A look at seven statistical highlights from games played at 1:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. ET on Sunday, December 27, the 16th week of the 2020 season.
- The KANSAS CITY CHIEFS defeated Atlanta, 17-14, to clinch the first-round bye and homefield advantage throughout the AFC playoffs. The Chiefs are the No. 1 seed in the AFC for the second time in the past three seasons (2018).
The PITTSBURGH STEELERS overcame a 17-point deficit to defeat Indianapolis, 28-24, to clinch the AFC North division title for the first time since 2017.
Pittsburgh clinched the AFC North division title after missing the postseason in 2019. In each of the past 43 seasons (1977-2020, excluding 1982, when divisional play did not occur), at least one team has won its division the season after missing the playoffs.
On Friday, the NEW ORLEANS SAINTS defeated Minnesota, 52-33, to clinch the NFC South division title for the fourth-consecutive season.
The SEATTLE SEAHAWKS defeated the Los Angeles Rams, 20-9, to clinch the NFC West division title for the first time since 2016.
On Saturday, the TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS defeated Detroit, 47-7, to clinch their first playoff berth since 2007.
For the Week 16 Playoff Scenarios involving the TENNESSEE TITANS on Sunday night (8:20 PM ET, NBC), click here.
The DALLAS COWBOYS overcame an 11-point deficit to defeat Philadelphia, 37-17, on Sunday.
With two games remaining this week, there have been 42 games in which a team has overcome a deficit of at least 10 points to win this season, the most through Week 16 in NFL history, and nine games in a which a team has overcome a deficit of at least 17 points to win, trailing only the 2011 season (11 games) for the most ever in a single season. - Los Angeles Chargers rookie quarterback JUSTIN HERBERT passed for 253 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions for a 97.2 rating in the Chargers’ 19-16 win over Denver.
Herbert has 28 passing touchdowns this season and surpassed BAKER MAYFIELD (27 touchdown passes in 2018) for the most touchdown passes by a rookie in NFL history.
Herbert has 4,034 passing yards and became the fourth rookie in league history with at least 4,000 passing yards, joining ANDREW LUCK (4,374 passing yards in 2012), CAM NEWTON (4,051 passing yards in 2011) and JAMEIS WINSTON (4,042 passing yards in 2015). - Kansas City tight end TRAVIS KELCE had seven receptions for 98 yards and a touchdown in the Chiefs’ Week 16 win.
Kelce has 1,416 receiving yards this season and surpassed GEORGE KITTLE (1,377 receiving yards in 2018) for the most receiving yards by a tight end in a single season in NFL history.
Kelce, who had 103 receptions in 2018, has 105 receptions this season and is the first tight end in NFL history with at least 100 receptions in two different seasons.
- Pittsburgh linebacker T.J. WATT registered two sacks and a forced fumble in the Steelers’ Week 16 victory. The Steelers, who lead the NFL with 52 sacks this season, are the first team since the NEW YORK GIANTS (1985-88) to register at least 50 sacks in four consecutive seasons.
Indianapolis quarterback PHILIP RIVERS registered his 420th career touchdown pass on Sunday, tied with Pro Football Hall of Famer DAN MARINO (420 touchdown passes) for the fifth-most in NFL history.
Four rookies – Pittsburgh’s CHASE CLAYPOOL (10 touchdowns), Washington’s ANTONIO GIBSON (11), Jacksonville’s JAMES ROBINSON (10) and Indianapolis’ JONATHAN TAYLOR (10) – each have at least 10 touchdowns this season. 2020 is the third season in the Super Bowl era with at least four rookies each recording at least 10 touchdowns, joining the 2008 (five rookies) and 2018 (four) seasons. - Baltimore quarterback LAMAR JACKSON had two touchdown passes with zero interceptions for a 111.5 rating and added 80 rushing yards in the Ravens’ 27-13 win over the New York Giants.
The Ravens have rushed for at least 100 yards in 38 consecutive games (2018-20), tied with the DETROIT LIONS (38 games from 1935-39) for the second-longest such streak in NFL history. Only the PITTSBURGH STEELERS (43 games from 1974-77) have a longer streak. - New York Jets running back FRANK GORE reached 16,000 career rushing yards in the Jets’ 23-16 win over Cleveland.
Gore is the third player in NFL history with at least 16,000 career rushing yards, joining Pro Football Hall of Famers EMMITT SMITH (18,355 rushing yards) and WALTER PAYTON (16,726). - Dallas running back EZEKIEL ELLIOTT had 139 scrimmage yards (105 rushing, 34 receiving) in the Cowboys’ Week 16 win.
Elliott, who has 1,256 scrimmage yards and seven touchdowns this season, is the fourth player with at least 1,200 scrimmage yards and seven touchdowns in each of his first five seasons in NFL history, joining Pro Football Hall of Famers RANDY MOSS and LADAINIAN TOMLINSON as well as RICKY WATTERS.
Philadelphia rookie quarterback JALEN HURTS passed for 342 yards and one touchdown and added 69 rushing yards on Sunday.
Hurts, who passed for 338 yards and rushed for 63 yards in Week 15, joins MICHAEL VICK (Weeks 4-5, 2011) as the only quarterbacks with at least 300 passing yards and 50 rushing yards in consecutive games in NFL history.
Hurts, who had 106 rushing yards in Week 14 and 63 rushing yards in Week 15, joins LAMAR JACKSON (first five starts) as the only quarterbacks with at least 50 rushing yards in each of their first three career starts in the Super Bowl era. - Other notable performances from Sunday include:
- Philadelphia wide receiver DESEAN JACKSON had an 81-yard touchdown reception on Sunday.
Jackson has five career receiving touchdowns of at least 80 yards, tied with Pro Football Hall of Famers LANCE ALWORTH (five), BOB HAYES (five) and JERRY RICE (five) as well as DERRICK ALEXANDER (five) for the most touchdown receptions of at least 80 yards in NFL history. - Chicago linebacker ROQUAN SMITH registered two interceptions and a fumble recovery in the Bears’ 41-17 win at Jacksonville.
Smith is the fourth linebacker since 1990 with at least two interceptions and an opponent fumble recovery in a single game, joining CHAD GREENWAY (September 20, 2009), BRODERICK THOMAS (November 1, 1992) and MIKE VRABEL (December 3, 2006).
- Philadelphia wide receiver DESEAN JACKSON had an 81-yard touchdown reception on Sunday.
