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🎄 NFL Week 17 recap

The penultimate week of the regular season began with two Christmas Day games—a rare Wednesday on the NFL schedule. Unfortunately, both games on Netflix were blowouts, with the Chiefs handling the Steelers to secure the No. 1 seed in the AFC and the Ravens dominating in a 31-2 drubbing of the Texans. A couple of big milestones were hit on the Kansas City and Baltimore sides, too, with Chiefs TE Travis Kelce becoming just the 15th player in league history with 1,000 career receptions while also setting the franchise record for touchdown receptions (77); and Lamar Jackson broke Michael Vick’s record for career rushing yards by a quarterback.

The headliner of the Saturday tripleheader was a thriller between the Broncos and Bengals, a 30-24 overtime victory by Cincy keeping them alive for a playoff berth. Bengals QB Joe Burrow threw for 412 yards and three touchdowns (all to WR Tee Higgins, including the game-winner), and Broncos rookie QB Bo Nix threw the longest completion of the year in terms of air yards on a bomb touchdown to WR Marvin Mims Jr., who later caught a 25-yard touchdown on fourth down with eight seconds remaining to send the game to OT. It had the feel of a playoff game, and we’re hoping the postseason can approach that entertainment level.

2K Sa’. Eagles RB Saquon Barkley became the ninth player in NFL history to rush for 2,000 yards in a season as Philadelphia handled Dallas, 41-7. The Eagles clinched the NFC East and the No. 2 seed in the NFC, but we’ll see if Barkley goes for Eric Dickerson’s single-season record (he is 101 yards from breaking it) next week against… his former team the Giants.

Falcons-Commanders was another game with a playoff feel, as Washington won in overtime to clinch a playoff berth in QB Jayden Daniels’ rookie year. Atlanta tied the game late on a fourth-and-goal touchdown from QB Michael Penix Jr. to TE Kyle Pitts before coming up short on a potential game-winning field goal (with very questionable clock management)—leading to the Commanders getting the ball first in OT and driving for a touchdown drive capped by TE Zach Ertz.

Other Week 17 results:

• Bears 6, Seahawks 3: While they ultimately didn’t get the help they needed, the Seahawks won a defensive battle in the final TNF game of 2024, sacking Caleb Williams seven times.

• Chargers 40, Patriots 7: Jim Harbaugh’s Chargers officially clinched a playoff spot behind a fantastic all-around performance that included two touchdowns by rookie WR Ladd McConkey (passed on by New England in the draft).

• Rams 13, Cardinals 9: Rams CB Ahkello Witherspoon’s spectacular diving interception at the goal line after the ball was deflected off Cardinals TE Trey McBride sealed the fifth straight victory for LA.

• Giants 45, Colts 33: Giants QB Drew Lock totaled five touchdowns (two to rookie WR Malik Nabers) in a stunner, knocking Indy (without QB Anthony Richardson—back/foot) out of playoff contention and knocking the Giants out of the lead for the No. 1 pick in the draft.

• Bills 40, Jets 14: Highlight-reel touchdown grabs by Amari Cooper and rookie Keon Coleman headlined an emphatic Buffalo win to seal the No. 2 seed in the AFC.

• Buccaneers 48, Panthers 14: Facing a totally depleted Panthers defense, Bucs QB Baker Mayfield threw five touchdowns in a balanced attack.

• Raiders 25, Saints 10: Vegas has won two straight games, and Brock Bowers broke Mike Ditka’s 63-year record for receiving yards by a rookie tight end (1,076).

• Jaguars 20, Titans 13: Jaguars WR Brian Thomas Jr. also continues to play like a star as a rookie, catching another touchdown to help Jacksonville get their second win over Tennessee this month.

• Vikings 27, Packers 25: Green Bay made it a game late after it looked like they were out of it, but Minnesota is playing at a very high level—and the Vikings went crazy celebrating with their QB Sam Darnold after the win.

• Dolphins 20, Browns 3: QB Tua Tagovailoa (hip) was out for Miami in a must-win game, but Tyler Huntley played very well to help his team get a road W.

• Lions 40, 49ers 34: San Francisco came out on fire, but Detroit put up 27 second-half points while going hard in a game that didn’t mean anything for them in terms of playoff seeding. For the Niners, QB Brock Purdy left late with a right elbow injury that Kyle Shanahan says may be a nerve issue.

