Week 17 lingering questions and big performances — including the Vikings’ big win and Saquon Barkley’s milestone

On Dec 29, 2024

NFL Nation, ESPNDec 29, 2024, 08:00 PM ET

A critical Week 17 began with a pair of games on Christmas Day, as the Kansas City Chiefs took down the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Baltimore Ravens won at the Houston Texans to alter the complexion of the AFC North race.

On Thursday, the Seattle Seahawks improved road teams to 3-0 on the week by taking down the Chicago Bears, keeping Seattle in play for the NFC West title and a playoff berth.

Saturday’s tripleheader kicked off with the Los Angeles Chargers punching their playoff ticket with an easy win at the New England Patriots. It continued with the Cincinnati Bengals picking up an overtime victory over the visiting Denver Broncos to stay alive in the AFC playoff race. In the final game of the day, the Los Angeles Rams put themselves on the cusp of a playoff berth with a narrow home win versus the Arizona Cardinals.

On Sunday, the New York Giants started things off with an upset victory over the Indianapolis Colts, Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley surpassed 2,000 rushing yards for the season in a win and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers stormed past the Carolina Panthers. Later, the Minnesota Vikings outlasted the NFC North-rival Green Bay Packers.

Our NFL Nation reporters reacted to all the action, answering lingering questions coming out of each game and detailing everything else you need to know for every team. Let’s get to it.

Vikings

What does Sunday’s victory mean for postseason seeding? In winning their 14th game of the season, the second most in team history, the Vikings set up a winner-take-all game in Week 18 at the Lions. The winner of that contest will clinch the NFC North and secure the NFC’s No. 1 seed, with home-field advantage throughout the conference playoffs. That will be the case whether the Lions win or lose their game Monday night at the 49ers. The Vikings haven’t had the No. 1 overall seed in the NFC since 1998, which also was the only time they won more than 14 games in a season.

What we learned about the QB today: It’s tough to rattle Sam Darnold. After throwing an interception into double coverage in the third quarter, leading to the Packers’ first touchdown, Darnold came back to go 5-for-5 on the next possession. It ended with a touchdown pass — Darnold’s third of the day — to running back Cam Akers and reestablished a commanding 17-point lead.

Most surprising performance: Akers saved the game for Minnesota after an apparent injury to starter Aaron Jones, not only scoring Minnesota’s final touchdown but also grabbing a low throw from Darnold to convert a game-clinching third down with 1:44 remaining. — Kevin Seifert

Next game: at Lions (Jan. 4 or Jan. 5, TBD)

Cam Akers weaves through the defense for a TD

Cam Akers snags the screen pass and scores the 9-yard touchdown.

Packers

Are the Packers worse than their 11-5 record? On paper, that mark looks strong. But upon closer inspection, Sunday’s loss at Minnesota means the Packers are a combined 0-5 against the top three teams in the NFC — the Eagles, Lions and Vikings. Green Bay will get the chance to add a 12th win in next week’s season finale at home against the hapless Bears, but even that won’t be an indication that this team can handle the big boys in the conference. Either way, the Packers will finish with a losing record in the division, with their only NFC North win coming at Chicago in Week 11. Green Bay can finish no better than the sixth seed in the playoffs.

Most surprising performance: The same team that came in on a streak of five games with at least 30 points had just a field goal through the first 2½ quarters. The three-point first half tied for the Packers’ lowest-scoring output this season (Week 9 vs. Detroit), and they were outgained by 112 yards in the opening two quarters (worst first-half yardage differential in 2024).

What we learned about the QB today: The intermediate and deep throws were not there until much too late. Jordan Love missed on his first five pass attempts that traveled 10 or more yards in the air. Until midway through the fourth quarter, Love’s longest air-yard completion traveled 8 yards. To that point, he had completed just 10 of 19 passes for 64 yards before hitting Bo Melton for 13 yards and Tucker Kraft for 35. — Rob Demovsky

Next game: vs. Bears (Jan. 4 or Jan. 5, TBD)

Dolphins

What got into quarterback Tyler Huntley?! He cracked 100 passing yards in just one of his three starts earlier this season; he had 143 passing yards in the first half against the Browns. Huntley finished 22-of-26 for 225 yards and a touchdown on Sunday, while also running for another score. After Tua Tagovailoa’s surprise downgrade late in the week, Huntley played his best game of the campaign in a must-win matchup. He was decisive and finally looked like a player comfortable within his offense.

