Madden NFL 17 (2016-2017 NFL Season)

Week 1

Thursday, Sep 08

Carolina (0-1) 7 at Denver (1-0) 24

Sunday, Sep 11

Buffalo (1-0) 21 at Baltimore (0-1) 18

Chicago (0-1) 16 at Houston (1-0) 20

Cincinnati (1-0) 34 at N.Y. Jets (0-1) 10

Cleveland (0-1) 14 at Philadelphia (1-0) 31

Green Bay (1-0) 37 at Jacksonville (0-1) 10

Minnesota (0-1) 16 at Tennessee (1-0) 21

Oakland (0-1) 10 at New Orleans (1-0) 24

San Diego (0-1) 21 at Kansas City (1-0) 42

Tampa Bay (0-1) 20 at Atlanta (1-0) 38

Miami (0-1) 27 at Seattle (1-0) 30

Detroit (0-1) 10 at Indianapolis (1-0) 17

N.Y. Giants (0-1) 28 at Dallas (1-0) 38

New England (1-0) 31 at Arizona (0-1) 24

Monday, Sep 12

Pittsburgh (1-0) 32 at Washington (0-1) 29

L.A. Rams (1-0) 24 at San Francisco (0-1) 13

Week 2

Thursday, Sep 15

N.Y. Jets (1-1) 20 at Buffalo (1-1) 14

Sunday, Sep 18

Baltimore (1-1) 24 at Cleveland (0-2) 17

Cincinnati (2-0) 45 at Pittsburgh (1-1) 28

Dallas (2-0) 35 at Washington (0-2) 14

Kansas City (2-0) 38 at Houston (1-1) 3

Miami (0-2) 0 at New England (2-0) 24

New Orleans (2-0) 23 at N.Y. Giants (0-2) 17

San Francisco (0-2) 22 at Carolina (1-1) 29

Tennessee (2-0) 31 at Detroit (0-2) 7

Seattle (2-0) 27 at L.A. Rams (1-1) 24

Tampa Bay (0-2) 14 at Arizona (1-1) 21

Atlanta (2-0) 35 at Oakland (0-2) 21

Indianapolis (1-1) 14 at Denver (2-0) 35

Jacksonville (1-1) 28 at San Diego (0-2) 14

Green Bay (2-0) 41 at Minnesota (0-2) 27

Monday, Sep 19

Philadelphia (2-0) 24 at Chicago (0-2) 21

Week 3

Thursday, Sep 22

Houston (1-2) 28 at New England (3-0) 34 (Overtime)

Sunday, Sep 25

Arizona (2-1) 35 at Buffalo (1-2) 32

Baltimore (2-1) 30 at Jacksonville (1-2) 24

Cleveland (0-3) 10 at Miami (1-2) 42

Denver (3-0) 27 at Cincinnati (2-1) 21 (Overtime)

Detroit (0-3) 7 at Green Bay (3-0) 52

Minnesota (0-3) 13 at Carolina (2-1) 38

Oakland (0-3) 21 at Tennessee (3-0) 23

Washington (0-3) 20 at N.Y. Giants (1-2) 45

L.A. Rams (2-1) 24 at Tampa Bay (0-3) 14

San Francisco (0-3) 3 at Seattle (3-0) 24

N.Y. Jets (1-2) 13 at Kansas City (3-0) 24

Pittsburgh (1-2) 15 at Philadelphia (3-0) 27

San Diego (0-3) 21 at Indianapolis (2-1) 26

Chicago (0-3) 14 at Dallas (3-0) 34

Monday, Sep 26

Atlanta (3-0) 33 at New Orleans (2-1) 30

Week 4

Open Date

Green Bay, Philadelphia

Thursday, Sep 29

Miami (1-3) 17 at Cincinnati (3-1) 28

Sunday, Oct 02

Indianapolis (3-1) 31 at Jacksonville (1-3) 21 (London, England)

