2025 NFL Week 16 Winners and Losers and Top Takeaways
'Twas the weekend before Christmas, when all through the NFL, every team was stirring, even those devoid of playoff hopes.
The Seattle Seahawks emerged from Thursday Night Football with care, in hopes that an NFC West crown will be theirs. So, too, did the Philadelphia Eagles and Chicago Bears with wins in special Saturday games.
The Seahawks, Eagles and Bears are snug in their homes, with visions of hoisting a Lombardi Trophy dancing through their heads, while the rest of the NFL played before settling down and preparing for the presents that the last two weeks may bring.
Bleacher Report's NFL analysts—Brent Sobleski, Gary Davenport, Kris Knox and Moe Moton—followed all of the clatter to inform the audience of what really mattered.
San Francisco 49ers vs. Indianapolis Colts
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Score: 49ers 48, Colts 27
49ers Takeaway: San Francisco Is a Massive Threat in the NFC
It certainly feels like the San Francisco 49ers have been overlooked in the NFC playoff picture. That's somewhat understandable, as the Philadelphia Eagles are the defending champs, while the Seattle Seahawks and Los Angeles Rams have taken turns looking like the best team in the conference.
However, the 49ers have a dangerous offense, a young, opportunistic defense that does enough to win more often than not, and a seasoned coaching staff led by Kyle Shanahan and returning defensive coordinator Robert Saleh.
All of San Francisco's traits were on display against the Indianapolis Colts. The two teams traded shots early, but a Dee Winters pick-six sealed it for the 49ers. That means they're now two wins away from stealing the NFC's No. 1 seed.
Winner: RB Christian McCaffrey, San Francisco 49ers
Brock Purdy was our winner for San Francisco last week after having his best game since returning from a toe injury. He had another excellent game in Indy, finishing with five touchdown passes, but Christian McCaffrey should feel like an even bigger winner.
McCaffrey caught two of the quarterback's touchdown passes and, more importantly, rushed for 117 yards and an impressive 5.6 yards per carry.
The 49ers have struggled to open up room in the ground game all season. If Monday's performance was a sign of things to come, McCaffrey should feel great about his chances of pulling San Francisco into another Super Bowl.
Colts Takeaway: Philip Rivers Could Play in 2026, If He Wants To
Philip Rivers is 44 years old and hadn't played since 2020 before returning to start for the Colts in Week 15.
While he filled the game-manager role last week, he was in full command of the offense on Monday night. His game effectively ended with an interception for the second straight week, but he threw for 277 yards and two touchdowns, managed to push the ball down the field more than he did last week, and helped deliver 27 points.
Rivers was not the reason why Indy lost, and if he has any interest in being a backup/bridge QB for Shane Steichen and the Colts again early next year, he could do it.
Loser: Defensive Coordinator Lou Anarumo, Indianapolis Colts
The Colts are now on the brink of being eliminated from playoff contention. A loss or a Houston Texans win next week will seal Indy's collapse from 7-1 to out of the playoffs.
Ironically, Rivers gave the Colts chances to win in his two starts, but Lou Anarumo's defense had its worst performance of the season on Monday.
Anarumo's defense has been more efficient than it was under Gus Bradley a year ago, but it hasn't been great.
If the Colts decide to make any coaching changes as a result of the in-season collapse—and not simply blame it all on Daniel Jones' season-ending injury—Anarumo might be an easy scapegoat.
New England Patriots vs. Baltimore Ravens
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Score: Patriots 28, Ravens 24
Patriots Takeaway: Drake Maye's MVP Buzz Should Be Louder
Coming off a loss and a subpar passing performance against the Buffalo Bills, Maye bounced back with a strong outing on the road in Baltimore.
He threw for 380 yards, two touchdowns and an interception, which included a crucial fourth-down conversion late in the final quarter to keep the game-winning drive alive, followed by a pass completion for a two-point conversion.
Maye shrugged off an early turnover and led New England to a comeback victory that keeps the club in a position to win the AFC East and potentially claim home-field advantage in the playoffs.
It's fitting that he finished the game with a slide to secure the Patriots' playoff spot. Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford has a case for MVP, but Maye is leading a team with a slightly better record and is currently perfect on the road.
Winner: OLB K'Lavon Chaisson, New England Patriots
For most of this game, the Patriots defense struggled to slow down Zay Flowers, who caught seven passes for 84 yards, but Chaisson didn't allow the Ravens' lead receiver to get away from him after the catch, forcing a fumble on Baltimore's final offensive drive.
Chaisson, a 2020 first-round pick, isn't a household name, but he's an impact playmaker. Against Baltimore, he recorded three tackles, one for loss, in addition to the forced fumble that helped New England seal the victory.
Ravens Takeaway: Baltimore's 2025 Season Has Fallen Apart
The Ravens' loss to the Patriots didn't eliminate them from playoff contention, but they no longer control their postseason destiny, and the Pittsburgh Steelers need one more win to secure the AFC North title.
Pittsburgh will go on the road to face the Cleveland Browns and then host the Ravens to finish the campaign.
In the second quarter of Sunday's game, Baltimore starting quarterback Lamar Jackson suffered a back injury and didn't return to action. Tyler Huntley took over, completing nine of 10 passes for 65 yards.
Even with Huntley in for Jackson, the Ravens had a chance to win the game, taking a 24-13 lead early in the fourth quarter, but they inexplicably left running back Derrick Henry on the sideline after their final score, and the defense couldn't get the Patriots off the field on a critical fourth-down play.
Pittsburgh will be heavily favored in Cleveland next week. At 7-8, Baltimore's season looks like it'll end after Week 18.
Loser: OC Todd Monken, Baltimore Ravens
Barring an injury to Henry, Baltimore's coaching staff made a massive mistake, subbing him out for Keaton Mitchell and Rasheen Ali for most of the fourth quarter.
The Patriots continued to push their comeback, while Baltimore fell into complacency, resulting in an embarrassing collapse with its best offensive player watching from the sidelines.
As head coach, John Harbaugh answers the tough postgame questions, but Monken must explain this questionable coaching decision.
Las Vegas Raiders vs. Houston Texans
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Score: Texans 23, Raiders 21
Texans Takeaway: Houston's Offense Needs Woody Marks' Explosive Playmaking Ability
Marks opened the season in a backup role, but he worked his way into the lead position in November. Averaging more than four yards per carry in half of his appearances, the rookie fourth-rounder helps balance Houston's offense.
On Sunday, the Texans missed Marks, who sat out with an ankle injury. Second-year pro Jawhar Jordan led the club in rushing with 53 yards. Houston's offense didn't score a touchdown until the fourth quarter.
Without Marks, Houston lacked juice on that side of the ball, which allowed the Raiders to hang around until late in the final quarter.
Winner: CB Derek Stingley Jr., Houston Texans
Stingley logged the first score of the game on a 31-yard pick-six. If not for his early touchdown, the Texans may have trailed for stretches of this contest. Fortunately for Houston, its defense put points on the board and didn't allow anyone other than Jeanty to rack up a ton of yards.
Raiders Takeaway: Ashton Jeanty Has Star Potential
Despite the Raiders' loss, Jeanty showed why he was worth the No. 6 overall pick in April. He racked up 188 scrimmage yards and scored two touchdowns against the league's No. 1 defense in points and yards allowed.
He kept the Raiders in this matchup. He accounted for nearly 60 percent of Las Vegas' total yardage and scored two of the team's three touchdowns.
Assuming the Raiders upgrade their offensive line and left tackle Kolton Miller and right guard Jackson Powers-Johnson make full recoveries from their injuries, Jeanty will be an NFL star.
Loser: DB Lonnie Johnson Jr., Las Vegas Raiders
Like Darien Porter last week, Johnson had a rough outing. He whiffed on shoulder tackles, took poor angles in pursuit, and committed a costly penalty that helped the Texans set up a fourth‑quarter goal‑line touchdown.
A former cornerback, Johnson is a rotational safety, but he's a clear liability in coverage and run support.
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Atlanta Falcons vs. Arizona Cardinals
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Score: Falcons 26, Cardinals 19
Falcons Takeaway: Atlanta Has Too Much Talent to Be a Non-Contender in NFC South
Earlier on Sunday, we saw the Carolina Panthers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers battle for the top spot in the NFC South. The fact that Atlanta isn't also in the mix with two weeks remaining is hard to explain.
Atlanta handled the Buccaneers a week ago and flashed its bevy of playmakers—including Bijan Robinson, Kyle Pitts, Drake London, and Tyler Allgeier—against the Cardinals.
While Arizona isn't exactly a playoff-caliber measuring stick, the Falcons have lost plenty of games they should have won this season.
Head coach Raheem Morris deserves credit for keeping the Falcons competitive after being eliminated, but he also deserves blame for his team underperforming earlier in the year.
Winner: RB Bijan Robinson, Atlanta Falcons
Morris recently apologized for not allowing fans to see Robinson in the playoffs.
"He's the best player in the NFL. Sorry you guys won't get a chance to watch him in the postseason," he told reporters.
On Sunday, Robinson showed exactly why he could be a spectacle in the playoffs. He racked up seven catches, 168 scrimmage yards, and a touchdown. He's now over 2,000 scrimmage yards for the season.
