NFL Week 17 Recap

(Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
The Packers defeated the Lions, but it was Matt Flynn who shined for Green Bay, throwing
for a franchise record 480 passing yards and six touchdowns.

This Week's Record: 10-6
Overall Record: 181-75 (10+ more wins than any expert at ESPN or CBS)

Lions vs. Packers: 45-41 Packers
Lions Player of the Week: Matthew Stafford- 520 pass yards, 5 touchdowns, 103.8 passer rating
Packers Player of the Week: Matt Flynn- 480 pass yards, 6 touchdowns, 136.4 passer rating

Matt Flynn, enough said. Aaron Rodgers' backup torched the Lions defense for a Packers all time record 480 passing yards and six touchdowns. Stafford had a good game himself, but his two interceptions were costly in a game where stops were optional.

Niners vs. Rams: 34-27 Niners
Niners Player of the Week: Michael Crabtree- 8 receptions, 86 receiving yards, 2 touchdowns
Rams Player of the Week: Brandon Lloyd- 6 receptions, 100 receiving yards, touchdown

Despite a late game comeback, the Niners were able to hold onto the victory and clinch a first round bye. Good news for the Rams is that their season is over. Just a year after almost winning the NFC West, the Rams went 2-14 and didn't win a single game in the division.

Jets vs. Dolphins: 19-17 Dolphins
Jets Player of the Week: Dustin Keller- 7 receptions, 45 receiving yards, touchdown
Dolphins Player of the Week: Randy Starks- 2 tackles, 2 interceptions, sack

After making it to the AFC Championship game the past two years, the Jets' vacation will start early this year. With a loss to Miami, the Jets finished with an 8-8 record which was not good enough to make the playoffs. Miami, who started the season off 0-6, won six of their last ten games.

Bears vs. Vikings: 17-13 Bears
Bears Player of the Week: Roy Williams- 4 receptions, 60 receiving yards, touchdown
Vikings Player of the Week: Percy Harvin- 10 receptions, 115 receiving yards

A few years ago, this game would have mattered, but this year it meant nothing. Both teams had disappointing seasons, and also lost their star players towards the end of the season. A win for Chicago, which left them with an 8-8 record, was enough to save coach Lovie Smith's job for another year.

Bills vs. Patriots: 49-21 Patriots
Bills Player of the Week: CJ Spiller- 60 rush yard, 40 receiving yards, touchdown
Patriots Player of the Week: Tom Brady- 338 pass yards, 3 touchdowns, 113.8 passer rating

This game was a microcosm of the Buffalo Bills' season. They started off the game 21-0, but then give up 49 unanswered points. Fitzpatrick started off the game well with two touchdowns, but then wound up throwing four interceptions.

Panthers vs. Saints: 45-17 Saints
Panthers Player of the Week: Steve Smith- 6 receptions,86 receiving yards, touchdown
Saints Player of the Week: Drew Brees- 389 pass yards, 5 touchdowns, 140.7 passer rating

Why in the world would I * this game, it wouldn't have been close even if the Saints benched their starters. As the Saints finished 13-3 including an 8-0 record at home, Drew Brees' historic regular season came to an end. The Rodgers vs. Brees MVP debate has gotten a little closer since Brees shined in Week 17 while Rodgers' backup put up impressive numbers. You've gotta take into account the meaning of "Most Valuable Player" after Matt Flynn's performance.

Redskins vs. Eagles: 34-10 Eagles
Redskins Player of the Week: Evan Royster- 113 rush yards, 52 receiving yards
Eagles Player of the Week: Mike Vick- 335 pass yards, 3 touchdowns, 104.1 passer rating

Well, the Eagles aren't playoff bound, but they did win four straight games to finish at .500 and save Andy Reid's job. Maybe it just wasn't Philly's year; like the Miami Heat, it could take them a year before they really start to dominate.

Colts vs. Jaguars: 19-13 Jaguars
Colts Player of the Week: Austin Collie- 9 receptions, 96 receiving yards, touchdown
Jaguars Player of the Week: Maurice Jones-Drew- 169 rush yards

With another loss, the Colts are officially on the clock for the 2012 NFL draft. The Jaguars weren't that much better than the Colts this season, but somehow managed to win five games. The Andrew Luck/Peyton Manning saga will be a fun one to watch, especially without the Polian brothers running the Colts' front office.