Describe the game in two words: Good enough. The Dolphins didn’t blow away a team they could’ve beaten by three scores at full strength — but they weren’t at full strength. When your starting quarterback is out, you need your backup to be just good enough to win. Huntley was exactly that.

Most surprising performance: The Dolphins ran the ball fairly well in their previous three games with Huntley at the helm, averaging 135.3 rushing yards per game. Considering the Browns have allowed all but two of their opponents this season to eclipse the 100-yard mark on the ground, it was surprising to see Miami rush for just 74 yards. — Marcel Louis-Jacques

Next game: at Jets (Jan. 4 or 5, TBD)

Browns

Is the No. 1 pick in the 2025 draft in play for the Browns? Very much so. The Browns’ loss combined with wins by the Giants, Raiders and Jaguars in Week 17 bumps Cleveland to the No. 3 spot in the draft. Cleveland would get the top pick with a loss next week to the Ravens (who need to win in Week 18 to clinch the AFC North) and victories by the Patriots and Titans (who will be facing teams in the Bills and Texans, respectively, that could be resting starters).

Most surprising performance: Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy has had the best season of his career, and he added to that with a career-high 12 catches on Sunday, though drops also were an issue for him. He entered the game with just four drops this season but had three against the Dolphins, including a critical one on third down early in the third quarter.

Early prediction for next week: Baltimore will run for 200 yards. Cleveland held the Ravens to 124 rushing yards earlier this season, which was their third-lowest total of the campaign. But the Browns’ defensive front has dealt with multiple injuries since then. The Ravens have the No. 2 rushing attack, averaging 185.6 yards per game. — Daniel Oyefusi

Next game: at Ravens (Jan. 4 or 5, TBD)

Bills

What does securing the No. 2 seed in the AFC mean for the Bills next week? The Bills are the No. 2 seed in the AFC with nothing to play for in the season finale. They now have an opportunity to rest the likes of quarterback Josh Allen and get healthy before the playoffs begin. They finished undefeated at home for the third time in franchise history with Allen throwing for two touchdowns and running for another, extending his own NFL record of consecutive seasons with 40 passing/rushing touchdowns combined (five) in what should be his final bid for MVP.

Describe the game in two words: Complementary football. Coach Sean McDermott is looking for it every week, and after a slow first half, the Bills got things moving with the defense setting up the offense to score touchdowns on four consecutive drives, with two coming off turnovers.

Most surprising performance: Wide receiver Tyrell Shavers. The practice squad receiver doesn’t get to see the field often, but in the third game of his career, he scored a 69-yard touchdown on his first career reception. He caught a screen pass from quarterback Mitchell Trubisky and took care of the rest. — Alaina Getzenberg

Next game: at Patriots (Jan. 4 or 5, TBD)

Jets

Did Aaron Rodgers make history in what could’ve been his next-to-last game as a Jet? Yes, but not the good kind. Rodgers became the most-sacked quarterback in NFL history (568), passing Tom Brady (565). He was sacked four times, and he also suffered the indignity of his first unnecessary roughness penalty; it occurred during the return on his second interception on the day. It was a brutal day for the future Hall of Famer, who was pulled early in the fourth quarter and remains stuck on 499 career touchdown passes.

Biggest hole in the game plan: No discipline whatsoever. The Jets, who began the day with the third-most penalties, added to the total and now lead the league with 131 accepted penalties. New York had 16 for 120 yards against the Bills — their most accepted penalties in a game since 2018. That includes five personal fouls. Interim coach Jeff Ulbrich has done a poor job in many areas, none more glaring than the lack of discipline.

Describe the game in two words: Milestone day. Garrett Wilson eclipsed the 1,000-yard receiving mark for the third straight season, becoming the first Jet since George Sauer (1966-1968) to accomplish that. He finished with seven catches for 66 yards and a touchdown. With Davante Adams (hip) less than 100%, Wilson once again became the focal point of the passing attack. Too little, too late. — Rich Cimini

Next game: vs. Dolphins (Jan. 4 or 5, TBD)

Aaron Rodgers becomes NFL’s most sacked QB, throws INT on next play

Aaron Rodgers passes Tom Brady for the most sacks taken in NFL history, then on the next play, he throws his second interception of the game.

