Sam Darnold’s astonishing resurgence with the Minnesota Vikings continued and Saquon Barkley hit a notable landmark on the penultimate Sunday of the NFL regular season.
Darnold’s Vikings beat the Green Bay Packers to set up a huge final week showdown with the Detroit Lions for the crucial top spot in the NFC.
Barkley eclipsed the 2,000-yard rushing mark as the Philadelphia Eagles hammered the Dallas Cowboys to win the NFC East – and he is now within reach of a huge NFL record.
Josh Allen helped the Buffalo Bills clinch the AFC second seed and maybe the MVP award as they battered the New York Jets in another miserable day at the office for Aaron Rodgers.
The Indianapolis Colts fluffed their lines as they crashed out of play-off contention with an upset loss at the lowly New York Giants, while rookie Jayden Daniels produced another epic finish to drive the Washington Commanders into the post-season.
Vikings hero Darnold sets up Lions showdown
Sam Darnold was signed by the Vikings as a one-year fill-in for injured rookie quarterback JJ McCarthy but he’s exceeded all expectations after engineering a 27-25 victory against the Packers to take Minnesota to 14-2.
The Vikings will face the Detroit Lions next week in a winner-takes-all battle for top spot in the NFC, a first-round bye and home advantage in the play-offs.
After six uninspiring seasons on three teams, Darnold has had a remarkable transformation in Minnesota, with a career-best 377 yards against Green Bay and three touchdown passes taking him to 35 for the season.
Minnesota have played second fiddle to the likes of the Lions and Eagles this season but they could well end up top of the NFC pile.
Eagles’ Barkley hits rushing landmark
The NFC East has a new winner for a record 20th straight year after the Eagles dished out a 41-7 hammering to the Cowboys on the back of 167 rushing yards from Saquon Barkley.
The 27-year-old is just the ninth player ever to break the 2,000-yard mark in a season. He has Eric Dickerson’s coveted record of 2,105, set in 1984, in his sights but may not have the chance to break it.
As the Eagles have nothing to play for next week, head coach Nick Sirianni would rest his star players for the play-offs in normal circumstances.
“I always have to do what’s right for the football team to reach our goals of what we need to do,” Sirianni said. “I’ve got a lot to think about.”
Barkley would need 101 yards next week to grab one of the biggest records in the NFL, albeit playing a game more than Dickerson, and that game just happens to be against the New York Giants – who controversially let him leave in the summer.
Daniels adds another special finish
Rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels has been a one-man highlight reel this season. He did it again with a fine overtime drive giving Washington a thrilling 30-24 win over the Atlanta Falcons.
The win booked Washington’s play-off spot and also meant the Los Angeles Rams made it through as NFC West champions as a result.
Daniels was spectacular with three touchdown passes and a whopping 127 yards rushing – with some dazzling running on the final drive capped by a game-winning touchdown pass zipped in to Zach Ertz.
Atlanta’s own rookie quarterback Michael Penix also impressed in just his second start, throwing a late touchdown to Kyle Pitts with just 79 seconds left to force overtime.
But the Falcons lost control of their play-off destiny after the loss, coupled with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers hammering the Carolina Panthers 48-14.
The Bucs will now get in as NFC South champions with a win next week while Atlanta need to win their game and hope Tampa Bay slip up.
Colts crash out as Giants ignore top pick lure
The Indianapolis Colts were heavy favourites against the two-win New York Giants but suffered a 45-33 defeat as they endured yet another late play-off elimination.
The Colts have suffered three such setbacks in the last four years and twice they have lost to the team with the worst record in the NFL.
The Giants ended a team record 10-game losing streak and avoided becoming the first team to go 0-9 at home but it may have cost them the top pick of next year’s NFL Draft, which they held before the win.
The Miami Dolphins beat the Cleveland Browns to take their play-off hopes to the final game, when they’ll fight it out with the Denver Broncos and Cincinnati Bengals for the final AFC spot.
‘Josh Allen is the MVP’
The Buffalo Bills completed a third undefeated home season with a dominant 40-14 win over the New York Jets, leaving head coach Sean McDermott in no doubt about his star quarterback’s MVP credentials.
“At the end of the day, Josh Allen is the MVP,” McDermott told reporters after the game.
“I’ve been around this league long enough to know, to see MVPs every year for many years. I’ve got a hard time believing that someone’s done more.”
Allen threw two touchdown passes and ran in another to take his season tally to 28 passing and 11 rushing scores for the 13-3 Bills – and he may well be rested next week.
Aaron Rodgers endured another miserable day as he was left stuck on 499 touchdown passes when he was benched in the fourth quarter – and there remain plenty of doubt about his future after a torrid year in New York.
NFL Results – Week 17
Christmas Day
Thursday Night Football
Saturday triple header
Sunday schedule
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Dallas Cowboys 7-41 Philadelphia Eagles
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Carolina Panthers 14-48 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
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Las Vegas Raiders 25-10 New Orleans Saints
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Tennessee Titans 13-20 Jacksonville Jaguars
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New York Jets 14-40 Buffalo Bills
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Indianapolis Colts 33-45 New York Giants
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Miami Dolphins 20-3 Cleveland Browns
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Green Bay Packers 25-27 Minnesota Vikings
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Atlanta Falcons 24-30 Washington Commanders (OT)
Monday Night Football