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NFL roundup: Lions’ 11-game winning streak ends at hands of Bills

Mon Dec 16 1:13am ET
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Josh Allen passed for two touchdowns and rushed for two more and the visiting Buffalo Bills halted the Detroit Lions' franchise-record 11-game winning streak with a 48-42 victory on Sunday.

Allen, who has 10 total touchdowns in the past two games, passed for 362 yards and rushed for 68 against Detroit. James Cook rushed for 105 yards and two touchdowns for the Bills (11-3).

Jared Goff passed for 494 yards and matched his career high of five touchdown passes for the Lions (12-2). Amon-Ra St. Brown hauled in a touchdown while establishing career bests of 14 catches and 193 receiving yards.

The teams combined for 1,080 yards. Buffalo had 559, Detroit totaled 521. With the loss, the Lions are now tied with the Philadelphia Eagles for the best record in the NFC, with the Minnesota Vikings also at two losses ahead of a meeting with the Chicago Bears on Monday night.

Texans 20, Dolphins 12

C.J. Stroud threw two touchdown passes to Nico Collins and Houston clinched the AFC South title with a victory over visiting Miami.

Will Anderson Jr. forced a turnover with a key strip-sack, Derek Stingley Jr. recorded two interceptions and Calen Bullock also had a pick for Houston (9-5). The Texans formally clinched the division when the Indianapolis Colts lost to the Denver Broncos later Sunday.

Tua Tagovailoa completed 29 of 40 passes for 196 yards and one touchdown for Miami, but he lost a fumble and matched his career worst of three interceptions for the Dolphins (6-8), who are two games out in the AFC wild-card race.

Eagles 27, Steelers 13

Jalen Hurts passed for two touchdowns and ran for one as Philadelphia beat visiting Pittsburgh for its franchise-record 10th consecutive win.

Reportedly playing with a broken finger on his left (non-throwing) hand, Hurts completed 25 of 32 passes for 290 yards and TDs to A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith. He ran for 45 yards and recorded his 14th rushing score of the season. The Eagles (12-2) leaned on a passing game that was under fire all week amid drama regarding the relationship between Hurts and Brown (eight catches for 110 yards).

The Steelers (10-4) have lost 11 consecutive road games in this Pennsylvania rivalry, with their most recent win in Philadelphia coming in 1965. Pittsburgh still clinched a playoff berth courtesy of losses by the Dolphins and Colts. Russell Wilson completed 14 of 22 passes for 128 yards and one touchdown for the Steelers, who were held to 163 yards of offense.

Cowboys 30, Panthers 14

Cooper Rush threw for two of his three touchdowns in the third quarter as Dallas pulled away from Carolina for a victory at Charlotte.

CeeDee Lamb had 116 receiving yards and a touchdown on nine catches and Rico Dowdle rushed for a career-high 149 yards on 25 carries for the Cowboys (6-8), who are trying to stay in playoff contention. Brandon Aubrey kicked three field goals.

Panthers quarterback Bryce Young committed four turnovers -- two interceptions and a pair of fumbles. He threw for 219 yards on 19-for-28 passing, but Carolina (3-11) lost its fourth consecutive game. Young ran for a fourth-quarter touchdown.

Chiefs 21, Browns 7

Patrick Mahomes threw for a pair of touchdowns before injuring his ankle as Kansas City beat host Cleveland.

Mahomes completed 19 of 38 passes for 159 yards but had to be replaced by veteran signal-caller Carson Wentz after getting caught up under Cleveland defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson with 7:57 left in the game. Kansas City (13-1) had already built its 21-7 lead, and Chiefs coach Andy Reid said afterward that he vetoed Mahomes' request to return to the game.

The Browns (3-11) also switched quarterbacks after Jameis Winston had 146 yards and three interceptions on 16-for-25 passing. Dorian Thompson-Robinson passed for 18 yards and a pick once he came in. Jerome Ford rushed for a 62-yard TD in the third quarter for the Browns, and Cleveland coach Kevin Stefanski said after the game that star running back Nick Chubb broke his foot in the third quarter.