Buccaneers

Does the Bucs’ victory suggest they’re poised for a playoff run? The Bucs cleaned up a lot of mistakes on offense from last week, shoring up drops, lost fumbles and interceptions and committing zero turnovers. Mike Evans was a constant presence, scoring two touchdowns. Rookie Jalen McMillan matched Evans’ total, while Bucky Irving had over 190 all-purpose yards. The Bucs’ defense pressured quarterback Bryce Young on 22 of his 35 dropbacks — the third-highest pressure percentage in a game for any quarterback this season. But consistency will be key, and that has eluded Tampa at times. Plus cornerback Jamel Dean’s status is unknown for next week.

Biggest hole in the game plan: There were frustrating moments for the secondary, with safety Mike Edwards out of position on a 17-yard touchdown for Adam Thielen, which was set up by a 31-yard Thielen catch in which Zyon McCollum was in coverage. Jordan Whitehead and Tykee Smith were also culprits on Thielen’s 40-yard score in the second quarter.

Most surprising performance: Inside linebacker J.J. Russell. Coinciding with a duck appearing on the field near the 20-yard line, a Johnny Hekker punt was blocked by outside linebacker Joe Tryon-Shoyinka and recovered by Russell, who returned it 23 yards for a touchdown. “Bucky! Bucky! Bucky!” chants quickly changed to “Ducky! Ducky! Ducky!” as the duck was shown on the jumbotron. — Jenna Laine

Next game: vs. Saints (Jan. 4 or 5, TBD)

Panthers

Should the Panthers use $8.4 million in cap space to keep 34-year-old wide receiver Adam Thielen in 2025? Yes! While cutting Thielen with a post-June 1 designation would save $6.75 million in cap space, it would leave a young receiver corps and quarterback Bryce Young without a dependable veteran. Thielen showed Sunday that he’s still a viable option with four catches for 107 yards and two touchdowns. He finds ways to get open and make the tough catch. Carolina just needs to add around him.

What we learned about the QB today: Young can handle pressure. Despite being pressured a career-high 63% of snaps, he held his own. At one point, when was pressured on 65% of snaps, he has completed 5-of-10 attempts for 113 yards and two touchdowns. He had thrown only two touchdowns against pressure all season prior Sunday.

Describe the game in two words: As expected. Without running back Chuba Hubbard (calf) to take pressure off Young, there wasn’t enough balance to keep pace offensively. The Panthers also missed cornerback Jaycee Horn (hip) and inside linebacker Josey Jewell (concussion/quadriceps), giving up a season-high 359 yards passing and five touchdowns. — David Newton

Next game: at Falcons (Jan. 4 or 5, TBD)

Giants

What does this win mean for draft positioning? First off, the Giants avoided the dubious distinction of being the first team to finish 0-9 at home in a season as they snapped a franchise-record 10-game losing streak. In the process, they dropped from first to fourth in the draft order. The Giants could have had an 86% chance of getting the top pick with a loss, according to ESPN Research. But all is not lost for the quarterback-needy Giants’ chances to move up to the No. 1 pick. New England, which moved into the top spot, drafted Drake Maye earlier this year, so their pick could be up for sale.

What we learned about the QB today: Drew Lock has some good football in him. Lock was a second-round pick in 2019 who had good moments in Denver and Seattle. That’s why the Giants signed him as their backup this offseason as insurance for Daniel Jones. He had five total touchdowns Sunday, finishing 17-of-23 for 309 yards and four touchdowns with one rushing score to put the game away.

Eye-popping stat: The Giants had three 30-plus-yard touchdown passes. They had four in the first 15 games entering Sunday. Rookie Malik Nabers had touchdown catches of 31 and 59 yards and Darius Slayton had a 32-yard score. It was the first time a Giants quarterback threw three such touchdown passes since Phil Simms did it in 1980. — Jordan Raanan

Next game: at Eagles (Jan. 4 or 5, TBD)

Colts

What consequences will come out of this pivotal loss? The Colts have now endured three late-season, playoff-eliminating failures in the past four seasons, showing a continued inability to close the deal with a postseason berth on the line. In two of those instances, the Colts faced the team with the worst record in the NFL – the Jaguars in 2021 and the Giants on Sunday. After the 2021 loss, the Colts made personnel changes, including parting ways with quarterback Carson Wentz. What will be the fallout from this loss?

Most surprising performance: Cornerback Kenny Moore II had one of his ugliest performances, allowing a 30-yard catch to Malik Nabers, giving up a touchdown to Darius Slayton and missing a tackle that led to Nabers’ 59-yard catch-and-run for a touchdown. Moore had been one of the Colts’ top defenders in 2024 and was a Pro Bowler in 2021.

