrian Peterson in Week 14 of 2012. Peterson won MVP that season.
What we learned about the QB on Sunday: Pickett had a roller coaster of a day. He helped cap off a touchdown drive on the series Hurts was injured on a four-yard strike to A.J. Brown but then threw an interception that led to a Commanders score. Overall, it was a grind, with some misfires and streaks of low productivity mixed in with some positive plays. -- Tim McManus
Next game: vs. Cowboys (Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET)
Jalen Hurts picks up yards scrambling but the play ends with his head hitting the turf, leading to Hurts leaving the game.
Detroit 34, Chicago 17
Lions
Can running back Jahmyr Gibbs continue to carry the load with David Montgomery out? Certainly. Gibbs and Montgomery could be feature backs for nearly any team in the NFL. But even without Montgomery -- who is sidelined with a MCL injury -- in Chicago, Gibbs finished with 154 scrimmage yards. He rushed for 109 yards and a touchdown, while catching four receptions for 45 yards. Entering the game, he was prepared for a larger workload and his production showed it wasn't too much for him to handle.
What we learned about the QB on Sunday: Lions quarterback Jared Goff wasn't fazed by the loss to Buffalo or Detroit's banged-up roster. Instead, he bounced back in spectacular fashion, finishing 23-of-32 with 336 passing yards, three touchdowns and zero interceptions. He also set a career-high mark for passing touchdowns in a season (33) in the win.
Early prediction for next week: Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams will eclipse the 1,000-yard receiving mark for the first time in his NFL career. Williams, who had a career-best 143 receiving yards Sunday, is 110 yards away from the mark. In last year's NFC title game against the 49ers, he delivered a rushing and receiving touchdown. -- Eric Woodyard
Next game: at 49ers (Monday, Dec. 30, 8:15 p.m. ET)
Bears
How did Ben Johnson's up-close audition land with the Bears? Sources confirmed to ESPN that Johnson, the Lions' offensive coordinator, is expected to interview for the Bears' head coaching vacancy. Detroit put up 400-plus yards of offense for a third time in four games and jumped out to an early 20-0 lead. Conversely, Johnson, who praised quarterback Caleb Williams for how the ball "whistles" when he throws it, got a good look at a strong performance from the rookie.
What we learned about the QB on Sunday: Williams is playing with confidence amid a lost season. He became the first rookie in franchise history to pass for 3,000 yards and threw the longest touchdown pass of his career, a 45-yarder to receiver Keenan Allen. Williams has completed at least 10 passes to receivers split out wide in three of his past four games after doing so only once in Weeks 1-12.
Most surprising performance: Allen crossed 100 receiving yards (141 total) for the first time this season after seeing double-digit targets (13) for the fifth time. The 32-year-old veteran scored the longest touchdown of his career and needs two more TD catches to set a single-season career high (nine). -- Courtney Cronin
Next game: vs. Seahawks (Thursday, 8:15 p.m. ET)
Indianapolis 38, Tennessee 30
Colts
Should the Colts have leaned more on their running game? For starters, the Titans played some abysmal run defense in this game. But the Colts' dominance on the ground was the closest thing they've shown to a true identity. Indianapolis stuck with the run even when the Titans knew it was coming. The Colts' 335 rushing yards was their biggest output since the final week of the 2020 season. With running back Jonathan Taylor and a physical offensive line, this is the brand of football that best suits this team.
Describe the game in two words: Unnecessarily difficult. The Colts allowed the Titans to score 23 unanswered points in the second half after taking a 38-7 lead. It didn't need to be that hard. A clutch third-down conversion with under two minutes remaining iced the game, as quarterback Anthony Richardson connected with wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. to move the chains.
Eye-popping stat: Taylor became the third player with 200-plus rushing yards and three touchdowns in a game over the past decade. His 218 rushing yards were the second-most of his career, behind 253 yards against the Jaguars in 2020. -- Stephen Holder
Next game: at Giants (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)
Titans
Is the late comeback attempt proof the Titans haven't quit on first-year coach Brian Callahan? The Titans scored on their second drive but got outscored 38-0 until Tyjae Spears' touchdown run with 3:02 left in the third quarter. Rather than lay down, Callahan's team fought back to within one score. The overall performance is unacceptable. But the way the Titans kept pushing forward shows they haven't quit on Callahan. Next week's matchup with the Jaguars is the best chance the Titans have to add to their three-win total.
