NFL Week 16 recap: How Sunday reshaped the playoff picture and draft order

Relive everything from a chaotic Week 16 slate -- scores, highlights, standout players and more

Week 16 delivered a barnburner of a schedule. Three games with major playoff implications were already in the books, and several more unfolded throughout Sunday afternoon.

In the early window, the Carolina Panthers took control of the NFC South with a win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Buffalo Bills and Los Angeles Chargers each moved a step closer to clinching playoff berths by beating the Cleveland Browns and Dallas Cowboys, respectively. Elsewhere, the Saints, Titans, Vikings and Bengals notched victories over the Jets, Chiefs, Giants and Dolphins.

The late slate brought more clarity. The Jaguars proved they were for real by knocking off the Broncos, while the Steelers ran over the Lions to eliminate Detroit from playoff contention.

Below, you'll find every major moment from Sunday in our one-stop shop for Week 16 -- scores, highlights, playoff-picture updates, injuries, notable stats and more -- covering the entire slate from the opening kickoff to the final whistle.

Week 16 schedule

Thursday

Seahawks 38, Rams 37 (OT) -- Takeaways

Saturday

Eagles 29, Commanders 18 -- Takeaways
Bears 22, Packers 16 -- Takeaways

Sunday

Bills 23, Browns 20 (Takeaways)
Steelers 29, Lions 24 (Recap)
Panthers 23, Buccaneers 20 (Recap)
Bengals 45, Dolphins 21 (Recap)
Titans 26, Chiefs 9 (Recap)
Chargers 34, Cowboys 17 (Recap)
Vikings 16, Giants 13 (Recap)
Saints 29, Jets 6 (Recap)
Jaguars 34, Broncos 20 (Recap)
Falcons 26, Cardinals 19 (Recap)
Texans 23, Raiders 21 (Recap)

Patriots at Ravens (8:20 p.m., Preview)

Monday

49ers at Colts (8:15 p.m., Preview)

NFL playoff picture

AFC standings

1. Denver Broncos (12-3)
2. New England Patriots (11-3)
3. Jacksonville Jaguars (11-4)
4. Pittsburgh Steelers (7-6)
5. Los Angeles Chargers (11-4)
6. Buffalo Bills (11-4)
7. Houston Texans (10-5)

NFC standings

1. Seattle Seahawks (12-3)
2. Chicago Bears (11-4)
3. Philadelphia Eagles (10-5)
4. Carolina Panthers (7-8)
5. Los Angeles Rams (11-4)
6. San Francisco 49ers (10-4)
7. Green Bay Packers (9-5-1)

NFL Week 16 playoff picture: 49ers, Bears punch their tickets; Panthers seize NFC South lead

Tyler Sullivan

[Dec 21, 2025 at 7:53 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

FINAL: Steelers 29, Lions 24

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.

[Dec 21, 2025 at 7:25 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

FINAL: Jaguars 34, Broncos 20

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.)

[Dec 21, 2025 at 7:23 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

Late 4Q: Steelers 29, Lions 24

Detroit finally got something going on its late-fourth quarter drives here, marching down the field with relative ease here for a touchdown pass to Gibbs in the flat. They went 68 yards in just two-and-a-half minutes. They'll need to get a stop on Pittsburgh's next drive in order to get the ball back with a chance to drive for the win.

[Dec 21, 2025 at 7:15 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

Mid 4Q: Steelers 29, Lions 17

This is yet another 45-yard touchdown run for Warren. No toss this time, he just bounced it outside off the hand-off and took it around the edge for the score. The Steelers overcame a holding penalty to convert first-and-20 into a new set of downs earlier in the drive, which set up this score.

[Dec 21, 2025 at 7:07 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

Mid 4Q: Steelers 22, Lions 17

The 100th fourth-down conversion of the Dan Campbell era goes for a touchdown. Lions run Raymond underneath on a crossing route and he takes advantage by running away from Asante Samuel Jr. for the score to cut into Pittsburgh's lead. 

[Dec 21, 2025 at 6:55 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

Mid 4Q: Jaguars 34, Broncos 20

Denver kicked a field goal on its previous drive when it had a goal-to-go situation and probably should have gone for it. This time, the Broncos went on fourth-and-2 near midfield and turned it over, with Nix tossing this ball up to be intercepted by Jarrian Jones.

[Dec 21, 2025 at 6:54 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

Early 4Q: Steelers 22, Lions 10

Pittsburgh has opened up a two-score lead in Detroit, where the Lions have -8 yards of offense in the second half. This time it's Jaylen Warren gashing the Detroit defense for a 45-yard score on a toss play. The Steelers are in good position to maintain their division lead, while the Lions are falling backward in their efforts to make the playoffs.

