For some, Week 16 may be even more important than Week 17, for those that are clinching early, as well as those who are fighting for their playoff lives. Two teams doing the latter fought until the very end on their home field, and came away with thrilling victories to stay relevant in the playoff picture. The defending Super Bowl champions were one of those teams, as the Philadelphia Eagles blew a lead late, but hung on for a thrilling 32-30 win over the Houston Texans. With a loss, the Eagles would've given the Minnesota Vikings the final Wild Card spot. At this point, that is their only way in, as the Dallas Cowboys have already clinched the NFC East.
Jake Elliott connected on a 35-yard field goal as time expired, helping the Eagles overcome the Texans' 14-point, fourth-quarter rally. Deshaun Watson led his team down the field twice in the final 15 minutes, finding D'Onta Foreman and Vycint Smith for touchdown passes to give his team the lead with just over two minutes to play. The Texans have yet to clinch in the AFC South, as their division lead is now at just one heading in to the final week of the regular season.
Nick Foles stepped up in a major way, throwing for 471 yards and fourth touchdowns for the Eagles, who totaled 519 yards on offense. Nelson Agholor played the role of Foles' top target on this day, catching five balls for 116 yards and a touchdown. The Texans were playing without Lamar Miller, so Watson took over the run game for Houston, rushing for 49 yards and two touchdowns in their fifth loss. Houston will have to win at home against the Jacksonville Jaguars next week to clinch, while the Eagles will have to do the same against the Washington Redskins, with help from a Vikings' loss to get in.
The Indianapolis Colts are the other team that had to rally late, as they remained a game behind the Texans with a 28-27 comeback win over the New York Giants. Andrew Luck found Charles Rogers for the game-winning one-yard touchdown pass with 55 seconds left, giving the Colts their first lead and clutch victory to keep their playoff hopes alive The Colts trailed, 14-0, after one quarter, and never led the entire afternoon, but still found a way to improve to 6-2 at home this season.
The Colts started 0-2 at home this season, but have now won six in a row, rallying from a tough start to the season to fight for a playoff spot. They were 1-5 through six games this year, but Luck has stepped up to get back where he once was in his first season back from injury. The quarterback completed 31 of his 47 pass attempts for 357 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception in Sunday's victory. Marlon Mack also found the end zone on the ground, helping the Colts send the Giants to their 10th defeat of the season.
The Colts will battle the Titans, whom they are tied with at 9-6, next week, as a win could get them in two different ways. A victory plus a Texans loss gives them the AFC South crown, while a victory and a Baltimore Ravens loss gives them the final Wild Card spot in the AFC.
Jake Elliott connected on a 35-yard field goal as time expired, helping the Eagles overcome the Texans' 14-point, fourth-quarter rally. Deshaun Watson led his team down the field twice in the final 15 minutes, finding D'Onta Foreman and Vycint Smith for touchdown passes to give his team the lead with just over two minutes to play. The Texans have yet to clinch in the AFC South, as their division lead is now at just one heading in to the final week of the regular season.
Nick Foles stepped up in a major way, throwing for 471 yards and fourth touchdowns for the Eagles, who totaled 519 yards on offense. Nelson Agholor played the role of Foles' top target on this day, catching five balls for 116 yards and a touchdown. The Texans were playing without Lamar Miller, so Watson took over the run game for Houston, rushing for 49 yards and two touchdowns in their fifth loss. Houston will have to win at home against the Jacksonville Jaguars next week to clinch, while the Eagles will have to do the same against the Washington Redskins, with help from a Vikings' loss to get in.
The Indianapolis Colts are the other team that had to rally late, as they remained a game behind the Texans with a 28-27 comeback win over the New York Giants. Andrew Luck found Charles Rogers for the game-winning one-yard touchdown pass with 55 seconds left, giving the Colts their first lead and clutch victory to keep their playoff hopes alive The Colts trailed, 14-0, after one quarter, and never led the entire afternoon, but still found a way to improve to 6-2 at home this season.
The Colts started 0-2 at home this season, but have now won six in a row, rallying from a tough start to the season to fight for a playoff spot. They were 1-5 through six games this year, but Luck has stepped up to get back where he once was in his first season back from injury. The quarterback completed 31 of his 47 pass attempts for 357 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception in Sunday's victory. Marlon Mack also found the end zone on the ground, helping the Colts send the Giants to their 10th defeat of the season.
The Colts will battle the Titans, whom they are tied with at 9-6, next week, as a win could get them in two different ways. A victory plus a Texans loss gives them the AFC South crown, while a victory and a Baltimore Ravens loss gives them the final Wild Card spot in the AFC.
