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The first-ever NFL games streamed on Netflix on Christmas Day, featuring four playoff-bound AFC teams as the Kansas City Chiefs (15-1, AFC West) visited the Pittsburgh Steelers (10-6) and the Baltimore Ravens (11-5) faced the Houston Texans (9-7 AFC South).
The Chiefs secured the AFC’s No. 1 seed, lone first-round bye and home-field advantage with a franchise-record 15th victory and became the second reigning Super Bowl champions to win 15 games, joining the 2011 Green Bay Packers (15-1).
The Ravens moved atop the AFC North in a division that can’t be decided until Week 18, while the Steelers head into the final week of the regular season on a three-game skid. They now need help – and a win over the Cincinnati Bengals – to claim the AFC North and earn a home playoff game in 2024. To win the AFC North, the Steelers need to beat the Bengals at Acrisure Stadium and have the Cleveland Browns beat the Ravens. If both the Steelers and Ravens lose, Baltimore remains the AFC North winners with a better record. If the Denver Broncos beat the Bengals in Week 17, and the Los Angeles Chargers beat the New England Patriots, Pittsburgh can still fall all the way to the seventh seed in the AFC.
With a victory over the Browns, the Ravens can win the AFC North in consecutive seasons for the third time ever (2018-19 and 2011-12).
The NFL Network will exclusively televise three games in Week 17 on Saturday, December 28, with each game featuring teams looking to secure their spot in the postseason.
The Chargers enter Week 17 as the No. 6 seed in the AFC and look to qualify for the postseason for the second time in the past three seasons.
Los Angeles has the top scoring defense in the NFL (18.3 points per game allowed) and has allowed 20-or-fewer points in each of its seven road games this season. Only five teams since 1970 have allowed 20-or-fewer points in eight road games within a single season: the 2010 and 1993 Chicago Bears, 2001 Philadelphia Eagles, 1980 Los Angeles Rams and 1978 Pittsburgh Steelers.
Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert has 3,243 passing yards and 18 touchdown passes this season and can become the third player in NFL history with at least 3,000 passing yards and 20 touchdown passes in each of his first five seasons, joining Pro Football Hall of Famer Peyton Manning and Russell Wilson.
Herbert has 20,466 passing yards since entering the NFL in 2020 and can surpass Pro Football Hall of Famer Peyton Manning (20,618 passing yards) for the most passing yards by a player in his first five seasons in NFL history.
The Broncos can secure their first playoff berth and 10-win season since 2015 (12-4, Super Bowl 50 champions). Denver leads the NFL with 51 sacks this season, including seven players with three-or-more sacks, five of which have at least five sacks this season. Only one team since 1990 had six players with five sacks in a season (2023 Miami Dolphins) and only one previous team since 1982 had seven such players (1986 Chicago Bears).
Broncos rookie quarterback Bo Nix became the fourth rookie quarterback in NFL history with at least two touchdown passes and no interceptions in six games, joining Justin Herbert (2020), C.J. Stroud (2023) and Russell Wilson (2012). Nix has eight games with at least two touchdown passes this season and can join Herbert (10 games in 2020) and Baker Mayfield (nine in 2018) as the only rookie quarterbacks all-time with nine such games.
Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow leads the NFL with 4,229 passing yards and 39 touchdown passes this season and became the fourth player in NFL history with 4,000 passing yards and 30 touchdown passes in three of his first five seasons, joining Josh Allen, Patrick Mahomes and Pro Football Hall of Famer Dan Marino.
Burrow passed for 252 yards and three touchdowns last week and became the first player in NFL history with at least 250 passing yards and three touchdown passes in seven consecutive games.
Cincinnati wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase leads the NFL with 108 receptions for 1,510 yards and 16 touchdowns and became the fifth player in NFL history with at least 100 receptions, 1,500 receiving yards and 15 touchdown receptions in a season, joining Pro Football Hall of Famers Marvin Harrison (2001), Randy Moss (2003) and Jerry Rice (1995) as well as Cooper Kupp (2021).
Chase has 45 career touchdown receptions, tied with Pro Football Hall of Famer Bob Hayes (45 touchdown receptions) for the third-most touchdown receptions by a player in his first four seasons in NFL history. Only Pro Football Hall of Famers Randy Moss (53 touchdown receptions) and Jerry Rice (49) have more.
The Rams can secure their sixth season with 10-or-more wins since head coach Sean McVay was hired in 2017 and reach the playoffs for the fourth time in the past five seasons. Los Angeles enters Week 17 with a one game lead over Seattle (8-7, at Chicago on Thursday Night Football) and are set to host the Seahawks in Week 18.
Since Week 10, Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua leads the NFL with 57 receptions and ranks second with 709 receiving yards, recording at least five receptions and 50 receiving yards in each of his seven games during the span. Nacua had eight receptions last week and can become the fifth player in NFL history with at least eight receptions in 10 games within his first two seasons, joining Justin Jefferson (11 games), Amon-Ra St. Brown (11), Marques Colston (10) and Jarvis Landry (10).
The Bills can join Kansas City as the only teams to go 8-0 at home this season and mark the third undefeated home record in a season in franchise history (1988 and 1990, both 8-0). Buffalo quarterback Josh Allen has 75 career regular-season wins and can surpass Russell Wilson (75 wins) for the most regular-season wins by a quarterback in his first seven seasons in NFL history.
New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers has 499 regular-season touchdown passes in 246 career games and can become the fifth player in NFL history with 500 regular-season touchdown passes, joining Tom Brady (649 touchdown passes), Drew Brees (571) and Pro Football Hall of Famers Peyton Manning (539) and Brett Favre (508). He can also join Manning (244 games) as the only players to reach 500 regular-season touchdown passes in fewer than 250 career games.
With the Vikings’ 13th win of the season last week, Kevin O’Connell became the third coach ever to win at least 13 games in two of his first three seasons, joining Matt LaFleur and George Seifert.
Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold became the seventh quarterback in NFL history to record at least 13 wins in his first season with a team, joining Pro Football Hall of Famer Peyton Manning (2012 with Denver), Daryle Lamonica (1967 with the Oakland Raiders), Steve McNair (2006 with the Baltimore Ravens), Earl Morrall (1968 with the Baltimore Colts), Dak Prescott (2016 with Dallas) and Ben Roethlisberger (2004 with Pittsburgh).
Minnesota wide receiver Justin Jefferson has 92 receptions for 1,387 yards and 10 touchdowns this season and can become the fifth player all-time with three career seasons with 100 receptions and 1,500 receiving yards, joining Pro Football Hall of Famers Andre Johnson and Marvin Harrison as well as Antonio Brown and Julio Jones.
Sunday Night Football in Week 17 features rookie quarterbacks Michael Penix Jr., the No. 8 overall selection in the 2024 NFL Draft, and Jayden Daniels, the No. 2 overall pick. It will mark the first primetime game in NFL history between rookie starting quarterbacks each selected in the first round.
Joseph Santoliquito can be followed on "X" (formerly Twitter) @JSantoliquito.
The Maxwell Football Club has honored excellence at all levels of football since 1935 and the Club's outreach programs provide educational opportunities for student-athletes and coaches. With members in over 40 states the Maxwell Football Club is one of the largest football organizations in America. Become a member by visiting maxwellfootballclub.org.
CollegeFootballPoll.com's Dave Congrove is member of the Maxwell Football Club.