Week 17 of the 2025 NFL season began on Christmas Day with an NFC East showdown between the Cowboys and the Commanders. Dallas jumped all over Washington early but had to hold on after giving up several big plays.
Later in the day, the Vikings crushed the Lions' playoff hopes. Minnesota came out swinging and held on to beat Detroit at home. And Denver closed things out with a tight win over Kansas City, keeping its hopes alive of earning the AFC's top seed.
The action continued Saturday with the Texans beating the Chargers to clinch a third consecutive playoff berth for the first time in franchise history. Later, running back Derrick Henry carried the Ravens to victory over the Packers.
In the early window Sunday, the Steelers missed their chance to clinch the AFC North by losing a low-scoring affair to the Browns. The Bucs and Panthers both lost to set up a matchup for the NFC South title in Week 18. Meanwhile, Patriots quarterback Drake Maye threw four touchdown passes in the first half of their win over the Jets. The Bengals dominated against the Cardinals, while the Jaguars overcame an early deficit against the Colts. The Saints won a close matchup over the Titans.
Our NFL Nation reporters reacted to all the action, answering lingering questions coming out of each game and detailing everything you need to know for every team. Let's get to it.
Jump to:
NO-TEN | JAX-IND | SEA-CAR
TB-MIA | PIT-CLE | ARI-CIN
NYJ-NE | BAL-GB | HOU-LAC
DEN-KC | DET-MIN | DAL-WSH
New Orleans 34, Tennessee 26
Catch up on the action: Box score | Recap
Saints
Has edge rusher Chase Young established himself as the future of the Saints' defense? The Saints gave Young a three-year, $51 million deal in March and it has paid off big time. Although Young missed the first five games due to injury, he's been excellent down the stretch and has a career-high 8.5 sacks. He added a 33-yard strip-and-score sack to help spark the Saints' comeback from an early 13-0 deficit Sunday. Young, who had 1.5 sacks and a defensive touchdown against the Titans, is only 26 and looks poised to be a key piece of the Saints' defense for years to come.
What to make of the QB performance: It was another big day for Tyler Shough, who came up clutch again in the fourth quarter to lead the Saints to their fourth straight win. Shough looked like a Rookie of the Year candidate despite playing with a depleted offense, and hit the 300-yard passing mark for the second straight week. Shough completed 22-of-27 passes for a career-high 333 yards and two touchdowns. -- Katherine Terrell
Next game: at Falcons
Titans
Is a legit supporting cast emerging for quarterback Cam Ward? The Titans will need to add a dynamic offensive playmaker this offseason, but Ward has gotten some help from his supporting cast down the stretch. The biggest assist is coming from Tony Pollard and the rushing attack, which is opening windows for Ward to throw into off of play-action. Rookie receivers Chimere Dike and Elic Ayomanor also continue to emerge, with Ayomanor catching a touchdown pass Sunday to tie Dike for the team lead (four). Tight end Chig Okonkwo chipped in with a 43-yard touchdown catch. Dike's 38-yard catch set up the second of Joey Slye's four field goals. In total, Ward completed passes to nine different pass catchers.
Trend to watch: Ward posted his fourth consecutive game with two or more touchdown passes, giving him eight over that stretch. This comes after he had only thrown six touchdown passes through the first 12 games. Ward has only been intercepted once over the past four games after getting picked off six times in the first 12 games. -- Turron Davenport
Next game: at Jaguars
Jacksonville 23, Indianapolis 17
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Jaguars
Could red zone turnovers hold the Jaguars back in the playoffs? The Jaguars turned it over twice in the red zone against the Colts -- including at the end of the first half -- and needed to make multiple plays late to hold on. The Jaguars have a league-high six red zone turnovers, but they didn't have any from Weeks 13-16. That's when the offense really got rolling, and the Jaguars went 4-0. The turnovers cost the Jaguars at least six points against the Colts and made the game closer than it needed to be. Mistakes get magnified in the postseason, especially turnovers when playing against the league's better teams.
