Tag: Commanders

Nov 24, 2024; Landover, Maryland, USA; Dallas Cowboys and Washington Commanders players stand and kneel on the field during an injury timeout for Commanders running back Austin Ekeler (not pictured) during the fourth quarter at Northwest Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

Commanders activate RB Austin Ekeler (concussion) off IR

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The Washington Commanders activated running back Austin Ekeler off injured reserve Saturday, one day before the regular-season finale against the Dallas Cowboys.

Ekeler has missed the past four games after sustaining a concussion against the Cowboys in Week 12. Ekeler was leveled while returning a kickoff in the final minute of the game.

The concussion was Ekeler’s second of the season. He sustained the first one in Week 3 against the Cincinnati Bengals and missed the following game.

Washington opened Ekeler’s 21-day window to return on Wednesday and Ekeler was listed as questionable for the game on Friday.

“He had a great week,” Commanders coach Dan Quinn told reporters. “He looked fast, explosive, all the stuff that Austin brings.”

Ekeler has rushed for 355 yards and four touchdowns and caught 33 passes for 346 yards during his first season with Washington. He is also averaging 31.3 yards on 19 kickoff returns.

Ekeler spent his first seven seasons with the Los Angeles Chargers and topped 1,500 scrimmage yards on three occasions.

Washington placed safety Tyler Owens (ankle) on injured reserve to open up the roster spot for Ekeler. Owens has 11 tackles and one forced fumble in 12 games in his first NFL season.

–Field Level Media

Dec 29, 2024; Landover, Maryland, USA; Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels (5) celebrates with fans in the stands while leaving the field after defeating the Atlanta Falcons at Northwest Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Amber Searls-Imagn Images

Facing Cowboys, Commanders aim for momentum ahead of playoffs

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The Washington Commanders are putting their long-standing label of laughingstocks behind them with their winningest season since the 1991 campaign.

That season also marks the franchise’s most recent Super Bowl title. The current squad clinched a playoff berth last weekend and looks to finish the regular season in style when it faces the Dallas Cowboys at Arlington, Texas.

The Commanders (11-5) are seeking their fifth straight win. A victory would mark just the fourth time in franchise history that Washington has won 12 or more games in a season.

The Commanders also can clinch the No. 6 seed in the NFC with a victory, giving them something for which to play as the NFC seeding sorts itself out.

The last team to beat Washington is the Cowboys, who delivered a 34-26 win over the host Commanders in Week 12.

That began a stretch in which Dallas (7-9) won four of five games before it was walloped 41-7 by the host Philadelphia Eagles last weekend.

What remains to be seen is whether or not this is Mike McCarthy’s final game as the head coach of the Cowboys. McCarthy’s contract is about to conclude.

Dallas owner Jerry Jones spoke favorably of McCarthy this week but the coach sidestepped a question pertaining to his future.

“I need to make sure I’m doing exactly what I’m asking everyone else to do. We need to finish the race,” McCarthy said in reference to the season finale. “It’s been a challenging year, based on our contract situation for coaches. It’s stating the obvious, but we’ll have time to talk about that next week.”

McCarthy is 49-34 in five seasons with the Cowboys. His teams were 12-5 and made the playoffs in each of the three previous season.

But quarterback Dak Prescott sustained a season-ending hamstring injury during the team’s eighth game of this season. When McCarthy went 6-10 in 2020, Prescott was lost after five games of that season due to his horrific ankle injury.

Cooper Rush is 4-4 as the Dallas starter this season but there is no guarantee he will start Sunday. McCarthy said he’s also considering Trey Lance (seven passing attempts this season) and Will Grier (zero attempts). The latter was signed to the practice squad in mid-November.

“The reality of it is, we’re going to work all the guys,” McCarthy said of the quarterbacks.

Washington has no issues at quarterback with rookie Jayden Daniels exceeding all expectations. He was named to his first Pro Bowl team on Thursday.

Daniels, the No. 2 overall selection, has passed for 3,530 yards, 25 touchdowns and nine interceptions and has also rushed for 864 yards and six touchdowns.

