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NFL Week 16 winners and losers: Bengals keep pace, Eagles lose late originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
Week 16 intensifies the late-season NFL drama.
The Detroit Lions earned another franchise record after a key division win, while the Washington Commanders he left it late to beat the Philadelphia Eagles.
Some of the results led to teams like San Francisco 49ers and dallas cowboys finding out about their playoff eliminations before they even started.
Let’s look at the winners and losers from Sunday’s action:
WINNER: Michael Penix Jr. gets his first victory
One way out, one victory. After the Atlanta Falcons benched Kirk Cousins, rookie No. 8 pick Michael Penix Jr. led the NFC South team to a key victory at home against the lowly team. New York Giants.
Penix Jr. wasn’t fantastic, completing 18 of 27 passes for 202 yards, no touchdowns and one interception (which was on Kyle Pitts). But he got help from Bijan Robinson, who rushed for 94 yards on 22 carries for two touchdowns in the 34-7 rout. Atlanta will continue fighting the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for the division title.
LOSER: The eagles can’t hold out
The Eagles held a 21-7 lead, but dealt with a Jalen Hurts concussion that ruled him out. Kenny Pickett came in under center and Philadelphia maintained its lead until the fourth quarter, when Jayden Daniels and company finally broke out.
Washington scored 22 points in the quarter and won in the final seconds when Daniels scored a touchdown pass to win 36-33. It was Daniels’ fifth pass of the game.
It snapped Philadelphia’s 10-game winning streak to drop it to 12-3, while Washington moved up to 10-5. The NFC East is still in play for at least another week.
WINNER: Lions earn another franchise record
Despite growing injury fears, the Lions continued to win. They defeated chicago bears 34-17 on the road to finally capture a 13-game winning season with two more to play. Jahmyr Gibbs rushed for 109 yards on 23 carries and a score, while Jared Goff shined with 336 passing yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions on 23 of 32 completions.
Caleb Williams had a solid individual effort, throwing for 334 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions on 26-of-40 completions, but D’Andre Swift didn’t help at all in the backfield with just 20 rushing yards on nine carries. Chicago fell to 4-11 as its losing streak continued.
LOSER: The Cardinals are eliminated
Arizona entered Sunday at 7-7 with the NFC West title still up for grabs, even if its odds weren’t as good as the Seattle Seahawks and Los Angeles Rams. But the Cardinals, as Kyler Murray alluded to, couldn’t handle the cold, losing 36-30 to the Carolina Panthers in overtime.
The loss mathematically eliminated Arizona from playoff contention and Washington also won. Murray threw for 204 yards, a touchdown and an interception on 20-of-32 passing, while James Conner rushed for 117 yards on 15 carries and a score despite suffering an injury. Murray also ran for a score.
Bryce Young wasn’t perfect, but he gained more confidence with a three-touchdown showing, throwing for 158 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions on 17-of-26 completions while rushing for 68 yards on five attempts and a score. Chuba Hubbard was influential on the field, rushing 25 times for 153 yards and two touchdowns. Carolina moved to 4-11.
WINNER: The Rams get closer to the division title
Much like last season, the Rams have improved their form later in the year. But this time, they have put themselves in position to win the NFC West thanks to the 49ers’ plethora of injuries and poor form.
Los Angeles’ 19-9 victory in the New York Jets made the fourth game in a row and is now 9-6 and the Seahawks hope to keep up the pace. Matthew Stafford was poor, completing just 14 of 19 passes for 110 yards, a touchdown and an interception, while Kyren Williams had 122 yards on 23 carries and a score.
The Jets, as their score indicated, weren’t much better. Aaron Rodgers completed 28 of 42 passes for 256 yards and a touchdown, but they couldn’t sustain enough positive gains. New York is also now 4-11.
LOSER: Titans’ comeback falls short
With Will Levis on the bench, Mason Rudolph came on for Tennessee and had 252 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions in a 38-30 road loss to the Indianapolis Colts. Indianapolis was leading until a 15-point fourth quarter by the Titans put the pressure on.
But Jonathan Taylor’s incredible individual effort ensured the gap was too big to overcome. While Anthony Richardson completed just 7 of 11 passes for 131 yards, a touchdown and a pick, Taylor produced 218 rushing yards on 29 carries for three touchdowns.
The Titans fell to 3-12, but the Colts stayed alive in the AFC wild card race at 7-8.
WINNER: Bengals turn up the pressure
After the Denver Broncos’ loss to the Los Angeles Chargers on Thursday, Cincinnati had the clearest path to sneak into the wild card. They started by beating the lowly Cleveland Browns at home, which they did 24-6.
Dorian Thompson-Robinson replaced the QB but lacked inspiration, throwing for 152 yards and two picks while Jerome Ford rushed for 92 yards and a score on 11 attempts. But Joe Burrow led his team with a solid three-touchdown performance on 23-of-30 passing for 252 yards. Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins and Andrei Iosivas, their top three receivers, scored a touchdown.
In Week 17, the Bengals (7-8) can pile even more pressure on the 9-6 Broncos when they host Denver in the heat of the AFC wild card race.
This story will be updated as more games conclude.