Week 15 of the NFL season sets up really nice for those of us who likely meaningful December football. All but one game from Saturday-Monday includes playoff ramifications.
From the Jacksonville Jaguars and Los Angeles Rams looking to clinch playoff spots to the Pittsburgh Steelers attempting to lock up home-field advantage in the AFC over the defending champs, a whole heck of a lot is happening here.
In terms of teams that don’t necessarily have much to play for, the Cleveland Browns are hoping to get their first win of the season against the division-rival Ravens. Meanwhile, Jimmy Garoppolo is attempting to remain undefeated as the 49ers’ starter en route to handing the Titans a devastating blow. These are among the top storylines for NFL Week 15.
Jags, Rams unpacking early Christmas gifts
Those of an objective mind likely didn’t think of the Jaguars and Rams as legitimate Super Bowl contenders entering the season. Heck, the playoffs were seen as a reach back in September. But here we are, entering the final three weeks of the season, and both can clinch a playoff spot over the weekend. Both are also very much alive for a first-round bye at 9-4 on the season.
Jacksonville will host an injury-plagued Texans team at home Sunday in a game it should win convincingly. The Jags took care of Houston 29-7 back in Week 1, and that was with Deshaun Watson playing half the game. T.J. Yates will be under center for the Texans against the league’s best defense this week. Good luck with that, Houston.
For the Rams, it’s going to be considerably more difficult. One game ahead of the Seahawks in the NFC West, Los Angeles heads to Seattle for what promises to be one of the biggest NFC games of the season. A win here would almost assuredly lock up the division. Though, if Los Angeles were to lose, Seattle would control its destiny in the NFC West with the Rams potentially having to inch their way into the playoffs altogether.
Packers’ sticky pine
Aaron Rodgers will start for the Packers this week against Carolina in what is a do-or-die game for Green Bay. It will be the MVP’s first action in live-game situation since back in Week 6. And it comes against a Panthers squad that has yielded the 10th-fewest points in the NFL.
We get why Rodgers would want to come back. We also understand that he was medically cleared. But a December game in Lambeau against a top-end defense isn’t exactly what will continue to cure an ailing body.
Green Bay currently sits at 7-6 on the season. It’s one game out of the final playoff spot in the NFC with both Atlanta and Seattle “tied’ for that sixth seed. Dallas and Detroit also sit at 7-6 on the season. This means that the Packers not only need to win out, they must get some help to play in the postseason. Is returning Rodgers from injured reserve worth the risk? We’ll find out soon enough.
Ice-cold Rivers leads Chargers to relevance
At this point, Philip Rivers has to be seen as a legitimate MVP candidate. His Chargers have won seven of nine and are now vying for an AFC West title after an 0-4 start to the season. More than anything else, this has to do with the brilliant recent play of Rivers.
He’s completing 69 percent of his passes with eight scores and zero picks for an absurd 119.1 passer rating over the past four games. Throwing to Keenan Allen during that span, Rivers has put up a 147.2 rating with five scores.
This week, Rivers leads his Chargers to Arrowhead in a game against a Chiefs team that they’re currently in a first-place tie with in the AFC West. A win here for Los Angeles would give it a clear advntagage in the division heading into the final two weeks of the regular season.
Down the chimney sweep in Nola
After winning eight consecutive, the Saints have now lost two of their past three games. These two losses have come by a combined nine points, a clear indication that Drew Brees and Co. might be feeling the pressure of being considered a contender from the shadows of early-season irrelevance.
As massive favorites against the New York Jets this weekend, the expectation here is that New Orleans will get back to its winning ways. Having Alvin Kamara back on the field after he suffered a concussion last week will be big. But at 9-4 on the season, New Orleans is just one game up for the final playoff spot in the NFC. It’s also tied for the top spot with Carolina in the NFC South. Taking care of business at home against a lesser team on Sunday is vital for the Saints.
Titanic-sized jump for Jimmy’s 49ers
The story is by now well known nationally. With a record of 2-0 as San Francisco’s starter and already in the franchise’s record books, Jimmy Garoppolo could very well be the next big thing in San Francisco. Then again, all of this seems to be a tad premature. He’s started two games for the team. He was acquired less than two months ago. And the 49ers — despite winning both of Garoppolo’s starts — are 3-10 on the season.
