Most days this week had a Sunday feel with NFL games on Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday.

After four boring games at the start Week 17 SlateThe Cincinnati Bengals and Denver Broncos played one of the best games of the 2024 season. Joe Burrow and Tee Higgins scored three touchdowns, including the walk-off score in overtime, to keep the Bengals’ playoff hopes alive. The Broncos now need a win against the Kansas City Chiefs in the regular season finale to secure a playoff spot.

However, the Chiefs may not be playing with their starters after securing the No. 1 seed with a commanding win over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Christmas Day. Patrick Mahomes dismantled Pittsburgh’s defense to let the football public know that Kansas City will be contending for the Super Bowl for the third straight year. But at least the Steelers performed better than the Houston Texans, who were shut out offensively in their Boxing Day game against the Baltimore Ravens.

In Saturday’s early game, Jim Harbaugh’s Los Angeles Chargers secured a playoff spot after playing the New England Patriots on the road.

The Seattle Seahawks and Chicago Bears may have played a one-score game on Thursday, but football fans might have turned off the TV in the middle of Seattle’s ugly 6-3 win at Chicago. Here’s everything you need to know about the penultimate week of the regular season.

SATURDAY

My opinion: Cincinnati (8-8) took a big step toward becoming the team no one wants to face in the postseason after defeating Denver (9-7) in thrilling fashion. Joe Burrow posted a 400-yard passing performance, passing rookie quarterback Bo Nix, to keep alive the Bengals’ slim playoff hopes, which were dashed after Tee Higgins’ lost fumble in the fourth quarter and Cade’s missed field goal York looked grim in extra time. This chaotic duel had many ups and downs, including Nix throwing a costly interception, which he made up for with a tying 25-yard touchdown pass to Marvin Mims Jr. that sent the game into overtime. The Bengals ultimately won the game when Burrow connected with Higgins for the walk-off score. They are only one game behind the Broncos in the standings for the seventh and final playoff spot. There’s still a lot that needs to happen for the Bengals to advance, but football fans are on the verge of potentially seeing a wild card showdown between Burrow and Josh Allen or Burrow and Lamar Jackson.

Create stock: The trio of Burrow (412 passing yards, four total touchdowns), Ja’Marr Chase (nine catches, 102 yards) and Higgins (11 catches, 131 yards, three touchdowns) stepped up to save the Bengals’ season. Higgins had a costly lost fumble, but recovered it with a thrilling 31-yard reception in overtime before making the game-winning touchdown catch from three yards out. The Bengals’ playoff hopes are alive and no one will want to see this trio in the postseason.

Inventory reduced: Hindsight is 20/20, but Broncos coach Sean Payton should have gone for two at the end of regulation. Nix (24 of 31, 219 yards, three touchdowns and one interception) gave two fingers because he thought Payton would go for the bold two-point conversion. The Broncos did have chances to win the game in overtime, but Payton will be thinking about the safe approach after Nix and Mims connected. Now the Broncos must beat the Chiefs in Week 18 to secure a playoff spot. That could be likely if Kansas City decides to rest its starters after clinching the AFC’s top seed on Christmas Day.

Next: Bengals at Steelers, TBD time and date; Chiefs at Broncos, time and date to be determined

My opinion: Thanks to the lack of pressure from New England (3-13), Los Angeles (10-6) finally abandoned its conservative ways. Justin Herbert showed his strength throughout the game, throwing a 40-yard bomb to rookie sensation Ladd McConkey to extend the lead to 20 points in the third quarter. It was the first time this season that Herbert threw at least three touchdowns in a game, which was surprising for a quarterback of Herbert’s caliber. We shouldn’t get carried away with the Chargers beating the Patriots, but it’s clear this offense is different with JK Dobbins in the backfield – Dobbins returned after missing the last four games with a knee injury. It remains to be seen whether this Chargers offense will be enough in the postseason, but with Herbert on the field, they will always have a chance.

Create stock: Jim Harbaugh quickly got the Chargers into the postseason. They were a five-win team with a poor defense last season and entered 2024 with a weakened offense because of difficult decisions made to correct the salary cap. Despite all these obstacles, Harbaugh once again showed why, as a coach, he is the master of achieving quick results. Harbaugh’s team will be dangerous in the postseason because of Herbert’s connection to McConkey and a successful top-10 defense under defensive coordinator Jesse Minter.

