The Las Vegas Raiders visit the Houston Texans on Sunday. Kickoff is at 1:25 p.m. PT. Here are five keys to an upset win: Score something: The Raiders’ offense is pathetic. They have been shutout twice including in Week 15 and are ranked dead last in the NFL, averaging 244 yards a game. This is […] The Las Vegas Raiders visit the Houston Texans on Sunday. Kickoff is at 1:25 p.m. PT. Here are five keys to an upset win: Score something: The Raiders’ offense is pathetic. They have been shutout twice including in Week 15 and are ranked dead last in the NFL, averaging 244 yards a game. This is a bad matchup. Houston’s defense is the No. 1 ranked defense in the NFL, allowing 269 yards a game. nd it can easily blank the Raiders. Las Vegas has to find a way get going on offense and making this yet another blowout loss. Frankly, it won’t be easy against this Houston team that has won six straight games. Block better: The Raiders have allowed four or more sacks in six straight games. They have allowed a league-high 53 sacks this season. Now, they have to deal with a swarming Houston pass-rush led by stars Will Anderson a d Danielle Hunter. The Texans have 38 sacks, the seventh most in the league. So, yes, it could be another long day for Las Vegas’ offensive line. Stop Schultz: Against Philadelphia last week, the Raiders’ defense was gutted by tight end Dallas Goedert. He had six catches for 70 yards and he had two touchdowns. They will be playing another hot tight end as Houston’s Dalton Schultz is coming off a game in which he had eight catches for 76 yards and a score. Surely, the Houston will try to exploit the Raiders’ defense with Schultz. Get to Stroud: Las week, Eagles’ quarterback Jalen Hurts did whatever he wanted to against the Raiders and he came into the game struggling. Houston’s quarterback C.J. Stroud is hot, so he’s dangerous. The Raiders hardly put any pressure on Hurts. That can’t happen in this game. Solve third-down woes: The Raiders must figure out how to solve their third-down issues. It’s been brutal. Over the course of the past three games, the Raiders have converted just eight of 29 third-down attempts and on defense, they have allowed a whopping 29 of 42 attempts. What a recipe to get clobbered by the time-of-possession game. See More: Las Vegas Raiders Game Information
Las Vegas Raiders must find way to solve Houston Texans’ defense
Minnesota Vikings News and Links: The Grinch That Stole The Season
What caused this season to be toast already? I believe the injury Grinch is responsible. I’d like to believe that if JJ had started every game then the team would have 2 to 3 more wins by now. His mobility would have made a big difference in the games. I really hate watching playoffs with […] What caused this season to be toast already? I believe the injury Grinch is responsible. I’d like to believe that if JJ had started every game then the team would have 2 to 3 more wins by now. His mobility would have made a big difference in the games. I really hate watching playoffs with no rooting interest. The only thing we have left is to see our young QB get more snaps. The team is going to need Justin Skule to play well if JJ is going to have a good chance. But heh, sometimes a teammate goes down and you have to adjust. The “you” could be KOC or JJ or the other linemen. When one player goes down it opens up an opportunity for another player to step up. I think that JJ is trending in the right direction and the team really does not have many options to change course. A very good article here that says “NFL quarterbacks do not take any semblance of final shape, on average, until 250-300 dropbacks”. It includes a lot of super nerd stats and a comparison to Jared Goff and Josh Allen to support the theory that by the Giants game we should be seeing the real version of JJ. Minnesota Vikings News and Links J.J. McCarthy believes he’s starting to catch up to the speed of the NFL. After accounting for six touchdowns in back-to-back wins over the Commanders and Cowboys, McCarthy has a renewed sense of confidence, largely because he’s getting more comfortable in head coach Kevin O’Connell’s offense. On Wednesday, he was asked if the game is slowing down for him. “Yes, sir. Dramatically,” McCarthy answered. “Obviously, the more reps you see, the live bullets, but like I talked about, the overall understanding of the offense, it slows everything down tremendously because you’re not using that extra thinking of, ‘The ball’s snapped, I have it in my hands, is he running that route?’ So it eliminates those split-second miscues and processing. That’s helped tremendously throughout the year.” McCarthy watched film from the win over Dallas and came away pleased. “Every play felt in sync. It felt on time,” he explained. “It didn’t feel like there was any indecisiveness, and when there was, and I couldn’t see over the line or something like that, I was dishing the ball out and just putting it in play. I feel like that growth was something that really stood out.” He was also pleased with how he got rid of the ball quickly, or scrambled to the right spots, when the pocket collapsed and put him under pressure. What changed against the Cowboys, where he wasn’t sacked, after being sacked nine times in his previous two starts? “Emphasizing where my outlets are, and checkdowns. Just knowing where to scramble,” McCarthy said. “It’s one thing to get out of a fight-or-flight situation, but it’s another thing to, not necessarily predetermined, but just be aware of where the slide’s going, where the man side is. Because that’s usually going to be where the gaps are going to open up. And what concepts are over there? What routes are over there? So just understanding the offense more as a whole has helped tremendously.” Giants 24, Vikings 20 – Pete Prisco, CBS Sports The Vikings are playing consecutive road games, but they played well at Dallas. The Giants didn’t look good in the home loss to the Commanders last week. But I think they bounce back here, and the defense plays better against J.J. McCarthy. The Giants win it at home. Vikings 24, Giants 17 – Bill Bender, Sporting News The Vikings are improving around J.J. McCarthy, who has five TDs, one interception and a 66% completion percentage in his past two starts. Vikings 27, Giants 20 – Vinnie Iyer, Sporting News The Vikings got some needed positives from J.J. McCarthy the past two weeks, even though the passing results have come from unexpected receivers. Jaxson Dart will be up for a good duel, but he faces the tougher defense at home. 4 of 7 experts pick the Vikings, Bleacher Report 6 of 6 experts pick the Vikings, The MMQB 10 of 10 experts (1 of 11 total had not submitted) pick the Vikings, ESPN 5 of 5 experts pick the Vikings, The Athletic 4 of 6 experts pick the Vikings, USA Today Graziano: Mac Jones is under contract with the 49ers for next year at $2.8 million, but the way he played in relief of Brock Purdy this season has people wondering what it would take to trade for him (and presumably pay him more) to come in and compete for a starting role. There are plenty of teams with unsettled 2026 quarterback situations (Colts? Steelers?) that could look to a 27-year-old former first-round pick who has been through the Kyle Shanahan career rehab program as part of their potential solution. Fowler: The quarterback trade market is worth watching, particularly with supply failing to meet the demand once again. Jones might be the next reclamation project QB to take off in a second act. This leads to a conversation on Kyler Murray, whom the Cardinals are subtly — or quite obviously — trying to stash to preserve his health for a potential trade this offseason. His nearly $37 million in guarantees on the 2026 books complicates the market for his services, but Murray is 28 and isn’t far removed from fringe top-10-QB status. Does a safe landing spot exist for Murray? Working with, say, Kevin O’Connell in Minnesota would be ideal, but J.J. McCarthy has shown improvement over the past two weeks. The Raiders and Jets
Miami Dolphins expected to keep HC Mike McDaniel; GM still undecided
A recent report suggests the Miami Dolphins have already made a decision on head coach Mike McDaniel’s future with the team. According to CBS Sports NFL Insider, Jonathan Jones, many people around the league believe the Dolphins will retain Mike McDaniel, stating that the team ‘loves Mike” and feels like “he’s had a tough hand” […] A recent report suggests the Miami Dolphins have already made a decision on head coach Mike McDaniel’s future with the team. According to CBS Sports NFL Insider, Jonathan Jones, many people around the league believe the Dolphins will retain Mike McDaniel, stating that the team ‘loves Mike” and feels like “he’s had a tough hand” during his first four seasons in Miami. I don’t think anyone would argue that he’s been dealt a tough hand. But making a decision now, with three games left to play, doesn’t seem necessary. Then again, maybe the belief in Miami Gardens is that rookie quarterback Quinn Ewers can instill hope in the team and fanbase over the coming weeks? Maybe they win the next three and still finish the season above .500 — which would be impressive given the state of the team just a few weeks ago. Hell, maybe we even see a plethora of