Week 16’s outcomes have clarified the playoff landscape, with the Chargers, Bengals, Bills, Jaguars, and Steelers all securing key victories, while the Giants, Bucs, Falcons, Texans, and others fell short.
Chargers vs Cowboys
In the early window, the Los Angeles Chargers dismantled the Dallas Cowboys 34-17 at AT&T Stadium.
Justin Herbert finished with 300 passing yards, three total touchdowns, and 23 of 29 completions.
Herbert also generated +23.9 EPA across 33 dropbacks, the second-most for any quarterback this season.
> “Justin Herbert generated +23.9 EPA across his 33 dropbacks against Dallas, the 2nd-most by any quarterback in a game this season and his 2nd-most of his career. Herbert completed 9 of 11 passes under pressure for 108 yards and a touchdown and was not sacked.#LACvsDAL | #BoltUp pic.twitter.com/pKBmC2I67Q- Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) December 21, 2025”
The victory pushes Los Angeles to 11-4, while Dallas falls to 6-8-1, tightening the NFC South race.
Giants vs Vikings
The New York Giants lost at home to the Minnesota Vikings 16-13 in a game featuring two already-eliminated teams.
JJ McCarthy threw for 108 yards, nine of fourteen completions, and a pick before exiting with an injury.
Justin Jefferson recorded 85 receiving yards, while rookie Jaxson Dart completed only seven of thirteen passes for 33 yards and a pick.
The Giants’ record now sits at 2-13, keeping them atop the NFL draft order.
The loss confirms that last season’s NFC top seed may not even make the playoffs this year.
Bengals vs Dolphins
The Cincinnati Bengals routed the Miami Dolphins 45-21 after a third-quarter surge.
Joe Burrow finished with 309 yards, four touchdowns, and 25 of 32 completions.
Miami’s rookie Quinn Ewers threw 260 yards, two picks, and 20 of 30 completions in his first start.
The win keeps the Bengals in contention for the AFC South lead.
The victory adds momentum for the Bengals as the playoff picture sharpens.
Buccaneers vs Panthers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers faced the Carolina Panthers in a battle for the NFC South lead.
Baker Mayfield’s 145 yards, one touchdown, and a pick on 18 of 26 completions sealed a 23-20 defeat.
Bryce Young threw 191 yards, two touchdowns, and 21 of 32 completions for the Panthers.
Carolina now leads the division at 8-7, while the Bucs remain in the race.
The narrow loss underscores the competitive nature of the NFC South.
Saints vs Jets
The New Orleans Saints continued their late-season surge with a 29-6 home win over the New York Jets.
Rookie Tyler Shough passed for 308 yards, one touchdown, and 32 of 49 completions.
The Saints’ offense relied heavily on Shough, as the running game was nonexistent.
Shough’s performance suggests he is worth more reps as QB1 for at least another season.
The victory keeps the Saints in a strong position heading into the final weeks.
Chiefs vs Titans
Kansas City fell to the Tennessee Titans 26-9, dropping to 6-9 on the season.
Backup Gardner Minshew suffered an early injury, and 28-year-old Chris Oladokun finished the game.
The loss may benefit the Chiefs by improving their draft position.
Tennessee, now 3-12, moves slightly away from the No. 1 pick battle.
The result adds to the tight race for the AFC’s top seed.
Bills vs Cleveland
The Buffalo Bills survived a close game in Cleveland, winning 23-20 to reach an 11-4 record.
Josh Allen played through an injury while James Cook contributed to the victory.
Shedeur Sanders threw 157 yards, one touchdown, and two picks on 20 of 29 completions.
Myles Garrett recorded half a sack, inching closer to the single-season record with two games left.
The win keeps the Bills in a strong playoff position.
Jaguars vs Broncos
The Jacksonville Jaguars defeated the Denver Broncos 34-20 to reach an 11-4 record.
Trevor Lawrence threw 279 yards, three touchdowns, and 23 of 36 completions.
Bo Nix finished with 352 yards, one touchdown, and a pick on 28 of 47 completions.
The Jaguars’ win keeps them in the race for the AFC’s No. 1 seed, alongside the Patriots at 11-3.
> “In today’s win, @Trevorlawrence completed 23-of-36 passes for 279 yards and three touchdowns to pair with 20 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown. Lawrence is just the third player in NFL history to have at least 275 passing yards, three passing touchdowns and one rushing… pic.twitter.com/RdWPDVD6FB- JaguarsPR (@JaguarsPR) December 22, 2025”
Falcons vs Cardinals
The Atlanta Falcons beat the Arizona Cardinals 26-19, improving their first-round pick prospects.
Bijan Robinson rushed for 76 yards on 16 carries and had 92 receiving yards with a score on seven catches.
The Falcons now stand at 6-9, while the Cardinals remain at 3-12 with Jacoby Brissett under center.
The win helps the Falcons maintain a better draft position against the Rams.
The result shows the Falcons’ offensive versatility.
Texans vs Raiders
The Houston Texans narrowly defeated the Las Vegas Raiders 23-21 at home.
C.J. Stroud threw for 187 yards and a touchdown on 23 of 35 completions.
Ashton Jeanty rushed for 128 yards on 24 carries and a score amid a rough rookie season.
The Texans improve to 10-5, while the Raiders fall to 2-13.
The victory keeps the Texans in a solid playoff position.
Steelers vs Lions
The Pittsburgh Steelers earned a huge road win at the Detroit Lions, overcoming a late penalty scramble.
Aaron Rodgers threw 266 yards and a touchdown on 27 of 41 completions.
Jaylen Warren rushed for 143 yards on 14 carries and two scores.
The Steelers improve to 9-7, a step closer to winning the AFC North.
The Lions, at 8-7, have a 16% chance of making the playoffs, a dramatic drop from last season.
Key Takeaways
- The Chargers’ dominant win pushes them to 11-4, tightening the NFC South race.
- The Jaguars’ victory keeps them in contention for the AFC No. 1 seed, with the race possibly coming down to Week 18.
- The Steelers’ decisive road win keeps them within reach of the AFC North title.
Week 16’s outcomes have clarified the playoff landscape, with the Chargers, Bengals, Bills, Jaguars, and Steelers all securing key victories, while the Giants, Bucs, Falcons, Texans, and others fell short. As the regular season winds down, the race for the top seeds in both conferences is tighter than ever, and teams will be looking to capitalize on the momentum heading into the final week.
