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NFL News

Combined summaries and individual breaking-news reports, all in one recency-first feed.

Sunday, January 4

Josh Johnson's Two 4th-Quarter TDs Propel Commanders to Upset Win

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Josh Johnson propelled the Commanders to a 24-17 upset win over the Eagles, engineering a fourth-quarter comeback. In his second consecutive start, Johnson completed 14 of 22 passes for 131 yards, one touchdown, and one interception, adding nine rushes for 45 yards and a rushing touchdown. He orchestrated two crucial 4th-quarter TD drives, including a 2-yard passing score and a 1-yard rushing TD. This victory cost the Eagles the NFC’s No. 2 seed. Johnson, 40 in May, concluded his 11th season and faces free agency, with retirement a possibility.

Derrick Henry Rumbles for 126 Yards on SNF, Extends 100-Yard Streak

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Ravens RB Derrick Henry, previously highlighted in betting tips for the Steelers game, rushed for 126 yards on 20 carries in Sunday's 26-24 loss to Pittsburgh, failing to catch his only target. He was held out of the end zone after scoring six touchdowns in his last two appearances, but still reached the century mark for the fourth week in a row. The 31-year-old finished the 2025 season with 1,595 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns across 17 starts and is under contract through 2027.

Tanner McKee Inconsistent in Spot Start, Throws TD in Eagles Loss

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Eagles QB Tanner McKee completed 21 of 40 passes for 241 yards, one touchdown, and one interception, adding two rushes for three yards in Sunday's 24-17 loss to the Commanders. With Jalen Hurts active but not playing, McKee made a spot start, showing inconsistency. He led an impressive 80-yard scoring drive, capping it with a 15-yard touchdown pass to Greg Calcaterra, but largely struggled otherwise. McKee is expected to return to a reserve role for Philadelphia's playoff run.

Oronde Gadsden Ends Rookie Season with Low Volume in Chargers Loss

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Chargers TE Oronde Gadsden secured both of his targets for 23 yards in Sunday's 19-3 loss to the Broncos. As a key player allowed to suit up in Week 18, the 2025 fifth-round pick concluded his rookie campaign with 49 receptions for 664 yards and three touchdowns across 15 appearances. While he surpassed expectations, his inconsistent play late in the season makes him a risky DFS option for the wild-card round, even with Justin Herbert's return at quarterback.

Courtland Sutton Posts Season-Low in Win, Still Reaches 1,000 Yards

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Broncos WR Courtland Sutton recorded one reception for five yards on two targets in Sunday's 19-3 win over the Chargers, marking his worst receiving line of the 2025 season due to an unusual game script. Despite the low output, Sutton concluded a solid fantasy campaign with 74 receptions, 1,017 yards, and seven touchdowns, achieving 1,000 receiving yards for the third time in his eight-year career. He is anticipated to see increased involvement in Denver's upcoming divisional round playoff game.

Jacory Croskey-Merritt Struggles in Week 18 Win, Ends Inconsistent Rookie Year

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Commanders RB Jacory Croskey-Merritt recorded 13 rushes for 29 yards in Sunday's 24-17 win over the Eagles. He received eight carries on the opening possession but was largely phased out of the offense after gaining only five total yards. This performance was indicative of an inconsistent rookie season, where he surpassed 95 rushing yards in two of his final six games but failed to reach 35 yards in the other four. Despite potential offseason additions, Croskey-Merritt is expected to retain a role in 2026.

Chris Rodriguez Tallies Sixth TD, Leads Backfield in Commanders Win

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Commanders RB Chris Rodriguez rushed 16 times for 65 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 24-17 win over the Eagles, also adding one reception for 18 yards. Despite Jacory Croskey-Merritt starting, Rodriguez led the backfield in touches and proved more effective, including a one-yard touchdown plunge. This performance capped his best career season, finishing with exactly 500 rushing yards and six scores across 13 games. As a restricted free agent, he is likely to return as backfield depth for Washington in 2026.

Travis Kelce Hits Milestones, Undecided on Future After Season Finale

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Chiefs TE Travis Kelce recorded 3 receptions for 12 yards in Sunday's 14-12 loss to the Raiders. He achieved significant career milestones, surpassing 13,000 receiving yards (3rd TE in NFL history) and securing 75+ receptions for the 10th straight season. Amid prevalent retirement rumors, Kelce stated he is currently undecided on his future and when he will make a decision, leaving his playing career in question after this game.

Keenan Allen Leads Chargers in Receiving, Prepares for Playoffs

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Chargers WR Keenan Allen finished with seven receptions on 13 targets for 36 yards in Sunday's 19-3 loss to the Broncos. As one of the few starters to play in the finale, he led his team in targets, receptions, and yardage with backup QB Trey Lance. Allen concluded the season with solid PPR numbers, totaling 81 receptions for 777 yards and four touchdowns across 17 games. He is expected to be a security blanket for QB Justin Herbert in the upcoming wild-card round against the Patriots.

Trey Lance Makes First Start, Shows Rushing Impact in Chargers' Loss

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Los Angeles Chargers QB Trey Lance made his first start of the season in the Week 18 finale against the Broncos, completing 20 of 44 passes for 136 yards and an interception, while also gaining 69 yards on nine carries and losing a fumble in the 19-3 loss. The Chargers were considered huge underdogs. Despite mediocre passing results, Lance showcased his athleticism with his legs. His only touchdown pass went to the opposing team via a pick-six. He will resume his backup role behind Justin Herbert for the wild-card round against the Patriots.

Bears Coach Ben Johnson Rips Offense After Loss to Lions

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Chicago Bears coach Ben Johnson expressed strong dissatisfaction with his team's offensive performance following their 19-16 loss to the Lions. His comments came after QB Caleb Williams admitted the offense started the game "flat." Johnson's criticism highlights concerns about the team's consistency, particularly in a crucial Week 18 finale, as they prepare for the postseason.