Jets 32, Jaguars 25

Breece Hall ran for a 1-yard touchdown with 1:05 left as visiting New York rallied in the fourth quarter for a win over Jacksonville.

Hall's run capped a 70-yard drive that featured two critical connections between Aaron Rodgers and Davante Adams. The duo hooked up for third-down gains of 23 and 41 yards that got the ball just shy of the end zone, teeing up Hall's game-winning score for the Jets (4-10).

Rodgers finished 16-of-30 passing for 289 yards and three scores, finding Adams nine times in the second half for 198 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Jacksonville (3-11) had a chance to force overtime on its last possession, but Mac Jones' deep pass down the left side was intercepted by Sauce Gardner at the New York 13 with 37 seconds left.

Commanders 20, Saints 19

Jayden Daniels threw two touchdown passes to Terry McLaurin and visiting Washington held on to defeat New Orleans after the Saints scored as time ran out but failed on the ensuing two-point conversion attempt.

Daniels completed 25 of 31 passes for 226 yards without an interception and rushed 11 times for 66 yards for the Commanders (9-5), but he was sacked eight times.

After second-year quarterback Jake Haener struggled in his first NFL start in place of an injured Derek Carr, the Saints (5-9) turned to rookie Spencer Rattler, who completed 10 of 21 passes for 135 yards and the touchdown with no time left. But Rattler's pass on the ensuing two-point conversion try sailed wide of diving tight end Juwan Johnson.

Ravens 35, Giants 14

Lamar Jackson threw for 290 yards and tied a career high with five touchdown passes, including a pair to Rashod Bateman, to boost Baltimore over skidding New York in East Rutherford, N.J.

Baltimore (9-5) stayed in the thick of the AFC playoff race while moving within one game of AFC North-leading Pittsburgh. Jackson had more TDs than incompletions, finishing 21-for-25 passing before yielding to backup Josh Johnson.

New York (2-12) tied a franchise record with its ninth consecutive loss and remained winless at home. Back at quarterback, Tommy DeVito suffered a concussion and left the game in the second quarter. He was 10-for-13 passing for 68 yards while getting sacked twice.

Bengals 37, Titans 27

Cincinnati took advantage of four turnovers by Tennessee quarterback Will Levis while getting three touchdown passes from Joe Burrow to win in Nashville.

The two teams combined for 10 turnovers and 26 penalties in the mistake-filled game. The 10 total turnovers, including six by the Titans, are the most in an NFL game since a 2007 contest between the Lions and Minnesota Vikings.

The Bengals (6-8) won back-to-back games for just the second time this season while the Titans (3-11) lost two fumbles and had two quarterbacks who combined to throw four interceptions.

Cardinals 30, Patriots 17

James Conner rushed for 110 yards and two touchdowns as Arizona stayed in the NFC West title race with a win over New England in Glendale, Ariz.

Conner blew the game open in the fourth quarter with a pair of 1-yard scores as Arizona (7-7) snapped a three-game losing streak. Quarterback Kyler Murray completed 23 of 30 passes for 224 yards as the Cardinals outgained New England 395-311.

Rookie quarterback Drake Maye hit on 19 of 23 passes for 202 yards with a touchdown and an interception for the Patriots, who fell to 3-11. Rhamondre Stevenson led New England's rushing attack with 69 yards on 13 attempts.

Broncos 31, Colts 13

The Denver defense shut out visiting Indianapolis in the second half, forcing five turnovers and scoring a touchdown en route to a win.

Bo Nix completed 20 of 33 passes for 130 yards and threw three touchdowns and three interceptions for Denver (9-5). Adam Trautman, Nate Adkins and Courtland Sutton caught touchdowns for the Broncos. Brandon Jones and Patrick Surtain II had interceptions, while Nik Bonitto and D.J. Jones recovered fumbles.

Anthony Richardson was 17-of-38 passing for 172 yards with a rushing touchdown and two interceptions for the Colts (6-8).

