Our NFL Week 17 grades are now available, providing insight into how all 32 teams fared in the second-to-last week of the regular season.
The Green Bay Packers won on the road against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday night, keeping them in the hunt for the NFC Playoffs.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, the Philadelphia Eagles were humiliated at home by the previously three-win Arizona Cardinals. The 49ers received home-field advantage and a first-round bye in the NFC Playoffs as a result of their loss.
Our NFL Week 17 grades for all 32 teams are listed below.
Predictions for the NFL Playoffs and Super Bowl
Browns, Cleveland: B
As Cleveland’s starting quarterback, Joe Flacco continues to defy Father Time and common sense. Flacco threw 19-of-29 throws for 309 yards and three touchdowns in a 37-20 win over the New York Jets, only weeks after being signed off the street following Deshaun Watson’s season-ending injury. Cleveland eventually qualified for only its second playoff berth in the last two decades. It was a celebration to kick off NFL Week 17.
D for the New York Jets
One of the NFL’s top defenses just did not show up on Thursday Night Football. This squad gave up 428 yards and 37 points to a Cleveland offense that was missing its entire starting backfield and top wide receiver. The Jets realize they have nothing to play for. However, head coach Robert Saleh wants the club to finish the 2023 season on a high note. That did not occur here.
Lions of Detroit: C
Dan Campbell may be as outraged as he wants about the game’s contentious ending on Saturday night. That’s all right. The officials present may have made a critical error. However, the two interceptions by Jared Goff, combined with Campbell’s choice to go for two at the end, doomed Detroit. The Lions also gave CeeDee Lamb a career day as their defense fell short in a 20-19 loss to Dallas.
B Dallas Cowboys
Dak Prescott performed admirably (26-of-38 passing for 345 yards). CeeDee Lamb absolutely crushed the Lions defense, hauling in 13 passes for 227 yards. Normally, numbers like those would result in a blowout. Unfortunately, Dallas’ late-game defense nearly cost the squad the game. It enabled Detroit to drive 75 yards in 78 seconds with the team leading by seven points late in the fourth quarter. We’ve all seen how Big D ended. Sure, the stop enhanced the Cowboys’ defense. However, if the ‘Boys want to make a deep playoff run, this unit simply needs to play better.
NFL defense rankings for Week 17
F Miami Dolphins
Following a stunning win over the Dallas Cowboys last week, Miami has another chance to make a statement during NFL Week 17. It did not go as planned. Its defense allowed Lamar Jackson to score five touchdowns in all. It also surrendered 168 yards on the ground in an embarrassing 49-19 loss to Baltimore. Are the Fins genuine pretenders? That certainly appears to be the case.
A+ for the Baltimore Ravens
What a statement by Lamar Jackson and the Ravens for the second week in a row. During NFL Week 17, the quarterback completed 18-of-21 throws for 321 yards with five touchdowns and zero interceptions. Baltimore’s ferocious defense also picked off Tua Tagovailoa twice in a 37-point victory for a team that is now the overwhelming favorite to win the Super Bowl.
A+ for the Houston Texans
What a fantastic comeback for rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud, who had missed the previous two games due to a concussion. The freshman completed 24 of 32 passes for 213 yards. Houston gained 113 yards on the run in a 26-3 victory over the Titans. With an 8-7 record, the Texans now control their own destiny in the AFC. DeMeco Ryans and company will be playing postseason football if they beat the Colts next Sunday in Indianapolis.
Titans of Tennessee: F
The loss to Houston on Sunday was a textbook example of a squad playing out the thread in a lost season. The Titans lost by 23 points despite playing lackluster football throughout. They totaled less than 200 yards of offense. Will Levis, the team’s rookie quarterback, was hurt again. With the team now 5-11 on the season, doubts regarding Mike Vrabel’s future in Nashville will be asked once Week 18 concludes.
Panthers, Carolina: F
NFL Week 17 was a complete nightmare for the league’s biggest laughingstock, from rookie No. 1 selection Bryce Young expressing a lot of irritation to owner David Tepper embarrassing himself. In the 26-0 loss, Young had 67 net throwing yards on 32 attempts. Carolina just barely surpassed the 100-yard mark. This season cannot come to a conclusion soon enough for the Panthers and their fans.
A+ for the Jacksonville Jaguars
What a way to bounce back after four straight losses. The Jaguars offense hummed nicely even without Trevor Lawrence (shoulder). C.J. Beathard completed 17-of-24 passes with competence. Travis Etienne added 102 yards rushing. Josh Allen, the Jaguars’ star EDGE rusher, has three of the team’s six sacks. The final score was a 26-0 shutout. To win the AFC South, the Jaguars must just defeat the Titans next Sunday.
