Ben Skowronek found space in the middle of the Jacksonville defense and quarterback Matthew Stafford dropped it to him for a 35-yard gain into Jacksonville territory. This was Skowronek's lone catch of the day in a 37-7 Los Angeles win over the Jaguars on Dec. 5, 2021.

The Rams wanted to take a shot deep down the field in overtime. Ambry Thomas had different plans and sealed the win for San Francisco. Rising up to pick this ball off, Thomas was able to get one foot and an elbow inbounds as he pulled it in to complete the interception. The 49ers would earn the win in overtime, 27-24, on Jan. 9, 2022.

Amon-Ra St. Brown snatched this ball out of the air between two defenders, then turned it up the field and powered his way into the end zone for six points. It was one of nine catches for him on the day, totaling 91 yards, in Detroit's 20-16 loss to Atlanta on Dec. 26, 2021.

On third down, Antoine Wesley was able to get separation from the defender at the line before leaping and twisting at the goal line to high-point this pass from Kyler Murray and bring it in for the score. On the day, Wesley caught four passes for 30 yards and two touchdowns in a 25-22 Arizona win over Dallas on Jan. 2, 2022.

Brandin Echols could see where the quarterback was going with this throw the whole way, jumping the route and picking it off. With no one in front of him, he waltzed in for the touchdown for a huge fourth-quarter score and an extra point would tie the game shortly after. Echols finished with four total tackles and three pass defenses on the day, though the Jets would go on to fall to Miami, 31-24, on Dec. 19, 2021.

Washington Football Team

Under a minute to play. On the road. Down by a point. Brian Johnson was clutch for Washington, knocking through this 45-yard field goal to give WFT the lead that would ultimately be the deciding margin, 17-15, on Dec. 5, 2021.

How's this for a first career touchdown? Brock Wright found space down the seam, made the catch, and absorbed the hit to reel in the score. It was one of two catches for him on the day in Detroit's 29-27 victory over Minnesota on Dec. 5, 2021.

Bouncing it to the outside, Chuba Hubbard found a lot of green space on this run. He picked up the first down and kept moving deeper into Buffalo territory, inside the 25-yard line. Hubbard finished with eight carries for 40 yards on the day in a 31-14 loss to Buffalo on Dec. 19, 2021.

Jacksonville brought the pressure on third down and Davis Mills adjusted, floating this ball to Phillip Dorsett II in single coverage for the first down and more into the red zone. Mills finished 19-of-30 for 209 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception in Houston's 30-16 win over the Jaguars on Dec. 19, 2021.

Having just taken over after a turnover, Kansas City wasted no time adding another score in an already dominant showing. Derrick Gore saw a hole, cut back, darted through, and was off to the end zone for this 51-yard score. The touchdown and ensuing extra point would make it 48-9, the Chiefs' winning margin on Dec. 12, 2021. Gore had nine carries for 66 yards in the win.

DeVonta Smith found room where there seemingly was none, giving his quarterback a window to deliver the football and pulling it in for the score. Check out that toe drag, too. Smith caught five passes for 80 yards and this touchdown on the day in a 34-10 Philadelphia win over the Giants on Dec. 26, 2021.

Washington Football Team

Double coverage? No problem for Dyami Brown on this play, as he rose above the defense and pulled in this catch for 48 yards and a fresh set of downs for Washington in Dallas territory. Brown caught two passes for 53 yards in the game, a 56-14 Washington loss to Dallas on Dec. 26, 2021.

Elijah Mitchell was able to shed a tackle as he cut this one up the field, which turned a short gain into a 37-yard burst, down inside the Houston 10-yard line. Mitchell carried the ball 21 times for 119 yards on the day in a 23-7 San Francisco win over Houston on Jan. 2, 2022.

A quick pickup into Denver territory before the half gave Evan McPherson the opportunity to put the Bengals ahead before the break and he took advantage. He booted it through from 58 yards out and Cincinnati took a 6-3 lead into the locker room. McPherson converted all three of his field goals on the day and the Bengals would go on to win, 15-10, on Dec. 19, 2021.

Gregory Rousseau worked his way around the edge and stayed locked in on the quarterback on this strip sack, forcing a fumble that was recovered by Buffalo and giving the ball back to the Bills' offense in the red zone. Buffalo would score six plays later to extend its early lead. Rousseau finished with three total tackles in Buffalo's 29-15 win over Atlanta on Jan. 2, 2022.

Ihmir Smith-Marsette was able to shake one defender in the middle of the field and pull this pass in before help arrived for this 44-yard score. Smith-Marsette caught three passes for 103 yards on the day in Minnesota's 31-17 victory over Chicago on Jan. 9, 2022.

Back-to-back sacks can almost single-handedly put a stop to a drive. Jaelan Phillips' QB takedowns on first and second down forced a 3rd and 30 from inside New York's own 10-yard line and helped Miami hold onto a slim four-point lead late in the third quarter. The Giants would ultimately punt on the drive and Miami would get the win at home, 20-9, on Dec. 5, 2021.

Ja'Marr Chase can beat the defense deep, sure. But here he showed the work he can do in the middle of the field, pulling in this pass from Joe Burrow and juking one defender and then another to bounce it to the edge and pick up more yardage to push into the red zone on this 22-yard gain. Chase caught seven passes for 125 yards in Cincinnati's 41-21 win on Dec. 26, 2021.

Backpedaling. Spinning. Breaking tackles. Javonte Williams did it all while keeping his balance to take this one in for the touchdown against Detroit. Williams carried the ball 15 times for 73 yards and had this catch for 10 yards to go along with two total touchdowns in Denver's 38-10 victory over Detroit on Dec. 12, 2021.

On what first looked like an option play to the left, Jaylen Waddle took the flip from Tua Tagovailoa back to the right and cut it up the field for the one-yard score on this trick play. The rookie caught 10 passes for 92 yards and this touchdown on the day in Miami's 20-3 win over New Orleans on Dec. 26, 2021.

It was the burst from Josh Palmer to get up the field and in for the score that was most impressive after pulling in this pass from Justin Herbert. That move broke a 7-7 tie early in the second quarter in a game that the Chargers would go on to win, 37-21. Palmer would finish with five catches for 66 yards in the victory on Dec. 12, 2021.

Khalil Herbert took the handoff out of the shotgun and found room to the left, cutting through the hole and bursting across the goal line for the 20-yard score. Herbert carried the ball twice for 21 yards on the day and caught one pass for seven yards in Chicago's 25-24 victory over Seattle on Dec. 26, 2021.

Kyle Pitts is always one of the most difficult matchups on the field and he showed why here. Split out wide to the right, he got a step on his defender and made a difficult over-the-shoulder grab while fully aware of the sideline before he pushed forward for more to set Atlanta's offense up inside the red zone. Pitts had four catches for 77 yards on the day in the Falcons' 31-13 loss to the 49ers on Dec. 19, 2021.

Three Indianapolis defenders were closing quickly on Mac Jones as the pocket around him collapsed. Somehow he was able to get enough on this third-down pass while throwing across his body to float it from almost the far numbers to the near numbers and into the arms of tight end Hunter Henry for the first down. Jones finished 26-of-45 for 299 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions in New England's 27-17 loss to Indianapolis on Dec. 18, 2021.

Micah Parsons was all over the field for Dallas against Washington. On this play, he broke through the line, eluded a potential block from the running back, and pulled quarterback Taylor Heinicke to the ground for the sack. Parsons finished with three tackles, two sacks, and a forced fumble in the Cowboys' 27-20 win over Washington on Dec. 12, 2021.

Michael Carter took the pitch to the right on this second-down run and emerged from a cloud of Tampa Bay defenders to pick up the first down, but he was far from down. Bursting up the far sideline, Carter picked up 55 yards before being tripped up, but not before setting New York up inside the red zone. The Jets would score four plays later to take an early lead. They would ultimately fall, though, 28-24, to the Buccaneers on Jan. 2, 2022. Carter finished with three carries for 54 yards in the loss.

