NFL Takeaways: Week 15
Photo by Jack Dempsey from The Associated Press
For the first time since 2018, we will not have the Chiefs in the AFC Championship game.
And even though that was already likely, it got even worse as the game went on.
So who will take their place?
Let’s see what we learned from week 15.
Falcons defeat Buccaneers 29-28
This feels like the end of the Todd Bowles Bucs era.
They’ve underperformed ever since Bruce Arians retired, he’s calling out players in press conferences, and the defense isn’t performing up to par.
Mike Evans was visibly angry after the defense gave up a first down when the Falcons were facing a 3rd and 28.
They might still be playoff bound, but it feels like the end of the road for Bowles in Tampa.
Bills defeat Patriots 35-31
If you want to beat the champs, you better knock them out.
The Pats had a chance to end the Bills AFC East reign, leading 24-7 at halftime.
But instead of stepping on the throats of the Bills, the Bills fought back hard and outscored the Pats 28-7 in the second half to get the win, and keep themselves alive in* the division race.
They had their shot.
They didn’t take it.
Ravens defeat Bengals 24-0
Joe Burrow had an extremely dark mid week press conference, implying he may be falling out of love with football, and then went out and had a horrible game that officially eliminated the Bengals from playoff contention.
I’m not sure where the Bengals go from here, and if it even involves Burrow, but the signs are concerning.
Jaguars defeat Jets 48-20
I haven’t thought Trevor Lawrence has been impressive recently for the Jags.
They’ve been winning, but he has just been fine.
Sunday, he was absolutely excellent.
If the Jags get that level of play from Lawrence, they’re very dangerous in a wide open AFC.
Chargers defeat Chiefs 16-13
Patrick Mahomes last two drives in this horrid season for the Chiefs was a back breaking interception down 3 in the redzone, and an unfortunate injury that turned out to be a torn ACL.
The Chiefs have had loads of success the last seven years, but it ran out this year in a big, big way.
Texans defeat Cardinals 40-20
C.J. Stroud is finally starting to get back into the form we saw from his rookie season, and at the perfect time.
The Texans are officially a threat.
Bears defeat Browns 31-3
Shedeur Sanders has had two good games against two bad teams, and two terrible games against two good teams.
The overall result for his future with the Browns?
Shrugging emoji
Commanders defeat Giants 29-21
Another game, another Jaxson Dart concussion protocol.
I’m not sure who the new coach of the Giants will be, but whoever it is, they need to get that under control ASAP.
He’s a talented player. He just needs to be careful.
Eagles defeat Raiders 31-0
Need a get right game?
Play the Raiders.
Seahawks defeat Colts 18-16
Credit to Philip Rivers.
The 44 year old grandfather who hasn’t played in the NFL in 5 years stepped in when the Colts needed him, made quick and precise decisions with the football, and almost got the Colts a huge upset win in Seattle.
He got the ball to his skill guys, and let them try to make plays.
It almost worked against a very, very good defense.
It might work against lesser ones!
Broncos defeat Packers 34-26
Jordan Love had moments to be the hero, and continuously came up short.
The Packers lost Micah Parsons for the season with a torn ACL.
And Bo friggin Nix, man.
I have doubted him all year, mainly because he never gave me a reason not to.
He gave me on on Sunday.
That was his best game as a pro, and right when they absolutely needed it.
The Broncos are a very real threat.
49ers defeat Titans 37-24
Please get Cam Ward some help.
Every Titans game I watch he is doing something awesome, and his skill player guys are letting him down.
Jeffrey Simmons looked better as a route runner than most of the Titans receivers.
Saints defeat Panthers 20-17
All the Panthers needed to do was beat the Saints, and they’d force the Bucs to have to sweep them to end the year to make the playoffs.
The division was in the hands of the Panthers, and they let it slip right out.
Nobody wants to win the NFC South.
Rams defeat Lions 41-34
The Rams offense? Electric.
The Rams defense? A little concerning.
Now, with no Davante Adams, they face a good Seahawks defense with a struggling offense on a short week.
Something’s gotta give.
Vikings defeat Cowboys 34-26
This isn’t me saying J.J. McCarthy is going to be good. He might not be. I don’t know.
But maybe we were too quick to write off a young guy coming a devastating knee injury playing in his first NFL season.
Because the past two weeks, McCarthy has been solid!
It’s a building block, for sure.
Steelers defeat Dolphins 28-15
The Steelers are just one win away from another winning season and, all but officially, the AFC North title.
I know they get a lot of slack for their playoff drought and their lack of being a Super Bowl contender for the past 10 years, but that’s nonsense to me.
There are many franchises who would kill for the Steelers last decade.
The Jets, Cardinals, Browns, Dolphins. They all spring to mind just off the bat.
And as for Super Bowl contenders, only four teams have won the Super Bowl since the last time the Steelers won a playoff game, so it’s not like they’re missing out on incredible parity.
No, they aren’t contenders this year.
But I’d rather have ten years of being good as opposed to eight years of being terrible and two flash in the pan seasons.
