Detroit Lions 20, New York Jets 17

Zach Wilson returned as the Jets quarterback on Sunday, replacing the injured Mike White with dreams of not only reclaiming the job he lost but reviving New York’s playoff hopes in the AFC wild card race. 

After Week 15’s matchup with the Lions, it’s clear he failed on at least one account. On his own, Wilson was mercurial guiding Gang Green, flashing both big-time playmaking and head-scratching decisions. 

In the end, however, coaching really did him in, as the Jets’ curious late-game clock management, coupled with a clutch fourth-down Jared Goff touchdown, allowed Detroit to pull off a 20-17 victory at MetLife Stadium.

Down 17-13 after Wilson found C.J. Uzomah for his second TD of the day, the Lions faced a fourth-and-1 near midfield with just 1:49 left to play. That’s when Ben Johnson dialed up a play-action pass, and Goff found a wide-open Brock Wright rolling left. Wright proceeded to rumble his way 51 yards for the go-ahead score, shifting the game into Detroit’s favor.

NY Knicks On A Streak

Forget the six-game win streak or even the seven wins in nine road games. The Knicks have played 16 games, and won 10 of them. Three of the losses, to quality teams in the Trail Blazers, Bucks and Grizzlies, could’ve gone either way. 

Tom Thibodeau’s team is hitting its stride. The most recent example came Friday night, in a 114-91 shellacking of the talented, but underperforming Bulls, the Knicks shaking off an uneven first quarter by out-scoring Chicago by 26 points over the final three quarters. 

Prior to the game, Thibodeau warned his players of how hard it would be to complete the sweep in this rare two-games-in-three-days set on the road, comparing it to a postseason series. 

“When you look at playoffs, it’s the intensity of playing the same team over and over,” he said before the game. “You know exactly what they’re trying to do. So then it’s how hard you compete, it’s imposing your will.” 

“I think guys are building chemistry with each other,” Thibodeau said. “That chemistry is on both sides of the ball.”

Giants Win Rematch vs. Commanders, 20-12

The New York Giants took home a victory over the Washington Commanders on Sunday night but it appeared cornerback Darnay Holmes may have gotten away with a penalty toward the end.

Commanders quarterback Taylor Heinicke dropped back to pass on fourth down. He narrowly missed a sack and fired a pass toward wide receiver Curtis Samuel who was trying to get open with Holmes draped on top of him. The cornerback somehow avoided a penalty.

The Commanders turned the ball over and the Giants would just take a knee to seal the 20-12 win.

After the game, NBC’s rules analyst Terry McAulay told broadcasters Mike Tirico and Cris Collinsworth that the officials missed a foul on Washington’s final play.

“It’s clearly a foul,” McAulay said. “He grabs his arm. He plays through the back. It’s clearly before the ball gets there. This is defensive pass interference and it really should be called whether it’s the end of the game, beginning of the game. Doesn’t matter. It’s always a foul and should’ve been called.”