Week 15 Recap: A Division Clinched & Tuesday Night Football

Week 15 featured quite a few shakeups to the schedule, mainly caused by the horrendous wave of players testing positive for COVID-19, with the report that some of the positives are from the Omicron variant. The Los Angeles Rams and Cleveland Browns were among several teams that were hit the hardest, and that led to the NFL juggling the Week 15 schedule. Schedule shifts like this were nearly a regular thing in the 2020 season due to positive tests, and that year, it resulted in Monday Night doubleheaders, some games on Tuesdays, and even a Wednesday game. Until Week 15, those moves had been avoided, and time will tell if any of the following three weeks will be impacted as well.

As for the game itself, we have a clinch, as the first spot in the 2021 NFL Playoffs has been awarded. The recipient was none other than the Green Bay Packers, who defeated the Baltimore Ravens, 31-30, to clinch their third straight NFC North title. The Packers only needed a win or tie to nail down the division, and it was done behind three TD passes from Aaron Rodgers, who moved into a tie for the all-time franchise lead in TD passes with 442--matching his predecessor, Brett Favre. In addition, the Packers continue to hold on to the #1 seed in the NFC with their win, and of their three remaining games, two of them (their next two) are at home.

On the Ravens side, for the 2nd time in three weeks, this was another game lost due to a failed two-point conversion attempt by the Ravens. John Harbaugh, after Tyler Huntley's second rushing TD of the game put them within one, decided to go for the lead with the two-pointer, but the pass to Mark Andrews was deflected. Packers iced the game when they recovered the onside kick. Even if the Ravens had been successful and taken the lead, Rodgers would have had 42 seconds and one timeout left, and wouldn't have to go all the way. That's an eternity for Rodgers, who has done more with less time.

Week 15 kicked off in SoFi Stadium with the Los Angeles Chargers hosting the Kansas City Chiefs, with the Chargers entering their rematch with a golden chance to take the lead in the AFC West. The Bolts already defeated KC in Arrowhead, and another win would give them the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Chiefs. This was a shootout that really shouldn't have been; viewers saw some questionable decisions on the part of Chargers coach Brandon Staley, who was all or nothing on 4th downs, even when they were deep in FG range. The game ended up going to OT, Kansas City won the toss, and went all the way; Patrick Mahomes' TD pass to Travis Kelce capping off an amazing game for both of them. The Chiefs won 34-28 in overtime. Six points. That's two field goals. If the Chargers had kicked some FGs, they would have most likely won.

Because of the Browns' team being wrecked with COVID, their game against the Las Vegas Raiders was rescheduled, leaving the New England Patriots' clash with the Indianapolis Colts as the only Saturday night affair. These were two teams jockeying for positions in a wild AFC playoff race, and regarding the Patriots, they entered with a seven-game winning streak. That streak is now kaput, and we have (mainly) Jonathan Taylor to thank for that. Jonathan Taylor is having a year, isn't he? In a league with RBs such as Derrick Henry, Aaron Jones, and Dalvin Cook, here's Taylor just racking up all sorts of crazy numbers. The letters "M," "V," and "P" are being thrown around when his name is mentioned. Regarding the game, the Colts' 20-0 lead was being threatened and cut down to just three points, but Taylor did something about that: a long TD run to ice the game and make fantasy owners very, very happy. Colts won 27-17.

What in the world has happened to the Arizona Cardinals?! Remember when it seemed like them getting the #1 seed in the NFC was inevitable? That was two weeks ago. They lost to the Rams on a Monday game to drop out of that position, but they had the golden chance to get back in the thick of things. The Cards were on the road, yes, but they entered unbeaten on the road and they were facing a Lions team that had a grand total of 1.5 wins all season. The Cardinals molted! They couldn't do a thing against the Lions and ended up losing 30-12! The Arizona free fall continues; it is absolutely disastrous. As I said, two weeks ago, it seemed like Kyler Murray and company could get the #1 seed. Now? They may not even win the NFC West. And with DeAndre Hopkins shut down for the rest of the regular season, their home stretch will be an arduous one.

