Some playoff hopes ended in Week 16 while others stayed alive on the backs of superstar performances. With several teams already having clicnhed a spot and others fighting for their playoff lives, here is a look back at the top player performances, key injury news and playoff positioning updates from this past week in the NFL. Week 17 kicks off on Christmas Day with a doubleheader featuring the Chiefs, Steelers, Ravens and Texans.
Top Performers:
Jonathan Taylor RB, Indianapolis Colts
Taylor was the subject of much backlash in Week 15 after dropping the ball just before crossing the goal line in the team’s 31-13 loss to Denver. But it’s safe to say that he atoned for his mistakes this week. The Colts threw the ball just 11 times in their win over the Titans on Sunday, leaving Taylor to carry the load. He finished with 218 yards on 29 rush attempts and found the end zone thrice, including scoring runs of 65 and 70 yards. It was the second-highest rushing total of his career.
Justin Jefferson WR, Minnesota Vikings
The best wide receiver in the NFL put on a show in Seattle on Sunday to help the Vikings secure a 27-24 win over the Seahawks. Jefferson hauled in season highs with 10 receptions and 144 yards on the day to go along with two touchdowns. It was his second multiple-score game of the season and he now has five touchdowns in his last three games. With the performance, Jefferson is second in the league in receiving yards and the Vikings remain in the hunt for the No. 1 seed in the NFC.
Chuba Hubbard RB, Carolina Panthers
Hubbard helped carry the Panthers to an overtime win over the Cardinals in Week 16, sealing the deal on a 21-yard touchdown run to win the game. On the day, he ran for 152 yards, the second-most in his career and had two total touchdowns. Hubbard has had a great season and probably hasn’t gotten the hype he deserves. He now ranks sixth in the NFL in rush yards (1,195) and has 11 total touchdowns.
Atlanta Falcons Defense
The best way to help a rookie QB in his debut is to run the ball successfully and have a strong performance from your defense. The Falcons achieved both of those and calling their defensive performance “strong” is probably an understatement. In Week 16 against the Giants, the Falcons gave up just seven points, recorded two pick-sixes, a fumble and had three sacks. A unit that has struggled to get to the quarterback this year, Atlanta’s defense now has 16 sacks and seven forced turnovers in its last four games.
Deebo Samuel Sr. WR, San Francisco 49ers
Deebo Samuel had been in the dog house as of late but emerged with his showing against Miami on Sunday, regardless of the loss. Samuel posted 96 receiving yards on seven receptions, which was his highest yardage total since Week 6. He also found the end zone for the first time since Week 6. With the 49ers down to their fifth-string running back, Samuel shouldered some of the load in the running game, recording 25 yards on five attempts.
Jayden Daniels QB, Washington Commanders
Barring a drastic change over the next two weeks, Daniels has officially locked down the Offensive Rookie of the Year award. His Week 16 performance against the Eagles will be remembered for quite some time as he was the first Commanders QB to throw five touchdowns in a game as a rookie. He finished with 258 passing yards and five touchdowns and ran for 81 yards. It was his highest rushing total since Week 1. What’s even more impressive is that he did it against one of the league’s best defenses while trailing by double digits in the fourth quarter.
De’Von Achane RB, Miami Dolphins
Achane has been a workhorse all season for the Dolphins and continued to be one in Week 16 against the 49ers. In a must-win for Miami, he posted a season-high in rushing yards with 120 and led the team in receiving with 70 yards on six catches. Achane delivered the final dagger in the fourth quarter on a 50-yard scoring run to put the game out of reach.
Injuries:
Tank Dell WR, Houston Texans
Dell suffered a gruesome knee injury during Saturday’s game against Kansas City and was instantly taken to a local hospital for evaluation. It was announced on Monday that Dell sustained a torn ACL and a dislocated kneecap. He will miss the remainder of the season. Due to how late in the season the injury occurred, it is also possible that he will miss part of 2025.
James Conner RB, Arizona Cardinals
Conner went down in the third quarter of Sunday’s game against Carolina with a knee injury and while he was never ruled out, he did not return to the game. The specifics of Conner’s injury have not been updated as of Monday. The Cardinals play the Rams on Saturday, giving Conner one less day than normal to recover.
