Washington Commanders coach Ron Rivera benched Taylor Heinicke for Carson Wentz in the fourth quarter of Saturday's loss at the San Francisco 49ers, but Rivera said he isn't yet sure if that's a permanent move. Rivera said he'll name a starting quarterback early in the week.

Wentz played the final two series in a 37-20 defeat that dropped the Commanders to 7-7-1. They remain in the seventh and final playoff spot.

Rivera said he would evaluate the situation, talk it over with his offensive coaches and make a decision. Washington will host the Cleveland Browns (6-9) next Sunday.

Commanders offensive coordinator Scott Turner said he would not make a "knee-jerk decision" but used the fourth quarter as a chance to evaluate Wentz's game. Rivera also said he didn't want to see the 49ers "tee off" on Heinicke.

"It was an opportunity for us to see where Carson was, and he did a nice job," Rivera told reporters after the game. "We're in a pretty good situation now."

Wentz last played on Oct. 13, when he broke his right ring finger in a 12-7 win over the Chicago Bears. He returned to the active game-day roster last week.

Wentz completed 12 of 16 passes for 123 yards and a touchdown in two series of work against San Francisco (11-4).

"We're all competitors. I won't sugarcoat it: We all want to be out there," Wentz said. "If we lose that in this position, we'll be out of it real quick. So it would mean a lot [to start], but that's out of our control. We'll both prepare and work our tails off and nothing will change because of the circumstances. Whatever happens, happens."

Heinicke said he is accustomed to being in this situation -- always an underdog or on the verge of losing his job, especially in the NFL.

"I've heard things like that my whole life," Heinicke said. "I try not to pay attention to it. I control what I control, and that's going out and playing as hard as I can -- and that's what I feel I did. If they need to put Carson in there, OK. I'll come to the facility every day, work hard and be the best I can."

Heinicke played one of his more efficient halves of the season in the first two quarters, completing 8 of 11 passes for 89 yards and a touchdown. Another drive ended at the 1-yard line when Washington failed to convert a fourth-and-goal. He threw a second touchdown pass in the third quarter.

But in the fourth quarter, Heinicke lost one fumble at his own 11-yard line, leading to a 49ers field goal. On the next possession, he was intercepted -- this time at the Commanders' 25-yard line, resulting in a second field goal and 27-14 deficit.

"I was pretty banged up, and the last two drives were turnovers, so I get it," Heinicke said. "Carson did a good job."

Rivera said Heinicke played "pretty good" in the first half and also said that to "pin all the turnovers on him would be tough. Those weren't his issues. There were some things we could have done better."

Still, that was enough for Rivera to make the change to Wentz. Washington's offense had moved the ball during Heinicke's starts; the Commanders were 13th in the league in total yards during his first seven starts. However, they were 25th in the red zone and scoring and 27th on third downs.

Rivera was pleased with how Wentz played.

"He had good command of what we were doing," Rivera said. "He stood tall in the pocket and got the ball out quickly a couple times and threw some good balls."

Washington traded two third-round draft picks to the Indianapolis Colts and swapped second-round picks in March to acquire Wentz. He has a salary-cap hit of $26.7 million in 2023 but has no guaranteed money left, so Washington could cut him without any financial penalty. But the Commanders do want to find out if he can be their guy in the future or not.

If Wentz starts, he would be playing in an offense that is more run-heavy than when he played in Washington's first six games. The coaches hope that would lead to more success for Wentz.

"Our ability to run the ball takes a lot of pressure off the quarterback," Rivera said. "This is a different unit from the group he played with. There are some things that shows what he can do when he does have the opportunity to stand tall in the pocket."

Memphis Grizzlies All-Star point guard Ja Morant will debut his first signature shoe with Nike when his team appears in its first Christmas Day game in franchise history.

"Just being able to have a signature shoe with Nike, not a lot of guys have been able to achieve that," Morant said. "It's definitely a big milestone for me and something that I'll never forget."

The Grizzlies face the Golden State Warriors on ABC and ESPN at 8 p.m. ET. Morant will be lacing up his namesake sneaker for the first time in a bright blue colorway, with gold, pink, lime green and red accents.

On Christmas Eve, he teased the debut by posting on social media a present from his daughter Kaari, wrapped in a repeat pattern featuring his new signature logo. His daughter's name is also stamped on the inner half of the shoe.

??? pic.twitter.com/vRpFRqyD91

— Ja Morant (@JaMorant) December 25, 2022

While the design and development process of a signature shoe usually takes around 18-24 months, Morant will debut the Nike Ja 1 early, with the shoe not expected to hit retail until later in 2023. Several colorways are slated for spring and summer 2023 on retailer launch calendars. The shoe is expected to be priced at $110.

"I feel like the most important thing was telling a story," Morant said. "Obviously, finding ways to have my fans and people who support me have access to Ja and see what goes on in my life and what I'm about. Combining with Nike to put all of that stuff into a shoe was crazy."

Morant will become just the 23rd NBA athlete in league history to receive his own signature sneaker with Nike. Paul George in 2017 and Kyrie Irving in 2014 were the last two to launch their own shoe. The brand has touted that Morant is "Nike Basketball's first Gen Z signature athlete," and recently featured the Grizzlies star in its 50th anniversary campaign while looking toward the future of the company.

"[Ja Morant] is a revolutionary player who quickly became a global star with his unmatched athleticism and exciting style of play," said Scott Munson, Nike VP of global men's basketball. "His authentic personality, deep love for his community and family and joy for the game make him very special -- on and off the court. We are thrilled to add Morant to our signature roster and can't wait for everyone to learn more about his first shoe, the Nike Ja 1."

The sneaker features a low-top silhouette, with a mesh and leather upper and reinforced support panel along the forefoot. His signature "JA" logo can be found along the tongue tab. The stylized font is placed above a chevron, representing the 23-year-old's rise as an overlooked player from South Carolina and a family mantra of the Morants.

