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The seventeenth week of the NFL is nearly inside the books, with just one recreation left to play. Quite a few players had unimaginable performances, along with stunning outcomes from a variety of teams.
Arguably among the finest effectivity received right here from Drew Lock and the Giants. New York entered the game on a 10-game shedding streak, which was the longest in franchise historic previous. That they had been 0-8 at MetLife Stadium, and had solely recorded three passing touchdowns in these eight contests. Nevertheless on Sunday? Lock managed to throw three touchdowns in opposition to the Colts inside the first half alone.
He accomplished the game with 309 yards on 17-of-23 passing with 4 transfer touchdowns and one rushing score, becoming the first Giants quarterback to have 300 transfer yards, 4 passing scores and a rushing touchdown since Eli Manning in 2014. Lock and Manning are the one Giants signal callers to carry out that inside the Large Bowl interval (since 1966).
This was moreover the first time all season that New York led at home after the first quarter. Lock had quite a lot of help from Malik Nabers, who had seven catches for 171 yards and two scores. He and Tyrone Tracy Jr. turned the third pair of rookie teammates each with as a minimum 1,000 scrimmage yards within the an identical season, turning into a member of New Orleans’ Reggie Bush and Marques Colston (2006) and the Dallas Texans’ Abner Haynes and Johnny Robinson (1960).
The Giants weren’t the one workers to have unimaginable performances from this weekend. FOX Sports activities actions Evaluation broke down ten additional eye-opening nuggets for you. Let’s take a look:
1. Chiefs protect cruising
With their fifteenth win of the season, Kansas Metropolis set a franchise doc for wins in a single season. Andy Reid has now coached a workers that clinched the No. 1 seed of their conference seven events in his occupation— tying Bill Belichick for primarily probably the most No. 1 seeds by a head coach ever. Having achieved so on Christmas Day, this was merely the fifth event in NFL historic previous {{that a}} workers clinched the No. 1 seed on December twenty fifth— and the first given that 2017 Eagles.
This was the fourth time inside the Patrick Mahomes interval that the Chiefs have clinched the very best seed. Earlier to his arrival, Okay.C. had clinched the No. 1 seed merely twice in franchise historic previous (1995, 1997). Along with the playoffs, they’ve gained 10 straight home video video games and may play their subsequent one inside the AFC Divisional Spherical.
Within the occasion that they win that recreation, Mahomes will doc his eleventh occupation playoff win at home— which is ready to break a tie with Peyton Manning and Joe Montana for the second-most ever (Tom Brady- 21).
Takeaway: With a bye locked up, Kansas Metropolis continues to be the favorite to come back again out of the AFC. Nevertheless don’t inform that to Baltimore or Buffalo.
2. Proper right here come the Vikings
Minnesota’s season has actually been magical. With the win over Inexperienced Bay this week, they improved to 14-2 on the season and may clinch the division and No. 1 seed with a win in opposition to Detroit subsequent week. Beneath are a variety of nuggets that contextualize merely how unimaginable their 2024 advertising and marketing marketing campaign has been:
- Kevin O’Connell is the first head coach to win 14+ video video games in a season with a quarterback who’s in his first 12 months with the workers; this moreover makes Sam Darnold the first quarterback ever to win 14+ video video games in his first season with a workers.
- Vikings have recorded their ninth straight win, their longest in-season win streak since 1975.
- Sam Darnold is now as a lot as 35 transfer touchdowns this season, passing Brett Favre (2009) for primarily probably the most by a quarterback in his first season as a Viking.
- Vikings have now recorded a takeaway in each of their first 16 video video games to begin out a season for the first time since 1992; that is tied for the longest streak to begin a season in franchise historic previous.
Takeaway: Subsequent Sunday’s matchup between the Lions and Vikings shall be electrical. Nevertheless can Minnesota get it achieved?
