NFL Scores Week 16: Results and Top Fantasy Star for Every Sunday Game

Week 16 in the NFL didn't fail to excite fans around the nation. 

Surprising results, huge fantasy performances and an amazing record-breaking performance highlighted the action. 

Peyton Manning—with one game to spare—broke Tom Brady's single-season touchdown passes record, tossing four against the Houston Texans to make it 51 on the season:

"

RECORD-BREAKER. pic.twitter.com/RjDquSfCvb

— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) December 22, 2013"

Not only has he been pure gold as a fantasy football stud in 2013, but Manning's exploits also ensured the Denver Broncos would head into Week 17 as the AFC West leaders and the No. 1 seed in the AFC.   

He wasn't the only big-time star to put up huge numbers in a winning cause during Week 16, either. Here's a look at all the results from the action on Sunday, Dec. 22, along with top fantasy scorers from each game.

NFL Week 16: Sunday's Results

WINNER	LOSER	FINAL SCORE
Buffalo Bills	Miami Dolphins	19-0
Carolina Panthers	New Orleans Saints	17-13
Cincinnati Bengals	Minnesota Vikings	42-14
Denver Broncos	Houston Texans	37-13
Tennessee Titans	Jacksonville Jaguars	20-16
Indianapolis Colts	Kansas City Chiefs	23-7
Dallas Cowboys	Washington Redskins	24-23
New York Jets	Cleveland Browns	24-13
St. Louis Rams	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	23-13
Arizona Cardinals	Seattle Seahawks	17-10
New York Giants	Detroit Lions	23-20 (OT)
New England Patriots	Baltimore Ravens	41-7
San Diego Chargers	Oakland Raiders	26-13
Pittsburgh Steelers	Green Bay Packers	38-31

Carolina Seizes Control of the NFC South

Heading into Week 16, the Carolina Panthers trailed the New Orleans Saints in the hunt for the NFC South title. Both teams went into the game with 10-4 records, but New Orleans led by virtue of a home victory over the Panthers in Week 14.

The Saints completely dominated the action in the first meeting, but the tables were turned in Week 16 at Bank of America Stadium.

As we saw the first time these two teams met, Carolina's offense struggled to keep the chains moving. Cam Newton completed just 13 passes for 181 yards, the team totaled just 81 yards rushing with one touchdown and the offense generated just 10 first downs.

However, unlike the first meeting, Carolina's defense was stellar throughout the contest, hitting Drew Brees repeatedly:

Brees was sacked six times, absorbed eight quarterback hits and threw two interceptions in a losing cause.

His counterpart, Newton, had a frustrating day as well, but he played his best with the game on the line.

Newton found Domenik Hixon on a 14-yard touchdown strike with 23 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter to put the Panthers up by four points after the extra point. It was his fourth game-winning drive in the fourth quarter or overtime this season, as ESPN Stats & Info points out, and it couldn't have come at a better time for Carolina:

The 11-4 Panthers will take a one-game lead into Week 17 over the 10-5 Saints. Carolina will be in Atlanta for the final game of the season, while New Orleans will host Tampa Bay.

Both teams should win their regular-season finales, meaning the Panthers will likely finish the season as the No. 2 seed in the NFC with a record of 12-4 while the Saints will likely slide to No. 6, provided the San Francisco 49ers win out and finish at 12-4. 

NFL Week 16: Sunday's Top Fantasy Stars

GAME	PLAYER	POS.	TEAM	POINTS	STATS
Dolphins at Bills	Bills Defense	DEF	BUF	19	Seven sacks, two INTs, zero points allowed
Saints at Panthers	Jimmy Graham	TE	NO	13	Five catches, 73 yards, one TD
Vikings at Bengals	Andy Dalton	QB	CIN	31	377 total yards, four TDs
Broncos at Texans	Peyton Manning	QB	DEN	32	400 total yards, four TDs
Titans at Jaguars	Nate Washington	WR	TEN	17	Six catches, 117 yards, one TD
Colts at Chiefs	Donald Brown	RB	IND	22	110 total yards, two TDs
Cowboys at Redskins	DeMarco Murray	RB	DAL	22	121 total yards, two TDs
Browns at Jets	Geno Smith	QB	NYJ	26	262 total yards, three TDs
Buccaneers at Rams	Rams Defense	DEF	STL	17	Seven sacks, two turnovers, 13 points allowed
Cardinals at Seahawks	Cardinals Defense	DEF	ARI	14	Four sacks, one INT, one forced fumble, 10 points allowed
Giants at Lions	Joique Bell	RB	DET	21	154 total yards, one TD
Patriots at Ravens	Patriots Defense	DEF	NE	26	Four sacks, three INTs, one forced fumble, two touchdowns scored, seven points allowed
Raiders at Chargers	Ryan Mathews	RB	OAK	17	119 total yards, one TD
Steelers at Packers	Eddie Lacy	RB	GB	20	90 total yards, two TDs

Another Masterpiece by Peyton Manning

Manning has been spectacular all season long for both the Broncos and for fantasy owners around the world. 

The legendary quarterback entered Week 16 with a huge, 48-point lead over Drew Brees for the top fantasy score of the season, and he had another stellar performance in Houston, leading the Broncos to a 37-13 victory to improve to 12-3 on the season.   

Passing for 400 yards and four touchdowns, Manning earned 32 points for fantasy owners in Week 16 to lead all scorers in the early games on Sunday. 

It was the eighth time in 2013 that Manning had thrown at least four touchdown passes, and it was the fifth time he cracked 30-plus fantasy points. 

Even more importantly for Denver and Manning, the victory ensures the Broncos would finish as AFC West champs and earned the team a first-round bye, according to the team's official website. 

Not surprisingly, Manning deflected praise after his achievement, per the Broncos on Twitter:

He's a true professional—not to mention one of the greatest passers to every play the game. With one more game to add to his record of 51 touchdown passes, it's not likely Manning's mark will be overtaken any time soon. 

Follow me on Twitter @JesseReed78