All Sooners

Sooners in the NFL Week 16: Baker Mayfield Falls Short, Hollywood Brown Debuts

Oklahoma's NFL talent was on display in Week 16, headlined by a duel between Baker Mayfield and Ceedee Lamb.

Ross Lovelace

Dec 21, 2024; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Hollywood Brown (5) runs with the ball during the first half against the Houston Texans at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images
Dec 21, 2024; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Hollywood Brown (5) runs with the ball during the first half against the Houston Texans at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images / Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images
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Oklahoma’s NFL stars were once again headlined by the signal callers. The peak of the Sooner slate was a matchup between Baker Mayfield and Ceedee Lamb on Sunday night primetime. Both Mayfield and Lamb starred in the spotlight, but the Cowboys took home the victory.

Mayfield, once again, did all he could. That seems to be a pretty consistent theme in all of Tampa Bay’s losses this season. The Heisman winning quarterback went 31-of-43 through the air for 303 yards and two touchdowns. He had one interception, too, but it was a perfect ball that the receiver somehow didn’t come down with. On the last drive of the game, as the Bucs we’re looking to march down the field and win it, Mayfield’s miraculous play was ruined by a fumble from the running back.

His mobility has continued to be a bright spot for the Buccaneers, as he rushed for 42 yards on three rushes. Mayfield has a career-high 308 rushing yards and three touchdowns on the ground this season.

Unfortunately, Tampa Bay’s loss was a massive hit to the Bucs playoff chances. They’re still squarely in the hunt, but now they need Atlanta to lose — they don’t control their own destiny.

On the other sideline, Lamb lit it up with a backup quarterback throwing him the ball. He had a full highlight reel against the Buccaneers, torching the secondary and playing through an injury too.

The former Oklahoma star tallied seven receptions for 105 yards, including a 52-yard snag down the sideline. He has put together another 1,000-yard season with a backup quarterback playing the majority of games. 

Hollywood Brown made his triumphant return in Week 16 action too. After missing the whole season with devastating injury news, he’s back for Kansas City’s run in the playoffs. It has been a hard season for Brown on the sideline, but nobody was more excited for his return than him.

The Chiefs eased him back into action, but he was still a focal point. He caught five of his eight targets for 45 yards, including a 20-yard catch and run. Brown will no doubt be a weapon for Kansas City, and it’s always good to see him back on the field.

Both Mark Andrews and Rhamondre Stevenson joined the touchdown club in Week 16 action, too. Andrews added four receptions for 37 yards and a score, bringing his touchdown total to nine on the season. He has a solid chance to eclipse his career-high of 10 scores in a season. Stevenson rushed for 60 yards on 12 carries and found the endzone once, too. He now has 800 yards and seven touchdowns on the year.

Arizona Cardinals

(L 36-30 at Carolina)

  • QB Kyler Murray: 20-of-32 for 202 yards and 1 touchdown, 1 interception, 8 rushes for 63 yards and 1 touchdown

Baltimore Ravens

(W 34-17 vs Pittsburgh)

  • TE Mark Andrews: 4 catches for 37 yards and 1 touchdown

Buffalo Bills

(W 24-21 vs Patriots)

  • DL Jordan Phillips: 1 tackle

Carolina Panthers

(W 36-30 vs Arizona)

  • OL Andrew Raym (R): Practice squad

Chicago Bears

(L 34-17 vs Detroit)

  • QB Caleb Williams: 26-of-40 passing for 334 yards and 2 touchdowns, 6 rushes for 34 yards

Cincinnati Bengals

(W 24-6 vs Cleveland)

  • OT Orlando Brown Jr: Inactive, injured
  • OT Cody Ford: Started at LT

Cleveland Browns

(L 24-6 at Cincinnati)

  • DE Ogbo Okoronkwo: 1 tackle
  • WR Michael Woods II: 3 targets, 0 catches

Dallas Cowboys

(W 26-24 vs Tampa Bay)

  • WR CeeDee Lamb: 7 catches for 105 yards
  • OT Tyler Guyton (R): Played, did not start

Denver Broncos

(L 34-27 at Los Angeles Chargers)

  • OLB Nik Bonitto: 2 stats
  • S Delarrin Turner-Yell: (PUP)
  • WR Marvin Mims Jr: 3 catches for 62 yards, 3 punt reurns for 97 yards, 61-yard punt return
  • OG Ben Powers: Started at LG

