Tag: NFL Week 16

Lions solidify their spot in NFL power polls after big Week 15 win

Detroit is firmly in the top 8 across most major NFL power polls after blowing out a Broncos team with a winning record

After a stunning Monday night outcome with the Seahawks upsetting the Eagles, Week 15 ended with some real potential for movement in the NFL power polls. The Detroit Lions were poised to jump up after hammering the Broncos 42-17, improving to 10-4 and getting there by pounding a team with a winning record.

Despite the big win, there wasn’t a lot of upward movement for the Lions. Detroit sits firmly in the middle realms of the top 10 teams in most power polls.

Detroit’s highest ranking comes from Sporting News, where the Lions are fourth overall. Analyst Vinnie Iyer noted,

The Lions got back on track at home on Saturday with the elite running game plowing through a porous Broncos un defense. That returning development also resettled Jared Goff at home to play well and inspired the defense. They can now feel better about their playoff dangerous status as soon-to-be new division champions.

The Lions vaulted up to No. 5 at Yahoo Sports, which was shared from Broncos Wire. At The Athletic, the Lions bumped up a spot to No. 7 after the win over the Broncos.

Oddly enough, Detroit fell a spot to No. 8 in the USA TODAY power poll. They’re a spot behind the Cowboys, who got annihilated 31-10 by a Buffalo team that isn’t currently qualified for the AFC postseason. The Eagles, losers of three in a row, actually moved up a spot to No. 3.

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Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence enters concussion protocol

The Bucs may be facing off against a different quarterback when they play the Jaguars on Christmas Eve.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers were already facing a banged-up Jacksonville Jaguars team in Week 16 — and now, it might be worse when Sunday comes around.

The Jacksonville Jaguars announced on Monday that quarterback Trevor Lawrence has entered concussion protocol after his game against the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday night. Lawrence did not leave the game for a concussion but was evaluated and then placed in protocol afterward.

Lawrence has never missed a start due to injury, so this would be his first time should he not play against the Bucs. Only one quarterback so far this season has made it out of concussion protocol the same week he entered it, as San Francisco 49ers QB Brock Purdy did so after playing the Minnesota Vikings earlier in the year.

Should Lawrence not be able to go, the Bucs would instead face off against Jacksonville quarterback C.J. Beathard on Sunday. Beathard played in relief of Lawrence when he suffered an ankle sprain against the Cincinnati Bengals and completed 12 of his 14 passing attempts for 63 yards.

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Fantasy football waiver wire: Week 16 free agent forecast

Here are the top waiver wire targets for Week 16 of fantasy football.

For the majority of leagues, the first round of the fantasy football playoffs comes to an end Monday night after a wild weekend of games in Week 15.

Hopefully, you were able to get through the week unscathed with a victory, but there were plenty of injuries that hit managers right in the starting lineup.

Among the players with injuries to monitor enter Week 16 include Ja’Marr Chase, Keenan Allen, Josh Jacobs, Alexander Mattison, Brian Robinson Jr., Michael Pittman Jr., Zack Moss, AJ Dillon and Isiah Pacheco.

The bye weeks also are finally over, so it will be just good old-fashioned fantasy football. With trade deadlines concluded in the majority of leagues as well, the waiver wire becomes the most vital tool for fantasy managers over the three weeks.

We’re also getting to the point of the season in which stashing FAAB isn’t as crucial. Don’t hesitate to spend a bit more on a player who might give your team an edge down the stretch.

We’ll be taking a look at the top available players rostered in Yahoo leagues, using the 75% rostered mark as the threshold. If you have any questions about prioritizing a certain player over another, don’t be afraid to hit me up on X, formerly Twitter, (@KevinHickey11). Your questions and comments are always welcome!

We also will be taking a look at some deeper players to stash and the top streaming options for the upcoming week.

Fantasy football waiver wire recommendations refer to 12-team league formats, unless specifically stated.

Check back for any updates throughout Monday and Tuesday as more injury news becomes available.

NFL Power Rankings Week 16: Bills stun Cowboys, new No. 2 team rises

The Bills reinserted themselves as serious contenders, and a new team moved into the No. 2 spot in this week’s NFL power rankings.

