NFL Week 17 breakdown: Buccaneers keep getting vintage Tom Brady; Packers one win from playoffs
NFL Week 17 is (almost) complete. Here are some of the biggest developments from this weekend's action:
- Tom Brady looked like classic Brady as the Buccaneers beat the Carolina Panthers, but Tampa Bay will need everyone to avoid one-and-done in playoffs, columnist Jarrett Bell writes.
- Aaron Rodgers kept the faith to turn Green Bay's disappointing year into a postseason shot, and now he and the Packers are a win away from reaching playoffs after a blowout win over the Vikings.
- Without injured QB Jalen Hurts, the Eagles failed to wrap up the NFC conference's top seed for a second consecutive week.
- The Patriots dealt a huge blow to the Tua Tagovailoa-less Dolphins’ playoff hopes and kept their own alive with a win at Gillette Stadium on Sunday.
- The Lions shut down Justin Fields and dominated the Bears in all facets in Detroit's season finale at Ford Field and kept their playoff hopes alive.
- And while we're on the subject of the postseason, here's how the playoff picture currently stands.
- PHOTOS: Best of NFL Week 17
Key storylines from NFL Week 17
- 32 things we learned: Quarterbacks continue to tell the tale as 64 different QBs have now started this NFL season, the most ever in a non-strike campaign.
- Winners and losers: With Steelers' season on the line, rookie QB Kenny Pickett made several big throws. Commanders coach Ron Rivera displayed a stunning lack of awareness.
- Concussion protocol not triggered: The NFL and NFL Players’ Association concluded their joint review and found that the Miami Dolphins handled QB Tua Tagovailoa's latest concussion appropriately.
- Water rescue: Tampa Bay Buccaneers backup QB Blaine Gabbert assisted in the rescue of four people who were in a helicopter that crashed near Tampa, Florida.
- Mistakes won’t cut it: Cowboys QB Dak Prescott needs to solve his turnover issues for Dallas to be a legit playoff threat, writes Jarrett Bell.
- Calling it a career: Arizona Cardinals defensive star J.J. Watt, one of best defenders in NFL history, is hanging up his cleats after this season.
- Future in doubt: Las Vegas Raiders will be entering an offseason of uncertainty after the benching of QB Derek Carr, writes Tyler Dragon.
- Now hiring: After the firing of Nathaniel Hackett, is the Broncos head coaching job attractive? QB Russell Wilson complicates the answer, writes Nate Davis.
- Police chase: Atlanta Police say Atlanta Falcons practice squad WR Cameron Batson, 27, was arrested Saturday following a traffic stop during which he allegedly resisted and violently fought with the officer causing the officer to fire his weapon.
NFL Week 17 results
- Cowboys 27, Titans 13: Dak Prescott has some things to clean up, but Dallas beat banged-up and resting Tennessee on Thursday night for its sixth win in seven games.
- Falcons 20, Cardinals 19: Arizona mistakes undo good effort as Atlanta rookie Desmond Ridder picked up his first career victory as a starter.
- Lions 41, Bears 10: Jared Goff shined again as the Lions bottled up Justin Fields in the second half to keep slim playoff hopes alive.
- Jaguars 31, Texans 3: Jacksonville played its starters in a mostly meaningless game, setting up a winner-take-all battle against the Titans in the regular-season finale.
- Chiefs 27, Broncos 24: Denver was far better with Jerry Rosburg as interim coach, but Patrick Mahomes was too much and may have secured another NFL MVP award.
- Patriots 23, Dolphins 21: Miami dropped its fifth in a row, had another quarterback exit with an injury and now need help to make the postseason.
- Giants 38, Colts 10: Brian Daboll boosted his Coach of the Year résumé as the Giants clinched a playoff spot for the first time since 2016.
- Saints 20, Eagles 10: Another week, another missed chance for Philly to clinch homefield advantage in the NFC.
- Buccaneers 30, Panthers 24: Tom Brady found Mike Evans for three deep touchdown passes to end Carolina's improbable run and clinch the NFC South crown for the Bucs.
- Browns 24, Commanders 10: Coach Ron Rivera's decision to start Carson Wentz backfired after his three-interception day (and Packers victory later in the day) eliminated Washington from playoff contention.
- 49ers 37, Raiders 34 (OT): The Niners had to fend off a charge from Jarrett Stidham, but San Francisco remained undefeated in Brock Purdy's stint as the starter.
- Seahawks 23, Jets 6: Geno Smith and Pete Carroll, a pair of Jets' castoffs, claimed their revenge and kept Seattle's playoff hopes alive.
- Packers 41, Vikings 17: Green Bay got contributions from defense and special teams and now controls its playoff fate after its domination of the NFC North-rival Vikings.
- Chargers 31, Rams 10: The Bolts earned bragging rights in the battle of Los Angeles, further plunging the Rams into their lost season.
- Steelers 16, Ravens 13: Kenny Pickett became the first rookie QB in NFL history to throw consecutive game-winning TD passes in the final minute of the fourth quarters of back-to-back games.
The week ahead in the NFL
Monday: Week 17 wraps up with Josh Allen leading the Buffalo Bills (12-3) on the road against Joe Burrow's Cincinnati Bengals (11-4) in a potential 2022 AFC Championship Game preview (ESPN/ABC, 8:30 p.m. ET).
Saturday: Week 18 kicks off with a doubleheader as the Kansas City Chiefs play on the road against the Las Vegas Raiders (ESPN/ABC; 4:30 p.m. ET), and the Jacksonville Jaguars host the Tennessee Titans (ESPN/ABC; 8:15 p.m. ET).
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