It was all about patience for Najee Harris on this run, biding his time as he looked for a hole before hurdling a defender from almost a stand-still position, dodging another would-be tackler, and reaching for the first down. Harris carried the ball 19 times for 93 yards and caught five passes for 17 yards in Pittsburgh's 36-10 loss to Kansas City on Dec. 26, 2021.

This is the definition of a game-changing play. With the Broncos in the lead by a point and just nine yards away from adding more as the clock ticked under eight minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, Melvin Ingram broke through the line to force a Melvin Gordon III fumble on his hit. Who was there as the ball hit the turf? Nick Bolton. And Bolton didn't just fall on it to give Kansas City back possession. He scooped it up, fought off a tackle, and was off into the open field for an 86-yard touchdown to give the Chiefs back the lead. Bolton added six tackles in his team's 28-24 win over Denver on Jan. 8, 2022.

With the Giants down by two scores but making a late push, Nick Niemann slammed the door shut. This interception sealed the win officially for the Chargers, a 37-21 victory. Niemann added a tackle in the win on Dec. 12, 2021.

Paulson Adebo only needed one hand to pull in this interception down the near sideline, snatching it out of the air in front of the receiver to give the ball back to the New Orleans offense. Adebo added five total tackles in the Saints' 30-20 win over Atlanta on Jan. 9, 2022.

Not only did Pressley Harvin III boot this one, sending it 64 yards, but he pinned it out of bounds at the one-yard line and forced Baltimore to start its drive in the shadow of its own goal post. Harvin III punted five times for an average of 43.4 yards in his team's 20-19 win over Baltimore on Dec. 5, 2021.

Quinn Meinerz just kept his legs moving and moved defenders along with him. As the back made his way up the field, there was Meinerz every step of the way to help them push forward. Denver would ultimately fall to Kansas City, 22-9, on Dec. 5, 2021.

Rashod Bateman had to adjust to this pass from Tyler Huntley to make the grab along the far sideline. Getting position on his defender, Bateman corralled this ball and kept moving toward the end zone before ultimately being marked down at the one-yard line. Bateman finished with seven catches for 103 yards in Baltimore's 24-22 loss to Cleveland on Dec. 12, 2021.

A rusher was closing in quickly as Trevor Lawrence let this deep ball fly into double coverage down the field. Despite little available daylight, Laquon Treadwell made the grab for a gain of 40 yards into the red zone. Lawrence finished 17-of-27 on the day for 193 yards with one touchdown and three interceptions in Jacksonville's 50-10 loss to New England on Jan. 2, 2022.

Trey Lance rolled to his right off the play action before looking back left and eyeing Deebo Samuel deep down the field. Samuel pulled it in around the 10-yard line before slipping past a defender and taking it in for the 45-yard score. Lance finished 16-of-23 on the day for 249 yards with two touchdowns and one interception in the 49ers' 23-7 win over Houston on Jan. 2, 2022.

Tyson Campbell jumped the route to make this interception and give Jacksonville the ball back deep in Houston territory. Campbell added four tackles in the Jaguars' 30-16 loss to the Texans on Dec. 19, 2021.

Zach Wilson saw the field open up in front of him and didn't hesitate. Running for the first before sliding down in Saints territory, this 18-yard chunk play was New York's longest rush of the day. Wilson was 19-of-42 on the day through the air for 202 yards and carried the ball four times for 33 yards in the Jets' 30-9 loss to New Orleans on Dec. 12, 2021.

Just when it looks like there's a hole for the running back to burst through, Aaron Donald appears. Not only did he stuff the play at the line, but while pulling the runner down to the ground, he jarred it free, with the ball bouncing to teammate Jalen Ramsey for the fumble recovery. Donald also finished with five total tackles and a sack in a 37-7 Los Angeles win over Jacksonville on Dec. 5, 2021.

Andrew Whitworth became just the eighth player in his 40s to play in the Super Bowl, anchoring the left side of the Los Angeles offensive line in his team's 23-20 victory over Cincinnati on Feb. 13, 2022. The Walter Payton Man of the Year award winner and his line allowed just two sacks in the game, keeping quarterback Matthew Stafford upright and helping him to throw for 283 yards and three touchdowns in the victory.

