Broncos in the NFL: Week 17
12/26/2024 2:02:00 PM | Football
BOISE, Idaho – Eleven former Boise State Broncos will represent the Blue and Orange in the penultimate week of the NFL regular season. John Bates and Jeremy McNichols (Washington Commanders), Scott Matlock (Los Angeles Chargers), JL Skinner (Denver Broncos) and Avery Williams (Atlanta Falcons) all enter the weekend with a chance to clinch a playoff berth. Khalil Shakir (Buffalo Bills) and Brett Rypien (Minnesota Vikings) have already clinched a playoff spot.
This weekend will feature two contests between former teammates. Cedrick Wilson Jr. (New Orleans Saints) and Alexander Mattison (Las Vegas Raiders) will meet after spending the 2016-17 seasons at Boise State. Ezra Cleveland (Jacksonville Jaguars) and John Ojuwku (Tennessee Titans), who were teammates from 2017-19, will face off for the second time this season.
SATURDAY
Los Angeles Chargers (Scott Matlock) at New England Patriots – NFL Network, 11 a.m.
Last Week: Matlock started at fullback and played 47 total snaps in the Chargers' 34-27 win over the Denver Broncos. On Los Angeles' second drive of the game, he had a career-long 10-yard reception and made a key block on a rushing touchdown. The Boise State product had career-highs in Pro Football Focus offense (83.8) and run blocking (82.9) grades. The Chargers are 9-6 and can clinch a playoff spot with a win or tie this week.
Denver Broncos (JL Skinner) at Cincinnati Bengals – NFL Network, 2:30 p.m.
Last Week: Skinner played 28 total snaps between defense and special teams, making one tackle in Denver's 34-27 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers. The Broncos are 9-6 and can clinch a playoff spot with a win or tie this week.
SUNDAY
Buffalo Bills (Khalil Shakir) vs. New York Jets – CBS, 11 a.m.
Last Week: Shakir caught two passes for 22 yards in Buffalo's 24-21 win over the New England Patriots. The Boise State product leads the Bills with 73 receptions for 796 yards, both career-highs. He ranks second among NFL wide receivers with 583 yards after catch. The Bills have clinched the AFC East title and a playoff berth.
New Orleans Saints (Cedrick Wilson Jr.) vs. Las Vegas Raiders (Alexander Mattison) – FOX, 11 a.m.
Last Week: Wilson Jr. played 38 total snaps and caught a 13-yard pass in the Saints' 34-0 loss to the Green Bay Packers. Mattison ran for 27 yards, including a 1-yard touchdown, in the Raiders' 19-14 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Boise State product leads Las Vegas with four rushing touchdowns this season, He added 29 yards on four catches, his ninth multi-reception game of the season.
Jacksonville Jaguars (Ezra Cleveland) vs. Tennessee Titans (John Ojukwu) – CBS, 11 a.m.
Last Week: Cleveland played all 67 offensive snaps in Jacksonville's 19-14 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders. This marked his 11th game of the season playing every offensive snap. Ojukwu made his third start of the season, playing a career-high 35 offensive snaps in Tennessee's 38-30 loss to the Indianapolis Colts.
Minnesota Vikings (Brett Rypien) vs. Green Bay Packers – FOX, 2:25 p.m.
Last Week: Rypien was inactive in Minnesota's 27-24 win over the Seattle Seahawks. The Vikings are 13-2 this season, tying the Detroit Lions for the NFC's best record. Both teams have clinched a playoff berth and are at the top of the NFC North standings.
Washington Commanders (John Bates, Jeremy McNichols) vs. Atlanta Falcons (Avery Williams) – NBC/Peacock, 6:20 p.m.
Last Week: McNichols had a season-high four receptions for 15 yards in Washington's comeback win over the Philadelphia Eagles. He added a two-point conversion rush in the final seconds to clinch the 36-33 victory. McNichols also had a 22-yard kick return and one tackle. Bates played 38 total snaps in the contest, including 24 on offense. The Commanders are 10-5 and can clinch a playoff spot with a win or tie this week. Williams played 19 total snaps in Atlanta's 34-7 win over the New York Giants, recording a 6-yard punt return. The Falcons are 8-7 and can clinch the NFC South title with a win and Tampa Bay loss.
BOISE STATE RETURNS TO FIESTA BOWL
Boise State earned the No. 3 seed and a berth in the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl during the first expanded College Football Playoff. The Broncos will face sixth-seeded Penn State at 5:30 p.m. MT/7:30 p.m. ET on Dec. 31. The game will air on ESPN. More information about the game is available on BroncoSports.com.
