Santiago Leon and Dan Madden recap the 2024 #NFL Week 17.
Contributors
Santiago Leon – @sleon
Dan Madden – @danimal2478
- Green Bay Packers vs Minnesota Vikings: The Packers start fast and win 33–10 with quarterback Jordan Love’s three touchdowns.
- Baltimore Ravens vs Miami Dolphins: The Ravens score 56 points and Lamar Jackson throws five touchdowns, while the Dolphins’ 7–0 lead is turned around by the Ravens. The Ravens have 32 consecutive games with over 100 rushing yards.
- San Francisco 49ers vs Washington Commanders: The 49ers rebound behind Brock Purdy and a strong ground game.
- Dallas Cowboys vs Detroit Lions: The Cowboys win 20–19.
- Jacksonville Jaguars vs Carolina Panthers: The Jaguars win 26–0.
- New Orleans Saints vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers: The Saints win 23–13.
- Chicago Bears vs Atlanta Falcons: The Bears win 37–17.
NYJ 20 CLE 37
The Cleveland Browns defeated the New York Jets 37-20 on Thursday Night Football. The Browns’ quarterback, Joe Flacco, passed for 309 yards and three touchdowns, while David Njoku had 134 receiving yards. The Browns’ win secured a playoff berth, their second since 2002.
Here are some highlights from the game:
- First half: The Jets fall behind in a shootout, and the Browns continually beat the Jets’ pass defense. By the end of the first half, the Browns have scored five touchdowns.
- Late first quarter: An overthrow costs Cleveland, resulting in a 30-yard pick-6 by Browns safety Ronnie Hickman, extending the lead to 20-7.
- Third quarter: The Jets open the third quarter trailing 34-17.
- Second-year pros: Jermaine Johnson, Breece Hall, and Garrett Wilson shine in Cleveland.
- Flacco’s performance: Flacco’s performance is described as “pathetic”.
QB Joe Flacco once again led the Browns offense to a 37-20 victory over the Jets. The Browns improved to 11-5 on the season and clinched a playoff spot. “Pretty special night for this organization. Pretty special night for the fans out there,” HC Kevin Stefanski said.
DET 19 DAL 20
Cowboys defeated the Detroit Lions 20-19. The game was notable for a penalty on the Lions’ 2-point conversion, which led to the loss. The Lions’ wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown finished the game with six receptions for 90 yards and the final touchdown of the game.
TEN 3 HOU 26
The Houston Texans defeated the Tennessee Titans 26-3 in their final regular-season home game. The featured the return of two key players for the Texans, including rookie quarterback CJ Stroud. Stroud threw for 213 yards and one touchdown in his return from a concussion
- The Titans had a chance to cut the lead after the third quarter when Tannehill’s pass on fourth-and-3 from the 3 was incomplete.
- With about 5½ minutes left in the game, the Texans scored a 51-yard field goal to increase their lead to 26-3.
ATL 17 CHI 37
the Chicago Bears defeated the Atlanta Falcons 37-17 at Soldier Field. The Bears’ Justin Fields threw for 268 yards and a touchdown, and rushed for 45 yards and another score. Khalil Herbert also had 18 carries for 124 yards and a touchdown, and 2 receptions for 5 yards.
Justin Fields generated 313 yards from scrimmage and two touchdowns and the defense intercepted four passes
MIA 19 BAL 56
Baltimore Ravens defeated the Miami Dolphins 56-19 in Baltimore. The Ravens’ defense intercepted Tua Tagovailoa twice and sacked him three times. Jackson threw for five touchdowns and 321 yards, and his perfect passer rating helped the Ravens win.
NO 23 TB 13
The New Orleans Saints defeated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 23-13 at Raymond James Stadium. The game had many divisional and playoff implications, including a chance for the Buccaneers to secure their third consecutive NFC South title.
- The Saints won the turnover battle 4-0 and kept the Buccaneers’ offense off kilter for three quarters.
- The Saints scored on their first offensive possession, capping off a 14-play, 73-yard drive with a connection between Derek Carr and Juwan Johnson.
- Juwan Johnson, the Saints’ tight end, had 12 targets, eight catches, 90 receiving yards, and one touchdown.
- Derek Carr threw for 197 yards and two touchdowns.
- The Saints intercepted Baker Mayfield twice and forced two fumbles.
The New Orleans Saints defeated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers by a score of 23-13. Offensive spotlight: New Orleans Saints tight end Juwan Johnson saw a team-leading 12 targets and turned them into eight catches, 90 receiving yards and one touchdown.
NE 21 BUF 27
The Buffalo Bills beat the New England Patriots 27-21.
Buffalo only tallied 281 yards of total offense but its defense forced four first half turnovers. Bailey Zappe went 16 of 26 for 209 yards with three interceptions for the Patriots. Buffalo improves to 10-6 and can lock up a playoff spot with some help Sunday.
AZ 35 PHI 31
The Arizona Cardinals beat the Philadelphia Eagles 35–31. The Cardinals’ offensive performance was dominant, with Kyler Murray throwing three touchdown passes and James Conner rushing for 128 yards and two touchdowns.
- The Eagles enter the second half with a 21–6 lead.
- The Eagles’ defense is unable to stop four second-half possessions, giving up 29 points.
- The Cardinals rally from a 15-point deficit.
