Vincent Frank
Our NFL Week 17 grades are now live with a look at how all 32 teams did in the second-to-final week of the regular season.
The Green Bay Packers did their thing on the road against the Minnesota Vikings Sunday night to remain very much alive in the NFC Playoff race.
On the other end of the spectrum, the Philadelphia Eagles embarrassed themselves at home in a loss to the previously three-win Arizona Cardinals. Said loss gifted the San Francisco 49ers home-field advantage and a first-round bye in the NFC Playoffs.
Below are our NFL Week 17 grades for all 32 teams.
Related: NFL Playoff and Super Bowl predictions
Cleveland Browns: B
Joe Flacco just continues to defy Father Time and common sense as Cleveland’s starting quarterback. Mere weeks after being signed off the street following the season-ending injury Deshaun Watson suffered, Flacco completed 19-of-29 passes for 309 yards with three touchdowns in a 37-20 win over the New York Jets. Cleveland ultimately clinched just its second playoff appearance of the past two decades. It was a party to open NFL Week 17.
New York Jets: D
One of the best defenses in the NFL just did not show up on Thursday Night Football. This unit yielded 428 total yards and 37 points to a Cleveland offense that was without its entire starting backfield and No. 1 wide receiver. We know the Jets have nothing to play for. But head coach Robert Saleh wanted the team to play inspired football to close out the 2023 season. That did not happen here.
Detroit Lions: C
Dan Campbell can be as upset as he wants about the controversial ending of the game Saturday night. That’s fine. The officials on hand might have made a major mistake. But the two Jared Goff interceptions coupled with Campbell’s decision to continue going for two at the end doomed Detroit. The Lions also allowed CeeDee Lamb to put up a career day as its defense came up small in a 20-19 loss to Dallas.
Dallas Cowboys: B
Dak Prescott was very good (26-of-38 passing for 345 yards). CeeDee Lamb absolutely dominated the Lions’ defense to the tune of 13 receptions for 227 yards. Typically, numbers like that would lead to a blowout. Unfortunately, it is Dallas’ defense at the end that nearly cost the team the game. It allowed Detroit to drive down the field 75 yards in 78 seconds with the team up by seven late in the fourth. We all know how things ended in Big D. Sure, the stop made the Cowboys’ defense look good. But this unit simply needs to play better if the ‘Boys are to make a deep playoff run.
Related: NFL Week 17 defense rankings
Miami Dolphins: F
Miami had another opportunity to make a statement during NFL Week 17 after a big win over the Dallas Cowboys last week. It did not go well. Its defense allowed Lamar Jackson to score five total touchdowns. It also gave up 168 yards on the ground in what was an ugly 49-19 loss to Baltimore. Are the Fins actually pretenders? It sure seems like that’s the case.
Baltimore Ravens: A+
What a statement for a second consecutive week by likely NFL MVP Lamar Jackson and his Ravens. The quarterback was absolutely unbelievable during NFL Week 17, completing 18-of-21 passes for 321 yards with five touchdowns and zero interceptions. Baltimore’s stingy defense also picked off Tua Tagovailoa twice in what was a 37-point win for a team that now has to be considered the odds-on Super Bowl favorite.
Houston Texans: A+
What a great return to action for rookie QB C.J. Stroud after he missed the past two games with a concussion. The youngster completed 24-of-32 passes for 213 yards. Houston added 113 yards on the ground in a 26-3 win over the division-rival Titans. At 8-7, the Texans now control their destiny in the AFC. A win next week against the Colts in Indianapolis will have DeMeco Ryans and Co. playing postseason football.
Tennessee Titans: F
Sunday’s loss to Houston was a prime example of a team playing out the string in a lost season. The Titans played uninspired football throughout, losing by 23 points. They put up less than 200 total yards of offense. Rookie quarterback Will Levis was injured again. Now at 5-11 on the season, questions will be raised about Mike Vrabel’s future in Nashville once Week 18 comes to a conclusion.
Carolina Panthers: F
From rookie No. 1 pick Bryce Young displaying a ton of frustration to owner David Tepper embarrassing himself, NFL Week 17 was an unmitigated disaster for the league’s biggest laughingstock. Young tallied 67 net passing yards on 32 attempts in the 26-0 loss. Carolina just barely crossed over the 100-total yard plateau. Yeah, this season could not end soon enough for the Panthers and their fans.