More importantly, he has energized a franchise that hadn’t experienced a winning season since 2016. Even when Washington made the playoffs in the 2020 campaign, it went 7-9 in the regular season.

But now the Commanders have elevated the quarterback position after having guys like Sam Howell, Taylor Heinicke and Carson Wentz start games over the previous two seasons.

“He’s the most mature rookie I’ve ever been around. He exudes a quiet confidence,” Washington tight end Zach Ertz said. “He’s not a rah-rah guy. We all know how good he is and how much confidence we have in him. He doesn’t need to say anything.”

While Ertz (second with 61 receptions) brought veteran leadership to the offensive side of the ball, linebacker Bobby Wagner (team-high 124 tackles) did the same for the defense.

“You saw that grow throughout the season,” Wagner said of the bond on the unit. “When you get a lot of guys confident and believing in one another, it makes the team scary.”

Center Tyler Biadasz (ankle), right tackle Andrew Wylie (groin) and backup tackle Cornelius Lucas (groin) were among the six Commanders who missed Wednesday’s practice due to injuries.

Linebacker Nick Vigil (foot) and cornerback Kemon Hall (hamstring) sat out for Dallas. The Cowboys also parted ways with veteran running back Ezekiel Elliott at his request earlier this week.

Dallas has won three straight meetings between the teams and six of the past seven.

–Field Level Media

Dec 29, 2024; Landover, Maryland, USA; Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels (5) prepares to throw the ball against the Atlanta Falcons during the first half at Northwest Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Amber Searls-Imagn Images

Commanders get by Falcons in OT for long-awaited playoff berth

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Jayden Daniels hit Zach Ertz for a 2-yard touchdown with 2:42 left in overtime as the Washington Commanders beat the Atlanta Falcons 30-24 on Sunday night in Landover, Md., to secure their first playoff berth since the 2020 season.

The Commanders (11-5) clinched a wild-card berth with their fourth straight win and could finish as high as the sixth seed in the NFC.

In the NFC South, Atlanta (8-8) sits behind the first-place Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-7), who can clinch the division by defeating the New Orleans Saints in Week 18.

Washington took the opening kickoff of the extra session, and Daniels later ran for 16 yards on third-and-2 at midfield, then passed to Chris Rodriguez Jr. two plays later for a 12-yard gain and another first down. Daniels eventually added a pair of 6-yard runs that got him in position to find Ertz for the game-winning points.

Daniels completed 24 of 36 passes for 227 yards, three touchdowns and one interception and ran for 127 yards on 16 attempts. Ertz caught two touchdown passes, and Olamide Zaccheaus had eight catches for 85 yards and a score.

Bijan Robinson ran for two touchdowns for the second straight game for Atlanta, and he finished with 90 yards on the ground. Michael Penix Jr. was 19-of-35 passing for 223 yards, one touchdown and one interception, and Drake London had seven catches for 106 yards.

Atlanta’s Riley Patterson came up short on a 56-yard field-goal attempt as time expired in regulation.

With the Falcons trailing 24-17 and facing fourth-and-11 at the 50 with 2:39 remaining, Penix found London all alone for a 31-yard catch-and-run, but two plays later at the Washington 5, a bad snap on a wildcat play resulted in a 21-yard loss. Later, on fourth-and-goal from the 13, Penix rifled a pass to Kyle Pitts in the end zone to tie the game with 1:19 to go.

The Commanders had built their 24-17 lead thanks to a strong fourth quarter, where they got a 2-yard TD run from Rodriguez and a 31-yard field goal from Zane Gonzalez.

Robinson had a pair of 1-yard rushing scores in the first half to help Atlanta take a 17-7 lead into the break, but the Commanders drew within 17-14 with 7:13 left in the third quarter when Daniels and Ertz hooked up for a 10-yard touchdown.

–Field Level Media

Dec 22, 2024; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. (9) avoids the sack of New York Giants linebacker Darius Muasau (53) in the second quarter at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images

Falcons, Commanders eye playoff clincher behind rookie QBs

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Two teams aiming to secure playoff berths meet when the Atlanta Falcons visit the Washington Commanders on Sunday night in Landover, Md.

