The Chicago Bears and Denver Broncos won NFL division titles and the Indianapolis Colts were eliminated from playoff contention on Saturday without taking the field.
In the nightcap of the NFL’s Saturday doubleheader, Derrick Henry took sole possession of the league record for 200-yard rushing games in running the Baltimore Ravens to a 41-24 victory over Green Bay Packers.
The Packers’ loss locked up the NFC North title for the Chicago Bears. While Green Bay already had secured a postseason spot, Baltimore kept its season alive at least for another day. If the Pittsburgh Steelers defeat the Cleveland Browns on Sunday, Baltimore cannot reach the playoffs. But if the Browns win, the Ravens and Steelers will play on the final Sunday of the regular season to decide the AFC North winner.
The Houston Texans’ 20-16 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers secured a spot in the AFC playoffs for the winners, ended the losers’ chance of catching the Broncos in the AFC West and eliminated the Colts from playoff contention.
In Saturday’s second game, Henry ran for 216 yards and four touchdowns on a career-high 36 carries. The former Alabama All-American recorded the seventh 200-yard rushing game of his career, which moved him past Adrian Peterson and O.J. Simpson, who had six apiece, for the most in NFL history.
Henry scored on runs of 3 yards as Baltimore took a 7-0 lead with 6:55 left in the first quarter, 1 yard as the Ravens took a 14-7 lead with 13:13 left in the first half, 3 yards as Baltimore went up 27-14 with 10 seconds left in the first half and 25 yards as the Ravens set the final margin with 1:56 remaining.
In Saturday’s opening game, Houston’s first two possessions ended with touchdown passes to rookie wide receivers by quarterback C.J. Stroud – 75 yards to Jayden Higgins and 43 yards to Jaylin Noel.
The Texans held on for their eighth consecutive victory from there as the Chargers’ Cameron Dicker, the most accurate field-goal kicker in NFL history, missed for the first time in his career on a field-goal attempt of fewer than 40 yards by going wide right from 32 yards, then missed the extra-point kick after Los Angeles scored with 3:37 remaining.
In addition to Henry, 20 other players from Alabama high schools and colleges got on the field during the NFL’s Saturday doubleheader:
Houston Texans defensive end Will Anderson Jr. takes down Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert during an NFL game on Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025, at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif.(AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)
Houston Texans 20, Los Angeles Chargers 16
Will Anderson Jr. (Alabama) started at defensive end for the Texans. Anderson made three tackles, shared one sack and recorded two tackles for loss. Anderson has 12 sacks this season. Jake Andrews (Stanhope Elmore, Troy) started at center for the Texans.Bradley Bozeman (Handley, Alabama) started at center for the Chargers.Nico Collins (Clay-Chalkville) started at wide receiver for the Texans. Collins had three receptions for 57 yards. Collins had a 19-yard reception on Houston’s final possession as the Texans ran out the final 3:37 on their victory.Texans defensive tackle Marlon Davidson (Greenville, Auburn) is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.Texans wide receiver Tank Dell (Alabama A&M) is on the physically-unable-to-perform list and not eligible to play.Chargers defensive tackle Justin Eboigbe (Alabama) made two tackles.Da’Shawn Hand (Alabama) started at defensive tackle for the Chargers. Hand made two tackles and knocked down one pass.Texans linebacker Christian Harris (Alabama) did not record any stats.Chargers long snapper Josh Harris (Auburn) handled the snap for seven punts, two field-goal attempts and two extra-point kicks.Chargers running back Najee Harris (Alabama) is on injured reserve and not eligible to play.Tytus Howard (Monroe County, Alabama State) started at right offensive tackle for the Texans. Howard returned to right tackle after starting the previous five games at left guard. This was his eighth start of the season at right tackle. Howard also has started two games at right guard in 2025.Chargers wide receiver KeAndre Lambert-Smith (Auburn) returned a kickoff 25 