Turning point: Cornerback Jarrian Jones set up the Jaguars' go-ahead score by intercepting Philip Rivers and returning the ball 13 yards to the Colts' 21-yard line. That led to Cam Little's 42-yard field goal in the middle of the fourth quarter. It's the second week in a row that Jones has had a game-changing interception, as he picked off Denver's Bo Nix in the fourth quarter in Week 16. -- Mike DiRocco
Next game: vs. Titans
Trevor Lawrence takes off up the middle for a 4-yard rushing touchdown to get the Jaguars on the board.
Colts
Did Philip Rivers' time in Indy go as expected? Rivers' arrival in Indianapolis three weeks ago was stunning. But given the absence of viable options following Daniel Jones' season-ending injury, the Colts felt it was justified. Sunday's performance wasn't his best, but on the whole, Rivers has arguably exceeded expectations in his three games. His 50.9 QBR is in the middle of the pack since he joined the team in Week 15, and his 63.3% completion rate is certainly acceptable. Could a fringe No. 3 quarterback have done better? Maybe. In any case, expect Rivers to head back to retirement at the season's conclusion.
Trend to watch: The Colts took a 10-0 lead to start the game but then saw their offense go into a slumber with four straight scoreless possessions during the second and third quarters. The Colts had 40 total yards on those four possessions, allowing quarterback Trevor Lawrence and the Jaguars to find their footing and get back into the game. Entering Sunday, the Colts have averaged 9.9 points per game in the middle two quarters since Week 10 (22nd in the NFL). -- Stephen Holder
Next game: at Texans
Seattle 27, Carolina 10
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Seahawks
Will the Seahawks' turnover problem eventually catch up to them? Seattle is one win away from the NFC West title and the conference's top seed despite a glaring turnover problem. They've given the ball away 28 times this season, second most in the NFL. Their two turnovers Sunday came via a Sam Darnold fumble and an interception. While both were questionable playcalls, Darnold now leads the league with 20 giveaways. As has been the case most of the season, the Seahawks overcame them thanks to their elite defense. However, they can't expect to continue to win like that in the playoffs -- or even in Week 18, for that matter.
Trend to watch: The Seahawks' running game has been a slog for much of the season, but it has come alive the past two games. After totaling 171 yards on the ground against the Rams, the Seahawks had 164 before their late kneel-downs Sunday. Running back Zach Charbonnet led the way with 110 yards and two touchdowns on 18 carries. -- Brady Henderson
Next game: at 49ers
Zach Charbonnet rumbles in for a touchdown to give the Seahawks a 27-10 lead.
Panthers
Do the Panthers have the advantage versus the Bucs with the NFC South title on the line? You can make a strong argument that they do. They beat the Bucs 23-20 on Dec. 21, and Tampa Bay has lost four straight and seven of its past eight games. Not even home field seems like a great advantage for the Bucs, who lost three times in their past four home games this season. Still, the Bucs have won four straight division titles, so they have the experience in big games.
What to make of the QB performance: Bryce Young's inconsistent season continued with a career-low 54 passing yards. He had 16 yards at halftime and 21 midway through the third quarter. Young was intercepted during a stretch of four offensive plays for Carolina that resulted in a pair of turnovers. He later had a touchdown run but wasn't consistent enough to beat a really good Seattle team. -- David Newton
Next game: at Buccaneers
Miami 20, Tampa Bay 17
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Dolphins
Can rookie quarterback Quinn Ewers compete for the starting job in 2026? For at least a half, Ewers looked like a revelation for the Dolphins' offense, throwing for 144 yards and two touchdowns. His production slowed in the second half, but he showed week-over-week improvement in his second career start. Fans will want to temper their expectations after next week's game against a Patriots team that may rest its starters, but Ewers has flashed enough to at least compete for the starting job next season.
Trend to watch: The Dolphins needed immediate production from this rookie class and got it, despite a disappointing season overall. The rookies stole the show Sunday, even beyond Ewers. Undrafted free agent wide receiver Theo Wease Jr. caught a 63-yard touchdown pass, defensive tackle Zeek Biggers blocked a field goal and cornerback Jason Marshall Jr. recorded his first career interception in the win. -- Marcel Louis-Jacques
Next game: at Patriots
The Dolphins level the score on a 63-yard touchdown pass from Quinn Ewers to Theo Wease Jr..
