As we are now in 2024, it is time to look back of the final week in football of 2023. Here are the top five headlines from Week 17.
5) Rams clinch a playoff spot.
The Los Angeles Rams clinched a playoff spot with a record of nine wins and seven losses. They have been smoking hot the last seven weeks, as they have posted a record of six wins and one loss in that time. The Rams are getting great production from running back Kyren Williams of Greece. During the Rams hot streak, Williams has had nine touchdowns, and 846 rushing yards.
4) Cardinals stun the Eagles.
In the upset of the weekend, the Arizona Cardinals defeated the Philadelphia Eagles 35-31, despite being a 12.5 point underdog on Sunday. With the win, the Cardinals improved to 4-12, while the Eagles dropped to 11-5. It was a great game for Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray of Bedford, Texas and running back James Conner of Erie, Pennsylvania. Murray completed 25 of 31 passes for 232 yards and three touchdowns, while Conner had 26 carries for 128 rushing yards and one touchdown.
3) Chiefs clinch the AFC West.
Kansas City is playoff bound after beating the Cincinnati Bengals 25-17. They have now won eight consecutive AFC West titles dating back to 2016. On Sunday, running back Isiah Pacheco of Vineland, New Jersey had 18 rushes for 130 yards, and seven catches for 35 receiving yards and one touchdown. Meanwhile, Rashee Rice of North Richland Hills, Texas had five catches for 127 receiving yards.
2) Dallas Cowboys win controversial game in prime time.
With the Eagles losing and Cowboys beating the Detroit Lions 20-19, Dallas moves into first place in the NFC East. Dallas’s win over Detroit did not come without controversy. Lions offensive tackle Taylor Decker of Vandalia, Ohio came into the game during a two-point conversion, and caught a pass from Jared Goff. However, it was determined he was an ineligible receiver, and the Cowboys hung on to win by a single point.
1) Perfect Passer rating for Lamar Jackson.
For the second straight week a quarterback had a perfect passer rating. Two weeks after Baker Mayfield of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers accomplished the feat, Lamar Jackson had a rating of 158.3 in a 56-19 Ravens rout over the Dolphins. Jackson completed 18 of 21 passes for 321 yards, and five touchdowns, along with six rushes for 35 rushing yards. With the win, the Ravens are 13-3 and clinch the top seed in the AFC.
