Wednesday 27 December 2017 18:39, UK
Top marks are reserved for the New Orleans Saints, Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers after Week 16 in the NFL.
At the other end of the spectrum, the Detroit Lions, New York Giants and Cleveland Browns all get a fail.
Which other teams stood out and which flopped? Here's a look at our weekly team grades...
New England Patriots (W 37-16 v Buffalo)
Not vintage from New England, but a win sees them still in prime position for the AFC No 1 seed heading into the final week. Hell of a game from running back Dion Lewis, who had a rushing and receiving TD on the day to go with his 153 yards from scrimmage. Grade A-
Buffalo Bills (L 16-37 @ New England)
The Bills, for large parts of this contest, had Tom Brady and the Patriots rattled - a pick six in the second quarter giving them the lead. That lead though was lost by half-time, before New England ran away with it scoring 24 unanswered points in the second half. Buffalo still have hope of a Wild Card spot, needing a win next week and for other results to go their way. Grade C-
Miami Dolphins (L 13-29 @ Kansas City)
Miami managed to keep pace with Kansas City in the first half, but were then held scoreless in the second. Jay Cutler had a reasonable game by his standards this season - 286 yards and one TD. Will next week's game be his last as a Dolphin, nay in the NFL? Grade C-
New York Jets (L 7-14 v Los Angeles Chargers)
What a day for Bilal Powell! The Jets running back had 145 yards on 19 carries, including a 57-yard TD, New York's only score. As great as he was, he needed more help from the rest of the Jets offense, which never arrived. Grade D
Cincinnati Bengals (W 26-17 v Detroit)
In their maddeningly inconsistent season, this was an up week in Cincinnati, perhaps even their best of the year. The surprise star was forgotten running back Giovani Bernard, who reeled off 116 yards and one TD off 23 carries, as well as pulling in 52 yards from seven catches through the air. Grade A
Baltimore Ravens (W 23-16 v Indianapolis)
A winning margin of only seven points at home over the Colts may not jump out at you, but beware Baltimore in January. The Ravens are virtually assured of a Wild Card spot in the AFC barring the most monumental of final-week collapses. They've won six of their last eight games - just ask the Patriots and/or Steelers if they'd be pleased to play them. Both have suffered at their hands before in January. Grade B+
Pittsburgh Steelers (W 34-6 @ Houston)
The Steelers bounced back from their devastating loss to the Patriots with a convincing win but, in truth, they never really got out of second gear, nor did they have to against an injury-depleted Texans outfit which never posed a threat. Grade B+
Cleveland Browns (L 3-20 @ Chicago)
Cleveland slip ever closer to that dreaded 0-16 winless season that has seemed almost inevitable since Week One. Against a struggling Chicago outfit, this was quite possibly their last chance for victory - up next, the Steelers! Grade F
Indianapolis Colts (L 16-23 @ Baltimore)
Another close one for the Colts, and another that slips through their fingers. The team's competitiveness is somewhat encouraging when looking ahead to next year, considering they'll hopefully have that man Andrew Luck back at QB. Grade C-
Tennessee Titans (L 23-27 v Los Angeles Rams)
Tennessee are stuttering at precisely the wrong point of the season - they've lost three straight, and four of their last six. They still occupy a playoff spot with one week to go, but are now the team most in danger of dropping out. Grade D
Jacksonville Jaguars (L 33-44 @ San Francisco)
Sloppy. That's the best way to describe Jacksonville's slip up in San Francisco, and that's being generous. It was an ill-disciplined display, littered with penalties. Plus, worryingly, Blake Bortles was back to the bad Bortles of old, throwing three picks. Grade D-
Houston Texans (L 6-34 v Pittsburgh)
Another forgettable defeat in a season full of them. Attention is very much on 2018 in Houston, and has been somewhat ever since the season-ending injuries to JJ Watt and Deshaun Watson. Alfred Blue did well in this one - 108 yards on 16 carries - but the decision not to give him the ball (or any runner) when down at the goal line on 3rd and 4th down early doors hurt the Texans. They had only 53 net yards passing in the whole game, so the decision to throw twice was baffling! Grade E
Kansas City Chiefs (W 29-13 v Miami)
Division title secured in Kansas City! It has been an up, down, and now up again year for the Chiefs. Following that mid-season dip, they've now won three straight to see them hitting form again maybe just at the right time for January football. Alex Smith threw for 300 yards again and Kareem Hunt (91 yards) found the endzone. Grade A
Los Angeles Chargers (W 14-7 @New York Jets)
The Chargers stay alive in the AFC Wild Card race with this nervy win in New York. Their defense once again had issues against the run, but their own bulldozer in the backfield had a good day - Melvin Gordon ran to the tune of 81 yards and a TD off 19 carries, along with 47 yards receiving. Grade B
Oakland Raiders (L 10-19 @ Philadelphia)
Where's this version of Marshawn Lynch been all season? Used sparingly by the Raiders all season, suddenly here he was - 25 carries, 95 yards. Had Oakland ridden that workhorse a little more through the first 15 weeks, maybe they'd have playoff football in January to look forward to. Grade C-
Denver Broncos (L 11-27 @ Washington)
The feel-good factor that had returned, briefly, in Denver following back-to-back wins, has swiftly disappeared once more. The Broncos had only a first-quarter field goal to speak of until CJ Anderson got into the endzone late on. Grade D-
