As the contenders start to separate themselves from those who will not be playing January football, each of the three remaining weeks of the NFL season grows in importance.
Week 15 will bring us a ton of vital matchups in both conferences. Meanwhile, there will be other games on the slate that may make us dig deep to find anything noteworthy to focus on.
As we have done each week of the NFL season, here is the top storyline for each Week 15 NFL game.
Arizona Cardinals at St. Louis Rams: Struggling Offense vs Dominant Defense
Courtesy of SI.com: The Rams defense could put a hurting on Arizona’s division title aspirations.
No, we are not talking about Arizona’s defense going up against Shaun Hill and the Rams offense. Instead, this all-important NFC West game pits a Rams defense that has not allowed a point in two games against a Cardinals offense that simply hasn’t done a whole bunch in recent weeks. And the stakes really couldn’t be higher here.
Arizona holds a slim one-game lead over the surging Seattle Seahawks in the NFC West. It does so coming off a four-game stretch that has seen the team average just over 10 points per outing. During that span, Drew Stanton has put up four touchdowns compared to five interceptions. Unfortunately for the Cardinals, they will be tasked with lining up against a Rams defense that is coming off two consecutive shutouts that has seen the opponent (Oakland and Washington) put up a total of just over 350 combined yards, turning the ball over seven times in the process. In a must win game for the Cardinals, they simply need to find a way to move the ball here.
Green Bay Packers at Buffalo Bills: Aaron Rodgers Looks to Continue Torrid Recent Stretch
Rodgers has been a downright dominating force for the Packers offense this season. Through 13 games, the former MVP has put up over 3,600 yards with 36 touchdowns and just three interceptions. Magnifying his recent success even further, Rodgers has thrown 16 touchdowns compared to zero interceptions in the last five games. It’s no coincidence that Green Bay is averaging 40 points per game during that span.
Now going up against a Bills defense that ranks fourth in the NFL in points against and fifth against the pass, this is going to be a difficult matchup for Rodgers and the Packers, who likely need a win here to maintain a one-game lead over the Detroit Lions in the NFC North.
Jacksonville Jaguars at Baltimore Ravens: Home Team Attempting to Keep Pace in AFC
Baltimore loses the tie-breaker to both the Pittsburgh Steelers and San Diego Chargers for the two wild card spots. It is also a half game behind the Cincinnati Bengals in the AFC North. Going up against a two-win Jaguars squad, Baltimore must find a way not to avoid a letdown here. The good news for Baltimore is that its 5-0 against teams that are currently under .500. With matchups remaining against Houston and Cleveland, this outing is obviously a must win for Joe Flacco and Co.
Cincinnati Bengals at Cleveland Browns: Johnny Manziel Time
Better later than never. That’s likely the scenario Browns fans are going through right now. Fresh off a heartbreaking one-point loss to Indianapolis last week, the seven-win Browns need to win out and get a ton of help in order to make a rare playoff appearance. And that duty will be squarely on the throwing shoulder and running legs of one Johnny Football, who replaces an ineffective Brian Hoyer in the lineup. One game behind three teams and tied with four others for the two wild card spots, there is no margin for error here for the Browns and Manziel. As it relates to the Bengals, they are looking to remain atop the AFC North heading into Week 16. A win here by the Browns, and they will be a max of one game out in the division.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Carolina Panthers: Cam Newton’s Health, Panthers Playoff Hopes
First off, we want to wish Cam Newton a speedy recovery from what was a scary car accident in Charlotte on Tuesday. Reports indicate that he suffered a couple fractures in his back, which means he’s unlikely to play this week. And while it makes no sense to look at football when it comes to something this serious, the Panthers are only a half game out of first in a horrible NFC South. With Derek Anderson likely getting the start here, Carolina would like nothing more than to win one for Cam and remain viable in the playoff race.
Houston Texans at Indianapolis Colts: Huge AFC South Matchup
It doesn’t get more clear cut than this. With a win here, the Colts will wrap up their second consecutive AFC South title and pretty much end any hope that J.J. Watt and the Texans have of earning a playoff spot. However, Houston can remain viable in the wild card race and fend off a Colts clinch with a victory.
Texans fans, want the good news or bad news first? Let’s start with the bad. Indianapolis is outscoring divisional opponents by an average of over two touchdowns per game this season. The good news is that Houston lost by just five against Andrew Luck and Co. back in October. Either way you put it, this is a huge game for both squads.
Oakland Raiders at Kansas City Chiefs: Raiders Look to End Another Team’s Playoff Hopes
Last week saw the Raiders pretty much end San Francisco’s playoff hopes. That came two weeks after Oakland earned its first victory of the season against these very same Chiefs, a team that has now lost three in a row and is on the verge of falling completely out of the playoff race. Can Derek Carr keep the momentum going here and put a stake in the Chiefs postseason aspirations? If so, what would that mean for the future of interim head coach Tony Sparano?
Miami Dolphins at New England Patriots: Tom Brady and Co. on Verge of Clinching Another Division Title
Courtesy of Fansided.com: Patriots division titles are getting old.
One more win. That’s all it will take for the Patriots to nab their 11th AFC East title in 12 seasons. More important than that, New England looks to maintain its slim advantage over the three other AFC division leaders for home-field advantage in the playoffs. It’s also attempting to avenge a Week 1 loss to these very same Dolphins.
Speaking of the Dolphins, they are now one game out of the final playoff spot, but hold the head-to-had tiebreaker over a San Diego Chargers team that’s tasked with taking on the Denver Broncos this week. Unfortunately for Miami, no one goes into New England and wins in December. That could very well spell doom for the Dolphins playoff hopes.