young players take promising steps in the next few weeks, easing the pain of the inevitable rebuild that’s sure to come. Would that be enough to keep McDaniel around? I don’t know the answer to that. What I do know, however, is that until I can name a better candidate to replace McDaniel with, I’m going to sit on the sidelines and wait. The one thing I don’t want the Dolphins to do is what we’ve seen them do in the past: settle at arguably the most critical position in the NFL hierarchy… the General Manager position. MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA – NOVEMBER 09: Interim general manager Champ Kelly of the Miami Dolphins looks on prior to a game against the Buffalo Bills at Hard Rock Stadium on November 09, 2025 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images)Getty Images Additionally, forcing a general manager to keep a head coach is not the way to go, no matter how much it seems Stephen Ross and his cronies believe in that philosophy. Here’s another snippet from the article on the GM position, and the belief in league circles. “Multiple prospective head coach and general manager candidates, as well as agents, told CBS Sports they are now operating under the belief the Dolphins will keep McDaniel with three games remaining in the season.” Jones continued: “Sources say the Dolphins may look for a true football evaluator and roster manager at GM with Shore handling the other duties that been added to a GM’s plate in today’s NFL. That setup is not dissimilar to what had already been in place with Grier, a long-time personnel man, and would be in line with what several other NFL teams do.” Interim head coach Champ Kelly will have a chance to state his case, according to Jones, but I think Miami has to go one step further and shoot for the stars. And as someone who admittedly only knows the bare minimum about candidates not named Dawn Aponte, there’s only one person I’d like to see Miami take a chance on. Philadelphia Eagles assistant GM Alec Halaby. Make it happen, Stephen Ross. What are your thoughts on the Miami Dolphins bringing back Mike McDaniel in 2026? Do you think Champ Kelly deserves a shot at being the next general manager? How do you feel about Brandon Shore potentially being the Co-GM in this situation? Let us know in the comments section below! See More:
Miami Dolphins Safety Minkah Fitzpatrick Ruled OUT vs. Cincinnati Bengals
During his Friday press conference, Miami Dolphins’ head coach Mike McDaniel confirmed that Anthony Weaver’s defense would be without (at least) one of their top players as the team looks to right the ship on Sunday vs. the Cincinnati Bengals. After leaving Monday Night’s dreadful 28-15 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers with a calf injury, […] During his Friday press conference, Miami Dolphins’ head coach Mike McDaniel confirmed that Anthony Weaver’s defense would be without (at least) one of their top players as the team looks to right the ship on Sunday vs. the Cincinnati Bengals. After leaving Monday Night’s dreadful 28-15 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers with a calf injury, the Dolphins have officially ruled out safety Minkah Fitzpatrick for this weekend’s AFC matchup vs. the Bengals. Fitzpatrick, 29, rejoined the Dolphins this offseason after spending six years with the Pittsburgh Steelers. He was traded as part of the deadline deals that sent Jonnu Smith and Jalen Ramsey to the Steel City, and since his return to the team that once drafted him 11th overall in the 2018 NFL Draft, he’s been everything the team had hoped and more. This year, Fitzpatrick has started all 14 games for Miami, recording 82 total tackles, four tackles for loss, one sack, six pass breakups, and an interception. He’s been a leader on and off the field, and according to his teammates, he’s meant everything to the team. There’s no guarantee he will return next season, but both the Dolphins and Minkah have talked glowingly about one another since their reunion this year. Here’s what Fitzpatrick said regarding Miami’s willingness to battle before Monday Night’s game vs. Pittsburgh. “I’m extremely proud of the way this team has stuck together,” Fitzpatrick said. “We started off not the way we wanted to. But instead of pointing fingers and separating, we all leaned more into each other. We all took accountability. We tried to figure out what each individual player could do better, and we just continued to fight.” With Fitzpatrick out, the team will get a closer look at what rookie fifth-round pick Dante Trader Jr. can do, in addition to veteran defensive back Elijah Campbell. Ashtyn Davis and Ifeatu