Week 16 in the NFL features a loaded afternoon slate with 11 games. Featured in the late window, it’s the Pittsburgh Steelers taking on the Detroit Lions in a game with playoff implications for both teams.
The Steelers (8-6) and Lions (8-6) are in tight division races in their respective conferences. Pittsburgh has a slim one-game lead in the AFC North over Baltimore, while Detroit is currently behind Chicago and Green Bay in the NFC North. They’ll be without star edge rusher T.J. Watt, missing his second straight game with a lung injury.
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The Lions are in third place in the division and eighth place in the NFC. They need to win and get help in either playoff scenario. For the Steelers, their best path is handling business and winning the division because if not, it’ll be tough for them to get that final wild-card spot.
All times listed are ET*
Falcons vs. Cardinals, 4:05 p.m. on Fox
Jaguars vs. Broncos, 4:05 p.m. on Fox
Steelers vs. Lions, 4:25 p.m. on CBS
Raiders vs. Texans, 4:25 p.m. on CBS
Follow along with Yahoo Sports for live updates, highlights and more from Week 16’s early and afternoon Sunday game slates:
Live94 updates
Sun, December 21, 2025 at 3:21 PM PST
Tarohn Finley
A Steelers safety puts Pittsburgh up 12-10 in the third quarter.
After holding the ball for a long time on the previous play, Kyle Dugger was able to get to Lions quarterback Jared Goff. The Steelers have possession of the ball in the third quarter.
Criss Partee
Las Vegas takes the lead on this Geno Smith 60-yard touchdown pass to running back Ashton Jeanty down the left sideline. Raiders lead the Texans 14-13 in the third quarter.
Criss Partee
Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence keeps it and runs it in for the touchdown and his third overall of the day. Lawrence is 17 of 26 for 169 yards with 2 passing touchdowns and 1 on the ground.
Sun, December 21, 2025 at 3:11 PM PST
Tarohn Finley
22-year-old rookie Walter Nolen III was carted off the field with an apparent non-contact injury in Week 15 — another disappointing blow for the first-round pick who’s already struggled with injuries so far this season.
Nolen has 2.0 sacks, a fumble recovery and five tackles for loss through six games played this year. He started the year on the PUP list, missing the entire preseason and first six games of the season with a calf injury and then Week 13 with a knee injury.
Sun, December 21, 2025 at 3:06 PM PST
Tarohn Finley
The Detroit Lions and Pittsburgh Steelers are tied up at 10-10 at halftime.
Pittsburgh running back Kenneth Gainwell’s spectacular touchdown catch changed the momentum of the game at the end of the first half.
Gainwell has recorded 3 receptions for 52 yards and 3 carries for 23 yards. Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers is 14-24 for 141 yards and 1 touchdown.
Lions quarterback Jared Goff is 10-of-14 for 104 yards. Goff has spread the ball around to tight end Anthony Firkser and wide receivers Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams.
The Steelers are fighting to win the AFC North, while the Lions are looking to keep their playoff hopes alive.
Criss Partee
Houston set the tempo early with a defensive touchdown on a Derek Stingley Jr. pick 6. The Raiders did get back in the game on a Geno Smith to Brock Bowers touchdown pass.
Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud got off to a slow start, completing 10 of 20 passes for 82 yards. Jawhar Jordan had 41 rushing yards in the first half. Christian Kirk and Dalton Schultz have three receptions apiece, and Nico Collins has two for 22 yards.
Geno Smith hit on 8 of 13 passes for 80 yards, a touchdown, and an interception. Ashton Jeanty rushed for 44 yards. Bowers had three receptions for 19 yards the Raiders’ only touchdown.
Houston kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn made two 50+ yard field goals in the first half.
Sun, December 21, 2025 at 2:52 PM PST
Tarohn Finley
Pittsburgh running back Kenneth Gainwell gave the Steelers’ offense a boost heading into halftime with an incredible touchdown catch.
Gainwell dove to make the catch over linebacker Alex Alzone near the sideline, then quickly got to his feet after realizing he wasn’t touched.
So far, Gainwell has recorded 3 receptions for 52 yards and 3 carries for 23 yards. The Steelers and Detroit Lions are locked in a 10-10 tie at the break.
