NFL 2023 Week 16: Top questions, queries and takeaways
Week 16 The NFL season began Thursday night with the Los Angeles Rams boosting their playoff hopes while dealing a major blow to the New Orleans Saints’ ambitions.
The start of a Saturday schedule with two games will be the Pittsburgh Steelers forwarded Cincinnati Bengals, who also suffered a major blow to their playoff hopes. Later it became Buffalo Bills took control of their playoff fate with a narrow victory over the Los Angeles Chargerswho were playing their first game since firing coach Brandon Staley and general manager Tom Telesco last week.
Our NFL Nation reporters reacted to all the action, answering lingering questions from every game and picking out who – or what – is rising and falling for each team. Let us begin.
Jump to a matchup:
NO-LAR | CIN PIT | BUF-LAC
Saturday
bills
How concerning was this performance as the Bills continue their playoff push? It’s a reminder of what this season was. Of the Bills’ 14 games, 10 were one-score affairs. Adequately taking down opponents has been a problem all year. James CookBall security is a problem and the defense allows too many attacks. At this point in the year, it ultimately comes down to winning, but Saturday showed that this team still has a lot of work to do despite now being in control of its playoff fate.
Replenish supplies after victory: Sam Martin. The Bills punter has had some ups and downs of late, but he was key in giving the Chargers a long field as three of his four punts went inside the 20-yard line and an average of 52.3 yards per Punt was scored, a good sign for the further development of this special unit.
Inventory dropped after victory: Passing game. Josh Allen & Co. got things going when they needed it, but the Chargers entered this game with one of the worst pass defenses in the league. Allen completed just 15 of 21 passes for 237 yards, one touchdown and one pick throughout the game with errors connecting with receivers. It remains inconsistent. — Alaina Getzenberg
Next game: vs. Patriots (Sunday, December 31, 1 p.m. ET)
Charger
Is there reason to worry? Derwin James? James has been one of the Chargers’ best players since being drafted in 2018 and has established himself as one of the best safeties in the league. But in James’ first game since the Chargers fired coach Brandon Staley, James played two snaps at safety and 40 for the game, both season lows. He played most of the game as a nickel cornerback. Under Staley, James played the crucial role at points, but his primary home was at safety, which made tonight’s game particularly surprising.
Stock up after the loss: Kicker Cameron Dicker. Former Chargers head coach Brandon Staley was nicknamed “Fourth and Staley” for his willingness to run fourth-down conversions, which often left Dicker on the sideline. In the first game since Staley’s firing, Dicker made five field goals, the most of his career, and nearly won the game himself for the Chargers. It was the first time since 2012 that the Chargers made five field goals.
Inventory decreased after loss: Run back Joshua Kelley. Kelley played a season-low 12 total snaps, including seven on offense. Kelley was the Chargers’ backup running back earlier this season and started two games this season Austin Ekeler was out due to injury but appears to have fallen out of favor in the Chargers backfield. – Kris Rhim
Next game: at Broncos (Sunday, December 31, 4:25 p.m. ET)
Steelers
Who will start at quarterback against the Seattle Seahawks? After the game, Mike Tomlin told reporters it was too early to ask. Maybe so, but it’s certainly not too early to consider the possibility Mason Rudolph earned the chance to start again after throwing for 279 yards and two touchdowns. QB Kenny Pickett took limited part in practice this week after undergoing TightRope surgery on his right ankle on December 4th. He was inactive against the Bengals but could be ready to play against the Seahawks. Nevertheless, Rudolph played a smart game and earned his first game ball – and perhaps another start – for his performance.
Replenish supplies after victory: Wide receiver George Pickens. Pickens had a career performance of 195 receiving yards and two touchdowns after a heavy week criticized for immaturity and lack of effort, This shows that at his best he has an incredibly high ceiling.
Inventory dropped after victory: Fire Mike Tomlin sings. It’s hard to find much that went wrong in a stunning victory. But it was a tough game for all the disgruntled fans who came to Acrisure Stadium to let loose Fire Tomlin chants. Instead, there were four chants for Mason Rudolph and one for Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer in the fourth quarter, which Steelers players said was a welcome change. — Brooke Pryor
Next game: at Seahawks (Sunday, December 31, 4:05 p.m. ET)
Bengal
Does this loss end Cincinnati’s playoff chances? Well, it definitely leaves a huge dent in them. According to ESPN Analytics, the Bengals’ playoff chances fell to 14% after the loss. But if the Bengals miss the postseason, they can certainly point to their AFC North record this season. After Saturday, the Bengals are 0-5 in division play. Cincinnati has been defeated by Baltimore and Pittsburgh this season. Depending on what happens over the next two weeks, even a win against the Browns in Week 18 could mean nothing for the Bengals.
Stock up after the loss: WR T-shirt Higgins. With Yes’Marr Chase After his exit, he had five catches for 140 yards and a touchdown, including an 80-yard touchdown in the third quarter.
Inventory decreased after loss: QB Jake Browning. Browning forced the issue too often, throwing three interceptions in place of the injured Joe Burrow in his worst performance as a starter. — Ben Baby
Next game: at Chiefs (Sunday, December 31, 4:25 p.m. ET)
Thursday
Aries
Does the offense make the Rams a serious playoff threat? The Rams aren’t in the playoffs yet — they have a 78% chance, according to ESPN Analytics — but they’re playing like a team that could make it. Since RB Kyren Williams When the Rams returned in Week 12, they looked like a different group than the one that sat at 3-6 in Week 10. There’s “no doubt,” head coach Sean McVay said, “we’re different when he plays.” Los Angeles has scored at least 28 points in the five games since Williams’ return and has won six of the last seven games, the only loss coming against the AFC -front runner Baltimore Ravens.
Replenish supplies after victory: QB Matthew Stafford. According to ESPN Stats & Information, the Rams quarterback has thrown multiple passing touchdowns in five straight games, his longest streak since joining the Rams. He has also gone four straight games without an interception, which is his longest streak with Los Angeles.
Inventory dropped after victory: Kicker Lucas Havrisik missed a 47-yard field goal in the second quarter. Los Angeles has missed 11 field goals this season, a league-high mark. According to ESPN Stats & Information, it is the highest rate of any team since the 2015 Buccaneers (11). — Sarah Barshop
Next game: at Giants (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)
Saints
Can the Saints regroup despite dwindling playoff hopes? The Saints now have to win and get help to get into the playoffs. Their loss exposed problems everywhere on both defense (tackling) and offense (they had trouble converting on third and fourth downs). After the disappointment of such a decisive loss, the Saints must now travel to Tampa Bay for a divisional game. How they respond will likely impact any decisions made about the coaching staff or personnel after the season ends.
Stock up after the loss: WR Chris Olave. Battling an ankle injury that caused him to miss Sunday’s game, Olave responded with a season-best nine catches for 129 yards, giving him over 1,000 receiving yards on the season.
Inventory decreased after loss: CB Alontae Taylor. Taylor was benched Ugo Amadi Toward the end of the game, Saints coach Dennis Allen said the Rams “eyeballed” Taylor a couple times. –Katherine Terrell
Next game: on Buccaneers (Sunday, December 31, 1 p.m. ET)
