What to Know from Every NFL Week 17 Game: Seahawks, Ravens, Chiefs Score Big Road Wins

What to Know from Every NFL Week 17 Game: Seahawks, Ravens, Chiefs Score Big Road Wins

As the NFL season barrels toward its conclusion, Week 17 delivered a flurry of action that reshaped playoff races and provided plenty of drama. The week kicked off with a pair of Christmas Day games that saw the Kansas City Chiefs defeat the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Baltimore Ravens secure a win over the Houston Texans, significantly impacting the AFC North race. The Chiefs’ victory solidified their position as the AFC’s top seed, while the Ravens’ win kept them in the hunt for the division title.

On Thursday, the Seattle Seahawks continued the trend of road victories by defeating the Chicago Bears, keeping their hopes alive for the NFC West title and a playoff berth. The Seahawks’ defense was dominant, sacking Bears quarterback Caleb Williams seven times and intercepting him once. However, Seattle’s offense struggled, managing only six points in a game that was a defensive battle from start to finish.

Saturday’s tripleheader began with the Los Angeles Chargers clinching a playoff spot with a decisive win over the New England Patriots. The Chargers’ combination of a strong rushing attack and quarterback Justin Herbert’s passing prowess proved too much for the Patriots to handle. Later, the Cincinnati Bengals kept their playoff hopes alive with an overtime victory against the Denver Broncos, thanks to a standout performance from wide receiver Tee Higgins, who caught 11 passes for 131 yards and three touchdowns.

The Los Angeles Rams capped off Saturday’s action with a narrow victory over the Arizona Cardinals, putting themselves on the brink of a playoff berth. Despite their slow starts, the Rams have managed to win games, but they’ll need to find a way to score early if they hope to make a deep playoff run.

Sunday’s slate of games began with the New York Giants pulling off an upset win over the Indianapolis Colts, snapping a 10-game losing streak and impacting their draft positioning. The Giants’ victory dropped them from first to fourth in the draft order, but they still have a chance to move up to the No. 1 pick.

Meanwhile, the Philadelphia Eagles’ Saquon Barkley surpassed 2,000 rushing yards for the season in a dominant win over the Dallas Cowboys. The Eagles have already clinched the NFC East, and with Barkley just 101 yards away from breaking Eric Dickerson’s single-season rushing record, the team faces a decision on whether to rest their star running back in the regular-season finale.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers delivered a commanding performance against the Carolina Panthers, with Mike Evans and rookie Jalen McMillan each scoring two touchdowns. The Bucs’ defense was relentless, pressuring Panthers quarterback Bryce Young on 22 of his 35 dropbacks. However, consistency remains a concern for Tampa Bay as they prepare for the playoffs.

In other action, the Miami Dolphins secured a win over the Cleveland Browns, with backup quarterback Tyler Huntley stepping up in place of the injured Tua Tagovailoa. Huntley played his best game of the season, throwing for 225 yards and a touchdown while also rushing for another score.

The Buffalo Bills locked up the No. 2 seed in the AFC with a victory over the New York Jets, allowing them to rest key players in the season finale. Quarterback Josh Allen continued his MVP-caliber season, throwing for two touchdowns and rushing for another.

As the regular season winds down, several teams are still jockeying for playoff positioning, while others are looking ahead to the draft. Here’s a quick rundown of the key takeaways from Week 17:

• Kansas City Chiefs: With the AFC’s top seed secured, the Chiefs can afford to rest key players in their final game.
• Baltimore Ravens: A win next week will clinch the AFC North title for the Ravens, who are looking like a formidable playoff contender.
• Seattle Seahawks: Despite a lackluster offensive performance, the Seahawks’ defense kept their playoff hopes alive with a win over the Bears.
• Los Angeles Chargers: The Chargers are playoff-bound, but they’ll need to replicate their winning formula against tougher opponents.
• New York Giants: The Giants’ win over the Colts impacted their draft positioning, but they still have a chance to move up to the No. 1 pick.

As we head into the final week of the regular season, the stakes are high for teams on the playoff bubble, while others are already looking ahead to the offseason. Stay tuned for more thrilling NFL action as the playoff picture comes into focus.