Lions’ playoff hopes fade after gut-wrenching loss vs. Steelers
USA TODAY Sports’ Prince Grimes ‘overreacts’ to some of the best games from Sunday’s Week 16 slate.
NFL Week 16 reminded us of one important fact about the league this season: A game isn’t over until it’s over.
We’ve seen several epic comebacks in the NFL this season and NFL Week 16 gave us three more, with the Seattle Seahawks rallying from a 30-14 fourth-quarter deficit against the Los Angeles Rams for a huge 38-37 overtime win on Thursday Night Football, the Chicago Bears coming back from a 10-point deficit late in regulation to get a 22-16 overtime victory over the Green Bay Packers on Saturday, Dec. 20, and the New England Patriots scoring 15 straight points late after falling behind by 11 in the fourth quarter in a 28-24 win over the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday Night Football.
Epic comebacks deserve recognition. How far did the wins for the Seahawks, Bears and Patriots elevate them in our NFL Week 17 power rankings? How far did the Rams, Packers and Ravens fall?
Check out how we rank all 32 teams after the NFL Week 16 schedule, with a different team atop the rankings for the third straight week.
What changed in our NFL power rankings this week? Previous ranking in parentheses.
NFL Week 17 picks: Cowboys at Commanders | Lions at Vikings | Broncos at Chiefs | Texans at Chargers | Ravens at Packers | Seahawks at Panthers | Cardinals at Bengals | Steelers at Browns | Jaguars at Colts | Buccaneers at Dolphins | Patriots at Jets | Saints at Titans | Giants at Raiders | Eagles at Bills | Bears at 49ers | Rams at Falcons | The Republic’s score predictions
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Make that nine straight losses for the Raiders under first-year coach Pete Carroll. Las Vegas faces the New York Giants next week, with the loser getting the inside track to pick No. 1 overall in the 2026 NFL Draft.
NFL Week 16: Lost to Houston Texans, 23-21NFL Week 17: Sunday vs New York Giants (Dec. 28)31. New York Giants (30)
Make that nine losses in a row for the Giants. Yuck. New York’s Jaxson Dart somehow only threw for 33 yards in the loss to the Vikings.
NFL Week 16: Lost to Minnesota Vikings, 16-13NFL Week 17: Sunday at Las Vegas Raiders (Dec. 28)30. New York Jets (29)
The Jets are now just 3-12 and are still searching for their QB of the future. Not how New York fans envisioned the season.
NFL Week 16: Lost to New Orleans Saints, 29-6NFL Week 17: Sunday vs New England Patriots (Dec. 28)
Arizona has now lost seven straight games to fall to 3-12 on the season. It is 1-7 at home. Cardinals fans are tired of the losing.
NFL Week 16: Lost to Atlanta Falcons, 26-19NFL Week 17: Sunday at Cincinnati Bengals (Dec. 28)
The Titans finally won a game at home and against the Chiefs, no less. Of course, Kansas City played the game with primarily its third-string QB.
NFL Week 16: Beat Kansas City Chiefs, 29-6NFL Week 17: Sunday vs New Orleans Saints (Dec. 28)
27. Cleveland Browns (28)
Does Shedeur Sanders deserve to be the Browns’ starter next season? He was 20-for-29 for 157 yards with one touchdown and two passes intercepted. Cleveland will have a big decision to make at QB. Could it take another one in the draft?
NFL Week 16: Lost to Buffalo Bills, 23-20NFL Week 17: Sunday vs Pittsburgh Steelers (Dec. 28)26. Washington Commanders (25)
The Commanders are a reminder of how quickly things can change in the NFL. Last season, Washington went 12-5 and made the NFC Championship Game. This season? It fell to 4-11 with the loss to the Eagles.
NFL Week 16: Lost to Philadelphia Eagles, 29-18NFL Week 17: Christmas Day vs Dallas Cowboys (Dec. 25)25. Kansas City Chiefs (22)
We saw rumors circulating that this could potentially be Andy Reid’s last season coaching. We don’t buy it. He won’t want to go out like this.
NFL Week 16: Lost to Tennessee Titans, 26-9NFL Week 17: Christmas Day vs Denver Broncos (Dec. 25)24. Miami Dolphins (21)
Quinn Ewers went 20-for-30 for 260 yards, with two interceptions in his first start in Miami. Who will be the team’s QB next season?
