Week 15: In and Out
With a terrific interception, Darius Leonard helped the Indianapolis Colts defeat the New England Patriots.
Paid Dirt: Best Games of the Week
Kansas City Chiefs (10-4) defeat Los Angeles Chargers (8-6) 34-28 in OT
Thursday Night Football is controversial because players don’t like the short rest and preparation of playing three days early, which results in obscure games not representative of the season. The Chiefs and Chargers game in Week 15 shattered that narrative. Week 15th's Thursday Night Football was one of the greatest of all time, with a legendary Quarterback battle between former Super Bowl Champion and MVP Patrick Mahomes and rising second-year starter Justin Herbert, who has proven to produce at a high level. Mahomes vs. Herbert has a legitimate chance of becoming a must-watch event, given that they play on division-rival teams and can put up 30 plus points weekly. It may not reach the same level as Manning vs. Brady, but the previously mentioned QB battle could become a smaller-scale version of the annually anticipated events. Meanwhile, the trio of Travis Kelce, Tyreek Hill, and Patrick Mahomes continue to establish themselves as the best in the NFL and continuously make the Chiefs a top-five offense. This game is an example of one that may reappear in the playoffs, which should delight fans of the NFL.
Indianapolis Colts (8-6) defeat New England Patriots (9-5) 27-17
The Colts brought high energy and tremendous effort in their matchup against the Patriots. In the first half, the Patriots were shut out and forced to punt three times, one of which was blocked, and the turnover-prone Colts defense resulted in two interceptions of rookie Quarterback Mac Jones. One of which was in the Red Zone, where Mac Jones hunted down Hunter Henry and tried to force the ball to the Tight End, who does have eight touchdowns on the season. Much to the chagrin of Patriots fans, their comeback came up short. However, as written about in “Helmet-to-Helmet" there were multiple helmet-led hits from Colts defenders, notably Andrew Sendejo, that were not penalized. The NFL must ensure that these actions aren’t commonplace, especially when they're prioritizing player safety. Lastly, there was a skirmish between Strong Safety Kyle Dugger and Wide Receiver Michael Pittman, where Pittman pushed Dugger, and then the Safety took off Pittman's helmet. The referees took both players out of the game, but T.Y. Hilton stayed in, surprisingly, after pushing a referee to the ground. The Colts proved they were a playoff team with this win, while the Patriots must rebound against Buffalo if they hope to win the AFC East.
Green Bay Packers (11-3) defeat Baltimore Ravens (8-6) 31-30
The game centered around how the Ravens would play without star Quarterback Lamar Jackson, who suffered an ankle sprain before the game. Tyler Huntley proved he was up to the task against a vaunted Packers team, putting up 30 points in the process. John Harbaugh decided to attempt a two-point conversion at the end of the game instead of taking the PAT with the best Kicker of all-time in Justin Tucker. Huntley missed the open read of Hollywood Brown in the end zone instead of trying to force the ball to Mark Andrews in the corner, which would ultimately fail. Analysts took to Twitter to discuss analytics, but for many hearing these types of conversations of the impact of analytics, it’s their first taste of an analytics-centered discussion, which creates a negative connotation to utilizing more information to make a sound decision. Analytics are only effective when presented to a decision-maker, who ultimately decides the action. Analytics are unrightfully becoming demonized, especially when no fan or insider knows what leads to the decision other than those affiliated with the Ravens. Moving back to the game, Allen Lazard is showing flashes of a less productive Julian Edelman or Wes Welker for Aaron Rodgers, in a sense becoming a reliable slot weapon. The Ravens defense adjusted all game, but nobody can keep Aaron Rodgers down for long. John Harbaugh’s decision most likely concluded that Rodgers would lead game-winning drive-in overtime and put faith in his players to win the game. Ultimately the Ravens would lose, but it was a controversial and thought-provoking instance that required hindsight to make a sound decision.
Miami Dolphins (7-7) defeat New York Jets (3-11) 31-24
The Miami Dolphins are their own worst enemy. They have the talent to be a borderline playoff team, but their success hinges on the development of Tua Tagovailoa, who flashed his talent in the past few weeks in the NFL after a rough start to the season. Will Fuller, who signed with Miami during the offseason, was supposed to be the missing piece on offense to aid Tua’s development but continues to prove that he’s way too injury-prone to have a productive NFL career. He is out for the year with a finger injury. Duke Johnson electrified the Miami run game with two touchdowns. Miami elevated Duke from the practice squad and officially signed him after his terrific performance. Moving to the Jets, Zach Wilson proves he has all the talent in the world. His production depends on the supporting cast, which Jets fans know is far from ideal. Hopefully, Tua bounces off his success, and Wilson finds the right playmakers, and this could be a Quarterback battle for years to come.