Biggest hole in the game plan: The Colts’ inability to exploit what has been one of the worst pass protection units in the NFL. The Giants entered Week 17 having allowed the fifth-most sacks in the NFL (48). But the Colts did not record a sack and barely touched quarterback Drew Lock (one QB hit). — Stephen Holder

Next game: vs. Jaguars (Jan. 4 or 5, TBD)

Eagles

With the NFC East wrapped up, will the Eagles rest Saquon Barkley & Co. in the regular-season finale? Barkley surpassed the 2,000-yard rushing mark Sunday and is just 101 yards away from breaking Eric Dickerson’s single-season rushing record (2,105 yards in 1984). There will be a temptation to let Barkley go for the history books, but with the Eagles’ chances of grabbing the No. 1 seed being pretty remote and health being the top priority, it’s likely not worth the risk of injury for a team with Super Bowl aspirations. The move might be to rest Jalen Hurts (concussion), Barkley and most of the starters so Week 18 can serve as a pseudo-bye.

What we learned about the QB today: Kenny Pickett (10-of-15, 143 yards, 2 total touchdowns) acquitted himself well in place of the injured Hurts. The New Jersey native was an Eagles fan growing up, so helping clinch the division against the rival Cowboys was a big moment for him. He exited in the second half with a rib injury and Tanner McKee kept the party going with a couple of touchdown passes.

Eye-popping stat: This was Barkley’s 11th game with 100 rushing yards this season, the most by any player in their first year with a team in NFL history. He reached 2,000 yards on his final carry of the game, which came with 11:34 left in the fourth quarter. — Tim McManus

Next game: vs. Giants (Jan. 4 or 5, TBD)

Kenny Pickett leaves game after taking massive hit from Micah Parsons

Kenny Pickett throws a touchdown to AJ Brown that is called back by a penalty, then leaves the game because of big hit from Micah Parsons.

Cowboys

What’s left to play for in Week 18 against Washington? Backup quarterback Trey Lance might want to start at least one game after the Cowboys gave up a fourth-round pick to get him from San Francisco. Micah Parsons would like at least a half sack to become the fifth player in NFL history with double-digit sacks in each of his first four seasons, joining Reggie White, Claude Humphrey, Derrick Thomas and Dwight Freeney. Would a win benefit coach Mike McCarthy’s chances to return after his second losing record in five seasons with Dallas? It’s doubtful one game would make a difference.

What we learned about the QB today: Cooper Rush has been more than serviceable as a backup over the years — as long as he doesn’t see the Eagles. He was intercepted twice by C.J. Gardner-Johnson, including a pick-six on the opening possession. Half of his 10 career interceptions have come at Lincoln Financial Field. In his first start this season, he threw for just 45 yards against the Eagles.

Describe the game in two words: Mercy rule. This game was reminiscent of the Cowboys’ early-season defeats. The offense turned the ball over too much. The defense could not muster enough stops, giving up points on six straight possessions in the second, third and fourth quarters. The Cowboys’ season might have officially ended when they were eliminated from playoff contention in Week 16, but it was lost well before that. — Todd Archer

Next game: vs. Commanders (Jan. 4 or 5, TBD)

Raiders

Are the Raiders, who just ended a 10-game losing streak, really going to finish the season on a three-game winning streak? If the Chargers, who have punched their ticket to the playoffs, rest their starters, and the Raiders continue to play hard for coach Antonio Pierce, then … yes. This is wild for a team that had a 14% chance at the No. 1 overall draft pick before beating the Jaguars last week, per ESPN Analytics. Now, their chances at landing the top selection are less than 0.1% after improving to 4-12.

Most surprising performance: Running back Ameer Abdullah entered the season third on the depth chart, but injuries and ineffectiveness by Zamir White, Alexander Mattison and Sincere McCormick elevated the 10-year veteran. He responded with a career-high 115 rushing yards (the first Raiders running back to break the century mark this season) and three catches for 32 more yards.