Cardinals Takeaway: It Would Be Hard to Justify Bringing Jonathan Gannon Back
The Cardinals just secured their 12th loss for the second time in three seasons with Jonathan Gannon as head coach. While Arizona did keep things competitive following two straight blowouts, it hasn't won a game since that Week 9 stunner against the Dallas Cowboys.
While the roster has talent, it continually underperforms. The Cardinals have looked better offensively with Jacoby Brissett behind center than they did with Kyler Murray, but that hasn't been enough to offset a bottom-10 defense.
Given Gannon's defensive background and the fact that Arizona is no better than it was when he took over, it's time to go in a different direction.
Loser: TE Trey McBride, Arizona Cardinals
The Cardinals don't have much to play for at this point in the season, but tight end Trey McBride is chasing history. Last week, he set a new NFL tight-end record by catching five or more passes in 16 consecutive games. He's also close to the NFL single-season record for receptions by a TE (116).
While McBride is now only eight receptions away from the single-season record, he saw his streak of five-catch games come to an end on Sunday. He caught only four of his eight targets, while fellow tight end Elijah Higgins caught seven of eight.
Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Denver Broncos
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Score: Jaguars 34, Broncos 20
Jaguars Takeaway: It's Time to Consider the Jaguars a Serious AFC Threat
For most of the 2025 season, the Jacksonville Jaguars have felt more like a good story than legitimate Super Bowl threats. New head coach Liam Coen finally had Trevor Lawrence playing up to his draft status, while an opportunistic Jags defense served as a strong complement.
It's probably time to say Jacksonville has the pieces needed, not only to win the AFC South but also to make a deep postseason run. That may seem like an obvious takeaway after the Jags went into Denver and cleanly outpaced a team that seemed in control of the conference's No. 1 seed.
Winner: QB Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars
In recent weeks, Lawrence has looked and played like a No. 1 overall draft selection. A week after racking up five total touchdowns against the New York Jets, he had a four-touchdown outing (three passing, one rushing) against a defense most would consider to be elite.
If Lawrence continues playing as efficiently as he has recently, Jacksonville can go toe-to-toe with anyone in the postseason.
Broncos Takeaway: Offense Will Be Hard to Trust in January
The Broncos will have to wait at least a week to claim the AFC West, but they are headed to the postseason. It's fair to wonder just how deep Denver can go, though.
With one of the top defenses in the NFL, the Broncos have looked nearly unstoppable when they've been able to put up points offensively. However, Bo Nix and Co. have been extremely inconsistent this season, and that trend continued on Sunday.
Despite racking up more than 400 yards of offense, Denver only found the end zone twice, lost the time-of-possession battle, and struggled mightily on third down.
Sean Payton must use the last two weeks to pinpoint what his offense does best and make sure to lead with its strengths in the postseason.
Loser: Defensive Coordinator Vance Joseph, Denver Broncos
This loss can't be blamed entirely on Denver's offense, as its vaunted defense had a hand in the letdown.
Lawrence had another fantastic game, despite taking five sacks, and the Jags converted over half of their third-down opportunities. Jacksonville did benefit from a pair of turnovers, but its success on third down and in the red zone has to concern the Broncos.
Just as concerning is the fact that Denver has surrendered 26 or more points in three of its four games since the bye week. Defensive coordinator Vance Joseph figures to be a hot head coaching candidate in the offseason, though he may not be a top name if his unit continues trending in the wrong direction.
Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Detroit Lions
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Score: Steelers 29, Lions 24
Steelers Takeaway: Offense Finding a Rhythm At Exactly the Right Time
Meshing the offensive tendencies of quarterback Aaron Rodgers and offensive coordinator Arthur Smith has been a process for the Pittsburgh Steelers this season.
However, it appears Pittsburgh is finding its groove just in time for the final playoff push.
Since falling flat against the Buffalo Bills in Week 13, the Steelers have gone three straight games with 27 or more points.
Rodgers spread the ball around against the Detroit Lions, while Jaylen Warren and the ground game really opened things up offensively. While Detroit's defense hasn't been great this season, its offense has been elite. The Steelers just outpaced the Lions by more than 100 yards.
Winner: RB Jaylen Warren, Pittsburgh Steelers
Warren didn't exactly carry the Steelers offense on Sunday, but he sure seemed to be the one player Detroit couldn't contain. He ripped off 142 yards and two touchdowns on 14 carries, and his two long touchdown runs in the fourth quarter left the Lions scrambling to play catch-up.
With 827 rushing yards on the season, Warren has reached a new career high.