Buccaneers
How do losses by the Bucs and Panthers impact Tampa's playoff scenario? It's hard to fathom that the Bucs can still win the division next week despite dropping seven out of their past eight games. But they own a better record than the Panthers against common opponents. Tampa Bay has a 4-4 record (victories over the Cardinals, 49ers, Seahawks and Jets, with losses to the Rams, Bills, Patriots and Dolphins) versus Carolina's 3-5 record (victories over the Jets, Dolphins and Rams, with losses to the Cardinals, Patriots, Bills, 49ers and Seahawks). Still, it's hard to feel like this team has any sort of shot, with the defense looking downright lost again on Wease's 63-yard touchdown and Greg Dulcich's 11-yard score, the offense flailing with eight Baker Mayfield interceptions in the past seven games, and special teams continuing to be a disaster (Chase McLaughlin's 55-yard field goal was blocked before halftime).
Trend to watch: Through Week 9, the Bucs allowed a QBR of 43.4 to opposing quarterbacks, the best in the NFL over that span. Then from Weeks 10-17, the Bucs have allowed a QBR of 64.3, trailing only the Cardinals for worst in the league. Arizona is 0-7 in that span. -- Jenna Laine
Next game: vs. Panthers
Cleveland 13, Pittsburgh 6
Catch up on the action: Box score | Recap
Browns
How does this win impact the Browns' offseason? Sunday's game wasn't just consequential for the Steelers, who could have clinched the AFC North with a win. The Browns' win likely pushed them out of position for a top-two pick in the 2026 draft, which could presumably have been used on a top quarterback. Last year, the Browns finished behind the Titans and lost out on the opportunity to select Cam Ward with the top pick. So, this win could alter the trajectory of Cleveland's offseason and future.
Stat to know: The Browns improved to 6-21 in games in which they've scored fewer than 14 points dating back to 2020. No other team has more than four such wins in that time (the Broncos are 4-17). -- Daniel Oyefusi
Next game: at Bengals
Aaron Rodgers pass is deflected and incomplete to make a big stop for the Browns on 4th down.
Steelers
Can the Steelers win the AFC North in Week 18? With their deflating loss to the Browns and the Ravens' win over the Packers, the Steelers will now host a winner-take-all game against Baltimore, with the division and a postseason berth on the line. Despite giving up 217 rushing yards to the Ravens a month ago, the Steelers won in Baltimore 27-22 -- but they also got 148 receiving yards from DK Metcalf, who will remain suspended next week. With Metcalf sidelined, the Steelers' best bet is to lean on the run game, as they rushed for just 34 yards in the Week 14 win. But today's loss didn't inspire much hope that the Steelers can adapt their game plan to make up for the offensive absences.
What to make of the QB performance: Not only did Aaron Rodgers not have Metcalf (suspension) or Calvin Austin III (hamstring), but tight end Darnell Washington exited in the second quarter with a forearm injury. The group of remaining pass catchers, including two late-season acquisitions in Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Adam Thielen, struggled to get separation. As a result, the pass game was largely ineffective as Rodgers was 21-of-39 for 168 yards. Rodgers and the Steelers also looked acutely aware that pass rusher Myles Garrett was a sack away from breaking the single-season sack record -- and played like it, much to their detriment. -- Brooke Pryor
Next game: vs. Ravens
Cincinnati 37, Arizona 14
Catch up on the action: Box score | Recap
Bengals
Should the Bengals extend running back Chase Brown early? That might be a good idea since his value will only increase in the future. Brown continued his strong season with another big performance against the Cardinals. He had 101 rushing yards and two touchdowns in addition to three catches for 40 yards. Brown will be extension-eligible after this season. While that would be an unexpected move for the Bengals, it could save them a few dollars and reward a player who is a key part of the offense.