Buffalo (1-3) 14 at New England (4-0) 35

Carolina (3-1) 42 at Atlanta (3-1) 24

Cleveland (1-3) 30 at Washington (0-4) 27

Detroit (1-3) 31 at Chicago (0-4) 24

Oakland (0-4) 7 at Baltimore (3-1) 21

Seattle (4-0) 31 at N.Y. Jets (1-3) 21

Tennessee (4-0) 21 at Houston (1-3) 18

Denver (4-0) 34 at Tampa Bay (0-4) 6

Dallas (4-0) 45 at San Francisco (0-4) 14

L.A. Rams (2-2) 21 at Arizona (3-1) 28

New Orleans (3-1) 31 at San Diego (0-4) 24

Kansas City (4-0) 35 at Pittsburgh (1-3) 27

Monday, Oct 03

N.Y. Giants (1-3) 14 at Minnesota (1-3) 28

Week 5

Open Date

Jacksonville, Kansas City, New Orleans, Seattle

Thursday, Oct 06

Arizona 17 (3-2) at San Francisco (0-5) 20

Sunday, Oct 09

Chicago (0-5) 9 at Indianapolis (4-1) 20

Houston (1-4) 21 at Minnesota (2-3) 24

New England (5-0) 31 at Cleveland (1-4) 20

N.Y. Jets (1-4) 14 at Pittsburgh (2-3) 35

Philadelphia (4-0) 34 at Detroit (1-4) 28 (Overtime)

Tennessee (5-0) 21 at Miami (1-4) 16

Washington (1-4) 34 at Baltimore (3-2) 24

Atlanta (3-2) 10 at Denver (5-0) 27

Buffalo (1-4) 14 at L.A. Rams (3-2) 21

Cincinnati (4-1) 28 at Dallas (4-1) 7

San Diego (1-4) 31 at Oakland (0-5) 24

N.Y. Giants (1-4) 31 at Green Bay (4-0) 38

Monday, Oct 10

Tampa Bay (0-5) 24 at Carolina (4-1) 27

Week 6

Open Date

Minnesota, Tampa Bay

Thursday, Oct 13

Denver (6-0) 38 at San Diego (1-5) 7

Sunday, Oct 16

Baltimore (3-3) 13 at N.Y. Giants (2-4) 27

Carolina (5-1) 41 at New Orleans (3-2) 38

Cincinnati (4-2) 31 at New England (6-0) 37 (Overtime)

Cleveland (1-5) 9 at Tennessee (6-0) 38

Jacksonville (2-3) 32 at Chicago (0-6) 29

L.A. Rams (4-2) 14 at Detroit (1-5) 10

Philadelphia (5-0) 29 at Washington (1-5) 23

Pittsburgh (3-3) 24 at Miami (1-5) 17

San Francisco (0-6) 0 at Buffalo (2-4) 20

Kansas City (5-0) 42 at Oakland (0-6) 3

Atlanta (3-3) 21 at Seattle (5-0) 41

Dallas (4-2) 7 at Green Bay (5-0) 21

Indianapolis (5-1) 27 at Houston (1-5) 10

Monday, Oct 17

N.Y. Jets (1-5) 27 at Arizona (4-2) 41

Week 7

Open Date

Carolina, Dallas

Thursday, Oct 20

Chicago (0-7) 7 at Green Bay (6-0) 28

Sunday, Oct 23

N.Y. Giants (3-4) 21 at L.A. Rams (4-3) 7 (London, England)

Baltimore (4-3) 21 at N.Y. Jets (1-6) 17

Buffalo (3-4) 28 at Miami (1-6) 7

Cleveland (1-6) 34 at Cincinnati (5-2) 37

Indianapolis (6-1) 24 at Tennessee (6-1) 21

Minnesota (2-4) 20 at Philadelphia (6-0) 31

New Orleans (3-3) 24 at Kansas City (6-0) 42

Oakland (0-7) 28 at Jacksonville (3-3) 35

Washington (2-5) 35 at Detroit (1-6) 31

San Diego (1-6) 17 at Atlanta (4-3) 28

Tampa Bay (0-6) 13 at San Francisco (1-6) 28

New England (7-0) 49 at Pittsburgh (3-4) 28

Seattle (6-0) 38 at Arizona (4-3) 21

Monday, Oct 24

Houston (1-6) 7 at Denver (7-0) 34

Week 8

Open Date

Baltimore, L.A. Rams, Miami, N.Y. Giants, Pittsburgh, San Francisco

Thursday, Oct 27

Jacksonville (3-4) 34 at Tennessee (7-1) 37

Sunday, Oct 30

Washington (2-6) 17 at Cincinnati (6-2) 31 (London, England)

