NFL Week 16 Recap: Stocking Stuffers

It's always fun when the NFL gets into holiday spirit. We already saw it in the Thursday and Saturday games from Week 16, with one team clinching, another winning their division, and a third moving closer. 12 games remained in the antepenultimate week, and the top game for me was Steelers/Lions, because it was possibly Aaron Rodgers' last visit to Ford Field in his career.

The game was a wild one, as the first half ended with a weirdo Kenneth Gainwell touchdown that made this fantasy owner elated and was nearly Antonio Freeman-esque. Pittsburgh had a big lead, but it was slipping away late. The Lions actually had a chance to win it late, but here's where things get super screwy. In the final seconds, Amon-Ra St. Brown catches it, it comes out, and Jared Goff took it and scored. Or so he thought. A flag was thrown, and the refs took so long to talk it out, I thought the Times Square ball would drop before we'd hear a decision.

Finally, they made the announcement. The ruling on the field was a touchdown. That had the fans loudly cheering. However... pass interference on the offense. No TD, no win, game's over. Aaron Rodgers gets a wild and screwy win in Detroit on the final play. I've heard that song before. At least he didn't have to nearly wear his arm out this time. So with that win, that 29-24 win, two things happened for Pittsburgh. One, they moved one win closer to winning the AFC North, and two, the streak continues for Tomlin. 19 years, 19 winning seasons. Overall, the Steelers have been at .500 or better for 22 straight seasons, which is now the new record for consecutive non-losing seasons.

As for the Lions, they definitely did not need this loss. The Lions loss clinched playoff spots for the Chicago Bears (who won on Saturday) and the San Francisco 49ers (who had yet to play), and allowed the Green Bay Packers to control our own destiny regarding just getting in. I knew that the Lions would have nowhere else to go but down following a 15-2 season, but I didn't have them possibly eliminated on Christmas Day, which is what they are facing.

It's happening, folks! The first meeting of the season between the Carolina Panthers and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers was a pivotal one. The teams were tied for first in the NFC South, and the winner could move closer to taking the division. It was a close battle, and the Panthers led late, but Baker Mayfield had a last chance to win it. The result of the drive: interception. The Panthers won 23-20. The Panthers are in first place in the NFC South by themselves, outright, for the first time all year. This team only won two games just two years ago. Now, they are one win and one Bucs loss away from winning the division. As for the Buccaneers, the decline continues. Remember when they were 6-2? Remember when Baker Mayfield was in the MVP talks? TB has lost six of seven, and their one win was almost a loss. The rematch is in Tampa and will end the regular season, but we will see if that game is do-or-die for the division.

Because there were five games that pitted eliminated teams against each other, I'm only mentioning the relevant games here. In the early window, the Buffalo Bills barely survived the Cleveland Browns, 23-20, and the Los Angeles Chargers dominated a Dallas Cowboys team who was eliminated on Saturday with Philly's win. Those teams moved closer to the playoffs and were waiting out two games later in the week. So was Jacksonville, they ended the Broncos' winning streak in strong and dominant fashion on Sunday's late window, but the Houston Texans also won a close one over the Las Vegas Raiders. Sunday Night Football saw the New England Patriots play a close against the Baltimore Ravens, who lost Lamar Jackson for the game. Even so, Baltimore had a big lead, an 11 point lead, but it evaporated quickly and became a 28-24 Patriots victory, which put the Patriots in the playoffs.

The Ravens are all but screwed now. The AFC North is their only way in, and they're two back with as many to play. The Sunday night game was also their home finale. They have to win their final two games on the road, and the Steelers have to lose on Sunday. Baltimore's final two destinations: Lambeau and Pittsburgh. Oh, and the Steelers are in Cleveland on Sunday. Ravens can forget it. Lamar's injury did a number on the Ravens, which is no surprise considering Lamar had been carrying the team on his back forever.

We go from Baltimore's current team to Baltimore's former one; the Indianapolis Colts were at home against the San Francisco 49ers, and Indy and their 44-year-old returning QB, Philip Rivers, needed a win. They started strong, but the Niners were just too much for them. A 48-27 win for the already playoff bound Niners (who clinched on Sunday with the Lions loss), and they moved past the Rams via tiebreaker in the standings. Amazing. As for the Colts, the decline continues. The loss placed the Jaguars, Bills, and Chargers in the playoffs, leaving two spots left in the AFC. The Colts were 7-1 and had a lock on the #1 seed. They are now 8-7 and in deep trouble, as the loss also moves the Texans one win or one more Indy loss away from clinching. Indy and Houston do face each other in the final week.

So with two weeks left, this is what the playoff field looks like. Five spots clinched in each conference. Only the NFC East is wrapped up. The #1 seeds haven't been locked in yet. Still a lot to be decided. Week 17, the penultimate week of the season, and the final full week of the 2025 calendar, kicks off with three Christmas Day games. It's the second annual NFL on Netflix Christmas helping, beginning with the Dallas Cowboys and the Washington Commanders clashing, followed by the Minnesota Vikings hosting the Detroit Lions, and yes, I have to go for the Vikings. Yuck! On Amazon Prime, it's the Denver Broncos playing against what's left of the Kansas City Chiefs.

On Saturday, the Los Angeles Chargers host the Houston Texans on NFL Network, and the Green Bay Packers host the Baltimore Ravens on a game that will air exclusively on Peacock. On Sunday Night Football, it's the San Francisco 49ers and the Chicago Bears facing off, and on the final Monday Night Football contest of the regular season, it's the Los Angeles Rams and the Atlanta Falcons going at it.

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Check out my recap of Thursday and Saturday's games: