This is the last week The NFL the regular season is in the books, and the playoff bracket is set. A few players have played in spectacular fashion, and some amazing results from many teams.
Arguably the best performance came from Lamar Jackson, who finished with 217 yards passing, two passing touchdowns and 63 yards rushing in his regular season finale against the Browns. While his stat line didn’t jump off the page, the performance pushed his season totals up enough to complete one of the most impressive years we’ve ever seen by a quarterback— as he finished with 4,172 passing yards, 41 passing touchdowns, four interceptions, 915 rushing yards, and a touchdown four quick ones. Below we’ve rounded up how different this season has been for the two-time MVP:
- Jackson is the first player in NFL history with 40+ touchdowns and four or fewer interceptions.
- Jackson is the first player in NFL history with 40+ passing touchdowns and 600+ rushing yards.
- Jackson is the first player in NFL history with 4,000+ passing yards and 800+ rushing yards.
- Jackson is the first player in NFL history to average 8.5 yards per pass and six yards per carry in the same season.
- Jackson is just the third quarterback in NFL history to throw 40 touchdowns and rush for four touchdowns in a single season, joining Patrick Mahomes (2022) and Aaron Rodgers (2016).
- Jackson went 3-0 against Josh Allen and Joe Burrow, with a 10-0 touchdown-to-interception ratio.
Jackson wasn’t the only one who had an incredible performance this past weekend. FOX Sports Research breaks down ten more eye-opening nuggets for you. Let’s take a look:
1. Nabers’ historical year
Malik Nabers finished his rookie campaign with 64 yards receiving and a touchdown against the Eagles. The LSU product finished the season with 109 catches for 1,204 receiving yards and seven receiving touchdowns. No player in Giants history has caught more passes in a single season than Nabers this year, and he is one of three players to ever catch 100+ passes for over 1,200 yards— joining Puka Nacua (2023) and Anquan Boldin (2003). He also finished the season with seven consecutive games of 60+ receiving yards, becoming just the fourth rookie since the 1970 combine to have such a streak along with Odell Beckham Jr., Michael Clayton, and Brian Thomas Jr.
Takeaway: Just imagine what Nabers could do with a superior quarterback performance. Expect him to put on a show next year.
2. Buccaneers football
The Buckeyes won the NFC South for the fourth straight season, and several players set so many milestones that we decided to just list them all below:
- Baker Mayfield got his first career win when trailing by 10+ points in any game; entered the game 0-41 in his career in such situations (the Buccaneers trailed the Saints 16-6 at halftime).
- Baker Mayfield passed the 40 pass mark this season, joining Joe Burrow and Lamar Jackson as the only players to do so this season; there have only been two other seasons with three quarterbacks with 40+ touchdowns each (2020: Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers, Russell Wilson; 2011: Matthew Stafford, Aaron Rodgers, Drew Brees).
- Jalen McMillan has recorded a receiving touchdown in five straight games; the only player with a longer game in his rookie season is Randy Moss (seven straight).
- Mike Evans passed for 1,000 receiving yards for the 11th straight season, tying Jerry Rice for the longest streak.
Take a trip: Tampa Bay is clicking at the right time. Can they make a good run in the playoffs this year?
3. Bryce flips the switch
Early in the season, it looked like Bryce Young might not be “the guy” in Carolina after being benched in Week 3. But after being forced back into action in Week 8, the No. 1 starter improved his play dramatically. In his last 10 starts of the season, he threw 15 touchdowns on just six interceptions with a 61.8% completion rate and an 88.9 passer rating. In his final three games of the season, he finished with 10 total touchdowns and zero turnovers.
His final game of the season was his best, throwing for 251 yards, completing 73.5% of his passes, recording three touchdown passes, and adding two touchdowns. He joined Josh Allen as the only players this season to throw for three touchdowns and two rushes in the same game. And they are the only players since 1982 to have such a streak in their first two seasons.
Takeaway: After a rough start to the season, Bryce Young looks like he’s the quarterback of the future in Carolina. The front office will need to continue to build around him.
4. Stellar night of Gibbs
Jahmyr Gibbs STARTED against the Vikings in Week 18, finishing with 139 rushing yards and four scrimmage touchdowns (three rushing and one receiving). Gibbs finished the regular season with 20 total touchdowns, setting the Lions’ single-season record. He is also the only player in Lions history to produce 1,900+ scrimmage yards and 20+ touchdowns in a single season. It was also Gibbs’ fifth game of the season with 100+ rushing yards, the most by a Detroit player since Hall of Famer Barry Sanders in 1997.
