National Football League

NFL Week 16 highlights: Patriots, Dolphins, Jets, Lions, more win big

Updated Dec. 24, 2023 11:37 p.m. ET

Week 16 of the NFL season continued Sunday with an action-packed slate on Christmas Eve, and we had you covered with all the highlights from around the league.

Closing things out on Sunday Night Football, New England topped Denver on a game-winning field goal at Empower Field at Mile High.

Here are the top moments!

New England Patriots 26, Denver Broncos 23

Boom!

The Broncos started things off with a strip sack on the first play from scrimmage, but the Patriots' defense came up with a massive stop on fourth-and-goal to keep things scoreless.

Too quick

Denver's Marvin Mims returned the ensuing punt 52 yards, which set up Javonte Williams' quick 3-yard touchdown.

ZZ Top

Zappe. Zeke. Six. The pair hooked up for a 15-yard touchdown to put the Pats ahead, 9-7, early in the third quarter.

Zapped!

The Pats QB completed 18 of his 23 pass attempts through three quarters, including this dart to TE Mike Gesicki to put New England up two scores.

Back to back

Minutes later, the Patriots' special teams unit put the team up 23-7 as it forced a fumble on the ensuing kickoff.

Krull call

It's the most wonderful time of the year for TE Lucas Krull, who capped off a nine-play, 83-yard drive to push the Broncos within a score early in the fourth quarter.

Danger-russ

Russell Wilson & Co. went 78 yards in 11 plays late in the fourth quarter, converting a second two-point conversion after this touchdown to Brandon Johnson to knot things at 23-all.

Let's Ryland

Zappe drove the Patriots into field-goal range, setting up rookie kicker Chad Ryland for a 56-yard field goal attempt, which he powered through the uprights with ease, sealing the affair for the troupe.

Miami Dolphins 22, Dallas Cowboys 20

Loose ball!

The Cowboys got the ball to the goal line on the opening possession but quickly fumbled, and the Dolphins recovered the loose ball. Three plays later, Tua Tagovailoa hit Jaylen Waddle for a 50-yard completion to set up an easy field goal.

Christmas CeeDees

Cowboys QB Dak Prescott hit WR CeeDee Lamb for a 22-yard completion. Two plays later, Prescott got the ball to Lamb once again, and the wideout ran through Miami's defense for a monster 49-yard touchdown.

Shortly before halftime, Tagovailoa hit RB Raheem Mostert for a 4-yard touchdown to give the Dolphins a 13-7 lead.

Mine!

Cowboys WR Jalen Tolbert came down with a contested, 45-yard reception, which led to a field goal that lessened the Dolphins' lead slightly, 19-10, at the end of the third quarter.

Lead change

After forcing Miami to punt, Dallas put together a 17-play touchdown drive, ending with Prescott hitting WR Brandin Cooks for a dazzling 8-yard score.

Dolphins win!

Miami charged downfield on their ensuing possession, and kicker Jason Sanders drilled a walk-off, 29-yard field goal — one of five field goals he made on the day — to seal the home win.

Chicago Bears 27, Arizona Cardinals 16

Ground game

Bears QB Justin Fields took off for a 3-yard rushing touchdown to get things going Sunday.

Then, RB Khalil Herbert got in on the action, running past the Cardinals defense for an 11-yard touchdown.

Gimme a few seconds

Three plays after Fields hit tight end Cole Kmet for a 29-yard completion, the signal-caller surveyed the field and found tight end Marcedes Lewis in the back of the end zone for a goal-line score to extend the Bears' lead, 21-0.

Cardinals step up

Arizona got on the board near the end of the first half when Kyler Murray got the ball out to RB James Conner, who took off for a 16-yard touchdown. The Cardinals added a 55-yard field goal to open the second half, as well.

All-out effort

Early in the fourth quarter, Fields got a first down with his legs, taking off for a 39-yard carry before he was intercepted by Cardinals safety Jalen Thompson on the very next play.

