Nfl Week 16 Biggest Questions Takeaways For Every Game Espn

Bonisiwe Shabane

-Dec 28, 2025, 4:18 AM

nfl week 16 biggest questions takeaways for every game espn

Around The NFL breaks down what you need to know from all of Sunday's action in Week 16 of the 2025 NFL season. Catch up on each game's biggest takeaways using the links below: Next Gen Stats Insight for Buccaneers-Panthers (via NFL Pro): Bryce Young was particularly effective when targeting the outside numbers on Sunday, connecting on 10 of 16 attempts (62.5%) for 116 yards and both of... While he completed 17 of 21 attempts (81.0%) against zone coverage for 118 yards, his two touchdown passes came against man coverage. NFL Research: Sunday marked the sixth game-winning drive of the 2025 season for Bryce Young, trailing Jake Delhomme (seven in 2003) for the most such drives in a season in franchise history. Young has 12 game-winning drives in his career, the second-most for any quarterback (Justin Herbert, 13) prior to age 25 since 1950.

Next Gen Stats Insight for Bills-Browns (via NFL Pro): Gregory Rousseau generated nine QB pressures and a season-high 2.5 sacks on 28 pass rushes, posting a 32.1% pressure rate, his highest in a game... NFL Research: DaQuan Jones and Jordan Poyer each had an interception for the Bills. It marked Jones’ first career INT and Poyer's first INT since Week 4, 2022. Buffalo has six interceptions since Week 13 (seven INTs from Weeks 1-12). Jared Goff and the Lions have struggled in 2025, while Trevor Lawrence, Brian Thomas Jr. and the Jaguars are soaring.

Nic Antaya, Matthew Stockman /Getty Images Each Sunday, three of The Athletic’s NFL writers react to the biggest news, plays and performances from the day’s games. Week 16 had already provided two of the best games of the NFL season: the Seattle Seahawks’ walk-off overtime win over the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday, and the Chicago Bears’ walk-off overtime win... It would be hard for Sunday to compare in drama, but it came close. The Detroit Lions nearly rallied from a 12-point fourth-quarter deficit to beat the Pittsburgh Steelers, but two offensive pass interference calls wiped out two would-be go-ahead touchdowns. Pittsburgh’s win just about extinguished Detroit’s playoff chances.

That wasn’t all. The Jacksonville Jaguars went into Denver and beat the AFC-leading Broncos by two touchdowns, and the Carolina Panthers upset the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to take sole possession of first place in the NFC South. NFL writers Mike Jones, Ted Nguyen and Dan Pompei share their thoughts on a Week 16 filled with fireworks and fantastic finishes. The 32 things we learned from Week 16 of the 2025 NFL season: 0. The number of division titles clinched though 16 weeks in the AFC.

This year’s playoff chase may not be the most compelling in terms of the number of teams that are still relevant – which is just 18 of the league’s 32 clubs going into Week... 1. The number of division titles clinched though 16 weeks in the NFC – the Philadelphia Eagles doing the honors Saturday by beating the Washington Commanders and becoming the first squad to capture the NFC... 2. The number of points the Seattle Seahawks scored on their final play Thursday night – making them first team ever to win an overtime game on a two-point conversion. Also, the number of points they scored when officials awarded them two on an earlier conversion when QB Sam Darnold’s lateral was deflected into the end zone and nonchalantly picked up by RB Zach...

3. Let’s appreciate the three-pronged accomplishment of New Orleans Saints jack-of-all-trades Taysom Hill. Sunday, he became the first player in the Super Bowl era (since 1966) with more than 1,000 career yards passing, 1,000 career yards rushing and 1,000 career yards receiving. What an insane sequence to end the Lions-Steelers game. Amon-Ra St. Brown scored what looked like the game-winning touchdown, but it was negated by a pass interference penalty on Isaac TeSlaa.

A few plays later, on fourth down, St. Brown caught a pass at the goal line but wasn't able to get into the end zone... but he flipped the ball backwards to Jared Goff, who ran it a few yards into the end zone. HOWEVER... the play was negated by a pass interference penalty on St. Brown, and with no time left on the clock, the game is over.

Steelers win and improve to 9-6, keeping their hold on the AFC North, while the Lions drop to 8-7 and have their playoff hopes on life support. Trevor Lawrence was masterful against one of the best defenses in the NFL: He went completed 23 of 36 passes for 279 yards and three touchdowns, while also rushing for another score. The Jaguars remain in control of the AFC South despite Houston's win over the Raiders this afternoon. The Broncos' lead in the AFC West is down to one game, while their lead over the Patriots in the race for the top seed in the AFC is now a half-game. (And it's one game over the Jags.) Welcome to Week 16 of the 2022 NFL season and a holiday weekend of football.

On Thursday, the Jacksonville Jaguars continued their quest for the AFC South title by beating the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium. On Saturday, the Buffalo Bills won their third straight AFC East title with a triumph over the Chicago Bears combined with a New England Patriots loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. And with a win over the Atlanta Falcons, the Baltimore Ravens secured a playoff bid. The Minnesota Vikings won another one-score game -- their NFL-record 11th of the season -- and the Kansas City Chiefs proved too much for the Seattle Seahawks. The late Saturday contests saw the Dallas Cowboys stay alive in the NFC East with a comeback victory over the Philadelphia Eagles and the San Francisco 49ers win their eighth straight by besting the... In the Saturday night game, the Las Vegas Raiders allowed another lead to slip away, as the Pittsburgh Steelers honored the late Franco Harris with a fourth-quarter rally on a frigid night in the...

Sunday got rolling with a big comeback win for the Green Bay Packers over the Miami Dolphins via three late-game interceptions. Next, the Denver Broncos lost in disastrous fashion on the road against the Los Angeles Rams. And lastly, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and quarterback Tom Brady defeated the Arizona Cardinals in overtime in what was signal-caller Trace McSorley's first start. The Los Angeles Chargers took care of their business Monday night as the defense registered seven sacks in a rout of the Indianapolis Colts. The Los Angeles Chargers beat the Denver Broncos on “Thursday Night Football” to open Week 16. On Saturday, the Kansas City Chiefs bested the Houston Texans 27-19.

Then, the Baltimore Ravens rolled over the AFC North rival Pittsburgh Steelers 34-17 to clinch a playoff spot. The action continued on Sunday. Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor rushed for 218 yards and three touchdowns, and rookie quarterback Michael Penix Jr. performed well in his debut, leading the Atlanta Falcons past the New York Giants. Later, the San Francisco 49ers were officially eliminated from the playoffs after their loss to the Miami Dolphins, and the Buffalo Bills narrowly escaped the New England Patriots. Our NFL Nation reporters reacted to all the action, answering lingering questions coming out of each game and detailing everything else you need to know for every team.

Nfl Week 16 Biggest Questions Takeaways For Every Game Espn

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