Lions Takeaway: Detroit Just Isn't a Playoff Team This Year
The Lions' playoff hopes all but ended when they failed to turn a 1st-and-goal opportunity with less than 30 seconds remaining into a touchdown. Their only shot at reaching the postseason now is to win their final two games while hoping the Green Bay Packers lose their final two.
While Detroit can still get into the playoffs, it's clear it just isn't ready to contend this year. Injuries have again been a problem, but the Lions haven't looked as crisp on either side of the ball since offensive coordinator Ben Johnson and defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn departed in the offseason.
Sunday's game was another mistake-filled affair that saw the Lions give up a safety, rush for just 15 yards, and commit three of their seven penalties inside the final 30 seconds of regulation.
Detroit's playoff window isn't closed, but there will be holes to address and questions to answer this offseason if the Lions hope to be contenders.
Loser: Lions Fans
Lions fans were among the biggest losers of any game on Sunday. A year ago, they watched their team power its way to an NFC-best 15-2 record. Now, Detroit sits at 8-7 and is on the verge of missing the playoffs.
On top of that, fans had the rug pulled out from under them at the end of Sunday's game. With a 1st-and-goal opportunity from Pittsburgh's 1-yard line, a go-ahead Detroit touchdown almost felt inevitable.
Then, Amon-Ra St. Brown's touchdown was nullified by offensive pass interference, moving the Lions back 10 yards in the process. A false start backed up Detroit further, and the game ended when a touchdown was nullified by OPI as time expired—and many fans discovered that a game can end on an offensive penalty.
Minnesota Vikings vs. New York Giants
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Score: Vikings 16, Giants 13
Vikings Takeaway: The Vikings Have a Decision to Make in the Offseason
Over the past few weeks, it appeared Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy was allaying some of the concerns about his long-term prospects as Minnesota's starter under center.
Yeah, about that.
Playing a bad Giants defense, he managed just 108 passing yards on 9-of-14 attempts with an interception and a rushing score before injuring his right hand.
It has been a rocky second season for McCarthy, and with veterans like Kyler Murray and Tua Tagovailoa potentially available, the Vikings have to decide if McCarthy has done enough to earn another shot or if the franchise needs to admit it whiffed on the pick.
Winner: DT Jonathan Allen, Minnesota Vikings
Allen hasn't made the impact the Vikings hoped when they signed the veteran interior lineman in the offseason, but on Sunday, the ninth-year veteran looked like a two-time Pro Bowler.
Against the Giants, he was a force—eight total stops (four solos), a sack and two tackles for a loss.
Giants Takeaway: The Shine is Coming Off Jaxson Dart
When a team has lost nine games in a row, the shine comes off just about everybody. But even by the lowered standards of another woeful season for the Giants, New York quarterback Jaxson Dart was abysmal in Week 16.
He didn't attempt a pass until less than two minutes were left in the first half. He completed just seven passes for 33 yards for the entire game.
Dart will be New York's starter next season. But if the Giants don't get significantly better around him, the 2026 season is going to look a lot like 2025.
Loser: Giants Wide Receivers
No one is going to deny the loss of No. 1 wide receiver Malik Nabers was a blow to the New York passing game. But there are other wide receivers on the team—not that you would have known it Sunday.
The likes of Wan'Dale Robinson and Darius Slayton struggled to get open against the Vikings, combining for four catches for 27 yards in the loss.
That output was deeply disappointing for an NFL receiving corps.
New York Jets vs. New Orleans Saints
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Score: Saints 29, Jets 6
Saints Takeaway: QB Tyler Shough is Showing Out Down the Stretch
With five wins on the season, the New Orleans Saints are likely on the outside looking in where the top quarterback prospects in the 2026 draft are concerned.
That may not be such a bad thing, because New Orleans might have something in second-round rookie Tyler Shough.
Making his seventh start Sunday against the Jets, he topped 300 passing yards for the first time in his career. At 4-3 for the season, he now has more wins as a rookie than any quarterback in Saints history.
Winner: WR Chris Olave, New Orleans Saints
It's hardly surprising Olave would be Shough's favorite target in the Saints' passing game, as New Orleans isn't exactly choked with offensive firepower.
But even if the Jets knew what was coming Sunday, they could do nothing to stop it—10 catches for 148 yards and a pair of scores in a lopsided win.
Jets Takeaway: Aaron Glenn Will be One-and-Done as Jets Head Coach.
To be fair, Aaron Glenn hasn't been put in position to succeed as head coach of the Jets. The team's QB situation is a nightmare. They lost their No. 1 wide receiver to injury and traded their two best defenders, but the team has shown fight at times.
However, getting waxed by a mediocre Saints team is just another embarrassment for a team that has endured scores of them this season.
