🐺 Wolf Sports Weekly

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and a great holiday season! Enjoy the games tomorrow and this weekend!

🎅🏻 Holiday football

In the Saturday doubleheader to start the Holiday Remix, the Chiefs won yet another one-possession game by topping Houston, 27-19. Kansas City needs just one more win (or a Buffalo loss) over the final two weeks to secure the top seed in the AFC. Meanwhile, the Texans sadly lost WR Tank Dell to a severe knee injury that’s been determined to be a dislocated knee cap, torn ACL, and additional damage—coming just a year after he fractured his leg as a rookie. Later in the day, Lamar Jackson and the Ravens got over the hump against the Steelers with a 34-17 victory paced by RB Derrick Henry (162 rushing yards), three touchdown passes from Jackson, and a key fumble forced by S Ar’Darius Washington. Christmas Day on Netflix, Pittsburgh hosts KC (1:00 PM ET) and Houston hosts Baltimore (4:30 PM ET).

The Falcons benched QB Kirk Cousins, going with first-round pick Michael Penix Jr. ahead of a blowout win over the Giants that included two pick-sixes by the Atlanta defense. While Penix didn’t throw a touchdown, he did a nice job and was throwing some lasers in his first career start. Thanks to a Buccaneers loss on Sunday night, the Falcons now have control of first place in the NFC South with two games remaining.

Jalen Hurts (concussion) left early in Week 16, with the Commanders coming back to beat the Eagles in a shootout win. Rookie QB Jayden Daniels threw five touchdowns (two interceptions) including the game-winner to WR Jamison Crowder with six seconds remaining after Washington was given life on a very uncharacteristic drop by Eagles WR DeVonta Smith that would have iced the game. The 10-5 Commanders host the Falcons this Sunday night in a big NFC battle.

On Thursday Night Football, the Chargers came back to beat the Broncos in a game that featured the first made free kick field goal since 1976. At the end of the first half, LA fair caught a punt, giving K Cameron Dicker the opportunity for a free kick field goal attempt—something Chargers HC Jim Harbaugh always wanted to do and called his favorite rule in football. Denver scored touchdowns on their first three drives before the momentum shift of the free kick, and the Chargers can now beat the Patriots or Raiders over the final two weeks to secure a playoff spot.

Other Week 16 results:

• Panthers 36, Cardinals 30 (OT): Arizona was eliminated from playoff contention after a game-winning 21-yard touchdown run by Chuba Hubbard in overtime.

• Rams 19, Jets 9: The Rams scored 13 fourth-quarter points, headlined by the go-ahead score by TE Tyler Higbee in his first game of the season, to get to 9-6 and a game up in the NFC West.

• Bengals 24, Browns 6: Bengals S Geno Stone recorded an interception for the third consecutive game as Cincy got a key win to stay right in the AFC wild card mix ahead of a critical Saturday afternoon matchup with Denver.

• Colts 38, Titans 30: In a major bounce back from dropping the ball before crossing the goal line last week, Colts RB Jonathan Taylor broke two 65+ yard touchdown runs in a 218-yard, three-touchdown performance.

• Lions 34, Bears 17: The Chicago cold was no problem for Detroit, as Jared Goff threw for 336 yards and three touchdowns—including one on a perfectly executed fake-fumble trick play.

• Vikings 27, Seahawks 24: Sam Darnold connected with Justin Jefferson on a tremendous game-winning 39-yard touchdown late in the fourth quarter, helping the Vikings win their eighth consecutive game to stay neck-and-neck with the Lions in the NFC North and for the NFC’s top seed.

• Bills 24, Patriots 21: The Bills got in a 14-0 hole but tightened up and came back to win—with a backwards pass by Patriots QB Drake Maye recovered by CB Taron Johnson for a touchdown putting Buffalo up 10 in the fourth.

• Dolphins 29, 49ers 17: Dolphins RB De’Von Achane broke a 50-yard touchdown run (instead of sliding to run out the clock, making many fantasy players either thrilled or angry) as his team stayed alive in the AFC playoff race.

• Raiders 19, Jaguars 14: Las Vegas ended its 10-game losing streak, and Raiders HC Antonio Pierce said to “talk to [GM] Tom Telesco” regarding Raiders fans that might be unhappy about losing draft positioning due to the win.

• Cowboys 26, Buccaneers 24: In a hard-hitting Sunday Night Football matchup, Cowboys CB DaRon Bland sealed the win with a strip fumble on a potential game-winning drive by Tampa Bay.

