NFL Week 16 Sunday: Playoff Spots Clinched and Division Races Upended

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The NFL Week 16 slate was a day of seismic shifts. From a quarterback making a statement in primetime to a surprising upset in the mountains of Denver, the postseason bracket is finally taking its definitive shape.

The day was headlined by the New England Patriots clinching a playoff berth, the Carolina Panthers taking control of their destiny, and the Jacksonville Jaguars proving they are legitimate Super Bowl contenders.

Sunday Night Football: Maye Magic in Baltimore

Final: New England Patriots 28, Baltimore Ravens 24

In a classic back-and-forth thriller, Drake Maye officially arrived as the next great New England signal-caller. Trailing 24-13 in the fourth quarter, Maye orchestrated two touchdown drives, including a 37-yard strike to Kyle Williams and a game-winning 21-yard dash by Rhamondre Stevenson with just over two minutes left.

The Injury Factor: The Ravens’ playoff hopes took a massive hit when Lamar Jackson exited in the second quarter with a back injury. Backup Tyler Huntley kept them in it, but a late fumble by Zay Flowers sealed Baltimore’s fate.
Impact: The Patriots (12-3) clinched a playoff spot and are tied with Denver for the best record in the AFC.

The Late Afternoon Window: Upset at Mile High

Jacksonville Jaguars 34, Denver Broncos 20

The Jaguars extended their winning streak to six games by dismantling the conference-leading Broncos in their own stadium. Trevor Lawrence played a near-flawless game, throwing three touchdowns and rushing for another against Denver’s top-ranked defense.

Breakout Performance: Wideout Parker Washington exploded for 145 yards on six catches, including a 63-yard sprint that set up the dagger touchdown.
Impact: Denver (12-3) loses its grip on a potential solo lead for the #1 seed, while Jacksonville (11-4) moves closer to the AFC South title.

Pittsburgh Steelers 29, Detroit Lions 24

The Steelers stayed atop the AFC North by surviving a shootout in Detroit. Jahmyr Gibbs made history for the Lions, passing Barry Sanders for the most touchdowns by a player in their first three seasons, but a late Pittsburgh interception of Jared Goff ended the Lions’ comeback bid.

The Early Window: Division Shifts and Blowouts

Carolina Panthers 23, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 20

In a game with massive NFC South implications, the Panthers used a late field goal to move into first place in the division. Baker Mayfield was plagued by three turnovers, including a late interception that thwarted a potential game-tying drive.

Cincinnati Bengals 45, Miami Dolphins 21

The Bengals’ offense looked unstoppable as Chase Brown notched three total touchdowns and over 100 scrimmage yards. The Dolphins’ defense had no answer for Joe Burrow’s precision, as Cincy kept their slim wild-card hopes alive.

Tennessee Titans 26, Kansas City Chiefs 9

In the day’s biggest surprise, the Titans’ defense held Patrick Mahomes without a touchdown for only the fourth time in his career. Tennessee dominated the time of possession, leaning on a physical run game to ground the Chiefs.

Sunday Scoreboard Recap

Matchup	Score	Key Takeaway
Chargers @ Cowboys	LAC 34-17	LAC’s defense forces four Dak Prescott turnovers.
Bills @ Browns	BUF 23-20	Josh Allen leads a 2-minute drill to win it late.
Vikings @ Giants	MIN 16-13	A defensive battle decided by a 54-yard FG at the buzzer.
Falcons @ Cardinals	ATL 26-19	Atlanta keeps their wild-card pulse beating.
Raiders @ Texans	HOU 23-21	CJ Stroud escapes a scare to keep Houston in the hunt.
Jets @ Saints	NO 29-6	Chris Olave reaches 1,000 yards in a Saints rout.