Inventory reduced: Jerod Mayo will have to prioritize both sides of the trenches once the Patriots’ season ends next week. It also remains to be seen whether Mayo will receive a second season as head coach in 2024 due to the poor run. But when he comes back, the results won’t change without better pass rushers and offensive linemen. Rookie quarterback Drake Maye is the real deal, as he proved with a 36-yard touchdown to DeMario Douglas, but Maye was under constant pressure during Saturday’s loss.

Next: Chargers at Raiders, TBD time and date; Patriots bills, TBD time and date

THURSDAY

My opinion: Both teams should burn the game tape of this ugly game that didn’t score a touchdown. The Seahawks (9-7) kept their playoff hopes alive with the win, but if they’re in contention based on Week 17’s results, this version of Geno Smith (17 of 23, 160 yards, no touchdowns) won’t be in the mix Race will be next week against the Rams, a matchup that could decide the NFC West. Smith struggled with accuracy and DK Metcalf (three catches, 42 yards) couldn’t keep his cool against the Bears (4-12). But the bigger story of this game is the latest stinker from rookie Caleb Williams, the No. 1 pick in April’s draft. Williams (16 of 28, 122 yards, no touchdowns) missed several throws and had a brutal interception to end Chicago’s comeback hopes on the final drive.

Create stock: Mike Macdonald’s defense was the only bright spot for the Seahawks, as it allowed just 179 total yards and forced the Bears into seven punts. Leonard Williams had two of Seattle’s seven sacks against Chicago’s abysmal offensive line. The Seahawks defense performed well after two straight weeks of struggles against the Packers and Vikings.

Inventory reduced: The Bears’ offensive line has hampered the team’s development plan for Williams, who has been sacked 67 times, the most in the league. Chicago could find itself on the wrong side of history next week if Williams equals or breaks David Carr’s record of 76 sacks in a season set in 2002.

Next: Seahawks at Rams, TBD time and date; Bears at Packers, time and date to be determined

WEDNESDAY

My opinion: Baltimore (11–5) took sole possession of first place in the AFC North, shutting out the offense of Houston (9–7). Lamar Jackson (168 passing yards, 87 rushing yards, three total touchdowns) jokingly apologized to his defense for allowing the two points that came from a safety. CJ Stroud (17 of 31, 185 yards, no touchdown, one interception) admitted that the Christmas performance was one of the worst games of his career. It doesn’t look like the Texans will solve their offensive woes any time soon, potentially leading to an early playoff exit for the AFC South champions. The Ravens could now have a long playoff run ahead of them as the defense is playing just as well as the offense.

Create stock: This is not the same Ravens secondary that was consistently behind through the first 10 weeks of the season. Marlon Humphrey, who had an interception against Stroud, could be named to an All-Pro team in a few weeks based on his good performance in the second half of the season.

Inventory reduced: Joe Mixon was the Texans’ only consistent playmaker in the first half of the season. But he has struggled in the last three games, failing to rush for more than 57 yards against the Ravens, Chiefs and Dolphins. Mixon has 993 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns this season.

Next: Browns at Ravens, TBD time and date; Texans at Titans TBD time and date

My opinion: The Chiefs (15-1) are the best team in the NFL, a statement that hasn’t been said much this season. Once again, Kansas City is saving its best performances for the decisive moment. Patrick Mahomes and his passing game have overcome their weakness, Mahomes threw for 320 yards and three touchdowns in Pittsburgh. As for the Steelers (10-6), they appear to be on their way to another incontrovertible postseason. Without Chris Jones out with a calf injury, Russell Wilson couldn’t get anything going against the Chiefs’ stout defense.

Create stock: Xavier Worthy could be a dangerous weapon in the postseason. The rookie first-round receiver has benefited from the better matchups he’s seen since Hollywood Brown’s return from injury in Week 16 against the Texans. Against the Steelers, Worthy recorded eight catches for 79 yards and a touchdown.

Inventory reduced: Wilson’s moonshots no longer hit. The veteran quarterback averaged just 5.5 yards per attempt against Kansas City. Wilson threw quick throws against the pressure and had a killer interception in the end zone in the first half.

Next: Chiefs at Broncos, TBD time and date; Bengals at Steelers, time and date to be announced