The final week of the NFL season was a true thriller. Here are our biggest Week 17 takeaways from a busy Sunday of action.
2,000 and a Title
Our Week 17 takeaways kick off with Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry. The league’s first back-to-back rushing champion became just the eighth player in NFL history to rush for over 2,000 yards in a season. The Titans now claim two of those eight spots with Chris Johnson reaching the mark in 2009. The Titans locked up the AFC South on a game-winning field goal.
Drought Over
The Cleveland Browns finally ended the NFL’s longest playoff drought on Sunday. After 18 seasons, they will make their return to the postseason. However, it may be short-lived. They will be without head coach Kevin Stefanski, offensive lineman Joel Bitonio, and other members of their team this weekend after COVID-19 struck the organization.
Long Overdue
The New York Jets announced that they were parting ways with head coach Adam Gase shortly after their game on Sunday. Even a two-game winning streak near the end of the season couldn’t erase an 0-13 start that had many calling for Gase’s firing.
Most Intriguing Job Opening
Currently, there are six head coaching vacancies in the NFL. The Jets, Houston Texans, Atlanta Falcons, Detroit Lions, Jacksonville Jaguars, and Los Angeles Chargers are all beginning their interview process. The Jaguars may be the most coveted of them all as they own the No. 1 pick in the draft, among 10 other selections. However, the most intriguing is their $100 million in wiggle room under the salary cap. Regardless of who gets the job, next season will definitely be a “new look” in Jacksonville.
Arrowhead and Lambeau
Both conferences’ paths to the Super Bowl will run through the most storied fields in the league. The defending champions, the Kansas City Chiefs, and Green Bay Packers earned the No. 1 seeds.
Seven is Good Enough
The Washington Football Team won the elusive NFC East crown on Sunday night with a 7-9 record.
10 is Not Good Enough
The Miami Dolphins lost to the Buffalo Bills on Sunday. Although they finished the season with 10 wins, it wasn’t enough for them to make the playoffs.
Rivals to the End
The New York Giants defeated the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday. With a Washington loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, the Giants would have won the NFC East crown. However, depending on who you ask or what you thought you saw, the Eagles handed Washington the game, the division, and a playoff date at FedEx Stadium rather than MetLife. That should make for a pair of interesting matchups next season.
Tuned Up, Ready to Go
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ final regular-season game saw the offense clicking on all cylinders, putting up points with ease against the Falcons.
Records Galore
Vikings rookie Justin Jefferson broke Randy Moss’s franchise rookie receiving yards mark. Meanwhile, Seattle Seahawks sophomore wide receiver D.K. Metcalf broke Steve Largent’s franchise yard record.
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