Kate Magdziuk
The Kirk Cousins-Kyle Pitts connection remains strong, as the pair connected for a five-yard score late in the second quarter. The PAT was blocked, so the Falcons and Cardinals will enter halftime tied 16-16.
Pitts has played an expanded role in recent weeks, especially considering a knee injury to WR1 Drake London. He’s coming off a career game in Week 15, reeling in 11 of 12 targets from Cousins for 166 receiving yards and three touchdowns, finishing as the overall TE1 on the week in Yahoo Fantasy leagues with 40.1 points.
Sun, December 21, 2025 at 2:39 PM PST
Tarohn Finley
Wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa scores the first touchdown of the game for the Lions. Before Sunday’s game, half of TeSlaa’s catches had gone for touchdowns.
The Detroit Lions lead the Pittsburgh Steelers 10-3 late in the second quarter.
Criss Partee
Jacksonville takes a 17-10 lead into halftime over Denver. Trevor Lawrence led the way with two touchdown passes and 130 yards through the air. Parker Washington and Brenton Strange caught Lawrence’s touchdown passes.
The Broncos got 153 yards passing from Bo Nix and a touchdown to Courtland Sutton, who also had four catches for 53 yards.
Not much happening in the running games for either squad in the first half. Travis Etienne rushed for 24 yards on six carries for the Jags, and Jaleel McLaughlin had 33 yards on four carries.
Sun, December 21, 2025 at 2:36 PM PST
Tarohn Finley
Sun, December 21, 2025 at 2:24 PM PST
Tarohn Finley
The Lions are leading the Steelers in most offensive categories, but they’ve only managed three points so far, thanks to a critical fourth-down pass breakup by Steelers cornerback Joey Porter Jr., denying Lions receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown.
Lions quarterback Jared Goff is 10-of-14 for 104 yards. Tight end Anthony Firkser and wide receivers Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams are the primary contributors in the passing game.
Running back Jahmyr Gibbs has struggled, gaining just -4 yards on 4 carries.
On the other side, Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers is 7-of-12 for 45 yards. Running back Kenneth Gainwell has rushed for 23 yards on three carries. Tight end Darnell Washington leads the team in receiving with 18 yards.
Kate Magdziuk
Cardinals kicker Chad Ryland has dominated the first half, booting in his third field goal of the day with just over five minutes to go in the second quarter. He’s now been good from 50 yards, 51 yards and 25 yards, accounting for nine of the Cardinals’ 16 points on the day.
Criss Partee
Jacksonville goes ahead on this Trevor Lawrence touchdown pass to tight end Brenton Strange.
Criss Partee
Las Vegas gets on the board with this Geno Smith to Brock Bowers touchdown pass. That’s Bowers’ seventh touchdown of the season.
Sun, December 21, 2025 at 2:11 PM PST
Tarohn Finley
The Detroit Lions did not get their first points until the 10:10 mark in the second.
The Lions’ first drive ended in a turnover on downs after Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Joey Porter Jr. had a fourth-down stop in the red zone.
After getting stopped on the last drive, Lions coach Dan Campbell opted to go with a Jake Bates field goal.
The Lions and Steelers are tied 3-3.
Kate Magdziuk
Marvin Harrison Jr. made his return to action from a heel injury this week, but was mostly absent through the first quarter, without a single catch on limited snaps.
Criss Partee
The Broncos bounce back and score a touchdown of their own on this 15-yard pass from Bo Nix to Courtland Sutton. Jags and Broncos tied 7-7.
Sun, December 21, 2025 at 1:53 PM PST
Tarohn Finley
The Pittsburgh Steelers were able to keep the Detroit Lions scoreless after a fourth-down stop.
Steelers cornerback Joey Porter Jr. was able to get the stop after strong coverage on Lions receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown. The Steelers lead the Lions 3-0 late in the first quarter.
Criss Partee
Jacksonville strikes first in Denver just before the end of the first quarter. Quarterback Trevor Lawrence finds wide receiver Parker Washington on this 12-yard touchdown pass. Jaguars lead 7-0.