On Arizona's next drive, Murray hit WR Greg Dortch, who proceeded to drop one defender and send another into the spin cycle en route to a 38-yard score. That said, the Cardinals failed the two-point attempt and ultimately lost on the road.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers 30, Jacksonville Jaguars 12

Fire the cannons

Tampa Bay opened the game with a field goal, which was followed by linebacker Devin White intercepting Jacksonville QB Trevor Lawrence. Eleven plays later, Baker Mayfield hit WR Mike Evans for a 3-yard score, giving the Bucs a 10-0 lead.

Baker's favorite

After another costly Lawrence interception, Mayfield hit Evans for a 22-yard touchdown, giving Tampa Bay a 20-0 lead.

Bucs capitalize

Five plays after recovering a Lawrence fumble, RB Rachaad White punched in a goal-line touchdown for the Buccaneers.

Lawrence was ruled out for the rest of the game in the fourth quarter due to a shoulder injury. C.J. Beathard came in at quarterback for Jacksonville, which ultimately fell by double digits.

New York Jets 30, Washington Commanders 28

Jets capitalize

The Jets got a field goal off a costly Sam Howell interception and then blocked a punt, taking over at the Commanders' 9-yard line. Three plays later, Trevor Siemian hit WR Jason Brownlee for an 8-yard touchdown, and New York led 10-0.

Hall Pass

Two plays after forcing another Washington punt, RB Breece Hall thundered through its defense for a 36-yard touchdown.

Merry Christmas!

Jamison Crowder was putting the finishing touches on a superb punt return for the Commanders before coughing up the ball near the sideline. Ashtyn Davis recovered the loose ball for the Jets, which got a field goal shortly after the recovery.

Spinning and winning

One play after Washington fell on a Siemian fumble, Chris Rodriguez Jr. powered in a 12-yard rushing touchdown.

Soon after, New York was back at the goal line, and Hall spun himself into the end zone for a 2-yard rushing score.

We got a game!

Jacoby Brissett relieved Howell — who completed just six passes and threw two interceptions — at QB for Washington, and the Commanders put together back-to-back touchdown possessions.

The first drive, which started with a Siemian interception, saw tight end Logan Thomas reel in a 15-yard touchdown reception. The second saw Rodriguez run in a goal-line score. Washington trailed 27-21 with 9:33 remaining in the game.

Chaos!

After trailing by 20 points in the third quarter, Washington took the lead on a 2-yard score from Antonio Gibson.

However, the Jets came down the field in the closing moments, and kicker Greg Zuerlein nailed the game-winning, 54-yard field goal to secure the home win.

Detroit Lions 30, Minnesota Vikings 24

Lions finish LONG drive

Detroit opened the game with a 14-play drive, ending with David Mongtomery running in a goal-line touchdown.

Then, Minnesota put together a nine-play touchdown drive, ending with Ty Chandler running in a 2-yard score.

Gibbs TD

Three plays after Lions safety Kerby Joseph intercepted QB Nick Mullens, who threw two picks in the first half, Jahmyr Gibbs sliced his way into the end zone for a 14-yard score.

The Jetta!

Going to his right, Mullens threw up a pass for Justin Jefferson, who came down with a 26-yard TD to keep things close.

Elsewhere, Minnesota's Jordan Addison (ankle) and T.J. Hockenson (knee) were ruled out for the rest of the game.

Double trouble

Mullens hooked up with WR K.J. Osborn, who came down with a tremendous 47-yard reception.

On the very next play, the two connected for a 6-yard touchdown, giving the Vikings the lead.

TD for WR1

Shortly after the Lions converted two fourth downs, Jared Goff hit WR Amon-Ra. St. Brown for a goal-line touchdown.

Then, after forcing a Minnesota three-and-out, Detroit put together a 14-play touchdown drive, ending with Gibbs exploding into the end zone for a 3-yard score.

Wild grab!