3. Saquon makes historic previous
In your complete second half of the season, everyone has been discussing whether or not or not or not Saquon Barkley can attain the 2,000-yard mark. Successfully, he lastly did it in Week 17 in opposition to the Cowboys. Barkley is now the ninth participant in NFL historic previous to reach that milestone, and solely needs 101 yards to interrupt the single-season doc held by Eric Dickerson:
- Eric Dickerson (1984): 2,105
- Adrian Peterson (2012): 2,097
- Jamal Lewis (2003): 2,066
- Barry Sanders (1997): 2,053
- Derrick Henry (2020): 2,027
- Terrell Davis (1998): 2,008
- Chris Johnson (2009): 2,006
- Saquon Barkley (2024): 2,005
- O.J. Simpson (1973): 2,003
He moreover handed Jamal Anderson for primarily probably the most rushing yards inside the second half of video video games in a single season since as a minimum 1991. The Penn State product is now as a lot as 1,245 rushing yards inside the second half this season, whereas Anderson had 1,133 yards in 1998. Whether or not or not Barkley performs or not subsequent week, what he’s achieved this 12 months has been excellent. Philadelphia moreover clinched the NFC East title for the fourth time in earlier eight seasons.
Takeaway: Saquon’s 2024 season is a reminder of two points: the working once more place continues to be ultra-important, and a change of environment can lead to career-changing success for any participant.
4. Joe Brrrrrr!
Last week we said Joe Burrow is arguably having fun with like among the finest quarterback inside the NFL. It’s time to take away “arguably” from that sentence. The earlier Heisman winner has thrown three touchdowns in eight consecutive video video games, becoming the fourth participant in NFL historic previous to achieve that feat— turning into a member of Tom Brady (10 in 2007), Andrew Luck (eight in 2018) and Peyton Manning (eight in 2004).
In the direction of the Broncos, he recorded his seventh occupation recreation with 400+ transfer yards and three passing scores. The one players with additional such video video games sooner than turning 30 years outdated are Dan Marino and Mahomes (each had 9). His play all through the month of December is unprecedented, as he’s the first quarterback ever to throw for over 1,500 yards with 15 touchdowns and a 75% completion cost inside a calendar month.
Lastly, Burrow has 10 video video games with 250+ transfer yards and three transfer touchdowns this season— the fourth participant in NFL historic previous to have 10+ such video video games in a season. The alternative three? Mahomes in 2018 (10), Peyton Manning in 2013 (11) and Tom Brady in 2007 (10). All three of them gained the MVP that season.
Takeaway: Joe Burrow is doing all of the issues he can to sneak Cincinnati into the playoffs. And hopefully it happens, on account of he’s been fully stellar this 12 months.
5. Rookie pass-catchers thriving
4 rookies have reached 1,000 receiving yards this season— Malik Nabers, Brian Thomas Jr., Ladd McConkey, and Brock Bowers— setting the doc for primarily probably the most 1,000-yard rookie pass-catchers in a season in NFL historic previous (the 2021 and 2014 season each had three). Nabers and Thomas Jr. (LSU) along with McConkey and Bowers (Georgia) turned the second and third rookie duos from the an identical faculty to have 1,000 receiving yards within the an identical season. They joined Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson (Ohio State), who had been the first rookie duo to achieve that mark once more in 2022. Beneath are a few nuggets that highlight how prolific these rookies have been this 12 months:
- Brian Thomas Jr. now has 10 video video games with as a minimum 75 receiving yards, breaking a tie for primarily probably the most such video video games by a rookie inside the Large Bowl interval; he was tied with Justin Jefferson, Odell Beckham Jr., Anquan Boldin, and Terry Glenn.
- Brian Thomas Jr. is taken into account one among 4 rookies inside the Large Bowl interval to place up over 1,100 receiving yards (1,179) and 10 receiving touchdowns (10) in a season; the one others had been Odell Beckham Jr., Ja’Marr Chase and Randy Moss.
- Malik Nabers is the fifth rookie in NFL historic previous with 100 catches and 1000 yards, turning into a member of Anquan Boldin (2003), Jaylen Waddle (2021), Puka Nacua (2023), Brock Bowers (2024), and Malik Nabers (2024).
- Malik Nabers is the first rookie in Giants historic previous to doc 100+ receptions in a season.
- Ladd McConkey has set the Chargers rookie single-season data for catches (77) and receiving yards (1,054).
- Ladd McConkey and Malik Nabers have had 50+ receiving yards in each of their ultimate 9 video video games carried out, tying Odell Beckham Jr. for the longest such streak by a rookie given that 1970 merger.
Takeaway: The above itemizing wouldn’t even embrace Marvin Harrison Jr. and Rome Odunze. Anticipate to see an rising variety of receivers taken inside the first spherical of the NFL Draft.