Melifonwu may also line up differently in Minkah’s absence. That said, with the team eliminated from playoff contention, there’s no better time than now for some of the impending free agents and, more importantly, the younger players to get their feet wet. McDaniel also said that linebacker Jordyn Brooks missed practice earlier in the week, but would get some work in this afternoon. His status for Sunday’s matchup vs. the Cincinnati Bengals is uncertain. What are your thoughts on Minkah Fitzpatrick’s injury? Would you like to see him stick around in 2026 and beyond? How excited are you to see what Dante Trader Jr. can bring to the table? Are you excited to see what Quinn Ewers can do under center?!? Let us know in the comments section below! See More: Miami Dolphins Injuries
Why Mike McDaniel decided to give rookie quarterback Quinn Ewers a chance
The Miami Dolphins made national headlines this week, after the team decided to bench starting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa for the rest of the season. Head coach Mike McDaniel said “all options were on the table” following the team’s loss to the Steelers in Week 15. One of those options was rookie quarterback Quinn Ewers, who […] The Miami Dolphins made national headlines this week, after the team decided to bench starting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa for the rest of the season. Head coach Mike McDaniel said “all options were on the table” following the team’s loss to the Steelers in Week 15. One of those options was rookie quarterback Quinn Ewers, who was named the starter this week. A 7th-round draft selection in the 2025 NFL draft, Ewers has only appeared in one game for the Dolphins this season so far, in Week 7 against the Cleveland Browns. The former Texas Longhorns quarterback and No.1 high school recruit completed 5/8 passes for 53 yards, though 40 of those yards came on a single play. Underwhelming, to say the least. However, in his press conference earlier today, McDaniel spoke about the decision to promote Ewers to the starting role. Specifically, McDaniel on Ewers’ first practice with the team was start, said that “It wasn’t perfect, but the competitive response and the conviction at the position after anything would go awry…that’s what I really like about him and that’s what he showed off” Translating coach-speak is never easy, but one would assume that McDaniel is referring to Ewers’ ability to play off-script, stay positive when things go wrong, and for lack of a better word, his ability to care. While many fans have grown impatient with some of Tua’s behavior off the field, that is one area where Ewers excels. According to the NFL’s Tom Pelissero, an anonymous NFC quarterbacks coach had this to say about Ewers before last year’s draft. “Real smart, great kid, real-self aware. The arm strength and some of the decision making are concerns, but he’s somebody you can see develop, develop, develop, and then—BANG! There’s a competitor there that’s hard to teach, and there’s an intelligence factor there that’s hard to teach.” Certainly, it may seem harsh throw a fuss over a simple smile, or lack of accountability during practice, but that’s the NFL. It’s a tough league, and many don’t last. At least with the Dolphins, Tagovailoa’s time seems to be over. For Ewers, his time is only just beginning. See More: General
Detroit Lions vs. Pittsburgh Steelers preview, prediction: On Paper
The Detroit Lions cannot wait any longer. If they’re going to make a serious Super Bowl push, it has to start this week against the Pittsburgh Steelers. For any realistic chance to make the playoffs, the Lions need to win out, and even that doesn’t guarantee them a spot in the postseason. The Steelers, too, […] The Detroit Lions cannot wait any longer. If they’re going to make a serious Super Bowl push, it has to start this week against the Pittsburgh Steelers. For any realistic chance to make the playoffs, the Lions need to win out, and even that doesn’t guarantee them a spot in the postseason. The Steelers, too, are trying to convince people they are worthy playoff contenders. While they control their own destiny for the AFC North title, their entire season has been underwhelming. So how do the two teams match up? Who has the statistical advantages in each aspect of the game? Let’s break it down in our Lions vs. Steelers preview and prediction: On Paper. Lions pass offense (6th in DVOA) vs. Steelers pass defense (11th) The Lions’ passing attack continues to show why they’re one of the best in football, and Jared Goff is on a bit of a hot streak. While much of their production this year has been against