Week 16’s afternoon window was jam-packed with several games that impacted the playoff race, headlined by a showdown between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Detroit Lions. It was a closely contested contest that came down to the last drive in what was a truly wild final two minutes, as Pittsburgh walked away with a 29-24 win.
Pittsburgh entered the week with a slim one-game lead in the AFC North over Baltimore, set to face the New England Patriots on “Sunday Night Football,” while the Lions had hoped to gain some traction in the playoff race, currently on the outside looking in for a wild-card spot.
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It was a wild fourth quarter, in particular, as the Steelers scored 17 points in the final quarter and the Lions scored 14, after scoring 12 and 10 points through the first three quarters, respectively.
It all came down to the final play of the game, which was one of the more wild sequences of the day, as Jared Goff caught a lateral and advanced it for a touchdown — only to have the touchdown nullified thanks to offensive pass interference. Game over.
The Steelers walk away with the win.
Follow along with Yahoo Sports for live updates, highlights and more from Week 16’s early and afternoon Sunday game slates:
Live114 updates
Sun, December 21, 2025 at 5:12 PM PST
Sun, December 21, 2025 at 5:11 PM PST
The Detroit Lions’ comeback efforts came up short as the Pittsburgh Steelers secured a 29-24 win, capped off by an offensive pass interference call on wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown.
The Steelers’ running backs were the driving force in Sunday’s victory, with Jaylen Warren leading the way. Warren rushed for 143 yards and two touchdowns on 14 carries.
Kenneth Gainwell sparked Pittsburgh’s momentum with an explosive catch that resulted in their first touchdown at the end of the first half. He finished with five catches for 78 yards and a touchdown.
Quarterback Aaron Rodgers threw for 266 yards and a touchdown, helping the Steelers maintain their lead.
For the Lions, quarterback Jared Goff threw for 364 yards and 3 touchdowns. Running back Jahmyr Gibbs struggled on the ground, rushing for just 5 yards on 6 carries, but he contributed in the passing game with 9 catches for 58 yards. Amon-Ra St. Brown had 9 receptions for 54 yards.
Both the Steelers and the Lions now stand at 8-6. The Steelers take on the Cleveland Browns next week. The Lions take on the Minnesota Vikings.
Sun, December 21, 2025 at 4:57 PM PST
Tarohn Finley
The Pittsburgh Steelers win 29-24. The Steelers and the Detroit Lions are both 8-6.
Criss Partee
Jacksonville keeps it going with a sixth consecutive win this time over the Broncos in Denver. Trevor Lawrence had four touchdowns in the game, three passing and one on the ground. Lawrence has 10 total touchdowns in the last two games. He also passed for 279 yards today.
Parker Washington had six catches for 145 yards and a touchdown. Brenton Strange and Travis Etienne also had receiving touchdowns.
Denver takes a big loss as Bo Nix passes for 353 yards but just one touchdown and an interception. Running back R.J. Harvey rushed for 50 yards and had four receptions for 71 yards. Coutland Sutton caught six passes for 86 yards and a touchdown.
The Broncos posted 445 total yards in the loss. Denver went just 5 of 14 on third down. Jacksonville converted 8 of 15 third-down opportunities.
Sun, December 21, 2025 at 4:35 PM PST
Tarohn Finley
The Pittsburgh Steelers remain up by 5 after Chris Boswell’s first missed field goal of the day.
The Steelers lead the Detroit Lions 29-24 with two minutes left in the fourth quarter.
Criss Partee
Houston gets the win over Las Vegas 23-21. C.J. Stroud ended 23 of 35 for 187 yards and a touchdown. Running back Jawhar Jordan rushed for 53 yards, and Nick Chubb had 33. Nico Collins had four catches for 59 yards, and Dalton Schultz had five receptions for 35 yards and a touchdown.
Geno Smith threw for 201 yards for the Raiders with two touchdowns and an interception. Rookie running back Ashton Jeanty had a big day, rushing for 128 yards, one touchdown, and also hauling in a 60-yard touchdown reception.
Sun, December 21, 2025 at 4:24 PM PST
Tarohn Finley
Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs scores a touchdown to cut the Pittsburgh Steelers’ lead to five late in the fourth quarter.