"As a kid, whenever I wondered if I was good enough, my parents would say: 'You're beneath no one,'" he said of the motto now tattooed on his left arm. "And that's how I want everyone to feel when they wear the Ja 1 -- that they're beneath no one."

All-Star guard James Harden is seriously considering a return to the Houston Rockets in free agency this July -- if he decides against a new deal with the Philadelphia 76ers, sources told ESPN.

Harden and his inner circle have been openly weighing Houston in recent months, sources said, a remarkable possibility given that he requested and received a trade out of the franchise less than two years ago.

His future with the 76ers remains a fluid proposition, one that has been buoyed with seven straight victories on the way into a Christmas Day meeting with the New York Knicks (noon ET on ABC and ESPN). Harden is on a productive roll with All-NBA center Joel Embiid, and the state of that partnership and the Sixers' postseason success could well be telltale factors in how Harden proceeds past this season. Experiencing a deep playoff run in a rabid, hungry Philadelphia marketplace could positively impact his thinking -- just as the fallout of an early exit could, too.

Harden signed a two-year, $68.6 million contract with the Sixers, including a player option for 2023-24 that allows him to reenter free agency this summer. The Sixers are 19-12, fifth in the East and expect to return burgeoning star Tyrese Maxey in the coming week.

Despite forcing his way out of the Rockets in January 2021, Harden has maintained something of a magnetic pull to Houston, drawn to the community, lifestyle and family there, sources said. After what would become relatively brief stops in Brooklyn and Philadelphia, a move back to a rebuilding Rockets franchise would effectively represent comfort and familiarity over an immediate championship pursuit.

For next summer, the Rockets are flush with salary cap space and an appetite to make significant improvement in the standings. Rockets officials will have to evaluate how they believe Harden's arrival would benefit the development of its young core of talent, including Jalen Green, Jabari Smith and Kevin Porter Jr., but his stature and talent still make him an attractive proposition.

In his post-Houston stops with Embiid and Kevin Durant, Harden has continued to evolve as a pass-first guard. He's leading the NBA with 10.9 assists per game -- including a career-high 21 in a victory over the LA Clippers on Friday.

Harden spent eight-plus All-Star seasons with the Rockets, a stretch that included a 2018 MVP award and a trip to the Western Conference finals. Harden won three straight scoring titles with the Rockets and ranks second to Hakeem Olajuwon in all-time franchise scoring -- and first in assists.

After cycling through hand-picked co-stars including Dwight Howard, Chris Paul and Russell Westbrook, Harden became disenchanted with the Rockets -- and eventually the Nets, too. The Sixers traded Ben Simmons, Seth Curry and two future first-round picks to the Nets as part of a package to acquire Harden in February.

For all of Harden's history and connection with Sixers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey and CEO Tad Brown, his working relationships with Embiid and coach Doc Rivers resemble something closer to a work in progress. The Sixers gave up significant assets to acquire Harden, and he's expected to remain a priority to re-sign on a new deal for a second consecutive summer.

In an extract from his new book, Roger Robinson looks at the Olympic drama which unfolded in London 114 years ago and turned the marathon into a global phenomenon

The most dramatic, horrific and important marathon in history took place in London on July 24, 1908. That hot day, a courageous Italian cake-maker and a cool Irish-American construction worker transformed the event forever. 

London Olympics, 1908

The crowd of 100,000 people watched for one man. Who would he be? Their only information had come from names chalked on a big board which was paraded around the field. A sudden gunshot hushed them, for a shouted announcement through a long megaphone: “The runners are in sight!” No names were given. The crowd watched the top of the ramp where the first runner would appear into the stadium at White City. South African Charles Hefferon had been four minutes ahead in the last report from the leaderboard.  

When you’re waiting for the marathon leader, nothing is certain, especially on a hot and humid day. There was a scurry of action on the sloping ramp. Officials and police shouted or pointed. Among them, the crowd glimpsed a small dark man with a white kerchief knotted on his head, in a sodden white shirt and baggy red shorts. He seemed unsure of where to go. Stumbling on to the cinder track, he tottered jerkily, like a marionette. 

He was Dorando Pietri of Italy. What happened to him in the next few minutes has become inseparable from the story of the marathon and of the Olympic Games.

The crowd had hoped for Hefferon. The British runners who led (much too fast) for the first 10 miles had all faded. The pre-race favourite, indigenous Canadian Tom Longboat, stopped after a surge at 16 miles. Hefferon, born in Newbury, Berkshire, and representing South Africa, the new addition to the British Empire, was almost as good as a Briton. Far better, most of the crowd thought, than any of the 12 Americans, whose team had won so many events and so few friends in those conflict-ridden Games. That partisan context would affect how some key people acted in the next minutes. 

The crowd watching Pietri were moved by something deeper than partisanship. Arthur Conan Doyle (creator of Sherlock Holmes) said it best, covering the race for the Daily Mail: “He has gone to the extreme of human endurance… It is horrible, and yet fascinating, this struggle between a set purpose and an utterly exhausted frame.” 

Pietri, dazed and bewildered, staggered forward. Weaving and stumbling, he covered 20 yards, and then his legs crumpled, and he fell. He was directly in front of a huge, packed stand and the people gasped. Some thought he had died.

We are familiar now with heat-exhaustion – Jim Peters in 1954, Gabriela Andersen-Schiess 1984, Callum Hawkins, Jessica Judd – and it is still heart-wrenching. In 1908, these people were seeing it for the first time. Potential tragedy was being enacted right in front of them.     

Helped to his feet, Pietri tottered along the rest of the long straight, “the little red legs going incoherently, driven by a supreme will within,” wrote Doyle. As he reached the curve, legs sagging, the crowd groaned in pity and terror as he fell again. Again, they thought he was dying. But again, after much attention, he was up. He covered only a few yards before crumpling yet again at the top of the bend. 