RJ Harvey Struggles in Week 18 Win, Snaps Scoring Streak

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Denver Broncos RB RJ Harvey was held to 28 yards on 15 carries and caught one of four targets for five yards in Sunday's 19-3 win over the Chargers, averaging less than 2.0 yards per carry. He failed to extend his five-game scoring streak. Despite the quiet finale, the rookie put together a strong fantasy campaign with 896 combined yards from scrimmage and 12 total touchdowns across 17 games, taking over as starter in Week 11 after J.K. Dobbins' injury. Harvey is expected to continue leading Denver's backfield in the divisional round of the playoffs.

D'Andre Swift Has Quiet Finale, Finishes Season with Career-High Rushing Yards

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Chicago Bears RB D'Andre Swift rushed 10 times for 40 yards and caught one of two targets for eight yards in the 19-16 loss to the Lions. His rushing opportunities were limited by game script as the Bears trailed significantly. Swift finished his second season in Chicago with a career-high 1,087 rushing yards and nine rushing touchdowns at 4.8 yards per carry, complementing those figures with a 34-299-1 receiving line on 48 targets across 16 games. He is expected to continue working in a relatively close timeshare with Kyle Monangai during the upcoming postseason, starting with a home matchup against the Packers.

Terry McLaurin Records Four Catches, Draws Penalties in Commanders' Win

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Washington Commanders WR Terry McLaurin recorded four receptions on four targets for 57 yards in Sunday's 24-17 win over the Eagles, including a 25-yard catch. He was the only pass catcher to generate significant offense with Josh Johnson throwing for just 131 yards. McLaurin also drew four defensive penalties, two of which helped sustain touchdown drives. He endured a tough 2025 season due to his own struggles and Jayden Daniels' elbow injury but has a strong chance to bounce back in 2026, having logged five consecutive 1,000-yard seasons prior to this campaign.

Jameson Williams Closes Career-Best Season with Six Catches for 74 Yards

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Detroit Lions WR Jameson Williams secured six of eight targets for 74 yards in the 19-16 win over the Bears, playing a key role alongside Amon-Ra St. Brown. This solid performance closed out a career-best season for Williams, who evolved into a well-rounded No. 2 receiver in the second half of the campaign. He finished with new career highs in receptions (65) and receiving yards (1,117), while also tying a career-best seven receiving touchdowns across 17 games. Williams is expected to reprise his role in 2026 following his second consecutive 1,000-yard campaign.

Bo Nix Secures AFC No. 1 Seed and First-Round Bye with Week 18 Win

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Denver Broncos QB Bo Nix completed 14 of 23 pass attempts for 141 yards and rushed eight times for a season-high 49 yards in Sunday's 19-3 win over the Chargers. While he was held without a touchdown pass for the third time this season, Nix leaned on his defense and special teams to secure the victory, which earned Denver the AFC's No. 1 seed and a first-round bye in the playoffs. The surging sophomore finished the regular season completing 63 percent of his passes for 3,931 yards, 25 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions, along with 356 rushing yards and five scores. The Broncos will now await their divisional round opponent.

Jaylen Wright Leads Dolphins Backfield in Week 18, Struggles Against Patriots

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Miami Dolphins RB Jaylen Wright was active and expected to lead the backfield in Week 18 due to De'Von Achane's (shoulder) absence. However, he struggled against the Patriots' stout front, rushing 13 times for just 23 yards and catching both targets for 17 yards in the 38-10 loss. Wright found running room at a premium. He finished the 2025 season with 288 rushing yards (4.1 YPC) and two touchdowns, adding five receptions for 44 yards across 10 games. Wright is expected to continue in a reserve role in 2026, potentially in a new offensive system if Miami opts for coaching changes.

Deebo Samuel Records Two Catches in Season Finale, Enters Offseason as Free Agent

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Washington Commanders WR Deebo Samuel caught two of five targets for 20 yards and rushed twice for one yard in Sunday's 24-17 win over the Eagles. This marked his second consecutive week with only two catches, and his 20 receiving yards were his fewest since Week 8. Samuel concluded his regular season having caught 72 of 99 targets for 727 yards and five touchdowns, along with 17 carries for 75 yards and a score over 16 contests. He will enter the offseason as a free agent, having demonstrated he still has significant playmaking ability, recording his most receptions since the 2021 campaign.

DeVonta Smith Reaches 1,000 Receiving Yards in Eagles' Season Finale

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Philadelphia Eagles WR DeVonta Smith recorded three receptions on four targets for 52 yards in Sunday's 24-17 loss to the Commanders. Smith was one of the few key Eagles skill-position players to log snaps, as he entered the contest needing 44 receiving yards to reach the 1,000-yard mark for the campaign. He achieved this milestone on an impressive 27-yard leaping catch during the first quarter, after which he rested for the remainder of the game. Smith is expected to play a key role in Philadelphia's upcoming wild-card round matchup against the 49ers.

Hunter Henry Leads Patriots in Receiving, Earns Incentive in Week 18 Win

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New England Patriots TE Hunter Henry brought in all five targets for 56 yards in Sunday's 38-10 win over the Dolphins, leading the team in receptions, receiving yards, and targets. His performance allowed him to reach the 60-catch threshold for the season, earning a $250,000 contract incentive. Henry displayed excellent rapport with second-year QB Drake Maye throughout the 2025 campaign, amassing a career-high 768 receiving yards and seven touchdowns over 17 games. He is expected to remain one of Maye's favorite targets during the upcoming postseason, starting with a home matchup against the Chargers.