Buccaneers 40, Chargers 17

Mike Evans notched two second-half touchdowns to lead Tampa Bay's rout over offensively inept Los Angeles in Inglewood, Calif.

Evans caught scoring passes of 57 and 35 yards as the Buccaneers (8-6) outscored the Chargers 27-0 in the second half. Evans finished with 159 yards on nine catches. Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield went 22-for-27 passing for 288 yards and four touchdowns.

Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert's streak of 357 consecutive passes without an interception ended in the third quarter as he battled a lingering ankle injury and withering pressure. Herbert finished 21-for-33 passing for 195 yards and two touchdowns as Los Angeles (8-6) was outgained 506-206.

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Player Notes
Davante Adams Dec 16 7:41am CT
Davante Adams

Dynasty | Jets wide receiver Davante Adams had nine catches for 198 yards and two touchdowns in a win against the Jaguars. Dynasty Analysis: The Jets are a dumpster fire, but Adams has been solid since being acquired from the Raiders. His future may hinge on just what Aaron Rodgers does moving forward, but Adams looks like a lineup lock for at least the rest of the season and a solid trade target for contenders in the off-season.

Jerry Jeudy Dec 16 7:40am CT
Jerry Jeudy

Dynasty | Browns wide receiver Jerry Jeudy had 11 catches for 108 yards in a loss to Cleveland. Dynasty Analysis: Jeudy has been nothing short of fantastic since Deshaun Watson was replaced with Jameis Winston and passed 1,000 yards receiving with his efforts today. A player who was nothing more than bench fodder for much of the season, Jeudy has been fantastic over the past month as he's finally looking like the first rounder he once was with the Broncos. Few players have seen their dynasty value rise more over the past month than Jeudy.

Carlton Davis Dec 16 7:40am CT
Carlton Davis

According to Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell, defensive back Carlton Davis III (jaw) and defensive lineman Alim McNeill (knee) are thought to have suffered season-ending injuries in Sunday's 48-42 loss to the Buffalo Bills. The NFL's Ian Rapoport reported the news. Ouch. Davis III picked up his issue early in the second quarter while attempting a tackle on Bills running back Ray Davis, while McNeill sustained his roughly midway through the third frame. Neither returned to the contest, and Campbell noted he "doesn't feel good" about either player's chances of playing again this season. The Lions' injuries on the defensive side of the ball are getting out of hand as their depth chart is studded with red designations that nearly outnumber the healthy athletes. Detroit has a road meeting against their division-rival Chicago Bears on tap for Week 16 with seemingly severely depleted defensive personnel.

Amon-Ra St. Brown Dec 16 7:40am CT
Amon-Ra St. Brown

Dynasty | Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown had 14 catches for 193 yards and a touchdown in a loss to Buffalo. Dynasty Analysis: Well, that'll work. St. Brown set a season high in catches and yards in this one and it came at a great time for dynasty owners as his performance likely sealed a win for just about anyone who had him on their roster. He's been a stud all year and while Justin Jefferson and Ja'Marr Chase get a lot of headlines, few players honestly have more dynasty value than ASB and today's performance solidified that.

Jared Goff Dec 16 7:39am CT
Jared Goff

Dynasty | Lions quarterback Jared Goff completed 38-of-59 passes for 494 yards with five touchdowns and no interceptions in a loss to Buffalo. Dynasty Analysis: Matthew Stafford somehow had a day once with 520 passing yards in a single game, but this was the second-best performance for a Lions quarterback all-time. Goff has been fantastic all season and now has 30 touchdowns and just ten interceptions on the season as he's inching closer to 4,000 passing yards with a month to go in the season. Goff has been a top-ten quarterback all season and while others may get more publicity, few have honestly been better.