The Steelers lead the Lions 29-24.
Gibbs has rushed for just 5 yards on 6 carries but has added 9 catches for 58 yards.
Sun, December 21, 2025 at 4:20 PM PST
Tarohn Finley
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Calvin Austin is questionable to return with a hamstring injury.
Detroit Lions defensive end Marcus Davenport is also questionable to return with a shoulder injury.
Sun, December 21, 2025 at 4:16 PM PST
Tarohn Finley
Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jaylen Warren is doing everything he can to put the Detroit Lions away after his second rushing touchdown in the second half.
Warren now has 143 yards and two touchdowns on 14 carries. The Steelers lead the Lions 29-17 in the fourth quarter.
Sun, December 21, 2025 at 4:09 PM PST
Tarohn Finley
The Steelers lead the Lions 22- 17 halfway through the fourth quarter.
Criss Partee
Las Vegas just won’t go away as rookie running back Ashton Jeanty brings them closer with this 51-yard touchdown run. Jeanty has 128 rushing yards, one rushing, and one receiving touchdown today. Texans lead 23-21 late in the fourth quarter.
Criss Partee
Houston increases its lead on this C.J. Stroud to Dalton Schultz touchdown. Texans lead the Raiders 23-14 with just under eight minutes remaining in regulation.
Sun, December 21, 2025 at 4:00 PM PST
Tarohn Finley
Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Joey Porter Jr. goes down in the fourth quarter. He was able to walk off the field under his own power.
Criss Partee
The Jaguars pick off Bo Nix on 4th and 2 to take over possession. This was Jones’ second interception of the season.
Sun, December 21, 2025 at 3:55 PM PST
Tarohn Finley
Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jaylen Warren’s touchdown gives the Steelers a two-score lead over the Detroit Lions.
The Steelers lead the Lions 22-10 in the fourth quarter.
Sun, December 21, 2025 at 3:51 PM PST
Tarohn Finley
Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Brandin Echols has been ruled out with a groin injury.
Detroit Lions cornerback DJ Reed has been cleared to return after leaving the field to check for a concussion.
Sun, December 21, 2025 at 3:45 PM PST
Tarohn Finley
Pittsburgh kicker Chris Boswell kicks his second field goal of the day after the Steelers’ offense shaved off 9 minutes in the third quarter.
The Steelers lead the Lions 15-10 in the fourth quarter.
Kate Magdziuk
Kirk Cousins and the Atlanta Falcons are sitting with a nice 10-point lead with just over 12 minutes to go in the fourth quarter, extending the lead with a touchdown on a quarterback sneak.
Outside of a 29-yard run from Bijan Robinson, it was a slow and methodical drive for the Falcons, gaining 66 yards on 12 total plays, taking 6:21 off the clock.
Cousins is having a solid game to this point, going 18-of-32 passing for 168 yards, 2 touchdowns and 1 interception, adding on that fourth-quarter rushing touchdown on the QB sneak. It’s now his second consecutive game with 20-plus fantasy points in Yahoo Fantasy leagues.
Sun, December 21, 2025 at 3:37 PM PST
Tarohn Finley
The Lions only had three plays in the third quarter after a Steelers possession that lasted over nine minutes.
Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs has rushed for just 5 yards on 6 carries and added 3 receptions for 15 yards. The Lions are 0-3 in games where Gibbs has rushed for under 40 yards. Meanwhile, David Montgomery has 4 carries for 14 yards.
After a standout performance last week with 13 catches for 164 yards and 2 touchdowns in the loss to the Los Angeles Rams, wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown has been limited to 3 catches for 30 yards today. Jameson Williams has also caught 3 passes, totaling 33 yards.
Rookie receiver Issac TeSlaa has stepped up, leading the team with 2 catches for 34 yards and a touchdown. The Pittsburgh Steelers currently lead the Lions 12-10.
Criss Partee
Jacksonville quarterback Trevor Lawrence throws his third touchdown (4th overall) of the day, this time to running back Travis Etienne from 10 yards out. Jags lead the Broncos 31-17 late in the third quarter.