The List: Kamara Ties Rushing Record and the NFL Playoff Picture Gets Clearer

The holiday season is upon us, and while many fans were opening gifts and enjoying dinner with family and friends, Alvin Kamara was giving Saints fans another present. The four-time Pro Bowler tied a rushing record that has been around for more than 90 years during a victory against the Vikings on Christmas Day.

Kamara is one of the NFC’s three running backs selected to the Pro Bowl. See the rest of the list here. 

In addition to New Orleans clinching a fourth straight NFC South championship, Week 16 featured no less than a dozen games with postseason implications. Read on for all the playoff positioning, records injuries, coronavirus issues, and more in this week’s edition of The List.

THE GOOD

Kamara tied a rushing mark in the Christmas game

Alvin Kamara ran for 155 yards and an NFL record-tying six touchdowns to help the Saints defeat the Vikings, 52-33, on Christmas Day and clinch the NFC West for a fourth straight year. Kamara tied a mark set by Ernie Nevers, who also had six rushing scores (and four extra points) for the then-Chicago Cardinals in a 40-6 rout of the Bears on November 28, 1929.

Kamara’s record was not the only one set on Friday. Drew Brees threw for 311 yards, becoming the first quarterback in league history to reach 80,000 for his career. Brees also has 568 touchdown passes, which ranks second all-time to Tom Brady’s 573 (more on him in a minute)

Minnesota pulled within 31-27 on a Kirk Cousins pass to tight end Irv Smith Jr. with 22 seconds left in the third quarter, but New Orleans pulled away in the fourth thanks to touchdowns 5 and 6 from Kamara and a one-yard scoring rush by Taysom Hill. Cousins had 291 yards and three touchdowns, Dalvin Cook ran for 73 yards and a score, and Minnesota (6-9) had three receivers with solid games. Adam Thielen totaled eight catches for 97 yards and a touchdown, rookie Justin Jefferson had 85 yards and Smith Jr. added 53 yards and two scores. Latavius Marry ran for 72 yards, with Emmanuel Sanders (83 yards) and Jared Cook (82) registering top receiving games for New Orleans (11-4).

For more on this game, read this breakdown by Richie Dordas. 

Brady and the Bucs rout Lions to reach the postseason

Tom Brady became the 12th player to appear in 300 NFL games, but he was pulled at halftime. Thankfully for the Buccaneers, neither poor play nor injury was the reason for his removal. The 21-year veteran threw for 348 yards and four touchdowns in the first half as Tampa Bay took a 34-0 lead and cruised to a 47-7 win over the Lions on Saturday afternoon, clinching a playoff berth in the process.

In addition to becoming the third non-kicker to play in 300 games (Jerry Rice 303 and Brett Favre 302), Brady also set a Buccaneers record 36 passing touchdowns in his first season in Florida after 20 with New England (Jameis Winston set the previous Tampa Bay record with 33 in 2019). Blaine Gabbert relieved Brady and tossed two more touchdown passes in the second half.

Mike Evans caught 10 passes for an NFL week-high 181 yards and two touchdowns, Chris Godwin had 84 yards (all in the first half) and tight end Rob Gronkowski also had two scores for Tampa Bay (10-5). Matthew Stafford, who was already dealing with a torn ligament in his thumb and a rib-cartilage injury, was knocked out of the game after just four plays due to a sprained ankle. Jamal Agnew had the lone score for Detroit (5-10) with a 74-yard punt return for a touchdown early in the third quarter.

There were also a few odds and ends from this game. Evans set the Buccaneers’ single-season record with 13 receiving touchdowns. Tampa Bay outgained Detroit, 410-87 in the first half and 588-186 overall. Finally, the Lions started with the ball, but they had no chance to gain momentum. Rookie running back D’Andre Swift fumbled on the first play and the Buccaneers recovered. Gabbert capitalized with a touchdown pass to Gronkowski on the very next play.

