What we learned from NFL Week 15: Bills continue to rise, Colts are perplexing, Lions are fun again
What we learned from NFL Week 15: Bills continue to rise, Colts are perplexing, Lions are fun again
Sunday's action highlighted what we learned about the NFL's jumbled playoff race. What were the key takeaways? I systematically break down and discuss each of the essential topics.
Thursday night marked the start of week 15 in the NFL season, with the Las Vegas Raiders crushing the Los Angeles Chargers 63-21, which also turned out to be Chargers head coach Brandon Staley's last game. The team made a decisive move to clean up the organization by firing General Manager Tom Telesco the very next day.
The Cincinnati Bengals stayed in the playoff race by securing a thrilling 27-24 win over the Minnesota Vikings in overtime on Saturday. Two major injuries marred Sunday's win for Cincinnati. DJ Reader, the defensive tackle, exited the game due to a lower-body injury, while Ja'Marr Chase, the wide receiver, was also forced out of the game because of a right shoulder injury. Despite losing quarterback Joe Burrow, the Bengals have managed to endure, but the absence of a top defender and one of the league's top wide receivers will add further complexity.
In a 30-13 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Indianapolis Colts went on to score 30 unanswered points. Minshew's ability to complete seven passes of 10 yards or longer is a positive sign for a quarterback who has struggled with yards per attempt this season.
Sunday's game witnessed the Tampa Bay Buccaneers bolstering their chances of making the playoffs. Meanwhile, the underdog Panthers dealt a major blow to the Atlanta Falcons' playoff aspirations in the NFC South by pulling off an unexpected 9-7 upset in a game played in heavy rain.
The Houston Texans emerged victorious in an overtime divisional game, even without QB C.J. Stroud. This victory helps them maintain their position for a wild card spot for another week. With a victory over the Arizona Cardinals, the San Francisco 49ers solidified their position as the NFC West champions.
With a commanding victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday night, the Baltimore Ravens became the second team in the NFL to secure a playoff berth.
The Bills are back, and looking dangerous
On Sunday afternoon, the Bills demonstrated to the world why people across the league have been claiming that nobody would want to face Buffalo in the playoffs. The team has finally started performing at its full potential and is already in playoff mode because of the deep hole it put itself in, leaving no room for mistakes. The Bills are completely aware that they cannot afford any errors, and they are performing with that in mind.
What's truly remarkable is how the Bills dominated the Cowboys, despite Josh Allen's lackluster performance of just 7 completions on 15 attempts, amounting to only 94 yards and a single touchdown. To be completely truthful, the Buffalo Bills have had significant difficulties running the ball this season. However, in their game against Dallas on Sunday, they had a remarkable performance, rushing for 266 yards. James Cook was the standout player, leading the team with 179 yards and a touchdown on 25 carries.
In the meantime, the Bills defense contained Dak Prescott, who had been performing exceptionally well and was considered a frontrunner for the MVP title. He only completed 21 out of 34 passes, resulting in a meager 134 yards and one interception. Moreover, they successfully defended against the Cowboys on eight of their 13 third-down plays. It would be a colossal understatement to describe the Bills defense as dominant. During the discussions of this game by the experts a few days ago, there was little optimism that the Bills could slow down the Cowboys, largely because of their struggles in defending the middle of the field, which is exactly where the Cowboys excel. However, the Cowboys' struggle to effectively run the ball greatly impacted them, and without a strong running game, the Cowboys became easy to predict. It might be a good idea for the Cowboys to reduce their pregame dancing in the future and focus on the opponent.
Despite their inconsistency, the Bills have managed to win two out of three games, defeating two of the league's top teams, the Chiefs and the Cowboys. Despite facing challenging injuries, the defense seems to be hitting its stride just in time for the season. The Bills have set themselves up nicely to secure a playoff spot and potentially cause some surprises in the postseason if they maintain their current performance.
The Battle for the NFC South
The NFC South division has a two-way tie between Tampa Bay and New Orleans at the top. It is highly probable that the division winner will secure a 4th seed in the playoffs, but I am skeptical about their potential as a playoff threat.
With three consecutive wins under their belt, the Buccaneers are currently on a roll. Baker Mayfield appears about as comfortable in this offense as he has been all year, and the defense is playing well enough to offer the support required to keep their winning streak alive and kicking, but they have some stiff games ahead with hosting Jacksonville next week, and then the Saints in the game that could wind up being the deciding factor for the division. They have implemented a running game that has relieved the pressure on Mayfield.
However, New Orleans must travel to Los Angeles to compete against the Rams before taking on Tampa Bay, and their season concludes with a match against Atlanta. Despite the Panthers' win on Sunday, the Bucs' final regular-season opponent is considered a more challenging adversary.
Currently, Tampa Bay appears to be the slight frontrunner. Is it capable of being a formidable opponent in the playoffs? You can never be certain, particularly if the Bucs continue to capitalize on this momentum. However, I can't imagine them making a strong push.
