NFL - Week Fifteen Recap

 

Josh Allen and the Bills had a big game to win in Detroit.

The Buffalo Bills (11-3) went into Detroit and manhandled the Lions (12-2) to snap the host teams' 11-game winning streak with quarterback Josh Allen (362 passing yards) going off for two scoring passes and also rushing for two touchdowns in the 48-42 victory. In addition, Bills running back James Cook rushed for two scores and gained 105 yards on 14 carries. It was the eighth straight game the Bills scored 30 or more points, which equals an NFL record shared by numerous teams. Lions QB Jared Goff had five TD passes and 494 passing yards in the loss.The Bills and Lions combined for 1,080 total yards in offense in this one. The Lions are also decimated with injuries, losing two more players on defense and also a season ending knee injury to running back David Montgomery.

In Philadelphia, the Eagles (12-2) served notice they are top team in Pennsylvania as they beat the Pittsburgh Steelers, 27-13 and clinched a spot in the NFC playoffs. Philadelphia QB Jalen Hurts passed for 290 yards with two scoring passes and also had a TD run in the win, which was their tenth in a row. Even with the loss, the Steelers (10-4) clinched an AFC playoff spot as they were limited to a paltry 163 yards in total offense.

In Los Angeles, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-6) took over the game in the second half as they blasted the Chargers, 40-17 with QB Baker Mayfield (288 passing yards) throwing four touchdown passes, including two to wide receiver Mike Evans (nine receptions, 159 yards) while RB Bucky Irving gained 117 rushing yards on 15 carries as Tampa Bay rushed for 223 yards in the rout. The loss was the third in the last four games for the Chargers as they dropped to 8-6 this season and down to third place in the AFC West division and also into the last remaining AFC wild card playoff spot.

The Baltimore Ravens (9-5) steam rolled the host New York Giants, 35-14 with QB Lamar Jackson throwing five touchdown passes and 290 yards to lead a balanced offense (170 rushing yards, 275 passing yards) while the Giants (2-12) lost their ninth consecutive game while being limited to just 55 rushing yards.

The Houston Texans (9-5) all but ended any playoff hopes the visiting Miami Dolphins (6-8) had as they won, 20-12 and coupled with Indianapolis losing to Denver, clinched the AFC South division title. Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud threw two scoring passes to WR Niko Collins while Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa was intercepted three times in defeat. The Dolphins gained only 224 yards and the Texans just 181 yards in total offense in the game.

The Kansas City Chiefs improved their record to a league best 13-1 with a 21-7 win in Cleveland as the Browns gained 266 yards in total offense while turning it over six times (four interceptions, two fumbles) to fall to 3-1 this season. Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes passed for two touchdowns before leaving the game midway through the fourth quarter with an ankle injury and so far he is listed as week to week.

 

The Denver Broncos improved to 9-5 with their fourth straight win, this time knocking off the visiting Indianapolis Colts, 31-13. The entire game changed when Colts running back Jonathan Taylor (pictured right) dropped the football before crossing the goal line and turning it over to Denver. At that point, the Colts (6-8) led 13-7 (which would have increased to 19-7 or better with the scoring run) but instead the Broncos went on to take advantage of the mental lapse and won going away as rookie QB Bo Nix had three TD passes along with three interceptions thrown. Denver's defense forced five turnovers in the game, including a 50-yard fumble return for touchdown by linebacker Nik Bonitto for a 24-13 lead with 12:29 remaining in the fourth quarter. Colts QB Anthony Richardson was picked off twice in the loss. 

The New York Jets (4-10) finally got a win as they beat the host Jacksonville Jaguars, 32-25 with RB Breece Hall scoring the tinning touchdown on a one-yard run with 1:05 left to play.  Jets QB Aaron Rodgers (289 passing yards, three TD) hooked up with WR Davante Adams (nine receptions for 198 yards) for two scores, including a 71-yard scoring pass for a 25-22 lead with 3:24 remaining in the game. Jacksonville fell to 3-11 as QB Mac Jones had two TD passes and two interceptions thrown in defeat. 