Besides Brady and Tampa Bay’s playoff chase, the other storyline coming into the game was Detroit taking the field without several coaches, including interim head coach Darrell Bevell, who did not travel with the team after being named high-risk close contacts for the coronavirus. In addition to Bevell, defensive coordinator Cory Undlin, defensive line coach Bo Davis, defensive backs coach Steve Gregory and linebackers coach Ty McKenzie were not on the sidelines for Saturday’s game. Wide receivers coach Robert Prince was the interim for the interim and quarterback coach Sean Ryan called offensive plays against the Buccaneers. 

Dolphins stay in the playoff hunt with a last-second win

The Dolphins and Raiders played a game on Saturday night that included two ties and six lead changes, with Miami pulling out a 26-25 victory on a last-second Jason Sanders field goal. Ryan Fitzpatrick replaced the struggling Tua Tagovailoa and threw for 182 yards and a touchdown in the final quarter.

Derek Carr started the scoring with a one-yard run midway through the first quarter and the teams traded field goals for the rest of the first half, with the Raiders holding a 13-6 lead at the break. Tagovailoa found running back Myles Gaskin with a 10-yard scoring pass on Miami’s first drive of the second half to tie the score, but a Daniel Carlson field goal gave Las Vegas (7-8) a lead that lasted until late in the final quarter.

The last four minutes of the game were wild, starting with a Sanders field goal with 4:01 remaining to tie the score at 16-16. On the next play from scrimmage, Carr hit Nelson Agholor with an 85-yard touchdown pass, but Carlson missed the extra point. Fitzpatrick took just three plays to respond, with the next Dolphins drive culminating with a 59-yard scoring pass to Gaskin and Sanders’ extra point putting his team in front, 23-22, with 2:55 on the clock. Carr and the Raiders benefited from a 49-yard pass interference call against Byron Jones, and Carlson’s 22-yard field goal put them back in front with just 19 seconds left.

Las Vegas made two critical mistakes on the next play. Not only did a missed coverage assignment allow Fitzpatrick to hit a wide-open Mack Hollins for a 34-yard gain, but Arden Key also grabbed and twisted Fitzpatrick’s facemask as he was throwing the ball, adding on 15 yards for the penalty. Two plays later, Sanders won the game with a 44-yard field goal. Gaskin had 87 yards rushing to go along with 82 yards and two touchdowns receiving for Miami (10-5). Carr threw for 336 yards and a touchdown, with Agholor (155 yards and a score) and tight end Darren Waller (112 yards) being the biggest beneficiaries for Las Vegas.

The Dolphins top Richie Dordas’ list of the NFL’s biggest winners and losers in Week 16. 

Chiefs earn top AFC playoff spot in a tough victory

Patrick Mahomes threw for 278 yards and two touchdowns, including a 25-yard go-ahead score to Demarcus Robinson with 1:55 left, leading the Chiefs over the Falcons, 17-14, and allowing Kansas City to clinch the top spot in the AFC playoffs. Mahomes, who is one of the top MVP candidates this season, was involved in a battle with Atlanta quarterback Matt Ryan, who had 300 yards and two touchdowns for Atlanta (4-11).

The game remained scoreless until late in the second quarter, when Ryan hit tight end, Hayden Hurst, with a five-yard touchdown pass. Mahomes responded just before halftime with a four-yard score to his tight end Travis Kelce. Harrison Butker kicked a 53-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter, but Ryan hit Laquon Treadwell with a five-yard strike to put the Falcons back in front with 4:33 remaining. Mahomes hit Kelce with passes of 29 and 16 yards on the final Chiefs drive to set up the pass to Robinson. Ryan moved the Falcons into field goal range, thanks to a pair of passes to Calvin Ridley, but Pro Bowler Younghoe Koo’s 39-yard game-tying attempt looked good at the start but shot wide right at the end.

Kelce finished with 98 yards and a touchdown for Kansas City (14-1), and the performance gave him the NFL record for most receiving yards by a tight end in a single-season. He now has 1,416 in 2020, breaking the mark of 1,377 set by 49ers star George Kittle in 2018. Ridley had a game-high 130 yards for Atlanta.

