Week 17 of the NFL delivered high drama, thrilling finishes, and crucial playoff implications as teams jockeyed for positioning heading into the postseason. From the San Francisco 49ers’ thrilling win over the Chicago Bears to missteps from stars like Josh Allen and Aaron Rodgers, this week offered plenty of talking points for fans and analysts alike.

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‘Super Bowl Preview’ Exposes Flaws for Bills and Eagles

The much-anticipated matchup between the Buffalo Bills and Philadelphia Eagles, billed as a potential Super Bowl preview, highlighted offensive struggles for both sides. Despite a tight 13-12 victory for the Eagles in Buffalo, questions remain about the ability of both teams to execute under pressure.

Josh Allen led a late rally for the Bills but missed a crucial throw in the dying seconds that could have won the game. He also lost a fumble that allowed the Eagles to score and struggled on a key fourth-down attempt. While Allen remains an MVP-caliber quarterback, Buffalo now enters the playoffs as a wildcard team needing him to make big plays when it counts.

For Philadelphia, Jalen Hurts failed to complete a second-half pass, making the Eagles the first team since the 1987 Patriots to win two games in a season without a second-half completion. Head coach Nick Sirianni’s defense-first approach worked, but the Eagles gained just 16 yards after halftime, exposing concerns about their offensive adaptability heading into the playoffs.

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49ers Outlast Bears in Epic Shootout

In one of the week’s most electrifying games, the San Francisco 49ers edged the Chicago Bears 42-38 in a back-and-forth contest that saw the score tied at seven, 14, 21, 28, and 35 points. Quarterbacks Caleb Williams and Brock Purdy traded blows all night, with Purdy emerging as the star for San Francisco.

Purdy, returning from injury, now holds a record with 23 total touchdowns in just eight starts or fewer, including 20 passing touchdowns. The 49ers scored 40-plus points in consecutive games for the first time in 30 years and remain in contention for the NFC top seed. With Nick Bosa, Fred Warner, Ricky Pearsall, and George Kittle sidelined at various points this season, their resilience has been remarkable. A top seed would give them a chance to host the Super Bowl at Levi’s Stadium, a tantalizing prospect for fans.

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Steelers Miss Playoff Opportunity, Set Up AFC North Decider

The Pittsburgh Steelers lost 13-6 to Cleveland, squandering a chance to secure a playoff spot before the final week. Veteran Aaron Rodgers mounted a late drive but fell short due to incompletions and the absence of top target DK Metcalf.

Now, Pittsburgh faces a winner-takes-all showdown with the Baltimore Ravens for the AFC North crown. Baltimore boasts Derrick Henry, who recently rushed for 216 yards and four touchdowns, though doubts remain over Lamar Jackson’s fitness. This matchup promises a thrilling conclusion to the regular season.

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Other Standout Performances

• Drake Maye led the New England Patriots to a perfect offensive performance against the Jets, completing 19 of 21 passes and recording a QBR of 99.8, enhancing his MVP credentials.
• Sam Darnold helped Seattle edge closer to the NFC top seed, joining legends like Tom Brady and Peyton Manning as quarterbacks with consecutive 13-win seasons for different teams.
• Trevor Lawrence continued to excel as a dual-threat quarterback, becoming the fourth in NFL history to tally at least 25 passing and nine rushing touchdowns in a single season.

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Playoff Picture Heading into Week 18

With only two spots remaining in each conference, final-week matchups will decide key seeds:

Saturday, January 3, 2026

• NFC South: Carolina Panthers @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers (21:30)
• NFC West: Seattle Seahawks @ San Francisco 49ers (01:00, Sunday)

Sunday, January 4, 2026

• AFC North: Baltimore Ravens @ Pittsburgh Steelers (01:20, Monday)
• Other notable games include Denver Broncos @ Los Angeles Chargers, Dallas Cowboys @ New York Giants, and New York Jets @ Buffalo Bills

As the regular season concludes, fans can expect high-stakes games that will determine home-field advantage and shape the path to the Super Bowl in February.