Takeaway: People were shocked when the Lions selected a running back with the 12th overall pick in the 2023 draft. They couldn’t be more right, as Gibbs is an absolute game changer.
5. Rookie QBs shine
Rookie quarterbacks have really stood out this year. Below we have listed nuggets to show how good they were:
- Bo Nix completed 18 straight passes in the season finale against the Chiefs, the most in NFL history; Nix also helped the Broncos to their first championship since 2015.
- Bo Nix and Jayden Daniels are the only starters in NFL history to have 10+ wins, 30+ total touchdowns and 4,000+ total yards in a season.
- Jayden Daniels led the Commanders to their fourth 12-win season in franchise history, and their first since going 14-2 in 1991.
- Caleb Williams finished with 3,541 passing yards this season, the fifth most of any Bears quarterback; He also became the eighth rookie since the 1970 combine to win at Lambeau Field.
- Drake Maye had eight touchdowns in his first five career catches, tied with Steve Grogan (1975) for the most by any Patriots rookie; also rushed for 95 yards in a game this season, third most by a Patriots quarterback ever (only Steve Grogan (103 vs Jets 1976) and Babe Parilli (96 vs Oilers 1964) had more) .
- Michael Penix threw for a season-high 312 yards against the Panthers, becoming just the third Falcons player since the combine to throw for more than 310 yards in a game.
Takeaway: With so much success coming from rookie quarterbacks, it will be very interesting to see if any other quarterbacks besides Shedeur Sanders and Cam Ward will be taken in the first round of this year’s draft.
6. Parsons joins a prestigious company
Mika Parsons had one sack for the Chiefs, putting him at 12 on the year. He joined Hall of Famer Reggie White as the only players to have 12 or more sacks in their first four NFL seasons. Parsons is also the fourth player with 10+ sacks in his first four seasons, joining Hall of Famers Dwight Freeney, Derrick Thomas, and Reggie White.
Takeaway: Parsons is a generational talent and a future Hall of Famer. Simple and easy.
7. Debts make history
Despite the loss to New England, the Bills still made history in Week 18. With Mitch Trubisky’s touchdown pass, Buffalo reached 30 points in the air and 32 on the ground—making them the first team in NFL history to reach 30 in both categories. in one season.
Takeaway: Everything is where Credits are taken. They should beat the Chiefs on the road.
8. Rodgers hits 500
Aaron Rodgers finished the 2024 season with a bang, throwing for 274 yards and four touchdowns. Entering the game with 499 passing yards, his performance put him in the 500 club—making him the fifth player in NFL history to reach that mark, joining Brett Favre, Peyton Manning, Drew Brees and Tom Brady. It was also his 34th game with four touchdown passes, fourth most in NFL history.
Takeaway: If this was the last game of his career, don’t take for granted how special Aaron Rodgers has been for nearly 20 seasons.
9. Burrow’s hard break
Joe Burrow had the best year of his career, finishing with 4,918 passing yards and 43 passing scores. He is the third quarterback in NFL history to throw 40 pass touchdowns in a season and not make the playoffs that year, joining Drew Brees (2012) and Dan Marino (1986). He also posted 10 games this season with 250+ passing yards and three or more passing touchdowns. Only three other players have had 10 such games in a single season and all won the MVP in that season—Tom Brady in 2007, Peyton Manning in 2013 and Patrick Mahomes in 2018. Burrow also became the third quarterback in NFL history to throw for 4,500. passing yards and 40 passing yards on a 70% completion rate in a season, joining Drew Brees (2011) and Baker Mayfield (2024).
Takeaway: The Bengals were arguably the biggest disappointment of the year, and none of it had anything to do with Burrow. He is a future MVP.
10. Metals lose again
With the Steelers losing to the Bengals in Week 18, they dropped their fourth straight game. Pittsburgh is now the third team in NFL history to enter the postseason on a four-game losing streak, along with the 1986 Jets and 1999 Lions (did not make the conference title game). Fortunately, Cameron Heyward was the only player in the NFL this season with 10+ tackles for loss and 10+ passes defensed.
Takeaway: Can Mike Tomlin right the ship against the Ravens in the Wild Card?
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