Steelers clinch AFC North with a win over the Colts

Ben Roethlisberger threw for 342 yards and three touchdowns, including a 25-yard pass to JuJu Smith-Schuster for a go-ahead score with 7:38 left, giving the Steelers a 28-24 victory over the Colts, which allows them to clinch their fourth division title in seven years. Smith-Schuster (nine catches for 96 yards) and Diontae Johnson (75 yards) each had a touchdown for Pittsburgh (12-3).

Philip Rivers had 270 yards and a score, but he also threw an interception and was sacked five times. Jonathan Taylor rushed for 74 yards and two touchdowns and Zach Pascal added 64 yards and score for Indianapolis, which is among five teams with 10-5 records fighting for four spots in the AFC playoffs. 

Chargers hold off Broncos as Herbert sets a rookie record

Justin Herbert threw for 253 yards and a touchdown, leading the Chargers to a 19-16 win over the Broncos and setting a record in the process. Herbert’s nine-yard scoring pass to Austin Ekeler midway through the second quarter was his 28th touchdown of the season, breaking the rookie mark of 27 set by Baker Mayfield in 2018. Ironically, both quarterbacks supplanted Tyrod Taylor to become the starter on their respective teams.

Mike Williams had 54 yards, and Ekeler totaled 45 yards rushing and 23 receiving for Los Angeles (6-9). Drew Lock threw for 264 yards and two interceptions, Melvin Gordon ran for 79 yards and DaeSean Hamilton added a game-high 77 receiving yards for Denver (5-10).

Packers used home-field advantage to rout Titans

While no fans were allowed in Lambeau Field due to Wisconsin’s COVID-19 restrictions, the Packers still had an advantage against the Titans on Sunday night, thanks to a snow-covered field and frigid temperatures. Green Bay was not fazed by the weather and kept control of the top seed in the NFC with a 40-17 victory over Tennessee.

Aaron Rodgers boosted his MVP resume by throwing for 231 yards and four touchdowns, with Davante Adams catching 11 passes for 142 yards and three scores. A.J. Dillon was not afraid of a little snow either, rushing for 124 yards and two touchdowns, and Aaron Jones added 94 yards for Green Bay (12-3). Ryan Tannehill had 121 yards and a touchdown passing along with 55 yards and a score rushing, and Derrick Henry kept his hold on the rushing title with 98 yards to lead Tennessee (10-5).

Best of the rest

Russell Wilson had two touchdowns, including a 13-yard lob to tight end Jacob Hollister with 2:51 remaining as the Seahawks beat the Rams, 20-9, and earned their fourth NFC West championship in the past eight seasons. Chris Carson had a game-high 69 yards rushing and DK Metcalf added 59 receiving for Seattle (11-4). Jared Goff threw for 234 yards, but he suffered a broken and dislocated right thumb. Darrell Henderson Jr. ran for 62 yards, and Cooper Kupp (66 yards) and Josh Reynolds (65) were the top receivers for Los Angeles (9-6).

Josh Allen threw for 320 yards and four touchdowns, with Stefon Diggs catching nine passes for 145 yards and three scores as the Bills routed the Patriots, 38-9 on Monday night in a game that signaled the changing of the guard in the AFC East. After a Cam Newton rushing touchdown cut the Bills’ lead to 10-9 early in the second quarter, Allen found tight end, Lee Smith, with one score and tossed three to Diggs, including a 50-yard strike late in the first half. Newton ran for 24 yards and a touchdown, but he only had 34 yards passing before he was pulled. Harrett Stidham was not much better, totaling only 44 yards. Sony Michel led New England (6-9) with 69 yards on the ground. Buffalo (12-3) won the yardage battle 474-201 and still has a chance at the second seed in the AFC.

