Week 17 Takeaways for the 2025 NFL Season
Happy New Year everyone! Just one more game remains for each team with week 17 complete, and we’ve already seen many teams clinch and several players set records. I thought we had all our takeaways neatly tied up heading into Sunday night, and then THAT game happened, so you get a rare 6th one this week! Aside from one dealing with the #1 draft pick, all of them concern the playoff races: clinches, eliminations, and those that simply survived to week 18. Three more division titles got claimed, and just two playoff spots remain available. It will be a fantastic fight to the finish. Onward with my week 17 takeaways!
Christmas Games: Vikings Eliminate Lions with Smothering Defense
Normally I go through the Christmas game, but this time there were three. I also usually cover the TNF game, which happened to fall on Christmas this year. However, two of the games had the exact results we expected: the Cowboys comfortably beat the Commanders, and the Broncos thwarted the Patrick Mahomes-less Chiefs. While Denver wasn’t nearly as dominant as we might have thought, the outcome was exactly as anticipated. The game in the middle gave us the surprise. Detroit, needing a win to keep their faint playoff hopes alive, went to Minnesota to take on QB Max Brosmer with JJ McCarthy hurt again.
Readers of this site may remember Brosmer’s first start. The UDFA rookie was awful in a 4-INT meltdown. Last week against NYG after McCarthy’s injury, Brosmer didn’t commit a turnover but also put up only 3 points. That version of Brosmer appeared against Detroit, as he seemed afraid to make an error . Pressure definitely got to him, and he held onto the ball too long, taking 7 sacks, with two each from DEs Aidan Hutchinson and Al-Quadin Muhammad. He went 9/16 for just 51 yards on the day, with 3 net passing yards after accounting for the sacks. A 65-yard end-around TD by WR Jordan Addison was 1/3 of Minnesota’s offense.
Fortunately for the Vikings, they didn’t need many points thanks to their defense. DC Brian Flores took advantage of Detroit’s offensive line injuries by dialing up the heat. Their front 4 suffocated the Lions on the ground (68 yards at 2.3 YPC) and through the air. Detroit had just 8 turnovers on the season coming into this game. They coughed up the ball six times on Christmas alone. QB Jared Goff (18/29, 197 yards, TD, 2 INTs, 3 FUM) was responsible for 5 of them, and RB Jahmyr Gibbs (54 scrimmage yards) lost a fumble of his own. Even though Minnesota kept punting the ball back to Detroit, their defense answered the call.
OLB Andrew Van Ginkel had a nose for the ball, earning 1.5 sacks and 2 fumble recoveries. Flores’ unit earned 5 sacks and 8 TFLs to go with the takeaways. Addison’s score finally broke the game open as Minnesota won 23-10. This was a sorry way for the Lions to bow out. Their loss eliminates them from playoff contention after starting the season as one of the title favorites. Injuries on defense and the O-line are the clear culprits, but this was still a pitiful performance. The Vikings are now 8-8 with their 4th straight win, jumping Detroit for 3rd in the NFC North. Minnesota may not have a QB, but they’re finishing the season strong.
Saturday: Texans, Ravens Win; Broncos and Bears Clinch Divisions
Each of the two Saturday games had major playoff implications, just like the NFL wanted. Houston and the Chargers each went into the day with an outside chance of winning their divisions. Those dreams were doomed if they lost. With all of that urgency in mind, Texans QB CJ Stroud came out of the tunnel on fire. He hit his two Iowa State rookie WRs, Jayden Higgins (2/88/1) and Jaylin Noel (3/54/1) on deep bomb TDs. The points were critical because the Houston offense didn’t do much else. Stroud (16/28, 244 yards, 2 TDs, 2 INTs) tossed 2 picks, one of which he threw right at S Derwin James. LA made far more crucial errors though.
TE Oronde Gadsden (3/32/1) dropped a perfect pass from QB Justin Herbert (21/32, 236 yards, TD, INT; 6/37 rushing) in the end zone, where it then got picked off by LB Azeez Al-Shaair. K Cameron Dicker, the most accurate kicker in NFL history, missed a 32-yard FG and a PAT. The misses are magnified when you realize that the Bolts lost by four (20-16). Herbert did everything he could to will his team back, but an illegal contact penalty on his defense let Houston escape. As a result, Denver clinched the AFC West, Houston clinched a playoff spot, and Indianapolis was eliminated. The Texans remain alive for the AFC South.
In primetime, we got a battle of backup QBs: Tyler Huntley for Baltimore and Malik Willis for Green Bay. Every time he has suited up for Green Bay, Willis (18/21, 288 yards, TD; 9/60/2 rushing) has looked good. This time, he was spectacular, especially with Packers RBs combining for 19 rushing yards. He left late with a shoulder injury but could’ve returned if the game were in play. Willis was the only reason GB had a chance, and he may be someone’s starter in 2026. Huntley (16/20, 107 yards, TD; 8/60 rushing) wasn’t nearly as prolific but managed the game well and played smart football. The difference came on defense.
