NFL Overreactions Week 17
USAT’s Prince Grimes breaks down the best games of NFL Week 17 and the unfolding playoff picture.
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It’s hard to put together lengthy win streaks in today’s NFL.
That hasn’t stopped several NFL teams from compiling some impressive wins in a row entering the final week of the NFL regular season, NFL Week 18.
Six teams have won at least four straight games after NFL Week 17: the Houston Texans (8), Jacksonville Jaguars (7), Seattle Seahawks (6), San Francisco 49ers (6), Minnesota Vikings (4) and New Orleans Saints (4).
Four of those six teams will be in the NFL playoffs, so those teams could be in line to carry some serious momentum into the NFL postseason.
Check out how we rank all 32 teams after the NFL Week 17 schedule, with the Los Angeles Rams set to play the Atlanta Falcons on Monday Night Football on Dec. 29. Previous ranking in parentheses.
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The Raiders fell to 2-14 with the loss to the Giants, but was it really a win for Las Vegas? Pete Carroll’s team is in position to have the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
31. New York Jets (30)
New York (3-13) has now lost four straight games. One bright spot? Breece Hall rushed for 111 yards and a touchdown on 14 carries.
NFL Week 17: Lost to New England Patriots, 42-10NFL Week 18: Sunday at Buffalo Bills (Jan. 4)30. Arizona Cardinals (29)
Arizona has lost eight in a row to fall to 3-13. Earlier in the season, we heard a lot about the culture Jonathan Gannon was building with the Cardinals. We just see a lot of losing.
NFL Week 17: Lost to Cincinnati Bengals, 37-14NFL Week 18: Sunday at Los Angeles Rams (Jan. 4)29. Tennessee Titans (28)
Tennessee went just 1-8 at home this season. Cam Ward was just 21-for-40 passing in the loss to the Saints, which dropped the Titans to 3-13.
NFL Week 17: Lost to New Orleans Saints, 34-26NFL Week 18: Sunday at Jacksonville Jaguars (Jan. 4)28. New York Giants (31)
The Giants have a lot of issues, but QB is not one of them. Jaxson Dart went 22-for-30 for 207 yards in the win against the Raiders, showing a lot of hope for the future for New York.
NFL Week 17: Beat Las Vegas Raiders, 34-10NFL Week 18: Sunday vs Dallas Cowboys (Jan. 4)27. Washington Commanders (26)
The Commanders are now just 4-12, having gone 2-6 as the home team this season and 2-6 as the road team. Hey, at least they are consistent.
Shedeur Sanders and the 4-12 Browns spoiled the Steelers’ chance to clinch the AFC North as the QB went 17-for-23 for 186 yards, with one touchdown pass and two passes intercepted. Does he deserve to be Cleveland’s QB next season?
NFL Week 17: Beat Pittsburgh Steelers, 13-6NFL Week 18: Sunday at Cincinnati Bengals (Jan. 4)25. Kansas City Chiefs (25)
The Chiefs are now 6-10 this season, but have interestingly outscored their opponents 350-314. They have lost five straight games. Who saw that coming?
NFL Week 17: Lost to Denver Broncos, 20-13NFL Week 18: Sunday at Las Vegas Raiders (Jan. 4)24. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (19)
The Buccaneers are 7-9 and have lost four straight games, but they can still win the NFC South and make the NFL playoffs with a win over the Panthers in NFL Week 18.
NFL Week 17: Lost to Miami Dolphins, 20-17NFL Week 18: Sunday vs Carolina Panthers (Jan. 4)23. Cincinnati Bengals (23)
The Bengals are 6-10 after demolishing the Cardinals, but Joe Burrow’s future with the team hangs over the franchise.
NFL Week 17: Beat Arizona Cardinals, 37-14NFL Week 18: Sunday vs Cleveland Browns22. Miami Dolphins (24)
Who will be Miami’s QB next season? Quinn Ewers went 14-for-22 for 172 yards in the win for the 7-9 Dolphins, throwing two touchdown passes.
NFL Week 17: Beat Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 20-17NFL Week 18: Sunday at New England Patriots (Jan. 4)21. New Orleans Saints (21)
The Saints may just be 6-10 on the season, but they have won four straight games. Tyler Shough continues to impress. He was 22-for-27 for 333 yards, with two touchdown passes in the win.
NFL Week 17: Beat Tennessee Titans, 34-26NFL Week 18: Sunday at Atlanta Falcons (Jan. 4)20. Atlanta Falcons (20)
The 6-9 Falcons have looked good in two straight wins, but a win over the Los Angeles Rams would look really good.
NFL Week 17: Monday Night Football vs Los Angeles Rams (Dec. 29)NFL Week 18: Sunday vs New Orleans Saints (Jan. 4)19. Dallas Cowboys (22)
The Cowboys’ offense is one of the best in the NFL, having scored 454 points this season, but its defense has allowed a whopping 477 points. Ouch. Dallas is now 7-8-1.
NFL Week 17: Beat Washington Commanders, 30-23NFL Week 18: Sunday at New York Giants (Jan. 4)18. Indianapolis Colts (16)
The Colts have lost six straight games to fall to 8-8 on the season, which has to be tough for Indianapolis fans. Philip Rivers was 17-for-30 for 147 yards, with one touchdown pass and one pass intercepted in the loss.
NFL Week 17: Lost to Jacksonville Jaguars, 23-17NFL Week 18: Sunday at Houston Texans (Jan. 4)17. Detroit Lions (15)
Jared Goff had two passes intercepted and lost three fumbles against the Vikings in a must-win game for Detroit, which is now just 8-8. Yikes.
