Week 16 of the 2025 NFL season continued the thread of expecting the unexpected, as results around the league again churned the playoff picture.

The penultimate penultimate weekend gave us a modern classic between the Los Angeles Rams and Seattle Seahawks, big wins for the surging San Francisco 49ers and under-the-radar Jacksonville Jaguars, as well as another disappointing showing for the flailing Tampa Bay Buccaneers, while the Pittsburgh Steelers and New England Patriots enjoyed results that deserve a share of the headlines.

 

WEEK 16 SCORES
(to Tuesday 23rd December)

Thursday

(11-4) Los Angeles Rams 37 @ 38 Seattle Seahawks (12-3) OT

Saturday:

(10-5) Philadelphia Eagles 29 @ 18 Washington Commanders (4-11)

(9-5-1) Green Bay Packers 16 @ 22 Chicago Bears (11-4) OT

Sunday:

(11-4) Los Angeles Chargers 34 @ 17 Dallas Cowboys (6-8-1)

(7-8) Minnesota Vikings 16 @ 13 New York Giants (2-13)

(5-10) Cincinnati Bengals 45 @ 21 Miami Dolphins (6-9)

(7-8) Tampa Bay Buccaneers 20 @ 23 Carolina Panthers (8-7)

(3-12) New York Jets 6 @ 29 New Orleans Saints (5-10)

(3-12) Cleveland Browns 20 @ 23 Buffalo Bills (11-4)

(6-9) Kansas City Chiefs 9 @ 26 Tennessee Titans (3-12)

(11-4) Jacksonville Jaguars 34 @ 20 Denver Broncos (12-3)

(6-9) Atlanta Falcons 26 @ 19 Arizona Cardinals (3-12)

(2-13) Las Vegas Raiders 21 @ 23 Houston Texans (10-5)

(9-6) Pittsburgh Steelers 29 @ 24 Detroit Lions (8-7)

(12-3) New England Patriots 28 @ 24 Baltimore Ravens (7-8)

Monday:

(11-4) San Francisco 49ers 48 @ 27 Indianapolis Colts (8-7)

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GAME OF THE WEEK

Los Angeles Rams 37 @ 38 Seattle Seahawks OT

Now more than four days removed from this titanic Thursday night showdown, we can say with almost certainty that it was the best game of the 2025 season, bar none.

It had everything: Buckets of yards, standout individual performances from superstar receivers, a walk-off two-point conversion and even some refereeing controversy.

Let’s start with that contentious call. With the scores at 30-22 and just 6:23 left on the clock in the fourth quarter, the Seahawks cut the Rams’ lead to just two points when Sam Darnold found A.J. Barner on a corner route in the visitors’ end zone. Needing to convert to tie the scores, the Seahawks opted to hit Zach Charbonnet on a screen play to the left. As Darnold fell away on a short drop, his pass was initially deemed to have gone forward, presumably icing the play after a deflection by a Rams pass rusher rendered it uncatchable. However, Charbonnet idly reclaimed the ball in the end zone as the other athletes sauntered off the field. A lengthy video review resulted in an overturned call, however, with Charbonnet adjudged to have recovered a live ball, forcing the game to overtime.

It is as contentious a decision as you will likely see in such a big spot. To my mind, the evidence to suggest Darnold’s pass definitively travelled backwards or laterally, especially as he was moving backwards as he threw, was insufficient to overturn the call. However, it did give us more brilliance to watch.

The Rams will not only be lamenting the zebras’ interventions, but also their inability to ice out the game. L.A. held a 16-point lead early in the final period. Rashid Shaheed’s punt return for a touchdown proved a turning point, with the Seahawks tying scores a little over two minutes later. Sean McVay’s side outgained their NFC West rivals by 581 offensive yards to 415 on the day, while almost doubling their output in the passing game alone. So crucial was Shaheed’s play in turning the momentum, that the Rams organisation fired special teams coordinator Chase Blackburn over the weekend.

In their previous outing, the Seahawks were unable to overcome Darnold’s interceptions in an all-out defensive display and, for three quarters, it seemed the ex-Panthers and Jets bust’s failures would again be the headline. However, he overcame two early interceptions to produce in the crunch moments, capping a statement win with a third two-point conversion in overtime. Seattle now holds pole position in the race for the NFC’s number one seed.

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MVP OF THE WEEK

Brock Purdy (QB, San Francisco 49ers)

If the Seahawks are to hold onto that mantle, they will have to rebuff the advances of another NFC West foe. The San Francisco 49ers reminded everyone of their Super Bowl credentials with a thumping 48-27 victory over the Indianapolis Colts on Monday night.

That victory was powered by a suite of offensive stars living up to their respective billing. Christian McCaffrey rushed 21 times for 117 yards and caught six passes for 29 yards and two scores. George Kittle had seven receptions for 115 yards and one TD. But it was the quarterback that enjoyed a career day. Brock Purdy completed 25 of his 34 passes for five scores and a pick, finally silencing any questions over his position in light of his recent injuries and Mac Jones’ steady performance in his absence.

“When you’re in that huddle, it’s only one voice speaking,” 49ers veteran left tackle Trent Williams said of Purdy. “You’ve got 10 grown men staring at you and you can’t fool grown men. The confidence that he has in that huddle … from A to Z, he does it at a really high level. I say it all the time. He’s a godsend.”

Kyle Shanahan said Purdy was ‘close to perfect’ in the win, as he operated the coach’s offense with the kind of metronomic precision that garnered him a massive contract extension last off-season. Purdy will need to retain that high level of play if the Niners are to force their way into the one seed, as they finish their 2025 regular season against the top two sides in the conference, hosting Chicago and Seattle in two mouthwatering clashes.

