NFL Week 16 Christmas Eve Recap: A Motor City Stocking Stuffer

I just want to say this. I've never been so happy to see a rival win a division title. While I despise the Chicago Bears and the Minnesota Vikings, I can't say that I have that same hatred for the Detroit Lions. The Lions and Packers have been foes for over 90 years, and have spent the last half century plus in the same division. Yet I couldn't help but not find a reason to actually hate them. With the Bears, there's the history and the rivalry; the oldest in NFL history. With the Vikings, it's more than the rivalry; there's some arrogance from that fanbase. The Lions? Nothing.

The Lions have been a hard luck team for a vast majority of their existence. They won four NFL Championships but their last one came in 1957. There are 16 teams currently in the NFC; the Lions are the only one to have never reached the Super Bowl, though Detroit's Ford Field did host Super Bowl XL. The last two decades have been horrendous, with the centerpiece being the 2008 season, which saw the Lions become the first team to ever go 0-16--a feat that was duplicated by the Cleveland Browns in 2017. In addition, they hadn't won a division title since 1993, and had never won the NFC North.

Until now.

The Lions entered Week 16 only needing to defeat the Minnesota Vikings to capture the North. A tie would have done it as well. The Lions have had some good luck against the Vikings; we all remember that the Lions' first of their 3.5 wins in 2021 was against the Vikings two Decembers ago. This was a back and forth battle that mostly went the Lions' way, but the Vikings attempted to claw back and bring it to within six points. They had one last chance to spoil the Lions' party, but it would end with Nick Mullens throwing his fourth interception of the game, and it was party time in Motor City, though the game was in Minnesota.

The Detroit Lions are NFC North Champions! I've never been so happy to say that, and mind you, I'm a Packers fan. Let me tell you how long ago 1993 was: Power Rangers just started, The Simpsons was in its fifth season and still airing on Thursdays, Bill Clinton was in the White House, and the Houston Oilers were playing their first season after their horrendous playoff collapse. This marks the Lions' first playoff appearance since 2016, and they will start at home for the first time in 30 years. As for the Vikings, this loss was the last thing they needed. Here's why:

The Green Bay Packers needed a win big time after dropping back to back games to the Giants and Bucs, and facing the two-win Carolina Panthers appeared to be a nice gift-wrapped win in time for Christmas. Of course, nothing comes easy this late, and while the Packers did rack up a lot of points and a big lead, Bryce Young managed to lead the Panthers to tying the game. Because we have a defensive coordinator with lumps of coal for brains, Jordan Love had to do what his predecessor had done for years: bail us out with a clutch drive. Sure enough, Love did just that; getting us to field goal range, resulting in Anders Carlson's game winning field goal. The Packers won, 33-30, to keep our playoff hopes alive. That's not all. The Atlanta Falcons and the Seattle Seahawks also won, and as a result, the Vikings now find themselves below the playoff line.

Regarding the Packers, we are two wins and some help away from getting in. I don't know what the exact scenario is, but I do know this: we are getting closer and closer.

How are the Cleveland Browns doing it?! They lost their top running back to injury all the way back in Week 2! DeShaun Watson, the QB they spent two arms, a leg, and some other organs for? Also out for the season. They've started Joe Flacco, who's two months older than I am, at QB, yet the Browns just keep on winning. They did so this week in Houston by a score of 36-22, but the main story is Amari Cooper. To say he had himself a day would be an understatement. 11 receptions, two touchdowns, 265 yards. Cooper set the franchise record for receiving yards in a single game. Imagine what all of that equals in Fantasy Football, especially since it's deep in the playoffs. In all, Cooper racked up 49.5 fantasy points! Those who started him this week are rejoicing, and those who had to play against that, well, you have my sympathies.

Buffalo's win on the day before prevented the Browns from clinching a playoff spot this week. However, they did enter this week needing only two wins to clinch a spot, no questions asked. This win earned them the right to control their own destiny next week, it's win and in for the Browns. In addition, they are still alive for the AFC North. You thought the Lions had a long wait? December 23, 1989. On that day, the Browns won their most recent division title to date. You know how long ago that is? Just 10 days before the Browns' big win, Taylor Alison Swift was born.

The main game in the late window pitted the Dallas Cowboys against the Miami Dolphins, and if Dallas was looking to make up for their loss in Buffalo, they were not off to a good start. The Cowboys spent most of the game behind until Brandin Cooks' go ahead touchdown late in the fourth quarter. Even so, the Dolphins still had enough time to get in to field goal range, and they got in like it was nothing. Jason Sanders made the game winning kick, and with their 22-20 win, the Dolphins were officially playoff-bound.

Buffalo's win prevented the Dolphins from locking up the AFC East, but they now control their destiny when it comes to the division. Miami's next win will give them the AFC East, but if they lose and the Bills win next week, then their head-to-head contest on the final week will decide the division crown. As for the Cowboys, they are now behind the Eagles in the NFC East, but can regain first place via tiebreaker if the Eagles lose their Christmas Day game.

The Jacksonville Jaguars are in deep, deep trouble. The losses to the Colts and Texans opened the door for the Jags to take full control of the AFC South. However, that control went out the window when Trevor Lawrence exited the game with an injury to his throwing shoulder. Even worse, the Jags were getting clobbered by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers before the injury. CJ Beathard, who entered late in Jacksonville's MNF game against Cincy, finished the rest of the game, which ended 30-12 in TB's favor. The Bucs control their own destiny regarding the NFC South, winning out gets them the division. The Jaguars still have the same privilege because everyone in the division lost, but without Lawrence, it'll be tough.

At least the Jags have a shot at the playoffs. I can't say the same for the Broncos, though. This was their chance to move closer to a potential chance at a playoff spot, yet they absolutely fizzled against the lowly New England Patriots. After a 7-3 halftime lead, the Broncos surrendered 20 points to the Patriots in the third quarter. Mind you, they had a grand total of 26 third quarter points all season! Denver fought back with two 8-point touchdowns to tie it, but the Pats still had time to get into field goal range, and they barely did, making the game winning kick with just two seconds left.

The Broncos' 26-23 home loss was the last thing they needed. At 7-8 and a 5% chance at the playoffs, the Broncos are absolutely screwed. Winning the division is out, or at least, it will be on Christmas Day. Denver's only hope now is if they win out, all four of the 8-7 teams lose next week, and the final week sees both Pittsburgh and Cincy losing, the Jags winning, and Indy/Houston ending in a tie (which would clinch the South for Jacksonville). I think that's the only way, I'm not really certain, but it looks like that's the only path. Also, Denver's loss actually helped the Steelers, as they now need to win out, have Cleveland lose out, and Buffalo has to lose on the final week.

Week 16 is not over yet, there's still three games set for Christmas Day. Even so, a lot of amazing occurrences happened in the 10 Christmas Eve games that were played. The Christmas Day conclusion to Week 16 should serve as a very satisifying finale to a very spectacular week in the NFL season.