C.J. Beathard threw for 182 yards and three touchdowns, Jeff Wilson Jr. ran for 183 yards and added a receiving score, and the 49ers prevented the Cardinals from clinching a playoff with a 21-12 win on Saturday evening. Fullback Kyle Juszczyk caught two touchdown passes for San Francisco (6-9), and tight end George Kittle had 92 receiving yards in his first game back from a broken foot that cost him two months. Kyler Murray had 247 yards passing and 75 yards receiving, Christian Kirk had 76 yards receiving and Kenyan Drake added 45 yards and a touchdown for Arizona (8-7). Although Larry Fitzgerald only had 28 yards, he joined Jerry Rice as the only two players in NFL history to register at least 50 catches in 17 seasons. The 49ers held the Cardinals to 4-for-16 on third downs and stopped them on their half of the field with 20 seconds left.

Samaje Perine ran for 95 yards and two touchdowns, including the go-ahead score with 1:57 left for Cincinnati. Austin Seibert added an insurance field goal and the Bengals held off the Texans, 37-31. Brandon Allen threw for 371 yards and two touchdowns, Giovani Bernard had 65 yards rushing, rookie Tee Higgins totaled 99 receiving yards and a score and Alex Erickson added 99 yards for Cincinnati (4-10-1). Deshaun Watson had 324 yards and three touchdowns, David Johnson ran for a game-high 128 yards and a score, and Brandin Cooks caught seven passes for 141 yards and a touchdown for Houston (4-11).

Playoff scenarios for Week 17

Both conferences have several spots in the postseason up for grabs in Week 17. For those of you that don’t have a scorecard, we will start with the basics and then get into the details. The NFL expanded to seven teams in each conference making the playoffs in 2020, up from the usual six. Only the top team in the AFC and NFC get first-round byes. In the AFC, the champion Chiefs clinched the top spot, but there is still plenty of drama. Five teams have 10-5 records, but there are just four remaining spots. In the NFC, the top spot is still being contested, along with the final two wild cards and the champion in the East. Here is the breakdown of each eligible team.

AFC East: Buffalo holds the second seed thanks to a win over Pittsburgh in Week 14. A Bills win will secure home-field for the first two rounds. Miami is one of the teams at 10-5. The Dolphins can clinch a spot with either a win or a loss by Baltimore, Cleveland, or Indianapolis.

AFC North: Pittsburgh needs a win and a Buffalo loss to secure the second seed. Baltimore and Cleveland are both 10-5 and can clinch a playoff spot with a win or a loss by either Indianapolis or the other team in the North (the Ravens are in with a Browns loss and vice versa).

AFC South: Indianapolis and Tennessee are both 10-5, and either can win the division, clinch a playoff spot, or get eliminated entirely. Tennessee has the tiebreaker based on conference record and can clinch both the division title and a playoff spot with a win. If they lose, the Titans can still win the South with a Colts loss and reach the postseason with a loss by either the Ravens or Dolphins. Indianapolis takes the division with a win plus a Tennessee loss or tie. Since the Colts lose all the tiebreakers, they need help to make the playoffs, which can come with a loss by the Ravens, Browns, or Dolphins.

AFC West: Kansas City has clinched the division and home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs with a 14-1 record.

NFC East: Washington beat Dallas twice and New York beat Washington twice. Dallas beat New York in Week 5, but the Giants have a better division record and the teams play again on Sunday. Washington can win the division by beating the Eagles on Sunday night. If they lose, the winner of the Dallas-New York game will take the crown.

NFC North: Green Bay can clinch the top seed in the NFC with a win or a Seattle loss. Chicago makes the playoffs with a win or a loss by Arizona.

NFC South: New Orleans won the division and can take the top spot in the conference with a win, a loss by Green Bay, and a win by Seattle (giving the Saints a better conference record). Tampa Bay is already in the postseason and can lock up the fifth seed with a win or a Rams loss.

NFC West: Seattle has clinched the division and can earn the top seed with a win and losses by both Green Bay and New Orleans. The Rams can reach the postseason with a win or a Bears loss. Arizona can clinch a playoff spot with a win and a Chicago loss.

Check out Micah Jimoh’s take on the NFC playoff picture here and the AFC at this link.

