The NFL Week 17 Recap features a killer audition, a gritty Griddy and brutal collapses.
2022 NFL Week 17 Recap
![<p><em><strong>Bills 3</strong></em><br />
<em><strong>Bengals 7 (postponed during first quarter)</strong></em></p>
<p>I don’t know that I’ve seen a game in which a player injury was actually life-threatening. The scariest I’d seen was, incidentally, a late-season Monday nighter in Cincinnati in 2017 when Ryan Shazier suffered that horrific spinal injury that ended his career and cost him the ability to walk for years. Let’s all send good vibes to Damar Hamlin and his family.</p>](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/AP23003128673142-1880x1254.jpg)
Bills 3
Bengals 7 (postponed during first quarter)
I don’t know that I’ve seen a game in which a player injury was actually life-threatening. The scariest I’d seen was, incidentally, a late-season Monday nighter in Cincinnati in 2017 when Ryan Shazier suffered that horrific spinal injury that ended his career and cost him the ability to walk for years. Let’s all send good vibes to Damar Hamlin and his family.
![<p><em><strong>Steelers 16</strong></em><br />
<em><strong>Ravens 13</strong></em></p>
<p>Baltimore is already in the playoffs so going 2-2 and averaging less than 13 points per game without Lamar Jackson isn’t the end of the world. But the real surprise is Pittsburgh staying on the periphery of the playoff picture with Kenny Pickett leading back-to-back game-winning fourth quarter comebacks. Mike Tomlin might get that 16th consecutive winning season after all.</p>](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/GettyImages-1453702571.jpg)
Steelers 16
Ravens 13
Baltimore is already in the playoffs so going 2-2 and averaging less than 13 points per game without Lamar Jackson isn’t the end of the world. But the real surprise is Pittsburgh staying on the periphery of the playoff picture with Kenny Pickett leading back-to-back game-winning fourth quarter comebacks. Mike Tomlin might get that 16th consecutive winning season after all.
![<p><em><strong>Rams 10</strong></em><br />
<em><strong>Chargers 31</strong></em></p>
<p>The only thing this game really accomplished is giving Austin Ekeler his flowers. The underrated dual threat is only the fifth running back in NFL history to have 100 catches in a season and leads the NFL in touchdowns. Put some respect on the man’s name.</p>](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/GettyImages-1453667321.jpg)
Rams 10
Chargers 31
The only thing this game really accomplished is giving Austin Ekeler his flowers. The underrated dual threat is only the fifth running back in NFL history to have 100 catches in a season and leads the NFL in touchdowns. Put some respect on the man’s name.
![<p><b><i>Vikings 17</i></b><br />
<b><i>Packers 41</i></b></p>
<p>Green Bay is really about to make these damn playoffs, aren’t they? This would be the biggest upset since <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wQKThExxrc0">Don Corleone survived his assassination attempt</a>.</p>](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/AP23002030695244-1787x1254.jpg)
Vikings 17
Packers 41
Green Bay is really about to make these damn playoffs, aren’t they? This would be the biggest upset since Don Corleone survived his assassination attempt.
![<p><em><strong>Jets 6</strong></em><br />
<em><strong>Seahawks 23</strong></em></p>
<p>Seattle picked up the last NFC wild card spot Washington fumbled away, while the Jets got all the way to Week 17 before extending their NFL-worst postseason drought to 12 straight seasons. Just like we said before the season, right?</p>](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/AP23002051972641.jpg)
Jets 6
Seahawks 23
Seattle picked up the last NFC wild card spot Washington fumbled away, while the Jets got all the way to Week 17 before extending their NFL-worst postseason drought to 12 straight seasons. Just like we said before the season, right?