Detroit Lions

(W 34-17 at Chicago)

  • DE Isaiah Thomas: Released from Practice Squad, joined Bengals Practice Squad

Houston Texans

(L 27-19 at Kansas City)

  • RB Joe Mixon: 14 carries for 57 yards, 1 catch for 14 yards

Indianapolis Colts

(W 38-30 vs Tennessee)

  • RB Trey Sermon: 8 rushes for 25 yards

Jacksonville Jaguars

(L 19-14 at Las Vegas)

  • OT Anton Harrison: Started at RT

Kansas City Chiefs

(W 27-19 vs Houston)

  • C Creed Humphrey: Started at center
  • LS James Winchester: Started at long snapper
  • OL Wanya Morris: Played reserve role at left tackle
  • WR Marquise Brown: 5 catches for 45 yards
  • RB Samaje Perine: 3 catches for 50 yards

Las Vegas Raiders

(W 19-14 vs Jacksonville)

  • DL Jonah Laulu (R): 2 tackles

Los Angeles Chargers

(W 34-27 vs Denver)

  • S Tony Jefferson: Started, 7 tackles

Los Angeles Rams

(W 19-9 at New York Jets)

  • DT Neville Gallimore: Played, 1 tackle

Minnesota Vikings

(Monday Night vs Chicago)

  • LB Brian Asamoah: Played, no stats
  • DE Jalen Redmond: Inactive
  • OT Walter Rouse (R): Inactive

New England Patriots

(L 24-21 at Buffalo)

  • RB Rhamondre Stevenson: 12 rushes for 60 yards and 1 touchdown, 1 catch for 13 yards

New Orleans Saints

(Monday Night at Green Bay)

  • QB Spencer Rattler:

New York Giants

(L 34-7 at Atlanta)

  • RB Eric Gray: 1 catch for 2 yards, 1 kick return for 37 yards

Philadelphia Eagles

(L 36-33 at Washington)

  • QB Jalen Hurts: 1-of-4 for 11 yards, 3 rushes for 41 yards, exited in the first quarter with an injury
  • TE Grant Calcaterra: Started, no stats recorded
  • OT Lane Johnson: Started at right tackle

San Francisco 49ers

(L 29-17 at Miami)

  • OL Trent Williams: Injured, DNP

Seattle Seahawks

(L 27-24 vs Minnesota)

  • CB Tre Brown: Played in a reserve role, 2 tackles

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

(L 26-24 at Dallas)

  • QB Baker Mayfield: 31-of-43 for 303 yards, 2 touchdowns and 1 interception, 3 rushes for 42 yards
  • WR Sterling Shepard: 1 catch for 20 yards, 1 rush for 14 yards

Tennessee Titans

(L 38-30 at Indianapolis)

  • LB Kenneth Murray: 2 tackles

Washington Commanders

(W 36-33 vs Philadelphia)

  • P Tress Way: 2 punts for an average of 46 yards, long of 49
  • K Austin Seibert: Out with injury
Published
Ross Lovelace
ROSS LOVELACE

Experience Ross is a young, up-and-coming sports reporter who has covered the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Oklahoma Sooners over the past six years. He's made guest appearances on various radio stations and has helped out with the All Sooners podcast whenever he gets the chance. Ross enjoys public speaking and has done so at multiple churches and high schools across the OKC metro area. In addition to writing, Ross has been the Play-by-Play announcer for Crossings’ basketball and football programs since 2020. In high school, Ross worked for self-starter blogs and latched onto Thunder Digest, where he discovered his passion for writing. From there, he worked for the OU Daily as a women's basketball reporter and was hired by All Sooners. Ross landed an internship with Sports Illustrated's Inside the Thunder and has since become a full-time contributor. One day, Ross hopes to work in the NBA. Work History Education Ross holds a bachelor's degree in Public Relations and a minor in Communication from the University of Oklahoma. Personal Born and raised in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Ross played basketball and wrote for his own Thunder blog at Crossings High School in OKC, OK. He enjoys reading, New York Jets football and a week at the beach. Ross is engaged to be married at the end of the year. His Twitter handle is @Rosslovelace.

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