Twice more he collapsed. A photograph shows him lying on his back, inert, supported in the arms of medical officer Dr Bulger. Pietri seems to have passed out.   

And now things became really exciting. The next runner appeared, with the striped shield of the USA on his white shirt. It was Johnny Hayes, a New Yorker of Irish parentage and he was charging, with a sure stride. It is a crucial part of the story of this extraordinary day that Hayes ran a perfectly judged race when everyone else was going bananas. 

Hayes ran down the ramp “gallantly” (in Doyle’s word), and began the final pursuit. 

How did Pietri ever reach the finish? With plenty of help, for sure, even to stay upright. He got there as Hayes was on the final bend, a mere 150 yards behind. The famous finish line photo shows Pietri with liquid legs and glazed expression. Race director Jack Andrew is helping him through the tape, with a good grip on Pietri’s right upper arm, holding a huge megaphone in the other hand. 

The place must have been bedlam. The crowd was screaming. Hayes was running at six-minute-mile pace. The only communication was by bellowing into a giant megaphone. Now we all know that if you give assistance, the runner must be disqualified. But we know it because of what happened in London that day.   

Through his megaphone, Andrew promptly announced Pietri the winner. The courageous little Italian was the briefest champion in Olympic marathon history. The American team immediately lodged a protest, which inevitably was upheld. Johnny Hayes, who alone among the potential winners seemed to understand that a marathon is longer than 18 miles, was the worthy winner. 

Getting the story right 

The 1908 Olympic marathon is responsible for a number of errors and confusions which have gone into folklore over the years. Roger Robinson sets the record straight on a selection of them here:

The course: Started within the grounds of Windsor Castle, by special royal permission. After 700 yards it joined the course which had been used three months earlier for the British trial, which started outside the Castle grounds, on the Long Walk. 

The start: The royal children did not watch with noses pressed to the nursery windows, as is usually claimed. A photo shows four of them, outside on the sloping lawn, getting a close view as the runners walk to the start. Detailed research by Mike Sandford of Southern AAA has established that the start was on the East Terrace, not under the nursery window.   

The distance: The Olympic Games rules said “about 40 kilometres”, but the Polytechnic club, who organised the London race, added two kilometres, confessing to that change only two days beforehand. The course measurer’s report said the distance from the East Terrace “will be about 26 miles to the edge of the stadium track”. Don’t mention that word “about” to Eliud Kipchoge.   

The track: In defiance of the Olympic (French-dominated) commitment to metric distances, the British added events like a three miles team race and built the White City as a vast arena of three laps to the mile. Half a lap to the finish line was therefore 385 yards. 

The direction: The competitors’ instructions said all track races were left-hand inside. Pietri had run the three miles team race. Without mention in the instructions, the last half-lap of the marathon went the other way. No wonder he looked confused. 

The finish: Was the same for all track races. The royal seats were accordingly there. It wasn’t Queen Alexandra’s fault (as is often claimed) that you have to do those 385 yards at the end of your next marathon. 

Arthur Conan Doyle: Most accounts claim wrongly that he was one of the officials who assisted Pietri. In fact, he was in the stands, working on an outstanding piece of sports reporting for The Daily Mail. A new literary discovery is that Doyle was also working on a Sherlock Holmes story, and paid tribute to Dorando Pietri in the name of a heroic character.  

What happened next? Pietri and Hayes had an offer they could not refuse to race marathons for big prize money, indoors (262 laps) in New York. Longboat and England’s Alf Shrubb soon joined them. And so began another great story, the forgotten one of the years when marathon mania was spectacular American show business.    

Running Throughout Time: the Greatest Running Stories Ever Told (Meyer & Meyer) by Roger Robinson is out now

Welcome to Week 16 of the 2022 NFL season and a holiday weekend of football. There was a full slate of games on Saturday, with three more on Sunday.

On Thursday, the Jacksonville Jaguars continued their quest for the AFC South title by beating the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium.

The Buffalo Bills, meanwhile, captured their third straight AFC East title with a triumph over the Chicago Bears combined with a New England Patriots loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. And with a decision over the Atlanta Falcons, the Baltimore Ravens secured a playoff bid. The Minnesota Vikings won another one-score game -- their NFL-record 11th of the season -- and the Kansas City Chiefs proved too much for the Seattle Seahawks.

The late afternoon contests saw the Dallas Cowboys stay alive in the NFC East with a comeback victory over the Philadelphia Eagles and the San Francisco 49ers win their eighth straight by besting the Washington Commanders. In the Saturday night game, the Las Vegas Raiders allowed another lead to slip away, as the Pittsburgh Steelers honored the late Franco Harris with a late rally on a frigid night in the Steel City.

Our NFL Nation reporters react with the biggest takeaways and lingering questions off this week's matchups and look ahead to what's next. Let's get to it.

Jump to a matchup:

JAX-NYJ | BUF-CHI | NO-CLE
SEA-KC | NYG-MIN | CIN-NE
DET-CAR | ATL-BAL | HOU-TEN
WSH-SF | PHI-DAL | LV-PIT

Pittsburgh 13, Las Vegas 10

Steelers

What to know: On an emotional night when the Steelers retired Franco Harris' No. 32 jersey days after the legendary running back's death, Pittsburgh matched the magnitude of the moment. Rookie quarterback Kenny Pickett had trouble moving the ball consistently but went 10 plays and 76 yards for the winning touchdown, culminating with a 14-yard catch by George Pickens in the final minute. The Steelers picked off Derek Carr three times, including on Las Vegas' final drive, to keep their slim playoff hopes alive.

