It’s Christmas in the NFL! Some teams are finding playoff spots under their tree, while others are getting a big ol’ bag of nothing. Tis the season for make-or-break football, so who wins in week 17?
The Chiefs walked away with a big win over the Texans in week 16. It was more of the same from Kansas City, with a “good enough” performance from their offense and a strong showing from the defense. They’re 14-1, undefeated at home, and hunting the number-one seed in the playoffs.
The Steelers’ offense proved inconsistent again in a 34-17 loss to the Ravens. Russell Wilson is still playing well, but the absence of George Pickens was felt. This is a tough game against a smart defense. The Steelers will keep it close, but the Chiefs are still a scary team this time of year.
Winner: Chiefs
The Ravens are coming off another terrific performance in week 16. Lamar Jackson threw three touchdown passes, and Derrick Henry had his seventh 100+ yard game. Baltimore is hot in every facet of the game, and Lamar is laser-focused at the right time.
The Texans are reeling from their loss in Kansas City last week. CJ Stroud looks more vulnerable than ever behind a less-than-impressive offensive line. Houston is a playoff-caliber team, but they have a lot of problems to solve before they can take down the MVP front-runner.
Winner: Ravens
The Seahawks are losing their hold on the NFC West after a loss to the Vikings last week. They managed to keep things close down to the wire, but this team is missing the ability to finish big games.
Caleb Williams has tremendous potential, and he’s showing it. He threw for 334 yards and two touchdowns against the Lions in a 34-17 loss last week. By this point, the Bears are looking to 2025, and the Seahawks have more on the line here.
Winner: Seahawks
The Chargers are coming off a massive AFC West victory over the Broncos last week, taking second place in the division. This is a team playing for a playoff berth, and this is an excellent opportunity for them to extend their momentum.
The Patriots are becoming an issue for big-time opponents. New England nearly beat the Buffalo Bills on Sunday in a 24-21 effort. Drake Maye looks like a bonafide stud, and the Pats love the upset at this point. This game should be an easy call, but the Patriots will make it enjoyable.
Winner: Chargers
“The 9-6 Broncos are going to Cincinnati to face the 7-8 Bengals” is a sentence that would’ve blown minds in August. The Broncos are legit, and what Sean Payton has done in his short tenure should be applauded. The problem here will be keeping up with Joe Burrow.
The Bengals’ defense is abysmal, that doesn’t need repeating, but the offense is one of the best in the NFL. Joe Burrow is a top-five QB right now, and Ja’Marr Chase is having a ridiculously historic season. The Bengals need to win out to have any shot at the playoffs. The Burrow-Chase connection is too good to doubt right now.
Winner: Bengals
The Arizona Cardinals fell apart horrifically against the Panthers last Sunday. Their defense made Bryce Young look like a superstar, and the offense lost any spark they had after week 15. Now the Cards are eliminated from playoff contention, and they’re simply looking to play spoiler.
The Rams were just as bad despite beating the Jets 19-9 last week. LA found some life late in the game, but they looked rough for the most part. Matt Stafford is a great quarterback who is finding himself in a two-week slump. This is a great shot for him to turn things around against a weak division rival.
Winner: Rams
The Panthers are feeling great coming off an OT win over the Cardinals last week. Bryce Young looks more comfortable by the week, and Carolina is finding some footing. Unfortunately for them, they’re facing off against a strong division rival in December.
The Buccaneers are fighting for their hold on the NFC South after losing to the Cowboys last week. This could be a close rivalry matchup, but the Bucs are looking to bounce back for a playoff push. Tampa Bay comes away with this.
Winner: Buccaneers
Josh Allen is letting his grasp at NFL MVP slip away following his performance against the Patriots. In classic “trap game” fashion, Allen statistically had one of his worst days of the season and nearly lost to a three-win team.
The Jets are a team that should get stomped out by the Bills here. New York managed a measly nine points in their loss to the Rams, and the entire organization is a dumpster fire. The Bills get their edge back against a mediocre division rival.