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Winner: The Jacksonville Jaguars

Over the past few weeks, the Jacksonville Jaguars have leant into the narrative that they have been overlooked by the media. While I doubt they’ll be posting this column on their bulletin boards for inspiration, we’re just as guilty in overlooking Liam Coen’s surging team from Duval County.

Well, after a resounding 34-20 win over the Denver Broncos at Mile High, we simply have to give the Jags their flowers.

Jacksonville were outstanding in crunch situations against a top-three defense, converting eight of their 15 third downs and scoring touchdowns on four of their five trips to the red zone. With Brian Thomas Jr shadowed by the reigning defensive player of the year Patrick Surtain II, Parker Washington stood up, chipping in with 145 receiving yards, 91 of which came after the catch. Even when the Broncos managed to hit Trevor Lawrence, he minimised the damage, with three of the hosts’ five sacks resulting in losses of just one yard.

Minimising negative plays and nailing those key moments was enough for the Jags to overcome the hoodoo that Sean Payton’s side have laid on most of their foes this term. Denver actually outgained their opposition by almost 100 yards on the day; however Bo Nix’s unit was worse on third downs (converting five of 14) and scoring on just one of their red zone trips. Denver can still clinch the #1 seed if they beat an ailing Kansas City on Christmas Day, and other results go their way, but the Jags have proven Payton’s side are far from infallible, even with homefield advantage.

 

Loser: Baker Mayfield

Cast your mind back to Week 6. The 5-1 Tampa Bay Buccaneers are riding Baker Mayfield’s hot hand in the passing game, and his scarcely believable scrambles to Super Bowl contention. Chants of MVP rain down on the former first overall pick from the stands of Raymond James Stadium during the franchise’s 30-19 win over the San Francisco 49ers. What could possibly go wrong?

Sunday’s 23-20 loss to the Panthers on Sunday dropped Tampa Bay to a 7-8 record, allowing Carolina to leapfrog them into first place in the moribund NFC South. Yes, injuries to skill players have slowed their momentum offensively, but this malaise goes way deeper than that.

Since Week 7, Mayfield ranks 30th in the NFL in EPA per dropback and 31st in dropback success rate. He has a worse average yards per dropback than Cam Ward and Geno Smith over that span. Baker is playing like one of the worst signal callers in the league since his early season heroism.

His game-ending interception in Charlotte came off the back of a miscommunication with Mike Evans. While it wasn’t a horrendous play, it encapsulated a disjointed display from a once surging offense that has badly lost its way in the second half of the season. Mayfield and the Bucs should have enough offensive power to overcome the Quinn Ewers-led Miami Dolphins in Week 17, setting up a showdown for the division crown in their season-ending home rematch against the Panthers.

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THE ROUND UP

The playoffs are taking shape. Five teams in the NFC have clinched: the Seahawks, Bears, Rams, 49ers and Philadelphia Eagles, while the Broncos and Patriots have booked their ticket in the AFC, along with the Jaguars, Los Angeles Chargers and Buffalo Bills, who all profited from the Colts’ loss on MNF.

The Pittsburgh Steelers look nailed on to win another AFC North crown after their victory in Detroit, and the Baltimore Ravens’ loss to the Patriots. However, that victory was not without controversy. D.K. Metcalf will face a two-game ban to close the regular season after he struck a Lions fan during a heated conversation on the sideline. The Steelers wide receiver told former NFL star Chad Johnson that the fan called him a racial slur and also abused his mother.

The Kansas City Chiefs season took another ignominious turn on Sunday, as Andy Reid’s side fell to a 26-9 loss to the Tennessee Titans. Patrick Mahomes’ back-up, Gardner Minshew, succumbed to what initially appeared to be an ACL injury of his own, but was subsequently diagnosed as a ‘non-displaced tibial plateau fracture’ forcing long-term practice squad member Chris Oladokun into the game. The former seventh-round pick will start against the Broncos on Christmas Day; the latest blow to what should have been a marquee matchup in the league’s attempt to make the holiday another landmark event in the football calendar.

Drake Maye overcame a shaky start in Baltimore to lead the Patriots to a 28-24 victory over the Ravens. The second year starter twice turned the ball over in opposition territory to start the game and, with the Pats defense also struggling to contain Derrick Henry and Lamar Jackson, it appeared the chastening defeat to the Bills in Week 15 had brought the Pats down to earth. However, Maye’s first 300-yard performance of his career was highlighted by multiple clutch conversions on fourth down.

A few weeks ago, we asked whether the Bears-Packers rivalry was finally about to deliver. We got our answer on Saturday night. Chicago’s 22-16 overtime win came via a walk-off touchdown bomb from Caleb Williams to D.J. Moore. The pass travelled more than 59 yards in the air, further proof of the Bears quarterback’s natural talents. If he can continue this form, Chicago will be a tricky out in the playoffs. Based on current seedings, they would face off against Green Bay for a third time in the Wildcard Round.

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STATS OF THE WEEK

• Trevor Lawrence is playing at an MVP level right now. The Jags’ franchise quarterback has thrown for 10 touchdowns and no picks over his past two games. The only other players in NFL history to match that pace were Josh Allen (2024 MVP season), Drew Brees (2019) and Patrick Mahomes (2018 MVP season). Lawrence also became just the third quarterback since 1970 to throw for at least three scores, rush for a touchdown and avoid throwing a pick in back-to-back games. Joe Montana achieved the feat during his MVP season in 1989, while Joe Burrow matched it in 2022.

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