Patrick Surtain II Dec 16 7:39am CT
Patrick Surtain II

Denver Broncos defensive back Patrick Surtain II (ankle) suffered an ankle injury in his team's 31-13 win against the Indianapolis Colts in Week 15. Surtain II's ailment came halfway through the fourth quarter when he intercepted quarterback Anthony Richardson's pass and attempted to turn it upfield. Colts' wide receiver Josh Downs hit the 24-year-old low, diving at his legs in a way that we've previously seen tear up knees. Fortunately, that was not the case. He would return to the contest on the following possession but had to be helped off the field by trainers after attempting a tackle on running back Trey Sermon. His day would end with one tackle and one interception. Head coach Sean Payton did not comment on the severity of the DB's injury after the game, so with the Broncos on a short week and a meeting against the Los Angeles Chargers on tap for this Thursday, expect news on him over the next 24 hours.

T.J. Watt Dec 16 7:39am CT
T.J. Watt

Per Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin, outside linebacker T.J. Watt (ankle) sustained a low-ankle injury in Sunday's 27-13 loss to their in-state rivals, the Philadelphia Eagles. The superstar pass-rusher picked up his ailment on the game's final drive when rushing quarterback Jalen Hurts. His body appeared to contort weirdly while trying to get by the Eagles' offensive line, and his leg got stuck in the ground. He immediately came up limp. Before his exit, the 30-year-old registered seven tackles, two sacks, and a fumble forced. In excellent news, Watt's X-rays were reportedly clean, and for now, he's evaded the dreaded high-ankle variety of the injury. The Steelers will square off against the Baltimore Ravens next Sunday in a matchup with playoff-seeding repercussions, so Watt likely wants to be available for it. There will be an update on him over the coming days.

Sam Hubbard Dec 16 7:39am CT
Sam Hubbard

Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Sam Hubbard (right knee) has been ruled out for the remainder of Sunday's game against the Tennessee Titans. Hubbard made one tackle prior to his departure, and he actually caught a touchdown pass from Joe Burrow, too. It came at a cost, though, as Hubbard's day is done. Myles Murphy and Joseph Ossai will be tasked with handling additional defensive snaps until Hubbard can return to action.

Noah Gray Dec 16 3:40am CT
Noah Gray

Kansas City Chiefs tight end Noah Gray caught two passes for 21 yards and a touchdown in the 21-7 win over the Cleveland Browns. Gray's touchdown in this contest was his fifth of the year, giving him three more scores than Travis Kelce this season. The Chiefs backup tight end has been a consistent part of the team's passing attack lately, earning at least five targets in four of the last five games. With three other viable pass catchers surrounding him, Gray has been able to find soft spots in the opposing defenses. The 25-year-old will look to score again next week against the Houston Texans, who rank fourth in fantasy points allowed to opposing tight ends this season. Despite his consistent involvement, fantasy managers should leave Gray out of their lineups in the fantasy playoffs.

From RotoBaller

JuJu Smith-Schuster Dec 16 3:40am CT
JuJu Smith-Schuster

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster had one catch for seven yards and a touchdown in the 21-7 win over the Cleveland Browns. Since returning from his injury, Smith-Schuster has been an afterthought in the Chiefs offense. The 28-year-old tallied only one catch in four of the last five games and has not reached 35 receiving yards since Week 5. Smith-Schuster will hope to be more involved next week against the Houston Texans, who rank 27th in fantasy points allowed to opposing wide receivers this season. Despite scoring in this week's contest, fantasy managers should not consider Smith-Schuster a viable fantasy starter for Week 16.

From RotoBaller

Carson Wentz Dec 16 3:40am CT
Carson Wentz

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Carson Wentz completed both of his pass attempts for 20 yards in the 21-7 win over the Cleveland Browns. Patrick Mahomes exited the game with an ankle injury, and Wentz filled in. The 31-year-old also rushed three times for zero yards. Mahomes is considered week-to-week with his injury, putting his Week 16 game status in question. If Mahomes cannot suit up, Wentz will be charged with leading the Kansas City offense against the Houston Texans. The Texans rank 18th in fantasy points allowed to opposing quarterbacks this season, making them a middle-of-the-pack matchup for the veteran quarterback. Wentz should be a serviceable fill-in for the Chiefs but should not be considered a viable starter for the fantasy playoffs.