Drake London WR, Atlanta Falcons
Atlanta’s star receiver left the team’s Week 16 win over the Giants in the fourth quarter with a hamstring injury and did not return. Falcons head coach Raheem Morris said after the game that he “believe(s) he would have went back in.” The Falcons were up multiple scores when London left the game. Morris also said, “I look forward to him being ready to practice next week.” It appears London should be good to go for Week 17 against Washington.
Jalen Hurts QB, Philadelphia Eagles
Hurts exited Philadelphia’s game against Washington on Sunday in the first quarter and was later ruled out with a concussion. Hurts appeared to be ok after taking a hit to the side of the helmet on a run early in the game but was not cleared to return. He will have to go through the NFL’s concussion protocol before being cleared for Week 17.
Braxton Jones OT, Chicago Bears
Jones sustained an ankle injury in Week 16 against the Lions and will miss the remainder of the season according to a report by ESPN. Jones was injured in the second quarter of the game and was carted off the field with an air cast on his ankle before being ruled out.
Kenneth Walker III RB, Seattle Seahawks
Seattle’s standout running back returned to the lineup in Week 16 after missing the previous two games with a calf injury but left early against Minnesota with an ankle injury. Walker did not return to the game and did not participate in Seattle’s practice on Monday. With the Seahawks having a quick turnaround against the Bears on Thursday, it is hard to imagine Walker suiting up in Week 17.
Jonah Williams OT, Arizona Cardinals
Williams was injured during the third quarter of Arizona’s contest with Carolina as well and did not return. Williams is dealing with a knee injury. He suffered a knee injury in Week 1 of the season and was placed on injured reserve until returning in Week 12. According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the Cardinals have ruled Williams out for their Week 17 game with the Rams.
Justice Hill RB, Baltimore Ravens
Hill suffered a scary concussion in the first half of Baltimore’s divisional matchup with Pittsburgh on Saturday and was ruled out shortly after. Hill was unconscious for a moment before walking off the field on his own power. With the Ravens’ quick turnaround versus the Texans on Christmas day, it is unlikely that Hill will be available in Week 17.
Sauce Gardner CB, New York Jets
The Jets’ former No. 4 overall pick left Sunday’s game versus the Rams in the third quarter with a hamstring injury and did not return to the contest. As of Monday, there was no update on Gardner’s injury.
Sterling Shepard WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Shepard suffered a hamstring injury in the third quarter of Tampa’s Sunday night game versus Dallas and was quickly ruled out for the remainder of the game. As of Monday, there was no update on Shepard’s status or his availability for Week 17.
Marshon Lattimore CB, Washington Commanders
Lattimore made his Commanders debut on Sunday after being traded to the team at the deadline and left with a hamstring injury. He did not return to the game. Lattimore had been inactive since Week 9 with a hamstring injury, which he re-injured in the team’s win over the Eagles Sunday. Commanders head coach Dan Quinn had no update on his status on Monday.
Olumuyiwa Fashanu OT, New York Jets
The Jets’ 2024 first-round pick exited Sunday’s game against the Rams in the fourth quarter with a leg injury and was ruled out shortly after. According to a report by ESPN, Fashanu does not have a torn Achilles. The Jets placed Fashanu on the injured reserve on Tuesday according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.
Playoff Seeding Updates:
AFC:
Baltimore has officially clinched a playoff spot with its Week 16 win over Pittsburgh. The Ravens and Steelers are still competing for the AFC North title.
Five teams are fighting for two remaining playoff spots: Denver, Los Angeles, Indianapolis, Miami and Cincinnati. The Broncos and Chargers have a two-game lead on the others, based on their overall records of 9-6 versus the 7-8 records of the trailing three teams.
NFC:
With Monday night’s win over the Saints, the Packers have officially clinched a playoff spot.
Rams take a one-game lead over Seahawks in NFC West after win over Jets on Sunday. Los Angeles will face Arizona at home in Week 17; Seattle will play Chicago on the road Thursday night. The Rams and Seahawks will face off in Week 18 for a game that could potentially decide the division winner.
With Tampa Bay’s loss to Dallas on Sunday, the Falcons have regained the lead in the NFC South. The Falcons have the tiebreaker over the Buccaneers after sweeping the season series against them. Atlanta finishes the season at Washington in Week 17 and at home versus Carolina in Week 18. Tampa Bay plays at home against Carolina in Week 17 and at home versus New Orleans in Week 18.
Arizona, Dallas and San Francisco were all eliminated from playoff contention in Week 16.
All stats were receieved by ESPN Stats & Info.
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