What better way to spend Christmas Eve than with a full slate of NFL games? Well, maybe spending Christmas Eve with your loved ones. OK, so let’s try again: What better way to spend Christmas Eve than with your loved ones, watching a full slate of NFL games?
NFL scores 2017: Live results, highlights, and more from Week 16
The playoff picture is clearer after holiday weekend.
Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images
There were major implications in Sunday’s games, too. The Saints beat the Falcons, thanks to a butt interception and three other strange things, to nab a spot in the playoffs. The Panthers staged a comeback to top the Bucs and punch their ticket, as well. With a victory over the Dolphins, the Chiefs won the AFC West for the second year in a row. The Rams also clinched the NFC West.
The Browns clinched ... the first pick in the 2018 NFL draft, that is. They fell to 0-15 with a 20-3 loss to the Bears.
The Seahawks kept their slim playoff hopes with a win over Dallas, who was eliminated from contention. Even Ezekiel Elliott’s return couldn’t save the Cowboys from shooting themselves in the foot.
If you couldn’t keep an ey on the games, we’ve got you covered. Here’s what happened Sunday in the NFL:
Highlights
The Saints trolled the Falcons by covering up the team entry with a bus on the Jumbotron.
Drew Brees becomes the third NFL quarterback to go over 70,000 passing yards.
A random Michigan State logo appeared on the field during the Falcons-Saints broadcast.
Tom Brady threw a pick-six against the Bills, his first since Super Bowl LI.
Tom Brady caught the Bills with 15 men on the field, which is impressively illegal.
Marshon Lattimore picked off Matt Ryan with a BUTT INTERCEPTION.
Should Marshon Lattimore have been called for pass interference against Julio Jones?
The Browns got within 3 yards of their first TD of the day ... then fumbled it into the end zone.
Julio Jones ruled short of the end zone against the Saints on a controversial call.
The Patriots keep having calls overturned despite lack of “indisputable” evidence.
Cam Newton recovered his own botched snap in end zone to clinch Panthers’ playoff spot.
Jameis Winston had a meltdown on the sideline after a game-clinching fumble.
A brave Jaguars staff member holding Gatorade prevented a scuffle on the sideline.
Andy Reid celebrated the Chiefs’ AFC West-clinching win dressed as Santa Claus.
Two Jaguars players high-five while returning a blocked XP for two points.
Larry Fitzgerald completed his first pass ever in what could be his last home game in Arizona.
Seahawks CB Justin Coleman jumped in the Salvation Army kettle after a pick-six vs. Cowboys.
This Jaguars fan looks exactly like Blake Bortles and it explains a lot.
Injuries
Cam Newton left the game against the Bucs after taking a big hit. Derek Anderson came in to replace him to finish up the series, but Newton returned on the next drive.
DeMarco Murray was hurt late in the Titans’ loss to the Rams. The initial diagnosis is an LCL sprain.
Week 16 scores and schedule (all times Eastern)
Carolina Panthers 22, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 19
Cincinnati Bengals 26, Detroit Lions 17
Kansas City Chiefs 29, Miami Dolphins 13
New England Patriots 37, Buffalo Bills 16
New Orleans Saints 23, Atlanta Falcons 13
Los Angeles Chargers 14, New York Jets 7
Los Angeles Rams 27, Tennessee Titans 23
Washington 27, Denver Broncos 11
Seattle Seahawks 21, Dallas Cowboys 12
Before the games
There are only two weeks left in the NFL regular season, and things get particularly hot here in the holiday weekend, with several clinching scenarios and teams desperately clinging to playoff hopes.
The early Sunday window features an intense NFC South rivalry when the Saints (10-4) host the Falcons (9-5), who beat New Orleans just two weeks ago. The division race is far from settled, so this game will have major ramifications on the standings — especially if the Panthers (10-4) somehow fall to the Buccaneers (4-10) during the same time slot.
The Lions (8-6) will be watching those battles intently when they face the Bengals, because Detroit needs to win out and get help to keep its Wild Card hopes alive. A Falcons win will officially eliminate the Lions, who lost the head-to-head tiebreaker to Atlanta.
Likewise, the Seahawks and Cowboys (both 8-6) need all the help they can get heading into a late-afternoon showdown, which doubles as an elimination game — the loser is out of the playoff race for good. The Seahawks are trying to save face after the Rams humiliated them at home last week, but they have to deal with Ezekiel Elliott, who’s coming back from suspension.
Another early game to watch for is the Patriots hosting the Bills, who are trying to end their 18-year playoff drought. The last time these teams met, Rob Gronkowski concussed Tre’Davious White on a blatant cheap shot, so we can expect no love lost there.
It’ll be interesting to see how the Bills respond in a high-pressure situation, especially with the Chargers on their toes in the Wild Card race. As you might recall, Buffalo threw away a game by needlessly benching Tyrod Taylor for Nathan Peterman, who threw five interceptions in a loss to the Chargers. Now L.A. (7-7) is just one game behind Buffalo (8-6) with a winnable matchup against the Jets. It would be cruel poetic irony if the Bills missed the playoffs by that head-to-head tiebreaker.
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