NEW YORK –– Dec. 22, 2024 –– A look at seven statistical highlights from games played during the 1:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. ET windows on Sunday, December 22, the 16th week of the 2024 season.
- The Washington Commanders overcame a 14-point first-quarter deficit and 13-point fourth-quarter deficit to defeat Philadelphia, 36-33, as rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels totaled 339 yards (258 passing, 81 rushing) and five touchdown passes, including the game-winning touchdown pass with six seconds remaining.
The Commanders improved to 10-5 this season, tied for the franchise’s most wins in a season since 1992 (10 wins in 1999, 2005 and 2012).
Daniels is the first rookie and second player in NFL history with at least 250 passing yards, 75 rushing yards and five touchdown passes in a game, joining Cam Newton (Dec. 20, 2015).
Daniels has 737 rushing yards this season and surpassed Cam Newton (706 rushing yards in 2011) for the second-most rushing yards by a rookie quarterback in NFL history. Only Robert Griffin III (815 rushing yards in 2012) has more.
Daniels, who recorded his 10th win and has 3,303 passing yards and 737 rushing yards, is the second rookie starting quarterback in NFL history to win at least 10 games and record 4,000 combined passing and rushing yards, joining Andrew Luck (2012).
Daniels has 28 combined passing and rushing touchdowns (22 passing, six rushing), tied with Andrew Luck (28 touchdowns in 2012) and Jameis Winston (28 in 2015) for the fifth-most by a rookie quarterback in NFL history.
The Buffalo Bills overcame a 14-point first-half deficit to defeat New England, 24-21, as quarterback Josh Allen recorded his 75th career regular-season win, tied with Russell Wilson for the most regular-season wins by a quarterback in his first seven seasons in NFL history.
The Detroit Lions defeated Chicago, 34-17, to earn their franchise-record 13th win of the season.
The Baltimore Ravens defeated Pittsburgh, 34-17, on Saturday to clinch a playoff berth for the third consecutive season.
- Cincinnati quarterback Joe Burrow passed for 252 yards and three touchdowns and wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase had six receptions for 97 yards and one touchdown in the Bengals’ 24-6 win over Cleveland.
Burrow has 4,229 passing yards and 39 touchdown passes this season and is the fourth player in NFL history with 4,000 passing yards and 30 touchdown passes in three of his first five seasons, joining Josh Allen, Patrick Mahomes and Pro Football Hall of Famer Dan Marino.
Burrow is the first player in NFL history with at least 250 passing yards and three touchdown passes in seven consecutive games, surpassing Tom Brady (six consecutive games in 2007).
Burrow is the fifth player all-time with at least three touchdown passes in seven consecutive games, joining Tom Brady (10 consecutive games in 2007) and Andrew Luck (eight in 2018) as well as Pro Football Hall of Famers Peyton Manning (eight in 2004) and Dan Marino (seven from 1986-87).
Burrow has 25 career games with at least three touchdown passes and is the third player with at least three touchdown passes in 25 games in his first five seasons, joining Pro Football Hall of Famer Dan Marino (33 games) and Patrick Mahomes (28).
Burrow has 44 career games with at least two touchdown passes and surpassed Pro Football Hall of Famer Peyton Manning (43 games) for the fifth-most such games by a player in his first five seasons in NFL history. Only Pro Football Hall of Famer Dan Marino (50 games), Patrick Mahomes (46), Josh Allen (45) and Andrew Luck (45) have more.
Chase has 108 receptions for 1,510 yards and 16 touchdowns this season and is the third player in NFL history with at least 100 receptions, 1,500 receiving yards and 15 touchdown receptions in his first 15 games in a season, joining Pro Football Hall of Famers Randy Moss (2003) and Jerry Rice (1995).
Chase has 45 career touchdown receptions, tied with Pro Football Hall of Famer Bob Hayes (45 touchdown receptions) for the third-most touchdown receptions by a player in his first four seasons in NFL history. Only Pro Football Hall of Famers Randy Moss (53 touchdown receptions) and Jerry Rice (49) have more.
Chase has 5,227 career receiving yards since entering the NFL in 2021 and surpassed CeeDee Lamb (5,145 receiving yards) for the fourth-most by a player in his first four seasons in NFL history. Only Justin Jefferson (5,899 receiving yards), Michael Thomas (5,512) and Pro Football Hall of Famer Randy Moss (5,396) have more. - Detroit quarterback Jared Goff passed for 336 yards and three touchdowns with a 137.0 passer rating, wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown had six receptions for 70 yards and one touchdown and tight end Sam LaPorta had his sixth touchdown reception of the season in the Lions’ 34-17 win at Chicago.
Goff is the first player in NFL history with at least 275 passing yards, two touchdown passes and a passer rating of 135-or-higher in five games within a single season in NFL history.