The hype train for the Dallas Cowboys came crashing to a halt at Orchard Park on Sunday. After knocking off the Kansas City Chiefs last week, the Buffalo Bills proved that win wasn’t fool’s gold by demolishing the Cowboys at home.

How did the Bills stun the almighty Cowboys defense?

They ran the football down their throats with James Cook, who finished the game with 25 carries for 179 yards and one touchdown. It wasn’t even a Josh Allen game, and the Bills still managed to put the entire NFL on notice.

Meanwhile, the Miami Dolphins moved up to the No. 2 spot in the rankings after steamrolling the New York Jets. They replaced the previously No. 2-ranked Cowboys, while the Baltimore Ravens slid into No. 3.

Things are getting significantly tighter in both conferences with teams jockeying for playoff positioning and only three weeks left in the regular season. Here are the NFL power rankings heading into Week 16:

Bucs will avoid facing Jaguars starting wideout in Week 16

The Jacksonville Jaguars will be a bit shorthanded against the Bucs in Week 16.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will face the Jacksonville Jaguars on Christmas Eve with one less offensive weapon to worry about.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter announced on Friday that the Jaguars have placed wide receiver Christian Kirk on Injured Reserve after he unfortunately injured his core against the Cincinnati Bengals on Monday Night Football. That will see Kirk out for a minimum of four weeks, which will overlap with Tampa Bay’s matchup against Jacksonville in Week 16.

Kirk has amassed 787 yards on 57 catches for an average of 13.8 yards per reception, but he hasn’t found the end zone much — he’s only grabbed three touchdowns this year. Regardless, he’s been a big part of Jacksonville’s offense, appearing on 70.65% of the team’s offensive snaps. As such, the team will have to turn to other weapons in compliment of WRs like Calvin Ridley, which could affect their Week 16 matchup against the Buccaneers.

There will also be the matter of quarterback Trevor Lawrence, who suffered a high-ankle sprain against the Bengals. Lawrence is already on the mend and was a limited participant in practice this week, but just how healthy that ankle will be in Week 16 remains to be seen.

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NFLPA will file an official grievance against Panthers for field conditions in Lions’ loss

The NFLPA will file an official grievance against the Panthers for field conditions in Lions’ Week 16 loss

Lions players didn’t shy away from complaining about the field conditions in Bank of America Stadium in Week 16. Several players, notably QB Jared Goff, noted the poor turf in Carolina after the Lions’ loss on Christmas Eve.

Now the player’s union has gotten involved and backed up the Lions’ complaints. The NFLPA will file a formal grievance against the cement-like turf conditions in Charlotte, according to ESPN.

“The NFLPA is filing a grievance against the NFL and Carolina for the hardness of the playing field in last Saturday’s Lions-Panthers game, per source. The NFLPA complained before the game and said the field conditions in the extreme cold, only worsened as the game progressed,” David Newton reported on Sunday.

Panthers players have also complained about the new turf in Bank of America Stadium all season. The abnormally cold conditions on Christmas Eve made the field feel like concrete and presented a heightened injury risk. The report indicates the NFLPA tried to have the game delayed because of the unsafe field conditions.

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Lions D did not stack the box once vs. Carolina’s rushing attack

Despite the Panthers running for over 200 yards at halftime, the Lions never added any extra help to the run defense

The Carolina Panthers ran for a team-record 320 rushing yards in their Week 16 win over the Detroit Lions. It was a very impressive performance from RBs D’Onta Foreman and Chuba Hubbard, who each set career-highs in rushing yards in the game.

It was also a case of taking what the Lions defense was giving them. Despite the substantial success from the Panthers’ very first run of the game, the Lions never once added an extra presence to the box to try and curb the onslaught.

The folks behind NFL Next Gen Stats, Zebra Technologies, laid out that tidbit at the end of a very disturbing (for the Lions) exposé on the sheer dominance of the Panthers’ run game in Week 16,

In the 1st half of Saturday’s game alone, the Panthers gained +130 rushing yards over expected, the most by any team in a 1st half over the last 5 seasons. Chuba Hubbard contributed 109 yards on 6 carries (+72 RYOE) and D’Onta Foreman chipped in 104 yards on 10 carries (+52 RYOE) just in the 1st half. The duo finished the game with a combined +139 RYOE (Foreman with +76, most this week, and Hubbard with +63 RYOE, 2nd most). Foreman finished the game with 165 rushing yards (most this week) while Hubbard gained a total of 125 on the ground (3rd most). Neither of the 2 RBs faced a stacked box on a single carry.