Stat Leaders

Ten quarterbacks threw for at least 300 yards in Week 16, with two games featuring both passers reaching the mark. Dallas’ Andy Dalton posted the best number of the weekend with 377 yards and three touchdowns in a win over Philadelphia and Jalen Hurts, who had 342 yards in a losing effort. Brandon Allen (371 yards) and Deshaun Watson (343) also faced off, with Allen’s Bengals topping Watson and the Texans. Other 300-yard passers include Tampa Bay’s Tom Brady (348 in the first half on Saturday), Pittsburgh’s Ben Roethlisberger (342), Las Vegas’ Derek Carr (336), Buffalo’s Josh Allen (320), New Orleans star Drew Brees (311) and Atlanta’s Matt Ryan (300). Ryan’s Week 16 opponent, Patrick Mahomes, still leads the NFL with 4,740 yards, although he is unlikely to play on Sunday. Following him are Watson (4,458), Josh Allen (4,320), and Ryan (4,316). Green Bay’s Aaron Rodgers extended his touchdown lead with four on Sunday night, giving him 44 overall. Mahomes and Seattle’s Russell Wilson are tied for second with 38.

Although San Francisco’s Jeff Wilson Jr. posted the best rushing total of the week (183 yards), he and all the rest are overshadowed by Alvin Kamara’s 155-yard, six-touchdown performance for New Orleans. Other 100-yard backs include Houston’s David Johnson (128), Green Bay’s A.J. Dillon (124), and Dallas’ Ezekiel Elliott (105). Derrick Henry still leads the NFL with 1,777 yards, followed by Dalvin Cook with 1,557. Three other backs have reached the 1,000-yard mark this season, including Jacksonville rookie James Robinson (1,070), Green Bay’s Aaron Jones (1,062), and Chicago’s David Montgomery (1,001). Cook has a new co-leader atop the rushing touchdown board, as Kamara’s record-tying game gives them both 16 scores, with Henry still in the hunt with 15.

Tampa Bay’s Mike Evans posted the best receiving game of the week, with 10 catches for 181 yards. Other top performers include Nelson Agholor (155 yards for Las Vegas), Brandin Cooks (153 yards for Houston), Stefon Diggs (145 yards and three touchdowns for Buffalo), and Davante Adams (142 yards and three scores for Green Bay). Diggs leads the NFL with 120 catches, followed by Arizona’s DeAndre Hopkins (111), Adams (109), and Kansas City tight end Travis Kelce (105). Diggs also leads the league with 1,459 yards, with Kelce (1,416), Hopkins (1,372), Adams (1,328), and Atlanta’s Calvin Ridley (1,322) close behind. With three more touchdowns against the Titans, Adams pulls past Kansas City’s Tyreek Hill into the top spot with 17 scores. Hill (15), Minnesota’s Adam Thielen (14), and Evans (13) are also among the best at finding the end zone.

NFL plans on a 17-game schedule in 2021

The NFL is planning to expand the regular season schedule by one game in 2021. The details may not be finalized for several weeks, since the league has to negotiate a new media contract before a deal can be announced, likely before the schedule is released in April or May. An updated television contract will help offset the financial losses caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The preseason would drop to either two or three games, but each team would still only get one bye week, meaning the Super Bowl would be pushed to the second Sunday in February. The NFL could use the added week to increase the number of international and neutral-site games in places such as the United Kingdom, Mexico, as well as new sites like Canada, Germany, and Japan.

THE BAD

Former Cowboys and Packers punter Widby passed away

Ron Widby, who played in both the NFL and the American Basketball Association in the late 1960s and early ’70s, died on Dec. 23 at age 75. Basketball was his best sport at the University of Tennessee, but he also played baseball and golf and was the Volunteers’ punter. Widby was drafted by three leagues in 1967. He was taken by the Saints in the fourth round and also was selected by the ABA’s New Orleans Buccaneers and the NBA’s Chicago Bulls.