Pittsburgh Steelers (7-6-1) defeat Tennessee Titans (9-5) 19-13
The Titans lost this game but are a playoff team and can match their opponent’s talent level. The Steelers snuck out a win against one of the AFC’s best teams, but standout Tight End Pat Friermuth suffered a Concussion and will be out for an extended period. Ultimately, the loss of the rookie may be too much for the Steelers, who already have offensive woes. This season looks to be the end of the Roethlisberger era in Pittsburgh, but Mike Tomlin is getting the most out of his roster. The Titans have faced injuries to most of their elite skill players but are still competing with whomever they are playing in their schedule. Although it may not be the most glorious of matchups, this could be a playoff showing.
Cincinnati Bengals (8-6) defeat Denver Broncos (7-7) 15-10
Going into the game, the biggest question about this game was which of these teams, if any, are playoff teams. After the game, the question remains, but obviously, the Bengals have a better shot of making a Wild Card than the Broncos, whom they defeated in a finish down to the wire. Teddy Bridgewater suffered a head injury that would ultimately land him in the hospital and fortunately is now alright. The Broncos almost had a remarkable comeback with Drew Lock under center but could not complete the winning effort. The Bengals can hang with playoff teams and are a potential sleeper team. The captivating piece of the Bengals turnaround is their pass rush, which gave up 32 Passing Touchdowns and the lowest number of team sacks (17) in 2020. As of 12/21, the 2021-22 Bengals rank third in the NFL in sacks with 40, with standouts such as Trey Hendrickson (13.0), Sam Hubbard (7.5), Larry Ogunjobi (7), and B.J. Hill (5.5) all having above-average seasons. Their improved pass rush has led to a de-emphasis on their secondary and created turnovers, with Logan Wilson (4), Chidobe Aquzie (2), and Eli Apple (2) all producing tremendous Interception numbers. Factor in their top 16 Pass and Rush defense, and the Bengals defense is sneakily one of the best in the NFL.
Las Vegas Raiders (7-7) defeat Cleveland Browns (7-7) 16-14
The best of the Monday Night matchups, Raiders at the Browns, was an exciting finish perpetuated by a terrific catch and run by Tight End Foster Moreau to set the Raiders up for a game-winning field goal while still saving time on the clock. Cleveland showed resiliency, with 18 players having COVID-19, eight starters. They played the Raiders to the end of the game, which required Derek Carr to be perfect, and he was in a defensive-focused matchup. Both defenses played well, but the Browns defense deserve props for limiting star Running Back Josh Jacobs to 51 Rush Yards on 15 carries. Offensively the Browns wore down Las Vegas through Nick Chubb’s physical running, which opened the short-to-mid passing game for backup-to-the-backup Nick Mullins to figure out the offense. Donovan People’s Jones tends to drop the ball, with a 63% catch percentage but did come up clutch at the end of the game with two long catches for first downs. The Raiders run defense, usually putrid, held Nick Chubb to 91 Rush Yards on 23 carries (4.0 average) and a Rush TD. The Raiders knew how to stop the Browns' ample rushing attack, further enhanced with Baker Mayfield placed on the COVID-19 list. Meanwhile, the Raiders pass rush continues to be one of the best in the league, with Maxx Crosby (five Sacks and 25 QB Hits) and Yannick Ngakoue (9 Sacks and 18 QB Hits) providing standout performances throughout the year. It was a great effort from both teams, especially the Raiders, who needed a win after the Kansas City loss.
Fair Catch: Games with Middling Results
Los Angeles Rams (10-4) defeat Seattle Seahawks (5-9) 20-10
The 2021-22 Seattle Seahawks are the worst team from the Pete Carroll era, with uncertainty for the future of the Head Coach and their future Hall of Fame Quarterback Russell Wilson. The disfunction was evident in the loss to Los Angeles, with star DK Metcalf and Russ not being on the same page throughout the entire season and in the game. The result may have hinged on a no-call on a clear PI, but the truth is that Seattle didn’t play well enough to win in any of the three areas of the game. Cooper Kupp and the Los Angeles Rams are on the opposite side of the NFC West and tied for first in the division with the Arizona Cardinals. Kupp leads the NFL with about 1500 Receiving Yards on 113 Receptions, also tops in the NFL, and his progression with Matt Stafford has been one of the best things about the 2021-22 Los Angeles Rams. Los Angeles hopes for a deep playoff run, aided if they win their division.