A'Shawn Robinson pushed his way through the line on this sack, freeing himself and bringing down quarterback Tyler Huntley for a loss of 11 yards. After the early setback because of the sack, Baltimore would go three and out on the drive. Robinson had six total tackles on the day in a 20-19 Rams win over the Ravens on Jan. 2, 2022.

Brandon Powell fielded this punt in a cloud of Rams and Vikings, but emerged with a lane up the far sideline. He brought it into Minnesota territory, pointed out a block ahead of him, sped past the last would-be tackler, and flipped into the end zone for the score. It was the Rams' first punt return touchdown since 2015, a 61-yarder that, after the extra point, extended the Los Angeles lead in the middle of the third quarter to 20-10.

Behind him. In front of him. Low. High. Wherever the football is, Cooper Kupp can go and get it. He showed off his catch radius against Jacksonville, finishing with eight grabs for 129 yards and a touchdown in a 37-7 Los Angeles win on Dec. 5, 2021.

Darrell Henderson came uncovered out of the backfield after this fake toss, with quarterback Matthew Stafford finding him for a gain of 25 yards down the near sideline. Henderson showed his pass-catching ability against Cincinnati in Super Bowl LVI, pulling in three passes for 43 yards in his team's 23-20 win over the Bengals on Feb. 13, 2022.

As Kyler Murray tried to avoid surrendering a safety, he flipped this ball into the air to the right side. David Long Jr. spotted the floating toss and undercut the intended receiver to nab it out of the air and take it back three yards for the touchdown. Long Jr. added a tackle in Los Angeles' 34-11 victory over Arizona on Jan. 17, 2022

Jalen Ramsey showed elite-level concentration on this interception, making the initial deflection near the 10-yard line and sticking with it as it bounced and bobbled in the air all the way to the goal line, where he dove to pull it in for the pick. Ramsey added three tackles in the game, a 27-24 loss to San Francisco on Jan. 9, 2022.

Down by 10 late in the third quarter, the Rams reached into the play vault for a classic flea flicker. Tight end Kendall Blanton locked up with a defensive lineman at the snap of the ball, tossed him off-balanced, and slipped out of the chaos in the pocket to secure the pass in the flat with grass in front of him. He picked up 20 yards off the screen behind blocks from teammates Rob Havenstein and Brian Allen. Blanton would finish with 57 yards on five receptions in the 20-17 win over their divisional rival in the NFC Championship Game on Jan. 30, 2022.

Leonard Floyd was keeping an eye on quarterback Kyler Murray, who tried to float this one over his head and to the intended target on the far sideline. But the ball never arrived, tipped and intercepted by Floyd and returned down inside the 10-yard line. He added eight total tackles on the night in the Rams' 30-23 win over Arizona on Dec. 13, 2021.

It was all about Matthew Stafford and the Los Angeles passing game as the Rams trailed by five points with 4:30 on the clock and 75 yards standing between them and the lead. First, Tyler Higbee. Then, Cooper Kupp. Then, Ben Skowronek. Two runs got Los Angeles inside the Baltimore 10-yard line and a third for a loss pushed them back out. That's when the Rams went back to the pass, with two straight Stafford-to-Odell Beckham Jr. connections that put six points on the board and gave Los Angeles the lead. The score would prove to be the one that decided the game as the Rams held on to win, 20-19, on Jan. 2, 2022.

Rolling to his right off the play action, Matthew Stafford saw a window to drop this ball in to wide receiver Cooper Kupp and placed it in there perfectly for a big gain. Stafford finished 23-of-30 for 287 yards and three touchdowns in his team's 30-23 win over Arizona on Dec. 13, 2021.

Odell Beckham Jr. went up and got this jump ball on the fade route at the goal line, rising above his defender to pull it in. He then celebrated his continued Rams revival before being lifted to his feet by teammates. The score extended the Los Angeles lead to the margin it would eventually win by, 37-7, on Dec. 5, 2021.