Detroit (1-7) 14 at Houston (2-6) 35

Green Bay (7-0) 28 at Atlanta (4-4) 13

Kansas City (6-1) 24 at Indianapolis (7-1) 29

New England (8-0) 37 at Buffalo (3-5) 31 (Overtime)

N.Y. Jets (2-6) 35 at Cleveland (1-7) 17

Oakland (1-7) 21 at Tampa Bay (0-7) 17

Seattle (7-0) 31 at New Orleans (3-4) 7

San Diego (1-7) 17 at Denver (8-0) 23

Arizona (4-4) 14 at Carolina (6-1) 31

Philadelphia (7-0) 20 at Dallas (4-3) 17

Monday, Oct 31

Minnesota (2-5) 21 at Chicago (1-7) 38

Week 9

Open Date

Arizona, Chicago, Cincinnati, Houston, New England, Washington

Thursday, Nov 03

Atlanta (5-4) 28 at Tampa Bay (0-8) 21

Sunday, Nov 06

Dallas (5-3) 37 at Cleveland (1-8) 31 (Overtime)

Detroit (2-7) 35 at Minnesota (2-6) 31

Jacksonville (3-5) 17 at Kansas City (7-1) 28

N.Y. Jets (3-6) 20 at Miami (1-7) 14

Philadelphia (8-0) 30 at N.Y. Giants (3-5) 24

Pittsburgh (4-4) 38 at Baltimore (4-4) 27

Carolina (7-1) 23 at L.A. Rams (4-4) 17

Indianapolis (7-2) 20 at Green Bay (8-0) 38

New Orleans (4-4) 24 at San Francisco (1-7) 21

Tennessee (7-2) 24 at San Diego (2-7) 38

Denver (9-0) 42 at Oakland (1-8) 7

Monday, Nov 07

Buffalo (3-6) 28 at Seattle (8-0) 31

Week 10

Open Date

Buffalo, Detroit, Indianapolis, Oakland

Thursday, Nov 10

Cleveland (1-9) 24 at Baltimore (5-4) 31

Sunday, Nov 13

Atlanta (5-5) 21 at Philadelphia (9-0) 24

Chicago (2-7) 26 at Tampa Bay (0-9) 20 (Overtime)

Denver (10-0) 36 at New Orleans (4-5) 29

Green Bay (9-0) 27 at Tennessee (7-3) 24

Houston (3-6) 31 at Jacksonville (3-6) 17

Kansas City (7-2) 24 at Carolina (8-1) 28

L.A. Rams (5-4) 34 at N.Y. Jets (3-7) 13

Minnesota (2-7) 17 at Washington (3-6) 30

Miami (1-8) 7 at San Diego (3-7) 28

Dallas (5-4) 21 at Pittsburgh (5-4) 28

San Francisco (2-7) 21 at Arizona (4-5) 18

Seattle (8-1) 17 at New England (9-0) 34

Monday, Nov 14

Cincinnati (7-2) 37 at N.Y. Giants (3-6) 31 (Overtime)

Week 11

Open Date

Atlanta, Denver, N.Y. Jets, San Diego

Thursday, Nov 17

New Orleans (4-6) 13 at Carolina (9-1) 21

Sunday, Nov 20

Arizona (5-5) 31 at Minnesota (2-8) 14

Baltimore (5-5) 28 at Dallas (6-4) 42

Buffalo (3-7) 31 at Cincinnati (8-2) 34

Chicago (2-8) 16 at N.Y. Giants (4-6) 24

Jacksonville (3-7) 27 at Detroit (3-7) 35

Pittsburgh (6-4) 21 at Cleveland (1-10) 17

Tampa Bay (0-10) 12 at Kansas City (8-2) 35

Tennessee (7-4) 14 at Indianapolis (8-2) 20

Miami (2-8) 28 at L.A. Rams (5-5) 34

New England (10-0) 42 at San Francisco (2-8) 14

Philadelphia (9-1) 7 at Seattle (9-1) 38

Green Bay (10-0) 31 at Washington (3-7) 28

Monday, Nov 21

Houston (4-6) 20 at Oakland (1-9) 7 (Mexico City, Mexico)