![<p><b><i>49ers 37</i></b><br />
<b><i>Raiders 34 (OT)</i></b></p>
<p>These two former Bay Area neighbors couldn’t have grown further apart.</p>
<p>San Francisco is enjoying its longest win streak (nine games) since 1997 and looks like a Super Bowl contender <a href="https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/30/kyle-shanahan-would-support-nick-bosa-for-overall-mvp/">with an MVP defender</a>, while Vegas’ bad gamble on Josh McDaniels is <a href="https://www.raidersbeat.com/former-raiders-linebacker-laments-the-loss-of-rich-bisaccia-calls-josh-mcdaniels-tenure-in-las-vegas-a-complete-disaster-so-far/">“a complete disaster”</a> that’s setting the franchise back years. Hey, at least it frees up Derek Carr to come to Washington!</p>](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/AP23002006561830-1880x1254.jpg)
49ers 37
Raiders 34 (OT)
These two former Bay Area neighbors couldn’t have grown further apart.
San Francisco is enjoying its longest win streak (nine games) since 1997 and looks like a Super Bowl contender with an MVP defender, while Vegas’ bad gamble on Josh McDaniels is “a complete disaster” that’s setting the franchise back years. Hey, at least it frees up Derek Carr to come to Washington!
![<p><em><strong>Browns 24</strong></em><br />
<em><strong>Commanders 10</strong></em></p>
<p>The only thing Ron Rivera sparked by inserting Carson Wentz at QB again was a legitimate debate as to whether the longtime coach — now on his ninth season without a winning record — should stay in Washington. If acquiring Wentz was a fireable offense (and I say it is), reinserting him at the worst possible time should clinch it. (Spoiler alert: But it won’t.)</p>](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/AP23001726522690-1880x1254.jpg)
Browns 24
Commanders 10
The only thing Ron Rivera sparked by inserting Carson Wentz at QB again was a legitimate debate as to whether the longtime coach — now on his ninth season without a winning record — should stay in Washington. If acquiring Wentz was a fireable offense (and I say it is), reinserting him at the worst possible time should clinch it. (Spoiler alert: But it won’t.)
Colts 10
Giants 38
Washington fans had to love watching Landon Collins sprinting into the end zone to help the Giants return to the playoffs for the first time since 2016 while the Burgundy and Gold got eliminated. Equally as much as loving Kayvon Thibodeaux’s breathtaking lack of awareness.
Kayvon Thibodeaux sacked Nick Foles and then did a snow angel next to a very injured Foles pic.twitter.com/MQgT6WhtTm
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) January 1, 2023
![<p><em><strong>Saints 20</strong></em><br />
<em><strong>Eagles 10</strong></em></p>
<p>Don’t worry, Philly fans. This is all just a ploy to get Jalen Hurts the MVP award. The Eagles will win in Week 18 and clinch the top seed in the NFC anyway.</p>](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/AP23001764075722-1880x1254.jpg)
Saints 20
Eagles 10
Don’t worry, Philly fans. This is all just a ploy to get Jalen Hurts the MVP award. The Eagles will win in Week 18 and clinch the top seed in the NFC anyway.
![<p><em><strong>Panthers 24</strong></em><br />
<em><strong>Buccaneers 30</strong></em></p>
<p>Thanks to <a href="https://sports.yahoo.com/tom-brady-and-the-raiders-saints-49-ers-buccaneers-it-looks-like-another-tom-a-thon-is-coming-074122448.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAABvOT1ruze23294uPm5yTh9annTYgghDQSb1PNDTrwzMq9_PAbwBr7oc6s3fIeK35YkBuzZlTumi-eHLrHkfa_IJW4KHuNie8f1HKmSA8P_Njt_QiQs_6zVVYvdyF3oWpFfWRIR2ilRMuId7tPOVJ2ykGiQrC5yJc0ShO3p5WWQO" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Tom Brady’s elsewhere-audition</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/NFLonFOX/status/1609660679421583367?s=20&t=pppGGIgn9Kap_7EN5TtGuw" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the punt of the year</a>, Tampa has backed its way into consecutive division titles for the first time in franchise history. If this is a sign of things to come, Dallas doesn’t want this Wild Card matchup.</p>](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/AP23001803420528-1880x1254.jpg)
Panthers 24
Buccaneers 30
Thanks to Tom Brady’s elsewhere-audition and the punt of the year, Tampa has backed its way into consecutive division titles for the first time in franchise history. If this is a sign of things to come, Dallas doesn’t want this Wild Card matchup.