poor defenses, they’ve produced high numbers against the Packers and Rams in recent weeks, two of the better defenses in the league. This is especially encouraging given the loss of Sam LaPorta over a month ago. For the season, the Lions rank: Second in passer rating (110.4) Fifth in yards per attempt (8.0) Fifth in dropback EPA (0.195) Ninth in success rate (48.9%) By just about all efficiency metrics, this is a top-10 pass offense that is bordering on a top-five ranking. And speaking of top-five, the Lions’ duo of Jameson Williams and Amon-Ra St. Brown are making a case for one of the best receiving duos in football. In the past six weeks alone, they both are producing ridiculous numbers: St. Brown: 505 yards, 4 TDs Williams: 581 yards, 4 TDs And the crazy thing is that includes a 0-yard game for both players over that span. As it has been for the entire season, the most suspect unit is the offensive line and pass protection. Detroit ranks 22nd in PFF pass blocking grade, 29th in pass block win rate, 19th in pressure rate allowed (per NFL Pro), and 32nd in time to pressure allowed. The good news is the Lions get the ball out quick (2.72 seconds, fifth in NFL), which mitigates some of that damage. The Steelers give up a ton of yardage, as evidenced by the chart above, but their defensive efficiency is much better. Only two quarterbacks over the past two months have significantly outperformed their passer rating average when playing the Steelers. For the season, this pass defense has hung around average in most metrics: 14th in passer rating (90.3) 14th in yards per attempt (7.0) 13th in dropback EPA (0.049) 13th in success rate (46.3%) Where they typically thrive is in their pass rush. They rank third in PFF pass rush grade, fourth in ESPN’s pass rush win rate, 25th in pressure rate (NFL Pro), but fourth in time to pressure. Unfortunately for them, they may be without two of their top pass rushers in T.J. Watt (22nd-best PFF pass rushing grade) and Nick Herbig (eighth). In terms of coverage, there’s been so many moving parts in the secondary that it’s hard to get a good sense of where they’re currently at. Starting cornerback Asante Samuel Jr. was added midseason and Jalen Ramsey was moved to safety about a month ago. There seems to have been some improvement, but it’s worth mentioning Pittsburgh has PFF’s 16th-best coverage grade, and they rank 26th in average separation allowed per target. Player to watch: CENTER WATCH. At this point, it’s unclear what Graham Glasgow’s status is after a knee injury cost him Thursday’s practice. His backup, Trystan Colon, is dealing with a wrist injury, too. But as we’ve seen all year, the downgrade at center has been a problem, and this could make it worse. Advantage: Lions +1.5. The Steelers read to me as a pretty average pass defense that will likely be missing a couple key components of their pass rush. Detroit has been bordering on a top-five offense, but I am a little concerned about the injuries on the offensive line. Still, Goff should continue his run of productive days. Lions run offense (5th) vs. Steelers run defense (16th) I’ve been warning of an inconsistent running game that is a bit too over-reliant on explosive plays, and that came to roost last week against the Rams, where the Lions produced one of their worst rushing efforts of the season. They’ve now produced four games under 80 rushing yards—all under 3.6 yards per carry—and they’ve lost all four of those games. It’s the same old story with their efficiency metrics: they look very productive as an overall average, but their below-average success rate suggests fundamental issues masked by explosive runs: 4.9 yards per carry (fourth) -0.013 rush EPA (eighth) 40.8% success rate (20th) You can’t completely ignore the explosive plays, though. While the Lions only rank 15th in rushes of 10+ yards, when you bump that up to 20 yards, the Lions are tied for the second-most (14), and if you raise it to 30-yard rushes, no one has more than Detroit’s nine. Still, I have concerns about the consistency of Detroit’s run blocking, which ranks seventh in PFF grade, 25th in run block win rate, and 12th in adjusted line yards. Talk about an inconsistent unit. The Steelers have managed to hold some of the best rushing attacks (Bears, Colts, Dolphins) well below their season averages, but they’ve also recently allowed over 200 rushing yards to the Bills and Ravens. While those teams benefit from mobile quarterbacks, most of the damage done in those games
NFL Week 16 betting advice: Eagles-Commanders pick and prop bets
