MidValleySports.Com

By Tim Byrnes

Going into Thursday night with identical records, control of the Division, and the Conference Bye in the playoffs was on the line for the Rams and Seahawks. The winner would lead the NFC, while the loser dropped as far as the 6th-seed. Week 16 began in Seattle:

Thursday Night:
Los Angeles Rams (11-3) @ Seattle (11-3): Seattle 38-37 OT

For three quarters, the Rams cruised through the Seahawks defense with one extended drive after another building a 30-14 lead.

Rashid Shaheed returned a punt 58-yards for a touchdown, and with the first of three 2-point conversions, Seattle was within eight points. Bad play on kicks was the likely reason Rams Special Teams Coordinator Chase Blackburn has since been fired.

Sam Darnold (270 yards, 2 TD / 2 Int) hit AJ Barner for a 26-yard score and at first, the 2-point attempt was called incomplete, then a controversial backward pass that was picked up by Zach Charbonnet and called the tying score.

Matthew Stafford (457 yds-3 TD), who had a monster game, did his part in overtime by marching the Rams 80 yards and hitting Puka Nacua (12-225-2 TD) for a 41-yard score.

It wasn’t enough as Darnold responded by going 6-of-7 for 49 yards on the final drive, throwing a 4-yard touchdown to Jaxson Smith-Njigba (8-96-2 TD), and the game-winning 2-point conversion to a wide-open Eric Saubert.

Saturday:
Green Bay (9-4-1) @ Chicago (10-4): Chicago 22-16 OT
Down 16-6 with under two minutes remaining, Chicago’s Caleb Williams (250 yards passing-2 TD / 30 rushing) took over the game, going 8-for-12 for 75 yards and a touchdown, and rushed for 21 more, tying the game with :24 remaining.

Green Bay fumbled their overtime-possession, leaving Williams to play hero, and he didn’t disappoint., throwing a 46-yard game-winning strike to DJ Moore.

Packers quarterback Jordan Love was replaced by Malik Willis (121 yards passing-TD / 44 rushing) after a vicious helmet-to-helmet sack from the Bears Austin Booker for which he was penalized.
Romeo Doubs led the Packers with 84 yards and a touchdown and Emanuel Wilson ran an additional 82 yards in the loss.

Sunday:
Denver (12-2) @ Jacksonville (10-4): Jax 34-20
The Trevor Lawrence the NFL has been waiting for, has finally arrived. Lawrence (279 yards-3 TDs/ 20 rushing-TD) accounted for four touchdowns, scorching the Top-5 defense of the Broncos. Wide receiver Parker Washington had the game of his career, as well, with six catches for 145 yards and a score.
Denver’s Bo Nix (352 yards-TD) was able to move the team, but it was his key fumble, and later a fourth-quarter interception that sealed it for the Jaguars. At 11-4, Jacksonville has beaten over half the teams currently fighting for the playoffs and can no longer be taken lightly.

Other Games:
Phi 29 – Was 18 (Sa)
NO 29 – NYJ 6
Buf 23 – Cle 20
Ten 26 – KC 9
LAC 34 – Dal 17
Min 16 – NYG 13
Car 23 – TB 20
Cin 45 – Mia 21
Atl 26 – Ari 19
Hou 23 – LV 21
Pit 29 – Det 24
NE 28 – Bal 24

Monday Night:
San Francisco (10-4) @ Indianapolis (8-6): SF 48-27
The NFC Champion will likely come from the NFC-st and the 49ers are saying “Don’t count us out!” Who doesn’t love watching Christian McCaffrey play? He rushed for 117 yards, caught six passes for 29 more, and two touchdowns.

It’s been said Kyle Shanahan’s eyeing Mac Jones, but Brock Purdy (295 yards-5 TDs/1 Int) put that to rest with a dominating performance. Primary target George Kittle (7-115-TD) had his first 100-yard game of the season in a year that has been disappointing.

Playing their fourth playoff-bound team, and all losses, was a dagger in the in the playoff hopes for Indianapolis. Philip Rivers threw for 277 yards and 2 touchdowns but his interception that turned into a pick six late in the game iced it for the 49ers. Philips seemed to tire in the fourth quarter.

Byrnes Picks:
Week 16 Results:
(10-6) (152-87-1)

Week 17 Picks:
Dallas over Washington
Detroit over Minnesota
Denver over Kansas City
Houston over LA Chargers
Green Bay over Baltimore
Pittsburgh over Cleveland
New England over NY Jets
New Orleans over Tennessee
Jacksonville over Indianapolis
Tampa Bay over Miami
Seattle over Carolina
Cincinnati over Arizona
NY Giants over Las Vegas
Buffalo over Philadelphia
Chicago over San Francisco
LA Rams over Atlanta