Week 12

Thursday, Nov 24

Minnesota (3-8) 31 at Detroit (3-8) 13

Washington (3-8) 21 at Dallas (7-4) 28

Pittsburgh (6-5) 28 at Indianapolis (9-2) 35

Sunday, Nov 27

Arizona (5-6) 27 at Atlanta (6-5) 34

Cincinnati (9-2) 41 at Baltimore (5-6) 31

Jacksonville (4-7) 27 at Buffalo (3-8) 21

L.A. Rams (6-5) 37 at New Orleans (4-7) 31 (Overtime)

N.Y. Giants (5-6) 20 at Cleveland (1-11) 3

San Diego (4-7) 31 at Houston (4-7) 14

San Francisco (2-9) 21 at Miami (3-8) 24

Tennessee (8-4) 24 at Chicago (2-9) 16

Seattle (10-1) 27 at Tampa Bay (0-11) 17

Carolina (10-1) 34 at Oakland (1-10) 28

Kansas City (8-3) 14 at Denver (11-0) 34

New England (11-0) 42 at N.Y. Jets (3-8) 17

Monday, Nov 28

Green Bay (11-0) 21 at Philadelphia (9-2) 16

Week 13

Open Date

Cleveland, Tennessee

Thursday, Dec 01

Dallas (8-4) 31 at Minnesota (3-9) 21

Sunday, Dec 04

Denver (12-0) 38 at Jacksonville (4-8) 24

Detroit (3-9) 28 at New Orleans (5-7) 34 (Overtime)