Most surprising performance: Guard Cody Ford provided one of the most surprising plays of the entire NFL season. First, he lined up as a wide receiver. Then, he ran a route, catching the ball before turning upfield for a 21-yard reception. It was the kind of surprise that was worth the price of admission. -- Ben Baby
Next game: vs. Browns
Ja’Marr Chase extends Cincinnati’s lead with an 8-yard touchdown, his second of the game.
Cardinals
Should Jonathan Gannon take over the defensive playcalling next season? Sunday marked the fifth time in the past eight games (all losses) that Arizona had given up 37 or more points. When Gannon reviews the 2025 season during the offseason, one consideration should be reviewed deeply: Whether he should take on the defensive playcalling duties. He was hired because of his abilities as a defensive coordinator, and with the Cardinals' poor showing on defense this season -- especially down the stretch -- it wouldn't be unwarranted. Washington's Dan Quinn took over defensive playcalling earlier this season, and Gannon may want to consider it.
Stat to know: When Trey McBride made his first catch of the game early in the second quarter, he became the first tight end in NFL history to have 110 catches in multiple seasons. That further cemented his spot as one of the best tight ends -- if not the best - in the league. -- Josh Weinfuss
Next game: at Rams
New England 42, N.Y. Jets 10
Catch up on the action: Box score | Recap
Patriots
Which injured players can the Patriots expect to return for their regular-season finale? The Patriots blew out the Jets despite playing without four offensive starters, and it's possible three of them return next week. Specifically, wide receiver Kayshon Boutte and left guard Jared Wilson are in concussion protocol and left tackle Will Campbell (knee) is eligible to come off injured reserve. Receiver Mack Hollins (abdomen) won't be eligible to return until deep in the playoffs. On defense, outside linebacker/defensive end Harold Landry III has been managing a knee injury and it wouldn't be a surprise if he misses the playoffs. But top defensive tackle Milton Williams, who began practicing last week and has missed the past five games on injured reserve (ankle), might benefit from being activated and getting some reps before the postseason.
What to make of the QB performance: Drake Maye was magnificent. In the first half alone, he was 17-of-19 for 229 yards and four touchdowns -- one of the incompletions was a drop by wide receiver Kyle Williams. Maye became the first Patriots quarterback with four passing touchdowns in a half since Tom Brady in Week 8 of 2014 versus the Bears. Maye was pulled with 5:31 remaining in the third quarter, giving his MVP candidacy one final surge by finishing 19-of-21 for 256 yards and five touchdowns. -- Mike Reiss
Next game: vs. Dolphins
Drake Maye scans the field and throw it to a wide-open Hunter Henry for his fourth touchdown pass.
Jets
Where does this month rank in the annals of bad Decembers? It's arguably the worst ever. The Jets dropped to 0-4, with the worst December point differential (-107) in NFL history, per ESPN Research. They became the second team in the Super Bowl era to lose four straight games, all by 23-plus points. With undrafted rookie Brady Cook at quarterback, the Jets produced only three offensive touchdowns this month. Once again, they were uncompetitive on both sides of the ball. Coach Aaron Glenn's job appears safe for 2026, but the 13-loss season (only the fifth in franchise history) certainly raises serious questions about his ability to lead the franchise. Glenn has a skeleton roster, but weekly blowouts are unacceptable.
Stat to know: Running back Breece Hall reached the 1,000-yard rushing milestone for the first time in his career. It ended the NFL's longest active drought; the previous 1,000-rushing season by a Jets player was Chris Ivory in 2015. Hall, who scored on a 59-yard run on a 111-yard rushing day, will be the Jets' most important free agent. He's a player they want -- and need -- to retain. -- Rich Cimini
Next game: at Bills
Baltimore 41, Green Bay 24
Catch up on the action: Box score | Recap
Ravens
How did Ravens prevail without QB Lamar Jackson? Two words: Derrick Henry. The 31-year-old running back carried Baltimore in an elimination game, rushing for 216 yards and four touchdowns. After the Ravens endured a week of criticism for not giving Henry the ball enough -- he didn't get a carry in the last 12 minutes of Sunday's 28-24 loss to the Patriots -- they handed it off to Henry 36 times, which is a career high and the most carries by an NFL player this season.
