2015 NFL Week 17 Recap

ARLINGTON, TX - JANUARY 03: Kirk Cousins #8 of the Washington Redskins reacts after throwing a touchdown pass against the Dallas Cowboys during the first quarter at AT&T Stadium on January 3, 2016 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Redskins 34
Cowboys 23
Right now the Redskins are as red hot as their quarterback: Kirk Cousins broke single-season franchise records in passing yards (4,166), total TDs (34), and became the first ‘Skins QB to throw a TD in all 16 games since the league switched to a 16-game schedule. Methinks Captain Kirk is about to beam up a lot of money…especially if he outduels Aaron Rodgers in a playoff game. Meanwhile, it couldn’t be worse for Dallas: They posted their worst record in 26 years, they’re getting trolled by scrub they cut in-season, and a college team has more wins in their building than they do. I sincerely hope they never change a thing. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
CINCINNATI, OH - JANUARY 3:  Brandon Thompson #98 of the Cincinnati Bengals attempts to block a pass thrown by Ryan Mallett #7 of the Baltimore Ravens during the game at Paul Brown Stadium on January 3, 2016 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by John Grieshop/Getty Images)
Ravens 16
Bengals 24
I would describe Baltimore’s season as disappointing, stunning, and excruciating. John Harbaugh apparently thinks otherwise. He might be right; by simply getting healthy and making good use of the 6th overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft, the Ravens could actually be better off in the long run. Think 1996-97 San Antonio Spurs. (Photo by John Grieshop/Getty Images)
New York Giants head coach Tom Coughlin walks off the field after the Giants lost 35-30 to the Philadelphia Eagles in an NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 3, 2016, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Eagles 35
Giants 30
Can you really say Tom Coughlin is “riding off into the sunset” when his Giants posted three straight losing seasons for the first time since 1978-80? Yes, Philly ended the season with a win…but can you really feel like a winner when Sam Bradford (65%) breaks Mark Sanchez’s franchise completion percentage record amid reports that your former coach literally ruined Christmas? (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Steelers 28
Browns 12
What a dichotomy: Mike Tomlin led Pittsburgh to their 28th playoff berth since 1970 (the most by any NFL team since the AFL-NFL merger), while Cleveland fired Mike Pettine after just 10 wins in two seasons. Tomlin is only the 3rd man to coach the Steelers since 1970, and the Browns are making their 5th coaching change since 2008. To put that in perspective, the rest of the AFC North has made exactly zero coaching changes during that span. The names will change in Cleveland but the results will stay the same. (Getty Images/Jason Miller)
Buffalo Bills free safety Corey Graham (20) and Bacarri Rambo (30) react after New York Jets' Eric Decker (87) made a catch for a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Jan. 3, 2016, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Bill Wippert)
Jets 17
Bills 22
Rex Ryan’s Bills aren’t going to the playoffs and he made sure his old team wasn’t going either. At least the Jets have a great WR tandem: Eric Decker and Brandon Marshall extended their NFL record by each catching a TD in nine games this season. (AP Photo/Bill Wippert)
ATLANTA, GA - JANUARY 03:  Drew Brees #9 of the New Orleans Saints signals to his teammates at the line of scrimmage during the first half against the Atlanta Falcons at the Georgia Dome on January 3, 2016 in Atlanta, Georgia.  (Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images)
Saints 20
Falcons 17
A week after Sean Payton said he’s not leaving New Orleans, Drew Brees says he’s staying in the Crescent City too. Much like the situation unfolding for Big Blue in New York, it’s time for the Saints to turn the page on their golden era. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images)
Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Allen Robinson (15) tries to break a tackle by Houston Texans strong safety Kevin Johnson (30) during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Jan. 3, 2016, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)
Jaguars 6
Texans 30
Jacksonville actually had a shot at winning the division a month ago … and promptly closed out the season with three straight losses. The future is bright though; Blake Bortles made positive strides and Allen Robinson became just the 4th player in NFL history to post 1,400 receiving yards in his age-22-or-younger season. And Houston has a problem. Yes, they closed out the season with a 7-2 record to win their division … but they’ll host the hottest team in the league as a reward. J.J. Watt will need to score to make up for the Alex Smith-Brian Hoyer disparity. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - JANUARY 03:  Delanie Walker #82 of the Tennessee Titans is brought down by Greg Toler #28 of the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium on January 3, 2016 in Indianapolis, Indiana.  (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
Titans 24
Colts 30
Tennessee is on the clock for the 2016 NFL Draft and Indy’s about to clean house a few months after being a chic Super Bowl pick. Just another banner year for the AFC South … (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) throws under pressure during the first half of an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears, Sunday, Jan. 3, 2016, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Lions 24
Bears 20
There’s uncertainty in Detroit but this much is for sure: I had fun with Jim Bob Cooter this year, I want more Cooter next year, and I’m not alone in that sentiment. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
DENVER, CO - JANUARY 3:  Quarterback Peyton Manning #18 of the Denver Broncos passes against the San Diego Chargers during a game at Sports Authority Field at Mile High on January 3, 2016 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
Chargers 20
Broncos 27
Peyton Manning was a backup for the first time since Sept. 24, 1994 (when he backed up Todd Helton as a Tennessee freshman) … but he finished the game to (barely) help Denver clinch home-field advantage. If Manning wins a second championship, it’ll be same way he won his first: as a game-manager riding a hot defense. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Jeremy Maclin, right, runs for a touchdown past Oakland Raiders safety Charles Woodson (24) and cornerback TJ Carrie (38) during the first half of an NFL football game in Kansas City, Mo., Sunday, Jan. 3, 2016. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)