• Packers 34, Saints 0: The Packers had the first shutout of the 2024 NFL season, clinching a playoff berth for the fifth time in six seasons under Matt LaFleur.

🔥 Top fantasy performers in Week 16

• Colts RB Jonathan Taylor: 39.8 points

• Commanders QB Jayden Daniels: 34.42 points

• Vikings WR Justin Jefferson: 31.4 points

• Panthers RB Chuba Hubbard: 30.5 points

• Dolphins RB De’Von Achane: 28.0 points

(point totals are for half PPR scoring)

📝 The latest player news

After acquiring him in a trade ahead of the deadline, the Ravens waived disgruntled WR Diontae Johnson, who was claimed by the Texans.

Chiefs WR Hollywood Brown returned from the shoulder injury that kept him out the first 14 games of the season, catching five passes for 45 yards in the win against the Texans.

The Browns benched QB Jameis Winston ahead of Week 16, going with second-year player Dorian Thompson-Robinson. DTR is now dealing with a calf injury.

The Cardinals signed S Budda Baker to a three-year, $54 million extension.

The Saints claimed RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire, the former first-round pick of the Chiefs.

After leading his high school team to a state championship as the head coach, veteran QB Teddy Bridgewater wants to return to the NFL.

The latest injury news around the league includes:

• Steelers WR George Pickens (hamstring) is expected to face the Chiefs on Christmas Day after missing the past three games.

• Cowboys LB DeMarvion Overshown’s knee injury is thought to be not as serious as first anticipated, with the hope of a potential return late next season.

• Lions DE Aidan Hutchinson (leg) promises that he’ll return for the Super Bowl if the team makes it.

• Jets rookie OT Olu Fashanu, who has been playing very well as of late, suffered a foot injury but avoided an Achilles tear in the loss to the Rams.

• Texans S Jimmie Ward (foot) is out for the year.

• Bears OT Braxton Jones suffered a fractured ankle, reportedly with a four-month recovery time.

• Patriots DT Christian Barmore (blood clots) unfortunately suffered some recurring symptoms and his season is over.

• 49ers OT Trent Williams (ankle) is unlikely to play in the final two weeks.

• Lions RB David Montgomery, after getting multiple opinions, is putting off knee surgery and hopes to return at some point this postseason.

• Commanders DT Jonathan Allen is set to return in 2024 despite previously suffering a pectoral injury thought to be season-ending.

• The Falcons placed K Younghoe Koo on injured reserve.

📰 More NFL news and notes

Schedule changes this week: The three Saturday games for Week 17 are set, Packers-Vikings has moved to 4:25 PM ET, and Falcons-Commanders has been moved to Sunday Night Football.

“You forgot what it was like when you had nothing and ate your f—ing molded bread.” Lions HC Dan Campbell set the tone for his injury-depleted team in a fiery radio interview.

In a sudden turn of events after it appeared to be shot down, a bill passed giving the Commanders the opportunity to build a new stadium on the old RFK Stadium site.

The 2025 Pro Bowl Games Skill Competitions headlined by flag football on February 2 are set.

Eagles QB Jalen Hurts was fined for wearing two different color Jordan Brand cleats, and Jordan says they’re paying the fine.

Bills DT Jordan Phillips is not afraid to make a fashion statement:

Netflix announced a documentary Elway, following the life and career of Hall of Fame Broncos QB John Elway.

Other Sports Updates

🙏 Rest in Peace: MLB legend Rickey Henderson died at 65 years old.

🏆 The first round of the 12-team College Football Playoff featured blowouts, with all the higher seeds advancing to the quarterfinals. Latest bracket here.

👀 Michael Vick is becoming the head coach at Norfolk State.

⚾️ Recent MLB winter moves include: Yankees acquiring two former NL MVPs in OF Cody Bellinger and 1B Paul Goldschmidt, and the Red Sox signing SP Walker Buehler.

🏈 The Ivy League is joining the FCS playoffs starting in 2025.

📺 Netflix announced a sports series following the 2024 SEC college football season, premiering this summer.

⛳️ Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler defeated Bryson DeChambeau and Brooks Koepka in “The Showdown” between the PGA and LIV Golf.

🐺 Found on wolfsports.com

• Week 16 fantasy awards

• Week 17 fantasy rankings (🔒)

• Week 17 waiver wire rankings (🔒)