Could another winning season really be in the cards? Sitting at 3-7 after a loss to the Bengals on Nov. 20, the notion of coach Mike Tomlin and the Steelers avoiding their first losing season together seemed highly unlikely. With four wins in their past five games, the possibility is no longer such a long shot. Pittsburgh (7-8) will be an underdog at the Ravens next week, but Baltimore is facing continued uncertainty at quarterback, and the rivals played a 16-14 barn burner two weeks ago. Clear that hurdle and an 8-8 Pittsburgh team would need only to defeat the last-place Browns (6-9) at home to get to 9-8 -- and maybe even sneak into the playoffs if it got a lot of help. -- ESPN staff

Next game: at Ravens (Sunday, Jan. 1, 1 p.m. ET)

Raiders

What to know: Sure, the Raiders technically remain alive in the playoff race at 6-9, but a Dolphins win or tie on Sunday against the Packers coupled with a Chargers win or tie Monday night against the Colts will eliminate Las Vegas from the postseason chase. Blowing another seven-plus-point halftime lead -- the Raiders' record fifth such loss of the season -- was the nail in the proverbial coffin.

When might it be time to hit the reset button, then? As soon as the Raiders are officially eliminated. And yes, that might mean Las Vegas seeing what it has in Jarrett Stidham at quarterback, after Derek Carr was picked off three times in the second half at Pittsburgh. Because with so many rumors floating around that Las Vegas has already decided to move on from the franchise's all-time passing leader, it might behoove the Raiders to get a jump-start, as touchy and sensitive as it might be. -- Paul Gutierrez

Next game: vs. 49ers (Sunday, Jan. 1, 4:05 p.m. ET)

Dallas 40, Philadelphia 34

Cowboys

What to know: The Cowboys were able to overcome two 10-point deficits to keep their slim division title hopes alive. A defense that was picked apart -- the Eagles did not punt -- came up with back-to-back takeaways late in the fourth quarter. The Cowboys are 11-4 and will be no worse than the fifth seed in the postseason, but they'll need the Eagles to lose out to have any aspirations of a division crown. A third meeting between these teams in the playoffs would be something else.

Can the Cowboys find their pass rush? The Cowboys need to if they are going to do anything in the playoffs. They recorded four sacks of Jalen Hurts when they met in October and had at least three in nine of their first 11 games -- but Dallas had one sack the previous two weeks and zero on Saturday. Micah Parsons, DeMarcus Lawrence and Dorance Armstrong have to figure something out because the secondary, which has been hit by injuries, can't hold up forever. When the Cowboys brought pressure against Gardner Minshew, they didn't get home. -- Todd Archer

Next game: at Titans (Thursday, 8:15 p.m. ET)

Eagles

What to know: The Eagles let a golden opportunity slip away. They held the lead over Dallas for the majority of the game and had a chance to secure the division and the No. 1 overall seed in the NFC playoffs before being derailed by costly turnovers down the stretch. The good news is they have two more regular-season games and need to win one to lock up the top playoff position in the NFC. Their home game on New Year's Day against the Saints just got a whole lot more interesting.

Will quarterback Jalen Hurts play against New Orleans? Hurts' status for Week 17 against the Saints was uncertain entering Saturday, league sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter, as Hurts recovers from what doctors are calling an SC-joint sprain in his throwing shoulder. The Eagles wanted to see how this weekend played out in the NFC playoff race and how Hurts' shoulder responds to rest and treatment before determining whether the MVP candidate can play. Still needing a win to secure the top seed in the playoffs, there will be plenty of intrigue around Hurts' availability. -- Tim McManus

Next game: vs. Saints (Sunday, Jan. 1, 1 p.m. ET)

San Francisco 37, Washington 20

49ers

What to know: The Niners can do no worse than the No. 3 seed in the NFC playoffs, but they said they won't take their foot off the gas because the No. 2 seed is in reach. While the 49ers didn't get help from the Vikings on Saturday, they are a game behind them for the second spot and need to tie Minnesota in the standings to host at least two postseason games. As long as that's the case, expect San Francisco to keep pushing.

Is Nick Bosa the frontrunner for Defensive Player of the Year? If he's not, he should be. Bosa added two more sacks and a forced fumble Saturday to get to a career high 17.5 sacks on the season, tied for second-most in franchise history. Nothing against Dallas linebacker Micah Parsons, who is also having an outstanding season, but Bosa has been the most consistently dominant force on the best defense in the NFL. -- Nick Wagoner

Next game: at Raiders (Sunday, Jan. 1, 4:05 p.m. ET)

Commanders

What to know: Washington's offense moved the ball under quarterback Taylor Heinicke, but the red zone issues and turnovers the past three games have killed them. That's why Carson Wentz replaced him, and it's why the Commanders likely stick with Wentz over the final two games. The 49ers blitzed Wentz often, but he made quicker decisions and knew where to go with the ball. If he's indeed more comfortable, his arm can open up the field for a Commanders' offense needing a jolt.

How does this loss impact Washington's playoff chances? No harm, no foul. With Detroit and Seattle losing Saturday, the Commanders remain in the seventh and final playoff spot. They need to win their final two games -- at home against Cleveland and Dallas -- to stay in the postseason. The Browns have been eliminated from the playoffs and struggle versus the run, while the Cowboys might end up resting their starters. Washington must take advantage. If not, it becomes a wasted season. -- John Keim

Next game: vs. Browns (Sunday, Jan. 1, 1 p.m. ET)

Houston 19, Tennessee 14

Texans

What to know: The Texans earned their second win by containing Derrick Henry. The last time the Texans faced Henry, he ran for 219 yards en route to a 17-10 win in Week 8. But during their second matchup, the Texans' run defense contained Henry, even though the raw numbers might say otherwise. Henry finished with 126 yards rushing on 23 carries, but outside of a 48-yard touchdown run, the Texans held him to 3.5 yards per rush on every other carry. Overall, the Texans' defense held the Titans to 14 points and 272 yards and forced three turnovers. It was one of the team's best defensive performances of the year.