What we learned about the QB today: Aidan O’Connell doesn’t need much sleep or prep. Mechanical problems on the team plane did not see the Raiders arrive at their hotel until after midnight, less than 12 hours before kickoff. O’Connell didn’t seem rattled at all with one of his best performances of the season (242 passing yards and two touchdowns). — Paul Gutierrez

Next game: vs. Chargers (Jan. 4 or 5, TBD)

Saints

Will the Saints see any of their key starters return for the season finale against the Buccaneers? Saints interim coach Darren Rizzi has insisted that quarterback Derek Carr (hand) and running back Alvin Kamara (groin) are week to week. Next week’s season finale will see if that’s true. Carr missed this matchup against his former team and hasn’t played since Week 13. Kamara has been out for the past two games and Chris Olave (concussion) was a full participant in practice last week but missed the past seven contests. Do any of them return to close out the season?

What we learned about the QB today: Spencer Rattler reminded everyone that he was a rookie fifth-round pick with inconsistent play. He made a number of nice plays in the first half, tossing a touchdown off a trick play and getting key first downs with his feet. But the Saints slid backwards in the second half, generating only 13 net yards of offense in the third quarter. Rattler threw an interception in the final minute of play.

Biggest hole in the game plan: The defense didn’t impress, less than a week after struggling against the Packers offense. While there were times the defense buckled down in the red zone throughout the first half, the unit struggled against the worst rushing offense in the league and gave up too many explosive plays. — Katherine Terrell

Next game: at Buccaneers (Jan. 4 or 5, TBD)

Jaguars

Where does interior defensive line rank among the Jaguars’ offseason needs? It’s arguably as big of a need as safety. The Titans averaged more than 5.0 yards per carry and ran for 159 yards on Sunday. Defensive tackle DaVon Hamilton hasn’t been the same player since coming back from a back infection last season. Rookie Maason Smith has shown flashes of being a good player (he had a sack against the Titans), but he isn’t consistent on the field or in his weekly preparation. Ends Travon Walker and Josh Hines-Allen would benefit from more push up the middle, which can force quarterbacks to move and potentially lead to more sacks.

Most surprising performance: Wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. continues to surprise with how good he has been as a rookie. He caught seven passes for 91 yards and a touchdown against Tennessee. That gives him eight games on the season in which he’s had at least 60 yards and a touchdown, tying Randy Moss’ all-time rookie record.

Describe the game in two words: Season sweep. The Jaguars never trailed and beat the Titans for the second time this season. This is just the fourth time in the Jaguars’ 30-year history that they’ve swept the season series with the Titans — and the second time in three years. The Jaguars did it in 1997, 2005 and 2022. — Mike DiRocco

Next game: at Colts (Jan. 4 or 5, TBD)

Jags extend lead with an 11-yard TD

Mac Jones throws a dime to Brian Thomas Jr. for an 11-yard Jaguars touchdown.

Titans

Is Mason Rudolph auditioning to be the bridge QB next year? Titans coach Brian Callahan made the decision to go with Rudolph over Will Levis at quarterback two weeks ago. Callahan credited Rudolph for being able to get the ball out of his hands and find completions. That has resulted in fewer sacks and Rudolph has quarterbacked Tennessee to two of its three 300-yard performances this season. With no clear direction at quarterback in 2025, Rudolph, a pending free agent, could be an option as a veteran bridge quarterback while the Titans search for their future signal-caller.

Most surprising performance: Running back Tyjae Spears cashed in on his first opportunity to handle the bulk of the carries for the Titans with Tony Pollard (foot) out. Spears got off to a strong start with a 23-yard gain on his first carry. He rushed for over 100 yards at one point before two negative runs pushed him back to 95 yards — it is still a career high.

Describe the game in two words: Draft position. This was one of those games where an argument could be made that the winning team was actually the loser. Entering this week, the Titans and Jaguars each had 3-12 records and were projected to have a top-five pick in the 2025 NFL draft. Tennessee will move ahead of the Jaguars with the loss. — Turron Davenport

Next game: vs. Texans (Jan. 4 or 5, TBD)

Rams

Will the Rams’ slow starts hold them back if they make the playoffs? Even though they have been able to overcome their slow starts for much of the season, it certainly will be tougher come playoff time. The Rams now have gone 11 games without scoring in the first quarter, which is the second-worst rate in the NFL, according to ESPN Research. The only team with more such games is the Bears, who are 4-12. When asked about the early struggles this season, L.A. coach Sean McVay said it comes down to not executing then getting behind the sticks early in drives.

Early prediction for next week: If the Rams clinch this weekend, key starters will not play in Week 18, even if they are playing for higher seeding (No. 3 vs. No. 4). A year ago, the Rams started backup quarterback Carson Wentz in Week 18, even with playoff seeding in play.

