NFL 2023 Week 16: Highlights, risers and takeaways
Week 16 of the NFL season started Thursday night with the Los Angeles Rams strengthening their playoff hopes while putting a big dent in the New Orleans Saints’ playoff aspirations.
To start off a two-game Saturday slate, the Pittsburgh Steelers routed the Cincinnati Bengals, whose playoff hopes also took a big hit. Later, the Buffalo Bills took control of their playoff destiny with a narrow victory over the Los Angeles Chargers, who were playing their first game since firing coach Brandon Staley and general manager Tom Telesco last week.
Games continued on Sunday with a Detroit Lions win over the Vikings that locked up the NFC North title, a big game by Cleveland Browns QB Joe Flacco and WR Amari Cooper and a go-ahead TD by the Seattle Seahawks in the last minute to keep their playoff hopes alive.
Our NFL Nation reporters reacted to all the action, answering lingering questions coming out of each game and picking out who — or what — is rising and falling for every team. Let’s get to it.
N.Y. Jets 30, Washington 28
Jets
Should Jets owner Woody Johnson give kicker Greg Zuerlein a wildly expensive Christmas present? Johnson owes Zuerlein — big time. The owner’s pregame proclamation that he’s planning to retain coach Robert Saleh and GM Joe Douglas in 2024 looked embarrassingly premature when the Jets fell behind by a point after blowing a 20-point lead. But Zuerlein, having a career year, saved everyone with a 54-yard field goal in the final seconds. Johnson wouldn’t have reneged on his commitment as he believes in his leadership team despite a 6-9 record, but it would’ve been a poor optic.
Stock up after the win: RB Breece Hall. Enjoying a late-season revival, Hall recorded the first multi-touchdown game of his career. He finished with 191 yards from scrimmage (95 rushing, 96 receiving), showing what the usually moribund offense can do when Hall is producing at an elite level.
Stock down after the win: The defense. After a dominant first half, the defense collapsed by allowing 21 straight points to fall behind. This was nearly a classic letdown, fueled by costly penalties and poor situational awareness. The Jets had no answers for backup QB Jacoby Brissett. — Rich Cimini
Next game: at Browns (Thursday, 8:15 p.m. ET)
Commanders
Should the Commanders start Jacoby Brissett next week? Brissett played well in relief of Sam Howell for the second consecutive week, leading touchdown drives on five of the six drives he has played. The offense has stagnated under Howell. In the past two games, he has completed a combined 17 of 48 passes for 158 yards, one touchdown and three interceptions. It would help Howell to watch Brissett — and it would help whomever the next coach is to determine whether the issues were on Howell or others.
Stock up after the loss: RB Chris Rodriguez Jr. He ran hard, gaining 58 yards and scoring two touchdowns on 10 carries, and he showed that he could be a bigger part of Washington’s future.
Stock down after the loss: Special teams. Washington had a punt blocked, lost a fumble at the end of a 24-yard run and committed a penalty on fourth-and-3, giving the Jets new life and leading to another touchdown. — John Keim
Seattle 20, Tennessee 17
Seahawks
Is Geno Smith getting back to form? Smith was a bit off in the first half, throwing for only 69 yards with some suspect accuracy. Then he shrugged off whatever rust he was dealing with from the two games he missed with a groin injury, catching fire in the second half. Smith (25-of-36, 227 yards) led two fourth-quarter touchdown drives, including the game winner with a minute left. He has had such an up-and-down season that his future in Seattle beyond 2023 is in question, but this was the type of strong performance that will put that conversation on hold. And it keeps the Seahawks’ playoff hopes very much alive, with two winnable games remaining
vs. Pittsburgh and at Arizona.
