In a blowout game in Seattle, in Week 17 of a two-win season, the Detroit Lions decided to dig deep into the playbook.
With nothing to lose, it was the perfect time to dial up a pass play for Taylor Decker and give him a chance to score his second NFL touchdown. The big man sold a seal block, then bounced to the outside and showed off his soft hands for the six-yard score.
TAYLOR DECKER BIG MAN TD#OnePride @__taylordecker
— NFL (@NFL) January 2, 2022
: #DETvsSEA on FOX
: NFL app pic.twitter.com/oyl01PDoqV
Decker, who previously caught a touchdown pass in 2018, became the first offensive lineman in Lions history to score two career touchdowns.
Burrow and the Buckeye Bengals
Last week, Joe Burrow threw for a Cincinnati Bengals franchise record 525 yards. How did he follow up that historic performance? By completing 30 of 39 passing attempts for 446 yards and four touchdowns in a AFC North-clinching, 34-31 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs.
Burrow has 4,611 passing yards for the season, breaking Andy Dalton's franchise record of 4,293 yards in 2013. The one-time Buckeye quarterback has thrown for 971 yards and eight touchdowns over the last two games.
On the defensive side, Eli Apple had a few mistakes that almost proved costly for the Bengals. In the first half, he dropped an interception and the Chiefs took advantage by scoring after the miscue. It also appeared that Apple and Jessie Bates were not on the same page on Kansas City's first score of the game.
This is so close to perfect from Eli Apple. Baits the Cover 2 sideline shot from Mahomes with the little hesi to the flat and times it so well, just couldn't finish the catch pic.twitter.com/2Hwvk8FTUo
— Jake Liscow (@JakeLiscow) January 3, 2022
As the first half was coming to a close, Patrick Mahomes would have completed a 67-yard pass to Tyreke Hill had Vonn Bell not punched the ball out of Hill's hands. With the Chiefs leading 28-17, Bell's big play was a major factor in Cincinnati's victory.
— PFF CIN Bengals (@PFF_Bengals) January 2, 2022
How did Burrow and the Bengals celebrate their AFC North title? Smoking cigars and dancing, of course.
Live look at Joe Burrow and JaMarr Chase fantasy managerspic.twitter.com/ZgmupVk2I2
— PFF Fantasy Football (@PFF_Fantasy) January 2, 2022
Bosa bounces Lock
Think you can fool Joey Bosa on a trick play? Think again. Trailing 10-0 in the second quarter of Sunday's game, the Denver Broncos faced a 4th-and-goal from the 2-yard line. The Broncos' brass thought it was a good idea to run a reverse with a pass to quarterback Drew Lock.
Bosa sniffed out the trickery and laid Lock out just short of the goal line. The hard stop shook the Broncos' confidence, and they never recovered in the 34-13 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers.
Drew Lock intent la Broncos Special y fue detenido por Joey Bosa
— NFL Mxico (@nflmx) January 2, 2022
@FOXSportsMX#NFLMX #BroncosCountry pic.twitter.com/BszHe3V49H
Next week, the Chargers take on the Las Vegas Raiders in a matchup where the winner will go to the playoffs and the loser will likely watch from home. Adding more intrigue to the enormous game is the bad blood between Bosa and Derek Carr.
Week 18: Chargers (9-7) at Raiders (9-7).
— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) January 3, 2022
Winner to the playoffs.
The last time these two teams played, Joey Bosa had some words for Derek Carr pic.twitter.com/FKMf6NXKRC
Welcome back, Terry
Going into this week, Terry McLaurin had eight catches in the Washington Football Team’s last four games. Against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, McLaurin brought down six passes for 71 yards. He will need 40 yards in the season finale against the New York Giants to eclipse 1,000 yards for the second straight year.
Following the game, McLaurin demonstrated why he is a fan favorite on and off of the field.
The anti-Antonio Brown pic.twitter.com/XTTwJJdVZx
— Pete Hailey (@PeteHaileyNBCS) January 2, 2022
Sack for Baker
In a game with few highlights for the Miami Dolphins, Jerome Baker provided a bright spot with a 10-yard sack.
Un poco de muestra de poder!!!!
— Che, Delfin! (@che_delfin) January 2, 2022
Jerome Baker sackeando a Tanehill...
Hay vida despues de la muerte?