Widby played during the inaugural ABA season and latched on with the Cowboys after the Saints cut him in training camp. He played for the Continental Football League’s Oklahoma City Plainsmen in 1967 and was on Dallas’ main roster the following year. Widby spent four years with the Cowboys, making the Pro Bowl in 1971 and winning a title in Super Bowl VI that same season. He was traded to the Packers the following year and spent two years in Green Bay before a ruptured spinal disc ultimately ended his career in 1975. Widby focused on golf after his retirement and competed in several Senior PGA Tour events.

Jackson and Ravens’ run game stymies Giants

Lamar Jackson threw for 183 yards and two touchdowns, and he also ran for 80 yards to lead the Ravens to a 27-13 victory over the Giants in a Super Bowl XXXV “rematch.” Baltimore (10-5) kept its hopes alive in the tight AFC playoff race thanks to its NFL-best ground game that posted 249 total yards in this contest. Jackson, the 2019 league MVP, was joined by Gus Edwards (85 yards) and rookie J.K. Dobbins (77 yards and a score) in gaining yards in chunks against the Giants’ defense.

Daniel Jones had 252 yards and a touchdown, and Sterling Shepard posted game-highs with nine receptions for 77 yards and a score for New York (5-10), which kept its slim playoff hopes alive in the putrid NFC East.

Despite the loss, the Giants did have some good news this week. The team and veteran safety Logan Ryan agreed to a three-year, $31 million contract extension, with $20 million guaranteed. Ryan has 91 tackles and nine passes defensed in 15 games with New York. The two-time champion has 585 tackles, 18 interceptions, and 12 sacks in eight seasons with the Patriots, Titans, and Giants.

Cowboys stay alive and knock out the Eagles

Dallas’ offense came alive just in time to save the season. Andy Dalton threw for 377 yards and three touchdowns, Ezekiel Elliott ran for 105 yards and both Michael Gallup and Amari Cooper had 121 yards receiving (with Gallup reaching the end zone twice) as the Cowboys routed the Eagles, 37-17. The result keeps Dallas (6-9) in the hunt for the NFC East title while eliminating Philadelphia (4-10-1) from playoff contention.

Miles Sanders opened the scoring with a four-yard run and rookie Jalen Hurts threw an 81-yard strike to the returning DeSean Jackson, giving the Eagles a 14-3 lead at the end of the first quarter. That was the only catch for Jackson, who was playing for the first time in two months after suffering a fractured ankle in late October. However, Dalton countered with two touchdown passes in the second quarter and a 52-yard hookup with rookie CeeDee Lamb in the third. Lamb closed out the scoring with a 19-yard run just after the two-minute warning.

Hurts had 342 yards and a touchdown passing and led Philadelphia with 69 yards rushing, but he also tossed two interceptions, lost a fumble, and was sacked three times. Sanders added 57 yards and a score.

Another week, another set of injuries

On Dec. 23, the Jets placed defensive tackle Quinnen Williams on injured reserve with a concussion and a neck injury. The third overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft had a breakout season with 55 tackles and a team-leading seven sacks. Other players who were ruled out before Week 16 games included Vikings tight end Kyle Rudolph (foot), backup running back Alexander Mattison (concussion) and linebacker Eric Kendricks (calf), Chiefs rookie running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire (knee), Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones (hamstring), center Alex Mack (concussion) and cornerback Darqueze Dennard (quad), Chargers defensive end Joey Bosa (concussion) and wide receiver Keenan Allen (hamstring), Broncos running back Phillip Lindsay (hip and knee), Giants wide receiver Golden Tate (calf), Panthers running back Christian McCaffrey (thigh) and tackle Russell Okung (hip), Jaguars running back James Robinson (ankle), Ravens cornerback Jimmy Smith (ribs and shoulder), Seahawks running back DeeJay Dallas (ankle) and guard Mike Iupati (neck), Rams running back Cam Akers (ankle), Texans running back Duke Johnson (neck), Browns guard Wyatt Teller (ankle) and Cowboys linebacker Leighton Vander Esche (ribs), and Washington quarterback Alex Smith (calf). 