[Dec 21, 2025 at 6:27 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

Late 3Q: Jaguars 31, Broncos 17

Right after the Etienne touchdown, the Broncos turned the ball over. Nix tried to pull the ball out on a zone read and mishandled it and dropped it on the ground. Jags have a chance to make it a three-score game late in the third.

[Dec 21, 2025 at 6:21 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

Mid 3Q: Steelers 12, Lions 10

After Darnell Washington fumbled inside the 5-yard line, the Steelers had the Lions pinned back. Kyle Dugger came unblocked on a safety blitz and corralled Jared Goff in the end zone and gave the Steelers a two-point advantage.

[Dec 21, 2025 at 6:20 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

Late 3Q: Jaguars 31, Broncos 17

Jacksonville has opened up a two-score lead in Denver. Parker Washington wound up wide open on a crossing route and had an incredible, weaving run after the catch to put the Jaguars in scoring position, then Travis Etienne took advantage with the swing route out of the backfield.

[Dec 21, 2025 at 6:06 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

Mid 3Q: Jaguars 24, Broncos 17

After the Harvey touchdown, the Jaguars responded in kind just as they have several times today. A pass interference penalty on rookie Jahdae Barron got the Jags down to the goal line, where Lawrence took the ball into the end zone on a designed quarterback run.

[Dec 21, 2025 at 5:58 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

Early 3Q: Broncos 17, Jaguars 17

Gorgeous run from Harvey here to get the Jaguars back on the board. Great cut to get through the hole, fantastic balance to spin away from the hits on the second level, terrific acceleration to run away from the defense and then finally the dive to get into the end zone for the score.

[Dec 21, 2025 at 5:51 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

Late 2Q: Steelers 10, Lions 10

There are no words for this play by Gainwell. Getting thrown to the ground by Alex Anzalone, he somehow gets his arm under the ball and keeps it off the ground, then has the presence of mind to know he wasn't touched by a defender and waltz his way into the end zone for a score. Wow. 

[Dec 21, 2025 at 5:38 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

Late 2Q: Lions 10, Steelers 3

WHAT A CATCH BY TESLAA! He went over the middle and made a leaping grab while getting crunched by a pair of Steelers defenders at once. Great throw by Jared Goff as well. This is Detroit's first lead of the day in a game the Lions absolutely must win if they want to make the playoffs. They can't be eliminated today no matter what happens, but their chances are slim to none if they don't win out.

[Dec 21, 2025 at 5:16 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

Late 2Q: Jaguars 14, Broncos 10

After a Wil Lutz field goal gave the Broncos a lead for the first time, the Jaguars marched right back down the field and got the ball into the end zone for a second time with this Trevor Lawrence touchdown pass to Brenton Strange. Really nice catch by Strange, plucking the ball out of the air on the back shoulder spin. In a game with massive playoff implications, the Jaguars have the lead once again.

[Dec 21, 2025 at 4:53 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

Early 2Q: Broncos 7, Jaguars 7

Sutton is off to a great start in this one, with four catches for 53 yards and a score already. Really nice job by Nix laying this ball out there so his man could run under it while under some pressure from the Jaguars defense.

[Dec 21, 2025 at 4:50 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

Late 1Q: Steelers 3, Lions 0

Detroit drove the ball all the way down to the goal line but came up empty as it was stopped on fourth-and-goal from the 3-yard line. The Lions ran a trick play on the previous snap to get down to the 3, but their fourth-down try was easily shut down on a play-action rollout where nobody flashed open and Jared Goff had to throw late over the middle and it fell incomplete.

[Dec 21, 2025 at 4:48 pm ET · Kyle Stackpole]

AFC standings

1. x-Denver Broncos (12-2)
2. New England Patriots (11-3)
3. Jacksonville Jaguars (10-4)
4. Pittsburgh Steelers (8-6)
5. Los Angeles Chargers (11-4)
6. Buffalo Bills (11-4)
7. Houston Texans (9-5)

x-clinched playoff berth

NFC standings

1. x-Seattle Seahawks (12-3)
2. Chicago Bears (11-4)
3. y-Philadelphia Eagles (10-5)
4. Carolina Panthers (8-7)
5. x-Los Angeles Rams (11-4)
6. San Francisco 49ers (10-4)
7. Green Bay Packers (9-5-1)

NFL Week 16 playoff picture: 49ers, Bears punch their tickets; Panthers seize NFC South lead

Tyler Sullivan

[Dec 21, 2025 at 4:46 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

Late 1Q: Jaguars 7, Broncos 0

What a ridiculous throw and catch right here for the Jaguars, who take an early lead in the biggest game of the day. It was a great drive for the Jags, running 10 plays and 66 yards after Wil Lutz had missed a field goal on Denver's previous possession.