6. Brock Bowers breaks doc
Not an extreme quantity of of a shock proper right here as he’s been inching nearer and nearer to this doc every week, nonetheless Brock Bowers breaking the rookie tight end single-season doc for receiving yards nonetheless deserves recognition. Alongside together with his seven catches for 77 yards in opposition to the Saints, he is now as a lot as 108 receptions for 1,144 receiving yards on the season. He broke Mike Ditka’s doc of 1,076 receiving yards, whereas his 108 receptions are primarily probably the most by a rookie ever— regardless of place.
Takeaway: Bowers could also be among the finest pass-catching tight end inside the league. It could be superior to see what he does in 2025.
7. Monstrous Myles
Alongside together with his two sacks in opposition to the Dolphins, Myles Garrett is now as a lot as 14 sacks on the 12 months— tied with Trey Hendrickson for primarily probably the most inside the league this season. Nevertheless hitting the 14-mark moreover put him in a class of his private. Garrett has now had 14+ sacks in 4 consecutive seasons, the first participant ever to do this since sacks turned an official stat in 1982. The Texas A&M product has moreover had 10+ sacks in seven of his first eight seasons, with solely Hall of Famer Reggie White having additional (eight). He’s moreover the one participant to have 500+ quarterback pressures inside the Subsequent Gen Stats interval.
Takeaway: Garrett is a generational experience that doesn’t get talked about ample as a consequence of Cleveland’s lack of success. He might merely break the all-time sack doc at this cost.
8. Can not stop Jayden
Jayden Daniels has been extraordinary this season, and principal the Commanders to their eleventh win of the season in additional time in opposition to the Falcons on Sunday night. That’s Washington’s first 11-win season since 1991 (gained 14 video video games that season). Daniels now has 3,530 transfer yards, 864 rush yards, 25 transfer touchdowns, and 6 rushing scores on the 12 months. These 864 are primarily probably the most by a rookie quarterback in a single-season in NFL historic previous. He is now the first rookie quarterback in NFL historic previous with 10+ wins, 30+ full touchdowns and 4,000+ full yards.
And with back-to-back comeback wins of 10+ elements, he is merely the fifth rookie quarterback to carry out that since 1950 and the first since Andrew Luck in 2012. His 12 touchdown passes inside the fourth quarter/OT are primarily probably the most of any rookie in a single season since 1991, and is taken into account one among merely 4 players with 10+ passing scores inside the fourth quarter/OT in that span (Peyton Manning, Derek Carr, Gardner Minshew).
Takeaway: This man is the best way ahead for the NFL, and Washington seems like they’ve a doable MVP in years to come back again.
9. Colts see spark in offense
No matter being upset by the Giants, the Colts offense has confirmed indicators of positivity to this point few weeks— scoring over 30 elements and over 440+ full internet yards in back-to-back video video games. A whole lot of that has to do with Jonathan Taylor, who recorded his third straight recreation with 100+ rushing yards. He accomplished the day with 125 rushing yards and two rushing scores, whereas Alec Pierce had 125 receiving yards and Michael Pittman had 109 of his private.
Every the receivers caught a touchdown as properly, making them the first trio in franchise historic previous to have one participant rush for 125+ yards, whereas the other two had 100+ receiving yards— and all three players score. Whilst you take away touchdowns from that equation, the ultimate trio to do this for the Colts was Edgerrin James, Reggie Wayne and Dallas Clark.
Takeaway: Indianapolis has a variety of offensive gadgets which will foster long-term success. Nevertheless Chris Ballard and Co. would possibly need to type up the safety through the draft and free firm for a better 2025.
10. McKee has fulfilling debut
It’s on a regular basis fulfilling to see backup quarterbacks thrive, nonetheless it is unusual to see the third-stringer have very important success. With Jalen Hurts being out this week and Kenny Pickett having fun with properly ample to sit inside the third quarter, Tanner McKee purchased his shot this Sunday in opposition to Dallas. The Stanford product accomplished three-of-four for 54 yards and two touchdown passes. Positive, that’s acceptable— he threw 4 passes with two of them going for seven. He turned the first participant inside the NFL Draft interval (since 1936) to have a variety of touchdown passes in his NFL debut whereas attempting 5 or fewer passes. You wish to see it.
Takeaway: No matter shedding to the Commanders ultimate week, the Eagles are so good that McKee was able to perform such a feat. No particular person needs to see them inside the playoffs.
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