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--BroncoSports.com--
This weekend will feature two contests between former teammates. Cedrick Wilson Jr. (New Orleans Saints) and Alexander Mattison (Las Vegas Raiders) will meet after spending the 2016-17 seasons at Boise State. Ezra Cleveland (Jacksonville Jaguars) and John Ojuwku (Tennessee Titans), who were teammates from 2017-19, will face off for the second time this season.
SATURDAY
Los Angeles Chargers (Scott Matlock) at New England Patriots – NFL Network, 11 a.m.
Last Week: Matlock started at fullback and played 47 total snaps in the Chargers' 34-27 win over the Denver Broncos. On Los Angeles' second drive of the game, he had a career-long 10-yard reception and made a key block on a rushing touchdown. The Boise State product had career-highs in Pro Football Focus offense (83.8) and run blocking (82.9) grades. The Chargers are 9-6 and can clinch a playoff spot with a win or tie this week.
Denver Broncos (JL Skinner) at Cincinnati Bengals – NFL Network, 2:30 p.m.
Last Week: Skinner played 28 total snaps between defense and special teams, making one tackle in Denver's 34-27 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers. The Broncos are 9-6 and can clinch a playoff spot with a win or tie this week.
SUNDAY
Buffalo Bills (Khalil Shakir) vs. New York Jets – CBS, 11 a.m.
Last Week: Shakir caught two passes for 22 yards in Buffalo's 24-21 win over the New England Patriots. The Boise State product leads the Bills with 73 receptions for 796 yards, both career-highs. He ranks second among NFL wide receivers with 583 yards after catch. The Bills have clinched the AFC East title and a playoff berth.
New Orleans Saints (Cedrick Wilson Jr.) vs. Las Vegas Raiders (Alexander Mattison) – FOX, 11 a.m.
Last Week: Wilson Jr. played 38 total snaps and caught a 13-yard pass in the Saints' 34-0 loss to the Green Bay Packers. Mattison ran for 27 yards, including a 1-yard touchdown, in the Raiders' 19-14 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Boise State product leads Las Vegas with four rushing touchdowns this season, He added 29 yards on four catches, his ninth multi-reception game of the season.
Jacksonville Jaguars (Ezra Cleveland) vs. Tennessee Titans (John Ojukwu) – CBS, 11 a.m.
Last Week: Cleveland played all 67 offensive snaps in Jacksonville's 19-14 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders. This marked his 11th game of the season playing every offensive snap. Ojukwu made his third start of the season, playing a career-high 35 offensive snaps in Tennessee's 38-30 loss to the Indianapolis Colts.
Minnesota Vikings (Brett Rypien) vs. Green Bay Packers – FOX, 2:25 p.m.
Last Week: Rypien was inactive in Minnesota's 27-24 win over the Seattle Seahawks. The Vikings are 13-2 this season, tying the Detroit Lions for the NFC's best record. Both teams have clinched a playoff berth and are at the top of the NFC North standings.
Washington Commanders (John Bates, Jeremy McNichols) vs. Atlanta Falcons (Avery Williams) – NBC/Peacock, 6:20 p.m.
Last Week: McNichols had a season-high four receptions for 15 yards in Washington's comeback win over the Philadelphia Eagles. He added a two-point conversion rush in the final seconds to clinch the 36-33 victory. McNichols also had a 22-yard kick return and one tackle. Bates played 38 total snaps in the contest, including 24 on offense. The Commanders are 10-5 and can clinch a playoff spot with a win or tie this week. Williams played 19 total snaps in Atlanta's 34-7 win over the New York Giants, recording a 6-yard punt return. The Falcons are 8-7 and can clinch the NFC South title with a win and Tampa Bay loss.
BOISE STATE RETURNS TO FIESTA BOWL
Boise State earned the No. 3 seed and a berth in the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl during the first expanded College Football Playoff. The Broncos will face sixth-seeded Penn State at 5:30 p.m. MT/7:30 p.m. ET on Dec. 31. The game will air on ESPN. More information about the game is available on BroncoSports.com.
WAKE UP TO THE LATEST BRONCO NEWS
Get the latest news from Bronco Nation delivered to your inbox every morning! Delivered every weekday, Good Morning, Bronco Nation is a daily email full of the latest news, fun information, weekly schedules, stats and a daily trivia question. Click here to sign up today!
For complete coverage of Boise State Football, download the Bronco Sports App or follow the team on social media on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter/X.
--BroncoSports.com--
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