Veremos...#FinsUp #miamidolphins #GameDay #MIAvsTEN pic.twitter.com/bQKVhk8e8p
The 34-3 loss to the Tennessee Titans ended Miami's seven-game winning streak and also eliminated the Dolphins from the playoffs.
Fuller's first
Jordan Fuller intercepted his first pass of the season on Sunday. With the Los Angeles Rams trailing the Baltimore Ravens 10-0, Fuller's interception led to the Rams’ only points of the first half.
Underthrown and picked off by Jordan Fuller! @RamsNFL ball. #RamsHouse
— NFL (@NFL) January 2, 2022
: #LARvsBAL on FOX
: NFL app pic.twitter.com/jFYkonBGkb
Fuller's play was the spark the Rams needed in their 20-19 comeback victory.
| PLAYER | POS | TEAM | WEEK 17 STATS | SEASON STATS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ELI APPLE | CB | BENGALS | 3 tackles, 1 PBU | 48 tackles, 3 TFL, 2 INT, 10 PBU, 1 FR |
| DAMON ARNETTE | CB | DOLPHINS | Practice squad | 4 tackles, 1 PBU |
| JEROME BAKER | LB | DOLPHINS | 7 tackles, 1 sack (10 yards), 1 TFL, 1 QBH | 87 tackles, 5.5 sacks (52 yards), 9 TFL, 15 QBH, 1 INT, 2 PBU, 1 FF |
| VONN BELL | S | BENGALS | 5 tackles, 1 PBU | 97 tackles, 1 sack (12 yards), 5 TFL, 1 QBH, 1 INT, 8 PBU, 3 FF, 1 FR |
| JOEY BOSA | DE | CHARGERS | 6 tackles, 1 TFL | 48 tackles, 9.5 sacks (58 yards), 5 TFL, 20 QBH, 6 FF |
| NICK BOSA | DE | 49ERS | 1 tackle | 46 tackles, 15 sacks (118 yards), 19 TFL, 30 QBH, 1 PBU, 4 FF |
| NOAH BROWN | WR | COWBOYS | Played at WR | 14 catches, 157 yards |
| BARON BROWNING | LB | BRONCOS | COVID-19 | 53 tackles, 2 TFL, 1 QBH, 1 PBU |
| PARRIS CAMPBELL | WR | COLTS | IR (foot) | 10 catches, 162 yards, 1 TD |
| JONATHON COOPER | LB | BRONCOS | COVID-19 | 32 tackles, 2 sacks, 4 TFL, 5 QBH, 1 FR |
| WYATT DAVIS | OG | VIKINGS | Inactive | 6 games played |
| TAYLOR DECKER | OT | LIONS | Started at LT, 1 catch, 6 yards, 1 TD | 8 starts, 1 catch, 6 yards, 1 TD |
| J.K. DOBBINS | RB | RAVENS | IR (knee) | |
| NATE EBNER | DB | GIANTS | IR (knee) | 2 tackles |
| PAT ELFLEIN | C | PANTHERS | Started at C | 8 starts |
| EZEKIEL ELLIOTT | RB | COWBOYS | 9 carries, 16 yards; 1 catch, 14 yards | 219 rushes, 915 yards, 10 TD; 46 catches, 284 yards, 2 TDs |
| LUKE FARRELL | TE | JAGUARS | 1 catch, 7 yards | 7 catches, 56 yards |
| JUSTIN FIELDS | QB | BEARS | Inactive | 159/270 passing, 1,870 yards, 7 TD, 10 INT; 63 rushes, 346 yards, 1 TD |
| JORDAN FULLER | S | RAMS | 6 tackles, 1 INT, 1 PBU | 107 tackles, 2 TFL, 1 INT, 5 PBU |
| DaVON HAMILTON | DT | JAGUARS | 5 tackles | 40 tackles, 1 sack (12 yards), 2 TFL, 2 QBH, 2 PBU |
| JOHNATHAN HANKINS | DT | RAIDERS | Inactive | 36 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 QBH, 1 PBU |
| MALIK HARRISON | LB | RAVENS | Played on special teams | 22 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 QBH |
| DWAYNE HASKINS | QB | STEELERS | Inactive | |