Washington Redskins at New York Giants: Battle for Last Place and Draft Positioning
Does it really matter here? We are looking at two teams who will be selecting near the top of the 2015 NFL draft with new head coaches and potential shakeups in the front office. At 3-9, Washington holds a one-game (advantage) over the Giants for a higher draft slot. In fact, we are now at the point where both teams would be better suited losing out in order to gain an upper-hand long term.
Pittsburgh Steelers at Atlanta Falcons: Playoff Implications Everywhere
If Pittsburgh wins out, it will earn the AFC North title. This is also Pittsburgh’s final road game of the regular season, which comes against a Falcons squad that remains in first place in the NFC South with a 5-8 record. Common logic seems to suggest that Pittsburgh will go into the Georgia Dome and lay the wood against an inferior opponent. But as you already know, there is no rhyme or reason to Pittsburgh’s season thus far. This is a team that has traded wins and losses over the past five weeks, which is just a continuation of a season that can be defined by inconsistency.
For the Falcons, it’s rather simple. They maintain a slim lead over New Orleans in the NFC South based on a head-to-head tiebreaker. Atlanta also has an outing with the Saints slated for Week 16 in New Orleans. In order to go into that game with an opportunity to clinch the division, Mike Smith’s squad needs a win here. If not, that could very well act as an elimination game for both teams.
Denver Broncos at San Diego Chargers: AFC West on the Line
Courtesy of the Denver Post: Mike McCoy and the Chargers need a win against his former team.
Let’s just put it all on the line here. If Denver takes care of the Chargers in San Diego, it will earn a third consecutive AFC West title and remain in the mix for the top seed in the conference. If not, San Diego inches closer to a playoff spot and puts some pressure on the Broncos in the division.
Since Mike McCoy took over the Chargers job in 2013 and returned the team to relevance, he has played second-fiddle to his former team in Denver. In order to get that monkey off his back, McCoy needs his Chargers to take care of business at home. If that happens, San Diego would be just one game back in the AFC West and have the inside track for one of the two wild card spots in the conference. If not, Denver carries the division and the Chargers will struggle to earn that postseason spot.
New York Jets at Tennessee Titans: Playoff Positioning
The Jets and Titans are two of four AFC teams vying for the No. 1 pick in the 2015 NFL Draft. And to be honest, the loser here might have the inside track for that coveted slot. As we mentioned with the Redskins-Giants game earlier, the loser of this matchup will be in a better position long term. But don’t tell that to the 106 active players on both squads, each and every one of whom are still playing for pride.
Minnesota Vikings at Detroit Lions: Home Team Inches Closer to Playoff Appearance
Detroit still has division title aspirations, though that’s a bit of a stretch considering how Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers are playing right now. But don’t fret fans in the Motor City, Detroit is still firmly in control of its own destiny as it relates to a playoff spot in the ultra-competitive NFC. Boasting a tiebreaker over Dallas for the sixth and final postseason spot, the Lions will earn a trip to the second season if they win out.
That road to January continues against a surprisingly competitive Vikings team led by rookie signal caller Teddy Bridgewater, who has thrown nine touchdowns compared to three interceptions since Week 7. If the Lions overlook Minnesota in lieu of road outings against Chicago and Green Bay to end the season, they might very well miss out on a much-needed win here.
San Francisco 49ers at Seattle Seahawks: Can San Francisco Return the Favor?
Courtesy of USA Today: Lacking confidence, Kaepernick and the 49ers now head into Seattle.
The short-form answer to this question is a resounding no. The longer-form answer is still a no, but it does require a bit of research. San Francisco would like nothing more than to pretty much end Seattle’s division-championship aspirations. Meanwhile, the Seahawks are playing the best football of any team in the NFL and have absolutely dominated this matchup recently. It’s now up to Colin Kaepernick to take on the 12th man in an attempt to keep San Francisco’s limited playoff hopes alive. Yeah, that’s not going to lead many 49ers fans into showing much confidence heading into this one. Luckily, San Francisco has a veteran group here and knows exactly what it needs to do in order to make the rest of what could be a lost season matter in the final two weeks. Unfortunately for San Francisco, the Seahawks are just a better football team with a ton of confidence against Kaepernick and Co.
Dallas Cowboys at Philadelphia Eagles: Where the NFC East Will Be Won
The standings in the NFC East may indicate that Dallas and Philadelphia are tied for first, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Philadelphia not only boasts the head-to-head tiebreaker, it is 3-0 in the division compared to a 2-2 record for the Cowboys. For all intents and purposes, the Eagles can lock up this division with a win.
On the other hand, Dallas has to worry about the wild card, a scenario that might not be friendly to Tony Romo and Co. should the team fall to Philadelphia on Sunday night. The Cowboys may hold the head-to-head tiebreaker against Seattle for a wild card spot, but in a three-way race for that coveted position, Dallas falls short. Unfortunately for the Cowboys, that’s the situation as it currently stands with Detroit also boasting the same 9-4 record. Dallas may control its own destiny in the NFC East with a win here, but it could also fall too far back in the wild card race with a loss.
New Orleans Saints at Chicago Bears: Dimming Playoff Hopes for the Saints
Even after losing four of its last five, New Orleans is sadly still tied for first in the NFC South. And while that narrative has pretty much played itself out, let’s all hope Drew Brees and Co. at least make it interesting in that division heading down the stretch. Losers of four straight at home, but winners of two consecutive on the road, maybe this trip to Solider Field will do the free-falling Saints some good. Then again, they could just be a bad football team.
Photo: NFL.com