With how the Texans have looked in the past three games, does that take the heat off coach Lovie Smith? The Texans have played the Dallas Cowboys, Kansas City Chiefs and Titans down to the wire. Those teams are competing for playoff spots, and the Texans had a chance to win all three of those games and closed the deal against the Titans. The team hasn't quit on Lovie Smith even though it has lost 12 of 15 games. Will that help save Smith's job? The team is showing life, and it's plausible it could carry this momentum into the 2023 season. -- DJ Bien-Aime

Next game: vs. Jaguars (Sunday, Jan. 1, 1 p.m. ET)

Titans

What to know: Denico Autry's value was proved beyond the stat sheet, as he had two quarterback pressures that nearly generated two interceptions. Autry also had pass breakups at the line of scrimmage on plays that could have gone for big gains if the Texans quarterback was able to get the passes off. Despite missing the past four games, Autry leads the Titans in sacks after getting his eighth of the season. But in the end, the Titans' pass defense faltered after a Derrick Henry fumble in the fourth quarter. Davis Mills completed all four of his pass attempts for 69 yards, including the game-sealing touchdown.

Can the Titans be expected to challenge the Jaguars for the AFC South Division title? The Titans' offense has shown little to no life over the past five games, even with the Jaguars rapidly closing the gap atop the AFC South. The second-half scoring woes have been a theme all season and it resurfaced Saturday. Tennessee was averaging a league-worst 5.5-point average in the second half entering this week. The search for contributions from the wide receiver position seems to be mission impossible. The Titans haven't had a pass-catcher post 100 receiving yards in five games. Meanwhile, Jacksonville has a three-game win streak and took over sole possession of the AFC South. -- Turron Davenport

Next game: vs. Cowboys (Thursday, 8:15 p.m. ET)

Cincinnati 22, New England 18

Bengals

What to know: The Bengals survived a massive gut check in a win over the New England Patriots. Cincinnati was on the brink of blowing a 22-0 lead before the defense intervened. Bengals safety Vonn Bell forced a fumble that Cincinnati recovered, which allowed the Bengals to avoid the second-biggest blown lead in franchise history. Cincinnati stays within striking distance of the No. 1 seed in the AFC, but for the second straight week, it won despite an inconsistent effort.

Should the run game be a concern? After a good stretch in the middle of the season, Cincinnati's run game has sputtered the past two weeks. Against New England, the Bengals averaged 3.0 yards per rushing attempt. Cincinnati's ground struggles also prevented it from being able to ice the game away as things got close. It's a part of the offense that has to be better as the Bengals prepare for a postseason run. -- Ben Baby

Next game: vs. Bills (Monday, Jan. 2, 8:15 p.m. ET)

Patriots

What to know: What a dagger. For the second week in a row. The Patriots had roared back from a 22-0 halftime deficit and appeared primed to go ahead when running back Rhamondre Stevenson lost a fumble at the Bengals' 8-yard line with 55 seconds remaining. At 7-8, the Patriots are still technically alive for the playoffs, but what hope is there when they keep shooting themselves in the foot?

What are coach Bill Belichick's plans with the offense? There are two games remaining, but everything seems secondary to how Belichick plans to address the offense in the big picture. The Patriots had 70 total yards of offense at halftime, and while there were signs of life in the second half, this is not a sustainable formula. So it's a balance between doing whatever it takes to win the final two games (home against Miami, on the road against Buffalo) to stay alive but also acknowledging the offense needs a major fix. -- Mike Reiss

Next game: vs. Dolphins (Sunday, Jan. 1, 1 p.m. ET)

Minnesota 27, N.Y. Giants 24

Vikings

What to know: What? You thought a close game involving the Vikings would end any other way? Minnesota is now 11-0 in one-possession games after Greg Joseph's 61-yard field goal won this one at the buzzer. The win gave the Vikings their 12th victory of the season, only the second time a Vikings team has won at least 12 in the past 13 years. This win was especially notable given the stakes: The Giants were playing to clinch a postseason spot, while the Vikings are playing for playoff seeding. Speaking of seeding, the Vikings will maintain their lead over the San Francisco 49ers for the NFC's No. 2 seed.

Should we go back to being worried about the Vikings' defense? The Giants' underpowered offense rolled for 445 yards, including 334 through the air from quarterback Daniel Jones, a reminder the Vikings have hardly fixed their season-long defensive struggles. But like many of their previous games, the Vikings mitigated the damage with two takeaways -- a forced fumble by linebacker Brian Asamoah II and an interception by cornerback Patrick Peterson. Their special teams also blocked a punt, giving the offense a short field to score a touchdown, but the defensive concerns remain. -- Kevin Seifert

Next game: at Packers (Sunday, Jan. 1, 4:25 p.m. ET)

Giants

What to know: This was a missed opportunity. The Giants had a playoff berth in their grasp in the fourth quarter. Except Cor'Dale Flott let an interception slip through his hands, Daniel Jones threw an interception, Richie James had a crucial drop and they had a punt blocked with under five minutes remaining. These are the kinds of plays that playoff teams can't make. It all added up to a loss on a 61-yard field goal as time expired.

Is next week vs. Indianapolis a must-win game? Pretty much. The Giants host the Indianapolis Colts on New Year's Day. This is the easiest of their remaining games -- on paper. New York would be playing with fire if it went into their finale needing to beat the Eagles in Philadelphia. The Giants would much rather win next week in front of their home fans and not leave anything in doubt. -- Jordan Raanan

Next game: vs. Colts (Sunday, Jan. 1, 1 p.m. ET)

New Orleans 17, Cleveland 10

Saints

What to know: The Saints didn't make it easy on a brutally cold day, but they did keep their playoff hopes alive, improving to 6-9 with a win over Cleveland. After trying to do everything but use Taysom Hill for most of the first half, they finally capitalized on running Hill -- who had nine carries for 54 yards and a touchdown -- and a late interception by Deshaun Watson to squeak out a win in the elements.