NFL Week 17: Lost to Minnesota Vikings, 23-10NFL Week 18: Sunday at Chicago Bears (Jan. 4)16. Carolina Panthers (14)
The Panthers are 8-8 after their loss to the Seahawks. They have to beat the Buccaneers in NFL Week 18 to win the NFC South and make the NFL playoffs.
NFL Week 17: Lost to Seattle Seahawks, 27-10NFL Week 18: Sunday at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Jan. 4)15. Minnesota Vikings (17)
The Vikings have now won four straight to improve to 8-8 on the season. They beat the Lions despite Max Brosmer going just 9-for-16 for 51 yards, filling in for J.J. McCarthy.
NFL Week 17: Beat Detroit Lions, 23-10NFL Week 18: Sunday vs Green Bay Packers (Jan. 4)
Derrick Henry carried the ball 36 times for 216 yards and four touchdowns against the Packers — all without Lamar Jackson. That will do. Baltimore is now 8-8.
NFL Week 17: Beat Green Bay Packers, 41-24NFL Week 18: Sunday at Pittsburgh Steelers (Jan. 4)13. Pittsburgh Steelers (13)
What was that, Pittsburgh? The Steelers (9-7) blew a chance to clinch AFC North in the loss to Cleveland, and now must beat the Ravens in NFL Week 18 to make the NFL playoffs.
NFL Week 17: Lost to Cleveland Browns, 13-6NFL Week 18: Sunday vs Baltimore Ravens (Jan. 4)12. Green Bay Packers (12)
Malik Willis was 18-for-21 for 288 yards and a touchdown, while rushing nine times for 60 yards and two scores against the Ravens, before exiting with an injury, but Green Bay lost its third straight game to fall to 9-6-1.
NFL Week 17: Lost to Baltimore Ravens, 41-24NFL Week 18: Sunday at Minnesota Vikings (Jan. 4)11. Los Angeles Chargers (9)
The Chargers’ 4-game win streak was snapped in a game that saw Cameron Dicker miss a 32-yard field goal and an extra point. It was the first time Dicker missed two kicks in a game in his career. Los Angeles is now 11-5.
NFL Week 17: Lost to Houston Texans, 20-16NFL Week 18: Sunday at Denver Broncos (Jan. 4)10. Buffalo Bills (8)
The Bills are now 11-5 after the loss to the Eagles, which ended their 4-game win streak. Is this team still a contender for the AFC title?
NFL Week 17: Lost to Philadelphia Eagles, 13-12NFL Week 18: Sunday vs New York Jets (Jan. 4)9. Philadelphia Eagles (11)
The Eagles are now 11-5 after winning their third straight game. We can’t forget that they are the defending Super Bowl champions, but they have a tough road to repeat.
NFL Week 17: Beat Buffalo Bills, 13-12NFL Week 18: Sunday vs Washington Commanders (Jan. 4)8. Houston Texans (10)
The 11-5 Texans started the season 0-3. They are 11-2 since and have won eight straight games. Houston’s defense could make it a very difficult out in the NFL playoffs.
NFL Week 17: Beat Los Angeles Chargers, 20-16NFL Week 18: Sunday vs Indianapolis Colts (Jan. 4)7. Chicago Bears (6)
This Chicago team was inches away from getting a huge win over the 49ers. Still, the Bears are 11-5 and appear like they could do some damage in the NFC playoffs.
NFL Week 17: Lost to San Francisco 49ers, 42-38NFL Week 18: Sunday vs Detroit Lions (Jan. 4)6. San Francisco 49ers (7)
Brock Purdy passed for three touchdowns and ran for another two in a thrilling win for the 49ers, who are now 12-4. A win over the Seahawks in Week 18 would give the 49ers the No. 1 seed in the NFC playoffs.
NFL Week 17: Beat Chicago Bears, 42-38NFL Week 18: Sunday vs Seattle Seahawks (Jan. 4)5. Jacksonville Jaguars (5)
The Jaguars are 12-4. They have won seven straight games. Is Liam Coen the NFL Coach of the Year?
NFL Week 17: Beat Indianapolis Colts, 23-17NFL Week 18: Sunday vs Tennessee Titans (Jan. 4)4. Los Angeles Rams (4)
The 11-4 Rams are 6-1 at SoFi Stadium this season, where they get to play their final two games in the regular season.
NFL Week 17: Monday Night Football vs Atlanta Falcons (Dec. 29)NFL Week 18: Sunday vs Arizona Cardinals (Jan. 4)
3. Denver Broncos (3)
Denver, at 13-3, has clinched the AFC West. They will clinch the No. 1 seed in the AFC with a win in NFL Week 18. Look out if that happens. The Broncos are an NFL-best 7-1 at home this season.
NFL Week 17: Beat Kansas City Chiefs, 20-13NFL Week 18: Sunday vs Los Angeles Chargers (Jan. 4)2. New England Patriots (2)
Drake Maye was 19-for-21 for 256 yards and five touchdown passes in the win over the Jets. Should he be the NFL MVP? New England is now 13-3.
NFL Week 17: Beat New York Jets, 42-10NFL Week 18: Sunday vs Miami Dolphins (Jan. 4)1. Seattle Seahawks (1)
The Seahawks are now 13-3 on the season and still in position to be the No. 1 seed in the NFC playoffs. Who saw that coming? Mike Macdonald could be the NFL Coach of the Year, too.
NFL Week 17: Beat Carolina Panthers, 27-10NFL Week 18: Sunday at San Francisco 49ers (Jan. 4)
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