The Jets are going to be starting from scratch (again) in 2026, and that reset needs to include a change at head coach. Glenn is an excellent defensive coordinator, but he isn't the right man for this job.
Loser: Jets Offensive Line
With Brady Cook under center, the Jets have little chance of winning games moving forward. With the way they played up front Sunday, they have none.
The Jets were badly bullied in the trenches Sunday. As a team, Gang Green rushed for 64 yards and averaged 3.2 yards per carry, and Cook was dropped a whopping eight times by a Saints side that was averaging less than two per game entering Week 16.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Carolina Panthers
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Score: Panthers 23, Buccaneers 20
Panthers Takeaway: Carolina Snaps Streak Against Tampa Bay
Prior to Sunday's outcome, the Carolina Panthers hadn't beaten the Buccaneers since October 2022.
The team had lost five straight games to its rival. But Bryce Young and Co. came up big when the Panthers needed it the most.
This weekend's victory now gives Carolina the inside track to winning the NFC South. However, the two teams meet again in two weeks. The Panthers now have the confidence to beat the Bucs, but they'll need to prove they can do it again and earn a division crown.
Winner: Panthers Pass Defense
A week earlier, Carolina allowed New Orleans Saints rookie Tyler Shough to throw for 272 yards and a touchdown in a loss.
With Baker Mayfield in town, the former MVP candidate couldn't even muster 150 passing yards.
Emeka Egbuka made only one catch. Mike Evans started hot and then managed two grabs for 12 yards during the second half. A miscommunication between Evans and Mayfield led to the game-sealing interception.
Mike Jackson defensed three passes, while safety Lathan Ransom came down with the aforementioned turnover.
Buccaneers Takeaway: Sometimes It's Talent, Not Caring
Head coach Todd Bowles berated his team after Tampa's previous loss to the Atlanta Falcons.
"You don't make excuses," he said. "You got to f--king care enough where this s--t hurts. You've got to f--king care enough where this s--t hurts. It's got to f--king mean something to you."
The players do care. However, the Bucs' simply aren't playing well and don't have the caliber of roster to just flip the switch. Tampa lost six of the last seven games because it's not a good team despite its early season-success.
Loser: Todd Bowles, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Bowles' previous comments were meant to serve as a rallying cry. Instead, the team came out flat and lost yet another game.
Eventually, the arrow is going to point toward the head coach since he can't get his squad out of its current funk.
Granted, a division title remains in play. If the Bucs can't end their current losing streak before the season ends, it's easy to imagine the organization going in another direction with the coaching staff, even after three straight division titles.
Los Angeles Chargers vs. Dallas Cowboys
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Score: Chargers 34, Cowboys 17
Chargers Takeaway: Jim Harbaugh Builds Sustainable Success
Wherever Harbaugh goes, he wins.
With Sunday's victory over the Dallas Cowboys, the Chargers won at least 11 games during back-to-back seasons. The organization last did so during the 2006 and 2007 campaigns, when it had Philip Rivers, LaDainian Tomlinson and Antonio Gates in the lineup.
The squad's ability to overcome potential stumbling blocks is the most impressive aspect of the feat. Los Angeles has dealt with offensive line issues throughout the season, yet the squad still found ways to win four straight games and seven of its last eight.
Winner: WR Quentin Johnston, Los Angeles Chargers
Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert is playing at a high level. Johnston has benefited greatly.
He caught four passes for 104 yards and a touchdown against the Cowboys. The 100-yard performance became the wide receiver's first of the season.
The 2023 first-round pick looked like a true No. 1 target. He also needs 75 yards over the last two games to set a new career-high in receiving yardage.
Cowboys Takeaway: Dallas Eliminated From Postseason
It's hard not to go back nearly two years ago when Cowboys owner Jerry Jones declared the organization is "all in" to win.
"I would anticipate we will be all in at the end of this year," he told reporters in January 2024. "So when you say is there any thought (about contracts)…we will push the hell out of it."
Since then, the Cowboys have changed coaching staffs, traded Micah Parsons and produced back-to-back campaigns without a postseason appearance.
Dallas should experience significant change during the upcoming offseason, particularly on the defensive side of the ball.
Loser: CB Shavon Revel Jr., Dallas Cowboys
Opponents have continually targeted the Cowboys' rookie cornerback in recent weeks.
It's never a good sign when a cornerback leads his squad in tackles, as Revel did Sunday. Ironically, the first-year defensive back isn't a strong tackler, which shows up during his weekly performance.
The Chargers went after Revel and generally found success.