Specifically, run defense decided the game. While Baltimore shut down GB’s rushing attack, the Packers had their worst defensive performance of the year. The Ravens clearly got the memo about feeding RB Derrick Henry. He had 7 carries and a TD on the opening drive, which ate more than half the quarter. Baltimore DOMINATED time of possession in the first half (23:46 vs. 6:14) and scored on each drive. Henry (36/216/4) had another elite performance in a resounding 41-24 win. Thanks to an upset discussed below, BAL can still win the AFC North. GB is in the dance due to the Lions’ loss, but they’re locked into the 7th seed.
Bucs and Steelers Lay Eggs, Set Up Winner-Take-All Showdowns
With a chance to take control of their respective divisions by beating subpar opponents, Tampa Bay and Pittsburgh failed to take advantage. For some reason, the Bucs just can’t get out of their funk. QB Baker Mayfield (33/44, 346 yards, 2 TDs) put up great empty stats against the Dolphins, but he committed 3 more turnovers (2 INTs, 1 FUM). The running game was absent (53 total yards), and while HC Todd Bowles yelled at them, his defense was just as bad. A coverage bust by CB Jamel Dean allowed a 63-yard TD to practice squad WR Theo Wease Jr, and Tampa made QB Quinn Ewers (14/22, 172 yards, 2 TDs) look like a seasoned vet.
Even the special teams made their errors, as a block led to the first FG miss from 50+ yards for K Chase McLaughlin. The result was a 20-17 feat against a Miami team that basically waved the white flag on the season, Tampa Bay’s 7th loss in 8 games. Amazingly, this 7-9 team can still win the NFC South against Carolina on Saturday in a win-or-go-home scenario. (That’s not 100% true, as an Atlanta win in week 18 puts Carolina in regardless.) I’m not counting Carolina’s loss here as “laying an egg” because who actually expected them to beat Seattle? Neither of these teams is worthy of a playoff spot, but one of them is going to get it.
Pittsburgh had an even more enticing proposition: beat the lowly Browns and win the AFC North. Somehow, that was still too much for the Steelers to manage. The suspension of WR DK Metcalf really affected the offense, as there was no deep attack to speak of. More importantly, the Browns’ defense decided to play with effort. Understandably, they’ve sort of phoned it in at the ends of the past two seasons due to the offense’s ineptitude, but against a hated foe, they swarmed. Steelers QB Aaron Rodgers (21/39, 168 yards) tried his best but simply had few outlets for the football. Only TE Pat Freiermuth (3/63) provided any help.
Browns DE Myles Garrett didn’t have a sack, so he unfortunately didn’t break the sack record in 16 games (Michael Strahan might credibly ask for an asterisk if his record is broken next week). However, he clearly impacted the game. The Steelers seemed so intent on denying him the record that they ignored everyone else. How else can you explain Pittsburgh’s insistence on targeting CB Denzel Ward, who was more than up to the task? Rodgers and co only scored 6 points, making Cleveland’s measly 13-point output sufficient for the upset. Next week’s Steelers-Ravens game is now for all the marbles…and DK still won’t be there.
Patriots Demolish Jets, Win AFC East Following Bills’ Loss
As part of their very easy schedule, New England got to play the lifeless Jets this week. Real contenders would crush such a poor opponent. Maybe the Patriots can compete with the big boys after all, as they embarrassed their division rival. I never like to say that a team has checked out and quit on their coach, their teammates, and the game, but New York may have truly done that. A lack of a talent was evident, but the Jets allowed the Patriots to do whatever they wanted. QB Drake Maye (19/21, 256 yards, 5 TDs; 3/22 rushing) had a nearly perfect day. He led 5 straight TD drives and exited midway through the third quarter of the blowout.
Perhaps Maye wanted to make another MVP statement (the clunker by Matthew Stafford on MNF might help), though it was hardly needed to beat the Jets. This was a team starting UDFA rookie Brady Cook (19/33, 152 yards, INT), who’s clearly not a viable option. Unless your name is RB Breece Hall (14/111/1) or K Nick Folk, you did nothing for NYJ in any phase of the game. NE won 42-10, and that score was an act of mercy by the Pats. With that result secured, a Buffalo loss would seal the AFC East for New England. Sunday was the Patriots’ lucky day, as the Bills obliged in an unusual manner against the Eagles in a frigid downpour.
Bills QB Josh Allen (23/35, 262 yards; 7/27/2 rushing, FUM) has a foot injury that’s clearly more serious than he’s letting on. He barely had any of his trademark mobility, which caused major problems against a great Vic Fangio defense. Eagles DT Jalen Carter returned from shoulder surgery and had a huge impact, with a sack, 2 PBUs, and some blown up running lanes for RB James Cook (20/74). Philly pitched a shutout for 3 straight quarters while their own offense trudged along. Their only TD came off a short field, and they put up 13 first-half points before shutting themselves out of the final two frames.
