Lions’ playoff hopes end with heartbreaking loss to Steelers
USA TODAY Sports’ Prince Grimes is “overreacting” to some of the best games of Week 16 on Sunday.
- Jerry Jones said the Cowboys wouldn’t evaluate Matt Eberflus until after the season, but the defensive coordinator didn’t help his cause in the end.
- The Jaguars are still in contention for the No. 1 seed in the AFC, and Jacksonville looks like a legitimate threat to make the playoffs.
- While the Steelers found some brilliance in the backfield, the Ravens once again faltered.
The initial magic of the holiday season couldn’t be sustained in Week 16 of the NFL.
The Seattle Seahawks got off to a bright start Thursday by defeating the Los Angeles Rams, changing the landscape for the NFC West and the conference’s top seed. The excitement continued Saturday as the Chicago Bears defeated the Green Bay Packers to take control of the NFC North in thrilling fashion.
However, on Sunday, the drama stalled considerably, confirming how the week’s schedule was pushed forward. But when the Bears and San Francisco 49ers clinched their postseason tickets, there was still plenty of fallout to resolve.
Here are the biggest winners and losers from NFL Week 16.
NFL Week 16 Winner
Justin Herbert
The Los Angeles Chargers quarterback’s workload has tipped into intolerable territory in recent weeks after suffering a broken bone in his left hand, shouldering a disproportionate burden for an offense that lost its most productive offensive tackle. However, Herbert returned to his best form with a great performance in a 34-17 win over the Dallas Cowboys. Herbert, who completed 23 of 29 passes for 300 yards and two touchdowns, balanced efficiency and aggression, working underneath to keep the offense moving while making two long scores and numerous other downfield shots. And despite blitzing with a season-high dropback rate of 54.7%, Herbert didn’t have a sack in the game, his first in 2025, according to Next Gen Stats. Perhaps this says more about the Chargers’ opponents than Herbert and the offense, but more on that later, but it marked important progress heading into next week’s matchup with the Houston Texans and their impressive pass rush.
jacksonville jaguars
Two weeks ago, Trevor Lawrence reflected on his team’s place in the larger football world by declaring, “Nobody cares about the Jags, and that’s fine.” By the end of the season, more people may need to at least pay attention to them. Jacksonville’s 34-20 win over the Denver Broncos not only kept its hopes alive for the AFC’s No. 1 seed, but also made a statement that the team is well-deserving of a spot at the top of the conference playoff standings. Against a defense that was crushing everyone in the passing game, Lawrence came out hot again, keying a fast game while throwing three touchdowns while scoring another. Parker Washington had 10 receptions for 145 yards and was key to the offense’s mission to do significant damage after the catch. It has long been thought in the AFC playoff race that Jacksonville could be as dangerous as any other team in the postseason if the team maintains this trajectory.
pittsburgh steelers backfield
On a day when DK Metcalf’s most explosive moment was a physical confrontation with a Detroit Lions fan, the Steelers looked to their backfield to provide the spark they needed for an eventual 29-24 victory. Kenneth Gainwell turned things around just before halftime when he managed to secure a deep heave from Aaron Rodgers just after falling to the turf, and the then-fifth-year man sprinted into the end zone to tie the score at 10-10. Then, in the second half, Jalen Warren broke through with the ground game, rushing for 45 yards and two scores. Amid all the drama, the Steelers are currently in prime position to win their first AFC North title since 2020.
Lathan Ransom
A week after his unnecessary roughness penalty fueled an upset of the New Orleans Saints, the Carolina Panthers’ rookie safety found himself in an even gentler spotlight Sunday. Ransom secured Baker Mayfield’s errant pass and made his first NFL interception in a 23-20 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. It was part of an overall great effort from Carolina’s rookie class, with Tetailoa McMillan continuing to build on his Offensive Rookie of the Year credentials with six catches, 73 yards and a touchdown, and Nick Skorton’s tenacity on the pass rush helping Mayfield avoid crisis. Barring the Buccaneers’ loss to the Miami Dolphins and the Panthers’ upset of the Seahawks, the division title will rest in a winner-take-all rematch from Week 18. But Carolina would have been in trouble with a loss and an unfavorable setup in Week 17, so keeping things in check at home was still an important step.