Can the Saints sustain their momentum against the Eagles next week? The Saints won back-to-back games for the first time all season and stayed alive in the NFC South race. But their biggest challenge comes next week in Philadelphia. The Saints could be facing the Eagles without quarterback Jalen Hurts, but it'll be an enormous lift. A win in Philly would also go a long way for first-year head coach Dennis Allen, who wasn't able to generate momentum for most of the season. -- Katherine Terrell

Next game: at Eagles (Sunday, Jan. 1, 1 p.m. ET)

Browns

What to know: The Browns were eliminated from the playoff conversation after quarterback Deshaun Watson's would-be game-tying TD drive came up short. From the Saints' 15-yard line, Watson had two potential TD passes bounce off the hands of Donovan Peoples-Jones and David Njoku. But then Watson took a sack on fourth down, sealing a second straight losing season in Cleveland.

What now for the Browns? Cleveland now has no shot to make the playoffs, rendering the final two games on the road against Washington and Pittsburgh meaningless. Getting more game reps for Watson will be Cleveland's priority. After that, the Browns will be playing for pride in their final two games for a second consecutive year. -- Jake Trotter

Next game: at Commanders (Sunday, Jan. 1, 1 p.m. ET)

Buffalo 35, Chicago 13

Bills

What to know: The Bills' defense had an impressive performance, limiting the Bears' league-leading rushing attack (came into Week 16 averaging 186.9 yards per game) to 91 yards and getting out of tough situations with limited points allowed. After allowing 188 yards on the ground to the Dolphins last week, the Bills' defense gave up 3.0 yards per carry. It was an important test for a defense that has struggled against the run at times. With the win, the Bills clinch the AFC East.

Can Josh Allen curtail the questionable decisions that have led to turnovers? Allen threw his first interceptions since Thanksgiving, finishing with two on the day -- his fifth multi-interception game. A league-high four of his interceptions have been thrown into the end zone. Too often, Allen isn't connecting with the open receiver in the middle of the field, instead looking for the big play downfield and trying to get the ball to certain receivers. Poor decisions against better defenses will have an impact as the Bills march toward the postseason. -- Alaina Getzenberg

Next game: at Bengals (Monday, Jan. 2, 8:30 p.m. ET)

Bears

What to know: The Bears couldn't run the ball, nor could they stifle Buffalo's rushing attack. Devin Singletary (106 rushing yards, TD) and James Cook (99 rushing yards, TD) carved through Chicago's defense, with the Bills rushing for 254 yards (8.2 yards per rush) as a team. Offensively, Justin Fields posed no threat throwing (3.6 yards per pass attempt, excluding a 44-yard pass to Velus Jones Jr.) or running the ball. One week after becoming the third quarterback in NFL history to rush for 1,000 yards in a season, Fields rushed seven times for 11 yards.

How can the Bears fight offensive regression? The Bears three takeaways (two interceptions and a fumble recovery) for the second straight week but scored three points off turnovers. Chicago had two drives that began in Buffalo territory at the 38- and 18-yard lines, respectively, and settled for field goals instead of touchdowns. After putting together an opening drive that resulted in 74 yards and four first downs, the Bears had 12 straight drives in which they could not generate multiple first downs. Averaging 3.7 yards per play is no recipe for winning games. -- Courtney Cronin

Next game: at Lions (Sunday, Jan. 1, 1 p.m. ET)

Carolina 37, Detroit 23

Panthers

What to know: The formula for the Panthers (6-9) to win the NFC South is simple -- run. They reestablished their dominance up front after being limited to 21 yards on the ground against the Pittsburgh Steelers, rushing for franchise records of 321 yards, 240 in the first half. They also had a team-record 571 total yards. They've won three of their past four, and in each they have 185 yards or more rushing. This sets up a showdown next week at Tampa Bay (6-8) for control of the South. Win that one and the following week at New Orleans, and Carolina wins the division.

Can Carolina keep up the ground dominance against Tampa Bay? Probably. Carolina rushed for 173 yards in a 21-3 win against the Bucs earlier this season. Tampa Bay ranks only 17th against the run and gave up 209 yards a few weeks ago against San Francisco. There's really no reason to think the Panthers can't keep this up the last two games. They had 145 yards rushing against the Saints, who rank 23rd against the rush, earlier this year. -- David Newton

Next game: at Bucs (Sunday, Jan. 1, 1 p.m. ET)

Lions

What to know: The Lions' run defense was atrocious. Detroit entered as one of the hottest teams in the league, winning six of their past seven games, but couldn't adjust to the Carolina rushing attack -- allowing the Panthers to set a franchise record of 240 rushing yards in the first half and 320 overall. Carolina also set a franchise record for most total yards with 570. One silver lining was Shane Zylstra's three receiving touchdowns, including one late in the fourth quarter to narrow the deficit to 34-20.

How important is a strong finish? The Lions laid an egg against the Panthers, there's no denying it. But on a positive note, they've accomplished more than many thought they would this season and have a 13% chance to reach the postseason, according to ESPN Analytics. But even if the Lions don't make the playoffs, they need to be better than it was Saturday over the last two games to build on its positive momentum heading into the offseason. -- Eric Woodyard

Next game: vs. Bears (Sunday, Jan. 1, 1 p.m. ET)

Kansas City 24, Seattle 10

Chiefs

What to know: This is the kind of game the Chiefs haven't played very often recently but need to repeat going forward, particularly in the playoffs against better competition. They didn't commit a turnover for the first time in 10 games, didn't miss any field goals or PATs and committed few penalties other than on a Seahawks field goal drive in the second quarter. The Chiefs had been helping their opponents with their own mistakes but cleaned up some key areas against Seattle.