Buccaneers running back Ronald Jones missed his second straight week. He was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list last week and he also had a pin inserted into his fractured left pinky finger.

During Friday’s game between the Saints and Vikings, linebacker Kwon Alexander suffered a torn Achilles tendon, which will end his season. Alexander had 57 tackles and a sack in 12 games split between San Francisco and New Orleans in 2020. Other players who suffered injuries during Week 16 games include Rams quarterback Jared Goff (broken and dislocated right thumb), Packers tackle Rick Wagner (knee), Texans tackle Laremy Tunsil (high ankle sprain), Eagles defensive tackle Fletcher Cox (stinger), Broncos wide receiver K.J. Hamler (concussion), Ravens center Patrick Mekari (back), Chiefs wide receiver Sammy Watkins (calf) Bengals cornerback William Jackson (concussion) and Jets running back Frank Gore (chest).

More players injured on Sunday who may be forced to miss Week 17 games include Dolphins wide receiver and punt returner Jakeem Grant (high ankle sprain), Bengals running back Joe Mixon (foot), Colts wide receiver Michael Pittman (concussion), as well as 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk (high ankle sprain) and tackle Trent Williams (sprained elbow).

THE UGLY

Jaguars get the first overall pick after being routed by the Bears

The Jaguars evened the score at 10-10 with the Bears on Sunday afternoon when Mike Glennon threw a 20-yard scoring pass to DJ Chark with 8:21 left in the second quarter. From that point onward, Chicago outscored Jacksonville 31-7 and cruised to a 41-17 victory. Mitchell Trubisky had 265 yards and two touchdowns passing and also ran for a score as the Bears kept their playoff hopes alive.

David Montgomery ran for 95 yards and a touchdown, Allen Robinson had 103 yards receiving, and tight end Jimmy Graham added 69 yards and two scores for Chicago (8-7). Glennon passed for 211 yards and two touchdowns and Dare Ogunbowale ran for 71 yards for Jacksonville (1-14), who “earned” the top pick in the draft with the loss.

Browns lost several receivers then fell to the Jets

Sam Darnold threw for 175 yards and two touchdowns, and the Jets also scored on a trick play to win their second straight game, 23-16, over the Browns. Jamison Crowder had 92 yards and a touchdown receiving and also tossed a 43-yard score to Braxton Berrios late in the first quarter to give New York (2-13) a 7-3 lead.

Darnold found Crowder and Chris Herndon with scoring passes to put the Jets up 20-3 early in the third, but the Browns responded with rushing touchdowns by Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt to cut the deficit to 20-16. New York recovered a Baker Mayfield fumble later in the fourth quarter and Sam Ficken’s field goal provided an insurance score. A Mayfield pass to Hunt moved Cleveland into enemy territory, but the quarterback lost the ball on a fourth-down sneak. Hunt recovered the fumble and got the first down, but the NFL rule states that a recovering player cannot advance the ball, giving the Jets the victory.

Despite not having his top four wide receivers due to a COVID-19 outbreak the day before the game, Mayfield threw for 285 yards, but he fumbled twice and was sacked four times for the Browns. Cleveland (10-5) placed Jedrick Willis Jr., a tackle who was taken in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft, on the reserve/COVID-19 list on Thursday and he was activated after two negative tests. The Browns were hit even harder on Saturday, when four wide receivers, Jarvis Landry, Rashard Higgins, Donovan Peoples-Jones, and KhaDarel Hodge, as well as linebackers B.J. Goodson and Jacob Phillips, were placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list. Goodson tested positive for the coronavirus, and at least one of the others was in the team’s recovery pool area with Goodson while not wearing a mask.

Washington loses and Haskins implodes

Teddy Bridgewater threw an interception, lost a fumble, and was sacked four times. However, his performance also included 197 passing yards and a touchdown as the Carolina Panthers built up a 20-0 lead and held on for a 20-13 victory over the Washington Riveras. While head coach Ron Rivera’s current team wore “Rivera strong” shirts in October after his battle with lymph node cancer, his former team wore the shirts before Sunday’s game.