Describe the game in two words: Scoring struggles. In the three weeks since putting up a season-high 44 points against the Bills, the Rams have failed to break the 20-point mark in a game. They are 3-0 in that span, however, after scoring just 13 points versus the Cardinals. — Sarah Barshop

Next game: vs. 49ers (Jan. 4 or 5, TBD)

Cardinals

Has Trey McBride solidified himself as one of the best tight ends in the NFL? Beyond a shadow of a doubt. For starters, McBride just registered his first 1,000-yard season, making him one of two tight ends, along with Las Vegas’ Brock Bowers, to hit quadruple digits in 2024. That alone puts McBride in elite company. But then he also is ranked among the top three tight ends in receptions (No. 1 at 104), targets, receiving yards, receiving yards per game, yards per route, targets per route run, team target share, yards after catch and receiving first downs. He finished with 12 catches for 123 yards and a touchdown against the Rams.

Eye-popping stat: McBride on Saturday recorded his first receiving touchdown of the season, on his 98th catch of the campaign. His 97 receptions before his first touchdown grab of the season is now the most in NFL history for catches without a receiving touchdown. The previous high was 92, by Keyshawn Johnson in 2001.

What we learned about the QB today: The score might not reflect it, but Kyler Murray was on point Saturday night. In the third quarter, he completed 13 passes. Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford completed 11 passes in the first three quarters combined. Murray finished with 321 yards and one touchdown on 33-of-48 passing. It was his second 300-yard game of the season. — Josh Weinfuss

Next game: vs. Seahawks (Jan. 4 or 5, TBD)

Bengals

Did Tee Higgins play his last game in Cincinnati? Perhaps. With his contract up after this season, Higgins is set to be a free agent. And after the game, he acknowledged that Saturday could have been his final game at Paycor Stadium, with no home games on the docket regardless of whether the Bengals make the playoffs or not. But after catching 11 passes for 131 yards and three touchdowns, Higgins showed why his services will be coveted around the league in 2025.

Describe the game in two words: Absolute chaos. Cincinnati blew two chances to win the game late but didn’t squander the third to keep its playoff chances alive heading into Week 18.

Most surprising performance: Cincinnati’s defense, which has been scrutinized all season, had a massive performance. Even after Cincinnati blew a potential game-winning field goal attempt in overtime, the Bengals got a three-and-out, giving the offense enough time to go back down the field for Higgins’ third and final touchdown of the night. — Ben Baby

Next game: at Steelers (Jan. 4 or 5, TBD)

Tee Higgins does it all on game-winning drive in OT

Tee Higgins gets the Bengals inside the 5-yard line with a stellar catch then hauls in the game winner for Cincinnati in overtime thriller vs. Denver.

Broncos

Can the Broncos bounce back and win a make-or-break game for a playoff spot? Going into the Week 16 contest with the Chargers, the Broncos had three games to get the one win they needed to make the playoffs. After losses to the Chargers and Saturday against the Bengals, Denver must win the regular-season finale against the Chiefs to get the 10th victory they need to clinch a postseason spot. The Broncos were a downcast group after Saturday’s loss, aware of how much breathing room they’ve let slip away. The Chiefs might rest players after clinching the AFC’s No. 1 seed Christmas Day, but the Broncos must beat their nemesis to end an eight-year playoff drought.

Early prediction for next week: The Chiefs will test cornerback Riley Moss. Such is life for the guy opposite of Pat Surtain II, and Moss was mostly up to the challenge before suffering a knee injury last month. But Moss found himself squarely in the sights of Joe Burrow over and over in his first game back. Moss had struggles against Bengals receiver Tee Higgins and must prepare to be the focus of the Chiefs’ passing attack next week.

What we learned about the QB today: Bo Nix has discovered how thoroughly opposing defenses can adjust to a quarterback in-season. He has found it increasingly difficult to get to throws in the middle of the field and didn’t have a completion longer than 16 yards Saturday until his 51-yard touchdown throw to Marvin Mims Jr. with 8:48 to play. But Nix did overcome an interception late in the fourth quarter to throw a game-tying touchdown pass to Mims, one of three he threw Saturday. — Jeff Legwold

Next game: vs. Chiefs (Jan. 4 or 5, TBD)

Chargers

Can the Chargers make a deep playoff run? Saturday’s win reflected a team equipped to win playoff games. The Chargers’ combination of rushing and Justin Herbert’s passing prowess made for a blowout win against a bad Patriots team. The challenge for the Chargers is re-creating that formula against winning opponents. The Chargers can still secure a higher playoff seed with a win over the Raiders and a Steelers loss next week. In that scenario, the Chargers would have a first-round matchup against the Houston Texans, who have lost three of their past five games.