And how about the Lions? They are 2-2-1 in their last five games! This is all since starting 0-9 this season. I know it's not much, but when it happens to Detroit, that's a big deal.

The Pittsburgh Steelers still have a pulse after their 19-13 comeback win over the AFC South-leading Tennessee Titans. It was Joe Haden who clinched the win with a clutch tackle on 4th down, even in spite of the ball being placed in a more favorable spot (which was still short). Elsewhere, the Buffalo Bills got back on the winning trach with their 31-14 win over the Carolina Panthers, and the Cincinnati Bengals defeated the Denver Broncos by a score of 15-10. The Bengals' win moved them past the Ravens, who--as a result of their aforementioned loss--fell behind the playoff line. The Steelers are a half game out in the division and in the overall playoff race at 7-6-1.

Tom Brady continues to prove that people who call him the GOAT truly need their heads examined. His problems against the New Orleans Saints continued on Sunday Night Football, as he was shut out at home--a 9-0 score. Brady was sacked three times and committed two turnovers, while three Saints field goals and a roughing the kicker penalty sealed the deal. Brady is 0-4 against the Saints since joining the Bucs; ironically, his only win against the Saints in that time was in the 2020 Divisional Playoff in New Orleans. The Bucs entered that game needing a win to seal the NFC South; now they will have to wait another week.

The Browns/Raiders game ended up moved to Monday, serving as the first of two Monday games in Week 15. Nick Mullens ended up having to start for the Browns, but in spite of this, they made it a game against the Raiders, and it even looked like they would win when they had the ball last. But after Nick Chubb was stopped on third and short, the Raiders received the punt, and got to field goal range, where Daniel Carlson's 48-yard kick won it. The Raiders' 17-16 win made both teams 7-7, and robbed the Browns of a division lead, though the AFC North remains close. The other Monday game was the Minnesota Vikings' 17-9 win over the hapless Chicago Bears, who were eliminated from playoff contention with the loss. Kirk Cousins only threw for 87 yards. That's it. That's all he needed. It was also Cousins' 2nd Monday Night win--and both were against the Bears, whose fans are counting down the days until Matt Nagy receives his pink slip.

We also received a pair of Tuesday night games because of the rescheduling, with both vital to the NFC playoff race. The Los Angeles Rams hosted the Seattle Seahawks; a game that started low-scoring but picked up in the second half, with the Rams going on to win by a score of 20-10. The Rams' win makes things even more difficult for the Cardinals, as Arizona's NFC West stranglehold is now gone, as both teams are tied for first place. The other Tuesday game featured the Washington Football Team facing the Philadelphia Eagles, with the former having to start Garrett Gilbert at QB due to Taylor Heinecke's positive test. Despite going up 10-0, Washington couldn't hang on, and the Eagles handed Washington their second straight loss, winning 27-17. Both teams remain alive in the playoff race, but not the division, as the Dallas Cowboys won, 21-6, earlier in the week. Also, the San Francisco 49ers won, 31-13, to keep pace in the Wild Card race.

Three weeks remain in this wild and wacky NFL season, yet only one playoff spot is clinched, and so much is wide open. Week 16 (Christmas week) starts with the final Thursday Night game of the season: the Tennessee Titans hosting the San Francisco 49ers. On Christmas Day, a pair of games; first, the Green Bay Packers hosting the Cleveland Browns, followed by the Indianapolis Colts visiting the slumping Arizona Cardinals. On Sunday Night Football, the Dallas Cowboys look to clinch the NFC East at home against the Washington Football Team, and Monday Night Football will feature the Miami Dolphins and the New Orleans Saints.

In closing, all I ask is that everyone have a wonderful Christmas! Just like with Thanksgiving, enjoy the food, enjoy your family, and enjoy the football, but most importantly, be safe--always!