What to Look For – Week 17

NEW YORK — Dec. 24, 2025 — Below are the players that can set historic marks or reach career milestones in Week 17 of the 2025 NFL season, including:

  • DE Myles Garrett
  • QB Matthew Stafford
  • QB Sam Darnold
  • QB Bo Nix
  • QB Justin Herbert
  • QB Jared Goff
  • QB Drake Maye
  • RB Bijan Robinson
  • RB Jonathan Taylor
  • RB Christian McCaffrey
  • RB Jahmyr Gibbs
  • RB Derrick Henry
  • WR Puka Nacua
  • WR Ja’Marr Chase
  • WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba
  • WR Amon-Ra St. Brown
  • WR Justin Jefferson
  • TE Trey McBride  

MYLES GARRETT

Cleveland defensive end Myles Garrett leads the league with 22 sacks and ranks first in the NFL with 124.5 sacks since entering the league in 2017, the second-most by a player in his first nine seasons since 1982.  

Garrett, who plays on Sunday against Pittsburgh (1 p.m. ET, CBS), can surpass Michael Strahan (22.5 sacks in 2001 with the New York Giants) and T.J. Watt (22.5 in 2021 with Pittsburgh) for the most sacks in a season since 1982, when the individual sack became an official statistic. 

The players with the most sacks in a season since 1982:

PLAYERTEAMSEASONSACKS
Michael StrahanN.Y. Giants200122.5
T.J. WattPittsburgh202122.5
Jared Allen HOFMinnesota201122
Myles GarrettCleveland202522*
Mark GastineauN.Y. Jets198422
Justin HoustonKansas City201422
*entering Week 17

MATTHEW STAFFORD

Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford leads the NFL with 40 touchdown passes and ranks first with a 112.1 passer rating this season.

With three touchdown passes and a passer rating of 110-or-higher on Monday Night Football (8:15 p.m. ET, ESPN),  Stafford can become the fourth quarterback in NFL history with at least three touchdown passes and a passer rating of 110-or-higher in four primetime games (start time 7 p.m. ET or later) in a single season, joining Aaron Rodgers (five games in 2020), Drew Brees (four in 2011) and Tony Romo (four in 2014).

Additionally, with three touchdown passes in Week 17, Stafford, who is 37 years old, can tie Tom Brady (43 touchdown passes in 2021 with Tampa Bay) for the second-most touchdown passes in a single season by a quarterback age 37-or-older in NFL history. Only Pro Football Hall of Famer Peyton Manning (55 touchdown passes in 2013 with Denver) has more.

The players age 37-or-older with the most touchdown passes in a season in NFL history:

PLAYERTEAMSEASONTD PASSES
Peyton Manning HOFDenver201355^
Tom BradyTampa Bay202143
Tom BradyTampa Bay202040
Matthew StaffordL.A. Rams202540*
*turns 38 years old in February, 2026; ^NFL record

SAM DARNOLD

Seattle quarterback Sam Darnold helped the Seahawks clinch their first playoff berth since 2022 and has led Seattle to 12 wins this season, the most since 2020.

With a win on Sunday at Carolina (1 p.m. ET, CBS), Darnold – who had 14 wins with Minnesota in 2024 – can become the fifth quarterback all-time to record at least 13 wins in consecutive seasons and the first to do so with different teams, joining Aaron Rodgers (three consecutive seasons from 2019-21 with Green Bay), Tom Brady (two in 2010-11 and 2003-04 with New England) as well as Pro Football Hall of Famers Brett Favre (two in 1996-97 with Green Bay) and Peyton Manning (two in 2012-13 with Denver).

BO NIX

Denver quarterback Bo Nix ranks sixth in the NFL with 3,608 passing yards and tied for eighth with 24 touchdown passes. Since entering the league last season, Nix ranks sixth with 7,383 passing yards and tied for seventh with 53 touchdown passes. 

With a win on Thursday Night Football at Kansas City (8:15 p.m. ET, Prime Video), Nix – who has 22 wins since entering the NFL last season – can surpass Andrew Luck (22 wins), Dak Prescott (22) and Ben Roethlisberger (22) for the second-most wins by a quarterback in his first two seasons in NFL history, trailing only Russell Wilson (24).