- With 32 seconds remaining, Conner runs for a 2-yard touchdown.
- Jalen Carter has six sacks and an unofficial defensive stop.
CAR 0 JAX 26
In one of the handful of blowouts in Week 17, the Jacksonville Jaguars defeated the Carolina Panthers by a score of 26-0. Offensive spotlight: Jaguars running back Travis Etienne finished the game with 102 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns on 16 carries.
LV 20 IND 23
The Indianapolis Colts beat the Las Vegas Raiders 23-20 at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Taylor ran for a season-high 96 yards and one score, Minshew fooled the Las Vegas defense with a 58-yard TD pass on third-and-1, and the Indianapolis Colts used two late defensive penalties to put away the Raiders 23-20 — and on the precipice of their first playoff berth since 2020.
LAR 26 NYG 25
The Los Angeles Rams defeated the New York Giants 26-25. The Rams’ Kyren Williams ran for 87 yards and three touchdowns, while Williams finished with 20 carries for 87 yards and three touchdowns in the victory.
A 31-yard scramble by Taylor moved the Giants from their own 35 to the Rams 34 to get New York in field goal range, but kicker Mason Crosby’s 54-yard field goal attempt missed wide left, allowing the Rams to hang on for the 1-point win. Williams finished with 20 carries for 87 yards and three touchdowns in the victory.
SF 27 WAS 10
The San Francisco 49ers beat the Washington Commanders 27–10.
The 49ers’ win was a result of a number of factors, including:
- Brock Purdy’s performance
- Defensive interceptions by the 49ers
- Elijah Mitchell’s return from injury
- Touchdown catches from Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk
- A rushing touchdown by Mitchell
- Washington quarterback Sam Howell’s two interceptions in the fourth quarter
- The 49ers’ offense took the field first, with Aaron Banks active and Jon Feliciano at left guard. Kyle Shanahan ran behind Feliciano, and Christian McCaffrey ran for nine yards. Purdy was 22 of 28 for 230 yards and two touchdowns.
PHI 17 SEA 20
The Seattle Seahawks beat the Philadelphia Eagles 20-17. The Seahawks’ Drew Lock threw a game-winning 29-yard touchdown pass to Jaxon Smith-Njigba with 28 seconds left in the game.
Here are some other stats from the game:
- Passing: Jalen Hurts 17/31, 143 yards, 2 INT
- Rushing: Jalen Hurts 13 carries, 82 yards, 2 TD
- Receiving: A.J. Brown 5 rec., 56 yards
- Defense: Nicholas Morrow 8 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 PD
- Kicking: Jake Elliott 1/1 FG, 2/2 PAT, 5 points
Drew Lock threw a 29-yard touchdown pass to Jaxon Smith-Njigba with 28 seconds left to cap a 92-yard drive, and the Seattle Seahawks stunned the Philadelphia Eagles 20-17 on Monday night, ending a four-game skid and getting back into NFC playoff contention.
CIN 17 KC 25
the Kansas City Chiefs beat the Cincinnati Bengals 25-17 at Arrowhead Stadium. The Chiefs’ offense relied on their defense and Harrison Butker’s six field goals to score 18 points
LAC 9 DEN 16
the Denver Broncos defeated the Los Angeles Chargers 16–9 on the road. The game was more of a defensive battle, with the Broncos holding the Chargers below 10 points and preventing them from scoring a touchdown. The Broncos’ special teams unit also played a key role, stopping a fake punt on fourth down and blocking a field goal in the fourth quarter.
- Easton Stick, the Chargers’ quarterback, finished with 220 passing yards on 24-of-38 passes.
- Austin Ekeler, the Chargers’ running back, rushed for 46 yards on 13 carries and had one catch for four yards.
- The Broncos converted a fourth down in Chargers territory after a 28-yard pass interference penalty.
- The Broncos got down to the one-yard line and settled for a 20-yard field goal to make it 16–6.
- The Chargers added another field goal but were unable to come back.
- The Broncos maintained a lead throughout the entire game.
- The Chargers fail to recover their onside kick attempt.
Defensively, the Broncos held Los Angeles below 10 points for the second time this season and did not allow the Chargers to score a touchdown. Denver’s special-teams unit rounded out the effort, adding a key fourth-down stop on a fake punt and a blocked field goal in the fourth quarter.
Jarrett Stidham was starting instead of Russell Wilson. Stidham had 224 yards, onen touchdoudn.
GB 33 MIN 10
The Green Bay Packers defeated the Minnesota Vikings 33-10 on Sunday Night Football.
he Packers started the game quickly, with quarterback Jordan Love throwing three touchdown passes and running for a score.
Love completed 24 of 33 passes for 256 yards, three touchdowns, and zero interceptions.
Running back Aaron Jones rushed for 120 yards on 20 carries, and receiver Jayden Reed caught six passes for 89 yards.
Poll Question
What is a must to drink with a straw? #DrinkingStrawDay
milkshake – 50%, soda – 0, milk -0, Smoothie – 50%
Dan: Milkshake
https://twitter.com/thesportscast1/status/1742521705728221616
Santiago Leon is the Founder and CEO of the Sports Cast. He covers NFL, NBA, and world soccer. He’s also founder of sleon productions, which he specializes in technology and serves clients with solutions to make their business grow.