What we learned about the QB on Sunday: Although he has played five more seasons than Will Levis, Mason Rudolph is susceptible to the same mistakes. He threw an interception late in the second quarter that led to the Colts' third touchdown of the period. The offense was more on schedule, but it's clear whoever is under center can't overcome all the reasons the Titans haven't been winning.
Eye-popping stat: Entering this week, the Titans' run defense was 12th in the NFL, allowing 115.2 rushing yards per game. The Colts finished with 335 yards on the ground, which was the second-most allowed by a Titans/Oilers defense in franchise history. The Dallas Texans set the record with 398 rushing yards against the Houston Oilers on Oct. 1, 1965. -- Turron Davenport
Next game: at Jaguars (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)
Mason Rudolph avoids getting sacked and throws a short touchdown pass to Nick Westbrook-Ikhine.
Atlanta 34, N.Y. Giants 7
Falcons
How did Michael Penix Jr. do in his first career start? It was only the second time a Falcons quarterback has led his team to a double-digit win in his first NFL start (Matt Ryan, 2008). Ryan, of course, went on to be perhaps the greatest player in franchise history. It's too soon for any superlatives about Penix. He finished 18-of-27 for 202 yards and an interception that should have been caught by tight end Kyle Pitts. The defense and running back Bijan Robinson were the stars Sunday, but the quarterback's arm talent, poise and processing were encouraging. It was against the 2-13 Giants, yet Atlanta's offense looked much better than it had the past five games with Kirk Cousins.
Eye-popping stat: The Falcons had pick-sixes by safety Jessie Bates III and edge rusher Matthew Judon. It was the first time the team has had two pick-sixes in one game since 1983. Bates now has four interceptions on the season, and Judon scored his first career touchdown.
Describe the game in two words: Confidence builder. Things could not have gone better for the Falcons, who were 1-4 in their past five games and had benched their starting quarterback much sooner than they expected. Their 34-7 lead in the fourth quarter was their biggest since 2020. The defense also dominated for a second straight game. -- Marc Raimondi
Next game: at Commanders (Sunday, 8:20 p.m. ET)
Giants
Are the Giants going to win another game this season? The Giants have lost their past two games by a combined 48 points against the Falcons and Ravens. They will be heavy underdogs at home against the Colts and on the road against the Eagles. There is nothing to suggest their season won't end with 12 straight losses. It might not be the worst thing given the situation. They came into Sunday with a 37% chance for the first overall pick, according to ESPN Analytics. Losing out will only help those odds.
Describe the game in two words: Record futility. That makes it a franchise-record 10th straight loss for the Giants. Their last victory was on Oct. 6 in Seattle. They haven't even been competitive in a good chunk of games. They have lost three of their past five games by more than 20 points, which is contrary to general manager Joe Schoen's bye week claim they were close to winning games.
Eye-popping stat: After throwing two pick-sixes against the Falcons, quarterback Drew Lock has now thrown three pick-sixes in three starts. That is the second-most pick sixes this season despite his limited playing time in the Giants' offense. Only Tennessee's Will Levis (four) has tossed more. -- Jordan Raanan
Next game: vs. Colts (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)
L.A. Rams 19, N.Y. Jets 9
Rams
What does this win mean for the Rams' playoff chances? With their victory over the Jets, the Rams still control their playoff destiny, with home games against the Cardinals and Seahawks to end the regular season. The Rams have made the playoffs in five of their seven seasons under coach Sean McVay.
Describe the game in two words: December football. Just like they did in a rainy game vs. the 49ers in Week 15, the Rams leaned on their running game in 23-degree weather. Kyren Williams led the way with 122 yards and a touchdown on 23 carries. It was his 13th rushing score this season, the most by a Rams player since Todd Gurley scored 17 in 2018, per ESPN Research.