[Dec 21, 2025 at 3:59 pm ET · Kyle Stackpole]

Top 5 picks

1. New York Giants (2-13)
2. Las Vegas Raiders (2-12)
3. Cleveland Browns (3-12)
4. New York Jets (3-12)
5. Tennessee Titans (3-12)

Notable results

• Vikings 16, Giants 13 -- A lifeless offensive performance prevented New York (2-13) from beating a Minnesota team that lost J.J. McCarthy to a hand injury just before halftime. The Giants' Week 17 matchup with the Raiders (2-12) will most likely determine who is on the clock in late April.
• Titans 26, Chiefs 9 -- Cam Ward secured the third win of his NFL career with a solid performance (21-for-28 passing, 228 yards, two touchdowns and zero interceptions). The win almost certainly takes Tennessee (3-12) out of the running for the No. 1 overall pick. Kansas City (6-9) has now lost four straight games and holds the No. 12 spot in the draft.
• Saints 29, Jets 6 -- Second-round rookie Tyler Shough delivered his first 300-yard passing game as New Orleans (5-11) won its third straight game. New York (3-12) has looked lifeless since its win over the Falcons on Nov. 30.
• Bills 23, Browns 20: It was a valiant effort from Shedeur Sanders (20-for-29 passing for 157 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions), but it wasn't enough for Cleveland (3-12) to upset the Bills.

[Dec 21, 2025 at 4:03 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

FINAL: Panthers 23, Buccaneers 20

Carolina pulled out come-from-behind victory over Tampa down in Charlotte and improved to 8-7, moving into first place in the NFC South in the process. The Panthers trailed 10-3 and 17-13 at different points in the game, but responded with scores each time. Bryce Young threw for 191 yards and two touchdowns, while the defense ended the game with an interception of Baker Mayfield. The two teams will meet again in the regular season finale that could serve as an NFC South championship game.

[Dec 21, 2025 at 4:00 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

FINAL: Chargers 34, Cowboys 17

Los Angeles took care of the Cowboys down in Dallas with a decisive win. Justin Herbert had a monster afternoon, completing 23 of 29 passes for 300 yards and two touchdowns. Omarion Hampton added 85 yards and a score on his 16 carries. Like the Bills, the Chargers improved to 11-4 with the win and moved one step closer to clinching a playoff spot. All they need now is for the Texans OR Colts to lose OR tie their games.

[Dec 21, 2025 at 3:58 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

FINAL: Bills 23, Browns 20

It was closer than expected, but Buffalo got it done. James Cook had a huge game for the Bills, rushing 16 times for 117 yards and two scores. Buffalo improved to 11-4 with the win and moved one step closer to clinching a playoff spot. All the Bills need now is for the Texans OR Colts to lose OR tie their games.

[Dec 21, 2025 at 3:47 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

Late 4Q: Panthers 23, Buccaneers 20

Carolina kicked a field goal after a seven-play, 43-yard drive stalled out around Tampa's 30-yard line. The Buccaneers will have 2:20 and two timeouts to answer the score and either tie the game or take the lead.

[Dec 21, 2025 at 3:43 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

Late 4Q: Chargers 34, Cowboys 17

The Cowboys went for it on fourth-and-10 in their own territory while down by 10 points and didn't convert, and the Chargers made quick work of their ensuing drive, which ended with the rookie running back -- in his third game back from a fractured ankle -- plowing it into the end zone from a few yards out. The lead is up to three scores and once they win this game, the Chargers will be a Texans or Colts loss away from clinching a playoff spot.

[Dec 21, 2025 at 3:38 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

Late 4Q: Bills 23, Browns 20

Locked in a closer-than-expected battle with Cleveland late in the game, the Bills came up with a huge stop on fourth-and-2 just shy of midfield as Greg Rousseau came away with a sack on Shedeur Sanders to stone the drive in its tracks. Bills take over and have a chance to run some clock and add to their lead.

[Dec 21, 2025 at 3:36 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

Late 4Q: Panthers 20, Buccaneers 20

With the NFC South lead on the line, the game is all tied up with less than 5 minutes remaining. Going to be a tight finish here.

[Dec 21, 2025 at 3:08 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

Late 3Q: Bills 23, Browns 17

Here's Fannin's second touchdown of the game, this time of the rushing variety. Cleveland got down to the goal line and had a few tries with Rocket Sanders, but instead it's the tight end rushing it into the end zone while lined up as a fullback.

[Dec 21, 2025 at 3:06 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

Late 3Q: Panthers 20, Buccaneers 17

It's a back-and-forth affair down in Charlotte now. After the Tucker touchdown to put Tampa in front, we've got Bryce scrambling and finding his tight end in the back of the end zone late in the down to put Carolina back on top. Sanders made a few plays with his legs on this drive.

[Dec 21, 2025 at 2:54 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

Mid 3Q: Buccaneers 17, Panthers 13

Tampa is back in the end zone for the second time today. This Tucker TD run capped a 14-play, 66-yard drive that took 8 minutes and 19 seconds off the clock and put Tampa ahead in this battle for the NFC South lead.