![<p><em><strong>Jaguars 31</strong></em><br />
<em><strong>Texans 3</strong></em></p>
<p>The Houston Texans are (almost) on the clock and the Jacksonville Jaguars are (almost) AFC South champs.</p>](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/GettyImages-1453651506.jpg)
Jaguars 31
Texans 3
The Houston Texans are (almost) on the clock and the Jacksonville Jaguars are (almost) AFC South champs.
![<p><em><strong>Dolphins 21</strong></em><br />
<em><strong>Patriots 23</strong></em></p>
<p>New England just won’t go away.</p>
<p>Now in control of the last AFC wild card berth, the Patriots are a win away from a return to the playoffs they don’t deserve, thanks largely to Miami’s inability to keep a QB healthy. The football gods are fickle.</p>](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/GettyImages-1453658660.jpg)
Dolphins 21
Patriots 23
New England just won’t go away.
Now in control of the last AFC wild card berth, the Patriots are a win away from a return to the playoffs they don’t deserve, thanks largely to Miami’s inability to keep a QB healthy. The football gods are fickle.
![<p><b><i>Broncos 24</i></b><br />
<b><i>Chiefs 27</i></b></p>
<p>No offense to <a href="https://wtop.com/baltimore-ravens/2022/12/jerry-rosburg-gets-his-head-coaching-chance-after-40-years/">Jerry Rosburg’s long-awaited opportunity</a>, but Denver has now lost 15 straight to Kansas City, dropped nine straight division games and are on the brink of setting a new franchise record for most losses in a season. It’s time for a hard reset — and I’m not sure <a href="https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2023/01/01/broncos-have-reached-out-to-jim-harbaugh/">Jim Harbaugh is the right choice</a>.</p>](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/GettyImages-1453650698.jpg)
Broncos 24
Chiefs 27
No offense to Jerry Rosburg’s long-awaited opportunity, but Denver has now lost 15 straight to Kansas City, dropped nine straight division games and are on the brink of setting a new franchise record for most losses in a season. It’s time for a hard reset — and I’m not sure Jim Harbaugh is the right choice.
![<p><em><strong>Bears 10</strong></em><br />
<em><strong>Lions 41</strong></em></p>
<p>Detroit just being relevant to the playoff discussion entering the final week of the season is all they can reasonably ask for. The Lions just need Seattle to lose to make it a win-and-in game in Green Bay that’s absolutely in the mix to get a national audience.</p>](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/GettyImages-1453643978.jpg)
Bears 10
Lions 41
Detroit just being relevant to the playoff discussion entering the final week of the season is all they can reasonably ask for. The Lions just need Seattle to lose to make it a win-and-in game in Green Bay that’s absolutely in the mix to get a national audience.
![<p><b><i>Cardinals 19</i></b><br />
<b><i>Falcons 20</i></b></p>
<p>In <a href="https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/35348861/cardinals-david-blough-nfl-64th-starting-qb-2022">David Blough’s record-tying start</a>, his one touchdown pass was still exactly one more than Desmond Ridder has thrown in his first three NFL games. Add Atlanta to the list of teams in search of a QB in the offseason.</p>](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/GettyImages-1453649719.jpg)
Cardinals 19
Falcons 20
In David Blough’s record-tying start, his one touchdown pass was still exactly one more than Desmond Ridder has thrown in his first three NFL games. Add Atlanta to the list of teams in search of a QB in the offseason.
![<p><em><strong>Cowboys 27</strong></em><br />
<em><strong>Titans 13</strong></em></p>
<p>If y’all are gonna play this game like it’s preseason, I’m gonna recap it like it’s preseason.</p>](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/GettyImages-1453228824.jpg)
Cowboys 27
Titans 13
If y’all are gonna play this game like it’s preseason, I’m gonna recap it like it’s preseason.