There was a delayed dance, the promise of gifts and even a secret incompatibility with a head coach. The last week of the NFL's unique season featured storylines that weren't readily apparent to the casual viewer.

For instance, why did Baltimore Ravens linebacker Jadeveon Clowney delay celebrating his strip sack of Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph, and when the dancing began, why did it last so long?

"That was a very long celebration," Ravens nose tackle Michael Pierce said. "That much have been a record for longest celebration."

Clowney had 750,000 reasons to get his dance on while he triggered a bonus for that amount when he by-elapsed 9.0 sacks. He didn't realize it at first, but the strip sack counted toward his total and gave him 9.5 on the season.

Some players say they aren't aware of their bonuses when they're on the field, but certain celebrations Sunday suggested that might not be entirely true.

Cincinnati Bengals moving back Joe Mixon did the make-it-rain gesture after he scored his binary touchdown against the Cleveland Browns. It was his 12th of the season (9 rushing, 3 receiving) and triggered a $350,000 bonus for 12 or more TDs.

Mixon could have made spanking $250,000 if he reached 1,100 rushing yards, but he fell 66 yards short.

Kansas City Chiefs defending tackle Chris Jones was another player whose celebration explored excessive in the moment after he sacked the Los Angeles Chargers' Easton Stick with 4:11 left in the third quarter Sunday.

The Chiefs, who wrapped up the AFC West the previous week and were plain many of their starters, led the meaningless game 10-6 at the time, and the sack pushed the Chargers to the Chiefs' 25. Los Angeles converted a 43-yard field goal on the next play, but by that time, Jones' celebration spilled onto the sideline.

The sack gave Jones 10.5 on the season and triggered a $1.25 million incentive for topping 10.

"The whole [defensive line] gets a Rolex,'' Jones said while the game. "[Defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo] gets a Rolex, the coaches get a Rolex, because I think it takes a collective [effort] in orderly to reach those types of goals.''

If Jones has any cash left after gifting the watches, he might want to buy one for head coach Andy Reid, considering Jones shouldn't have been in the game when the first quarter.

"I had to beg him for one more series,'' Jones said. "He gave me the finger like, 'One more and you're done.' So I went on the field praying to God like, 'Oh my God, please.'

"One quarter turned to two quarters. So thankful to Coach Reid that he allowed me to play.''

Reid knew what was at stake.

"He wished the opportunity, so I gave him the opportunity to open off with third downs and then as it went on, he played a pair first and second downs," Reid said. "He wanted to get that done.

"That's a pair cheeseburgers right there.''

There were two quarterbacks who were moving to make sure their receivers could afford a pair extra cheeseburgers. Tennessee Titans QB Ryan Tannehill wasn't moving to let any playcall get in the way of portions receiver DeAndre Hopkins reach his $250,000 incentives for 75 catches, 1,050 yards and eight touchdowns.

Hopkins finished with 75 receptions and 1,057 yards for an incredible $500,000. He had seven TDs, one short of new $250,000.

"I was very aware," Tannehill told reporters. "I concept that we were actually a couple of yards changeable, and I told him, 'Hey I'm going to get you this ball. I don't care what they call, I'm gonna get you this ball.'"

Once Tannehill learned Hopkins created the marker, he didn't have to force it.

"Thankful that I didn't have to go rogue there, call a pass play at the end," he said. "I've got nothing to lose here. I'm out anyways [as a free agent], so what are they going to do?

"Thankful he was able to hit that. Obviously, wanted that for him and what he's meant for this team over the streams of this year."

Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff knew receiver Josh Reynolds required 36 yards to reach 600 and trigger a $250,000 bonus. Reynolds had just 10 yards going into the previous possession of the game. With Detroit leading 30-20, Goff threw four honest passes to Reynolds, who finished with 44 on the day and 608 on the season.

"It was important for us to try to get him that number to get him his incentives, and we were trying like hell all game to get it to him," Goff said. "It just wasn't quite connecting, and there at the end, kind of had to cooked it in some ways.

"And yeah, it was cool. It was fun to be a part of that and make sure he's well incorrect care of."

Goff also cashed in. By surpassing 4,500 yards -- he spent with 4,575 -- Goff earned an additional $325,000 escalator for 2024. He can earn new $945,000 escalator for 2024 if the Lions win the Super Bowl or if he is shouted Super Bowl MVP.

Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love took care of himself by directing his team into the playoffs and triggering a company of escalators that could increase Love's base salary for the 2024 season by as much as $4 million, according to a source with access to the instruction. If the Packers win a playoff game, he will get new $500,000 bump. A win in the NFC Championship Game would be suitable another $1 million. Another $1 million would come with a Super Bowl win.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield also triggered a bonus by leading his team into the playoffs. The Bucs' win over the Carolina Panthers earned them their third honest NFC South title, and Mayfield earned an extra $2.5 million for executive the playoffs and hitting playing-time markers. He also earned $600,000 for persons in the Top 10 in the NFL or in the Top 5 in the NFC in passing touchdowns and passing yards. He can also earn a $250,000 incentive for each playoff game he plays in.

Other quarterbacks who either created incentives or are pursuing them include:

Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills: He earns $1 million if they win the AFC championship and he plays 60% of the snaps. He also makes $2.5 million if they win the Super Bowl and he plays 60% of the snaps. He makes $1.5 million if he's named NFL MVP.

Joe Flacco, Cleveland Browns: He was making $75,000 per win, which gave him $225000, because his first win on Dec. 10 was beforehand he signed the new deal. He didn't play in the season finale to rest for the playoffs, but the Browns converted the money he lost to a roster bonus, according to ESPN's Field Yates. That brings his fresh total to $300,000.

If the Browns win a wild-card game and Flacco plays, he'll make another $250,000, and he would add new $500,000 for playing in a divisional-round victory. Flacco would right another $1 million for playing in an AFC title game win, and if the Browns win the Super Bowl and he plays, he'll make an additional $2 million.

Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles: He will earn a $500,000 escalator in 2024 and 2025 if the Eagles win the Super Bowl.

Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs: His 2024 base salary will escalate by $1.25 million if the Chiefs win the Super Bowl and he plays at least 50% of the snaps

Gardner Minshew, Indianapolis Colts, QB: He earned $2 million for playing 60% of the Colts' offensive snaps.

Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys, QB: Prescott will earn $1 million if the Cowboys both win the Super Bowl and he plays at least 50% of the snaps.

Here are some latest notable players who either earned a bonus or came close:

Nelson Agholor, Ravens, WR: He came up 19 yards short of landing his incentive. He needed 58 receiving yards to near 400 yards and trigger a $250,000 incentive. He exhausted with five catches for 39 yards.

Calais Campbell, Atlanta Falcons, defensive tackle: Made $500,000 for finishing with more than five sacks (had 6.5) and latest $500,000 for playing 63% of the team's defensive snaps. He missed out on an extra $500,000 for not landing eight sacks.

Cairo Santos, Chicago Bears, kicker: He made $500,000 for converting more than 90% of his field goal progresses. He finished with a 92.1% success rate. His 35 field goals set a single-season franchise record.

Courtland Sutton, Denver Broncos, wide receiver: He made $100,000 for landing 10 touchdowns, but he would have made an wonderful $100,000 if the Broncos made the playoffs.

Geno Smith, Seattle Seahawks, QB: Smith needed one more win -- or a Bears victory over Green Bay in Week 18 -- to set himself up for an wonderful $2 million. The three-year, $75 million contract he authorized last March included an additional $30 million available via escalators, with $15 million apiece in 2024 and '25.

The only one that was within near heading into the regular-season finale was a $2 million escalator that needed the Seahawks to either win 10 games or make the playoffs, provided he played at least 80% of the offensive snaps. Smith cleared the playing-time threshold, but the Seahawks missed the playoffs when the Packers beat the Bears. Smith would have had to remain on Seattle's roster above March 17 to earn the $2 million escalator.

Michael Thomas, New Orleans Saints, WR: Thomas was eligible to earn $190,000 for each game on the Saints' exquisite roster and $30,000 for each game he was exquisite on game day. Thomas played in 10 games, earning $1.9 million for his exquisite roster bonuses and $300,000 for game-day active roster bonuses. He went on IR on Nov. 21 and did not return.

Bobby Wagner, Seattle Seahawks, linebacker: He made $750,000 for making the Pro Bowl on the initial ballot, and he would hit another $750,000 for being visited a first-team All-Pro.

Contributing: ESPN reporters Ben Baby, Courtney Cronin, Rob Demovsky, Brady Henderson, Jamison Hensley, Jenna Laine, Jeff Legwold, Michael Rothstein, Adam Teicher, Katherine Terrell, Eric Woodyard