Most surprising performance: Sunday saw the season debut for tight end Tyler Higbee, who tore the ACL and MCL in his right knee in last season's wild-card loss to the Lions. He had only one catch for 11 yards, but it was a touchdown reception that gave the Rams a lead they never gave up in the fourth quarter. It was his first touchdown in 392 days, according to ESPN Research. -- Sarah Barshop
Next game: vs. Cardinals (Saturday, 8 p.m. ET)
Kyren Williams runs in a short touchdown to get the Rams on the board vs. the Jets.
Jets
How does an offense with so much talent continue to underachieve? The Jets opened with a 99-yard touchdown drive. They didn't punt once and still managed only nine points -- yet another reminder that the Aaron Rodgers-led offense has been a major bust. Rodgers missed some open receivers and lost a fumble deep in Jets territory, every lineman committed at least one penalty, the red zone efficiency was terrible (1-for-3) and receiver Allen Lazard dropped two passes. The end result was their sixth loss despite holding a fourth-quarter lead (a league high).
Biggest hole in the game plan: Interim coach Jeff Ulbrich made two questionable decisions on fourth down. The most egregious was going for it on fourth-and-1 from his own 33 in the second quarter when up 6-0. They failed, giving the Rams a short field for an eventual game-tying touchdown (missed PAT). Later, Ulbrich passed up a short field goal on their first drive of the second half and they failed on fourth-and-4.
Describe the game in two words: Where's Garrett? Garrett Wilson, already unhappy with the state of the offense, was targeted only three times over the first 55 minutes. Interestingly, he has been a nonfactor for the past six quarters, dating back to his sideline outburst last week in Jacksonville. Davante Adams continued to get the bulk of the targets. Wilson finished with six catches for 54 yards. -- Rich Cimini
Next game: at Bills (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)
Cincinnati 24, Cleveland 6
Bengals
Are the Bengals back in playoff contention? Somehow, yes. After being four games under .500 a few weeks ago, they have their playoff chances still flickering ahead of Week 17. The Bengals have won three straight games. And in their past two victories, they have looked convincingly good against bad teams, something that was an issue for most the season. This win sets up a big home showdown next Saturday.
Early prediction for next week: The Bengals will struggle with Denver's pass rush if they can't get healthy. Cincinnati right tackle Amarius Mims left the game with an ankle injury and Orlando Brown Jr. remains out with a fibula injury. The Broncos are fifth in pass rush win rate (45%) and third in sacks per dropback (8.2%). That could be a handful if Mims and Brown aren't ready.
Most surprising performance: Cincinnati's young defensive linemen had a big impact. The got sacks from rookie defensive tackles Kris Jenkins Jr. (2) and McKinnley Jackson (1). Cedric Johnson, who has been a healthy scratch often throughout the year, forced an intentional grounding late in the game too. It's a great sign for a group that has relied on Trey Hendrickson all season. -- Ben Baby
Next game: vs. Broncos (Saturday, 4:30 p.m. ET)
Browns
What else is there for the Browns to accomplish with two games left? The Browns' 12th loss of the season was filled with more mistakes -- three turnovers -- and an offense, now led by quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson, that couldn't sustain drives. Cleveland wraps up the season with games against the Dolphins and Ravens before an offseason that will be filled with tough decisions. The team has been increasingly using its younger players, especially on the defensive line, and that could continue in the final two weeks.
What we learned about the QB on Sunday: Thompson-Robinson isn't ready to be considered for the Browns' 2025 starting position. He made his fourth career start but looked like he has for much of his young career: Talented but careless with the ball. He was intercepted twice, including once in the end zone, which brings his career total to nine with just one passing touchdown.
