Vikings hold NFC’s no. 1 seed in play

On By Littum

game

Time is running out for NFL teams.

Either for those looking to improve their postseason seeding or those just trying to get into the playoffs, Week 16 was the penultimate chance to bolster their resume.

And the most significant result came in Washington, where the Commanders upset the Eagles in a comeback victory that still keeps Dan Quinn’s team alive in the race for the NFC East crown. It also makes Philadelphia’s potential path to No. 1 seed in the conference looked much more challenging.

This is because no. The 1 seed has two impressive contenders in the Detroit Lions and Minnesota Vikings, both of whom are 13-2.

Here are the winners and losers from Sunday in week 16.

WINNERS

The fifth-seeded Vikings still have a shot at the one-seed in the NFC

In many ways, the biggest misfortune the Vikings have had this season is that they play in the NFC North, where the Lions also reside. And Minnesota’s two-point loss to Detroit in Week 7 looms large as the seeding is decided.

Still, a 27-24 road win against a Seattle Seahawks team fighting for its playoff lives is another test the Vikings have answered this year. The Sam Darnold revival shows no signs of slowing down, and his connection with Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison has been excellent. The defense forced two more turnovers against the Seahawks and has now forced 30, trailing only the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 31. The toughest challenges remain, however. The Vikings finish their season with games against the Green Bay Packers (10-4) and – in what will likely be the marquee game of Week 18 – against Detroit. That matchup could end up being the top seed in the NFC.

The Rams edged closer to the division title

Things often don’t look pretty for the Los Angeles Rams (9-6), but they have found different ways to win this season. And with the Seahawks’ loss, Los Angeles is now a full game in the NFC West after a 19-9 win over the New York Jets.

Ahead of the schedule are the Arizona Cardinals, losers of four of their last five, and these Seahawks in a season finale that could be a winner-take-all matchup for the division. The constant over the past month has been the return to form of running back Kyren Williams, who has rushed for 421 yards and four touchdowns in four games in December. It’s no surprise, then, that LA is on a four-game winning streak.

Penix gives Falcons boost; The Cowboys also make them a solid

Making his first career start, Falcons rookie quarterback Michael Penix Jr. Atlanta’s offense effective, giving the team a boost in a 34-7 rout of the New York Giants, while confirming coach Raheem Morris’ decision to bench Kirk Cousins.

Penix shined in the pocket, kept calm feet and avoided pressure. He was decisive with the ball and excelled off the play. Penix completed 18 of 27 throws for 202 yards with one interception that was not his fault. It came on a perfectly thrown pass to tight end Kyle Pitts, who bobbled it into the hands of a Giants defender. There will be growing pains, and it came against a rebuilding Giants team with little to play for, but Penix showed he can handle a game and set his teammates up for success. And when the Dallas Cowboys beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday night, the Falcons slipped into first place in the NFC South, for the time being.

If he hadn’t already, Jayden Daniels had all but locked up OROY

Commanders rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels’ magical rookie season continued Sunday with a wild come-from-behind win over the Eagles. Daniels overcame a pair of interceptions to throw for 258 yards and five touchdowns while adding 81 rushing yards.

The most impressive thing about Daniels this season has been his calm, efficient approach late in games, even when Washington (10-5) has been down. On the game-winning drive, after getting the ball with 1:52 left in the game, Daniels threw for 33 yards, ran for 14 more, and his only incompletion was a punt.

LOSER

The Eagles implode, complicating the path to No. 1 seed

Yes, Philadelphia played most of this game without starting quarterback Jalen Hurts (concussion). And yes, even with their loss, the Eagles (12-3) are still very comfortably the No. 2 seed in the NFC. But with just two games remaining, it looks increasingly unlikely that Philadelphia will catch the Lions for the top seed in the conference, home field advantage and a first-round bye.

This was a game in which the Eagles forced five turnovers and still lost, and one in which Philadelphia had two separate 14-point leads and a 13-point advantage heading into the fourth quarter. The usually reliable DeVonta Smith dropped a third-down pass that almost certainly would have sealed the game. The Eagles went three-of-16 (19%) on third downs and just two-of-four on red zone conversions. The defense was shredded late. And now Philly will need massive help to catch Detroit.

The Buccaneers surrender first place in the NFC South

While Tampa Bay had to beat the Cowboys on the road in a tough environment to maintain first place in the NFC South — not an easy proposition by any means — the 26-24 loss was undoubtedly a letdown for the Buccaneers (8)-7) .

Further complicating Tampa’s position is that the Falcons swept the Bucs this season and hold the tiebreaker. Still, all is not lost for the Buccaneers. Atlanta will face the tough Commanders next week, so the Bucs will have a window to sneak back in; Tampa Bay closes out its season against the Carolina Panthers (4-11) and the New Orleans Saints (5-9). First and foremost, the Buccaneers need to do a much better job of protecting Baker Mayfield, and the defense needs to stop giving up explosive plays.

The Cardinals suffer another late-season collapse, showing they’re still not ready

A month and a half ago, the Cardinals were two games over .500, in first place in the NFC West and looking like an up-and-coming team that could make some noise down the stretch. Since then, Arizona (7-8) has won just one of its last five games — the most recent loss on Sunday against the Panthers in a 36-30 overtime loss that eliminated the Cardinals from the playoffs.

The Cardinals’ tackling effort against Carolina was abysmal. Kyler Murray (20-of-32, 202 yards, two total touchdowns, two turnovers), despite his game dynamic, often struggles with his accuracy. Murray’s relationship with his receivers is not where it should be; the wide receiver with the most yards against the Panthers was Michael Wilson, who caught just two passes for 44 yards. Arizona is a young team with talent in places. That alone is not good enough to be a serious candidate.