Most surprising performance: Derwin James Jr. had two sacks Saturday, which brought him to a career-high 5.5 this season. After one of James’ worst seasons in 2023, Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter has James playing like one of the league’s best again. Saturday’s game was one of his most dominant performances of 2024.

What we learned about the QB on Saturday: Without pressure, it is nearly impossible to stop Herbert. The Patriots pressured him on only six of his 40 dropbacks (15%), the fifth-lowest pressure rate of his career. When Herbert was not pressured, he made the Patriots pay, finishing 23-for-32 with 257 yards and three touchdowns. — Kris Rhim

Next game: at Raiders (Jan. 4 or 5, TBD)

Patriots

What does the loss say about first-year head coach Jerod Mayo and the direction of the franchise? Nothing good. The 3-13 Patriots played the AFC East champion Bills tough last week, so their hope was to build on it and provide some level of optimism heading into the offseason. Instead, they were dominated from the outset — in their home stadium, which was maybe a bit more than half full. When a team endures a season like this, there are often significant changes as a result. Owner Robert Kraft has some important decisions to make about Mayo, the coaching staff and vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf and his staff.

Describe the game in two words: No charge. The Patriots ran 15 offensive plays in the first half, tied for the fewest by any team in a first half in the past five seasons — a reflection of how they were outclassed from the start.

Eye-popping stat: With his 36-yard touchdown strike to receiver DeMario Douglas, Drake Maye now has three touchdown passes this season of at least 35 air yards, the most such touchdown passes by a Patriots quarterback since Tom Brady had three in 2009. — Mike Reiss

Next game: vs. Bills (Jan. 4 or 5, TBD)

Seahawks

Can the Seahawks beat the Rams and make the playoffs? The Seahawks didn’t necessarily have to beat the Bears to keep their playoff hopes alive, but they will have to win next week in Los Angeles to have any shot at claiming the NFC West, and their dud of an offensive performance Thursday night doesn’t inspire much confidence they will. Granted, the circumstances weren’t ideal, with a long flight and a holiday condensing an already short week. Rainy conditions didn’t help either. But Geno Smith & Co. will have to be much better next week if they want to beat the Rams — and they probably need Los Angeles to lose Saturday to Arizona for that Week 18 game to matter in the first place.

Describe the game in two words: Dominant defense. The Seahawks went to work against the most sacked quarterback in the NFL, with six different players combining to drop Caleb Williams seven times. Leonard Williams and Devon Witherspoon each had three tackles for loss in addition to a sack, and Riq Woolen — who was benched for the opening drive last week after an unspecified violation of team rules — sealed the win by intercepting Williams’ desperation heave.

Early prediction for next week: Offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb will have a better plan for pushing the ball downfield. Smith’s 3.1 air yards per attempt were his fewest of the season by half a yard and less than half of his 7.0 average from the first 15 games. Chicago took away Seattle’s deep passing game, forcing Smith into shorter throws that required his receivers to rack up yards after the catch. — Brady Henderson

Next game: at Rams (Jan. 4 or 5, TBD)

Bears

What sparked Chicago’s worst offensive performance of the season? Caleb Williams and the Bears offense was, in a word, awful. Williams averaged 1.3 air yards per completion, which was his lowest mark of the season, and completed only one pass for 10 or more yards downfield. This performance looked as bad as Chicago’s last 3-point output against the Patriots and featured seven drives that ended in punts. There were so many frustrating moments, from another scoreless first quarter to Chicago’s clock management on the final drive when it had a chance to get into field goal range to send the game to overtime.

Describe the game in two words: Hard watch. Chicago’s defense put its best foot forward in holding the Seahawks to six points, but the Bears’ offense failed to wake up and match that effort. The Bears tacked on their 10th straight loss, which is tied for the longest streak in a season (2022) in franchise history.