Early prediction for next week: The Browns will hold Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa to a season-low in passing yards. Cleveland runs Cover 1 at the highest rate in the NFL, and Tagovailoa has struggled against the coverage. He averages 5.4 yards per attempt, which is the second-lowest mark among qualifying passers. -- Daniel Oyefusi
Next game: vs. Dolphins (Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET)
Baltimore 34, Pittsburgh 17
Ravens
Are the Ravens now the favorites to win the AFC North? Not exactly. It's true that Baltimore and Pittsburgh are both tied atop the division with 10-5 records. But the Ravens have a 45% chance to win the AFC North, according to ESPN Analytics. If Baltimore and Pittsburgh both win out, the Ravens lose the top spot because their record in common games is worse than the Steelers'. So, the Ravens likely need to win out -- at Houston and home against Cleveland -- and the Steelers need to lose at least one more time. Pittsburgh's last two games are at home against the Chiefs and the Bengals. But this was a huge victory and confidence boost for the Ravens -- who had lost eight of the previous nine games against the Steelers.
Describe the game in two words: Role reversal. Unlike the previous meetings with the Steelers, it was the Ravens who capitalized on Pittsburgh's mistakes. Baltimore produced two takeaways -- a forced fumble on Russell Wilson inside the Baltimore 5-yard line and a Marlon Humphrey 37-yard interception return for a touchdown. This was the first defensive score of the season for the Ravens. It was a much different story from the previous nine meetings, when Baltimore turned the ball over 19 times.
Most surprising performance: Running back Derrick Henry. He ran for 162 yards, recording his first career 100-yard game against the Steelers and redeeming himself from his 65-yard performance last month in Pittsburgh. It had been a tough stretch for Henry, who had been held under 70 yards rushing in three of his previous five games. Now, Henry is in an elite group with his fourth 1,500-yard rushing season, which trails only Barry Sanders (who had five). -- Jamison Hensley
Next game: at Texans (Wednesday, 4:30 p.m. ET)
Marlon Humphrey comes up with a big play to snag Russell Wilson's pass and take it to the end zone to pad the Ravens' lead vs. the Steelers.
Steelers
Can the Steelers still win the AFC North? After dropping Saturday's game to the Ravens, the Steelers have to win out to clinch their division and a home playoff game. With games against the Kansas City Chiefs and Cincinnati Bengals to finish out the season, that's not an easy task. While there's no simple fix to the recent ails of a Steelers team that can't get off the field on defense or move the ball on offense, the return of S DeShon Elliott and WR George Pickens would go a long way to finishing the season strong.
What we learned about the QB on Saturday: Wilson had two touchdown passes, but he also directly contributed to 14 of the Ravens' points. Not only did he fumble the ball 4 yards short of the end zone in the first half, but in the fourth quarter, his pass thrown behind tight end MyCole Pruitt was picked off and returned for a touchdown by Humphrey. The pick-six gave the Ravens a 31-17 lead with 13 minutes to go and all but shut the door on a Steelers comeback. Wilson completed 22 of 33 attempts for 217 yards, but the turnovers were his most costly of the season.
Biggest hole in the game plan: What happened to Pat Freiermuth? The Steelers tight end came into Saturday's game with a touchdown in three straight games, but he was a nonfactor against the Ravens. Freiermuth finished with three catches on three targets for 16 yards. -- Brooke Pryor
Next game: vs. Chiefs (Wednesday, 1 p.m. ET)
Kansas City 27, Houston 19
Chiefs
Is Xavier Worthy the Chiefs' most valuable receiver? Who else could it be at this point? The Chiefs went to Worthy 11 times as a receiver and three times as a ball carrier. He delivered 7 catches, 65 yards and 1 touchdown as a receiver and 10 rushing yards. The Chiefs had some timely contributions from other receivers, most notably Hollywood Brown and DeAndre Hopkins. But Worthy was their go-to receiver.
What we learned about the QB on Saturday: Patrick Mahomes can be effective with his high ankle sprain. He didn't have his best game but was good enough for the Chiefs to win. He scored the Chiefs' first touchdown on a 15-yard scramble and also had a 12-yard scramble on the drive.