Kansas City Chiefs vs. Tennessee Titans
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Score: Titans 26, Chiefs 9
Titans Takeaway: Titans Head Coaching Job is Looking Better by the Week
Not that long ago, the Tennessee Titans looked like easily the worst team in the NFL. But after throttling the reeling Kansas City Chiefs Sunday, they have won two of three games.
Tony Pollard was effective running the ball, gaining 102 yards on 21 carries. Defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons had another outstanding game. And most importantly, rookie quarterback Cam Ward continues to show development, completing 21 of 28 passes for 228 yards and two scores.
The Titans still have work to do, but a job that looked like an uphill climb for a new head coach now possesses more than a little appeal.
Winner: DT Jeffery Simmons, Tennessee Titans
Simmons has been outstanding all season, and he entered Sunday's win with 55 tackles and the most sacks (nine) of any interior lineman in the league.
He didn't get home against Kansas City, but he still made an impact—three total tackles, two passes defensed, two tackles for loss and a safety.
Chiefs Takeaway: It's Going to be a Long Offseason in Kansas City
Sunday's lopsided loss to a Titans team that entered Week 16 with two wins is a new nadir in a season of low points for the Chiefs. There will be no playoffs. A losing record. And an offseason of uncertainty the likes of which they haven't faced in a long time.
This may well be the end of the line for tight end Travis Kelce. Given when Patrick Mahomes tore his ACL, he may not be ready for the start of the 2026 season. And the offensive line continues to be a major weakness for the Chiefs.
Kansas City has been one of the NFL's best-run franchises over the past decade-plus. It will have to be again in 2026 for this lost season to be a bump in the road and not the end of an era.
Loser: Kansas City Chiefs Offense
When third-string quarterback Chris Oladukun was pressed into action after Gardner Minshew II got hurt, you knew it was going to be a long day for a Chiefs offense that also didn't have top wide receiver Rashee Rice.
Even so, it was an ugly outing: 133 yards of offense, one third-down conversion in nine tries and zero touchdowns.
Buffalo Bills vs. Cleveland Browns
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Score: Bills 23, Browns 20
Bills Takeaway: Win Overshadows Defensive Concerns
Any win a team can walk away from is a good outcome. However, the Buffalo Bills shouldn't be overly thrilled with Sunday's performance against the Cleveland Browns, particularly on the defensive side of the ball.
At 11-4, the Bills are still vying for a division title. Buffalo also remains among the AFC's best squads.
Even so, Sean McDermott's squad played down to its competition in Cleveland.
The defense allowed 160 rushing yards and the Browns converted 57.1 percent of their third-down attempts. The Bills need to clean up their defensive approach, particularly the unit's tackling, so they can make some noise once the postseason begins.
Winner: RB James Cook, Buffalo Bills
As talented as quarterback Josh Allen is, the Bills' offense runs through James Cook.
Cook posted his ninth 100-yard outing this season, with 117 yards and two scores against Cleveland's talented defense.
From a larger point of view, he is now the NFL's leading rusher, with Jonathan Taylor set to play Monday against the San Francisco 49ers, who will likely concentrate on slowing him down since Philip Rivers remains at quarterback. Cook has a very good chance of winning his first rushing title.
Browns Takeaway: Shedeur Sanders Still Hasn't Showed Enough
Cleveland's quarterback decision is the only thing that's important during what's left of the Browns' miserable season. Based on what's been seen so far, Sanders shouldn't be anointed anything.
He threw a pair of interceptions against the Bills. Granted, both came off of deflections, but the first pass was high and slightly behind Sanders' intended target. For the second, the quarterback couldn't get his pass around an oncoming rusher before it was tipped in the air and picked.
The Browns sit comfortably among the 2026 draft's top three picks. They should be a strong contender to make a play for this year's Heisman Trophy winner, Fernando Mendoza.
Loser: RB Quinshon Judkins, Cleveland Browns
An impressive rookie class has been the silver lining during a three-win season in Cleveland. Unfortunately, that group may have taken a significant hit during the team's latest contest.
Judkins is the NFL's leading rookie rusher, but he suffered what looked to be a devastating leg injury during the second quarter. Depending on the severity of the injury, the Browns may not have their lead back ready and be at full strength for the start of the 2026 campaign.
Cincinnati Bengals vs. Miami Dolphins
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Score: Bengals 45, Dolphins 21
Bengals Takeaway: What Could Have Been for the Bengals in 2025
On one hand, Bengals fans must have enjoyed watching their team dominate Miami. On the other, the win was a painful reminder of a wasted 2025 campaign in Cincinnati.
The Bengals offense was lethally efficient against the Dolphins. Quarterback Joe Burrow threw for over 300 yards with four touchdowns, Cincinnati's loaded cadre of skill-position talent roasted Miami for over 400 yards and a boatload of points.