Henry's dominating performance helped him move into 10th place on the NFL's all-time rushing list and fourth in rushing TDs. This was also Henry's seventh career game with 200-plus yards rushing, breaking a tie with Adrian Peterson and O.J. Simpson.
This was a clutch performance by Henry and the Ravens, who would have been knocked out of playoff contention with a loss. With Jackson sidelined by a back injury, backup quarterback Tyler Huntley kept drives alive with his legs by totaling 55 yards, the most rushing yards by a Baltimore quarterback since Jackson in the season opener.
Biggest hole in the game plan: Defending the deep pass. The Ravens nearly failed to hold a double-digit lead for a second straight week because they couldn't stop the long downfield throws by Malik Willis. In the first three quarters, Willis was 6-of-7 for 197 yards and a touchdown on throws of 20 or more air yards. That's the second-most completions on such throws by a quarterback this season. This has been an issue for Baltimore, which entered this game having given up the sixth-most completions on passes of 20 or more yards (26). This might have been the worst game of the season for Ravens cornerback Nate Wiggins. -- Jamison Hensley
Next game: at Steelers
Derrick Henry finds his way into the end zone for his third rushing touchdown of the game
Packers
How should Packers handle the season finale?
With their chance to win the NFC North gone after this loss, the Packers will have to consider trying to get as healthy as possible before they go on the road for a wild-card playoff game. That might mean holding several starters out of next weekend's regular-season finale at the Vikings, including quarterback Jordan Love (even if he clears concussion protocol) and possibly backup Malik Willis (who reinjured his right shoulder in the fourth quarter).
This team is not just limping to the finish line with three straight losses -- it is banged up after losing five more players to game-ending injuries. This after entering the game without five key players because of season-ending injuries: Elgton Jenkins, Tucker Kraft, Micah Parsons, Devonte Wyatt and John FitzPatrick.
What to make of the QB performance: Whether it's a team such as the Cardinals, Dolphins, Raiders or another quarterback-needy team, someone is going to give Willis starter's QB money during the offseason. Willis came to the Packers at the start of last season in a trade with the Titans for a seventh-round pick and is in the final year of his original rookie contract. He'll probably be too expensive for the Packers to keep as a backup. Just about every time he has had to fill in for Love, he has excelled. He won both of his starts last season and played well in relief in another win. But Saturday was next level. Willis accounted for 348 yards of offense, despite exiting briefly in the fourth quarter because of his shoulder issue. He finished with 288 passing yards and a score, plus 60 yards and two more TDs on the ground. -- Rob Demovsky
Next game: at Vikings
Houston 20, L.A. Chargers 16
Catch up on the action: Box score | Recap
Texans
With a playoff berth clinched, what is the Texans' biggest priority now? Winning the AFC South. The Texans still have a shot to claim the division title, but it depends on whether the Jacksonville Jaguars lose either of their next two games. It's as simple as this: If the Jags fall to the Indianapolis Colts or the Tennessee Titans and Houston beats the Colts in Week 18, the Texans will win the AFC South for a third consecutive season.
Turning point: Quarterback C.J. Stroud got sacked on third down with 2:32 remaining in the fourth quarter. The Chargers were poised to get the ball back, but cornerback Tarheeb Still was flagged for illegal contact, which gave Houston the first down. Running back Woody Marks then picked up a first down two plays later to secure Houston's seventh straight victory. -- DJ Bien-Aime
Best quote from the locker room: On a night in which the Texans sacked Justin Herbert five times and picked him off once, safety Jalen Pitre said: "God is the greatest. The Texans defense is maybe second."
Next game: vs. Colts
C.J. Stroud puts the Texans on top with a deep 75-yard touchdown pass to Jayden Higgins.
Chargers
How far can Justin Herbert take the Chargers? The box score doesn't quite reflect the performance (236 passing yards, one interception, 37 rushing yards), but Saturday's game was one of Herbert's most impressive. The quarterback evaded sacks, ran through opponents and delivered throws with defensive linemen draped on him -- all while playing with a broken left hand. It was the kind of effort that reinforces why the Chargers believe Herbert can will them to a title. Still, expecting Herbert to replicate that level of play isn't sustainable for a deep postseason run; and even with how well he played, he couldn't overcome the mistakes around him.