Philadelphia Eagles (7-7) defeat the Washington Football Team (6-8) 27-17
The Washington Football Team’s Starting Quarterback Taylor Heinicke and backup Kyle Allen are on the COVID-19 list, so the Garrett Gilbert show was on tap after being signed from New England’s practice squad earlier this week. The Washington Football Team’s offense was largely ineffective throughout the game, proving that Heinicke plays a critical role in the Football Team's success. The Eagles had no excuses for not winning this game, and it was close for the majority until the Eagles pulled away at the end. Both teams were vying for a Wild Card berth before this game, and there is a slim hope that Washington makes it, while Philadelphia has a better shot for the playoffs.
Buffalo Bills (8-6) defeat Carolina Panthers (5-9) 31-14
Josh Allen may not be perfect and makes the wrong reads from time to time, but his talent and ability are more than enough to compensate for those mistakes. The Bills came out in a must-win game with division hopes and came out of it with a legitimate shot at the AFC East. How they play against New England will ultimately determine the fate of their season. On the Carolina side, they have done what they can to add talent to their roster, but it hasn’t paid off in the win column. They are the most disappointing team in the NFL after a terrific start and stability at Quarterback, whether that be a complete season of (Sam) Darnold, (Cam) Newton, or a veteran/drafted Quarterback in the offseason. Their receivers can make up for a low-ranked passing offense, but it isn’t enough to produce wins in a competitive football league.
San Francisco 49ers (8-6) defeat Atlanta Falcons (6-8)
The Atlanta Falcons may not be a playoff team in 2021-22, but they can hang with other playoff teams. Their record may not reflect it, and this loss against the 49ers may seem lopsided, but the Falcons are in the first year of the Arthur Smith era and have a lot of promise. The most promising aspect of the Falcons is their star Corner A.J. Terrell, who has allowed a Completion Percentage of 50.8%, 288 yards given up in 13 games or 23 per game, opposing touchdowns dropped from six to two in a year. Terrell is a legitimate top-five NFL Cornerback in the NFL, but the remainder of the roster leaves a lot to be desired. They need to figure out their Quarterback future in Atlanta because it's unlikely they will have another Super Bowl run with Matt Ryan under center. Their offensive line leaves a lot to be desired and stood no chance against San Fran, who could make a Wild Card berth. It may be an often-used trope, but Kyle Shanahan is the best evaluator of Running Back talent in the NFL, and Jeffrey Wilson had 21 carries for 110 yards against Atlanta. Jimmy Garoppolo may know his time is up in San Francisco, with Trey Lance waiting in the wings but still productive. That said, San Francisco has a decent chance of making the playoffs, while Atlanta would require a miracle to enter the playoffs.
Punted: Worst Games of the Week
Undoubtedly one of the worst games of the NFL season, Matt Nagy fought for his job and against the referees. Matt Nagy’s protégé, Justin Fields, has yet to develop into what many hoped Nagy would get out of him. His strengths are in the short passing game, but his development will hinge based on the progression of second reads and deep throws since players can only be so successful on small passes. The Bears are not a disciplined team and suffered drive-killing penalties throughout the game. There is reason to question why the Vikings did not blow out the Bears, but the Bears' defense was tremendous throughout the game despite having a depleted secondary due to COVID-19. The Vikings should have had more success given the Bears starters who were out and their entire offense playing healthy. The Vikings must decide their options with Kirk Cousins, who remains under contract for the 2022-23 season with a $45 million cap hit. Many thought the Vikings would be Super Bowl contenders but suffered middling results. The Vikings boast two top 15 Wide Receivers in (Adam) Thielen and (Justin) Jefferson, a top-five Running Back with (Dalvin) Cook, and an elite second option in the backfield with (Alexander) Mattison, and a great run blocking offense. The problem is at the top in their consistent .500-win percentage coach Mike Zimmer, who has flashes of Jeff Fisher in him. If the Vikings want to improve as a team in future seasons, they need an innovative offensive mind at the helm to get the best out of those elite skill players.