Titans vs. Texans: 23-22 Titans
Titans Player of the Week: Matt Hasselbeck- 297 pass yards, 2 touchdowns, 108.9 passer rating
Texans Player of the Week: Ben Tate- 97 rush yards, touchdown

Despite the loss, the Texans are still in the playoffs after clinching a playoff berth a few weeks ago. The Texans also lucked out, and will face the Bengals in the Wild-Card round. Even with a bad quarterback, the Texans are favored to win.

Bucs vs. Falcons: 45-24 Falcons
Bucs Player of the Week: Dezmon Briscoe- 8 receptions, 53 receiving yards, 2 touchdowns
Falcons Player of the Week: Michael Turner- 172 rush yards, 2 touchdowns

The Bucs' tenth straight loss of the season costed coach Raheem Morris his job. The Bucs went out in fashion though, giving up 42 points in just one half. As for the Falcons, they've won 10+ games for the second straight year, and will face the Giants in the Wild-Card round of the playoffs.

Ravens vs. Bengals: 24-16 Ravens
Ravens Player of the Week: Ray Rice- 191 rush yards, 2 touchdowns
Bengals Player of the Week: Bernard Scott- 34 rush yards, touchdown

The Ravens shut down the Bengals, but both teams will advance to the postseason. Andy Dalton didn't play his best game, but should get better results when he plays the Texans. As for the Ravens, they earned themselves a first round bye, after finishing 12-4.

Steelers vs. Browns: 13-9 Steelers
Steelers Player of the Week: Isaac Redman- 92 rush yards, touchdown
Browns Player of the Week: Josh Cribbs- 7 receptions, 91 receiving yards

The Steelers got the win, but are not looking to good heading into the playoffs. In the win, the Steelers lost starting running back Rashard Mendenhall for the playoffs and the beginning of next year, with a torn ACL.

Chiefs vs. the Broncos: 7-3
Chiefs Player of the Week: Dexter McCluster- 61 rush yards, touchdown
Broncos Player of the Week: Willis McGahee- 145 rush yards

Kyle Orton sorta got revenge on the Broncos, in one of the worst games of the entire season. The quarterbacks combined for 21 completions for 240 yards, and a passer rating near 45. Nonetheless, the Broncos still made the playoffs thanks to the Raiders losing to San Diego. Guess god was saving the talent for next week.

Chargers vs. Raiders: 38-26 Chargers
Chargers Player of the Week: Philip Rivers: 310 pass yards, 3 touchdowns, 135.1 passer rating
Raiders Player of the Week: Darrius Heyward-Bey- 9 receptions, 130 receiving yards, touchdown

It's crazy to think that the Chargers finished just a game out of the playoffs despite having a terrible season. Still, an 8-8 finish was enough to keep Norv Turner AND GM AJ Smith their jobs. Oakland on the other hand would be in the playoffs if they didn't lose to the Chargers.

Seahawks vs. Cardinals: 23-20 Cardinals (OT)
Seahawks Player of the Week: Marshawn Lynch- 86 rush yards
Cardinals Player of the Week: Larry Fitzgerald- 149 receiving yards

The Cardinals finished their season on the right note, winning seven of their last nine games. No, they aren't in the playoffs, but they made impressive progress throughout the season. The Seahawks might have finished 7-9, but they also had a good turnaround this season, after an ugly start.

Cowboys vs. Giants: 31-14 Giants
Cowboys Player of the Week: Laurent Robinson- 4 receptions, 60 receiving yards, 2 touchdowns
Giants Player of the Week: Eli Manning- 346 pass yards, 3 touchdowns, 136.7 passer rating

With a win at home, the Giants clinched a playoff berth, snapping their two year playoff drought. Eli was elite on Sunday night, throwing three touchdowns, but no interceptions. Tony Romo and the Cowboys did a great job of continuing their anual December collapse, losing four of their last five games.