The Falcons (8-7) can clinch the NFC South with a win over the Commanders and a loss by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-7) against the visiting Carolina Panthers.

The Commanders (10-5) can clinch a wild-card spot – their first playoff berth since 2020 – before they play if the Panthers beat the Buccaneers on Sunday afternoon. If Tampa Bay wins, Washington can clinch with a win over Atlanta.

Atlanta is searching for its third straight victory while Washington has won three in a row and could get to 11 wins for the first time since 1991.

According to NBC Sports, Sunday night will be the first time in NFL history that two first-round rookie quarterbacks will start in a primetime game as Washington’s Jayden Daniels opposes Atlanta’s Michael Penix Jr.

Daniels was the No. 2 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, six selections before Penix.

Penix will make his second career start after replacing Kirk Cousins last week. He completed 18 of 27 passes (66.7 percent) for 202 yards with an interception and led the Falcons to four scoring drives in a 34-7 home win against the New York Giants.

“Me and Mike are boys,” Daniels said this week. “Obviously, we trained together. We went through the draft process together, so we built the relationship over that time, and I’m happy for him, you know, he waited his time. He’s a phenomenal player in my eyes and, you know, I’m excited to be able to match up against him.”

After several drops and missed throws against the Giants, the Falcons were looking forward to another week of practice with Penix.

“I mean, it takes a lot of reps,” Penix said. “That’s the biggest thing. Just getting those reps in practice, as many live reps as we can — and we did a lot of reps this past week. We’re going to continue to grow.’

Daniels is coming off a five-touchdown performance, including the game-winner with six seconds remaining, to lead Washington to an upset win over the visiting Philadelphia Eagles. He passed for 258 yards and ran for 81 more.

The Falcons realize the danger presented by Daniels’ running ability, as he has rushed for a team-high 737 yards along with six touchdowns. Washington entered Week 17 third in rushing (152.7 yards per game) and 16th in passing (220.9 yards per game).

“It adds an extra gap up front. Now, you have to make sure you get up there to make sure you stop that gap,” Falcons defensive coordinator Jimmy Lake said. “And now, you get too many guys up there, here comes the play-action pass and you leave your guys in the back end open. So, it’s going to be a chess match all night long.”

Daniels has completed nearly 70 percent of his passes (301 of 432) for 3,303 yards with 22 touchdowns and eight interceptions.

Both teams saw their leading receivers on the injury report Thursday. Atlanta’s Drake London (83 catches, 978 yards, seven touchdowns) was limited because of knee injury but told reporters he will be good to go on Sunday. Washington’s Terry McLaurin (73 catches, 1,029 yards, 12 touchdowns) was limited with an ankle injury after sitting out practice Wednesday.

Atlanta cornerbacks Kevin King (concussion) and Antonio Hamilton Sr. (quad) did not participate in Thursday’s practice.

Commanders defensive tackle Jonathan Allen (pectoral) was a full participant and could be activated from injured reserve to play Sunday.

Washington cornerback Marshon Lattimore (hamstring) remained out of practice Thursday along with wide receiver Dyami Brown (hamstring), linebacker Jordan Magee (hamstring), safety Tyler Owens (ankle) and tackle Andrew Wylie (groin). Defensive end Clelin Ferrell (knee) was limited after not practicing Wednesday.

–Field Level Media

Dec 15, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni in the tunnel against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images

Reports: Eagles coach Nick Sirianni apologizes to Commanders TE Zach Ertz

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Philadelphia Eagles coach Nick Sirianni apologized to Washington tight end Zach Ertz for his comments during a heated exchange following the Commanders’ victory on Sunday, according to multiple reports.

The player and coach were seen meeting for the routine postgame handshake, with Ertz instead offering a high-five to Sirianni, who was his head coach during the start of the 2021 season in Philadelphia.

Instead, the two had to be separated by Eagles chief security officer Dom DiSandro, who then escorted Sirianni to a tunnel at Northwest Stadium, according to reports.

Sirianni didn’t like the intensity of Ertz’s high-five and criticized his performance in the game, to which Ertz took exception, according to a report released Thursday morning on the “Uncovering the Birds” podcast with Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer.