The Washington Commanders (9-5) inched closer to locking up a playoff spot in the NFC by holding off the New Orleans Saints, 20-19. The Saints (5-9) stormed back from a 17-0 deficit to get to within one point when third string QB Spencer Rattler threw a one-yard scoring pass to tight end Foster Moreau as time ran out, but the two-point conversion (for the win) failed and the Commanders got the victory. Washington rookie QB Jayden Daniels had two touchdown passes while also being sacked eight times.

The Arizona Cardinals (7-7) halted a three-game losing streak with a 30-17 home win against the New England Patriots (3-11) with RB James Conner (16 carries for 110 yards) scoring twice on the ground while Patriots QB Drake Maye had a scoring run and pass in the loss.

The Cincinnati Bengals (6-8) beat the host Tennessee Titans, 37-27 as QB Joe Burrow had three TD passes and Geno Stone had a 39-yard "pick six" return for a touchdown along with a scoring run and reception by RB Chase Brown. The Bengals defense forced six turnovers (four interceptions) as the Titans (3-11) benched starting QB Will Levis (three interceptions) in favor of Mason Rudolph, who had two TD passes (209 passing yards and one INT) in defeat.

Dallas (6-8) won a road game, 30-14 against the Carolina Panthers (3-11) as QB Cooper Rush had three scoring passes and 214 yards while their defense had six sacks and four turnovers (two fumbles, two interceptions). Panthers QB Bryce Young had a TD pass and also a scoring run in the loss.

The Sunday night game in Seattle saw the Green Bay Packers (10-4) blast the Seahawks, 30-13 with QB Jordan Love (229 passing yards) throwing two TD passes and RB Josh Jacobs (94 yards) rushing for another score as they built a 14-0 lead in the first quarter. The Packers defense got two interceptions and also had seven sacks. The Seahawks (8-6) fell into second place in the NFC West as QB Geno Smith suffered a knee injury as they were limited to just 208 yards in offense.

On Thursday night, the Los Angeles Rams improve to 8-6 for the season with a 12-6 road win against the San Francisco 49ers (6-8) in a game that had no touchdowns. A driving rain storm limited each teams ability to sustain drives and Rams kicker Joshua Karty made four field goals (three in the final quarter) to get the win. The 49ers gained only 191 yards in offense in the loss. 

The Minnesota Vikings (12-2) beat the Chicago Bears, 30-12 for their seventh consecutive victory on Monday night as QB Sam Darnold had a TD pass and running backs Aaron Jones and Cam Akers each added a touchdown run along with three field goals by Will Reichard. The Bears (4-10) lost their eighth straight game with rookie QB Caleb Williams throwing a scoring pass in defeat. 

In Las Vegas in the second Monday Night Football game, the Atlanta Falcons (7-7) snapped a four-game skid with a 15-9 win against the Raiders (2-12), who dropped their tenth consecutive game. Falcons QB Kirk Cousins threw a 30-yard TD pass to Drake London for a 7-0 lead in the first quarter. Younghoe Koo made two field goals and a safety provided the rest of the scoring. Raiders QB Desmond Ridder threw a five-yard scoring pass to Ameer Abdullah with 2:54 left in the fourth quarter, but it wasn't enough.

 

WEEK FIFTEEN RESULTS 

L.A. Rams 12, San Francisco 6 

Baltimore 35, N.Y. Giants 14 

Washington 20, New Orleans 19

N.Y. Jets 32, Jacksonville 25 

Cincinnati 37, Tennessee 27

Houston 20, Miami 12 

Kansas City 21, Cleveland 7 

Dallas 30, Carolina 14 

Denver 31, Indianapolis 13

Tampa Bay 40, L.A. Chargers 17

Arizona 30, New England 17

Philadelphia 27, Pittsburgh 13

Buffalo 48, Detroit 42

Green Bay 30, Seattle 13

Minnesota 30, Chicago 12

Atlanta 15, Las Vegas 9