Goff has 41 career games with at least 300 passing yards, tied with Pro Football Hall of Famer Dan Marino (41 games) and Matt Ryan (41) for the second-most games with at least 300 passing yards by a quarterback in his first nine seasons in NFL history. Only Patrick Mahomes (47 games, in first eight seasons) has more.
St. Brown, who has 101 receptions this season and had 119 receptions in 2023 and 106 receptions in 2022, is the third player in NFL history with 100 receptions in three of his first four seasons, joining Brandon Marshall and Michael Thomas.
LaPorta has 16 career touchdown receptions, tied with Jimmy Graham (16 touchdown receptions) for the third-most touchdown receptions by a tight end in his first two seasons in NFL history. Only Rob Gronkowski (27 touchdown receptions) and Pro Football Hall of Famer Mike Ditka (17) have more. - Minnesota quarterback Sam Darnold passed for three touchdowns with a 112.3 passer rating, wide receiver Justin Jefferson had 10 receptions for 144 yards and two touchdowns and wide receiver Jordan Addison had his eighth touchdown catch of the season in the Vikings’ 27-24 win at Seattle.
Darnold is the seventh quarterback in NFL history to record at least 13 wins in his first season with a team, joining Pro Football Hall of Famer Peyton Manning (2012 with Denver), Daryle Lamonica (1967 with the Oakland Raiders), Steve McNair (2006 with the Baltimore Ravens), Earl Morrall (1968 with the Baltimore Colts), Dak Prescott (2016 with Dallas) and Ben Roethlisberger (2004 with Pittsburgh).
Darnold has 11 games with at least two touchdown passes and a passer rating of 100-or-higher this season, tied for the fifth-most such games in a season in NFL history, trailing only Aaron Rodgers (14 games in 2020 and 13 games in 2011), Patrick Mahomes (13 in 2018) and Matt Ryan (12 in 2016).
Jefferson is the fifth player in NFL history with at least 10 receptions and 100 receiving yards in 10 games within his first five career seasons, joining Michael Thomas (15 games), Brandon Marshall (11), Ja’Marr Chase (10, in fourth season) and CeeDee Lamb (10, in fifth season, entering Sunday Night Football).
Jefferson has 484 career receptions and surpassed Jarvis Landry (481 receptions) for the third-most receptions by a player in his first five seasons in NFL history. Only Michael Thomas (510 receptions) and CeeDee Lamb (489, in fifth season, entering Sunday Night Football) have more.
Jefferson has 1,387 receiving yards this season and joined Torry Holt and Pro Football Hall of Famer Randy Moss as the only players all-time with at least 1,300 receiving yards in four of their first five career seasons.
Addison, who is 22 years old, has 18 touchdown career receptions, tied with Larry Fitzgerald (18 touchdown receptions) for the fifth-most touchdown receptions by a player under the age of 23 in NFL history. Only Pro Football Hall of Famer Randy Moss (28 touchdowns), Rob Gronkowski (27), Ja’Marr Chase (22) and Odell Beckham Jr. (19) have more. - Indianapolis quarterback Anthony Richardson had two touchdowns (one passing, one rushing) and running back Jonathan Taylor rushed for 218 yards and three touchdowns in the Colts’ 38-30 win over Tennessee.
Richardson, who has 11 touchdown passes and 10 rushing touchdowns in 15 career games, is the third quarterback ever with at least 10 touchdown passes and 10 rushing touchdowns in his first 15 career games, joining Josh Allen and Cam Newton.
Taylor is the sixth player all-time with at least 200 scrimmage yards and two touchdowns in four games within in his first five seasons in NFL history, joining Pro Football Hall of Famers LaDainian Tomlinson (seven games), Eric Dickerson (five) and Walter Payton (four) as well as Corey Dillon (five) and Derrick Henry (five).
Taylor is the fifth player since 1990 with at least 185 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown in four games within his first five career seasons, joining Derrick Henry (six games), Pro Football Hall of Famers LaDainian Tomlinson (six) and Terrell Davis (five) as well as Corey Dillon (four). - Philadelphia running back Saquon Barkley rushed for 150 yards and two touchdowns in Week 16, including a 68-yard touchdown run.
Barkley is the first player in NFL history with four rushing touchdowns of 65-or-more yards in a single season.
Barkley is the sixth player in NFL history with 10 career rushing touchdowns of 50-or-more yards, joining Adrian Peterson (16 rushing touchdowns), Pro Football Hall of Famers Barry Sanders (15) and Jim Brown (12), as well as Derrick Henry (12) and Chris Johnson (11).
Barkley has 2,114 scrimmage yards this season and is the fourth non-rookie in NFL history to record 2,000 scrimmage yards in his first season with a team, joining Pro Football Hall of Famer Marshall Faulk (2,429 scrimmage yards in 1999 with the St. Louis Rams), Priest Holmes (2,169 in 2001 with Kansas City) and Ricky Williams (2,216 in 2002 with Miami).
