Week 16 was absolute, unadulterated madness. Honestly, if you blinked on Sunday afternoon, you probably missed three lead changes and a playoff spot evaporating into thin air. By the time the dust settled on Monday night, the 2025 NFL landscape looked completely different than it did when the Seahawks and Rams kicked things off on Thursday.
We saw a lateral touchdown that wasn't. We saw a rookie quarterback in Denver get a reality check. And, somehow, we saw the Chicago Bears pull off an onside kick recovery that felt like something out of a video game.
If you are looking for the raw nfl football scores week 16 and the stories that actually matter, you've come to the right place.
The Game of the Year? Seattle and LA Trade Blows
It started with a Thursday night banger that set the tone for everything else. The Seahawks and Rams are basically two heavyweights who refuse to go down. Seattle was staring at a 16-point deficit. Most fans probably turned the TV off. Big mistake.
Sam Darnold—yes, that Sam Darnold—somehow clawed the Seahawks back into it. It went to overtime, because of course it did. After the Rams scored, Seattle answered. Then, Mike Macdonald decided to go for the throat. A two-point conversion for the win. Eric Saubert caught the ball, the stadium exploded, and Seattle walked away with a 38-37 victory.
That win didn't just look good on the scoreboard; it secured Seattle the inside track for the No. 1 seed. Matthew Stafford threw for 457 yards in a losing effort. It’s gotta be one of the best games he’s ever played that resulted in an "L."
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Sunday's Chaos: The Steelers, the Lions, and the "Touchdown" That Wasn't
The afternoon slate was defined by what happened in Detroit. If you’re a Lions fan, I’m sorry. Truly.
Pittsburgh led 29-24 late. The Lions were stuck in the mud for most of the second half, but they caught fire at the very end. With no time left, Amon-Ra St. Brown caught a pass, realized he was going to be tackled short of the goal line, and flipped the ball back to Jared Goff. Goff ran it in. The crowd went insane.
Then came the yellow laundry.
Offensive pass interference on St. Brown. Game over. Just like that, the Steelers escaped with a 29-24 win to stay atop the AFC North. Jaylen Warren was the actual hero for Pittsburgh, though, gashing the Lions for two separate 45-yard touchdown runs.
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Other Notable Sunday Scores
- Jacksonville Jaguars 34, Denver Broncos 20: Trevor Lawrence outplayed Bo Nix in a game that felt like a changing of the guard in the AFC.
- Buffalo Bills 23, Cleveland Browns 20: James Cook carried the load with 117 yards while Josh Allen struggled with accuracy in the cold.
- Carolina Panthers 23, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 20: Bryce Young led a game-winning drive that put Carolina in the driver's seat of the NFC South.
- Chicago Bears 22, Green Bay Packers 16 (OT): Caleb Williams and the Bears recovered a late onside kick to stun the Pack.
Why These Scores Actually Matter for the Postseason
It isn't just about the final numbers. Week 16 is when the "pretenders" usually get shown the door. The Kansas City Chiefs, for example, were officially eliminated after a dismal 26-9 loss to the Tennessee Titans. Seeing the Chiefs out of the playoffs before Christmas feels weird, right? But that’s the 2025 reality.
The Jacksonville Jaguars clinched a playoff berth thanks to their upset over Denver and a subsequent Monday night loss by the Colts. This team is dangerous. Trevor Lawrence looks like the guy everyone expected him to be three years ago.
In the NFC, the 49ers' win over the Colts on Monday night (23-19) shuffled the deck again. It pushed San Francisco up to the No. 5 seed, leaping over the Rams based on tiebreakers. The NFC West might actually send three teams to the playoffs, which is just absurd depth.
AFC Playoff Standings After Week 16
- Denver Broncos (12-3) - Clinched
- New England Patriots (12-3) - Clinched
- Jacksonville Jaguars (11-4) - Clinched
- Pittsburgh Steelers (9-6)
- Los Angeles Chargers (11-4) - Clinched
- Buffalo Bills (11-4) - Clinched
- Houston Texans (10-5)
The Texans kept their hopes alive by grinding out a 23-21 win against the Raiders. It wasn't pretty, but C.J. Stroud did enough.
NFC Playoff Standings After Week 16
- Seattle Seahawks (12-3) - Clinched
- Chicago Bears (11-4) - Clinched
- Philadelphia Eagles (10-5) - Clinched
- Carolina Panthers (8-7)
- San Francisco 49ers (11-4) - Clinched
- Los Angeles Rams (11-4) - Clinched
- Green Bay Packers (9-5-1)
The Packers are hanging on by a thread. That overtime loss to Chicago hurt, especially with Jordan Love sidelined. They’re now looking over their shoulders at the Lions, who are technically still alive but need a lot of help.
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What Most People Get Wrong About Week 16
A lot of "experts" look at the Buffalo Bills beating the Browns 23-20 and think they’re sliding. I don't see it that way. Winning in Cleveland in December is a chore. Josh Allen only threw for 130 yards, but they won. In the playoffs, that’s exactly what you have to do when the passing game isn't clicking.
Also, don't sleep on the New Orleans Saints. They blew out the Jets 29-6. Sure, they're 5-10, but they are playing spoiler better than anyone else right now.
Actionable Insights for the Final Weeks
If you're tracking the playoff race or managing a late-season fantasy league, keep these things in mind:
- The NFC South is a toss-up: Even though Carolina leads now, they face Tampa Bay again in Week 18. That game will likely be for the division title.
- The AFC No. 1 Seed is wide open: Denver’s loss to Jacksonville means the Patriots could steal home-field advantage if they win out.
- Watch the injury reports in Pittsburgh: They are winning, but they are battered. Aaron Rodgers is playing "maestro" ball, but he needs his offensive line to hold up for two more weeks.
The road to Super Bowl LX in Santa Clara is getting narrow. Week 17 is basically a dress rehearsal for the Wild Card round, but Week 16 was the moment the pretenders finally ran out of gas.