Key stat to know: Cameron Dicker missed a field goal attempt from under 40 yards for the first time in his career. Dicker, the most accurate place-kicker in NFL history and a first-time Pro Bowl selection this season, pushed a 32-yard kick wide right to end the first half and later was unsuccessful on an extra point attempt. Dicker has been responsible for a large portion of the Chargers' wins this season, but his misses loomed large for L.A. on Saturday. -- Kris Rhim
Best quote from the locker room: The Chargers pride themselves in not allowing explosive plays, but allowed two 40-plus yard touchdowns to begin the game due to busted coverages. "The secondary was just all out of whack, not on the same page," cornerback Donte Jackson said. "We can't give s--- away. We've got to be cleaner, more detailed, and execute way better."
Next game: at Broncos
Denver 20, Kansas City 13
Catch up on the action: Box score | Recap
Broncos
Is the Broncos' grind-it-out offense playoff ready? The Broncos took care of what they needed to Thursday to stay in the driver's seat for the AFC West title and the No. 1 seed in the playoffs. But there were good news/bad news vibes from the Denver offense. The good news was that the Broncos had three scoring drives of eight or more minutes. The bad? Only one of those resulted in a touchdown. They will need to close the deal with more authority (and touchdowns) in the postseason because when they don't, they leave themselves open to what happened against the Chiefs -- where they're in a down-to-the-wire scrap despite giving up only 95 yards of total offense prior to Kansas City's final drive.
What to make of the QB performance: Bo Nix guided another fourth-quarter, game-winning drive, finishing with a 1-yard TD pass to RJ Harvey with 1:45 to play, so he got the big-picture job done once again. But the Broncos didn't have a play of more than nine yards until Nix scrambled for 14 yards with 5:35 left in the second quarter and didn't have a pass play of more than nine yards until the two-minute warning in the first half. Nix, who finished 26-for-38 for 182 yards, also had some accuracy issues crop up again, helping result in a deflected-ball interception in the first half. -- Jeff Legwold
Next game: vs. Chargers
Chiefs
What did we learn about Chris Oladokun? Well, the Chiefs possessed the ball for fewer than 21 minutes Thursday night, which wasn't great for Oladokun, Kansas City's third-string quarterback. But when he had limited opportunities, Oladokun showed he is capable of being a quality game manager. In just 16 attempts prior to the final drive, Oladokun never put the ball in danger. Instead, he had some nice moments scrambling and improvising to create yards. Even in suboptimal circumstances late -- less than two minutes left and only one timeout -- Oladokun was able to get the ball to the Broncos' 21-yard line. But his final pass of the game, a deep pass into the end zone on fourth-and-8, was too high for receiver Hollywood Brown.
Most surprising performance: Without their top two cornerbacks, Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson, the Chiefs' defense did more than hold its own against Denver's offense. Kristian Fulton and rookie Nohl Williams performed well in fill-in roles despite the Broncos trying over and over to get receiver Courtland Sutton in one-on-one opportunities. Fulton finished with three pass breakups, one of which led to an interception by linebacker Nick Bolton. Williams had eight tackles, including three behind the line of scrimmage.
Best quote from the locker room: "That's the first time I've ever seen someone try to draw the defense to them by fumbling it," Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce said of Oladokun while laughing. "That was like a little yo-yo trick he put on. I'm proud of him, man, throughout the week, his attention to detail and his professionalism and his leadership. I couldn't be happier for the guy. Obviously, I wish we could've gotten that win for him [in] a big game against a rival. I'm proud of the way he led us and kept fighting." -- Nate Taylor
Next game: at Raiders
Minnesota 23, Detroit 10
Catch up on the action: Box score | Recap
Vikings
Was this enough to get safety Harrison Smith to play another season? It has been a while since the 36-year-old has made so many high-impact plays in a game. But Smith produced a sack, an interception, two batted passes and two tackles for loss as the Vikings' defense forced six turnovers. Smith hasn't said that he plans to retire, but there are many people in and around the franchise who suspect he will. But if he can still play like this, perhaps he could once against delay that decision.