Raiders 17
Chiefs 23
Charles Woodson’s career has come full circle in so many ways … his career ended where it literally began and Oakland posted their 13th straight nonwinning season. It really is too bad he won’t be around for their anticipated turnaround in 2016. Meanwhile, Kansas City became the 10th team since the 1970 merger to win at least their final 10 games — which is so much more amazing considering they lost their best offensive weapon during a 1-5 start. Don’t count out the Chiefs in a wide open AFC. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)
GLENDALE, AZ - JANUARY 03:  Quarterback Russell Wilson #3 of the Seattle Seahawks scrambles with the football in front of inside linebacker Dwight Freeney #54 of the Arizona Cardinals in the first half of the NFL game at University of Phoenix Stadium on January 3, 2016 in Glendale, Arizona.  (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images)
Seahawks 36
Cardinals 6
Russell Wilson is the first player in NFL history to throw for 4,000 yards and 30 TDs and rush for 500 yards in a season, and The Legion of Boom appears to be back. Nobody wants to see Seattle right now. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images)
St. Louis Rams tight end Lance Kendricks (88) is tackled by San Francisco 49ers strong safety Jimmie Ward (25) during the first half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Jan. 3, 2016. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)
Rams 16
49ers 19
Jim Tomsula is one and done, Mike Holmgren wants next and Jim Harbaugh is straight trolling his old team. Yet this free-falling San Fran squad still managed to keep Jeff Fisher right where he belongs. It sucks to be either of these teams right now. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)
GREEN BAY, WI - JANUARY 03:  Adrian Peterson #28 of the Minnesota Vikings carries the ball during the fourth quarter against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field on January 3, 2016 in Green Bay, Wisconsin.  (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
Vikings 20
Packers 13
Great news Minnesota! You have the league’s leading rusher (again) and shook off years of intimidation to win the NFC North for the first time since 2009! Your reward is hosting the same team that just beat you 38-7 in Week 13. Enjoy! There’s very little for Green Bay to enjoy right now … their 6-0 start has evaporated into a 10-6 finish, and they’ve lost all of their division home games for the first time since 1968. At this point, it’s hard not to see a wild card loss to the red hot (and well rested) Redskins as anything less than a mercy killing. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
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ARLINGTON, TX - JANUARY 03: Kirk Cousins #8 of the Washington Redskins reacts after throwing a touchdown pass against the Dallas Cowboys during the first quarter at AT&T Stadium on January 3, 2016 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
CINCINNATI, OH - JANUARY 3:  Brandon Thompson #98 of the Cincinnati Bengals attempts to block a pass thrown by Ryan Mallett #7 of the Baltimore Ravens during the game at Paul Brown Stadium on January 3, 2016 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by John Grieshop/Getty Images)
New York Giants head coach Tom Coughlin walks off the field after the Giants lost 35-30 to the Philadelphia Eagles in an NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 3, 2016, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Buffalo Bills free safety Corey Graham (20) and Bacarri Rambo (30) react after New York Jets' Eric Decker (87) made a catch for a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Jan. 3, 2016, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Bill Wippert)
ATLANTA, GA - JANUARY 03:  Drew Brees #9 of the New Orleans Saints signals to his teammates at the line of scrimmage during the first half against the Atlanta Falcons at the Georgia Dome on January 3, 2016 in Atlanta, Georgia.  (Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images)
Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Allen Robinson (15) tries to break a tackle by Houston Texans strong safety Kevin Johnson (30) during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Jan. 3, 2016, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - JANUARY 03:  Delanie Walker #82 of the Tennessee Titans is brought down by Greg Toler #28 of the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium on January 3, 2016 in Indianapolis, Indiana.  (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) throws under pressure during the first half of an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears, Sunday, Jan. 3, 2016, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
DENVER, CO - JANUARY 3:  Quarterback Peyton Manning #18 of the Denver Broncos passes against the San Diego Chargers during a game at Sports Authority Field at Mile High on January 3, 2016 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Jeremy Maclin, right, runs for a touchdown past Oakland Raiders safety Charles Woodson (24) and cornerback TJ Carrie (38) during the first half of an NFL football game in Kansas City, Mo., Sunday, Jan. 3, 2016. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)
GLENDALE, AZ - JANUARY 03:  Quarterback Russell Wilson #3 of the Seattle Seahawks scrambles with the football in front of inside linebacker Dwight Freeney #54 of the Arizona Cardinals in the first half of the NFL game at University of Phoenix Stadium on January 3, 2016 in Glendale, Arizona.  (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images)
St. Louis Rams tight end Lance Kendricks (88) is tackled by San Francisco 49ers strong safety Jimmie Ward (25) during the first half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Jan. 3, 2016. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)
GREEN BAY, WI - JANUARY 03:  Adrian Peterson #28 of the Minnesota Vikings carries the ball during the fourth quarter against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field on January 3, 2016 in Green Bay, Wisconsin.  (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
Rob Woodfork

Rob Woodfork is WTOP's Senior Sports Content Producer, which includes duties as producer and host of the DC Sports Huddle, nightside sports anchor and sports columnist on WTOP.com.

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