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:
Live109 updates
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.
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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.
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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.
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.