Philadelphia Eagles (W 19-10 v Oakland)
Job done. NFC No 1 seed wrapped up, even if they did leave it a little late against Oakland. The road to the Super Bowl in the NFC runs through Philadelphia - no easy task, Carson Wentz or not. Grade A-
Washington Redskins (W 27-11 v Denver)
Could this have been Kirk Cousins' last game as a Redskins quarterback playing at home in Washington? If it is, he put in one of his better displays in bidding farewell - 299 yards and three TDs (as well as one interception). Grade B
Dallas Cowboys (L 12-22 v Seattle)
This was supposed to be Ezekiel Elliott's triumphant return. A win would have knocked their opponents out of the NFC playoff race and strengthened their own position. Instead, the opposite happened as a Seattle team that was utterly outclassed by the Los Angeles Rams a week before managed to somehow restrict Dallas to only 136 total net yards of offense. The Cowboys' tumultuous season is over. Grade D
New York Giants (L 0-23 @ Arizona)
Just the one more week for Giants fans to endure from this disastrous 2017 campaign. They can only hope it's a happier outing then this scoreless effort against Arizona over Christmas. Grade F
Minnesota Vikings (W 16-0 @ Green Bay)
There have been more thrilling NFC North encounters between the Vikings and the Packers, that's for sure. The Minnesota offense, in particular, has been (much) better in other outings this season, but the defense was hugely impressive one again - a Green Bay shutout will have been extra sweet. Grade B
Chicago Bears (W 20-3 v Cleveland)
In tricky, snowy conditions at home, the Bears rode their running back Jordan Howard to victory, as they have tended to do in all of their five wins this season. His stats may not jump out at you - 22 carries, 44 yards - but he rumbled in for two all-important touchdowns. Grade B-
Green Bay Packers (L 0-16 v Minnesota)
With their playoff dreams crushed by Carolina last week, the Packers handed the reins at quarterback over to Brett Hundley once again, allowing Aaron Rodgers that little bit more rest and recuperation for the 2018 season. Hundley, 130 yards, two interceptions, tells you what the problem has been for most this year. Grade E
Detroit Lions (L 17-26 @ Cincinnati)
Disaster for Detroit! An NFC Wild Card was seemingly opening up for them, with the Falcons slipping up in New Orleans, but the Lions could not take advantage. Against Cincinnati - fresh from a hammering by the Bears, no less - the Lions never turned up, putting in a sleepy performance reminiscent of a team whose season is already over. Well, now it is! Grade F
New Orleans Saints (W 23-13 v Atlanta)
The Saints were pumped up for this one! They feel they were robbed by their rivals in a three-point defeat in their meeting a few weeks ago. They never let it get anywhere near that close this time out. Grade A+
Carolina Panthers (W 22-19 v Tampa Bay)
Nervy, nervy watch for Panthers fans. It looked like the NFC South was being gift-wrapped to the Saints as an early Christmas present from Carolina at one stage, until Cam Newton carried the team on his shoulders and the ball in his hands to score a two-yard TD in the dying moments of the game. They take the race for the division down to the final week. Grade B
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (L 19-22 @ Carolina)
Jameis Winston was not a happy man on the sidelines having suffered yet another defeat. This one was more agonising than most, coming against their divisional rivals, losing late, and despite their QB having throwing for 367 yards. Sadly, all that gets shown is another one in the loss column for Tampa Bay. Grade C-
Atlanta Falcons (L 13-23 @ New Orleans)
Atlanta picked possibly the worst game to put in one of their poorest performances of the season. A win would have virtually assured a playoff spot - which now is in doubt - and seen them challenging for the division heading into the final week. But no, Atlanta failed to score a TD until late in the fourth quarter. A much better showing on offense required next week against Carolina. Grade E
Los Angeles Rams (W 27-23 @ Tennessee)
Todd Gurley. Jared Goff. Need I say anymore? Gurley continues to stake a claim for the season MVP, one greatly helped by his 118-yard rushing, 158-yard receiving and two-TD outing here. Goff hit Gurley for those two TDs, in addition to two other TD passes, while racking up 301 yards. Grade A+
San Francisco 49ers (W 44-33 v Jacksonville)
49ers wish the season had started in December! That's four straight wins now, since handing over the reins at quarterback to Jimmy Garoppolo. This guy looks the real deal! His toughest test yet was undoubtedly this one, against a fearsome Jaguars defense. With 242 yards and two TDs (and one pick) as San Francisco racked up 44 points, it's safe to say Jimmy G passed it. Grade A+
Arizona Cardinals (W 23-0 v New York Giants)
Considering who they've had out missing this year, the Cardinals can be proud of their 7-8 mark on the season. No Carson Palmer, no David Johnson, no Adrian Peterson to name a few… They do still have a certain Larry Fitzgerald though, who hauled in 119 yards and a TD off his nine catches in this rout of the Giants. Grade A
Seattle Seahawks (W 21-12 @ Dallas)
The Seahawks somehow got the job done in Dallas despite another day of struggles on offense. But, their defense was back to its bullying best, intercepting Dak Prescott twice. They stay alive in the playoff race, needing a final-week win over Arizona and hope that Atlanta slip up against Carolina. Stranger things have happened. Grade B-