Tyler Higbee found room to operate within the Baltimore defense and it was his twisting, leaping adjustment that made this grab so special. He reeled it in for a 19-yard Los Angeles gain to get the Rams into Baltimore territory. Higbee caught six passes for 69 yards in a 20-19 Rams win over the Ravens on Jan. 2, 2022.

Rolling out to the left off play action, Matthew Stafford spotted Van Jefferson deep down the middle of the field, loaded up, and let it fly. It floated just beyond the reach of the defender and into the arms of his wide receiver, who took it in for the 52-yard score. Jefferson finished with three catches for 58 yards in his team's 30-23 win over Arizona on Dec. 13, 2021.

Von Miller kept contain on the quarterback as he looked down the field, before cutting back to the inside, wrapping Russell Wilson up, and taking him down. It was Miller's first sack in a Los Angeles Rams uniform and one of six total tackles for him in the game. The Rams would go on to win, 20-10, on Dec. 21, 2021.

Aaron Jones took this toss from Aaron Rodgers in the shotgun and found a hole to the left side, but it was the stiff-arm he dished out in the second level of the defense that really propelled him forward for a gain of 28 yards and a first down into Minnesota territory. Jones carried the ball eight times for 76 yards and caught five passes for 30 yards in Green Bay's 37-10 win over the Vikings on Jan. 2, 2022.

Aaron Rodgers had the defense fooled on this play action as he rolled out to his right. Finding Marcedes Lewis in the flat, the gain set the Packers up with a fresh set of downs inside the Chicago five-yard line. Rodgers was 29-of-37 on the night for 341 yards and four touchdowns in a 45-30 victory over Chicago on Dec. 12, 2021.

On 3rd and 10, Adam Butler was getting after the quarterback. Coming back to the inside, he shed his blocker and took down quarterback Mike Glennon to end the New York drive in a 20-9 win over the Giants on Dec. 5, 2021. To celebrate? Something cartoon viewers of the 1990s and early 2000s likely remember well.

Adrian Peterson moved into a tie for 10th place on the NFL's all-time rushing touchdown list with this score against San Francisco, pulling Seattle within a field goal after the extra point. Peterson carried the ball 11 times for 16 yards in the Seahawks' 30-23 win over the 49ers on Dec. 5, 2021

Knowing he had a free play after San Francisco jumped offside, Ryan Tannehill took a shot deep down the field. He let it fly and there was wide receiver A.J. Brown in single coverage down the near sideline, making an impressive adjustment to high-point the football and pull it in for the 42-yard completion into 49ers territory. Brown had 11 catches for 145 yards and a touchdown in Tennessee's 20-17 victory over San Francisco on Dec. 23, 2021.

Even three defenders couldn't stop AJ Dillon in his pursuit of the end zone here. Taking the handoff out of the shotgun, Dillon sliced through a hole and took on not one, not two, but three Vikings and stayed on his feet to push across the goal line for the score. Dillon carried the ball 14 times for 63 yards and two touchdowns in Green Bay's 37-10 win over Minnesota on Jan. 2, 2022.

A.J. Green already had the first down when he made this catch on the near sideline, but he was just getting started. Making his primary defender miss, he juked past another and then another before being pulled down near the 10-yard line to set Arizona up with a 1st and Goal. Green had four catches for 64 yards in a 30-12 Arizona loss to Detroit on Dec. 19, 2021. With It was pure power here from Robert Quinn off the edge to collapse the pocket and take down the quarterback for the sack. Quinn had four total tackles, including two sacks, in Chicago's 17-9 loss to Minnesota on Dec. 20, 2021.

Nyheim Hines did not call for a fair catch on this third-quarter punt return, and A.J. Moore Jr. delivered a hit to stop the punt return before it got started inside the Colts' own 20-yard line. It was one of two tackles on the day for Moore Jr. in a 31-0 Houston loss to Indianapolis on Dec. 5, 2021.