Does Harrison Butker's perfect day mean he's over his slump? Butker made all three of his PATs and his only field goal attempt, but it's premature to say all is good with the Chiefs' kicking game. He will be asked to make kicks more difficult than three PATs and a 47-yard field goal. It's a start, though, and should give him and the Chiefs some confidence going forward. -- Adam Teicher

Next game: vs. Broncos (Sunday, Jan. 1, 1 p.m. ET)

Seahawks

What to know: It's been all too evident during the Seahawks' recent slide how badly they need to upgrade the front seven of their defense and the interior of their O-line. That was again obvious as they suffered their fifth loss in six games. The story wasn't Patrick Mahomes lighting up their defense. It was how much more time he had in the pocket than Geno Smith. The Seahawks' inept run defense tightened up, but their lone sack of Mahomes came late in the third quarter and they finished with three QB hits. On offense, they need to get better at guard and center.

Are the Seahawks' playoff hopes dead? They don't look like a team capable of making noise in the playoffs, but their hopes of sneaking in are very much alive. According to ESPN's Football Power Index, their chances of earning one of the NFC's two wild-card berths dropped from 35% to 30% with this loss. They're still on the Commanders' and Giants' heels and have two winnable games remaining, at home against the Jets and Rams. They'd get a big boost if Tyler Lockett can return this week from his hand surgery and if Ryan Neal can get back from his knee injury. Neal's absence left the Seahawks down to their third options at strong safety, making for a brutal matchup against Travis Kelce. That plus the weather -- at 12 degrees, it was the second-coldest game in Seahawks history -- meant this was a game they wouldn't have won even when they were rolling at 6-3. -- Brady Henderson

Next game: vs. Jets (Sunday, Jan. 1, 4:05 p.m. ET)

Baltimore 17, Atlanta 9

Ravens

What to know: The Ravens are in the playoffs despite another rough game for the Lamar Jackson-less offense. Baltimore secured a postseason berth for the fourth time in five years, but the offense continues to sputter with backup quarterback Tyler Huntley. Baltimore can run the ball with the best of them, but this offense can't finish its drives. The offensive players are visibly frustrated when walking off the field. The Ravens were 1-of-4 inside the 20-yard line against a Falcons defense that ranked 22nd in the red zone, which is why this wasn't a blowout. In three games without Jackson, Baltimore has managed two touchdowns.

When is Lamar Jackson returning? Jackson missed his third straight game because of a sprained knee after many thought he would be back for this game. Ravens coach John Harbaugh hasn't given any update on Jackson after initially saying he was "week-to-week" earlier this month. This was expected to be a 1-3 week injury, which means Jackson should be ready soon. It would provide a boost for this slumping offense if he could return to the practice field for the first time since injuring the knee on Dec. 4. If the Ravens are going to make a run in the postseason, they need Jackson healthy and at the top of his game. -- Jamison Hensley

Next game: vs. Steelers (Sunday, Jan. 1, 1 p.m. ET)

Falcons

What to know: The Falcons' playoffs hopes were possible because of they play in a bad division. But the reality for the Atlanta Falcons is if everything isn't perfect, they will struggle to win and that's not a surprise with a team in the midst of a rebuild. There are players to feel good about, notably cornerstones in defensive tackle Grady Jarrett, cornerback A.J. Terrell and offensive guard Chris Lindstrom, along with rookie receiver Drake London and running back Tyler Allgeier. But this is a team with a long way to go for sustained success. This season has shown it.

Where did Desmond Ridder show improvement? Start No. 2 went better for Ridder -- although it was another slow beginning with a rough first two drives that included a fumbled snap and a bad sack taken. Once Ridder found the rhythm of the game, there were signs of potential. He once again had a strong connection with London -- his most targeted pass-catcher (nine targets, seven catches, 96 yards) -- and while there were some off-target throws, Ridder often put his receiver in positions to make plays. He also showed he could make throws all over the field and again didn't have operational issues. There are a lot of questions, but there was some tangible growth in a 22-of-33, 218-yard day with no touchdowns and no interceptions. -- Michael Rothstein

Next game: vs. Cardinals (Sunday, Jan. 1, 1 p.m. ET)

Thursday

Jacksonville 19, N.Y. Jets 3

Jaguars

What to know: The Jaguars have snapped a lot of streaks this season -- most notably a 20-game losing streak to NFC teams and an 18-game road losing streak -- and they added another one to the list on Thursday night. This was the Jaguars' first victory in a road prime-time game in the regular season since beating Pittsburgh in Three Rivers Stadium on Nov. 19, 2000. That it was an ugly win in the rain and wind is irrelevant. "You find a way to win and that's bottom line," receiver Christian Kirk said.

Are the Jaguars headed for the AFC South title? It sure looks that way. They're tied with the Titans after winning their third game in a row. The Titans have lost five in a row and QB Ryan Tannehill is likely out for the season, meaning rookie Malik Willis takes over. Right now, the Jaguars are playing the best football of any team in the division. Quarterback Trevor Lawrence is playing at a high level, and the defense has forced eight turnovers in the past three games. If the Jaguars are a game behind or tied with the Titans heading into Week 18, the regular-season finale against the Titans in Jacksonville will decide the division. -- Mike DiRocco

Next game: at Texans (Sunday, Jan. 1, 1 p.m. ET)

Jets

What to know: Coach Robert Saleh delivered a strong commentary on his faith in embattled QB Zach Wilson, replacing him with former practice-squad player Chris Streveler late in the third quarter -- in a virtual must-win game, no less. Wilson was actually outplayed by Streveler in what might have been the unofficial end to the Wilson era. Once again, the Jets are staring into the quarterback abyss, only two years removed from using the second overall pick on Wilson. It's an organizational failure to the highest degree.

What happened to the Jets in December? They began the month with a 7-4 record, seemingly a shoo-in for the playoffs. A four-game losing streak -- the longest in 32 games under Saleh -- has crippled their playoff hopes. The quarterback instability (from Wilson to Mike White to Wilson to Streveler) has taken a huge toll on the team. In retrospect, their postseason dreams were shattered the moment White's ribs were fractured in Week 14. -- Rich Cimini

Next game: at Seahawks (Sunday, Jan. 1, 4:05 p.m. ET)

PITTSBURGH -- Kenny Pickett threw a 14-yard touchdown pass to George Pickens with 46 seconds remaining, and the Pittsburgh Steelers capped three days of tributes to the late Franco Harris with a 13-10 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders on Saturday night.