Ertz, who was listed as questionable for the game after sustaining a concussion a week earlier in Washington’s 20-19 victory at New Orleans, started on Sunday and had one catch on two targets for 12 yards as the Commanders won 36-33.

Asked afterward about the incident, Sirianni told reporters: “Both of us said ‘congrats’ to each other.”

Ertz, likewise, downplayed the meeting, telling an Inquirer reporter: “We just exchanged holiday pleasantries and kept it moving.”

Sirianni, who according to reports later apologized to Ertz over a Zoom call, met with media members on Thursday. He said that he keeps conversations with players private and that he has respect for Ertz.

During the week leading up to the NFC Division contest, Sirianni said of Ertz: “I think, first and foremost, Zach is an all-time Eagle and was really honored to be around him, and he’s still playing at a high level in this part of his career.

“So, going through that and him moving on, us moving on in the organization, him getting another fresh start, that was always a tough one because I did really come to really value Zach Ertz the person, Zach Ertz the player. Enjoyed the time I had around him.”

The Eagles traded Ertz to the Arizona Cardinals on Oct. 15, 2021, during Sirianni’s first season as head coach and with the Philadelphia organization.

Philadelphia selected Ertz in the second round (35th overall) of the 2013 NFL Draft out of Stanford. He has 764 career receptions for 7,972 yards and 50 touchdowns in 166 regular-season games (128 starts) for the Eagles (2013-21), Cardinals (2021-23) and Commanders.

Washington signed Ertz, 34, as a free agent in March. The three-time Pro Bowl selection (2017-19) has started all 15 games for the Commanders and has 55 receptions for 538 yards and four touchdowns.

–Field Level Media

Dec 22, 2024; Landover, Maryland, USA; Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels (5) runs the ball against Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Jalen Carter (98) during the first quarter at Northwest Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter Casey-Imagn Images

Jayden Daniels rallies Commanders past Jalen Hurts-less Eagles

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Jayden Daniels threw a 9-yard touchdown pass to Jamison Crowder with six seconds remaining and the Washington Commanders beat the visiting Philadelphia Eagles 36-33 on Sunday.

Philadelphia’s Jake Elliott hit a pair of late field goals to give the Eagles — who lost quarterback Jalen Hurts to a concussion in the first quarter — a 33-28 lead with 1:58 remaining. Washington (10-5) then went 57 yards in nine plays and added the two-point conversion, a run by Jeremy McNichols.

Daniels finished 24-of-39 passing for 258 yards, a career-high five touchdowns and two interceptions. He ran nine times for 81 yards. Olamide Zaccheus had five catches for 70 yards and two scores as Washington won despite five turnovers.

Saquon Barkley had 29 carries for 150 yards and two scores for the Eagles (12-3), who had won 10 straight. Kenny Pickett was 14-of-24 for 143 yards, one touchdown and one interception in relief of Hurts, and A.J. Brown caught eight passes for 97 yards and a score.

The Eagles led by seven at halftime and Elliott’s two third-quarter field goals made it 27-14.

On fourth-and-11 from the Eagles’ 41-yard line on the final play of the quarter, Daniels scrambled up the middle for 29 yards. Daniels then hit Zaccheaus for a 4-yard touchdown.

After a punt, Washington started at its own 13. Seven plays later, Daniels found a wide-open Zaccheaus for a 49-yard catch-and-run and suddenly the Commanders led 28-27.

The Eagles jumped out to an early lead. After the Commanders were stopped on fourth-and-1 at their own 49 on the opening drive, Barkley ran four times for 37 yards, capping the drive with a 2-yard touchdown.

Philadelphia started its next drive on the Washington 43 after Brian Robinson Jr. fumbled. Hurts ran 13 yards to the 21 but was tackled between linebackers Frankie Luvu and Bobby Wagner and left the game. Four plays later, Pickett hit A.J. Brown on a quick slant for a 4-yard touchdown.

Later in the quarter, Luvu intercepted Pickett’s pass at the Philadelphia 25 and Daniels soon connected with Crowder for a 6-yard score.

On the next drive, Barkley scampered around the left end and raced 68 yards for a touchdown and the lead was 21-7. Barkley finished the quarter with 109 yards rushing.