NFL Week 16: Lost to Cincinnati Bengals, 45-21NFL Week 17: Sunday vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Dec. 28)23. Cincinnati Bengals (26)
Bengals fans have to wonder how the season would have played out had Joe Burrow been healthy all year. Now, they are wondering about his future in Cincinnati.
NFL Week 16: Beat Miami Dolphins, 45-21NFL Week 17: Sunday vs Arizona Cardinals (Dec. 28)22. Dallas Cowboys (20)
Dallas is now just 6-8-1 on the season, having lost three straight games. Will it end its skid on Christmas Day? Not if it keeps playing like it has been playing as of late.
NFL Week 16: Lost to Los Angeles Chargers, 34-17NFL Week 17: Christmas Day at Washington Commanders (Dec. 25)
21. New Orleans Saints (24)
The Saints have won three games in a row. Tyler Shough was 32-for-49 for 308 yards and a score. He is gaining more confidence — and fans — with every game.
NFL Week 16: Beat New York Jets, 29-6NFL Week 17: Sunday at Tennessee Titans (Dec. 28)20. Atlanta Falcons (23)
Bijan Robinson had an impressive homecoming in Arizona, rushing 16 times for 76 yards and catching seven passes for 92 yards and a touchdown.
NFL Week 16: Beat Arizona Cardinals, 26-19NFL Week 17: Monday Night Football vs Los Angeles Rams (Dec. 29)19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (18)
Yes, injuries have hurt the Buccaneers this season, but Tampa Bay has lost six of its last seven games, including consecutive losses to the Saints, Falcons and Panthers. Maybe the Buccaneers just aren’t that good?
NFL Week 16: Lost to Carolina Panthers, 23-20NFL Week 17: Sunday at Miami Dolphins (Dec. 28)18. Baltimore Ravens (16)
It has been a season of “what-ifs” for the Ravens, who have another one after seeing Lamar Jackson leave the game against the Patriots with a back injury. Baltimore’s playoff hopes are now very slim.
NFL Week 16: Lost to New England Patriots, 28-24NFL Week 17: Saturday at Green Bay Packers (Dec. 27)17. Minnesota Vikings (19)
The Vikings just won their third straight game against an NFC East foe, taking down the Commanders, Cowboys and Giants. Can they finish strong against the Lions and Packers?
NFL Week 16: Beat New York Giants, 16-13NFL Week 17: Christmas Day vs Detroit Lions (Dec. 25)16. Indianapolis Colts (15)
The Colts have now lost five games in a row to fall to 8-7 on the season. A once promising season has fallen off the rails for Indianapolis, which now has very slim NFL playoff hopes.
NFL Week 16: Monday Night Football vs San Francisco 49ers (Dec. 22)NFL Week 17: Sunday vs Jacksonville Jaguars (Dec. 28)
15. Detroit Lions (13)
While there is a lot of controversy over the referee’s call on the final play against the Steelers, the previous offensive pass interference call on that drive, which also took away a potential touchdown for the Lions, was the one that left us scratching our heads.
NFL Week 16: Lost to Pittsburgh Steelers, 29-24NFL Week 17: Christmas Day at Minnesota Vikings (Dec. 25)14. Carolina Panthers (17)
The Panthers now have the inside track to the NFC South title after their win over the Buccaneers, but they face the Buccaneers again in NFL Week 18.
NFL Week 16: Beat Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 23-20NFL Week 17: Sunday vs Seattle Seahawks (Dec. 28)13. Pittsburgh Steelers (14)
It wasn’t pretty, and it wasn’t without controversy, but the Steelers won their third straight game with the victory over the Lions to stay in control of the AFC North race.
NFL Week 16: Beat Detroit Lions, 29-24NFL Week 17: Sunday at Cleveland Browns (Dec. 28)12. Green Bay Packers (9)
How costly was the loss to the Bears? It cost Green Bay in the NFC North race, but the Packers also lost Jordan Love to a concussion in the game after a helmet-to-helmet hit, with the QB’s status looming large for the franchise. With him, Green Bay is still a potential Super Bowl contender.