A.J. Terrell's diving effort made this interception happen, keeping it off the snowy ground in Buffalo and handing it over to Atlanta's offense near midfield. Terrell had seven total tackles in the game, a 29-15 loss to the Bills on Jan. 2, 2022.

Coasting past a would-be blocker, Akiem Hicks was in the backfield just as the quarterback was trying to settle into the pocket, where he wrapped him up for the sack. Hicks had five total tackles, including two sacks, in Chicago's 17-9 loss to Minnesota on Dec. 20, 2021.

Albert Okwuegbunam would not be denied on this catch and run. Making the grab but with traffic ahead of him, he fought forward to brush aside one would-be tackler, absorb a hit from another, and lunge forward for the score. He caught five passes for 41 yards and this score in a 38-10 win over Detroit on Dec. 12, 2021.

Protection broke down and Derek Carr was looking for somewhere to escape. He wouldn't find it because Alex Okafor closed in and jarred the ball free on this sack, with the fumble bouncing into the hands of teammate Armani Watts. Carr was initially ruled down, wiping out the opportunity for the ball to be returned for six, but a challenge showed the fumble did occur and that Kansas City had established possession, giving the Chiefs the football. Okafor had three tackles and 1.5 sacks in a 48-9 Kansas City win on Dec. 12, 2021.

Alex Singleton was in the right place at the right time as this Mike Glennon pass was broken up, falling right into his arms for the interception. He turned on the jets from there, taking it 29 yards for the Philadelphia touchdown. Singleton added 12 tackles in the Eagles' 34-10 victory over the Giants on Dec. 26, 2021.

Pulling from the guard position, Ali Marpet locked in on the defender and opened a lane for running back Leonard Fournette on the end, giving him room to get the first down and more. Tampa Bay would go on to win, 33-27, on Dec. 12, 2021.

Allen Lazard only needed one hand while in tight coverage to pull in this deep pass from quarterback Aaron Rodgers along the near sideline. The completion moved Green Bay into Cleveland territory with a new set of downs. The drive would ultimately end in a Packers touchdown to extend the Green Bay lead. The Packers would never relinquish that lead in a 24-22 win over the Browns on Dec. 25, 2021. Lazard caught two passes for 45 yards and a touchdown in the game.

When Alvin Kamara bounced this run to the outside, he was face-to-face with a defender looking to stop him for a gain of only a few yards. But a lightning-quick cutback was able to spring him inside the 10-yard line and a stiff arm helped him pull a defender into the end zone for a score. Kamara carried the ball 27 times for 120 yards in a 30-9 New Orleans win over the Jets on Dec. 12, 2021.

As the receiver broke toward the sideline, Amani Oruwariye closed the gap, diving in front of this pass to pick it off and then quickly hopping to his feet to return the ball all the way inside the Arizona 10-yard line. Oruwariye had five total tackles on the day in Detroit's 30-12 win over the Cardinals on Dec. 19, 2021.

On third down, the Cowboys needed seven yards. Amari Cooper reeled in this grab and got Dallas a lot more. The 41-yard grab was one of his two catches on the day in a 27-17 win over New Orleans on Dec. 2, 2021.

Andre Roberts decided to take this kick out of the end zone from one yard deep. It was a good call. Bringing it to the near sideline and finding a seam before cutting it back across the field, Roberts was virtually untouched on his way to six points. The score added to Los Angeles' fourth-quarter lead and the Chargers would go on to win, 34-13, over Denver on Jan. 2, 2022.

Andy Dalton eyed Damien Williams leaking out of the backfield and, with coverage late to pick him up, floated this pass down the near sideline for the score. Dalton finished 33-of-48 for 325 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions in Chicago's 31-17 loss to Minnesota on Jan. 9, 2022.

Anthony Barr picked off two passes in big-time situations for the Vikings against Los Angeles, both times gifting the Minnesota offense with the football deep in the opponent's territory. His first came when he read the quarterback's eyes and jumped in front of a checkdown pass to the running back for an interception. His second came off a tipped pass, settling underneath it before picking it off and taking it to the doorstep of the goal line. Barr finished with seven total tackles and these two interceptions in Minnesota's 30-23 loss to the Rams on Dec. 26, 2021.

