Week 16 of the 2024 NFL season saw matchups on both ends of the spectrum for AFC South teams. The Houston Texans versus the Kansas City Chiefs was a hard-fought battle between two playoff teams, while the Jacksonville Jaguars' game against the Las Vegas Raiders was a meeting between two teams at the bottom of their divisions, playing for pride for the last few weeks of the season.
Neither the Texans nor the Jaguars were able to find success, however, as the Texans dropped their first game since Nov. 24 and the Jaguars lost their 12th game of the season. The Colts were the only AFC South team to win in Week 16, beating the Titans 38-30 on Sunday.
Texans WR Tank Dell suffers "significant" knee injury in loss to Chiefs
When Texans wide receiver Tank Dell leapt into the air to snag a 30-yard pass from quarterback C.J. Stroud in the beginning of the third quarter of Saturday's game, it was a display of the 25-year-old receiver's pure talent and athleticism. Dell made the catch in the back of the end zone for a touchdown that narrowed the Chiefs' lead to just one point – 17-16 – and put the Texans right back in the game with plenty of time to play.
But before anyone could celebrate, Dell collided with teammate Jared Wayne on his way down to the ground, landing hard and immediately grabbing at his knee. Dell's leg was immobilized and he was carted off the field, taken to a nearby hospital.
"It is a significant knee injury and our thoughts and prayers are with Tank Dell," head coach DeMeco Ryans said Sunday. "We're still evaluating it and seeing what will happen."
Stroud and the rest of the Texans were visibly shaken after Dell's injury – kicker Ka'imi Fairbairn missed the extra point – and struggled to take advantage of any momentum Dell's touchdown may have provided. The Texans were only able to get in the red zone one more time in the game, and a lone field goal wasn't enough to overtake the Chiefs' prolific offense; the Texans went on to lose 27-19.
"I am very proud of the effort of our guys," Ryans said postgame. "They came out and played really hard. We battled, and it was a really good battle against a really good team. We have to clean up executing in critical moments and finish them. That is where we have to clean it up. This was a great test against a great, playoff team and it was a playoff atmosphere today from the crowd playing against a really great team. I thought our guys battled all the way and we just have to finish in those moments."
Ryans said finishing strong in the fourth quarter was where Houston struggled on Saturday, something they couldn't afford to do against a team like the Chiefs, who are used to making game-winning plays late in the game.
Stroud was 23-of-39 for 244 yards and two touchdowns, but the quarterback also threw two costly interceptions in the first half that both turned into Chiefs scoring drives. Dell led the Texans with six receptions for 98 yards, and wide receiver Nico Collins had seven receptions for 60 yards.
The Texans have a quick turnaround now, needing to bounce back both from the loss to the Chiefs and the loss of Dell; they play the Baltimore Ravens on Christmas day.
Jaguars plagued by self-inflicted mistakes in loss to Raiders
With their most recent 19-14 loss to the Raiders on Sunday, the Jaguars are now 3-12 on the season. The loss marked the ninth time this season the Jaguars have lost by a touchdown or less, in another game where the Jaguars just couldn't overcome their own mistakes.
The Jaguars went into the fourth quarter with a tenuous 14-13 lead with the momentum on their side after quarterback Mac Jones found wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. for a 62-yard touchdown, with some help from busted coverage by the Raiders' defense. Thomas has been a bright spot for the Jaguars throughout the season, and Sunday was no different; he finished the game with 132 yards on nine catches.
"We needed a play," head coach Brian Callahan said. "We come back to him again, same type of thing, and he makes the play. It's the type of kid he is."
But as the clock ticked down, the Jaguars' defense faltered – first with blown coverages to allow a Raiders touchdown that gave them the 19-14 lead, and second with costly penalties that kept the ball in the Raiders' hands and let them run the clock down even further to close out the game.
"When a bad play happens, or a penalty, with where we are in our season, I'm sure (doubt) creeps in," Callahan said. "Guys are human. They're going to feel that emotion. It's the mental toughness. It's the grind. It's the grit and determination. The guys show it and they have shown it, but we just haven't been able to overcome some of those setbacks."
Jones, making his second consecutive start after Trevor Lawrence was placed on injured reserve after Week 13, completed 25 of 39 passes for 247 yards and didn't throw an interception but struggled to stay consistent throughout the game. The Raiders were able to take advantage of the lulls (and mistakes) in the Jaguars' play, and that was all they needed to do to get a win.
"It's not for the lack of effort, physicality, all that," Callahan said. "Those guys do play hard. But the mistakes, penalties, things that just held us back all season. I think as coaches, players, it's the frustrating part. Until we get that corrected, obviously there's going to be a lot of long days. We've got to get it fixed."
The Jaguars play the Tennessee Titans next Sunday before facing the Colts in Week 18.
