đŸș Wolf Sports Weekly

Seeds shifting

Author

Wolf Sports
December 23, 2025

đŸŽ…đŸ» From Wolf Sports, wishing you all a Merry Christmas. Thank you for reading during such a fun NFL season!

🏈 The best show on TV

The number of “Game of the Year” quality matchups this season has been crazy, and we got more in Week 16, starting with Thursday Night Football when the Seahawks came back to defeat the Rams and take control of the NFC’s top seed. Down 30-14 in the fourth quarter, it looked like Seattle was done—but Rashid Sheheed sparked them with a PR TD, and two two-point conversions (including one of the craziest you will ever see) forced OT. In the final 10 minutes, Rams WR Puka Nacua capped his massive night with a TD; but the Seahawks drove and won the game with a TD and two-point conversion from Sam Darnold to TE Eric Saubert.

On Saturday night, the Bears pulled off their NFL record sixth comeback in the final two minutes to defeat the Packers in OT. Chicago also looked finished in this one, but a late TD and onside kick recovery kept them alive—and in the extra time the Bears defense made a stop of a Packers offense that had a banged-up Malik Willis (who played very well) at QB after Jordan Love left with a concussion. The victory ended emphatically on a walk-off deep ball from Caleb Williams to WR DJ Moore—putting the Bears at first place in the NFC North.

Other Week 16 results:

  • Steelers 29, Lions 24: Detroit was yet again on the losing side of controversial officiating that twice took a touchdown off the board in the final moments, but Pittsburgh locked up a winning season for the 19th time in the 19th season under HC Mike Tomlin—who also picked up his 200th career win and will clinch the AFC North with a victory over the Browns this week.

  • Patriots 28, Ravens 24 (SNF): A second score for RB Derrick Henry (18 carries for 128 yards and two TDs) put Baltimore up 24-13 in a game where QB Lamar Jackson (back) left early, but King Henry inexplicably didn’t see a snap afterwards as QB Drake Maye (who had his first 300-yard game) led a New England comeback.

  • Jaguars 34, Broncos 20: Perhaps lost in a crazy week, Jacksonville went to Mile High and beat the Broncos with QB Trevor Lawrence enjoying a December emergence by totaling 299 yards and four TDs. The race for the No. 1 seed in the AFC is now much more open than it was a week ago.

  • Panthers 23, Buccaneers 20: The downward spiral for Tampa Bay (1-6 record since the start of November) continued, and the Panthers are now in control of the NFC South after an INT by rookie S Lathan Ransom sealed the win. However, the Bucs beating the Dolphins in Week 17 would set up a rematch for the division crown in the season finale.

  • 49ers 48, Colts 27 (MNF): 49ers QB Brock Purdy threw five TDs as the Indy defense couldn’t get a stop despite a strong game from QB Philip Rivers, putting the Colts’ playoff chances on the ropes.

  • Eagles 29, Commanders 18: A chippy battle between the NFC East rivals eventually slanted in Philadelphia’s favor after a shaky start, which allowed them to clinch the division—ending the 20-year stretch of not having a repeat winner. Commanders HC Dan Quinn said after the game that “we play them again in two weeks” when asked about the Eagles going for two late to make it a 19-point game, but Philly might be playing their backups in Week 18.

  • Bills 23, Browns 20: Cleveland gave the Bills a fight by holding QB Josh Allen (137 total yards) in check, but two touchdowns by RB James Cook III and 2.5 sacks by DE Greg Rousseau were enough to escape with a victory. For the Browns, star rookie RB Quinshon Judkins unfortunately suffered a broken fibula and dislocated ankle that obviously ends his season.

  • Chargers 34, Cowboys 17: Dallas was it in until the fourth quarter, but the much maligned defense allowed 452 total yards, and Los Angeles—who now has the AFC West within their sights with Denver losing—was glad to have WR Quentin Johnston back (4/104/1 line with a highlight TD).

  • Bengals 45, Dolphins 21: After being shutout by the Ravens last week, the Bengals looked like the team many expected in 2025—with QB Joe Burrow throwing for 309 yards and four TDs. Defensively, Cincinnati forced rookie QB Quinn Ewers to throw two INTs in his first career start.

  • Texans 23, Raiders 21: Houston was given a scare by Las Vegas as RB Ashton Jeanty showed the ability that made him the No. 6 overall pick with two TD of 50+ yards, but a pick-six by CB Derek Stingley Jr. in the first quarter was too much to overcome for the Silver and Black.

  • Vikings 16, Giants 13: Minnesota played suffocating defense to keep up a late-season surge despite being eliminated from playoff contention, and Giants rookie QB Jaxson Dart (33 passing yards, one INT) is now 2-8 as the starter in a very trying season for the team.

  • Titans 26, Chiefs 9: The first game without QB Patrick Mahomes didn’t go well for KC, and No. 1 overall pick QB Cameron Ward (21-of-28 for 228 yards and two TDs) shined for what has been an encouraging month for him with multiple scores in every game.

  • Falcons 26, Cardinals 19: It took some time, but Atlanta still featured TE Kyle Pitts Sr. (7/57/1) with WR Drake London back, and NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year contender OLB James Pearce Jr. had 0.5 sack—giving him 8.0 over the past seven games.

  • Saints 29, Jets 6: The Saints have now won three games in a row, and rookie QB Tyler Shough (308 yards and a TD through the air) impressed again with a 4-3 record to begin his career.

😳 DK Metcalf headlines suspension and injuries

During the Steelers-Lions game, WR DK Metcalf got into an altercation with a fan that led to a two-game suspension handed down yesterday. He is appealing the punishment, but Metcalf is currently set to miss games versus Cleveland and Baltimore as his team tries to clinch the AFC North.

Chargers LB Denzel Perryman was also given a two-game suspension for “repeated violations of playing rules intended to protect the health and safety of players,” with the latest actions coming Sunday in the win over Dallas.

Seahawks OLB Derick Hall had a one-game suspension upheld for stepping on Rams G Kevin Dotson in last Thursday night’s win.

In addition to Browns RB Quinshon Judkins going down in Week 17, other injuries around the league included:

📰 More NFL news and notes

The Jaguars signed WR Jakobi Meyers to a three-year extension after acquiring him at the trade deadline from the Raiders.

Veteran DE Matthew Judon signed with the Bills practice squad after being released by the Dolphins.

The Jets made roster moves ahead of Week 16 by extending TE Jeremy Ruckert and releasing WR Allen Lazard.

Stadium news: The Chiefs will move from Missouri to Kansas with a new domed stadium in 2031; the Bears expanded their search for a new stadium location, including potentially in Indiana.

Coaching moves: Cowboys DC Matt Eberflus moved from the sideline to the coaching booth; Rams fired ST coordinator Chase Blackburn following last week’s loss.

Pretty smart: Falcons QB Kirk Cousins dove deep into offensive talk for a couple of minutes during media availability.

Fantasy football craziness: A stat correction was made for Bears QB Caleb Williams to take away a negative-five yard rush and give him zero rushing yards on the play instead
 for a Week 6 game.

Other Sports Updates

🏆 College Football Playoff: The first round included wins by Alabama and Miami, setting the final eight.

🏈 Notre Dame announced a two-year series with BYU which stunningly ends their rivalry with USC that’s been a huge game since beginning in 1926.

👀 Legendary football coach Nick Saban has become a minority owner of the NHL’s Nashville Predators.

⚟ The Nationals hired 31-year-old Ani Kilambi as their general manager.

đŸș Found on wolfsports.com