Washington Football Team

Antonio Gibson cut it back, broke a tackle, and added a little bit of flare at the end of this 18-yard touchdown run. He carried the ball 21 times for 146 yards and this score on the day, a 22-7 victory over New York on Jan. 9, 2022.

Who could have predicted that one of the most spectacular catches of the season would come on a fake punt? On the play, the ball was snapped directly to Chris Banjo, who drifted to the right and heaved it up to Jonathan Ward down the field. With the defense draped all over him, Ward controlled the ball by pinning it against the defender's helmet and somehow maintained control, even as he tumbled to the ground. The 23-yard gain came on Banjo's lone pass and Ward's lone reception on the day. The fourth-down play earned Arizona a first down and they would later score a touchdown to cap a 15-play, 91-yard drive that lasted 8:25. The Cardinals would go on to beat Dallas, 25-22, on Jan. 2, 2022.

With the Colts looking to get more points on the board before halftime, Ashton Dulin locked in on this pass from Carson Wentz. Grab. Two feet. Touchdown. This TD was his lone reception of the day in a 31-0 Indianapolis win over Houston on Dec. 5, 2021.

Avery Williams' hit was perfectly timed, making contact right after punt returner Marquez Stevenson pulled it to his body. That sent the ball bouncing back toward the goal line, where Jake Kumerow fell on it for the Bills. That, though, meant a safety for the Falcons and Atlanta's first two points of the game. The Falcons would ultimately fall to Buffalo, 29-15, on Jan. 2, 2022.

Third down. Checkdown. First down. Austin Ekeler took this pass from Justin Herbert, eluded a tackle and was off down the near sideline for a 40-yard gain into Broncos territory. Ekeler caught three passes for 54 yards and carried the ball 17 times for 58 yards in the Chargers' 34-13 win over Denver on Jan. 2, 2022.

The play action from Baker Mayfield freed up Harrison Bryant in the end zone, where Mayfield found him on this fourth-quarter touchdown. Mayfield was 16-of-38 for 185 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions in Cleveland's 26-14 loss to Pittsburgh on Jan. 3, 2022.

Motoring around the edge, Justin Houston got ahold of Aaron Rodgers and Tyus Bowser assisted to bring the quarterback down for a sack. Each finished with a half of a sack for the game in Baltimore's 31-30 loss to Green Bay on Dec. 19, 2021.

In what was likely his final touchdown in the last home game of his career in Pittsburgh, Ben Roethlisberger moved the linebacker with a fake to the running back before slinging this pass to Diontae Johnson on the slant for the score. Roethlisberger was 24-of-46 for 123 yards with one touchdown and one interception in the Steelers' 26-14 win over Cleveland on Jan. 3, 2022.

Blake Lynch was the definition of persistent on this strip-sack and turnover. At first overshooting quarterback Jared Goff as he stepped up, Lynch stuck with it, knocked the ball loose, and pulled it into his body before it even had a chance to hit the ground. That would give the ball back to the Vikings offense, already in Detroit territory. Lynch finished with nine total tackles and two sacks on the day in a 29-27 loss to the Lions on Dec. 5, 2021.

Washington Football Team

Bobby McCain saw exactly where this Jake Fromm pass was headed and jumped the route, picking the ball off and taking it back 30 yards for the touchdown to extend Washington's lead. It was one of two interceptions on the day for McCain in a 22-7 Washington win on Jan. 9, 2022.

Trailing by nine points and facing a 4th and Goal, Boston Scott did what he had to do to get into the end zone. He took the toss to the right and was patient as his blocks developed, then went airborne to evade a diving defender and cross the goal line for six. He carried the ball 14 times for 47 yards and two touchdowns on the day to go along with four receptions for 39 yards in Philadelphia's 20-16 win over Washington on Jan. 2, 2022.

Bradley Chubb read this screen pass, stopping on a dime to drop back ever so slightly and jump to tip the ball to himself for the interception. He pulled it in and rumbled forward to set the Denver offense up with a 1st and Goal from the one-yard line. Chubb added five tackles on the day in Denver's 17-13 loss to Las Vegas on Dec. 26, 2021.

