Week 15 of the NFL season promised season-defining matchups and potential Super Bowl previews.

In Pennsylvania, the 10-3 Pittsburgh Steelers would take on their inter-state rivals, the 11-2 Philadelphia Eagles. In Detroit, the unstoppable Lions would put their league best 12-1 record to the test against the league’s presumptive MVP, Josh Allen, and his spirited Buffalo Bills (10-3) squad. With other playoff hopefuls jockeying for positions across a full slate of games, Week 15 delivered on its massive promise and helped bring some order to the remainder of the 2024 season.

NFL WEEK 15 SCORES (as of Monday 16^th December)

Los Angeles Rams (8-6) 12 @ San Francisco 49ers (6-8) 6

Washington Commanders (9-5) 20 @ New Orleans Saints (5-9) 19

Kansas City Chiefs 21 (13-1) @ Cleveland Browns (3-11) 7

Cincinnati Bengals (6-8) 37 @ Tennessee Titans (3-11) 27

Miami Dolphins (6-8) 12 @ Houston Texans (9-5) 20

Baltimore Ravens (9-5) 35 @ New York Giants (2-12) 14

New York Jets (4-10) 32 @ Jacksonville Jaguars (3-11) 25

Dallas Cowboys (5-9) 30 @ Carolina Panthers (3-11) 14

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-6) 40 @ Los Angeles Chargers (8-6) 17

New England Patriots (3-11) 17 @ Arizona Cardinals (7-7) 30

Indianapolis Colts (6-8) 13 @ Denver Broncos (9-5) 31

Pittsburgh Steelers (10-4) 13 @ Philadelphia Eagles (12-2) 27

Buffalo Bills (11-3) 48 @ Detroit Lions (12-2) 42

Green Bay Packers (10-4) 30 @ Seattle Seahawks (8-6) 13

***

Game of the Week
Buffalo Bills 48 @ Detroit Lions 42

Billed as a potential Super Bowl preview, Sunday’s totemic showdown between Buffalo and Detroit highlighted both teams incredible strengths, and their potential weaknesses.

It’s clear where Buffalo’s hopes lie. In the arm and legs of their talismanic quarterback Josh Allen. One week removed from a heroic display in a narrow loss against the Rams, the MVP of Week 15 was every bit as impressive in Motown. Again, he contributed through the air and on the ground, logging two touchdowns passing and running, but this time he had ample support from his teammates. Thanks to building a healthy first half lead, the Bills were able to bring in Allen’s backfield running mates. James Cook ran for more than seven yards per carry and two scores, Ty Johnson picked up three completions of more than 20 yards, and Ray Davis caught a touchdown pass of his own. Buffalo looked a complete outfit on offense.

However, the Bills again looked circumspect defensively. They’ve now conceded 86 points in the past two games, and are the first team since 1966 to score and concede more than 40 points in consecutive games.

The Lions will be humbled by this result, but they continued to look balanced in their passing attack. Jared Goff logged five touchdowns on the day, while Jahmyr Gibbs, Sam LaPorta and Amon-Ra St.Brown all logged more than 100 yards from scrimmage. Their creativity and aggressiveness created a special moment for Dan Skipper, as the behemoth of an offensive tackle rumbled to the endzone on a nine-yard catch and run.

Dan Campbell’s courage may have tipped over into foolishness in the fourth quarter however. With 12 minutes to go and Buffalo holding a 10-point lead, Campbell elected to take an onside kick. The ensuing attempt was easily collected by Mack Hollins and returned to Detroit’s five-yard line, setting up Davis’ touchdown on the next play. This decision effectively iced the game, with Buffalo now nursing a three-score lead over Campbell’s men. Detroit will also rue their inability to establish the run as Gibbs and David Montgomery were held to just 35 yards on 13 attempts.

***

Winners
A.J. Brown, Devonta Smith & Jalen Hurts

Really, all of the Philadelphia Eagles organisation should take this gong. The Birds soundly bested their inter-state rivals, dominating on both sides of the ball. Vic Fangio’s defense allowed just 163 yards of total offense, the ninth lowest mark of the season by any team (three of the 10 bottom offensive outputs have come against the Eagles).

The defense was helped by the Eagles offense’s ability to hold onto the ball, especially in the second half. After the break, Philadelphia authored a 13-play drive which ended in a field goal, another 13-play series terminating in a patented Jalen Hurts ‘Tush Push’ score and a 21-play odyssey which ate up the remaining 10 minutes of the fourth quarter. If it wasn’t for two forced fumbles which gave the Steelers short fields to capitalise on, the score would have been far more decisive.