Houston (4-8) 31 at Green Bay (12-0) 42

Kansas City (9-3) 28 at Atlanta (6-6) 24

L.A. Rams (6-6) 17 at New England (12-0) 27

Miami (3-9) 7 at Baltimore (6-6) 45

Philadelphia (9-3) 24 at Cincinnati (10-2) 38

San Francisco (3-9) 17 at Chicago (2-10) 14

Buffalo (3-9) 14 at Oakland (2-10) 17

N.Y. Giants (5-7) 24 at Pittsburgh (7-5) 38

Tampa Bay (0-12) 21 at San Diego (5-7) 38

Washington (4-8) 35 at Arizona (5-7) 17

Carolina (11-1) 41 at Seattle (10-2) 10

Monday, Dec 05

Indianapolis (10-2) 37 at N.Y. Jets (3-9) 3

Week 14

Thursday, Dec 08

Oakland (2-11) 28 at Kansas City (10-3) 42

Sunday, Dec 11

Arizona (6-7) 35 at Miami (3-10) 20

Chicago (2-11) 3 at Detroit (4-9) 35

Cincinnati (11-2) 27 at Cleveland (1-12) 24

Denver (13-0) 24 at Tennessee (8-5) 10

Houston (4-9) 3 at Indianapolis (11-2) 38

Minnesota (4-9) 10 at Jacksonville (4-9) 0

New Orleans (6-7) 40 at Tampa Bay (0-13) 28

Pittsburgh (8-5) 38 at Buffalo (3-10) 32

San Diego (5-8) 6 at Carolina (12-1) 38

Washington (4-9) 14 at Philadelphia (10-3) 17

N.Y. Jets (4-9) 23 at San Francisco (3-10) 17

Atlanta (7-6) 25 at L.A. Rams (6-7) 21

Seattle (10-3) 27 at Green Bay (13-0) 34

Dallas (9-4) 45 at N.Y. Giants (5-8) 28

Monday, Dec 12

Baltimore (6-7) 22 at New England (13-0) 27

Week 15

Thursday, Dec 15

L.A. Rams (7-7) 31 at Seattle (10-4) 37

Saturday, Dec 17

Miami (3-11) 17 at N.Y. Jets (5-9) 31

Tuesday, Dec 20

Cleveland (1-13) 7 at Buffalo (4-10) 38

Detroit (4-10) 3 at N.Y. Giants (6-8) 24

Green Bay (14-0) 30 at Chicago (2-12) 9

Indianapolis (12-2) 30 at Minnesota (4-10) 16

Jacksonville (4-10) 10 at Houston (5-9) 47

Philadelphia (11-3) 30 at Baltimore (6-8) 24

Tampa Bay (0-14) 6 at Dallas (10-4) 49

Tennessee (8-6) 14 at Kansas City (11-3) 17

New Orleans (6-8) 26 at Arizona (7-7) 41

San Francisco (3-11) 24 at Atlanta (8-6) 27

New England (13-1) 21 at Denver (14-0) 35

Oakland (3-11) 33 at San Diego (5-9) 13

Pittsburgh (8-6) 7 at Cincinnati (12-2) 31

Wednesday, Dec 21

Carolina (13-1) 17 at Washington (4-10) 13

Week 16

Thursday, Dec 22

N.Y. Giants (6-9) 17 at Philadelphia (12-3) 20

Saturday, Dec 24

Atlanta (8-7) 21 at Carolina (14-1) 41

Miami (4-11) 17 at Buffalo (4-11) 7

Minnesota (4-11) 21 at Green Bay (15-0) 28

N.Y. Jets (5-10) 7 at New England (14-1) 24

San Diego (6-9) 31 at Cleveland (1-14) 24

Tampa Bay (1-14) 35 at New Orleans (6-9) 24

Tennessee (8-7) 14 at Jacksonville (5-10) 20

Washington (4-11) 24 at Chicago (3-12) 28

Indianapolis (13-2) 23 at Oakland (3-12) 20

Arizona (7-8) 14 at Seattle (11-4) 28

San Francisco (5-10) 17 at L.A. Rams (7-8) 14

Cincinnati (13-2) 31 at Houston (5-10) 10

Sunday, Dec 25

Baltimore (6-9) 14 at Pittsburgh (9-6) 38

Denver (14-1) 0 at Kansas City (12-3) 31

Monday, Dec 26

Detroit (4-11) 14 at Dallas (11-4) 35

Week 17

Sunday, Jan 01

Baltimore (7-9) 27 at Cincinnati (13-3) 7

Buffalo (5-11) 27 at N.Y. Jets (5-11) 24

Carolina (15-1) 17 at Tampa Bay (1-15) 14

Chicago (3-13) 14 at Minnesota (5-11) 47

Cleveland (1-15) 10 at Pittsburgh (10-6) 41

Dallas (12-4) 31 at Philadelphia (12-4) 7

Green Bay (16-0) 30 at Detroit (4-12) 24

Houston (5-11) 20 at Tennessee (9-7) 23

Jacksonville (6-10) 27 at Indianapolis (13-3) 14

New England (15-1) 17 at Miami (4-12) 10

New Orleans (6-10) 10 at Atlanta (9-7) 21

N.Y. Giants (7-9) 20 at Washington (4-12) 13

Arizona (7-9) 21 at L.A. Rams (8-8) 31

Kansas City (12-4) 21 at San Diego (7-9) 39

Oakland (3-13) 17 at Denver (15-1) 24

Seattle (12-4) 28 at San Francisco (5-11) 7

…

Madden NFL 17 2016-2017 Standings

AFC North

1. Cincinnati Bengals (13-3)

2. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-6)