Most surprising performance: Brown had a promising game for a player who hasn't been in a game since suffering a sternoclavicular injury during the preseason. Brown didn't play a lot but caught five passes for 45 yards. One catch came on fourth down, another on third down. Both plays delivered the Chiefs a fresh set of downs. -- Adam Teicher
Next game: at Steelers (Wednesday, 1 p.m. ET)
Texans
How will the Texans overcome injuries? The Texans lost three starters in right guard Shaq Mason, wideout Tank Dell and safety Jimmie Ward. All appear to be long-term injuries, as Ward and Dell had to be carted off the field. Losing Dell is a bigger loss, as he's another weapon gone for quarterback C.J. Stroud. Wideout Stefon Diggs already suffered a season-ending knee injury in Week 8 and now Dell is most likely going to be out.
What we learned about the QB on Saturday: Stroud can and will have to be efficient with Dell out. The only difference-maker he has now is Nico Collins. So whenever teams take him away, Stroud will have to take underneath throws, which he did against the Chiefs, going 10-for-15 for 102 yards.
Biggest hole in the game plan: In four out of the past six games, running back Joe Mixon has under 60 rushing yards. His low production is a result of the shuffling on the offensive line. The Texans are 5-2 when Mixon rushes for over 100 yards but are 2-3 when he rushes for under 60. -- DJ Bien-Aime
Next game: vs. Ravens (Wednesday, 4:30 p.m. ET)
L.A. Chargers 34, Denver 27
Chargers
Are the Chargers' defensive issues fixable? After being one of the NFL's best defenses for much of the season, the Chargers' defense has fallen off in recent weeks. That continued in the first half Thursday night, as the Broncos scored on their first three possessions, the first time a team has done that to L.A. this season. The Chargers' biggest issue has been on third down. Through the first 11 weeks, they allowed 32.3% of third down conversions (second in NFL), but from Weeks 12-15, they allowed 47.5% (27th). They adjusted against Denver, allowing six points in the second half and holding the Broncos to 5-of-13 on third down, a sign that their issues could be behind them.
Describe the game in two words: Opportunistic Chargers. The Chargers took advantage of the Broncos' penalties; Denver racked up seven penalties for 61 yards, while the Chargers had only two for eight yards. A fair catch interference penalty at the end of the first half, which led to kicker Cameron Dicker making the first fair catch free kick in 48 years, turned the game around for the Chargers. They outscored the Broncos 21-6 from that moment to win the game.
Early prediction for next week: The Chargers' defense will get its first shutout. The Chargers seemed to find a spark defensively in that second half against Denver and will face a New England Patriots team next Saturday that is 31st in the NFL in points per game (17). This could be the perfect storm for a defense that has had near-shutouts twice this season and a jolt of momentum ahead of the playoffs. -- Kris Rhim
Next game: at Patriots (Saturday, 1 p.m. ET)
Broncos
How big of a missed opportunity was Thursday's loss? It's more a blow to the Broncos' psyche than their actual playoff chances, but the loss to the Chargers showed some immaturity in the big moment. The Broncos dropped from the No. 6 seed to the No. 7 (and final) seed with the loss, but they still have a 2.5-game lead on the Cincinnati Bengals, Indianapolis Colts and Miami Dolphins for that postseason spot. The real concern is with how the Broncos lost -- a flurry of untimely penalties and an offense that went tepid after scoring touchdowns on its first three possessions. Denver scored 21 points in the first 24 minutes of the game, then six in the remaining 36. The Broncos were ready to end their eight-year playoff drought, which makes the loss, according to coach Sean Payton, "disappointing because there was a lot at stake."
Describe the game in two words: Didn't listen. Payton has written it on his call sheet: "Run It!" And despite the Broncos' early success on the ground -- they ran the ball on seven of 10 plays to score a touchdown on their opening possession, then ran it just 14 times the remainder of the game. Payton continues to struggle to find a rhythm in how he calls the run game even as he continues to say how important it will be for the Broncos. But he's not following through on his words.
Biggest hole in the game plan: Chargers rookie Ladd McConkey came into the game leading their offense in receptions and receiving yards by a substantial margin. But the Broncos chose not to match Pro Bowl cornerback Pat Surtain II on him and struggled to contain the damage. McConkey repeatedly moved the sticks, catching six passes for 87 yards. "We dropped coverage five different times ... you can't have one of their top receivers not covered," Payton said. -- Jeff Legwold
Next game: at Bengals (Saturday, 4:30 p.m. ET)