New Orleans Saints (7-7) defeat Tampa Bay Buccaneers (10-4) 9-0
The Saints shut out the Bucs for the first time in Tom Brady’s Tampa Bay career. The Saints stifled the Buccaneers and the rest of their offense, with help from Chris Godwin’s ankle injury that put him out for the season, and Mike Evans’ hamstring, which isn’t a long-term injury. Both Godwin and Evans are two focal points of the Bucs offense, and the team looked lifeless with just Rob Gronkowski as their premier receiving threat. Antonio Brown will be returning to the team after the fake COVID-19 Vaccination fiasco, so the Bucs get some help there, but the offensive line has a lot of work to do after allowing four Sacks from New Orleans. The Saints' game-plan against Tampa Bay was emblematic of the Giants' formula to defeating Brady; consistent four-defensive linemen rush that bullied the offensive line with man coverage on the outside and double-teaming the most potent offensive threat (Gronk). Kwon Alexander deserves credit for limiting Bucs’ pass-catchers from the backfield and Malcolm Jenkins for covering Gronkowski in a hard-fought, tough-nosed victory. Taysom Hill’s arm strength did not help the Saints win the game, but the lack of a vertical outside option kills drives for New Orleans. Tre’Quan Smith should be the second option in an elite offense but is the Saints' incumbent number one wideout. The Saints need to get more out of their receivers and passing game if they are still in the playoff hunt.
Dallas Cowboys (10-4) defeat New York Giants (4-10) 21-6
The Dallas Cowboys are one of the best teams in the NFL in 2021-22 and are a legitimate playoff team, despite the rest of the NFL’s world’s insistence that the Cowboys will ultimately fail. The question isn’t a lack of talent, but if their players can rise when it matters most. Micah Parson has a legitimate shot at becoming the league’s DPOY due to his bull and speed rush capabilities, ball-hawking skills, and plays at a high level no matter the role he plays for Dallas. The rival for the Cowboys, the New York Giants, are destined for another finish at the bottom of their division, and Mike Glennon’s performance is an indication that the Giants are competently bad with Daniel Jones and horrible without him. Not to say that Jones is the answer at Quarterback for New York, but at worst, he can win some games next year, given his contract expires at the end of the 2022-23 season. While the NFC East is one of the worst divisions in the NFL, all their teams have talent, they need to come together as a team as Dallas has.
Houston Texans (3-11) defeat Jacksonville Jaguars (2-12) 30-16
Anything can happen in a divisional battle due to familiarity with playing opposing teams. This was one of the worst predicted matchups due to the Jaguars firing one of the worst NFL coaches ever in Urban Meyer and the lack of talent on both rosters. While both teams are far from playoff-caliber, they have some established NFL talent in Brandon Cooks (Texans) and James Robinson (Jaguars). Cooks has four games with 100+ yards, eight games over five receptions, and consistently provides 1,000 receiving yard seasons despite the lack of big names that throw him the football. In 2021-22, Cooks is 53 yards away from another 1,000-yard season and will most likely hit 1,000 yards by the end of the season. James Robinson has faced some added controversy with Urban Meyer benching him, but now the notable "kicker" has been relieved of his duties, Robinson is back to playing for Jacksonville. He posted 75 yards on 17 carries with a touchdown, and he should produce more going forward. While this game may not have had significance in the 2021 NFL season, Jacksonville will likely get the first overall pick now that Houston and Detroit have three wins each.
Detroit Lions (2-11-1) defeat Arizona Cardinals (10-4) 30-12
The shocker of the week. Nobody expected the Lions to hang with the Arizona Cardinals, much less defeat them by 18 points. If anything, this game speaks to the importance of DeAndre Hopkins in the Cardinals offense, which should help him garner some MVP votes, even though the award, as noted on the JPA Vibecast, is Quarterback-driven. If he has any shot of winning an MVP award in future seasons, Kyler needs to establish himself as a premier Quarterback when Hopkins can't play. The Lions prove that everything in the NFL is flummoxed, skewed, and anything is possible while establishing they’re going to be competitive for years to come as they round out their roster. While losing may have hurt their draft pick status, it’s a matter of pride for Detroit, and they continue to be competitive most weeks.
Reference Page
Stats courtesy of Pro Football Reference and NFL.com
Images courtesy of Getty Images
Contract information courtesy of Spotrac
Score information courtesy of NFL.com