NFL sack leaders for Week 17
Commanders in Washington: C
Since opening the season 2-0, Washington has now lost 12 of 14 games. However, Ron Rivera’s team was more competitive than we expected against the 49ers. At halftime, the score was only 13-10. The Commanders were then shut out in the second half after allowing the 49ers touchdown drives of 83 and 95 yards. That’s the version of the Commanders we’re used to seeing.
San Francisco 49ers: B-
The 49ers did not play well in the first half on Sunday. However, the squad was able to recover from last week’s humiliating home loss to Baltimore. Brock Purdy had a regular day (22-of-28 passing, 230 yards, 2 touchdowns). The 49ers gained 428 yards and had 28 first downs. Their defense intercepted Sam Howell twice. The final score was 27-10, and San Francisco secured the No. 1 seed in the NFC.
The New Orleans Saints:
Dennis Allen and the Saints needed to win in NFL Week 17. They went into it knowing they may be eliminated from the NFC South title race on the road against a hot Buccaneers team. What was the end result? New Orleans is having its best performance since October. Derek Carr performed admirably (24-of-32 throwing, 197 yards, 2 touchdowns). In a big 23-13 triumph, the Saints also recorded two sacks on Baker Mayfield. With a win over Atlanta and a Buccaneers defeat to Carolina in Week 18, New Orleans can now win the division. It is also in the running for a wild card position.
Buccaneers of Tampa Bay: F
The Buccaneers, who had won four straight games entering NFL Week 17, produced an enormous egg. It happened on a day when the team had a chance to win the NFC South. Mayfield, as previously stated, threw two inopportune interceptions. The Buccaneers’ rushing attack struggled (57 yards). Mike Evans and Chris Godwin each had six catches. What’s the good news? Tampa Bay can still win the division with a win over the two-win Panthers next week.
NFL power rankings for Week 17
A+ for the Arizona Cardinals
Jonathan Gannon deserves credit. He has motivated the generally bad Cardinals to play inspired football. Arizona travels to Philadelphia on Sunday as 11.5-point underdogs against an Eagles club that is fighting for the No. 1 spot in the NFC. The eventual result was Arizona’s greatest performance of the season, a surprise 35-31 victory. Murray led the Cardinals down the field in the waning seconds of the game for a 70-yard touchdown drive. Simply fantastic.
Eagles of Philadelphia: F
The defending NFC champions are presently 1-4 after a 10-1 start to the season. Their most recent defeat may have been the most humiliating of the Nick Sirianni tenure. Losing at home to a three-win club with the NFC East and the conference’s top seed on the line is pitiful. The fact that they lost adds another depth to that. Allowing Arizona to drive down the field in less than two minutes for the game-winning touchdown. Pathetic. After looking like a juggernaut earlier in the season, the Eagles suddenly appear to be heading for an early postseason departure.
C+ for the Los Angeles Rams
The Los Angeles Rams will make the playoffs in 2024. Nobody could have predicted this earlier in the season. However, Sean McVay’s coaching job has been eye-opening. Sure, the Giants’ 26-25 victory on Sunday was nothing to write home about. However, a win is a win. A playoff berth adds another element to that.
C New York Giants
During NFL Week 17, the Giants were one missed Mason Crosby 54-yard field goal in the final seconds away from pulling off an upset. Unfortunately, it did not work out against a superior Rams team. There is some excellent to be found here, such as Tyrod Taylor’s 319-yard passing touchdown. In today’s NFL, however, there are no moral victories.
C+ for the Las Vegas Raiders
After a humiliating 23-20 loss to the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, Vegas is officially out of the NFL Playoff picture. It wasn’t without its benefits. Aidan O’Connell, a rookie, returned from two poor performances by completing 30-of-47 throws for 299 yards and two touchdowns. Davante Adams had 13 receptions for 126 yards. At the very least, interim head coach Antonio Pierce has Vegas competing against playoff-caliber opponents.
Indianapolis Colts: B-
Indianapolis now has complete control of their AFC destiny. With a win over the Houston Texans in Week 18, the team will secure a playoff spot. This is due to a convincing victory over Vegas in NFL Week 18. Gardner Minshew threw for 224 yards on 15 of 23 attempts. Jonathan Taylor rushed for 96 yards and a touchdown. The Colts improved to 9-7 with a well-rounded victory.
The head coach guided his squad to another stunning triumph on the same day it was announced Matt Eberflus will return next season. Justin Fields was outstanding all day, completing 20-of-32 passes for almost 300 yards and two touchdowns. The Bears’ running offense exploded for 192 yards. The final score was 37-17 at home. By virtue of Carolina’s loss, Chicago also secured the first overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. Not a bad New Year’s Eve in Chicago.
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