Falcons 22-10 over the Panthers: Needing a win to make the playoffs or go home the Flacons’ kicker Matt Bryant showed up big time with five field goals accounting for 16 points. You would think the Panthers would not want Atlanta to make the playoffs, but they gave the game away as QB Cam Newton had three interceptions (two of them coming in the 4th quarter) and two fumbles.
Bengals 31-27 over the Ravens: With nothing to play for QB Andy Dalton and his team played spoilers to Baltimore as they won with a game winning TD on fourth and long, eliminating the Ravens’ playoffs chances. Dalton had 3 TD passes with two going to TE Tyler Kroft. The Bengals also added an interception return TD to spoil QB Joe Flacco’s game of 2 TD passes and RB Alex Collins 4th down TD.
Bills 22-16 over the Dolphins: It was win and get into the playoffs for Buffalo with the Dolphins mailing it in using their 4th string QB David Fales, who had a fumble and an interception. He did have a rushing TD and passing TD, but the Bills took advantage of most of their red zone trips with three field goals, a rushing TD by DT Kyle Williams, and a passing TD from QB Tyrod Taylor. Taylor had been benched this year to see what they had in Nate Peterman, and look at Taylor now as he leads them to the playoffs with a win and a Ravens loss. They unfortunately lost RB LeSean McCoy to an ankle injury.
Buccaneers 31-24 over the Saints: Despite New Orleans’ sensational rookie RB Alvin Kamara’s kick return TD and rushing TD along with QB Jameis Winston giving the ball away with three interceptions, the Buccaneers came out on top. This didn’t hurt the Saints since they clinched a playoff spot already but tied for the division. What hurt the Saints was WR Tommylee Lewis’ fumble being returned for a TD. Winston did have a rushing TD and so did his 3rd string RB Payton Barber.
Titans 15-10 over the Jaguars: With the Jaguars already winning the division the Titans were the only team with something to play for and they upset the Jaguars to make the playoffs. Despite QB Marcus Mariota fumble that canceled out his one big play TD pass to RB Derrick Henry. It was all about kicker Ryan Succop who scored 9 of their points. Good thing the game didn’t mean anything since Jacksonville had four fumbles and QB Blake Bortles had two interceptions with no TD passes, which isn’t a good sign for the playoffs. The only TD was that Mariota fumble being returned for a TD and they also blocked an extra point.
Chiefs 27-24 over the Broncos: Even with most of the backups playing for Kansas City since they clinched the division it was still the same theme for Denver, bad QB play. QB Paxton Lynch had two interceptions to cancel out his 2 TD passes. Lynch also had a fumble returned for a TD but it was cancelled out by then recovering a fumble for a TD. Rookie RB Kareem Hunt ended an impressive rookie season with another rushing TD his fourth straight game with a TD.
Charges 30-10 over the Raiders: The Chargers finished with a winning record and QB Phillip Rivers had another good game this season with 3 TD passes going to his usual suspects in WRs (Tyrell Williams, Keenan Allen 133 yards and Travis Benjamin). Even Allen picked up a fumble (two on the day) and ran it in for a TD. QB Derek Carr again cancelled out his 1 TD (going to WR Amari Cooper who had 115 yards receiving) game with a fumble and interception to close out a disappointing season. RB Marshawn Lynch who had over 100 yards rushing is now in the 10,000 yards rushing club.
49ers 34-13 over the Rams: Los Angles mailed in the game with backups (look who started at QB, Sean Mannion, who’s that?) since they clinched the division already and had three fumbles. QB Jimmy Garoppolo had 2 TD passes with two fumbles that didn’t matter since they were being given the game; while RB Carlos Hyde despite a fumble had 2 rushing TDs. RB Lance Dunbar had the only TD for the Rams on a rushing TD.
Cardinals 26-24 over the Seahawks: It was win or go home for Seattle and they did their best but those two fumbles by QB Russell Wilson who did have 2 TD passes to WR Doug Baldwin and kicker Blair Walsh missing a field goal, cost them the playoffs. Even WR Tyler Lockett had a 99 yard kick return touchdown. Cardinals QB Drew Stanton had a fumble and an interception as well, but it wasn’t enough as the Cardinals had a rushing TD and made all four field goals to to finish the season .500, despite this super injury plagued season where they lost their starting QB and RB to name some.
Lions 35-11 over the Packers: Despite not making the playoffs with a winning record the Lions should feel a little bit good with that record, but also for beating the Packers on the last day of the season. They forced one fumble by QB Brett Hundley and picked him off twice while keeping him below 200 yards with only one TD. For the offense, QB Matthew Stafford had 3 TD passes to his top 3 WRS (Golden Tate 104 yards, Marvin Jones JR and Kenny Golladay), and even RB Ameer Abdullah came back from injury to have a rushing TD. Stafford caught a two point conversion.
Colts 22-13 over the Texans: No one thought the Texans would finish with the same record as the Colts who have been without QB Andrew Luck all year. Houston is on their 3rd string QB (who had no TD passes with an interception and was sacked in the end zone for a safety), and have been missing lots of their key players to injuries, and had their miserable season ended by their divisional rival. QB Jacoby Brisset this season proved he can be a starting QB for the Colts or for another team. Again the team with the better QB won since he had a TD pass to TE Jack Doyle, and RB Melvin Mack had a rushing TD. Even RB Frank Gore had a 100 yard rushing game.
Vikings 23-10 over the Bears: With the division clinched and home field in the playoffs this win was icing on the cake for the Vikings. They held the Bears’ offense scoreless outside of a field goal and caused a safety in the end zone on QB Mitchell Trubisky. While RB Latavius Murray had 111 yards rushing with 2 rushing TDS, and QB Case Keenum had 1 TD pass to WR Stefon Diggs. The Bears only had one TD on a punt return TD by CB Bryce Callahan.
Patriots 26-6 over the Jets: Despite not needing the game having tied for most wins in AFC with home field advantage (owning the tiebreaker), this game didn’t matter as they took a 21-3 lead early and took out their regulars. QB Tom Brady had 2 TD passes with one to WR Brandin Cooks, and the other to RB Deion Lewis who also had a rushing TD of his own. While on defense they sacked QB Bryce Petty in the end zone for a safety, forced him to fumble, and held the Jets without a TD only allowing two field goals.
Giants 18-10 over the Redskins: QB Kirk Cousins is going to be a free agent but throwing three interceptions cancels out your rushing TD and doesn’t help your potential suitors by losing to the Giants, and doesn’t help either with your kicker missing a field goal. New York was given the game despite missing an extra point attempt and a two point conversion. RB Orleans Darkwa was the MVP of the game with 154 rushing yards with a rushing TD.
Cowboys 6-0 over the Eagles: The Eagles did clinch home field advantage already in the playoffs so they had nothing to play for using their starters briefly, and even fumbling the ball three times but didn’t care about the outcome. Dallas was given the win despite their kicker missing a field goal and an extra point, as QB Dak Prescott had 1 passing TD, and Dallas finished with a winning record.
Steelers 28-24 over the Browns: Even with backup QB Landry Jones (who had a fumble and interception and backup RB Steven Ridley (former Patriot who did have a rushing TD) playing meant no RB Le’Veon Bell and QB Ben Roethlisberger, but the Browns couldn’t beat backups. The Steelers had four total fumbles three by their OT but again the Browns turned the ball over with a fumble and interception. WR Darrius Hayward-Bay even had a rushing TD and WR JuJu Smith-Schuster who caught Jones’ TD pass also had a kick return TD as well. QB DeShone Kizer did have 2 TD passes both to WR Rashard Higgins, which is a bright spot.