Both teams will lack the momentum to make a substantial impact in the playoffs, though. Should the NFC South representative somehow advance to the championship round, it would overwhelm the NFL.
The Lions finally got right and established their postseason formula
Besides losing two out of their last three games, the Lions were desperate for a resounding victory on Saturday. The Lions' success primarily hinges on the offensive line's health, despite their troubles with pass defense. Their capacity to curb the red-hot Broncos team and stiffen their control over the NFC North was because of Ragnow's return, and the improved health of the offensive line.
Quarterback Jared Goff had a remarkable performance, throwing for five touchdowns, equaling his career-best for a single game. Sam LaPorta, the rookie star tight end, caught three touchdowns, and he is proving to be an exceptional 2nd round pick in the NFL Draft, with a promising future ahead. However, LaPorta's exceptional performance with three touchdowns against Denver has positioned him as one of the most successful rookie tight ends in NFL history. In a remarkable display of skill, the 22-year-old rookie tight end from Iowa became one of the few players in NFL history to score three different touchdowns in a single game. Joseph Fauria, who was also a member of the Lions, has only achieved by seven other rookie tight ends, with the most recent occurrence happening in 2013 this accomplishment. However, his statistics in his first year as a professional player now match up with some of the all-time best-recorded numbers for rookies in that position. Below is a breakdown of the top 10 players, ranked by yards.
Detroit found success in their running game, particularly with rookie Jahmyr Gibbs, who scored two touchdowns in the game, one of which was his first-ever receiving touchdown. Gibbs and David Montgomery teamed up to accumulate 185 rushing yards, highlighting Denver's struggles in defending the run. Under the guidance of offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, Detroit has returned to its exuberant form as the Lions. The exuberant Lions who can outscore anyone.
Detroit may receive additional defensive reinforcements. Safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson will make his return after being injured since Week 2. By the end of the month, there's a possibility that edge rusher James Houston will return. Just in time for the playoffs, that should restore the Lions' early-season hope.
How are the Colts continuing to win all of these games this year?
The Colts' unexpected success has surprised and confused many people this year.
With a first-year coach (Shane Steichen), without Anthony Richardson for most of the year, with Jonathan Taylor in and out of the lineup, with right tackle Braden Smith in and out of the lineup, a six-game suspension for one of their best defensive players defensive tackle Grover Stewart, and constant cornerback issues, you would think these issues would be an element for a disastrous season. Contrary to expectations, that hasn't been true. With three weeks left in the regular season, Indianapolis holds its destiny in the AFC postseason race, firmly positioned after a 30-13 win against the Steelers.
The team is currently in possession of the seventh and last playoff position in the conference. The AFC South is currently in a three-way tie at 8-6, with Jacksonville and Houston also holding the top spot.
The Colts' victories have not been aesthetically pleasing, and often this year they have been extremely unattractive. Yet, the strategies they employ to secure those wins have been inconsistent from one week to another. The pass rush has consistently been a strong suit. The Colts rank third in the NFL for sacks, with 46. Four players on their team have recorded at least six sacks each: DeForest Buckner, Kwity Paye, Dayo Odeyingbo, and Samson Ebukam.
Indianapolis has emerged victorious in five out of its past six games. The team has recorded 25 sacks in their last five wins, matching the highest number in the league since Week 9. The Colts' ability to produce turnovers is directly linked to their skill in unsettling opposing quarterbacks. With 24 takeaways, Indianapolis is currently tied for second in the NFL.
The Colts' unexpected achievement is primarily because of Shane Steichen, solidifying his position as one of the top candidates for the NFL Coach of the Year award. Despite inconsistent performances from Gardner Minshew and Taylor's absence for seven games and still counting, Indianapolis has the eighth-highest-scoring offense, averaging 24.6 points per game.
In the second quarter of Saturday's game against the Steelers, the Colts suffered the loss of their top receiver, Michael Pittman Jr., and their leading rusher, Zack Moss, due to a concussion and arm injury, respectively. Their composure remained unshaken as they received exceptional performances from their backup running backs. Trey Sermon rushed for 88 yards with an impressive average of 5.2 yards per carry, while Tyler Goodson contributed 69 yards rushing with an average of 6.3 yards per carry. Wide receiver D.J. Montgomery played a significant role in their success. Montgomery, with 48 yards receiving and a touchdown, helped his team come back from a 13-0 deficit and score 30 consecutive points to secure a victory against another team vying for a playoff spot. The foundation lies in coaching. The "next man up" mentality of this team makes them a prime example, and their mental strength could lead them to secure a wild card position.
Thank you for dedicating your time to reading the article, and we hope you will remain engaged for future updates.
By subscribing below, you can ensure that you stay notified with fresh content, especially if you find this article illuminating.
Remember to connect with me on Facebook, Twitter, TikTok, and Instagram for the latest Sports Breaking News updates throughout the day.