| CAMERON HEYWARD | DT | STEELERS | 4 tackles, 1 sack, 2 QBH, 2 PBU | 83 tackles, 9.0 sacks (53.5 yards), 13 TFL, 16 QBH, 1 INT, 9 PBU, 1 FF, 1 FR |
| JUSTIN HILLIARD | LB | GIANTS | IR (ankle) | 2 games played |
| JALYN HOLMES | DE | SAINTS | Played at DE | 14 tackles, 2 TFL, 1 PBU |
| MALIK HOOKER | S | COWBOYS | 3 tackles | 35 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 INT, 2 PBU |
| SAM HUBBARD | DE | BENGALS | 5 tackles | 61 tackles, 7.5 sacks (32.0 yards), 11 TFL, 16 QBH, 3 PBU, 1 FF, 2 FR |
| CARLOS HYDE | RB | JAGUARS | IR (concussion) | 72 rushes, 253 yards, 1 TD; 12 catches, 65 yards |
| JONAH JACKSON | OG | LIONS | Start at LG | 15 starts |
| MALCOLM JENKINS | S | SAINTS | 6 tackles, 1 TFL | 72 tackles, 2 TFL, 1 QBH, 1 INT, 5 PBU, 1 TD |
| CAMERON JOHNSTON | P | TEXANS | 7 punts, 46.9 avg, 1 inside 20 | 83 punts, 46.9 avg, 33 inside 20 |
| DRE'MONT JONES | DT | BRONCOS | 1 QBH | 30 tackles, 5.5 sacks (37.5 yards), 9 TFL, 11 QBH, 2 PBU, 2 FF, 1 FR |
| JAMARCO JONES | OT | SEAHAWKS | IR (back) | 1 start, 7 games played |
| MICHAEL JORDAN | OG | PANTHERS | Started at LG | 9 starts, 9 games played |
| MARSHON LATTIMORE | CB | SAINTS | 4 tackles | 64 tackles, 3 INT, 18 PBU, 1 FR |
| TYQUAN LEWIS | DT | COLTS | IR (knee) | 15 tackles, 2.5 sacks (3.5 yards), 3 TFL, 6 QBH, 1 INT, 2 PBU |
| COREY LINSLEY | C | CHARGERS | Started at C | 15 starts |
| TERRY McLAURIN | WR | WASHINGTON | 7 receptions, 61 yards | 73 catches, 960 yards, 5 TD |
| RAEKWON McMILLAN | LB | PATRIOTS | IR (knee) | |
| JAKE McQUAIDE | LS | COWBOYS | Played at LS | 1 tackle |
| JOSH MYERS | C | PACKERS | IR (knee) | 5 starts |
| ANDREW NORWELL | OL | JAGUARS | Started at LG | 15 starts |
| JEFF OKUDAH | CB | LIONS | IR (leg) | 4 tackles, 1 PBU |
| BILLY PRICE | C | GIANTS | Inactive | 14 starts |
| ISAIAH PRINCE | OT | BENGALS | Started at RT | 3 starts, 13 games played |
| BRADLEY ROBY | CB | SAINTS | Inactive | 21 tackles, 1 sack (7 yards), 2 TFL, 3 QBH, 1 INT, 5 PBU |
| CURTIS SAMUEL | WR | WASHINGTON | Inactive | 5 catches, 18 yards, 2 rushes, -1 yard |
| TREY SERMON | RB | 49ERS | IR (ankle) | 31 rushes, 136 yards; 1 catch, 23 yards; 1 FC, 2 tackles |
| KENDALL SHEFFIELD | CB | FALCONS | 4 tackles | 4 tackles |
| MICHAEL THOMAS | WR | SAINTS | PUP (ankle) | |
| TOMMY TOGIAI | DT | BROWNS | 5 tackles | 13 tackles, 0.5 sack, 1 QBH, 1 PBU |
| NICK VANNETT | TE | SAINTS | COVID-19 | 8 catches, 123 yards, 1 TD |
| SHAUN WADE | CB | PATRIOTS | Inactive | 3 games played |
| DENZEL WARD | CB | BROWNS | 3 tackles, 1 TFL | 41 tackles, 0.5 sack (2 yards), 1 TFL, 2 QBH, 2 INT, 10 PBU, 1 TD |
| PETE WERNER | LB | SAINTS | 2 tackles | 53 tackles, 4 TFL, 1 QBH |
| CHASE YOUNG | DE | WASHINGTON | IR (knee) | 26 tackles, 2 sacks (7 yards), 4 TFL, 4 QBH, 1 PBU, 2 FF |