QB Jalen Hurts (13/27, 110 yards, TD) was awful, and he didn’t complete a single second-half pass. Philly had just 17 yards of offense after halftime. As well as the defense played, Buffalo was able to claw back into the game because the Eagles couldn’t extend their lead. After one Buffalo TD, Carter blocked the PAT. When Allen ran for his second score with 5 seconds left, putting on his superman cape despite the injury, rather than tying the game, the Bills went for 2. The play failed, and Philly won 13-12. Putting your division title chances on one play is asinine, and the Bills paid the price: New England wins the AFC East.
Giants Beat Raiders in #1 Pick Preview, but Las Vegas Really Won
In the midst of all this playoff talk, some teams are making moves at the opposite end of the spectrum. By far the most important game among the non-contenders was the Toilet Bowl (unofficial name) between the Giants and Raiders. Based on the games that finished before their kickoff, New York knew their surprisingly simple scenario: lose, and the #1 draft pick was theirs. For Las Vegas, losing out would grant them the top selection, but they couldn’t clinch it this week. We all knew who would win the game. One team tried to beat their opponent, and the other intentionally tanked by placing their best players on IR.
I’m talking of course about the Raiders sending TE Brock Bowers, S Jeremy Chinn, and especially DE Maxx Crosby to injured reserve. Crosby did not want to sit out, but the team informed him that his year was done. Publicly, they say his knee needs surgery and rest, but Crosby has played on it all year. He’s irate; he left practice and stormed out of the team facility before later posting a video of himself playing basketball to prove that he’s in decent health. This man didn’t want to be traded, vowing to see this rebuild through. I wonder if this direct assault on his professional pride will cause him to shift his stance.
Las Vegas is going to get away with these moves. The three players they shelved all have legitimate injuries, though they likely could’ve kept playing. Optically, this is some of the clearest tanking we’ve seen in some time. The only high-end talents on the roster conveniently missed the game that could decide their draft fate. A 34-10 home blowout by the 2-win Giants was hardly surprising. LV is a bad team when they’re healthy, so it makes sense that they’re even worse when intentionally hampered. I want to be clear here: the players and coaches will ALWAYS try their best. The bad actors are only in the front office.
Why would players want to help a team draft their replacement? For what reason would a coach want to lose games so that when he gets fired, his successor reaps the reward of the #1 pick? Only the people at the top of the organization want to make that long-term play. NYG fans are probably unhappy about the outcome, as the pick would’ve been worth a haul in a trade (after taking Jaxson Dart in the first round last year, they likely would’ve swapped with a team in need of a QB). You have to respect their ethics and integrity though, even if winning wasn’t in the franchise’s best interests. Shame on the Raiders for what they’ve done.
49ers Prevent Another Bears Comeback, Can Still Claim #1 Seed
The Bears make an encore appearance in these takeaways because a day after they clinched their division, they and San Francisco put on an SNF show. We had an inauspicious start, as 49ers QB Brock Purdy had a pass deflected and returned for a TD by LB TJ Edwards on the first play from scrimmage. That would be the only turnover committed by either team, and both squads combined for 1 total sack (by Chicago’s Austin Booker, who also earned 2 PBUs). We simply had a case of two high-powered offenses taking on two struggling defenses, and the offenses exploded without ever letting up.
Purdy (24/33, 303 yards, 3 TDs, INT; 6/28/2 rushing) had his second straight game with 5 total TDs. He did this despite LT Trent Williams leaving in the first quarter with an injury and TE George Kittle inactive (ankle). RB Christian McCaffrey (23/140/1; 4/41 receiving) obviously played a monumental role, but WRs Ricky Pearsall (5/85) and Jauan Jennings (2/42/1) and TE Jake Tonges (7/60/1) all contributed in big ways. Not to be outdone, Bears QB Caleb Williams (25/42, 330 yards, 2 TDs; 5/18 rushing) also played extremely well. His deep ball was locked in, and he made very few of his characteristic misfires on “simpler” throws.
Normally a running team, Chicago mostly moved through the air. RB D’Andre Swift (9/54/2; 2/24 receiving) did score twice, but the breakout stars were the team’s first- and second-round rookies: TE Colston Loveland (6/95/1). and WR Luther Burden III (8/138/1), respectively. These two teams consistently traded scores. Whenever one earned a TD, the other responded in kind. In the 4th quarter though, Chicago kicked their first FG of the game. San Francisco didn’t match that, instead scoring a go-ahead TD. Williams’ end-zone prayer, which he threw as time expired, fell to the turf, and the Niners hung on 42-38.
Let’s talk about ramifications. Chicago can no longer earn the #1 seed, but their NFC North title stands. We have a worst-to-first division winner every year, and Chicago and New England gave us two. San Francisco and Seattle will play next week in Santa Clara for the NFC West and the #1 seed, with the loser earning a wild card. The Rams are now also relegated to wild card status. These defenses are likely to cost the Bears and 49ers at some point during the playoffs (though SF LB Fred Warner could be back at some point?). If their offenses play like they did on this night though, nobody will want to face either one of them.