Week 17 NFL Recap: Bronco’s Grind-It-Out Offense, Vikings’ Dominant Defense, and Cowboys’ Fourth-Down Conversions
The 2025 NFL season’s Week 17 kicked off on Christmas Day with an exciting NFC East showdown between the Dallas Cowboys and the Washington Commanders. The Cowboys jumped to an early lead but had to hold on after allowing several big plays. The Vikings, on the other hand, crushed the Lions’ playoff hopes with a dominant performance. The Broncos closed out the day with a tight win over the Chiefs, keeping their hopes of earning the AFC’s top seed alive.
Our NFL experts reacted to all the action, answering lingering questions and detailing everything you need to know for every team. Let’s dive into the key takeaways from each game.
Catch up on the action: Box score | Recap
Broncos
The Broncos took care of business on Thursday to stay in the driver’s seat for the AFC West title and the No. 1 seed in the playoffs. However, their grind-it-out offense raised some concerns. The Broncos had three scoring drives of eight or more minutes, but only one resulted in a touchdown. This lack of efficiency in the red zone could be a problem in the postseason. Quarterback Bo Nix guided another fourth-quarter, game-winning drive, finishing with a 1-yard TD pass to RJ Harvey with 1:45 to play. Despite the win, Nix’s accuracy issues and the team’s inability to close out games with authority are areas that need improvement.
Nix finished 26-for-38 for 182 yards, but the Broncos didn’t have a play of more than nine yards until Nix scrambled for 14 yards with 5:35 left in the second quarter. The team’s offense will need to find ways to create more explosive plays to make a deep run in the playoffs. The Broncos’ next game is against the Chargers, and they will look to build on their momentum and address their offensive concerns.
Chiefs
The Chiefs’ third-string quarterback, Chris Oladokun, showed promise in limited opportunities. Oladokun never put the ball in danger and had some nice moments scrambling and improvising to create yards. Despite the loss, Oladokun’s performance was a positive takeaway for the Chiefs. The team’s defense also performed well, particularly without their top two cornerbacks, Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson. Kristian Fulton and rookie Nohl Williams filled in admirably, with Fulton finishing with three pass breakups and Williams recording eight tackles, including three behind the line of scrimmage.
Tight end Travis Kelce praised Oladokun’s professionalism and leadership, saying, “That’s the first time I’ve ever seen someone try to draw the defense to them by fumbling it… I’m proud of him, man, throughout the week, his attention to detail and his professionalism and his leadership.” The Chiefs’ next game is against the Raiders, and they will look to build on Oladokun’s promising performance and get back on track.
Catch up on the action: Box score | Recap
Vikings
The Vikings’ dominant defense forced six turnovers, including a sack, an interception, two batted passes, and two tackles for loss from safety Harrison Smith. Smith’s impressive performance has raised questions about his potential retirement, as he has been playing at a high level despite being 36 years old. The Vikings’ offense, on the other hand, struggled to find consistency, finishing with just 3 net passing yards, the fewest by a winning team in an NFL game since 2006.
Rookie quarterback Max Brosmer took six sacks and struggled to find open receivers, but he did convert a crucial third down to seal the game. The Vikings’ next game is against the Packers, and they will look to build on their defensive momentum and find more consistency on offense.
Lions
Quarterback Jared Goff’s performance was concerning, as he struggled to get much going against the Vikings’ tough defense. Goff was sacked five times and forced five turnovers, which tied a career high. The Lions’ offense was unable to overcome these mistakes, and they were eliminated from playoff contention. The team’s next game is against the Bears, and they will look to regroup and find a way to overcome their struggles.
The Lions’ eight turnovers through Week 16 were the fewest in the NFL, but they ended with a season-high six turnovers in Minnesota. Goff’s fumbles and interceptions were costly, and the team’s inability to protect him was a major issue. The Lions will need to address these concerns in the offseason to make a push for the playoffs next year.
Catch up on the action: Box score | Recap
Cowboys
The Cowboys’ ability to finish with a non-losing record is important to coach Brian Schottenheimer, who has frequently referred to this being the first year of the program. The Cowboys are 7-8-1 with their Week 18 finale against the New York Giants looming, and Schottenheimer has given no indication that the Cowboys plan to sit regulars such as Dak Prescott to avoid injury. Prescott has said he wants to play and will fight to remain in the lineup.
The Cowboys’ fourth-down conversions were a key factor in their win over the Commanders. They converted 4 of 9 third downs in the first half and all four chances on fourth down, finishing with six fourth-down conversions, the most in any game over the past 45 seasons. This aggressive approach paid off, as the Cowboys were able to control the tempo of the game and come out on top.
Dak Prescott hits KaVontae Turpin in stride for