Steve Maltepes, known as “The Philly Godfather,” will impart his gambling wisdom on the Eagles and where the smart money is going on various pro football games each weekend this season. Maltepes is one of the nation’s hottest sports betting experts who appears weekly on national radio, is the best-selling author of “Booked: The True […] Steve Maltepes, known as “The Philly Godfather,” will impart his gambling wisdom on the Eagles and where the smart money is going on various pro football games each weekend this season. Maltepes is one of the nation’s hottest sports betting experts who appears weekly on national radio, is the best-selling author of “Booked: The True Life Story of the PhillyGodfather,”and has his own website, www.thephillygodfather.com. Philadelphia Eagles (9-5) at Washington Commanders (4-10) at 5:00 p.m. Saturday The Line: Eagles minus-7/Total: 44.5 What is the line telling you: This is a tricky game for the Birds after blowing out a really bad Raiders team last week. Even though Washington has one of the most injured—and weakest—defensive backfields in the NFL and has only won four games all season, this isn’t a walkover. When Marcus Mariota started, he’s shown the ability to move the ball and put points on the board. With Mariota under center, Washington scored 29 points against the Giants, took Denver to overtime and scored 26 against a Broncos team that may have the best defense in the NFL, put up 41 against Vegas, and scored 27 against a Falcons team that still ranks top 10 in many defensive metrics. Add in the fact that this is a road divisional game, and things can get weird. Bottom line: The Eagles should win this game—they’re the better team and hold an overall +8 health advantage. Washington also has the third-worst turnover differential in the league. That said, late-season divisional games are always wacky, and Mariota is clearly playing for a potential starting job next season. As a backup this year, he’s thrown for 1,600 yards with a 62% completion percentage. One more thing: as of right now, nearly 90% of the early public money is on Philadelphia. That should be concerning for anyone looking to invest in the Eagles tomorrow. We like Washington +7 and the over 44 here, as long as the weather stays as projected for tomorrow’s game. Prop bets for the game: Jalen Hurts over 210 passing yards -135 AJ Brown anytime TD +120 Dallas Goedert anytime TD +185 Marcus Mariota anytime TD +300 (Betting lines are subject to change.) See More: Philadelphia Eagles odds
NY Giants-Vikings final injury report: Punter Jamie Gillan to return
New York Giants punter Jamie Gillan, who missed last Sunday’s game against the Washington Commanders with a left (kicking) knee injury, is set to return Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings. Gillan has no injury designation on Friday’s final injury report. Veteran Cameron Johnston signed to the practice squad and punted in Gillan’s place last week. He also held for placekicks in Gillan’s absence. The Giants likely hope Gillan’s return will not only help their struggling punt coverage team, but be a benefit to rookie placekicker Ben Sauls. Sauls will be making his NFL debut after the Giants cut Younghoe Koo after a pair of missed field goals against the Commanders. Four Giants have been ruled out: LB Kayvon Thibodeaux | Shoulder DL Rakeem Nunez-Roches | Ankle OL Evan Neal | Neck/Hamstring WR Beaux Collins | Concussion/Neck Thibodeaux will miss a fifth straight game, and Nunez-Roches a second straight. Neal and Collins are both on IR, but have had their practice windows opened. The Vikings on Friday placed Christian Darrisaw, one of the NFL’s better left tackles, on injured reserve. Final injury report Giants OUT LB Kayvon Thibodeaux | Shoulder DL Rakeem Nunez-Roches | Ankle OL Evan Neal | Neck/Hamstring WR Beaux Collins| Concussion/Neck QUESTIONABLE LB Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles | Illness (Did not practice) CB Art Green | Illness/Hamstring (Full practice participation) CB Rico Payton | Back (Limited practice participation) OL Joshua Ezeudu | Calf (Full practice participation) Vikings OUT OT Christian Darrisaw | Knee (Being placed on IR) DL Javon Hargrave | Thigh QUESTIONABLE OT Brian O’Neill | Heel TE Gavin Bartholomew* | Back (IR/PUP designated to return) RB Ty Chandler* | Knee (IR/PUP designated to return) See More: New York Giants injuries
PFF Grades and Data: Key insights for the Week 16 NFL games