On the same night the Steelers retired Harris' No. 32 -- the Hall of Fame running back died Wednesday at age 72 -- Pittsburgh (7-8) kept its faint playoff hopes alive by delivering another last-second victory over the Raiders. Las Vegas (6-9) was pushed to the brink of elimination from the postseason.

A day after the 50th anniversary of Harris' "Immaculate Reception" win over the Raiders in the 1972 playoffs, Pickett deftly drove the Steelers 76 yards in 10 plays, the last a dart over the middle to a wide-open Pickens in the end zone.

Pickett completed 26 of 39 for 244 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Tight end Pat Freiermuth caught seven passes for 66 yards and Najee Harris had 95 total yards as the Steelers won for the fifth time in seven games.

Derek Carr threw for 174 yards with a touchdown and three interceptions, the last one a floater down the middle of the field that was picked off by Cam Sutton with 29 seconds to go. Pittsburgh rookie Connor Heyward ran for a first down to help the Steelers run out of the clock.

The Raiders, coming off a dramatic last-play victory over New England last week, reverted to their form from earlier this season by losing their eighth one-score game of the year. They could be eliminated from the playoffs by the end of the week.

The Steelers paid tribute to Harris in various ways during a bitterly cold night. Players wore replicas of his jersey while entering the stadium. Defensive captain Cam Heyward ran onto the field waving a massive flag with Harris' number, and Pickett even shouted "Franco! Franco!" during his cadence before converting a quarterback sneak in the first half.

Still, it looked like it wouldn't be enough. While Pittsburgh moved the ball with ease at times, it continued to struggle once it got near the end zone. Pickett threw an interception in the third quarter - his first in 145 attempts -- and Chris Boswell missed a pair of field goals.

Carr started crisply in the 8-degree weather -- the coldest home game for the Steelers since 1989 -- and finished off a 14-play, 71-yard opening drive with a 14-yard touchdown strike to Hunter Renfrow.

Yet Las Vegas let the Steelers hang around, and Pickett -- whose name was announced by Harris when Pittsburgh took him with the 20th overall pick in last spring's draft - provided the first signature moment of what the Steelers hope will be a decorated career.

HONORING HARRIS

What was supposed to become a celebratory weekend for one of the NFL's marquee franchises turned bittersweet when Harris died just two days before the 50th anniversary of his "Immaculate Reception" against the Raiders in the 1972 playoffs.

The halftime ceremony featured many of Harris' teammates from the 1970s Steelers dynasty. His widow, Dana Dokmanovich, and their son, Dok, joined Pittsburgh president Art Rooney II on stage. Dokmanovich leaned into Rooney after he handed her Harris' jersey, and Pittsburgh Hall of Fame defensive end Joe Greene brushed away tears.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Another week, another late-game gaffe that cost the New England Patriots a chance to win.

Running back Rhamondre Stevenson lost a fumble at the Cincinnati Bengals' 8-yard line with 59 seconds remaining, as the Patriots were knocking on the door for a potential go-ahead touchdown on Saturday. The miscue was the defining play in another heartbreaking defeat, coming one week after Stevenson was involved in a fateful lateral play with no time left in a loss at the Las Vegas Raiders.

The Bengals prevailed 22-18.

"I was trying to make something happen, probably doing more than I was supposed to do. Probably should have just went down," Stevenson said.

The lack of situational awareness might have once been considered stunning for a Bill Belichick-coached team, but it's been more of the norm in the team's 7-8 season.

The Patriots haven't been officially eliminated from playoff contention, but a sense of resignation seemed prevalent among some players after Saturday's game in which they trailed 22-0 at halftime before making a charge in the second half.

"It was on the line with that win or loss, so it's just a tough one," veteran New England safety Adrian Phillips said. "We blew it."

As outside linebacker Matthew Judon added, "We are a resilient group, but stuff hasn't been going our way. Sometimes you have games like that, and it seems like we're having a season like that."

The Patriots will host the Miami Dolphins next Sunday, before their regular-season finale at the Buffalo Bills in Week 18.

As for Stevenson's fumble on Saturday, it was his first since the opening game of his rookie season in 2021. Belichick said the Patriots were attempting to control the clock, knowing Cincinnati was out of timeouts, while positioning themselves for what they hoped was a game-winning touchdown.

Bengals defensive lineman DJ Reader stood up Stevenson, and safety Vonn Bell ripped the ball away after Stevenson was driven back three yards behind the line of scrimmage.

Referee Craig Wrolstad said in a pool report that it wasn't a consideration to declare that Stevenson's forward progress was stopped, explaining: "In order to have forward progress, the runner has to be controlled by the defense. He has to be held and controlled, and basically have his feet taken away. We felt that he still had his feet."

Stevenson was asked if he felt his forward progress was stopped.

"It doesn't really matter what I think. They called it a fumble, and [the Bengals] recovered the ball. It's whatever they called," Stevenson said. "I was fighting for extra yards."

Teammates stood behind Stevenson, the Patriots' leading rusher.

"If you go back and look at our whole season, he has been pretty much our best player on the offensive side of the ball," Phillips said. "Things didn't swing his way today. He is still the dawg, and we love him. Nobody needs to say anything, because he already is the type of player to put it on himself."

Even if Stevenson didn't fumble, there was no certainty the Patriots would have scored a touchdown. They entered the day as the NFL's last-ranked red zone offense, having tallied just 14 TDs in 37 trips (37.8%).

They did score on their first red zone trip against Cincinnati, but after digging themselves such a significant halftime deficit, their overall margin for error was thinned.

In some ways, the game was a microcosm of New England's season.

"When we're focused and locked in, it looks good. But when we're not, it doesn't," Judon said. "That's who we are. I mean, at this point, you showed your hand."