Commanders Score Big Victory, Plus 10 More Incredible Stats From Week 16

The sixteenth week of NFL It’s almost in the books, there’s just one game left to play. Several players had incredible performances, along with surprising results from multiple teams.

Arguably the best performance came from Jayden Daniels and the Commanders, who defeated the Eagles despite allowing more than 30 points and committing five turnovers. Entering Sunday, teams that allowed 30 points and committed five turnovers were 1-158 since 2003, and the Commanders recorded the second such victory in that span. Before the game, Philadelphia was 32-0 since 1960 when scoring more than 30 points and forcing five or more takeovers.

Daniels has led Washington to its first 10-win season since 2012, and this is also the first time they have recorded 10 wins in the first 15 games since 1991. He also became the second player in NFL history with more than 250 air yards. Over 75 rushing yards and five touchdown passes in one game, joining Cam Newton, who did it in 2015.

The former Heisman winner is also the third player in NFL history to have a game with five passes and 75+ rushing yards, joining Lamar Jackson (twice in 2019) and Cam Newton (2015). Both Jackson and Newton won MVPs in those respective seasons. Additionally, he hit Terry McLaurin for the 12th time this season, which is now the most by a rookie quarterback for a single receiver all-time, breaking a tie with Joe Namath and Don Maynard (he hit for 11 in 1965). McLaurin also tied the Commanders’ single-season record for touchdown catches in the process, and he will break it with his next touchdown reception.

Daniels and the Commanders weren’t the only highlights this weekend. FOX Sports Research broke down ten most telling nuggets for you. Let’s take a look:

1. The Lions continue to break records

The Lions are the co-favorites with the Chiefs to win the Super Bowl, currently at +450 at DraftKings Sportsbook. They are the sixth team in NFL history to go from a 13-loss season to a 13-win season in three years or less (1998-99 Colts, 1996-98 Falcons, 1979-81 49ers, 2016-19 49ers, 1989 – 92 jeans). On a similar note, Dan Campbell is now the fourth head coach in NFL history with a 13-win season for the same franchise for which he had a 13-loss season in his first year as a full-time head coach. . The other three are all in the Pro Football Hall of Fame and won multiple Super Bowls: Chuck Noll, Bill Walsh and Jimmy Johnson.

Amon-Ra St. Brown finished with six receptions for 70 yards and a touchdown, making him the first player in Lions history to have multiple seasons with 100-plus receptions, 1,000-plus receiving yards and 10-plus touchdowns in reception (he also did it last year). . The only other Lions player to have a season like that was Herman Moore in 1995.

St. Brown is also the sixth player in the last 30 years to have two consecutive such seasons, joining Marvin Harrison (1999-02), Antonio Brown (2014-16), Davante Adams (2020-22), Brandon Marshall (2012-13) and Stefon Diggs (2021-22).

And then there’s Jahmyr Gibbs, who became the fourth Lions player with 1,500-plus yards from scrimmage and 15-plus touchdowns from scrimmage in a season, joining Calvin Johnson (2011), Barry Sanders (1990, 1991) and Billy Sims (1980, 1981).

Conclusion: Lions against Chiefs in the Super Bowl? We can only wait for such fireworks.

2. Saquon is too good

Saquon Barkley finished with 150 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns in the loss to the Commanders. He is now the fourth player in NFL history to have 2,000 yards from scrimmage in a season with multiple franchises (he also did it in 2018 as a rookie with the Giants), and also the fourth non-rookie in NFL history. NFL to have 2,000 yards from scrimmage in his first season with a team, joining Marshall Faulk (2,429 in 1999), Priest Holmes (2,169 in 2001) and Ricky Williams (2,216 in 2002).

He had a 68-yard score against Washington, giving him his fourth rushing touchdown of more than 60 yards of the season, tying Jim Brown (1963) and Adrian Peterson (2012) for the most such touchdowns in a only season in NFL history. Peterson and Brown each won the MVP that season, with “AP” receiving the award from the Associated Press, while Brown received it from United Press International.

Bottom line: Saquon is 268 yards away from breaking Eric Dickerson’s single-season rushing record. Can you do it?

3. Historic mark for Myles Garrett

Myles Garrett has been terrorizing defenses his entire career, and on Sunday against the Bengals he joined a special group. He recorded his 100th career sack, tying him with Bruce Smith as the fourth-fastest player to reach that mark, in 115 games. What’s even more impressive is that he became the first player in NFL history to reach 100 sacks before his 29th birthday, which is on December 29.

Conclusion: Garrett is a future Hall of Famer. The real question is whether or not he will break Bruce Smith’s 200-run record.

4. Joe Burrow crying

Joe Burrow has been playing like the best quarterback in the NFL this season. He leads the league in passing yards (4,229) and passing touchdowns (39), and after his performance against the Browns on Sunday, he became the first quarterback in NFL history with at least seven consecutive games with more than 250 passing yards and three passing touchdowns. . The seven consecutive games with three touchdown passes make him the fifth player to achieve that mark, joining Tom Brady (10 in 2007), Andrew Luck (eight in 2018), Peyton Manning (eight in 2004) and Dan Marino (seven 1986-87).

Bottom line: Burrow is certainly elite, but will the Bengals continue to build around him in the coming seasons?

5. Jonathan Taylor makes history

Jonathan Taylor had arguably the best game of his career on Sunday against the Titans, rushing for 218 yards and three rushing touchdowns. He is just the second player in Colts history to have a game with more than 200 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns, joining Edgerrin James, who did so in 2000. This was also the second game of his career with more than 200. rushing yards, tying James for the most. in Colts history. Two of his scores came from more than 65 yards, which had only happened once before in franchise history (Lenny Moore in 1956). Anthony Richardson also finished with 70 rushing yards of his own, making them the first quarterback duo in NFL history with 200 rushing yards and 70 rushing yards in a game. This was also the second consecutive season in which the Colts swept the Titans.

Bottom line: With the huge impact running backs like Derrick Henry and Saquon Barkley have had on their new teams this season, is it possible that someone will eventually trade for Taylor?

6. Age like good wine

Sam Darnold and Baker Mayfield are on the fourth team for their respective scares and have both thrown for more than 32 touchdowns this season. Only two other quarterbacks in NFL history have thrown for 32+ passes with the fourth team of their career: Brett Favre in 2009 and Steve Beuerlein in 1999. What’s even more interesting is that they were both members of the Panthers . Mayfield and Darnold have eclipsed the 30 touchdown pass mark in 2024, while Carolina has only seen two instances of a quarterback throwing that many touchdowns in a single season (Beuerlein 1999 and Cam Newton 2015).

Bottom line: Experience really matters, as does fit, and we’re seeing that come to fruition with Darnold and Mayfield.

7. The NFC North is stellar

The NFC North has a combined 40 wins at this point in the season, and that doesn’t even include the Packers playing the Saints on Monday night. Those 40 wins, along with the division’s overall 67.8% win rate, are the highest the NFC North has had through the first 15 games of the season. And when the Vikings play the Lions in Week 18, the loser of that game will at least tie the NFL record for most wins by a team that didn’t win its division (the 1999 Titans finished 13-3 , 2nd in the AFC Central). behind the Jaguars 14-2).

Detroit has posted a franchise-record 13 wins, while Minnesota has posted its best start through 15 games since 1998 (started 14-1). Kevin O’Connell’s team is also riding an eight-game winning streak, the Vikings’ longest since 2017. And don’t forget the Packers, who are 10-4 entering Monday Night Football.

Conclusion: this is the best division in football. The top three teams will likely make the playoffs and no one will want to play against them.

8. How about Jonnu Smith?

Jonnu Smith is up to 802 receiving yards on the year, setting the single-season record for a tight end in Dolphins history. He passed Randy McMichael, who had 791 receiving yards in the 2004 season. Smith has already surpassed his career record of 582 receiving yards (set last season) and needs a touchdown catch to also tie Miami’s record in a single season for one tight end (seven).

Conclusion: Tua has found another offensive weapon. Miami will need to secure other parts of its roster to foster future success.

9. BTJ is a star in the making

Brian Thomas Jr. has been an absolute stud all season, and last week he officially became the best rookie receiver in Jaguars history. Following his nine-catch performance that went for 132 yards and one touchdown, he set Jacksonville rookie records for receptions (73), receiving yards (1,088) and receiving touchdowns (nine). He also joined Odell Beckham Jr. as the only rookies since the 1970 merger with nine or more receptions, more than 100 receiving yards and a touchdown reception in consecutive games.

Carry:

10. The giants keep losing

With a 34-7 loss against the Falcons, the Giants are now 2-13, tied for their worst 15-game start in franchise history (they also started 2-13 in 2017). New York currently has the No. 1 pick in the draft and has never been selected first in the Common Draft Era (since 1966). The last time they had the No. 1 pick was in 1965, when they drafted running back Tucker Frederickson out of Auburn.

Conclusion: Shedeur Sanders, Cam Ward, Travis Hunter or someone else? This is the only thing the board is thinking about at the moment.