Jacksonville Jaguars: A+
What a way to rebound from four consecutive losses. Even without Trevor Lawrence (shoulder), the Jaguars’ offense hummed along. C.J. Beathard completed a workmanlike 17-of-24 passes. Travis Etienne added 102 yards on the ground. Stud EDGE rusher Josh Allen recorded three of the Jaguars’ six sacks. The end result was a shutout 26-0 win. Jacksonville now simply needs to beat the Titans next week to win the AFC South.
Related: NFL Week 17 sack leaders
Washington Commanders: C
Washington has now lost 12 of 14 since starting the season 2-0. However, Ron Rivera’s squad was a bit more competitive than we thought they’d be against the 49ers. In fact, it was just 13-10 at halftime. The Commanders then were shutout in the second half while allowing the 49ers touchdown-scoring drives of 83 and 95 yards in the second half. That’s the iteration of the Commanders we’ve been accustomed to.
San Francisco 49ers: B-
San Francisco did not play great football in the first half on Sunday. But the team was able to rebound after last week’s brutal home loss to Baltimore. Brock Purdy put up one of his typical days (22-of-28 passing, 230 yards, 2 TD). The 49ers gained 428 yards while tallying 28 first downs. Their defense picked off Sam Howell twice. The end result was a 27-10 win as San Francisco locked up the No. 1 seed in the NFC.
New Orleans Saints: A
NFL Week 17 was a must win for Dennis Allen and the Saints. They entered it with the possibility of being eliminated from the NFC South title conversation on the road against a red-hot Buccaneers squad. The end result? New Orleans putting up its best performance since back in October. Derek Carr was good (24-of-32 passing, 197 yards, 2 TD). The Saints also got to Baker Mayfield for two sacks in a huge 23-13 win. New Orleans can now win the division with a victory over Atlanta and a Bucs loss to Carolina in Week 18. It is also alive for a wild card spot.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: F
Winners of four consecutive heading into NFL Week 17, the Buccaneers laid an absolute egg. It came on a day in which the squad could have clinched the NFC South. The aforementioned Mayfield threw two inopportune interceptions. The Bucs’ rushing attack could not get it going (57 yards). Mike Evans and Chris Godwin combined for just six catches. The good news? Tampa still clinches the division with a victory over the two-win Panthers next week.
Related: NFL Week 17 power rankings
Arizona Cardinals: A+
Credit to Jonathan Gannon. He has the otherwise bad Cardinals playing inspired football. Arizona head into Philadelphia on Sunday as 11.5-point underdogs against an Eagles team that was in must-win mode to remain alive for the No. 1 seed in the NFC. The end result was Arizona putting up the best performance of its season in a shocking 35-31 win. That included Murray leading the Cardinals down the field in the final seconds on a 70-yard touchdown scoring drive. Just amazing stuff.
Philadelphia Eagles: F
The defending NFC champs now find themselves at 1-4 since a 10-1 start to the season. Their most-recent loss might have been the most embarrassing of the Nick Sirianni era. Losing at home to a three-win team with the NFC East and the No. 1 seed in the conference on the line is just pathetic. How they lost adds another layer to that. Letting Arizona drive down the field for a game winning touchdown in just over two minutes. Pathetic. The Eagles now look to be headed for an early playoff exit after looking like a juggernaut earlier in the season.
Los Angeles Rams: C+
The Los Angeles Rams will be playing playoff football in 2024. This is not something anyone had envisioned earlier in the season. But Sean McVay’s coaching job has been downright eye-opening. Sure, Sunday’s 26-25 win over the Giants was nothing to write home about. But a win is a win. Clinching a playoff spot adds another layer to that.
Related: Los Angeles Rams clinch playoff spot during NFL Week 17
New York Giants: C
The Giants were a missed Mason Crosby 54-yard field goal in the final seconds away from pulling off an upset during NFL Week 17. Unfortunately, it just did not come to fruition against a superior Rams squad. There is some good to point to here, including Tyrod Taylor going for 319 yards through the air. But there are no moral victories in today’s NFL.
Las Vegas Raiders: C+
Vegas is now officially eliminated from the NFL Playoff conversation after Sunday’s brutal 23-20 loss to the Indianapolis Colts. It didn’t come without some good. Rookie Aidan O’Connell rebounded after consecutive bad outings, completing 30-of-47 passes for 299 yards with two touchdowns. Davante Adams caught 13 passes for 126 yards. At the very least, interim head coach Antonio Pierce has Vegas playing competitive football against playoff-caliber competition.