The Bengals have a Super Bowl-caliber offense. But if the team is going to make Burrow happy and get back into playoff contention in 2026, fixing a defense that has struggled mightily much of the season has to be an offseason priority.
With almost $70 million in projected cap space next year, expect the Bengals to be major players in free agency on that side of the ball.
Winner: RB Chase Brown, Cincinnati Bengals
Brown started the 2025 season slowly, but he has been on a tear of late—the last time the third-year pro failed to amass 90 total yards or find the end zone was over two months ago.
He did both Sunday against the Dolphins, racking up 109 total yards and crossing the stripe three times.
Dolphins Takeaway: It's Time for a Franchise Reset in Miami
When Miami head coach Mike McDaniel benched Tua Tagovailoa last week in favor of rookie Quinn Ewers, it symbolized his awareness that the team needs to hit the reset button.
It also may have sealed his own fate, because that reset needs to be complete.
The team already fired general manager Chris Grier. McDaniel will probably follow. Getting rid of Tagovailoa won't be easy given his bloated contract, but his days as the team's starter under center are finished.
It's ground-up rebuild time on South Beach.
Loser: QB Quinn Ewers, Miami Dolphins
Expectations weren't exactly high for Ewers in Week 16. After all, we're talking about a Day 3 rookie making his first career start.
If there was hope Ewers might quickly emerge as the guy, Sunday's outing raised serious doubts. Against a bad Bengals defense, he was 20-of-30 for 260 yards with a pair of interceptions.
Green Bay Packers vs. Chicago Bears
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Score: Bears 22, Packers 16 (OT)
Bears Takeaway: Chicago Is No Longer the NFC North Little Brother to Green Bay
As the Packers' quarterback for 18 seasons, Aaron Rodgers went 24-5 against Chicago, but these aren't the same Bears that he faced during his time in Green Bay.
Head coach Ben Johnson and quarterback Caleb Williams are leading the charge for the front-runners in the NFC North.
Two weeks ago, the Bears fell short at Lambeau Field. This time, they completed a comeback for the win at home with a big-time touchdown in overtime. Chicago handed Green Bay its first loss in the division. These two teams are equals now.
Winner: QB Caleb Williams, Chicago Bears
Kicker Cairo Santos, with his three made field goals and onside kick, deserves mention here, though Williams' fearless 46-yard pinpoint throw to wideout DJ Moore sealed the victory.
The second-year quarterback also tossed a fadeaway touchdown pass to undrafted rookie receiver Jahdae Walker to extend the game into overtime.
Williams showed his clutch gene in this matchup, bringing his season total to six game-winning drives. Anyone looking at his passing stats (19-for-34, 250 yards, two touchdowns) would say that's a mediocre outing, but his throws in critical situations are far more telling about his role in the win and his development over the past year.
Packers Takeaway: Banged-Up Roster Clouds Playoff Outlook
Packers starting quarterback Jordan Love went into concussion protocol in the second quarter of this game and didn't return to action. Malik Willis took over for him, completing nine of 11 pass attempts for 121 yards and a touchdown. He also ran for 44 yards.
If Love misses time, Willis should be able to keep the offense steady.
However, whoever starts under center may play with a short-handed group of skill players. Romeo Doubs, who led the Packers in catches and receiving and scored the team's only touchdown Saturday, suffered a wrist injury while trying to recover an onside kick.
Josh Jacobs played through knee and ankle injuries, but he had a costly fumble near the goal line in the first half.
Williams didn't take a sack in this contest. Green Bay certainly missed edge-rusher Micah Parsons, who had two quarterback hits in the previous outing between these clubs.
Despite Green Bay's injuries and question marks for the last two weeks of the season, it has enough roster balance to make the playoffs. Still, it may have to do it with backups in key roles.
The Packers will host the Baltimore Ravens and go on the road to face the Minnesota Vikings in their final two games.
Loser: Green Bay Packers Secondary
Green Bay's secondary fared well until late in the fourth quarter and overtime. The Packers lost track of Walker in the back of the end zone, which allowed the Bears to tie the game on a fourth-down play. In the extra period, Moore beat cornerback Keisean Nixon for the game-winning catch.
With a 10-point lead late in the fourth quarter, the Packers' secondary allowed one too many big plays, giving Chicago a chance at a comeback and ultimately costing Green Bay the game.
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Commanders
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Score: Eagles 29, Commanders 18
Eagles Takeaway: Offense Is Coming Along While Defense Is in Playoff Form
Last week, the Eagles snapped a three-game losing streak with a shutout win over the Las Vegas Raiders and followed up with a blowout victory against a division rival Saturday. They've outscored their last two opponents 60-18.