Despite this, San Francisco finds itself favored against the 8-5 Titans at home on Sunday. The question here and moving forward into the final two games of the season is whether Garoppolo can maintain this level of performance against better competition. The 49ers are scoring on a ridiculous 60 percent of his possessions since he took over at the end of Week 13’s loss to Seattle.
A repeat performance here against a playoff contender will give some substance to what can now be seen as a premature knighting of Garoppolo in the Bay.
Coal for the Raiders and Cowboys in Oakland
At this point, both Oakland and Dallas have to be seen as playoff pretenders. Fresh off a disheartening blowout loss to the Chiefs last week, the Raiders find themselves at 6-7 on the season and one game behind two teams in the AFC West.
But it seems implausible to believe this team is anywhere near the level of either Kansas City or Los Angeles right now. A loss Sunday to Dallas would put Oakland two games behind one of those squads, pretty much ending already faint playoff hopes.
The situation is a tad different in Dallas. Already out of the NFC East race with Philadelphia having clinched the division, the Cowboys find themselves one game out of the final wildcard spot. They are also tied with Green Bay and Detroit at 7-6 on the outside looking in. A win in Week 15 with Ezekiel Elliott set to return next week could help Dallas gain traction in the playoff race. A loss would pretty much end any postseason expectations.
It’s St. Nick time
Whether Eagles fans are ready for it or not, Nick Foles will be their only hope of earning a Super Bowl trip heading into the playoffs. Fresh off clinching the NFC East and losing MVP candidate Carson Wentz to a torn ACL, Philadelphia has to pick up the pieces and move forward with this former Pro Bowler under center.
Foles’ last start came as a member of the Chiefs back in Week 8 of the 2016 campaign. That game saw him complete 20-of-33 passes in a win over Jacksonville. He’s proven himself capable as a starter at times, having put up one of the best statistical seasons in NFL history as a member of these Eagles back in 2013.
Philly isn’t expecting a repeat performance here. Instead, Foles simply needs to manage the game and avoid turnovers. Everything should fall in place after that. It starts this week against a last-place Giants team that boasts one of the worst pass defenses in the NFL and currently has two members of this unit feuding off the field. It’s a perfect situation for Foles to get his feet wet heading into the playoffs.
Case Keenum facing the winter heat
One bad outing shouldn’t define the season Keenum has been having. It also shouldn’t place him on the hot seat as the starting quarterback for a Vikings squad that’s still battling for home-field advantage in the NFC. But fresh off a two interception performance in a loss to Carolina last week, Keenum will assuredly face heat should he struggle again this week.
The good news here is that the Vikings are taking on a Bengals team that just lost by 26 points at home against Chicago. Keenum should be able to pick up where he left off prior to last week, a span that saw the veteran lead Minnesota to eight consecutive wins.
Should that not happen, we might hear whispers about a certain man named Teddy taking over under center for the Super Bowl contenders.
All they want for Christmas is a dang win
As new general manager John Dorsey looks to change the culture and philosophy of the hapless Browns organization, the team is still looking for its first win on the season. Cleveland really wants to avoid becoming the second team in NFL history to go winless during a 16-game regular season.
That would put the team at 1-31 during Hue Jacksons’ tenure as head coach, furthering suggestions turmoil could erupt within the organization after the season. Set to take on a contending Ravens team at home Sunday, it’s highly unlikely the Browns will be able to get their first win of the season.
That would leave a Week 16 road date with the last-place Bears as the team’s last best chance to nab a victory. Maybe this downtrodden orginization will finally give this fan base something to cheer about before Christmas. But don’t bank on it.
December brouhaha in Steel Town
By virtue of New England’s stunning loss to Miami this past Monday night, the Pittsburgh Steelers can actually clinch home-field advantage throughout the AFC Playoffs. More than that, a loss here by the defending champs could open up the door for Jacksonville to jump them for a first-round playoff bye.
The Patriots aren’t necessarily accustomed to playing important late-season games like this. They tend to usually have a good idea where they stand in the playoff rankings heading into the end of the regular season. That’s not the case here. And facing a Steelers squad on the road that has won eight consecutive games, this most definitely isn’t a gimme for Tom Brady and Co.