yards.Kamari Lassiter (American Christian) started at cornerback for the Texans. Lassiter made six tackles and broke up one pass even though he left the field for the locker room in the second quarter. After being down on the field, Lassiter was treated for a knee injury in the locker room and returned to the game in the second half.Chargers cornerback Jordan Oladokun (Samford) is on injured reserve and not eligible to play.Chargers punter JK Scott (Alabama) averaged 39.0 yards on seven punts, with a 38.4-yard net. Scott had a 41-yard punt downed at the Houston 28-yard line, a 44-yarder returned 4 yards to the Houston 21, a 49-yarder for a fair catch at the Houston 27 (and moved back to the 17 by a holding penalty), a 39-yarder for a fair catch at the Houston 46 (and moved back to the 36 by a holding penalty), a 44-yarder for a fair catch at the Houston 15, a 22-yarder out of bounds at the Los Angeles 47 and a 34-yarder out of bounds at the Houston 45.Texans cornerback Tremon Smith (Saks) made four tackles and returned two kickoffs for 37 yards.Henry To’oTo’o (Alabama) started at linebacker for the Texans. To’oTo’o led Houston with a season-high 12 tackles and recorded one tackle for loss.Chargers running back Kimani Vidal (Troy) was designated as a game-day inactive. A neck injury kept Vidal out of the lineup. Texans safety Jimmie Ward (Davidson) is on reserve/physically unable to perform and not eligible to play.
Houston (11-5) will close its regular-season schedule against the Colts on Jan. 4 at NRG Stadium in Houston.
Los Angeles (11-5) faces the Broncos on Jan. 4 at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver before moving on to the AFC playoffs as a wild-card qualifier.
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Baltimore Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey intercepts a pass during an NFL game against the Green Bay Packers on Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis.(AP Photo/Mike Roemer)
Baltimore Ravens 41, Green Bay Packers 24
Marlon Humphrey (Hoover, Alabama) started at cornerback for the Ravens. Humphrey made three tackles and intercepted one pass. Humphrey picked off Green Bay quarterback Clayton Tune on a tipped pass with 6:56 to play and returned it 6 yards to the Baltimore 32-yard line. The takeaway set up a touchdown to set the final score with 1:56 to play. Humphrey’s fourth interception of the season was the 23rd of his career. He’s tied for fourth among Alabama alumni with Mark McMillan in NFL interceptions.Josh Jacobs (Alabama) started at running back for the Packers. Jacobs ran for 3 yards on four carries and caught one pass for no gain.Xavier McKinney (Alabama) started at safety for the Packers. McKinney led Green Bay with 13 tackles to equal his career high. Packers safety Jaylin Simpson (Auburn) is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.Ravens offensive tackle Carson Vinson (Alabama A&M) did not record any stats.Malik Willis (Auburn) started at quarterback for the Packers. In his first start of the 2025 season, Willis completed 18-of-21 passes for 288 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions and ran for 60 yards and two touchdowns on nine carries. Willis became the first player in NFL history with at least 275 passing yards, 50 rushing yards, two rushing touchdowns, one passing touchdown and an 85 percent completion rate in the same game. Willis threw a 39-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Christian Watson as Green Bay tied the game 7-7 with 5:44 left in the first quarter and ran 22 yards for a touchdown as the Packers cut Baltimore’s lead to 20-14 with 1:24 left in the first half and 11 yards for a touchdown as Green Bay reduced the margin to 27-24 with 2:02 left in the third quarter. Playing with an injured throwing shoulder, Willis left the game for the locker room with 7:53 to play, and while he returned to the sidelines, he did not go back into the game.Colby Wooden (Auburn) started at defensive tackle for the Packers. Wooden equaled his career high with six tackles.
In its regular-season finale, Green Bay (9-6-1) plays the Minnesota Vikings on Jan. 4 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis
Baltimore (8-8) plays the Steelers on Jan. 4 at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh.