The ultimate week of the NFL common season is within the books, with the playoff bracket set. A number of gamers had unimaginable performances, together with stunning outcomes from a number of groups.
Arguably the very best efficiency got here from Lamar Jackson, who completed with 217 yards passing, two passing touchdowns and 63 yards speeding in his common season finale in opposition to the Browns. Whereas his stat-line does not soar off the web page, the efficiency pushed his season totals sufficient to cap off one of the vital superb years we have ever seen by a quarterback— as he completed with 4,172 move yards, 41 move touchdowns, 4 interceptions, 915 rush yards, and 4 speeding touchdowns. Under we have contextualized simply how distinctive this season from the two-time MVP was:
- Jackson is the primary participant in NFL historical past with 40+ move touchdowns and 4 or fewer interceptions.
- Jackson is the primary participant in NFL historical past with 40+ move touchdowns and 600+ rush yards.
- Jackson is the primary participant in NFL historical past with 4,000+ move yards and 800+ rush yards.
- Jackson is the primary participant in NFL historical past to common 8.5 yards per move and 6 yards per carry in the identical season.
- Jackson is simply the third quarterback in NFL historical past to throw for 40 touchdowns and rush for 4 touchdowns in a single season, becoming a member of Patrick Mahomes (2022) and Aaron Rodgers (2016).
- Jackson went 3-0 vs Josh Allen and Joe Burrow, with a 10-0 touchdown-to-interception ratio.
Jackson wasn’t the one one to have an unimaginable efficiency this previous weekend. FOX Sports activities Analysis broke down ten extra eye-opening nuggets for you. Let’s have a look:
1. Nabers’ historic yr
Malik Nabers ended his phenomenal rookie marketing campaign with 64 yards receiving and a landing catch in opposition to the Eagles. The LSU product completed with this season with 109 catches for 1,204 receiving yards and 7 landing receptions. No participant in Giants historical past has caught extra passes in a single season than Nabers did this yr, and he is simply one in all three rookies ever to catch 100+ passes for over 1,200 yards— becoming a member of Puka Nacua (2023) and Anquan Boldin (2003). He additionally ended the season with seven consecutive video games with 60+ receiving yards, changing into simply the fourth rookie because the 1970 merger to have such a streak together with Odell Beckham Jr., Michael Clayton, and Brian Thomas Jr.
Takeaway: Simply think about what Nabers might do with elevated quarterback play. Count on him to placed on a present subsequent yr.
2. Buccaneers ball
The Buccaneers received the NFC South for the fourth straight season, and a number of other gamers set so many milestones that we determined to simply checklist all of them beneath:
- Baker Mayfield bought his first profession win when trailing by 10+ factors in any recreation; he entered the sport 0-41 in his profession in such conditions (Buccaneers trailed Saints 16-6 at halftime).
- Baker Mayfield eclipsed the 40 landing move mark this season, becoming a member of Joe Burrow and Lamar Jackson as the one gamers to take action this season; there have solely been two different seasons with three quarterbacks to every throw 40+ touchdowns (2020: Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers, Russell Wilson; 2011: Matthew Stafford, Aaron Rodgers, Drew Brees).
- Jalen McMillan has recorded a receiving landing in 5 straight video games; the one participant with an extended streak of their rookie season is Randy Moss (seven straight).
- Mike Evans eclipsed 1,000 yards receiving for the eleventh straight season, tying Jerry Rice for the longest such streak ever.
Takeaway: Tampa Bay is clicking at simply the precise time. Can they make a critical run within the playoffs this yr?
3. Bryce flips the swap
Early within the season, it was wanting like Bryce Young won’t be “the man” in Carolina after being benched in Week 3. However after being compelled again into motion in Week 8, the previous No. 1 total decide improved his play dramatically. In his ultimate 10 begins of the season, he threw 15 touchdowns with simply six interceptions with a 61.8% completion fee and 88.9 passer score. Over his ultimate three video games of the season, he completed with 10 whole touchdowns and nil turnovers.
His final recreation of the season was his greatest, throwing for 251 yards, finishing 73.5% of his passes, recording three landing passes, and including two on the bottom as effectively. He joined Josh Allen as the one gamers this season to throw for 3 touchdowns and rush for 2 in the identical recreation. They’re additionally the one gamers since 1982 to have had such a recreation inside their first two seasons.
Takeaway: After a rocky begin to the season, Bryce Younger appears to be like like he is the long run quarterback in Carolina. The entrance workplace might want to proceed to construct round him.
4. Stellar night time for Gibbs
Jahmyr Gibbs went OFF in opposition to the Vikings in Week 18, ending with 139 speeding yards and 4 scrimmage touchdowns (three speeding and one receiving). Gibbs completed the common season with 20 whole touchdowns, setting the Lions single-season franchise report. He’s additionally the one participant in Lions historical past to supply 1,900+ scrimmage yards and 20+ touchdowns in a single season. This was additionally Gibbs’ fifth recreation of the season with with 100+ speeding yards, which is essentially the most by a Detroit participant since Corridor of Famer Barry Sanders in 1997.
Takeaway: Individuals have been shocked when the Lions chosen a operating again with the twelfth total decide within the 2023 draft. They could not have been extra proper, as Gibbs is an absolute game-changer.
5. Rookie QBs shine
Rookie quarterbacks actually shined this yr. Under we have listed some nuggets to point out simply how good they have been:
- Bo Nix accomplished 18 straight passes within the season finale in opposition to the Chiefs, essentially the most by any rookie to open a recreation in NFL historical past; Nix additionally helped the Broncos clinch their first playoff berth since 2015.
- Bo Nix and Jayden Daniels are the one two rookies in NFL historical past to have 10+ wins, 30+ whole touchdowns and 4,000+ whole yards in a season.
- Jayden Daniels led the Commanders to their fourth 12-win season in franchise historical past, and their first since going 14-2 in 1991.
- Caleb Williams finished with 3,541 move yards this season, the fifth-most of any Bears quarterback ever; he’s additionally simply the eighth rookie because the 1970 merger to win at Lambeau Discipline.
- Drake Maye had eight whole touchdowns in his first 5 profession begins, which is tied with Steve Grogan (1975) for essentially the most by any Patriots rookie quarterback ever; he additionally rushed for 95 yards in a recreation this season, which is the third-most by a Patriots quarterback ever (solely Steve Grogan (103 vs Jets in 1976) and Babe Parilli (96 vs Oilers in 1964) have had extra).
- Michael Penix threw for a season-high 312 yards in opposition to the Panthers, changing into simply the third Falcons rookie because the merger to throw for over 310 yards in a recreation.
Takeaway: With this a lot success from rookie quarterbacks, it is going to be very attention-grabbing to see if another quarterbacks exterior of Shedeur Sanders and Cam Ward can be taken within the first spherical of this yr’s draft.
6. Parsons joins elite firm
Micah Parsons had one sack in opposition to the Commanders, placing him at 12 on the yr. He joined Corridor of Famer Reggie White as the one gamers to have 12 or extra sacks in every of their first 4 NFL seasons. Parsons can also be simply the fourth participant with 10+ sacks in every of his first 4 seasons, becoming a member of Corridor of Famers Dwight Freeney, Derrick Thomas, and Reggie White.
Takeaway: Parsons is a generational expertise and future Corridor of Famer. Plain and easy.
7. Payments make historical past
Regardless of the loss to New England, the Bills nonetheless made historical past in Week 18. With Mitch Trubisky’s passing landing, Buffalo reached 30 scores by way of the air together with 32 on the bottom— making them the primary workforce in NFL historical past to achieve 30 in each classes in a single season.
Takeaway: It is all there for the taking for the Payments. They simply must beat the Chiefs within the playoffs.
8. Rodgers reaches 500
Aaron Rodgers completed off the 2024 season with a bang, throwing for 274 yards and 4 touchdowns. Having entered the sport with 499 profession passing scores, the efficiency put him within the 500 membership— making him the fifth participant in NFL historical past to achieve that mark, becoming a member of Brett Favre, Peyton Manning, Drew Brees, and Tom Brady. It was additionally his thirty fourth profession recreation with 4 landing passes, the fourth-most in NFL historical past.
Takeaway: If this was the final recreation of his profession, do not take as a right simply how particular Aaron Rodgers was for practically 20 seasons.
9. Powerful break for Burrow
Joe Burrow had the very best yr of his profession, ending with 4,918 move yards and 43 passing scores. He’s the third quarterback in NFL historical past to throw for 40 move touchdowns in a season and never make the playoffs that yr, becoming a member of Drew Brees (2012) and Dan Marino (1986). He additionally put up 10 video games this season with 250+ move yards and three or extra passing touchdowns. The one three different gamers who’ve had 10 such video games in a single season all received MVP that season— Tom Brady in 2007, Peyton Manning in 2013 and Patrick Mahomes in 2018. Burrow additionally grew to become simply the third quarterback in NFL historical past to throw for 4,500 move yards and 40 passing scores with a 70% completion fee in a season, becoming a member of Drew Brees (2011) and Baker Mayfield (2024).
Takeaway: The Bengals have been arguably the most important disappointment of the yr, and none of that needed to do with Burrow. He is a future MVP.
10. Steelers lose once more
With the Steelers shedding to the Bengals in Week 18, they dropped their fourth straight recreation. Pittsburgh is now the third workforce in NFL historical past to enter the postseason on a four-plus recreation shedding streak, together with the 1986 Jets and 1999 Lions (neither made a convention title recreation). On a constructive notice, Cameron Heyward grew to become the one participant within the NFL this season with 10+ tackles for loss and 10+ passes defensed.
Takeaway: Can Mike Tomlin proper the ship in opposition to the Ravens within the Wild Card?
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