Winner: Bills
What a roller coaster ride for the Indianapolis Colts in week 16. They led the Titans by 31 points in the third quarter before giving up 22 straight. Jonathan Taylor looked like his old self with a 218-yard, three-touchdown performance. The Colts should be happy with their win, but they must acknowledge the fourth-quarter collapse.
The Giants seemingly have the number one draft pick on lock, and that’s the only bright side of this team. Drew Lock threw two pick-sixes in a 34-7 loss to the Falcons. The Giants’ tank is in full effect, and they likely won’t win another game this year.
Winner: Colts
The Vikings are still a dangerous NFL team, and they proved it in a 27-24 win over the Seahawks. Sam Darnold found Justin Jefferson for two touchdowns and Jordan Addison for one while throwing for 246 yards. Minnesota might be a dark horse heading into the NFL playoffs.
The Packers are flying high after a 34-0 blowout win over the Saints. Jordan Love and Josh Jacobs continue to be a powerhouse duo, and the Pack looks great as they head into the playoffs. This is the 50/50 game of the week, but Green Bay wants revenge for their last meeting with the Vikings.
Winner: Packers
In a head-scratching move, the Raiders beat the Jaguars last week 19-14. Antonio Pierce is coaching for his job, but this team is hurting their chances at finding a QB in the 2025 NFL Draft. With all of that being said, this is still a bad team.
The Saints looked worse than ever in a shutout loss to the Packers on Monday night. Spencer Rattler isn’t at the NFL level yet, and the offense is completely inept without Alvin Kamara. The Raiders have more on the line with Pierce’s job at stake.
Winner: Raiders
In another game between two bad teams, the Titans head to Jacksonville to face the Jaguars. Both teams have a 3-12 record and are eliminated from playoff contention.
After they scored 22 unanswered points in Indy, it’s hard to bet against the Titans right now. There is no true winner here, but the Titans have better chemistry, and momentum is on their side.
Winner: Titans
On the back of Jason Sanders’ and his five field goals, the Dolphins took down the 49ers 29-17 last week. Miami is still vying for a playoff spot, and they’ve proven they can beat below-average opponents.
The Browns only scored six points against a bad Bengals defense in week 16. Cleveland is 3-12 going into this game with nothing on the line but pride. If Jameis Winston was under center, they might have a shot, but the Dolphins are simply the better team here.
Winner: Dolphins
The Eagles had their 10-game winning streak snapped by the Commanders on Sunday. Philly lost both Jalen Hurts and CJ Gardner-Johnson in this game, and it trickled down. The secondary gave up three crucial fourth-quarter touchdowns. This was a case of how a couple of missing pieces can tear the whole foundation down.
The Cowboys are officially eliminated from playoff contention despite staying competitive without Dak Prescott. This has been a tumultuous year for Dallas following a head-scratching offseason. Cooper Rush might make this entertaining, but the Eagles are a juggernaut for a reason.
Winner: Eagles
The Falcons looked great in Michael Penix Jr.’s first NFL start against the Giants. Penix wasn’t a standout by any means, but the defense got the job done against a bottom-tier opponent. With Kirk Cousins on the way out, this is Penix’s team now, and it’s all about growing for him.
Unfortunately, the Falcons are running into a Commanders team flying high after their big win. Jayden Daniels threw for 258 yards and five touchdowns against one of the NFL’s top defenses last week. This is a one-sided affair, and Washington should come away with it.
Winner: Commanders
In an NFC Championship rematch from last year, the Lions are walking into San Francisco to face a battered Niners team. Detroit dropped the ball the last time they faced off, but this situation is different. The Lions are having fun decimating opponents, which showed in their 34-17 win over the Bears.
The 49ers are riddled with injuries, and the Super Bowl hangover has beaten them down this year. This won’t be the light show it was last year, and the outcome will be very different this time. Detroit decisively wins this revenge game.
Winner: Lions
The playoffs are coming together fast, and few spots are available. It’s time to see who steps up during the holiday week. I hope you enjoyed this article, I want to wish everyone reading it a very happy holiday from myself and Stadium Rant.
If you enjoyed this article, subscribe to our newsletter here. Check out Stadium Rant Original shows on our Youtube channel and subscribe! Give our socials Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok a follow for more great content!