From RotoBaller

Tank Bigsby Dec 16 3:30am CT
Tank Bigsby

Jacksonville Jaguars running back Tank Bigsby was delegated to a backup role in a pass-heavy game in Week 15 against the New York Jets. The young back out of Auburn finished with 42 yards on 11 carries. Bigsby has been the better back than Travis Etienne Jr. for most of the season, but down the stretch Etienne Jr. is starting to claim the starting role again. Add on a pass-heavy approach to the game (46 passing attempts) and you get a running back with very limited upside. Part of what made Bigsby a solid fantasy asset earlier in the season was his ability to break off big runs despite lower volume. Possibly due to lingering lower-body injuries, that big-play ability seems to be eluding him. Bigsby will look to get back on track with more volume in Week 16 against the Las Vegas Raiders.

From RotoBaller

Travis Kelce Dec 16 3:30am CT
Travis Kelce

Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce caught four passes for 27 yards in the 21-7 win over the Cleveland Browns. Despite demanding eight targets, Kelce could not convert those opportunities into a viable fantasy performance. The 35-year-old's longest catch of the day went for just eight yards, and he was held scoreless for the fifth straight game. Fellow tight end Noah Gray had his fifth touchdown of the year in this contest, while Kelce's scoring total sits at two on the season. The veteran tight end will look to turn it around next week against the Houston Texans, who rank fourth in fantasy points allowed to opposing tight ends this season. Kelce's value has come mainly through his immense volume of opportunities, but he has failed to score 10 PPR fantasy points in three of his last five games. It should also be noted that Patrick Mahomes left this contest with an ankle injury, and his status for next week is in doubt. With all these factors in mind, it may be time to re-evaluate expectations for Kelce moving forward. That said, fantasy managers will be hard-pressed to find a better option off the waiver wire.

From RotoBaller

Isiah Pacheco Dec 16 3:30am CT
Isiah Pacheco

Kansas City Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco had 13 carries for 32 yards and one catch for 15 yards in the 21-7 win over the Cleveland Browns. After dominating opportunities out of the backfield in Week 14, Pacheco evenly split the workload with Kareem Hunt in this contest. The 25-year-old was inefficient on the ground, averaging just 2.5 yards per carry in this game. If Pacheco is not the clear lead back for the Kansas City offense, it could be difficult to trust him in Week 16 against the Houston Texans. The Texans rank third in fantasy points allowed to opposing running backs this season, making them one of the most challenging matchups. Patrick Mahomes also left this week's contest with an ankle injury, placing his future availability in question. The Chiefs offense would undoubtedly be worse without Mahomes, which would subsequently be worse for Pacheco's scoring opportunities. Fantasy managers must hope that Mahomes plays and trust that Pacheco's talent will allow him to earn more opportunities.

From RotoBaller

Kareem Hunt Dec 16 3:30am CT
Kareem Hunt

Kansas City Chiefs running back Kareem Hunt had 13 carries for 45 yards and one catch for four yards in the 21-7 win over the Cleveland Browns. Hunt and Isiah Pacheco handled 14 touches out of the backfield, but Hunt finished with more total yards. After playing a secondary role in Week 14, Hunt was more featured in this week's contest against the Browns. Despite earning more opportunities, fantasy managers will have a tough time starting Hunt next week against the Houston Texans. The Texans rank third in fantasy points allowed to opposing running backs this season, making them one of the toughest matchups. If Hunt and Pacheco continue to split touches in a difficult matchup, it will be tough for either running back to have upside in next week's game. It should also be noted that Patrick Mahomes left this week's contest with an ankle injury and is considered questionable for next week. If Mahomes does not play, the ceiling for the Chiefs offense and offensive playmakers will be lowered. Hunt should be viewed as a deeper flex option.