3. Baltimore Ravens (7-9)

4. Cleveland Browns (1-15)

…

AFC South

1. Indianapolis Colts (13-3)

2. Tennessee Titans (9-7)

3. Jacksonville Jaguars (6-10)

4. Houston Texans (5-11)

…

AFC East

1. New England Patriots (15-1)

2. Buffalo Bills (5-11)

3. New York Jets (5-11)

4. Miami Dolphins (3-13)

…

AFC West

1. Denver Broncos (15-1)

2. Kansas City Chiefs (12-4)

3. San Diego Chargers (7-9)

4. Oakland Raiders (3-13)

…

NFC North

1. Green Bay Packers (16-0)

2. Minnesota Vikings (5-11)

3. Detroit Lions (4-12)

4. Chicago Bears (3-13)

…

NFC South

1. Carolina Panthers (15-1)

2. Atlanta Falcons (9-7)

3. New Orleans Saints (6-10)

4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-15)

…

NFC East

1. Philadelphia Eagles (12-4)

2. Dallas Cowboys (12-4)

3. New York Giants (7-9)

4. Washington Redskins (4-12)

…

NFC West

1. Seattle Seahawks (13-3)

2. Los Angeles Rams (8-8)

3. Arizona Cardinals (7-9)

4. San Francisco 49ers (5-11)

…

…

2016 Madden NFL 17 Playoffs

Seedings:

AFC

1. Denver Broncos (15-1, AFC West Champions)

2. New England Patriots (15-1, AFC East Champions)

3. Cincinnati Bengals (13-3, AFC North Champions)

4. Indianapolis Colts (13-3, AFC South Champions)

5. Kansas City Chiefs (12-4, AFC Wild Card)

6. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-6, AFC Wild Card)

NFC

1. Green Bay Packers (16-0, NFC North Champions)

2. Carolina Panthers (15-1, NFC South Champions)

3. Seattle Seahawks (13-3, NFC West Champions)

4. Philadelphia Eagles (12-4, NFC East Champions)

5. Dallas Cowboys (12-4, NFC Wild Card)

6. Atlanta Falcons (9-7, NFC Wild Card)

…

Wild Card Playoffs

Saturday January 7th, 2017

AFC: (6) Pittsburgh Steelers 21 vs. (3) Cincinnati Bengals 10

NFC: (6) Atlanta Falcons 13 vs. (3) Seattle Seahawks 34

Sunday January 8th, 2017

AFC: (5) Kansas City Chiefs 30 vs. (4) Indianapolis Colts 24 (Overtime)

NFC: (5) Dallas Cowboys 18 vs. (4) Philadelphia Eagles 22

…

Divisional Playoffs

Saturday January 14th, 2017

AFC: (6) Pittsburgh Steelers 20 vs. (1) Denver Broncos 34

NFC: (4) Philadelphia Eagles 34 vs. (1) Green Bay Packers 14

Sunday January 15th, 2017

AFC: (5) Kansas City Chiefs 21 vs. (2) New England Patriots 49

NFC: (3) Seattle Seahawks 0 vs. (2) Carolina Panthers 51

…

Conference Championships

Sunday January 22nd, 2017

AFC: (2) New England Patriots 45 vs. (1) Denver Broncos 24

NFC: (4) Philadelphia Eagles 13 vs. (2) Carolina Panthers 45

…

Super Bowl 51 at Reliant Stadium in Houston, Texas

Sunday January 29th, 2017

(1) New England Patriots 31 vs. (2) Carolina Panthers 17

Super Bowl 51 MVP: Rob Gronkowski TE, New England Patriots

...

Madden 17 Season Awards

2016 NFL Season MVP: Alex Smith QB, Kansas City Chiefs

2016 NFL Coach of the Year: Mike McCarthy, Green Bay Packers

2016 AFC Offensive Player of the Year: Andy Dalton QB, Cincinnati Bengals

2016 NFC Offensive Player of the Year: Cam Newton QB, Carolina Panthers

2016 AFC Defensive Player of the Year: Von Miller LB, Denver Broncos

2016 NFC Defensive Player of the Year: Luke Kuechly LB, Carolina Panthers

2016 AFC Offensive Rookie of the Year: Paxton Lynch QB, Denver Broncos

2016 NFC Offensive Rookie of the Year: Jared Goff QB, Los Angeles Rams

2016 AFC Defensive Rookie of the Year: Reggie Ragland LB, Buffalo Bills

2016 NFC Defensive Rookie of the Year: DeForest Buckner DT, San Francisco 49ers

...

...