Barkley, who has 2,114 scrimmage yards this season and had 2,028 scrimmage yards with the New York Giants in 2018, is the fourth player in NFL history to record 2,000 scrimmage yards in a season with two franchises, joining Pro Football Hall of Famers Eric Dickerson (L.A. Rams and Indianapolis Colts) and Marshall Faulk (St. Louis Rams and Indianapolis Colts) as well as Christian McCaffrey (Carolina and San Francisco). - Cleveland defensive end Myles Garrett recorded his 12th sack of the season in Week 16.
Garrett has 100.5 career sacks and is the fifth player since 1982, when the individual sack became an official statistic, with at least 100 sacks in his first eight career seasons, joining Pro Football Hall of Famers Reggie White (124 sacks) and DeMarcus Ware (111) as well as T.J. Watt (108, in eighth season) and Jared Allen (105).
Garrett, who turns 29 years old on December 29, 2024, is the first player since 1982, when the individual sack became an official statistic, with 100 career sacks prior to his 29th birthday.
Garrett has 12 sacks this season and became the second player since 1982, when the individual sack became an official statistic, to reach 12 sacks in five consecutive seasons, joining Pro Football Hall of Famer Lawrence Taylor (1985-89). - Additional notes from Sunday include:
- Chicago rookie quarterback Caleb Williams passed for 334 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions for a 107.7 rating in Week 16.
Williams is the sixth rookie in NFL history with at least 300 passing yards and multiple touchdown passes in four games, joining Justin Herbert (five games in 2020), Andrew Luck (five in 2012), C.J. Stroud (five in 2023), Daniel Jones (four in 2019) and Kyler Murray (four in 2019).
Williams has nine consecutive games with at least 20 pass attempts and no interceptions, tied with Jared Goff (2022), Aaron Rodgers (2018), Alex Smith (2015) and Bernie Kosar (1991) for the third-longest such streak in a season all-time. Only Derek Carr (10 consecutive games in 2018) and Tom Brady (10 in 2010) had longer such streaks.
Williams has 19 touchdown passes and five interceptions in 15 career starts and is the fifth quarterback all-time with 15-or-more touchdown passes and five-or-fewer interceptions in his first 15 career starts, joining Robert Griffin III, Damon Huard, Dak Prescott and C.J. Stroud. - Las Vegas rookie tight end Brock Bowers had 11 receptions for 99 yards in the Raiders’ 19-14 win over Jacksonville while New York Giants rookie wide receiver Malik Nabers had seven receptions for 68 yards in Week 16.
Bowers has 101 receptions this season, tied with Anquan Boldin (101 in 2003) for the third-most receptions by a rookie in NFL history. Nabers, with 97 receptions, surpassed Michael Thomas (92 receptions in 2016) for the fifth-most receptions by a rookie all-time. Only Puka Nacua (105 receptions in 2023) and Jaylen Waddle (104 in 2021) have more.
Bowers has 1,067 receiving yards this season and joined Pro Football Hall of Famer Mike Ditka (1,076 receiving yards in 1961) and Kyle Pitts (1,026 in 2021) as the only rookie tight ends all-time with 1,000 receiving yards.
Bowers is the third tight end all-time with four games of 10-or-more receptions in a season, joining Zach Ertz (five games in 2018 with Philadelphia) and Evan Engram (four in 2023 with Jacksonville).
Bowers is the second rookie in NFL history with four games of 10-or-more receptions, joining Odell Beckham Jr. (four games in 2014 with the New York Giants).
Nabers joined Anquan Boldin (2003) and Terry Glenn (1996) as the only rookies in NFL history with 12 games of five-or-receptions. - Jacksonville rookie wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. had nine receptions for 132 yards and one touchdown in Week 16.
Thomas Jr. became the sixth rookie ever with nine games of 75-or-more receiving yards, joining Bill Groman (11 games in 1960), Odell Beckham Jr. (nine in 2014), Anquan Boldin (nine in 2003), Terry Glenn (nine in 1996) and Justin Jefferson (nine in 2020). - Miami wide receiver Tyreek Hill registered his sixth touchdown reception of the season and became the third player in NFL history with at least six touchdown receptions in each of his first nine seasons, joining Pro Football Hall of Famers Marvin Harrison and Don Hutson.
- San Francisco tight end George Kittle recorded eight receptions for 106 yards in Week 16.
Kittle has 7,241 career receiving yards and surpassed Rob Gronkowski (7,179 receiving yards) for the second-most receiving yards by a tight end in his first eight seasons in NFL history. Only Travis Kelce (7,881 receiving yards) has more.
Kittle has 20 career games with at least 100 receiving yards and became the fourth tight end with 20 such games in his first eight seasons in NFL history, joining Rob Gronkowski (26 games), Travis Kelce (25) and Pro Football Hall of Famer Kellen Winslow Sr. (24).
- Chicago rookie quarterback Caleb Williams passed for 334 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions for a 107.7 rating in Week 16.