Carolina (5-10) opened the scoring when Steven Sims muffed a punt and the ball was knocked back into the end zone, where Brandon Zylstra recovered for a touchdown. Mike Davis had a rushing score and a Bridgewater pass to Robbie Anderson followed, but Dustin Hopkins kicked a field goal late in the first half to give Washington (6-9) its first points. Hopkins added another kick in the third quarter and the former Redskins cut into the lead further when Taylor Heinicke replaced Dwayne Haskins and found running back J.D. McKissic with the 29-yard scoring pass with 1:50 left. However, the Panthers recovered the onside kick and ran out the clock.

Curtis Samuel led Carolina in both receiving (106) and rushing yards (52). Washington combined for 291 yards through the air between Haskins (154) and Heinicke (137). Gibson had a game-high 61 yards rushing and McKissic totaled 77 receiving in a losing effort.

Haskins was having a rough week long before Sunday’s game. On Dec. 23, he was fined $40,000 and stripped of his role as team captain after he and his girlfriend attended a private birthday party after the Week 15 game against Seattle, and he wasn’t wearing a mask, a decision that was in violation of the NFL’s COVID-19 protocols. The violation, along with his inconsistent play, led Washington to release Haskins early Monday afternoon. The 15th overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft made news the following day when he and agent David Mulugheta decided to “mutually part ways.”

Ravens fined $250,000 for COVID-19 violations

One month ago, the coronavirus ravaged the roster of the Baltimore Ravens, forcing their Week 12 game against the Steelers to be moved three times and leading to their contest against the Cowboys to be pushed back the following week as well. On Sunday, Baltimore was fined $250,000, the same punishment New England received for its COVID-19 transgressions, but still, less than the $350,000 penalty Tennessee was fined.

I’m not sure why the Ravens could not be fined more in this situation. The Raiders and Saints had multiple violations, so they deserved the $500,000 in total fines received. However, the COVID-19 outbreak at Baltimore’s facilities included four separate strains of the virus and affected nearly one-third of the roster due to the negligence of strength coach Steve Saunders. It’s bad enough that the league allowed the Ravens to move two separate games, letting Lamar Jackson play when he shouldn’t have been allowed, but Roger Goodell also doesn’t see fit to take away a draft pick as he did with the Raiders and Saints. At least there is one good announcement from Sunday. The NFL decided against fining the Broncos after forcing them to play a week without a quarterback.

Multiple AFC teams lose players to COVID-19 list

Several players found their way to the reserve/COVID-19 list during Week 16, including Colts tackle Braden Smith, Texans linebacker Whitney Mercilus, along with 49ers offensive lineman Hroniss Grasu and long snapper Taybor Pepper. On Sunday, Bills running back T.J. Yeldon tested positive for COVID-19, causing him to miss Monday night’s game against the Patriots. Yeldon’s Buffalo teammate, wide receiver John Brown, was taken off injured reserve after missing the past three weeks with an ankle injury. Instead of playing against New England, Brown was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list. Also on Monday evening, Titans kicker Stephen Gostkowski was put on the reserve list and his status for the must-win game against the Texans in Week 17 is in doubt.

What’s on tap for Week 17: There are no Thursday, Saturday, or Monday games, so Sunday is all that is left for the regular season. Both CBS and FOX will have doubleheaders, and plenty of games have playoff implications. The top early games include Dolphins vs. Bills, Steelers vs. Browns, Ravens vs. Bengals, Falcons vs. Buccaneers, and Cowboys vs. Giants. The late afternoon schedule features the Packers vs. Bears, Jaguars vs. Colts, Cardinals vs. Rams. Seahawks vs. 49ers, Saints vs. Panthers, and Titans vs. Texans. The Sunday night game will be an NFC East battle between Washington and Philadelphia.

Writer

-By: Kevin Rakas