Cam Ward
A win over the current shell of the Kansas City Chiefs probably isn’t cause for celebration for many teams. But in a trying season for the Tennessee Titans, the team must hang on to whatever positive signs are scattered. Most of them typically go back to Ward, a No. 1 pick who has shown promise despite the Titans essentially finishing the season after just six games. His 2.42-second average pitch time was the fastest all season, according to Next Gen Stats, and his recent games showed great improvement. Still, Ward managed to weave in some calculated shots, including an incredible 30-yard completion by rookie Chaimera Dike downfield as the quarterback ran to his left. With six touchdowns and just one interception in his past three games, Ward has enjoyed a steady rise that bodes very well for his second year, but only as long as he’s paired with a new coach who can help him become a more efficient passer while embracing the dynamic skillset he offers.
Chris Olave
The Saints made it clear at the trade deadline that the speedy receiver will be an integral part of the team’s future. However, his price seems to be rising exponentially. In a 29-6 win over the New York Jets, Olave had 10 catches for a season-high 148 yards and two touchdowns. The fourth-year wideout is one of many players in New Orleans that has been rejuvenated by Tyler Shaw’s appointment as starting quarterback, and five of his eight touchdowns this season have come in the last six weeks. And with 29-year-old possession receiver Jakobi Meyers signing a three-year, $60 million contract extension last week, Olave is poised for a big payday this offseason with only a fifth-year option remaining on his contract.
NFL Week 16 Losers
matt everflus
Moving from the field to the coach’s booth didn’t change much in perspective or effectiveness for the Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator. On the day, Eberflus’ unit allowed touchdowns on the Chargers’ first three drives and 7.3 yards per play. Indeed, without Quinnen Williams, the need to rely on blitzing to generate a pass rush only increased. But the inability of this post-Micah Parsons front team to do what nearly every other team has been able to do in terms of beating Herbert is a massive indictment on both the scheme and the personnel. A visibly exhausted Jerry Jones said after the game that he didn’t plan to make a decision on Eberflus during the season, but stopped short of backing up his embattled coordinator. When asked about evaluating Eberflus’ future, Jones told reporters: “It might not be that difficult.” “That’s certainly something we have to do.” With Brian Schottenheimer and a stellar offensive line more than up to the task, it’s hard to see a case for bringing him back to oversee a unit that ranks 31st in points allowed.
baltimore ravens
Lamar Jackson injured? Did the offense get undone by turnovers? And a defense that can’t defend properly when it matters most? In a 28-24 loss to the New England Patriots, the Ravens gave up all of their hits while running fast and collapsing their season. Perhaps with Jackson sidelined with a hip injury, Baltimore’s playoff hopes may be doomed, but that depends on both a win against the Green Bay Packers on Saturday and the Steelers’ loss to the Cleveland Browns the following Sunday. But there are no excuses for a team that stumbles so often, and John Harbaugh’s crew isn’t just a victim of circumstance.
NFL Christmas lineup
Heading into Sunday, Netflix and Prime Video’s holiday tripleheader was already set to feature four teams eliminated from playoff contention, including a Chiefs team whose appeal has been significantly diminished by Patrick Mahomes’ season-ending knee injury. But things could be even more dire for streamers. There is concern about Kansas City backup Gardner Minshew’s torn ACL, so Chris Oladokun could start against the Denver Broncos and the team’s vaunted pass rush. If the name doesn’t ring a bell, don’t worry. Oladokun is known only to die-hard Chiefs fans, NFL Draft enthusiasts, and preseason football enthusiasts. Meanwhile, JJ McCarthy’s hand injury means the Minnesota Vikings could once again start undrafted rookie Max Brosmer, who had a disastrous debut as a first-stringer against the Seahawks. Instead of getting sucked into boring, boring games this Christmas, you might want to dust off your old movies or spend some time with your family.
