NFL Playoff Picture Tightens

What Happened: It was a good weekend to be a quarterback taken with the no. 1 pick who’d shown glimpses of living up to that lofty status while frustrating due to a lack of consistency.

Niche demographic? Perhaps. But for three highly-touted NFL quarterbacks, Week 16 reminded fanbases why these guys were so coveted in the first place.

Why You Care: The fireworks started in Chicago on Saturday, as the Bears did battle with their rival Green Bay Packers. With five minutes to play, the Pack took a 10-point lead and seemed poised to keep their hopes of winning the NFC North alive. But a wild comeback was completed when QB Caleb Williams connected with WR DJ Moore on a 46-yard bomb in OT to secure a walk-off win. Last season, Williams’ play was tantalizing even for a rookie, showcasing his superior physical skills while leaving fans wondering why nothing good was coming from that potential. Selling Detroit Lions OC Ben Johnson on an intra-divisional move to take over as Chicago's head coach has unlocked Williams and has Da Bears in da playoffs in this marriage’s first year.

Speaking of the impact coaching can have, Jacksonville Jaguars fans are finally seeing the promised version of 2021’s top pick. Trevor Lawrence was a can’t-miss prospect who…maybe didn’t miss, but also wasn’t hitting enough either. Four years playing for Urban Meyer and Doug Pederson did the Clemson product no favors, but under new HC Liam Coen, the Jags sit atop the AFC South at 11-4 behind a scorching run from Lawrence that peaked with a 34-20 upset of the Broncos yesterday. The Jags have now won six straight, with Lawrence going for 16 TDs against just four interceptions across that stretch.

And finally, while the Carolina Panthers are no shoo-in for the postseason, they do control their own destiny. With an 8-7 record, getting to 10 wins will do the trick, as will getting to nine wins, as long as that victory comes against their NFC South rival Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 18. (There are other scenarios, but knocking off the Bucs twice in three weeks is the simplest path.) Would a playoff berth justify the decision to take QB Bryce Young first overall in 2023? The Heisman Trophy winner was benched by his second season for poor play, but the Panthers now have a winning record and a real shot at a division title. Young won’t be garnering any MVP consideration, but a trip to the postseason in his third season might convince Carolina’s decision makers that they have a passer they can win with.