Washington used a 96-yard drive to pull within 21-14. Daniels hit Dyami Brown for 51 yards on the first play and later found Terry McLaurin for a 32-yard over-the-shoulder touchdown.

–Field Level Media

Nov 14, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Washington Commanders tight end Zach Ertz (86) against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images

Commanders TE Zach Ertz clears concussion protocol, will play vs. Eagles

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Washington tight end Zach Ertz has cleared concussion protocol and will play on Sunday against one of his former teams, the Philadelphia Eagles, Commanders coach Dan Quinn told ESPN.

Ertz, 34, was listed as questionable because of a concussion and a shoulder issue that limited him at practice this week. He suffered a concussion during Washington’s 20-19 victory last Sunday at New Orleans.

Washington signed Ertz as a free agent in March. The three-time Pro Bowl selection (2017-19) has started all 14 games for the Commanders and has 54 receptions on 77 targets for 526 yards and four touchdowns.

Philadelphia selected Ertz in the second round (35th overall) of the 2013 NFL Draft out of Stanford. He has 763 career receptions for 7,960 yards and 50 touchdowns in 165 regular-season games (127 starts) for the Eagles (2013-21), Arizona Cardinals (2021-23) and Commanders.

Washington (9-5) is hosting NFC East leader Philadelphia (12-2) with three regular-season games remaining and also is contending for a wild-card spot.

–Field Level Media

Nov 14, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels (5) is chased boy Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Zack Baun (53) and safety Reed Blankenship (32) during the fourth quarter at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images

Commanders welcome Eagles, meaningful December football in Washington

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The Philadelphia Eagles are securely in the playoffs and will go for their 11th straight win when they visit the Washington Commanders on Sunday, a welcome postseason atmosphere at a site unaccustomed to high-leverage football in late December.

The Eagles (12-2) lead the Commanders (9-5) by three games and can clinch the NFC East on Sunday, but they have a bigger goal in mind. With the Detroit Lions (12-2) losing to Buffalo last week and continuing to lose players to injury, the Eagles can swipe the No. 1 seed and home-field advantage through the NFC playoffs.

But first the division title looms.

“No, we’re pretty boring,” Eagles coach Nick Sirianni said when asked if he talked to the locker room about clinching the division. “We’re getting ready to play this game. We know that if we do win this game that will happen, but all we can control and focus on is our preparation.”

The Commanders have postseason goals — realistic ones after a 4-13 finish in 2024 — within reach but need a huge three-game finishing stretch to seal a playoff berth.

With their 20-19 win at New Orleans last Sunday, the Commanders have won two in a row to recover from a three-game losing streak. Washington can clinch a wild-card berth with a win and a combination of losses involving the Atlanta Falcons, Los Angeles Rams and Seattle Seahawks. A loss would add extra wattage to the spotlight Sunday night game against the Falcons next week.

Sunday’s game is rematch of Week 11 when the Eagles were leading 12-10 in the fourth quarter before winning 26-18. Washington coach Dan Quinn opted to go for it on fourth down with his team in field goal range and a chance to go up 13-12. Quarterback Jayden Daniels scrambled and was stopped for no gain.

Washington traded three draft picks to acquire one player who could make a big difference in the second meeting between NFC East rivals. Cornerback Marshon Lattimore, formerly with the Saints, healed from a nagging hamstring injury to make his Commanders debut last Sunday.

“He’s a really good player that would allow them to do different things because of how good he’s played as a pro,” Sirianni said. “So, we’ll have to be ready for him and this is a good defense we’re going against.”

The Commanders were competitive in both games with the Eagles last season: 34-31 (overtime) and 38-31 losses. Washington has lost three straight to Philadelphia at home and Quinn knows the importance of stopping that streak on Sunday.

“It’s a big deal. If you want to be seen as a heavy hitter you got to beat them,” Quinn said. “In the NFC East, Philadelphia has been the heavy hitters so far this season in the division. Great challenge for us, we are pumped to get them back here at home with the fans.”