PFF’s media research team has been hard at work preparing for kickoff by pulling data-driven insights and talking points for our broadcast partners around the league. Now, we’re sharing those same nuggets with you. PFF Grades and Data: Key insights for the Week 16 NFL games Will Trevor Lawrence’s hot streak continue? He has produced a league-leading 92.1 PFF passing grade over the past three weeks, but the Broncos’ defense is arguably the league’s best. In particular, Lawrence may face some resistance on play action, where Denver has allowed the fewest yards per play (4.2). Caleb Williams will need to solve the Packers’ pressure: Although Micah Parsons is out for the season, Green Bay remains adept at forcing throwaways, of which Williams had a season-high seven in the Bears’ first meeting with the Packers in Week 14. Get PFF+ for 30% off: Use promo code HOLIDAY30 to unlock the PFF Player Prop Tool, Premium Stats, fantasy dashboards, the PFF Mock Draft Simulator, industry-leading fantasy rankings and much more — everything you need to win your season. NFL Week 16 is here, and with it comes a fresh wave of advanced data and analysis. PFF’s media research team has been hard at work this week, preparing for kickoff — pulling data-driven insights and talking points for our broadcast partners around the league. Now, we’re sharing those same nuggets with you. So, whether you’re looking to win your fantasy matchup, hit on your bets or just get smarter about the game, these are the key storylines to know for every Week 16 contest. Want the same insights trusted by all 32 NFL teams and our broadcast partners? Subscribe to PFF+ and get everything you need to win your fantasy season and gain an edge at the sportsbook. Click here to jump to a game: Despite the absence of Jalen Carter over the past two games, Philadelphia’s pass rush has surged, generating a league-best 13 sacks since Week 14. The Eagles have also posted a 51% pressure rate over that span — the fourth-highest clip in the NFL — as the midseason addition of Jaelan Phillips continues to pay dividends. Since joining the Eagles in Week 10, Phillips has recorded 30 pressures, leading the team and tying him for the sixth most among all defensive players. Over the full 2025 season, Phillips is producing career highs in both pass-rush win rate (19%) and pressure rate (18%). On the other side, Marcus Mariota is set to finish the season as Washington’s starting quarterback, and the Commanders’ passing approach figures to remain aggressive. Mariota’s 10.6-yard average depth of target ranks first among quarterbacks this season, while a league-high 53% of his pass attempts have been past the sticks. When these division rivals met in Week 14, Packers running back Josh Jacobs delivered his most physical performance of the season, posting season highs in missed tackles forced (nine) and rushing yards after contact (80). Since joining the Packers in 2024, Jacobs has consistently punished Chicago’s defense. Across three games against the Bears, he has recorded 165 rushing yards after contact on 44 carries, averaging 3.8 yards after contact per attempt. In the first meeting, Bears quarterback Caleb Williams faced pressure on 14 of his 35 dropbacks, yet he was sacked just once. He recorded seven throwaways under pressure in that game — the most by any quarterback in an outing this season. That trend reflects the Packers’ ability to force difficult decisions. For the season, Green Bay has drawn 28 throwaways from opposing quarterbacks, tied for the second most in the NFL. Buccaneers running back Bucky Irving was a major thorn in the side of the Panthers’ defense in 2024, piling up 265 rushing yards across two meetings while averaging 5.9 yards per carry. He consistently generated tough yardage, averaging 4.1 yards after contact against Carolina. That physicality has been a trend for Irving. Dating back to the start of 2024, his 3.4 yards after contact per attempt average ranks fourth best among 41 running backs with at least 200 rushing attempts. The Panthers’ run defense has taken a step forward in 2025 after allowing a league-high 71 explosive runs (10-plus yards) on designed plays and a 31st-ranked 12.8% explosive run rate in 2024. This season, that number has dropped significantly. The Panthers have surrendered 34 explosive runs on designed rushing plays, leading to a 9.9% explosive run rate that ranks 19th in the league. Play action has been a major driver of the Bills’ offensive success in 2025. Buffalo ranks fourth in the NFL in play-action rate (30%), a significant jump from 2024, when the offense ranked 25th (22%). Bills quarterback Josh Allen has been highly efficient off play action this season, completing 72% of his passes — the sixth-highest rate among quarterbacks — while producing a 115.0 passer rating, which ranks eighth. Allen will look to continue that success against a Browns defense that has allowed the