It’s bizarre to think this was a ‘get right’ game for a team in the midst of a franchise record 10-game win streak. Rumblings of dissatisfaction from Philly’s star wideouts however meant Hurts had to feed his tandem early and often. Both Brown and Smith eclipsed 100 yards receiving and snagged a score each, underlining Philadelphia’s credentials as a well-rounded offense and team writ large.

Loser
Jonathan Taylor

Look, what Jonathan Taylor did was truly indefensible. But, given the importance of this game in the Colts’ stilted push for the playoffs, can he really be blamed for the ensuing meltdown?

When Taylor appeared to cross the goal line on a 41-yard touchdown early in the second half, the Colts looked in control. The score would open up a 13-point lead over the Broncos which, given Bo Nix’s sputtering performance to that point, could have been enough to pinch a crucial victory in Indianapolis’ playoff bid. Instead, the Wisconsin alum’s fumble through the back of the endzone sparked a sequence of baffling coaching and even worse on-field discipline.

First, there was the failed trick play which saw Adonai Mitchell’s attempted pitch back to Anthony Richardson housed by Broncos’ linebacker Nick Bonitto. It’s unclear if Mitchell simply felt uncomfortable with the call, or if it was designed to develop at a glacial pace, but it extended the Broncos lead early in the fourth quarter. Any hope of a comeback was completely snuffed out after Chris Lammons lined up offside on a field goal attempt by Will Lutz. The five-yard penalty extended Denver’s drive, allowing Nix to find Courtland Sutton for a 20-yard touchdown.

Winner
Lamar Jackson

Baltimore’s quarterback marked his 100th game in the NFL with a virtuosic display in the Meadowlands. Jackson completed 21 of his 25 passes, for 290 yards and five scores. He added 68 yards on the ground on just six attempts, including a 20-yard scamper which was hindered more by his trousers falling down than anything the Giants defenders attempted.

Allen’s latest heroics have probably wrested the season-long MVP away from Jackson, but that doesn’t diminish the work of the reigning champ. Sunday was the sixth time Baltimore’s signal caller has thrown five touchdowns and no interceptions in a game. He continues to progress as a passer, and remains a difference maker in the run game too. Even with a leaky defense, Baltimore remains a serious threat in the post-season, thanks to the play of their quarterback.

Losers
Titans & Bengals fans

Your eyes track across the ticker on nfl.com. ‘Oh’, you think, ‘Cincy beat the Titans 37-27, that must have been a good game’. Your mouse hovers over the highlights link, and you make the fateful mistake. You click.

The Bengals and Titans combined for 10 turnovers and 26 penalties on Sunday. Both teams grassed the ball up twice, with all four fumbles being scooped by the opposition. Joe Burrow chipped in two picks, while the nightmarish combination of Will Levis and Mason Rudolph combined for four interceptions.

An ugly win is welcome enough for the inhabitants of the Queen City, given their propensity for nail-biting losses in helter-skelter shoot-outs, but where do Tennessee go from here? Investing a season in Levis, a raw and talented — but ultimately error-prone — quarterback, seems an increasingly foolhardy decision.

Loser
Kansas City Chiefs

The Chiefs finally recorded a two-score win — their first since October — thanks to a typically turnover-laden performance from Jameis Winston. The former first overall pick tossed three picks, allowing the Chiefs offense to calmly go about their business in a 21-7 win.

However, an ankle injury to Patrick Mahomes, sustained on an awkward hit deep into the fourth quarter could spark serious problems for Andy Reid’s ruthless big red machine. Mahomes has played through — and won Super Bowls on — ankle injuries before, but in a much higher powered offense underpinned by a dominating offensive line.

The Chiefs have been poor in the trenches this season. Against the Browns for example, Mahomes was pressured on a third of his dropbacks. Before yesterday’s game, Kansas City’s star signal caller had been sacked 35 times, already the highest tally of his career. If he can’t go or is seriously hampered, the Chiefs grip on the AFC’s number one seed is suddenly looking tenuous.

***

Stats of the Week

• Alvin Kamara became the fourth player to score at least 50 rushing touchdowns and 25 receiving scores in their career. The other players to achieve this feat? Hall of Famers Marshall Faulk and Lenny Moore, and the perennial All-Pro Christian McCaffrey. Pretty decent company.
• The play of Malik Nabers remains a highlight for an otherwise moribund New York Giants team. The rookie from LSU continued his eerily similar career path to Odell Beckham Jr., joining the former Tiger and Giant with four games of at least 10 receptions in their rookie year.
• Ja’Marr Chase’s pursuit of the triple crown slowed somewhat this week — a staggering statement seeing as the star wideout logged 10 catches for 94 yards. His statline on the season 102/1413/15, is just the fifth instance of a player exceeding 100 catches, 1,400 yards and 15 scores on a season. Cooper Kupp’s legendary 2021 season, which Chase is seeking to emulate, was the last time a wideout reached those lofty numbers.