Key stat to know: The Vikings finished with 3 net passing yards, the fewest by a winning team in an NFL game since 2006, as rookie quarterback Max Brosmer took six sacks and struggled to find open receivers. They were at minus-7 net passing yards until Brosmer's final throw, a 10-yard pass to receiver Justin Jefferson to convert a third down and seal the game. -- Kevin Seifert
Next game: vs. Packers (TBD)
Lions
How concerning was quarterback Jared Goff's performance? Very concerning. Goff couldn't get much going as the offensive line struggled to protect him without starting LT Taylor Decker, who was ruled inactive with an illness. The tough Vikings defense sacked Goff five times and forced five turnovers by him (two interceptions, three fumbles), which tied a career high. The Lions' eight turnovers through Week 16 were the fewest in the NFL, but they ended with a season-high six turnovers in Minnesota as Goff went 18-for-29 for 197 passing yards and a touchdown while facing constant pressure. With the loss, the Lions were eliminated from playoff contention.
Key stat to know: This is the first time the Lions have lost multiple fumbles in a game this season with four. Goff fumbled his snap in the first quarter, then RB Jahmyr Gibbs fumbled while rushing at 14:22 in the second quarter. Goff fumbled twice in the fourth quarter. Prior to this game, Detroit's last time losing at least two fumbles in any game was in Week 12 of 2023 against the Packers. The Lions' 38-game streak without losing multiple fumbles was the fourth-longest active streak in the NFL entering Thursday behind the Falcons (42), Chiefs (41) and Texans (40). -- Eric Woodyard
Next game: at Bears
Dallas 30, Washington 23
Catch up on the action: Box score | Recap
Cowboys
Does finishing with a non-losing record matter? It does to Brian Schottenheimer, who has frequently referred to this being the first year of the program. The Cowboys are 7-8-1 with their Week 18 finale against the New York Giants looming, and Schottenheimer has given no indication that the Cowboys plan to sit regulars such as Dak Prescott to avoid injury. The quarterback has said he wants to play and will fight to remain in the lineup. If the Cowboys lose to the Giants -- whether they play their main guys or not -- it will be the first time Dallas has had consecutive seasons with a losing record since three straight 5-11 finishes from 2000 to 2002.
Key stat to know: The Cowboys converted 4 of 9 third downs in the first half and all four chances on fourth down. They finished with six -- the most fourth-down conversions the Cowboys have had in any game over the past 45 seasons. The last team to have four first-half fourth-down conversions was the 2006 New Orleans Saints, who also had four against the Giants. The Cowboys had 17 first downs in the first half, while the Commanders ran just 18 plays. Dallas added two more fourth-down conversions in the fourth quarter. -- Todd Archer
Next game: at Giants
Commanders
Will Dan Quinn end the season on the hot seat? There has been no indication that Quinn's job is in jeopardy, but even if he doesn't end the season on the hot seat, his future job security will be a topic entering next season. Washington has lost 12 of its past 13 games -- one year after winning 12 in the regular season. But a lineup depleted because of injuries has been the main culprit to Washington's season, giving Quinn and his staff a reprieve. However, Quinn will have a decision to make at defensive coordinator. He took over playcalling duties from Joe Whitt Jr. in Week 11. Multiple players have said Quinn hasn't lost the locker room, and despite being undermanned against Dallas -- starting their No. 3 QB in Josh Johnson -- the Commanders made it a game thanks in part to strong performances from running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt (105 yards rushing) and defensive tackle Jer'Zhan Newton (three sacks).
Biggest hole in the game plan: Third- and fourth-down defense. Dallas converted 8 of 19 third downs, which wasn't horrible. There was one 14-yard gain on third-and-18 that set up a fourth-and-short. That's where the Commanders faltered, as Dallas converted all of its fourth-down attempts, leading to 17 points. Dallas was able to run 87 plays -- 19 more than any other team has had against the Commanders this season. -- John Keim
Next game: at Eagles