Indianapolis Colts: B-
Indianapolis now controls its destiny in the AFC. The team will earn a playoff spot with a win over the Houston Texans in Week 18. That’s due to a solid win over Vegas in NFL Week 18. Gardner Minshew completed 15-of-23 passes for 224 yards. Jonathan Taylor added 96 yards and a score on the ground. It was a well-rounded win for the now 9-7 Colts.
Chicago Bears: A+
On the very same day that it was reported Matt Eberflus will return next season, the head coach led his team to yet another impressive win. Justin Fields was brilliant throughout the day, completing 20-of-32 passes with north of 300 total yards and two touchdowns. The Bears’ rushing attack came alive to the tune of 192 yards. The end result was a 37-17 home win. The year also ended with Chicago locking up the No. 1 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft by virtue of Carolina’s loss. Not a bad New Year’s Eve in the Windy City.
Atlanta Falcons: F
Taylor Heinicke and Desmond Ridder combined to throw four interceptions. Atlanta’s defense yielded 432 total yards to what had been a pedestrian Bears offense. In reality, Sunday’s loss for the Falcons was about as brutal as it gets. The team is now pretty much out of the NFL Playoff race with head coach Arthur Smith clearly on the hot seat.
Buffalo Bills: D
No, we did not like what we saw from the Bills during NFL Week 17. Josh Allen was terrible at home against New England, completing just 15-of-30 passes without a touchdown. Sure, he added two scores on the ground. But this performance in a 27-21 victory over a four-win Patriots squad is not going to cut it. Do we really believe these Bills are legitimate conference title contenders heading into Week 18? Nope!
Related: NFL Week 17 QB rankings
New England Patriots: B
Bill Belichick has his Patriots playing competitive football as the head coach’s tenure in New England draws to a conclusion. Unfortunately, a three-interception performance from Bailey Zappe pretty much doomed the Pats on Sunday. The end result was a six-point loss in an otherwise winnable game.
Seattle Seahawks: D
Seattle still has a shot at the NFL Playoffs despite a bad home loss to the Steelers during NFL Week 17. It was more about the team’s defense failing to do anything of substance in this one. That included Pittsburgh going for 25 first downs and 468 total yards of offense. Ouch!
Pittsburgh Steelers: A
What a difference a quarterback makes. What Mason Rudolph has done in two games since replacing the benched Mitch Trubisky is something else. He completed 18-of-24 passes for 274 yards in Sunday’s 30-23 win over Seattle. Najee Harris added 122 yards on the ground. George Pickens continued to do his thing (131 yards). It has Pittsburgh in the playoff race heading into the new year.
Related: NFL Week 17 winners and losers
Denver Broncos: C+
Denver might have won in the first game since Russell Wilson was benched. But the team was also eliminated from playoff contention. It was not a pretty game, either.
Los Angeles Chargers: D
The Los Angeles Chargers are obviously just playing out the string after firing head coach Brandon Staley. It looked like that during NFL Week 17 with the team scoring nine points while racking up just over 300 total yards in losing its 11th game of the season.
Kansas City Chiefs: B-
Things were not going great early on Sunday as the struggling Chiefs found themselves down 17-7 at home against Cincinnati. That’s when Patrick Mahomes and Co. finally started to get it going (kinda). Kansas City outscored Cincinnati 12-0 in the second half. Mahomes completed 21-of-29 passes for 245 yards as the Chiefs earned another AFC West title.
Cincinnati Bengals: C
For a while, it looked like Cincinnati was going to remain alive in the AFC Playoff picture during NFL Week 17. Unfortunately, it wasn’t to be. The Bengals were up 17-7 at one point against Kansas City. It ended up losing 25-17 and is now officially eliminated from playoff contention.
Minnesota Vikings: F
What a dumpster fire of a performance on New Year’s Eve from this team in front of its home fans. The Minnesota Vikings were blown out by the score of 33-10 in a game that they needed to win in order to remain in the NFL Playoff race. Instead, rookie quarterback Jaren Hall completed just five passes for 67 yards before being benched at halftime. Sure, it was going to be hard for Minnesota to earn a spot in the playoffs after Kirk Cousins’ season-ending injury, but NFL Week 17 was a disaster class.
Green Bay Packers: A+
Man, Jordan Love is playing absolutely great football for the Packers. That included completing 24-of-33 passes for 256 yards with four touchdowns and zero interceptions in a 23-point win over the division-rival Vikings. It has Green Bay at 8-8 on the season and very much alive in the NFC Playoff race heading into Week 18.