second-most passing touchdowns (13) in the NFL. Rookie tight end Harold Fannin Jr. has emerged as a central piece of the Browns’ passing offense this season. His 66 receptions lead all rookies, and his production has been fueled by his ability after the catch. Fannin’s 335 yards after the catch rank sixth most among tight ends in 2025. The Chargers have defended with light boxes on 57% of snaps this year, the third-highest rate in the NFL, creating a potential opportunity for Dallas’ run game. The Cowboys have been highly effective against those looks, averaging 6.7 yards per carry when facing boxes with six or fewer defenders — the third-highest mark in the league. Defensively, Dallas rarely relies on disguise, rotating its safeties on just 22% of snaps — the 28th-lowest rate among all defenses. That tendency could play into Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert’s strengths. Against no-disguise looks, Herbert has thrown 19 touchdown passes, tied for the sixth most in the NFL, and has attempted 37 passes of 20-plus yards, the seventh most among quarterbacks. Inside zone
L.A. Rams News: It’s a setback, not an elimination
If you are in any way affiliated with the Los Angeles Rams, then I am going to guess you didn’t sleep much last night after what was a heartbreaking, deflating and exhausting loss to the Seattle Seahawks on Thursday Night Football. The good news is: The Rams are going to the postseason. The bad news: […] If you are in any way affiliated with the Los Angeles Rams, then I am going to guess you didn’t sleep much last night after what was a heartbreaking, deflating and exhausting loss to the Seattle Seahawks on Thursday Night Football. The good news is: The Rams are going to the postseason. The bad news: Their path to the Super Bowl was always going to be hard, and it just got harder. L.A. could’ve basically coasted the next two weeks with a win, instead now they will likely need to fight for seeding, but we’ll see. Maybe Seattle and the San Francisco 49ers drop their remaining games, but I doubt it, and you don’t want to leave things like that up to chance if you don’t have to. Well, now the Rams have to. The Rams have had a great season, but they’ve been up and down. They’ve been up and down week-to-week (though mostly up) but they’ve been up and down in games and it’s been frustrating for the organization. A blown 19-point lead to the Philadelphia Eagles earlier this year planted the seed that the team can lose leads and lose games, that fact revealed itself again last night. I’ll keep it real, I’m gutted, but this is not the same feeling as 2019 when the Rams lost to SF in the second to last game of the year, and were eliminated from the playoffs. This isn’t that at all. The Rams can still go where they want to go, but they are going to have a long week, and so are the fans. The Rams could’ve given themselves an early Christmas gift, and instead they laid down some coal. I’ll try not to be all doom and gloom, it’s depressing, but the Rams are still alive and that’s exciting. It’s Friday, the holidays are coming, and the Rams still look like they can beat anyone in the league, they can lose to anyone too. Thank you if you had the strength to check out Turf Show Times and please feel free to leave a comment! What is the Rams’ clearest path back to an NFC West title and No. 1 seed? (ramswire) “Though it may feel like the sky is falling for the Los Angeles Rams after Thursday night’s devastating loss to the Seattle Seahawks, their season isn’t over. They still have two more regular-season games and are guaranteed one playoff game. It’s just that their playoff game may now be on the road on wild-card weekend instead of at home in the divisional round. Had the Rams beaten the Seahawks and not blown a 16-point fourth-quarter lead, they would’ve had a 95% chance to win the division and a 90% shot at a first-round bye. Now, those odds have sunk to 24% and 20%, respectively.“ Los Angeles Rams star Puka Nacua apologizes for doing antisemitic touchdown dance on livestream (nbcnews) “During the livestream, Ross guided Nacua, a star wide receiver, through an antisemitic touchdown celebration, which ended with Nacua looking into the camera and rubbing his hands together — a stereotypical gesture indicating greed that Ross’ fans call his “iconic Jewish dance.” Ross then asked Nacua to perform the celebration during the Rams’ game against the Seattle Seahawks on Thursday night, and Nacua promised he would.“ MOVING ON LA Rams coach Sean McVay sends Puka Nacua message after ‘antisemitic’ gesture – ‘handle with class and learn from it’ (the-sun) See More: Los Angeles Rams News