The Minnesota Vikings almost couldn’t do this any more quietly. Justin Jefferson was brilliant, with 10 catches for 144 yards and two touchdowns as the Vikings beat the Seahawks 27-24 to keep pace with the Lions in the NFC North and for the NFC’s first playoff spot at 13- 2. Minnesota hosts the Packers next week before that Week 18 trip to Detroit, which could end up between the top two teams in the NFC with the No. 1 seed on the line.
In Miami, the Dolphins kept their playoff hopes alive with a 29-17 victory over the San Francisco 49ers. Jason Sanders kicked five field goals and De’Von Achane totaled 121 yards, including a 50-yard touchdown run to seal the victory. The Dolphins need help, but are closer to the Browns and Jets, and will likely be favored in both games.
The New England Patriots took a 14-0 lead in Buffalo, but the Bills battled back – led by two James Cook touchdowns – for a 24-21 victory. Buffalo scored 24 straight points at one point in the game. The Bills are still alive for the AFC’s No. 1 seed, but they would need two losses at Kansas City and two wins to secure the top seed. The Bills close at home against the Jets (Week 17) and at New England (Week 18), and the Chiefs – who beat the Texans on Saturday – close against the Steelers on Christmas Day, then at Denver in Week 18 .
To close out Week 16 on Sunday afternoon, the Raiders dominated the Jaguars 19-14. Brock Bowers became the first rookie tight end in NFL history to reach 100 receptions this year. He has 101 with two games remaining, and the NFL single-season reception record for a tight end belongs to Zach Ertz, who had 116 with the Eagles in 2018.
NFL Week 16 Sunday Schedule
(No byes this week)
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