The Lions and defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn never added a third LB to the mix or stacked the box with more than the standard front six (the Lions use a base 4-2-5 defense). Even after being gashed for well over 200 yards in the first half, the Lions defense refused to commit more resources to stopping the run. It’s a curious decision, to be sure.

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Texans’ Davis Mills climbs to No. 26 in CBS Sports QB power rankings

Houston Texans quarterback Davis Mills rose a few spots in CBS Sports’ weekly QB power rankings.

The Houston Texans got a win, and it lifted all ships on the roster.

According to Cody Benjamin from CBS Sports, quarterback Davis Mills jumped to No. 26 in their weekly power rankings for the position following Houston’s 19-14 win over the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium in Week 16.

Mills has been through the ringer in two years with Houston, trying to balance aggression and smarts on a lineup perpetually undermanned. His best-case scenario is breaking free to grow and serve as a top backup elsewhere. (+3)

Mills completed 17 passes on 28 attempts for 178 yards, a touchdown, and an interception. The second-year signal caller led Houston to nine unanswered points to extend the Titans’ losing streak to five games.

The Texans deployed the two quarterback system starting in Week 14 when Mills returned to the lineup. However, backup Jeff Driskel only had four pass attempts against the Titans and rushed just twice, indicating offensive coordinator Pep Hamilton was more comfortable to let Mills handle most of the offense.

Houston hosts the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 17 at NRG Stadium. The Jaguars are 7-8 and have a shot at wresting control of first place in the AFC South from the similarly 7-8 Titans.

Texans get off the mat and stand at No. 28 in Touchdown Wire NFL power rankings

The Houston Texans improved to No. 28 in the latest Touchdown Wire NFL power rankings to conclude Week 16.

The Houston Texans finally got a win, which means they can’t possibly be the worst team in the NFL anymore — especially not with all the other terrible teams that took losses and a team that fired its coach.

According to Mark Lane from the Touchdown Wire, the Texans improved to No. 28 in the latest power rankings to conclude Week 16.

The Texans got the benefit of winning and also a few teams ahead of them taking a tumble. Nevertheless the ranking feels about right for a team that took playoff qualifiers two weeks prior down to the wire, and finally got a win over a division leader. The Texans may have some influential words to say about the fate of the AFC South with their showdown with the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 17, but any further wins could impact their chances to secure the No. 1 overall pick.

The Texans beat the Titans 19-14 on the road at Nissan Stadium. Even though the Texans haven’t won the AFC South since 2019, their effect on the division was nevertheless felt in Tennessee. As the Titans’ losing streak extends to five games, there are concerns as to whether Tennessee can even keep control of the division by the end of the season.

Across the rest of the AFC South, the Indianapolis Colts stayed at No. 31, but only because the Denver Broncos are worse after having fired their rookie coach. The Titans tumbled to No. 18 thanks to their loss at the hands of the Texans. The Jacksonville Jaguars improved to No. 9 thanks to their three-game winning streak.

Jacksonville visits NRG Stadium in Week 17 to finish up the season series. The Jaguars have not beaten the Texans since 2017. A win from Houston would be another effect on the AFC South title race, and also a reminder that there is one last hurdle Trevor Lawrence can’t bound.

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Texans would have Nos. 1 and 11 overall in 2023 NFL draft

The Houston Texans would have the first overall and the 11th overall picks in Round 1 of the 2023 NFL draft if the season ended after Week 16.

The Houston Texans are precipitously close to having two picks within the top-10 of the 2023 NFL draft.

According to Luke Easterling from the Draft Wire, the Texans would have the No. 1 overall pick and the No. 11 overall pick if the draft were held based on the results of the 2022 season through Week 16.

The Texans’ 2-12-1 record affects their proprietary selection — No. 1 overall — while the Cleveland Browns’ 6-9 record is why Houston’s second pick would be No. 11 overall.

Houston and Cleveland made an offseason trade that involved the Browns’ first-round picks from 2022-24.

Most mock drafts have the Texans taking Alabama quarterback Bryce Young with their No. 1 overall pick.

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