With a touchdown pass in Week 17, Nix can become the third player in NFL history with at least 3,500 passing yards and 25 touchdown passes in each of his first two career seasons, joining Justin Herbert and Pro Football Hall of Famer Peyton Manning.

Nix, who has 53 career touchdown passes, can surpass Derek Carr (53 touchdown passes) for the third-most touchdown passes by a player in their first two seasons in NFL history. Only Justin Herbert (69 touchdown passes) and Pro Football Hall of Famer Dan Marino (68) have more.

The players with the most touchdown passes in their first two seasons in NFL history:

PLAYERTEAMTD PASSES
Justin HerbertL.A. Chargers69
Dan Marino HOFMiami68
Derek CarrOakland Raiders53
Bo NixDenver53*
*in second season

 JUSTIN HERBERT

Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert ranks fourth in the NFL with 24,584 passing yards since entering the league in 2020.

With 302 passing yards on Saturday against Houston (4:30 p.m. ET, NFLN), Herbert can surpass Pro Football Hall of Famer Peyton Manning (24,885 passing yards) for the most passing yards by a player in his first six seasons in NFL history.

Herbert has 31 career games with at least 300 passing yards and can tie Pro Football Hall of Famer Dan Marino (32 games) for the second-most such games by a player in his first six seasons in NFL history. Only Patrick Mahomes (41 games) has more.

JARED GOFF

Detroit quarterback Jared Goff leads the NFL with 39,094 passing yards in 149 career games since entering the league in 2016.

With at least 204 passing yards on Thursday at Minnesota (4:30 p.m. ET, Netflix), Goff can surpass Drew Brees (39,297 passing yards) for the fourth-most passing yards by a player in their first 150 career games in NFL history. Only Matthew Stafford (41,322 passing yards), Matt Ryan (39,858) and Kirk Cousins (39,471) have more.

The players with the most passing yards in their first 150 career games in NFL history:

PLAYERTEAM(S)PASS YARDS
Matthew StaffordDetroit41,322
Matt RyanAtlanta39,858
Kirk CousinsWashington, Minnesota39,471
Drew BreesSan Diego Chargers, New Orleans39,297
Dan Marino HOFMiami39,285
Peyton Manning HOFIndianapolis39,164
Jared GoffL.A. Rams, Detroit39,094*
*in 149 career games

DRAKE MAYE

New England quarterback Drake Maye ranks third in the NFL with a 108.5 passer rating and is tied for fifth with 25 touchdown passes this season.

With at least two touchdown passes and a passer rating of 100-or-higher on Sunday at the New York Jets (1 p.m. ET, FOX), Maye, who is 23 years old, can become the third player under the age of 24 with two-or-more touchdown passes and a passer rating of 100-or-higher in 10 games in a single season all-time, joining Patrick Mahomes (13 games in 2018 with Kansas City) and Matthew Stafford (10 in 2011 with Detroit).

Maye has 11 games with a passer rating of 100-or-higher and in Week 17, can surpass Dak Prescott (11 games in 2016 with Dallas) for the second-most such games by a player under the age of 24 in a single season all-time, trailing only Patrick Mahomes (13 in 2018 with Kansas City).

BIJAN ROBINSON

Atlanta running back Bijan Robinson ranks first in the NFL with 2,026 scrimmage yards this season and first with 5,376 scrimmage yards since entering the league in 2023.

With at least 68 scrimmage yards against the Los Angeles Rams on Monday Night Football (8:15 p.m. ET, ESPN), Robinson, who is 23 years old, can surpass Christian McCaffrey (5,443 scrimmage yards with Carolina) for the most scrimmage yards by a player under the age of 24 in NFL history.

The players under the age of 24 with the most scrimmage yards in NFL history:

PLAYERTEAMSCRIMMAGE YARDS
Christian McCaffreyCarolina5,443
Barry Sanders HOFDetroit5,391
Bijan RobinsonAtlanta5,376*
*turns 24 on Jan. 30, 2026

JONATHAN TAYLOR

Indianapolis running back Jonathan Taylor leads the NFL with 17 rushing touchdowns and since entering the league in 2020, ranks second with 8,944 scrimmage yards and 75 scrimmage touchdowns (68 rushing, seven receiving).  