Philadelphia is trying to avoid a replay of its 2023 season collapse. For now, it's turned around a November slump, with an offense that has been sparked by head coach Nick Sirianni's involvement in play-calling (h/t ESPN's Tim McManus) and a defense that's allowed 14.9 points since a Week 9 bye.
The Eagles are rounding into postseason shape ahead of a home playoff game as NFC East champions.
Winner: RB Saquon Barkley, Philadelphia Eagles
In the fourth quarter, Barkley broke free for big gains on the ground. He recorded his third-longest run of the season (48 yards) and finished with his highest rushing total (132 yards) since Week 8. He's still the engine of the Philadelphia offense, and the unit is at its best when he's in his groove.
Commanders Takeaway: Washington Should Lean on Running Back Duo for Remainder of the Season
The Commanders have shut down starting quarterback Jayden Daniels for the season. Washington trotted out third-string signal-caller Josh Johnson after backup Marcus Mariota exited with an injury.
If Johnson starts for the next two weeks, the club should feed Chris Rodriguez and Jacory Croskey-Merritt out the backfield.
Croskey-Merritt had a solid start to the season, but he peaked in Week 5 against the Los Angeles Chargers, rushing for 111 yards and two touchdowns.
For most of the second half of the season, running back Rodriguez has handled the majority rushing workload when healthy, though Croskey-Merritt has scored in back-to-back weeks. At this point, the running back duo is the most consistent part of Washington's injury-riddled offense.
Loser: HC Dan Quinn, Washington Commanders
The Commanders and Eagles committed the same number of penalties (five), but Washington's infractions kept Philadelphia's drives alive on fourth downs. Someone must hold Quinn accountable for the team's untimely penalties and poor discipline.
According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero, Quinn's job is safe for a third season, but there could be changes. Aside from coaching staff turnover, the Commanders' lead skipper must emphasize situational awareness to minimize poor decisions on the field.
Los Angeles Rams vs. Seattle Seahawks
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Score: Seahawks 38, Rams 37
Seahawks Takeaway: The NFC West Runs Through Seattle
The Seattle Seahawks got revenge from an earlier loss in the season against the rival Rams. Though Thursday's contest was much different in multiple regards.
Yes, Mike Macdonald's crew found a way to win, but it did so in overtime after trailing by 16 points with less than nine minutes left to play. Seattle's vaunted defense also surrendered 581 yards, while Los Angeles held a 14-plus-minute time-of-possession advantage.
Everything indicated Seattle should have lost. Instead, the Seahawks answered the bell and came out victorious in overtime thanks to quarterback Sam Darnold getting on track during the second half, wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba showing up when it mattered and the defense stiffening up late in the fourth quarter despite surrendering far too many yards.
As a result, Seattle now sits atop the NFC West. The Seahawks own a one-game lead over the Rams and currently claim a better conference record as well.
Winner: Wide receiver Jaxson Smith-Njigba, Seattle Seahawks
Superstars make plays even when the opposing team, everyone in the stadium and those watching on television know they're getting the ball. In the case of Smith-Njigba, he provided an excellent second-half showing, including the game-winning touchdown in overtime, after not catching a pass during the first two frames.
The NFL's leading receiver quickly went from a no-show to demanding the football.
Smith-Njigba may not have kept pace with Puka Nacua, who produced a whopping 225 receiving yards, but the former target provided 96 yards during the second half and extra time, even though no other wide receiver on the roster managed more than three catches.
When the Seahawks had to have a score, Smith-Njigba's four-yard touchdown reception became the game's deciding play.
Rams Takeaway: No Longer the NFC's Best
The Rams had been considered the NFC's top squad and perhaps the best team in the NFL; neither of those labels is true any longer.
In fact, they find themselves in a precarious position, even with an 11-4 record. With a win this weekend, the San Francisco 49ers will own the same record, while also featuring a superior conference record.
Los Angeles could easily find itself out of the NFC's No. 1 spot, thus owners of a bye to open the postseason, to third place within the division.
Loser: Head coach Sean McVay, Los Angeles Rams
Prior to Thursday's overtime loss, the Rams held a 323-1 all-time record when winning by 15 or more points during the fourth quarter, according to the Amazon Prime telecast. The Seahawks had never won a game when facing that setup. Well, they do now.
When a team experiences a historic collapse, the onus falls on the coaching staff, specifically the head coach, for not getting the job done. After Sam Darnold's second interception, Los Angeles' previously potent offense strung together two consecutive three-and-outs.
The Rams had the game won. Instead, they gave the contest away and now face a far more difficult road to win a championship.
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