SEV​EN FROM SUNDAY – WEEK 16

A look at seven statistical highlights from games played at 1:00 p.m. ET and 4:00 p.m. ET on Sunday, December 24, the 16th week of the 2017 season.

• The NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS, who have already won the AFC East and defeated Buffalo 37-16, secured a first-round bye with today’s win combined with Jacksonville’s loss at San Francisco. The Patriots can lock up home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs with a Pittsburgh loss tomorrow at Houston.
  
  The LOS ANGELES RAMS, who defeated Tennessee 27-23, clinched the NFC West division title for the first time since 2003.

The KANSAS CITY CHIEFS, who knocked off Miami 29-13, secured the AFC West division title for the second consecutive season.

The JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS, who had already clinched a playoff berth, locked up the AFC South division title with Tennessee’s loss to the Rams. It marks Jacksonville’s first division title since 1999 (AFC Central).

The NEW ORLEANS SAINTS, who defeated Atlanta 23-13, and the CAROLINA PANTHERS, who knocked off Tampa Bay 22-19, both clinched a playoff berth.

The PHILADELPHIA EAGLES, who host Oakland tomorrow night, have already won the NFC East and secured a first-round bye. With a win over the Raiders, the Eagles will lock up home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs.

The PITTSBURGH STEELERS, who visit Houston tomorrow, have already won the AFC North division title. The Steelers can clinch a first-round bye with a victory over the Texans.

• The NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS improved to 12-3 with today’s win over Buffalo. The Patriots have won at least 12 games in eight consecutive seasons (2010-17), surpassing the 2003-09 Indianapolis Colts for the longest such streak in NFL history.

• Los Angeles Rams running back TODD GURLEY had 118 rushing yards, 158 receiving yards and two touchdown receptions in the Rams’ win at Tennessee. Gurley is the third player in NFL history to have at least 100 rushing yards and 150 receiving yards in a single game, joining Pro Football Hall of Famer OLLIE MATSON (1954) and HERSCHEL WALKER (1986).

Gurley, who has 2,093 scrimmage yards, 13 rushing touchdowns and six receiving touchdowns this season, is the third different player in NFL history to have at least 2,000 scrimmage yards, 10 rushing touchdowns and more than five touchdown catches in a single season. The other two players to accomplish the feat are enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame: O.J. SIMPSON (1975) and MARSHALL FAULK (2000 and 2001).

• New Orleans quarterback DREW BREES passed for 239 yards and a touchdown in the Saints’ win over Atlanta. Brees has 70,200 career passing yards and joined PEYTON MANNING (71,940) and Pro Football Hall of Famer BRETT FAVRE (71,838) as the only players in NFL history to reach 70,000 passing yards. Brees reached the milestone in his 248th career game and is the fastest in league history to accomplish the feat.
  
  Brees, who has 4,089 passing yards this season, reached 4,000 passing yards for a 12th consecutive season, extending his NFL record.

• Kansas City quarterback ALEX SMITH threw a touchdown pass to tight end TRAVIS KELCE, wide receiver TYREEK HILL had 109 receiving yards and rookie running back KAREEM HUNT rushed for a score in the Chiefs’ win against Miami.

The Chiefs are the second team in NFL history with a 4,000-yard passer (Smith, 4,042), 1,000-yard rusher (Hunt, 1,292) and both a wide receiver (Hill, 1,183) and tight end (Kelce, 1,038) with at least 1,000 receiving yards each in a single season.

The 1981 San Diego Chargers – with Pro Football Hall of Famers DAN FOUTS (4,802 passing yards), CHARLIE JOINER (1,188 receiving yards) and KELLEN WINSLOW (1,075 receiving yards) and CHUCK MUNCIE (1,144 rushing yards) – are the only other team to accomplish the feat.

• Arizona wide receiver LARRY FITZGERALD had nine catches for 119 yards and a touchdown in the Cardinals’ 23-0 win against the New York Giants. This season, Fitzgerald has 101 catches for 1,101 yards and six touchdowns.
  

Fitzgerald has five seasons with at least 100 catches, tied for the second-most in NFL history. Only BRANDON MARSHALL (six) has more such seasons.

Fitzgerald has nine seasons with at least 1,000 receiving yards, tied for the third-most in NFL history. Only Pro Football Hall of Famer JERRY RICE (14) and RANDY MOSS (10) have more such seasons.

• Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver KEENAN ALLEN had five catches for 63 yards and added an interception in the team’s 14-7 win at the New York Jets. Allen, who has 93 catches for 1,260 yards this season, is the first player in NFL history to record at least 90 catches and an interception in the same season. He is also the third player in NFL history to have at least 1,000 receiving yards and an interception in the same season, joining Pro Football Hall of Famer DON HUTSON (1942) and RANDY MOSS (2009).

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