Jacksonville had clawed back to within a touchdown with just over two minutes to play in the game. That's when Brandin Cooks slammed the door shut. Taking it on a third-down screen, Cooks turned it up the field, followed his blockers, and hit the gas to take it in for the 43-yard score. The ensuing extra point put Houston up, 30-16, which would be the winning margin in the Texans' win on Dec. 19, 2021.

Brandon Aiyuk pulled in this pass off a slant route and went to work. Dipping and dodging through the Atlanta defense, he picked up the first down and headed into Falcons territory to keep the 49ers moving down the field. This was Aiyuk's lone catch of the game for 36 yards in a 31-13 San Francisco win over Atlanta on Dec. 19, 2021.

Brandon McManus lined up for a 61-yard field goal with 0:02 to play before the half, looking to put the first Denver points on the board against Los Angeles. McManus made sure his team headed to the locker room with three points in their pocket, knocking through this long kick as time expired. He made both of his field goal attempts on the day, as well as his lone extra point attempt, in a 34-13 loss to the Chargers on Jan. 2, 2022.

This is the best way to get momentum out of the gate. Braxton Berrios saw a big hole up the middle on this return and took advantage before bouncing it to the outside to set up the Jets' offense on the doorstep of the red zone. New York would score a touchdown on the drive to take an early lead, despite later falling to Philadelphia, 33-18, on Dec. 5, 2021.

As Breshad Perriman came across the formation, Tom Brady floated a pass just past a leaping defender and into the open space where he knew his receiver would be. Perriman grabbed it and turned up the field, creating separation and motoring 58 yards into the end zone for a game-winning, walk-off overtime touchdown. It was career touchdown pass No. 700 for Brady and Perriman's lone catch on the night in a 33-27 victory.

Brian Burns first dropped back into coverage before seeing that he had a path to the quarterback. That's when he decided to rush Josh Allen, closing quickly and bringing him down for the sack. Burns had two total tackles on the day in a 31-14 Carolina loss to Buffalo on Dec. 19, 2021.

Bryan Edwards made a spectacular adjustment on this back-shoulder fade, creating space between himself and the defender and going up to make the grab. He got two feet down to complete the catch and put six points on the board for the Raiders. Edwards finished the night with three catches for eight yards in Las Vegas' 16-14 win over Cleveland on Dec. 20, 2021.

A bobbled catch found Budda Baker in the right place at the right time, as he pulled in this interception and saw a lot of open space in front of him. Baker motored 77 yards down the far sideline before he was brought down, setting up Arizona inside the red zone. The Cardinals would go on to win, 33-22, on Dec. 5, 2021.

Trailing by as much as 21 in the second half, Buffalo needed three points to at least force overtime against Tampa Bay as it started its drive with 3:05 to play. In 14 plays, the Bills drove 70 yards to the Tampa Bay seven-yard line and, though they were unable to score a touchdown to take the lead, they did kick a field goal to force overtime. Buffalo would ultimately fall in the extra session, 33-27, on Dec. 12, 2021.

This catch by Byron Pringle on the slant was just the start. After the grab, he stopped on a dime to shake off one defender, then dipped under another to free himself for the score. Pringle caught six passes for 75 yards and two touchdowns in Kansas City's 36-10 win over Pittsburgh on Dec. 26, 2021.

Carolina couldn't escape Cameron Jordan. Trying to get to the edge? He's there. Stepping up in the pocket? He's there. Trying to escape? He's there. He was dominant against the Panthers, registering eight total tackles and 3.5 sacks in the Saints' 18-10 win on Jan. 2, 2022.

Baltimore was looking to extend its lead in the fourth quarter. Cameron Sutton quickly put an end to that. Flying in front of the intended receiver, Sutton pulled in this pick in the end zone to halt the Ravens' drive and give the ball back to the Steelers' offense. Sutton added five total tackles on the day in a 16-13 Pittsburgh win over Baltimore on Jan. 9, 2022.