ORCHARD PARK, NY – DECEMBER 24: Matt Darr #4 of the Miami Dolphins celebrates after holding the game tying field goal in overtime against the Buffalo Bills at New Era Stadium on December 24, 2016 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Rich Barnes/Getty Images)

No matter which, if any, winter holidays you and yours celebrated this weekend, there was plenty of reason to stand up and cheer about NFL football. From shocking upsets to glorious victories, season-ending door slams and surprising doors opening, a lot of great games kept us in suspense from Christmas Eve until the wee small hours of Dec. 26.

On Thursday night, the New York Giants were who we thought they were: A team with a very good, but not incredible defense and a wide receiver great enough to overcome his flawed quarterback’s many flaws — most of the time.

This was not that time, though, as the Philadelphia Eagles both ended the Giants’ late-season push for an NFC East title and introduced serious doubt as to whether the Giants can make any noise in the playoffs.

For a brief, glorious LeSean McCoy-driven instant, it looked like the Buffalo Bills were going to keep their playoff hopes — and Rex Ryan’s job — alive. Then the Bills defense failed to prevent a game-tying field goal, Bills kicker Dan Carpenter missed his second attempt of the evening and Dolphins kicker Andrew Franks nailed the overtime game-winner.

In one of the few predictable results, the Atlanta Falcons jumped out to a 20-3 lead over the Carolina Panthers before putting it in the cooler and winning 33-16. Washington did what they needed to do against the frisky Chicago Bears, winning 41-21 and staying alive in the playoff race.

About Ty Schalter

Ty Schalter is thrilled to be part of The Comeback. A member of the Pro Football Writers of America, Ty also works as an NFL columnist for Bleacher Report and VICE Sports, and regular host for Sirius XM’s Bleacher Report Radio. In another life, he was an IT cubicle drone with a pretentious Detroit Lions blog.