Biggest hole in the game plan: The left side of the offensive line was decimated by injuries to Braxton Jones and Teven Jenkins, who did not play against Seattle. Williams is at fault for holding onto the ball too long in moments, but the porous pass protection against the Seahawks’ blitz stood no chance. Williams was sacked seven times, bringing his season total to 67. — Courtney Cronin

Next game: at Packers (Jan. 4 or 5, TBD)

Ravens

What does this Ravens’ win mean for the AFC North? The Ravens are now one win away from repeating as AFC North champions. Baltimore holds a one-game lead over the Steelers, who lost to the Chiefs on Wednesday. The Ravens end the regular season at home against the last-place Cleveland Browns next week. With Lamar Jackson putting together another NFL MVP-caliber season and a defense that has dominated recently, the Ravens not only look like the team to beat in the division but appear as if they will be a major force in the AFC playoffs.

Describe the game in two words: Total domination. Jackson and Derrick Henry combined for 234 yards rushing, and the Ravens’ defense would have recorded its first shutout since 2018 if not for Henry being tackled in the end zone for a safety. Baltimore outgained Houston 432-210, which was the Ravens’ second-largest margin in total yards over the past four seasons. The two points allowed are the fewest by any team on Christmas since Tennessee beat Dallas 31-0 in 2000.

Eye-popping stat: Jackson reached a maximum speed of 21.25 mph on his 48-yard touchdown run in the third quarter. According to Next Gen Stats, that’s the highest top speed of Jackson’s seven-year career. It is the second-fastest max speed by a quarterback this season, ranking only behind Arizona’s Kyler Murray (21.27 mph). — Jamison Hensley

Next game: vs. Browns (Jan. 4 or 5, TBD)

Texans

Can this Houston team win in the playoffs? Because the Texans won the AFC South, they’ll host a playoff game. But right now Houston doesn’t look primed to make a playoff run. Against winning teams, the Texans are 1-5, and losing to the Ravens in the fashion they did gives little indication they can compete with the best of the best.

Most surprising performance: The defensive line. The Texans sacked quarterback Lamar Jackson only once and allowed the Ravens to rush for 251 yards. Defensive ends and stalwarts Danielle Hunter and Will Anderson Jr. combined for 0.5 sacks.

Early prediction for next week: Texans starters play only a quarter against the Tennessee Titans. Houston is locked into the No. 4 seed, so there’s little incentive for them to play starters for long in Week 18. Risking important players getting hurt isn’t worth it, especially when safety Jimmie Ward, nickel Jalen Pitre, and receivers Stefon Diggs and Tank Dell are already out for the season. — DJ Bien-Aime

Next game: at Titans (Jan. 4 or 5, TBD)

Chiefs

As the AFC’s top seed, should the Chiefs sit key players next week? Definitely. That’s particularly true for players with injuries, like Patrick Mahomes and Chris Jones. The Chiefs should expand the list of resting players as much as possible to include Xavier Worthy and others. These players will have an extended break because the Chiefs will also get a first-round playoff bye, but coach Andy Reid will need to find a way to keep them sharp.

What we learned about the QB on Wednesday: It has been a long wait but Mahomes can still complete the long ball. Mahomes’ 49-yard pass to Justin Watson in the first quarter traveled 40 yards in the air, making it his second longest such pass of the season. His TD to Worthy in Week 4 against the Chargers went 54 yards in the air.

Most surprising performance: Mike Danna took advantage of expanded playing time in the absence of Jones to have a big pass-rushing game. Danna, who entered with 1.5 sacks this season, had two more against Russell Wilson. The Chiefs sacked Wilson five times. — Adam Teicher

Next game: at Broncos (Jan. 4 or 5, TBD)

Steelers

Are the Steelers capable of making noise in the postseason? Despite three consecutive losses, the Steelers are still postseason-bound. But the struggles that have plagued this team during this stretch have all but erased any possibility of them being a contender. The once-stout defense isn’t creating the takeaways or getting off the field, and Russell Wilson is playing more like the Wilson that struggled in his first season in Denver than the one who won five of his first six starts in Pittsburgh.

Describe the game in two words: Revealing loss. With a boost from the return of several key players, the Steelers had a chance to right the ship — or at least start turning it around — against a tough team playing without its best defender in Chris Jones. Instead, they took on more water in a blowout loss and don’t appear to be a team capable of making noise in the playoffs.

What we learned about the QB on Wednesday: The clock might be close to striking midnight. Wilson held on to the ball too long at times, contributing to a season-high five sacks. He also had his second red zone turnover in as many weeks, this time on an interception in the end zone. But despite his miscues, Wilson still showed flashes of brilliance — it was just too inconsistent to make up the difference. — Brooke Pryor

Next game: vs. Bengals (Jan. 4 or 5, TBD)

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