With a rushing touchdown on Sunday against Jacksonville (1 p.m. ET, FOX), Taylor – who had 18 rushing touchdowns in 2021 – can become the fourth player in NFL history with at least 18 rushing touchdowns in multiple career seasons, joining Pro Football Hall of Famers Emmitt Smith (three seasons) and LaDainian Tomlinson (two) as well as Priest Holmes (two).

Taylor can become the sixth player in NFL history with at least 9,000 scrimmage yards and 75 scrimmage touchdowns in his first six seasons, joining Shaun Alexander and Adrian Peterson as well as Pro Football Hall of Famers Jim BrownEmmitt Smith and LaDainian Tomlinson.

CHRISTIAN MCCAFFREY

San Francisco running back Christian McCaffrey ranks second in the NFL with 1,888 scrimmage yards this season and since entering the NFL in 2017, leads all running backs with 36 touchdown receptions and 616 receptions.

With 112 scrimmage yards on Sunday Night Football against Chicago (8:20 p.m. ET, NBC), McCaffrey can become the sixth player since 1990 with at least 2,000 scrimmage yards in three career seasons, joining Pro Football Hall of Famers Marshall Faulk (four seasons), Edgerrin James (three) and LaDainian Tomlinson (three) as well as Tiki Barber (three) and Priest Holmes (three).

With a touchdown reception in Week 17, McCaffrey can surpass Pro Football Hall of Famer Marshall Faulk (36 touchdown receptions) for the most touchdown receptions by a running back since 1970.

McCaffrey can surpass Pro Football Hall of Famer LaDainian Tomlinson (624 receptions) for the third-most receptions by a running back in NFL history. Only Larry Centers (827 receptions) and Pro Football Hall of Famer Marshall Faulk (767) have more.

JAHMYR GIBBS

Detroit running back Jahmyr Gibbs ranks third in the NFL with 39 rushing touchdowns since entering the league in 2023.

With two rushing touchdowns on Thursday at Minnesota (4:30 p.m. ET, Netflix), Gibbs can tie Pro Football Hall of Famer Emmitt Smith (41 rushing touchdowns) for the fourth-most rushing touchdowns by a player in their first three seasons in NFL history. Only Pro Football Hall of Famers Earl Campbell (45 rushing touchdowns), Eric Dickerson (44) and Barry Sanders (43) have more.

The players with the most rushing touchdowns in their first three seasons in NFL history:

PLAYERTEAMRUSH TDs
Earl Campbell HOFHouston Oilers45
Eric Dickerson HOFL.A. Rams44
Barry Sanders HOFDetroit43
Emmitt Smith HOFDallas41
Jim Brown HOFCleveland40
Adrian PetersonMinnesota40
Jahmyr GibbsDetroit39*
*in third season

DERRICK HENRY

Baltimore running back Derrick Henry is tied for fourth with 12 rushing touchdowns this season and since entering the league in 2016, leads the league with 118 rushing touchdowns, the fifth-most in NFL history.

With two rushing touchdowns on Saturday night at Green Bay (8 p.m. ET, Peacock), Henry can tie Adrian Peterson (120 rushing touchdowns) for the fourth-most rushing touchdowns in NFL history, trailing only Pro Football Hall of Famers Emmitt Smith (164), LaDainian Tomlinson (145) and Marcus Allen (123).

With a rushing touchdown in Week 17, Henry can become the third player all-time with at least 13 rushing touchdowns in five career seasons, joining Pro Football Hall of Famer LaDainian Tomlinson (six seasons) and Shaun Alexander (five).

PUKA NACUA

Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua leads the NFL with 114 receptions and ranks second with 1,592 receiving yards. Since entering the league in 2023, Nacua ranks fifth with 298 receptions in 42 career games.

With at least two receptions on Monday Night Football at Atlanta (8:15 p.m. ET, ESPN), Nacua can become the fifth player with at least 300 receptions in his first three career seasons, joining Justin Jefferson (324 receptions), Michael Thomas (321), Amon-Ra St. Brown (315) and Christian McCaffrey (303).

Nacua, with 298 receptions in 42 career games, can become the fastest player in NFL history to reach 300 career receptions, surpassing Odell Beckham Jr. (45 career games) and Michael Thomas (45). 

