NFL Week 17 Highlights: Notable grades from Sunday's games

• Tom Brady delivers when Buccaneers need it most: The 45-year-old produced a 92.6 PFF grade.

• Kenny Clark dominates: The Packers interior defensive lineman registered four pressures in a win over the Vikings.

• James Houston IV leads all rookies in sacks: The sixth-round draft pick now has eight sacks in just six games this season.

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We will be checking in on PFF grades and data each Monday when the grades go live, highlighting some of the interesting performances from Sunday’s action.

Here are the top stories from Week 17.

QB Tom Brady, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

PFF grade: 92.6

The Buccaneers needed Brady to be at his absolute best as they mounted a comeback against the Carolina Panthers to retain the NFC South crown, and that’s exactly what they got. On throws beyond the sticks, Brady went 21-for-27 for 159 yards, the most completions on such throws this week so far. 

RB Austin Ekeler, Los Angeles Chargers

PFF grade: 90.0

Ekeler delivered during the week when most fantasy football leagues host their championship. He handled only 10 carries but still racked up 122 rushing yards, with five of those 10 carries resulting in a first down or touchdown. He forced two missed tackles, generated 92 of his rushing yards after contact and caught all four passes thrown his way for 39 yards. 

CB Marshon Lattimore, New Orleans Saints

PFF grade: 93.4

The Saints won’t be part of the postseason this year after results went against them later in the day, but they still pulled off a surprise win against the Philadelphia Eagles, thanks in large part to Lattimore in the defensive backfield. Targeted eight times from 38 snaps in coverage, Lattimore allowed five receptions for 44 yards and had an interception that he returned for a touchdown to effectively seal the game late in the fourth quarter.

DI Kenny Clark, Green Bay Packers

PFF grade: 90.0

Setting themselves up for a win-and-in scenario in Week 18, the Green Bay Packers dominated the Minnesota Vikings on both sides of the ball. Clark was a wrecking ball on the defensive interior, registering four pressures on the day. One of those pressures turned into so much more, though, with Clark registering a sack, forcing a fumble and recovering the loose ball on the same play.

EDGE James Houston IV, Detroit Lions

PFF grade: 85.1

The sixth-round rookie’s incredible stretch in the second half of this season continued in Week 17, as he rebounded from his first career game without a sack in Week 16 with a three-sack performance against the Chicago Bears. Those three sacks were the only pressures he registered in the game, but he also forced a fumble. Through six games in the NFL, Houston has registered eight sacks, leading all rookies.