🔥 Top fantasy performers in Week 17

• Bengals QB Joe Burrow: 36.98 points

• Bengals WR Tee Higgins: 34.6 points

• Buccaneers QB Baker Mayfield: 34.56 points

• Giants QB Drew Lock: 34.36 points

• Giants WR Malik Nabers: 32.6 points

(point totals are for half PPR scoring)

🏈 Week 18 playoff scenarios and schedule

There are two playoff spots up for grabs heading into the final week of the 2024 NFL regular season: The NFC South between the Bucs and the Falcons, and the No. 7 seed in the AFC between the Broncos, Dolphins, and Bengals. You can see the full playoff seeding possibilities below, but the biggest scenarios to make the playoffs are:

• Buccaneers: win vs. Saints OR Falcons loss vs. Panthers

• Falcons: win vs. Panthers AND Buccaneers loss vs. Saints

• Broncos: win vs. Chiefs OR Bengals and Dolphins lose

• Dolphins: win at Jets AND Broncos loss vs. Chiefs

• Bengals: win at Steelers AND Broncos loss vs. Chiefs AND Dolphins loss at Jets

And the Week 18 schedule is headlined by a Vikings-Lions matchup on Sunday Night Football to determine the top seed for homefield advantage and a first-round bye in the NFC playoffs.

📰 Latest NFL news and notes

The Browns and QB Deshaun Watson agreed to a restructured contract, likely keeping him with the team for the next two seasons.

Jets coaching search: The Jets are expected to speak with their former head coach Rex Ryan about their head coach opening. They are also scheduled to interview former Panthers and Washington HC Ron Rivera.

As for the head coaching job in Chicago, Super Bowl winning HC Pete Carroll is interested and is likely to speak with the franchise.

The Chiefs are expected to rest their starters against the Broncos, which is bad news for the Bengals and Dolphins needing Denver to lose.

Injury news: The Cowboys shut down superstar WR CeeDee Lamb, who was playing through a shoulder injury; Seahawks RB Kenneth Walker III (ankle) and Panthers RB Chuba Hubbard (calf/ankle) landed on IR; Bengals RB Chase Brown is dealing with a high-ankle sprain but will push to play on Saturday; and Chargers DB Elijah Molden suffered a broken fibula in Week 17.

Familiar faces: The Buccaneers brought back pass rusher Shaq Barrett after the Dolphins finally waived him upon request; and the Lions re-signed QB Teddy Bridgewater, who recently led his team to a state title as a high school coach.

Four teams tried to claim DL Phidarian Mathis from the Commanders, but he was claimed by the Jets.

NFL legend Eric Dickerson says he does not want Saquon Barkley to break his single-season rushing record.

The Modern-Era Player Finalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2025 were revealed:

Other Sports Updates

🙏 Rest in Peace: Longtime sports broadcaster Greg Gumbel passed away at 78.

🗓️ College Football Playoff schedule for tonight and tomorrow:

• New Year’s Eve: No. 6 Penn State vs. No. 3 Boise State (Fiesta Bowl, 7:30 PM ET)

• New Year’s Day: No. 5 Texas vs No. 4 Arizona State (Peach Bowl, 1:00 PM ET), No. 8 Ohio State vs. No. 1 Oregon (Rose Bowl, 5:00 PM ET), No. 7 Notre Dame vs. No. 2 Georgia (Sugar Bowl, 8:45 PM ET)

🏈 Bowl game highlights: Miami QB Cam Ward set the Division I record for career touchdown passes before sitting the second half of a 42-41 Pop-Tarts Bowl loss to Iowa State; BYU handled Colorado in the Valero Alamo Bowl; Navy topped Oklahoma in the Armed Forced Bowl; and USC beat Texas A&M in a thrilling Las Vegas Bowl.

🤔 In the latest player-to-head-coach move, Delaware State is hiring former NFL receiver DeSean Jackson.

⚾️ The Diamondbacks signed SP Corbin Burnes to a six-year, $210 million deal.

🏀 Miami men’s basketball coach Jim Larrañaga resigned due to NIL.

🏒 The Red Wings fired HC Derek Lalonde and named Todd McLellan to the role.

🐺 Found on wolfsports.com

• Latest dynasty fantasy rankings (🔒)

• Week 17 fantasy awards