December football hits different, and Week 16 in the NFL exemplified that sentiment. As the playoff picture sharpened, Week 16 widened the gap between teams pushing toward the postseason and those falling out of the race.
It began with chaos in the NFC West, where the Seattle Seahawks stormed back from a 16-point hole to stun the Los Angeles Rams in overtime on "Thursday Night Football." The momentum carried into Saturday, when the Chicago Bears outlasted the Green Bay Packers in overtime to seize control of the NFC North. Sunday added to the drama, with six of 12 games decided by one score.
The Pittsburgh Steelers produced one of the season's wildest endings, holding off the Detroit Lions after a potential winning touchdown was erased by an offensive pass interference penalty. Elsewhere, the Jacksonville Jaguars delivered a statement performance, ending the Denver Broncos' 11-game winning streak and knocking off the AFC's top seed.
With the league delivering no shortage of big moments and bigger performances, only one player could claim the title of "him."
Here are the results from ESPN's fan-voted "Himmy" Award:
Sam Darnold, Seattle Seahawks quarterback: 13%
Caleb Williams, Chicago Bears quarterback: 32%
Kenneth Gainwell, Pittsburgh Steelers running back: 22%
Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback: 33%
Here's how each nominee made their case in Week 16.
ESPN Research contributed to this story.
Seattle Seahawks QB Sam Darnold
Stats to know: 22-of-34, 270 yards, 2 TDs
Darnold's performance was uneven for much of Thursday night, but when the game demanded it most, he delivered.
After a strong opening drive, Seattle's offense sputtered, and Darnold threw two costly interceptions that helped fuel the Rams' surge and left the Seahawks facing a 16-point fourth-quarter deficit. One mistake set up a short-field touchdown, and the other came in the red zone -- moments that could have buried Seattle.
Instead, Darnold responded with his best stretch of the game, stabilizing the offense and delivering late throws that kept the comeback alive. He capped the rally by finding wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba for a touchdown in overtime, then hitting tight end Eric Saubert for a walk-off 2-point conversion. In a game defined by chaos, Darnold's late composure turned a flawed performance into a defining win and put Seattle alone atop the NFC West.
Chicago Bears QB Caleb Williams
Stats to know: 19-of-34, 250 yards, 2 TDs
Williams turned recent heartbreak into redemption during crunch time for the Bears. Less than two weeks after throwing a game-sealing interception against the Green Bay Packers, Williams authored a comeback that swung the NFC North race and, with help from the Lions, secured Chicago's first playoff appearance in five years.
Trailing by 10 points late in the fourth quarter, Williams beat an all-out blitz on fourth down and floated a touchdown pass to wide receiver Jahdae Walker to tie the score with 24 seconds remaining. After Chicago recovered an onside kick and forced overtime, Williams wasted little time, launching a 46-yard strike to wide receiver DJ Moore for the walk-off touchdown.
The rally marked Chicago's sixth win this season after trailing in the final two minutes. Green Bay held a 99% win probability before the collapse Saturday night. Williams leads the NFL with six fourth-quarter comeback wins and stands alone in Bears history as the only quarterback to throw a touchdown in the final 30 seconds of regulation and another in overtime.
Jacksonville Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence
Stats to know: 23-of-36, 279 yards, 3 TDs; 6 car, 20 yards, 1 TD
Lawrence delivered a complete performance Sunday to lead the Jaguars, who snapped the Broncos' 11-game winning streak.
Despite facing the league's most relentless pass rush and getting sacked five times, Lawrence finished with 279 yards, three passing touchdowns and no interceptions.
Jacksonville converted 4 of 5 red zone trips against the NFL's top red zone defense, keeping steady pressure on Denver throughout. Lawrence has accounted for 18 touchdowns during the Jaguars' six-game winning streak, including 10 over the past two games, as Jacksonville continues to surge at the right time.
Pittsburgh Steelers RB Kenneth Gainwell
Stats to know: 9 car, 50 yards; 5 rec, 78 yards, 1 TD
Gainwell's stat line doesn't leap off the page, but his impact was undeniable in one of the season's most chaotic games. With Pittsburgh searching for a spark, Gainwell delivered it just before halftime.
Despite Detroit linebacker Alex Anzalone interfering with him, Gainwell secured Aaron Rodgers' pass while on the ground, popped to his feet and raced into the end zone for a 45-yard touchdown that was initially ruled incomplete before being overturned after review.
The improbable touchdown tied the score 10-10 and kept the Steelers firmly in the contest. Beyond the highlight, Gainwell finished second on the team in rushing during Pittsburgh's 230-yard ground effort -- its highest total since 2016 -- and he led the team in receiving yards. In a game defined by late drama, Gainwell's awareness and versatility proved essential.