NFL Week 16: Lost to Chicago Bears in overtime, 22-16NFL Week 17: Saturday vs Baltimore Ravens (Dec. 27)11. Philadelphia Eagles (12)
The Eagles have won back-to-back NFC East titles (they are the first team to do so since 2004), but the game against the Commanders was marred by that nasty altercation near the end after Philadelphia decided to go for two. Guess who the Eagles play in NFL Week 18? Washington.
NFL Week 16: Beat Washington Commanders, 29-18NFL Week 17: Sunday at Buffalo Bills (Dec. 28)10. Houston Texans (11)
The Texans have now won seven in a row. Houston has allowed 249 points this season, 30 fewer points than the closest team.
NFL Week 16: Beat Las Vegas Raiders, 23-21NFL Week 17: Saturday at Los Angeles Chargers (Dec. 27)
9. Los Angeles Chargers (10)
The Chargers have quietly won four in a row and seven of their last eight games. Should they be getting more Super Bowl love?
NFL Week 16: Beat Dallas Cowboys, 34-17NFL Week 17: Saturday vs Houston Texans (Dec. 27)8. Buffalo Bills (5)
A win is a win in the NFL. But that win for the Bills was ugly. This team sometimes looks unbeatable. Other times, it looks like it did in the win against Cleveland.
NFL Week 16: Beat Cleveland Browns, 23-20NFL Week 17: Sunday vs Philadelphia Eagles (Dec. 28)7. San Francisco 49ers (7)
San Francisco has now won five games in a row. Brock Purdy threw five touchdown passes in the win against the Colts, setting up a huge showdown against the Bears in NFL Week 17.
NFL Week 16: Beat Indianapolis Colts, 48-27NFL Week 17: Sunday Night Football vs Chicago Bears (Dec. 28)6. Chicago Bears (8)
The Bears’ epic comeback involved rallying from a 16-6 deficit with just over two minutes left. They got a Cairo Santos field goal and a touchdown pass from Caleb Williams to Jahdae Walker to force overtime, and then won it with a Williams pass to D.J. Moore in overtime.
NFL Week 16: Beat Green Bay Packers in overtime, 22-16NFL Week 17: Sunday Night Football at San Francisco 49ers (Dec. 28)5. Jacksonville Jaguars (6)
This team is legit. Jacksonville has won six games in a row. It leads the AFC South. Can the Jaguars do some damage in the AFC postseason?
NFL Week 16: Beat Denver Broncos, 34-20NFL Week 17: Sunday at Indianapolis Colts (Dec. 28)4. Los Angeles Rams (2)
The Rams had complete control against the Seahawks — until they didn’t. Still, we wouldn’t count Matthew Stafford and Los Angeles out of the Super Bowl race after a 1-point overtime loss in Seattle.
NFL Week 16: Lost to Seattle Seahawks in overtime, 38-37NFL Week 17: Monday Night Football vs Atlanta Falcons (Dec. 29)
3. Denver Broncos (1)
The 11-game win streak ended against a red-hot Jaguars team, which sets up a potentially huge regular-season finale against the Los Angeles Chargers in NFL Week 18.
NFL Week 16: Lost to Jacksonville Jaguars, 34-20NFL Week 17: Christmas Day at Kansas City Chiefs (Dec. 25)2. New England Patriots (4)
The Patriots trailed the Ravens 24-13 with 12:50 left in the fourth quarter and scored 15 unanswered points to end the game, getting a Kyle Williams 37-yard touchdown reception from Drake Maye for a score, a 2-point conversion reception from Rhamondre Stevenson, and a 21-yard run from Stevenson for another score. That was an epic finish for New England, which didn’t want to drop a second straight game.
NFL Week 16: Beat Baltimore Ravens, 28-24NFL Week 17: Sunday at New York Jets (Dec. 28)1. Seattle Seahawks (3)
Seattle trailed Los Angeles with just over 8 minutes left in the fourth quarter, 30-14, and forced overtime, thanks to a Rashid Shaheed punt return, a Sam Darnold touchdown pass to AJ Barner and two two-point conversions. The Seahawks beat the Rams with a Darnold touchdown pass to Jaxson Smith-Njiga and another two-point conversion in overtime. Epic.
NFL Week 16: Beat Los Angeles Rams in overtime, 38-37NFL Week 17: Sunday vs Carolina Panthers (Dec. 28)
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