Nacua, who has had a league-high 573 receiving yards since Week 14 and at least 150 receiving yards in each game, can become the first player in NFL history with at least 150 receiving yards in four consecutive games and the sixth player all-time with at least 150 receiving yards in five games within a single season, joining Antonio Brown (2017 with Pittsburgh), Pro Football Hall of Famers Tim Brown (1997 with the Oakland Raiders) and Jerry Rice (1995 with San Francisco), Roy Green (1984 with the St. Louis Cardinals) and Tyreek Hill (2023 with Miami).

Additionally, with at least 127 receiving yards in Week 17, Nacua can become the fourth player in NFL history with at least 700 receiving yards in a four-game span, joining Josh Gordon (774 receiving yards and 716 in 2013), Pro Football Hall of Famer Calvin Johnson (746 and 706 in 2013), and Charley Henningan (721 in 1961).

JA’MARR CHASE

Cincinnati wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase ranks second in the NFL with 6,681 receiving yards since entering the league in 2021.

With at least 104 receiving yards on Sunday against Arizona (1 p.m. ET, FOX), Chase can surpass Pro Football Hall of Famer Randy Moss (6,743) and Torry Holt (6,784) for the second-most receiving yards by a player in his first five seasons in NFL history. Only Justin Jefferson (7,432 receiving yards) has more.

With at least 100 receiving yards in Week 17, Chase – who has 26 career games with at least 100 receiving yards – can tie Torry Holt (27 games) for the fourth-most such games in a player’s first five seasons in the Super Bowl era. Only Justin Jefferson (34 games), Pro Football Hall of Famer Randy Moss (30) and Julio Jones (28) have more.

JAXON SMITH-NJIGBA

Seattle wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba leads the NFL with 1,637 receiving yards this season.

With at least 63 receiving yards on Sunday at Carolina (1 p.m. ET, CBS), Smith-Njigba – who is 23 years old – can become the third player in NFL history under age 24 with at least 1,700 receiving yards in a single season, joining Justin Jefferson (1,809 receiving yards in 2022 with Minnesota), and Pro Football Hall of Famer Isaac Bruce (1,781 in 1995 with the St. Louis Rams).

AMON-RA ST.BROWN

Detroit wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown ranks fifth in the league with 98 receptions and 1,194 receiving yards. 

With two receptions at Minnesota on Saturday (4:30 p.m. ET, Netflix), St. Brown can become the fifth player in NFL history with at least 100 receptions in four consecutive seasons, joining Antonio Brown (six consecutive seasons from 2013-18), Davante Adams (four from 2020-23), Stefon Diggs (four from 2020-23) and Pro Football Hall of Famer Marvin Harrison (four from 1999-2002).

JUSTIN JEFFERSON

Minnesota wide receiver Justin Jefferson ranks first in the NFL with 8,349 receiving yards since entering the league in 2020.

Jefferson has 917 receiving yards in 2025 and on Thursday against Detroit (4:30 p.m. ET, Netflix), can join Mike Evans and Pro Football Hall of Famer Randy Moss as the only players in NFL history with at least 1,000 receiving yards in each of their first six seasons.

With at least 27 receiving yards in Week 17, Jefferson can surpass Pro Football Hall of Famer Randy Moss (8,375 receiving yards) for the most receiving yards by a player in their first six seasons in NFL history.

TREY MCBRIDE

Arizona tight end Trey McBride ranks third in the league with 109 receptions.

With at least one reception at Cincinnati on Sunday (1 p.m. ET, FOX), McBride can become the first tight end all-time with at least 110 receptions in multiple career seasons.

With eight receptions in Week 17, McBride can surpass Zach Ertz (116 receptions in 2018 with Philadelphia) for the most receptions by a tight end in a season in NFL history. 

The tight ends with the most receptions in a season in NFL history:

PLAYERTEAMSEASONRECEPTIONS
Zach ErtzPhiladelphia2018116
Evan EngramJacksonville2023114
Brock BowersLas Vegas2024112
Trey McBrideArizona2024111
Travis KelceKansas City2022110
Jason WittenDallas2012110
    
Trey McBrideArizona2025109*
*entering Week 17


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