From RotoBaller

DeAndre Hopkins Dec 16 3:30am CT
DeAndre Hopkins

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins had five catches for 36 yards in the 21-7 win over the Cleveland Browns. The 32-year-old finished second on the team in receptions and receiving yards in this contest. The veteran receiver has been far less fantasy-relevant in games without a touchdown, which held true in this game. Hopkins does not receive enough passing volume to be strong play most weeks. Hopkins will try to find the endzone next week against the Houston Texans, who rank 27th in fantasy points allowed to opposing wide receivers this season. Patrick Mahomes left this week's contest with an ankle injury that could potentially force him to miss next week's game. Fantasy managers should view Hopkins as a touchdown-dependent flex play if Mahomes plays and may have to consider benching him if Mahomes misses.

From RotoBaller

Xavier Worthy Dec 16 3:30am CT
Xavier Worthy

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Xavier Worthy caught six passes for 46 yards in the 21-7 win over the Cleveland Browns. Worthy also rushed three times for 30 yards and a touchdown in this contest. The rookie found the endzone on a 21-yard catch-and-run that was officially ruled a rush because it came on a lateral pass from Patrick Mahomes. Worthy led the team in receptions, receiving yards, and targets in today's game. Worthy's increased role is an encouraging sign heading into next week's matchup against the Houston Texans, who rank 27th in fantasy points allowed to opposing wide receivers this season. It should also be noted that Patrick Mahomes left this week's contest with an ankle injury and is questionable for next week's game. Despite Worthy's impressive performance, it will be difficult for fantasy managers to trust him in the fantasy playoffs, especially if Mahomes misses with his injury. Worthy should be considered a flex play for Week 16 if Mahomes is active.

From RotoBaller

Sam Howell Dec 16 3:20am CT
Sam Howell

Seattle Seahawks backup quarterback Sam Howell did not do much to inspire confidence when called upon in Week 15. Howell replaced Geno Smith (knee) in the second half of Seattle's loss to the Green Bay Packers. He completed 5/14 passes for 24 yards and an interception. His QBR of 3.3 was about as low as you can go. Howell was turnover-prone with the Commanders in 2023 but his yardage totals were solid. To see him struggle in a way that suggests substantial regression in 2024 is concerning. With fantasy managers relying on Seattle's running backs and wide receivers in the fantasy playoffs, Howell's performance does not inspire much confidence should Smith miss time. Smith's injury severity is unknown so it is too early to tell what will happen. If Smith does need to miss time, at least Howell will have a whole week to prepare for Seattle's final home game against the Minnesota Vikings in Week 16.

From RotoBaller

Geno Smith Dec 16 3:20am CT
Geno Smith

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith (knee) suffered a knee injury in the team's Week 15 loss to the Green Bay Packers. Smith had only managed 149 passing yards and an interception prior to his injury. The Seahawks' offense was not able to do anything against a solid Packers defense. Their only hope was to try to control the game on the ground and avoid throwing at an excellent Packers secondary. However, the Packers jumped out to a big first-quarter lead and forced Seattle to air it out. The severity of Smith's injury is unknown. Early tests suggest that it is structurally intact but he will undergo imaging on Monday. Smith's injury does not affect his fantasy value so much as it does that of the Seahawks' skill position players. The offense was abysmal when Sam Howell replaced Smith which could significantly affect the fantasy production of Seattle's running backs and wide receivers. However, Smith has a solid matchup in Week 16 against the Minnesota Vikings if he can make it back to the field.

From RotoBaller

D.K. Metcalf Dec 16 3:20am CT
D.K. Metcalf

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf's value has cratered this season. He only caught three passes for 28 yards in Seattle's Week 15 loss to the Green Bay Packers. Metcalf has been overtaken by fellow wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba in the receiving pecking order. Smith-Njigba has consistently seen more targets and production than Metcalf over the second half of the season. Still, Metcalf was always seemingly within a target or two of JSN's total in each game. In Week 15, Metcalf earned nine fewer targets than Smith-Njigba. The Seahawks offense struggled as a whole so it could be partially due to a lack of total offensive production. However, Metcalf has not caught a touchdown since Week 7. He has not exceeded four receptions since Week 11. Those are not numbers that one would associate with a starting-caliber wide receiver in fantasy football. On the bright side, Metcalf has a great matchup in Week 16 when the Seahawks host Minnesota.

From RotoBaller