Jefferson came down with an unbelievable reception on third-and-27 to move the chains for the Vikings.

The Vikings got to within one score, but Mullens was intercepted by Lions safety Ifeatu Melifonwu to end the game.

Green Bay Packers 33, Carolina Panthers 30

Power football

Aaron Jones had 46 combined yards on Green Bay's first possession, which AJ Dillon finished off with a 1-yard score.

Jones pulled off a 39-yard run on the first play of the next possession, which Jordan Love finished off with a QB sneak.

Counterclockwise

Carolina gave WR Ihmir Smith-Marsette the ball behind the line of scrimmage, and he ran around the Green Bay defense for a 20-yard touchdown.

Packers TD

Love hooked up with WR Dontayvion Wicks for a 21-yard touchdown to keep things competitive.

MEAN TD run

Chubba Hubbard ran in a 4-yard touchdown for the Panthers, but they then missed the extra point.

The Packers responded quickly, as Love found an open Romeo Doubs for a 5-yard touchdown.

TIE GAME!

Panthers rookie QB Bryce Young and WR DJ Chark hooked up for a pair of TDs in the fourth quarter. While Carolina missed the extra point after the first touchdown, it then converted a game-tying, two-point attempt on the second score.

Packers ESCAPE

Green Bay came right down the field and got into field goal range for kicker Anders Carlson, who connected on a 32-yard field goal. The Panthers then got the ball into Packers territory, but the clock ran out on them, and things ended there.

Atlanta Falcons 29, Indianapolis Colts 10

JT is back!

On the 13th play of the opening possession, Colts RB Jonathan Taylor smacked in a goal-line touchdown.

There you are!

One play after Bijan Robinson ripped a 32-yard run, Falcons QB Taylor Heinicke found TE Kyle Pitts for a 24-yard score.

Falcons strike

RB Tyler Allgeier took off for a 31-yard touchdown, giving the Falcons a 20-7 lead. They later put three field goals on the board and won by double digits, 29-10.

Seattle Seahawks 20, Tennessee Titans 17

Trick play alert!

Tennessee handed the ball off to RB Derrick Henry, who threw a 12-yard touchdown pass to TE Chigoziem Okonkwo.

Going up!

Seahawks WR DK Metcalf, who's listed as 6-foot-4 and 235 pounds, hurdled a defender, which later led to a field goal.

What. A. Catch!

QB Geno Smith was looking for Metcalf in the back of the end zone, and the receiver brought in the pass with one arm for the 11-yard Seahawks touchdown. They took a 13-10 lead.

Lead change

Tennessee answered Seattle's touchdown drive with one of its own, as Henry powered in a 2-yard score on the ground on the 15th play of the drive.

Seahawks get it back!

On the 14th play of the ensuing drive, Smith threw it up for TE Colby Parkinson, who came down with a 5-yard score.

Cleveland Browns 36, Houston Texans 22

Too tough

Three plays after QB Joe Flacco hooked up with WR Amari Cooper for a monster 53-yard gain , Jerome Ford took a direct snap four yards into the end zone for Cleveland.

The deep connection

Flacco threw up a deep ball for Cooper, who came down with the reception and took off for a 75-yard touchdown.

Texans IMMEDIATELY get it back

Dameon Pierce ran the ensuing kickoff back 98 yards for a Texans touchdown.

A DIME

Flacco hit TE David Njoku for a 21-yard touchdown, getting the Browns back up two scores.

Then, Cooper came down with a wild fourth-down catch to move the chains for Cleveland. Later in the drive, the receiver hauled in a 7-yard touchdown. The Browns put together a 10-play touchdown drive on their next possession and led 36-7.

Making it interesting

Texans QB Davis Mills hit WR Nico Collins for a 5-yard touchdown, and then they recovered the onside kick. Nine plays later, Mills got the ball out to fullback Andrew Beck for a goal-line TD, but Houston was unable to mount a comeback.

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