The Los Angeles Chargers beat the Denver Broncos on “Thursday Night Football” to open Week 16.
On Saturday, the Kansas City Chiefs bested the Houston Texans 27-19. The Baltimore Ravens will even face off in opposition to the Pittsburgh Steelers with the AFC North title on the road.
Our NFL Nation reporters reacted to all of the motion, answering lingering questions popping out of every sport and detailing every thing else it’s worthwhile to know for each crew. Let’s get to it.
Chiefs
Is Xavier Worthy the Chiefs’ most useful receiver? Who else may it’s at this level? The Chiefs went to Worthy 11 instances as a receiver and 3 times as a ball service. He delivered 7 catches, 65 yards and 1 landing as a receiver and 10 dashing yards. The Chiefs had some well timed contributions from different receivers, most notably Hollywood Brown and DeAndre Hopkins. But Worthy was their go-to receiver.
What we discovered in regards to the QB in the present day: Patrick Mahomes could be efficient together with his high-ankle sprain. He did not have his finest sport however was adequate for the Chiefs to win. He scored the Chiefs’ first landing on a 15-yard scramble and likewise had a 12-yard scramble on the drive.
Most stunning efficiency: Brown had a promising sport for a participant who hasn’t been in a sport since struggling a sternoclavicular damage in the course of the preseason. Brown did not play lots however caught 5 passes for 45 yards. One catch got here on fourth down, one other on third down. Both performs delivered the Chiefs a contemporary set of downs. — Adam Teicher
Next sport: at Steelers (Wednesday, 1 p.m. ET)
Texans
How will the Texans overcome accidents? The Texans misplaced three starters in proper guard Shaq Mason, wideout Tank Dell and security Jimmie Ward. All look like long-term accidents as Ward and Dell needed to be carted off the sphere. Losing Dell is an even bigger loss, as he is one other weapon gone for quarterback C.J. Stroud. Wideout Stefon Diggs already suffered a season-ending knee damage in Week 8 and now Dell is more than likely going to be out.
What we discovered in regards to the QB in the present day: Stroud can and must be environment friendly with Dell out. The solely difference-maker he has now could be Nico Collins. So each time groups take him away, Stroud must take beneath throws, which he did in opposition to the Chiefs, going 10-for-15 for 102 yards.
Biggest gap within the sport plan: In 4 out of the previous six video games, operating again Joe Mixon has underneath 60 dashing yards. His low manufacturing is a results of the shuffling on the offensive line. The Texans are 5-2 when Mixon rushes for over 100 yards however are 2-3 when he rushes for underneath 60. — DJ Bien-Aime
Next sport: vs. Ravens (Wednesday, 4:30 p.m. ET)
Chargers
Are the Chargers’ defensive points fixable? After being one of many NFL’s finest defenses for a lot of this season, the Chargers protection has fallen off in latest weeks. That continued within the first half Thursday evening, because the Broncos scored on their first three possessions, the primary time a crew has performed that to L.A. this season. The Chargers’ greatest challenge has been on third down. Through the primary 11 weeks, they allowed 32.3% of third down conversions (second in NFL), however from Weeks 12-15, they allowed 47.5% (twenty seventh). They adjusted in opposition to Denver, permitting six factors within the second half and holding the Broncos to 5-of-13 on third down, an indication that their points may very well be behind them.
Describe the sport in two phrases: Opportunistic Chargers. The Chargers took benefit of the Broncos’ penalties; Denver racked up seven penalties for 61 yards, whereas the Chargers had solely two for eight yards. A good catch interference penalty on the finish of the primary half, which led to kicker Cameron Dicker making the primary honest catch free kick in 48 years, turned the sport round for the Chargers. They outscored the Broncos 21-6 from that second to win the sport.
Early prediction for subsequent week: The Chargers protection will get its first shutout. The Chargers appeared to discover a spark defensively in that second half in opposition to Denver and can face a New England Patriots crew subsequent Saturday that’s thirty first within the NFL in factors per sport (17). This may very well be the proper storm for a protection that has had near-shutouts twice this season and a jolt of momentum forward of the playoffs. — Kris Rhim
Next sport: at Patriots (Saturday, 1 p.m. ET)
Broncos
How huge of a missed alternative was Thursday’s loss? It’s extra a blow to the Broncos’ psyche than their precise playoff probabilities, however the loss to the Chargers confirmed some immaturity within the huge second. The Broncos dropped from the No. 6 seed to the No. 7 (and ultimate) seed with the loss, however they nonetheless have a 2.5-game lead on the Cincinnati Bengals, Indianapolis Colts and Miami Dolphins for that postseason spot. The actual concern is with how the Broncos misplaced — a flurry of premature penalties and an offense that went tepid after scoring touchdowns on its first three possessions. Denver scored 21 factors within the first 24 minutes of the sport, then six within the remaining 36. The Broncos had been prepared to finish their eight-year playoff drought, which makes the loss, based on coach Sean Payton, “disappointing as a result of there was lots at stake.”
Describe the sport in two phrases: Didn’t hear. Payton has written it on his name sheet — “Run It!” And regardless of the Broncos’ early success on the bottom — they ran the ball on seven of 10 performs to attain a landing on their opening possession, then ran it simply 14 instances the rest of the sport. Payton continues to wrestle to discover a rhythm in how he calls the run sport at the same time as he continues to say how necessary will probably be for the Broncos. But he is not following by means of on his phrases.
Biggest gap within the sport plan: Chargers rookie Ladd McConkey got here into the sport main their offense in receptions and receiving yards by a considerable margin. But the Broncos selected to not match Pro Bowl cornerback Pat Surtain II on him and struggled to comprise the injury. McConkey repeatedly moved the sticks, catching six passes for 87 yards. “We dropped protection 5 completely different instances … you possibly can’t have certainly one of their prime receivers not lined,” Payton stated. — Jeff Legwold
Next sport: at Bengals (Saturday, 4:30 p.m. ET)