The 2016 Madden NFL 17 Season: The Garoppolo Era & Gronk’s Super Bowl Glory

The Setup: The 16–0 Packers & A Historic Heavyweight Class

With New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski spiking the ball on the cover of Madden NFL 17, the 2016 regular season produced one of the most statistically dominant collections of division champions in virtual NFL history:

Perfection in Green Bay:

Head Coach Mike McCarthy earned Coach of the Year honors as the Green Bay Packers stormed through their schedule to complete an unblemished 16-0 regular season.

The 15–1 Contenders:

Behind NFC Offensive Player of the Year Cam Newton and Defensive Player of the Year Luke Kuechly, the Carolina Panthers rolled to a 15-1 record. In the AFC, both the Denver Broncos (anchored by AFC Defensive Player of the Year Von Miller) and the New England Patriots matched that pace at 15-1.

Smith’s MVP Run & High-Powered Offenses:

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith captured League MVP honors with remarkable efficiency, leading Kansas City to a 12-4 Wild Card berth, while Andy Dalton took home AFC Offensive Player of the Year for the 13-3 Cincinnati Bengals.

The Turning Point in Foxborough:

Just when New England looked unstoppable, catastrophe struck in Week 15 against Denver: Tom Brady suffered a season-ending Achilles injury. Thrust into the starting spotlight, backup quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo took over the offense for the remainder of the regular season and the entire playoff gauntlet.

The Postseason: Brady Goes Down, Garoppolo Steps Up

The playoffs were filled with divisional grudge matches, unexpected blowouts, and a stunning collapse of the league's top seed:

Wild Card Fireworks:

In the AFC, the #6 seed Pittsburgh Steelers faced their AFC North rival #3 seed Cincinnati Bengals in a penalty-marred physical clash. Costly discipline breakdowns by Cincinnati—including a pass interference call on CB Adam "Pacman" Jones and an unsportsmanlike hit by LB Vontaze Burfict—helped seal a 21-10 Pittsburgh win. Meanwhile, the #5 seed Kansas City Chiefs snapped a postseason drought dating back to 1993, edging the #4 seed Indianapolis Colts 30-24 in an overtime thriller.

In the NFC, the #3 seed Seattle Seahawks dispatched the #6 seed Atlanta Falcons 34-13, while the #4 seed Philadelphia Eagles held off the division rival #5 seed Dallas Cowboys 22-18.

The Divisional Shockwaves:

In the NFC, the #4 seed Philadelphia Eagles delivered the shocker of the postseason, stunning the undefeated 16-0 Green Bay Packers 34-14 at Lambeau Field. Meanwhile, the #2 seed Carolina Panthers obliterated the Seattle Seahawks 51-0 in Charlotte.

In the AFC, Garoppolo displayed incredible poise by guiding the #2 seed Patriots to a 49-21 blowout over the Kansas City Chiefs, while rookie QB Paxton Lynch and the #1 seed Denver Broncos eliminated Ben Roethlisberger and the Pittsburgh Steelers 34-20.

Championship Sunday Revenge:

Traveling back to Mile High Stadium for the AFC Championship, Garoppolo and the New England Patriots exacted revenge for their regular-season loss, rolling over the Denver Broncos 45-24.

In the NFC Championship, the Carolina Panthers dismantled the Philadelphia Eagles 45-13 in Charlotte to punch their ticket to their first Super Bowl since Super Bowl 38.

Super Bowl 51: Garoppolo & Gronk Seal the Title

Super Bowl 51 at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas, brought together the AFC Champion New England Patriots and the NFC Champion Carolina Panthers in a rematch of Super Bowl 38, 13 years earlier.

With Jimmy Garoppolo managing the pocket with cool composure, cover star Rob Gronkowski became an unstoppable force over the middle of the field. Gronk dominated the Panthers' linebacking corps all night, hauling in key touchdowns to earn Super Bowl MVP honors.

The Patriots secured a decisive 31-17 victory, capping off an unforgettable 18-1 championship season led by their resilient backup quarterback while earning an injured Tom Brady his fifth career Super Bowl ring.