FOX Sports’ NFL Experts provide the biggest takeaways from each Sunday game in Week 17 and what they mean for each team moving forward.
the cowboy: Injuries have certainly contributed in a big way, but the most disappointing part about this poor Cowboys team may be Mike Zimmer’s defense. The Eagles’ loss on Sunday was the third time a team has dropped 40 points or more on Dallas, and the sixth time a team has scored at least 30. The Cowboys’ front line in particular has been poor, making them one of the worst teams in the NFL at stopping the run. But no sacks with the Eagles playing Kenny Pickett and Tanner McKee at quarterback? Granted, the Eagles’ offensive line is the best, but Dallas needed to put some pressure on both of them with Jalen Hurts out. But constant pressure, constant run defense and, really, no consistency on defense has been the Cowboys this season. A year ago, under then-defensive coordinator Dan Quinn, they were a top-five defense. But those days are clearly long gone.
the eagle: New offensive coordinator Kellen Moore has turned Philly’s offense into a truly efficient and dangerous machine, especially compared to the inconsistent mess late last season. Last year, the Eagles had no identity and sometimes no clue, often passing when they should have run and vice versa. This season, with basically the same cast, they are so good that their two backup quarterbacks, Kenny Pickett and Tanner McKee, are just 13-of-19 for 197 and three touchdowns in a division-clinching rout of the Cowboys. are together to pass. The Eagles are very good at softening up defenses with the pass, spreading the ball around (DeVonta Smith led the way this time with 6 catches, 120 yards and 2 touchdowns) and then countering with Saccone’s punishing power and speed. removed the will of Barkley (167 rushing yards to put him over 2,000 on the season). With a healthy Jalen Hurts, they can hang with any offense in the league in the playoffs. – Ralph Vacciano
Saquon Barkley makes history as ninth player to surpass 2,000 rushing yards

the colts: Jonathan Taylor is an excellent player, but his presence in Indianapolis is a reminder that expensive running backs are a luxury, not a necessity. Taylor rushed for 125 yards and two touchdowns against the Giants and now has 546 yards and five touchdowns over the last four weeks and 1,254 yards and 10 touchdowns in just 13 games on the season. On the surface, he’s living up to the three-year, $42 million contract (with $19 million guaranteed) he signed last year. But the Colts still missed the playoffs for the fourth year in a row because they still don’t have a good quarterback. Running backs can’t change bad teams. They can top good teams, but the Colts are not a good team. Anthony Richardson hasn’t shown he can be a franchise quarterback (or stay healthy), and Indianapolis needs help on the O-line and at receiver. Taylor has two more years with the Colts, but by the time they get healthy again, he may be gone.
the giant: Um, where has it been in the last two years? The most offensively challenged team in football scored its most points since 2015 with Drew Lock at quarterback? Locke threw for four touchdowns and ran for one as the Giants tried their best to hurt their draft position. But the best part about this breakout for New York was the day rookie receiver Malik Nabars had. Not only that, he caught seven passes for 171 yards and two touchdowns. It’s the moves and speed and ability to break that he showed on touchdowns of 31 and 59 yards. That burst was why the Giants drafted him, but he’s been missing most of the season as he’s battled nagging injuries. He reminded everyone why he will be the best friend of whoever is the Giants’ quarterback next year. – Ralph Vacciano
the jet: In another embarrassing performance this season, Aaron Rodgers became the most sacked quarterback in NFL history. The 41-year-old quarterback was sacked four times by the Bills and has been taken down a league-record 568 times in his 20-year NFL career. The historic mark was part of another miserable effort by the Jets, as they were tagged for 16 conceded penalties for 120 yards, the most by New York in a game since 2018. The Jets also had three punts leading to 14 points for the Bills. . Entering Sunday’s contest, Rodgers was playing good football with 14 touchdowns and just one interception in his last eight games before the two-interception performance. Backup quarterback Tyrod Taylor mercifully finished the game in Rodgers’ place.
the bill: In perhaps his last chance to make his MVP case — Buffalo locked up the No. 2 seed and has nothing to play for in the final regular-season game — Josh Allen had eight separate catches for 182 yards and two passing touchdowns. Completed touchdown passes to receivers He added a rushing TD amid chants of “MVP” from the home crowd. Allen now has 41 total touchdowns this season, reaching at least 40 for the fifth time in his career and joining Aaron Rodgers (6) as the only players with at least five seasons with 40 total TDs. is Allen’s efforts helped the Bills close out an undefeated regular season at home for the first time since 1990. 5) Should count for something. – Eric D. Williams
the titans: The Titans are not completely devoid of talent that they can build around. In what has been a frustrating and frustrating season on many fronts, Tennessee can find optimism in players like second-year running back Tyjay Spears, who had 103 scrimmage yards — including 20 carries for 95 yards — in his second career. Possible confusion before being out with one on Sunday. Defensive tackle T’Vondre Sweet, left tackle Jesse Latham, cornerback Jarvis Brownlee Jr. and left guard Peter Skowronski are the other building blocks. The Titans don’t have nearly enough young, promising players to envision a future of sustained success to this point, but they certainly have the beginnings of a foundation. Most important to them is completing the 2025 draft class, including their potential quarterback of the future at or near the top of the first round.
jaguars: Brian Thomas Jr. gives Jaguars reason to hope. On Sunday, he became the fourth rookie in league history with 1,100 receiving yards and 10 receiving touchdowns (others: Randy Moss, Jaimar Chase and Odell Beckham Jr.). The former LSU star has been Jacksonville’s best player all season, and still seems to be getting better by the week. The Jaguars are headed for major changes this offseason, with possible pink slips for coach Doug Pederson and general manager Trent Baalke. But whoever is running the show next year will take comfort in knowing they have a franchise talent in Thomas, the kind of receiver who can get Trevor Lawrence on track next season (when he’s healthy), potentially Justifies a five-year, $275 million investment. In that last summer. – Ben Arthur
the panthers: As bad as things went for the Carolina Panthers on Sunday, there’s no denying that quarterback Bryce Young looks years ahead of the season he started. Even when the play breaks down, Young doesn’t look all that sad. He plays with his legs or coolly kicks the ball away. He’s not getting a ton of help from his receivers, Adam Thielen, as there were several drops in the game against Tampa. Young also ran into an inspired Buccaneers pass rush that made life very difficult. Despite it all, the second-year QB cared about the football. If I’m a forward-looking Carolina fan, I’m excited for what the future holds — especially for Young.
books: The Buccaneers did what they needed to do and then some against Carolina. It’s a shame they don’t control their own postseason destiny as they get swept by the Atlanta Falcons, but quarterback Baker Mayfield was the tackle Sunday at home against the Panthers. He threw for 359 yards and five touchdowns and didn’t even finish the game, leading the Bucs 48–14 in the fourth quarter. Fan-favorite rookie running back Bucky Irving went over 1,000 yards on the season with a 113-yard performance. Wide receiver Mike Evans came close to his 11th straight 1,000-yard receiving season, with 97 yards and two touchdowns. The Bucs now await the outcome of Falcons-Commanders on Sunday night to see if they can clinch the division with a win in Week 18 against New Orleans. – Carmen Vitali
the raider: The Raiders picked a funny time of year to finally turn it on. With Sunday’s win over the Saints — in which Brock Bowers broke Mike Ditka’s record for most receiving yards by a rookie tight end in NFL history — they now have back-to-backs for the first time this season. Games are won. In the process, they’ve taken themselves out of the No. 1 pick conversation amid their apparent need for a quarterback. Now set to pick eighth with late afternoon games in Week 17, Las Vegas should game plan for a non-quarterback route in the first round at this point, according to Tankathon. That’s why Boise State superstar Ashton Genty could be an interesting name to watch for the franchise. The Raiders entered last week 17th in rushing yards per game, and there has been a renaissance in running back appreciation this season.
Saint: New Orleans is going to be the first team this spring to take the first quarterback not named Shaduar Sanders or Cam Ward. With Sunday’s loss dropping them to 5-11, the Saints are a bad team — not bad enough to get one of the best two quarterbacks in what’s considered a weak class for the position. What we do know about the Saints is that Derek Carr is not the long-term answer for the franchise. And rookie Spencer Rattler, who has been given the chance to start with the car sidelined, hasn’t given up much hope. With the Saints hiring a new coach, whoever comes in may have to mold a young quarterback who is the best of the rest. Jalen Milroe and Quinn Ewers can be seen as top options. – Ben Arthur
The following authors contributed to this story: Ben Arthur (@benyarthur); Henry McKenna (@McKennAnalysis); Ralph Vacchiano (@RalphVacchiano); Carmen Vitali (@CarmiV); Eric D. Williams (@eric_d_williams).
(Want to get great stories delivered to your inbox? Create or log into your FOX Sports account Follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily.)

Get more from the National Football League Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more