In the Week 11 game, Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts ran for the go-ahead score, and Saquon Barkley rushed for 146 yards and two fourth-quarter touchdowns.

“He’s at his best in the end of games,” Quinn said of Barkley. “We have to make sure the fit and tackling on the fifth run is the same as on the 25th. They’re exceptional at staying at it. It takes a lot of discipline and work to do it over and over again.”

Before being held to 65 yards by the Pittsburgh Steelers in last Sunday’s win, Barkley had averaged 158 yards over his previous four games.

Daniels and his banged-up offense will be facing an Eagles defense that leads the NFL in fewest yards allowed per game (275.6) and is tied for first in fewest points allowed (17.6).

Both teams got some good injury news Wednesday. Commanders defensive end Jonathan Allen (torn pectoral muscle) saw his 21-day practice window open,
and Philadelphia did the same for defensive end Bryce Huff. The latter missed the past four games after undergoing a procedure on his wrist. Both players were limited at practice on Wednesday.

Washington tight end Zach Ertz (concussion, rest) and guard Sam Cosmi (illness) did not practice.

Barkley (rest), guard Mekhi Becton (rest), wide receiver A.J. Brown (rest), safety Sydney Brown (concussion), guard Landon Dickerson (knee/rest), tackle Lane Johnson (rest), center Cam Jurgens (rest), tackle Jordan Mailata (rest), and wide receiver DeVonta Smith (back/rest) did not participate.

In 2022, the Commanders entered December with a record of 7-5 and fumbled away any prayer of the postseason with a 20-20 tie against the New York Giants, three consecutive losses and an insignificant season-ending win over the playoff-bound Dallas Cowboys.

Washington can improve to 10-5 with a win, which would match the franchise’s best record through 15 games since 1991.

–Field Level Media

Oct 6, 2024; Landover, Maryland, USA; Washington Commanders defensive tackle Jonathan Allen (93) celebrates after a tackle during the second quarter against the Cleveland Browns at NorthWest Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter Casey-Imagn Images

Commanders open practice window for DT Jonathan Allen

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The Washington Commanders opened the 21-day practice window for star defensive tackle Jonathan Allen on Wednesday.

Allen, 29, was placed on injured reserve on Oct. 16 with what was feared to be a season-ending pectoral injury.

The two-time Pro Bowl selection recorded two sacks, six quarterback hits and 15 tackles in six starts before getting hurt in a Week 6 loss at Baltimore.

Allen has totaled 41 sacks, 117 QB hits, 397 tackles, two fumble recoveries and one interception in 107 games (all starts) since being drafted in the first round (17th overall) by Washington in 2017.

The Commanders (9-5) are three games behind Philadelphia in the NFC East with three games remaining, starting with Sunday’s clash against the visiting Eagles (12-2).

–Field Level Media

Dec 15, 2024; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels (5) throws against the New Orleans Saints during the first half at Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Hinton-Imagn Images

Falcons-Commanders flexed to SNF, Week 17 Saturday tripleheader set

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The Week 17 game featuring rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels and the Washington Commanders against the visiting Atlanta Falcons has been flexed by the NFL to “Sunday Night Football.”

The Commanders (9-5) have won two games in a row and are close to clinching the first playoff appearance in franchise history since the Washington Football Team lost in the wild-card round in 2020.

The Falcons (7-7) trail the NFC South-leading Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-6) by one game for the division lead.

That game, which will be broadcast on NBC, replaces the previously scheduled contest between the visiting Miami Dolphins (6-8) and Cleveland Browns (3-11). The Dolphins and Browns will now play at 4:05 p.m. on Sunday on CBS.

Also on Tuesday, the NFL announced the schedule for the Week 17 games to be contested on Saturday, Dec. 28.

The Los Angeles Chargers (8-6) will kick off the festivities with a visit the New England Patriots (3-11) at 1 p.m. ET in Foxborough, Mass.

The Denver Broncos (9-5) will visit the Cincinnati Bengals (6-8) at 4:30 p.m. ET, and the Arizona Cardinals (7-7) will challenge the host Los Angeles Rams (8-6) in a key NFC West clash at 8 p.m. ET in Inglewood, Calif.

–Field Level Media