With the conclusion of Week 15 of the regular season, we now find ourselves in the midst of the playoff race, and multiple teams have already either clinched a spot in the postseason or have been cut out entirely.
There were some major blowouts this week, specifically for the Baltimore Ravens, Buffalo Bills and Tennessee Titans. But fans were treated to a few solid games, which I will discuss this go around.
New York Jets 23, Los Angeles Rams 20
This game at face value appears to be a meaningless win for a Jets squad that has already been eliminated from postseason contention.
Around the league, the Rams’ embarassing defeat at the hands of a then 0-13 team took a backseat to the narrative that the first overall pick in the 2021 draft now belongs to the 1-13 Jacksonville Jaguars for the time being. Due to Jacksonville’s easier strength-of-schedule, they take draft priority over the Jets.
The big story for me (coming from a Seahawks fan, mind you) is that the Rams just handed the NFC West lead to Seattle for the time being. What makes this even more ironic is that the Seahawks lost to the Rams earlier in the season, but blew the Jets out in Week 14 to the tune of 40-3.
Long forgotten quarterback (QB) Sam Darnold had an okay outing for the Jets, completing 22 of 31 passes for 207 yards and a touchdown. Running back (RB) Frank Gore got a heavy workload with 23 carries, recording 59 yards and a touchdown.
New York’s receiving corps was led by wide receiver (WR) Jamison Crowder with 6 catches for 66 yards. RB Ty Johnson recorded the Jets’ only touchdown reception.
The Jets’ defense was led by linebacker (LB) Neville Hewitt’s 10 total tackles. Cornerback (CB) Bryce Hall contributed an interception while New York’s defensive line sacked Rams’ QB Jared Goff three times.
Goff had an underwhelming game for the Rams, completing 22 of 34 passes for 207 yards, two touchdowns an interception. Emerging RB Cam Akers recorded 63 yards on 15 carries before going down with an injury. WR Robert Woods pulled of an impressive 40-yard run, though.
Los Angeles’s receiving corps was led by tight end (TE) Tyler Higbee, who recorded four catches for 67 yards and a touchdown. Woods followed closely with 56 yards and a touchdown on six receptions. LA’s defense we led by LB Troy Reeder, who recorded 11 total tackles.
Needless to say, Jets fans weren’t happy with their team seemingly destroying their chance at grabbing college phenom QB Trevor Lawrence. Jacksonville now holds the top draft pick, assuming they don’t win in Week 16 or 17. Honestly, the Jets can still grab QB Justin Fields out of Ohio State and still have a a bright future. I assume Darnold will be playing somewhere other than New York in 2021.
The narrative around the Rams now is that they just lost their grip on the NFC West. With a win against New York, it would’ve been all but certain that LA claims the NFC West crown, but now Seattle has a chance to steal in in Week 16. Was this just a small stumble for the Rams? I think so, but this loss really casts doubt on their contender status.
Kansas City Chiefs 32, New Orleans Saints 29
This was a hell of a game by both teams and one that most of the league was anitcipating.
This potential Super Bowl preview went the way of the Chiefs, proving that they can pretty much beat any team on any given day. The Chiefs’ loss to the Raiders earlier this season looks like more of an anamoly every passing week.
The Saints’ had an unfortunate mishap in this game when they botched a fumble by Chiefs’ WR Demarcus Robinson that might’ve gave them the win in hindsight. As Robinson was pushed back to the Chiefs’ endzone by a wave of Saints, the ball was knocked out Robinson’s hands and bounced into the endzone, prompting the Saints to try and claim it for a touchdown. However, they pushed the ball out of bounds, resulting in a two-point safety for New Orleans rather than a six-point touchdown.
Chiefs’ QB Patrick Mahomes II unsurprisingly had a great game against a competent Saints secondary. Mahomes completed 26 of 47 passes for 254 yards and three touchdowns.
The ground game for the Chiefs excelled also, as RBs Clyde Edwards-Helaire and Le’Veon Bell combined for 141 yards and a touchdown. Mahomes rushed for 37 yards on seven carries.
The league’s top receiver, TE Travis Kelce, led the way for the Chiefs’ passing attack with 68 yards and a touchdown on eight receptions. WRs Tyreek Hill and Mecole Hardman also caught touchdown passes.
KC’s defense was commanded by LB Ben Niemann’s eight total tackles. Safety L’Jarius Sneed had an impressive performance with an interception and a sack.
Saints’ QB Drew Brees had a solid outing, completing 15 of 34 passes for 234 yards and three touchdowns against one interception. Star RB Alvin Kamara picked up 54 rushing yards on 11 carries.
The Saints’ passing game was led by WR Emmanuel Sanders, who 76 yards on four receptions. Kamara followed closely behind Sanders with 40 receiving yards and a touchdown. WR Lil’Jordan Humphrey and RB Latavius Murray both contributed a touchdown pass each.
Safety Malcolm Jenkins and DE Trey Hendrickson were the stars of New Orleans defense, as the former racked up 13 total tackles (10 unassisted) while the latter recorded two sacks.
The Chiefs and Saints are my two favorites to make the Super Bowl this season, barring pushes by Seattle and Green Bay in the NFC. Brees is turning his play around amidst talk of his throwing arm being shot. Mahomes is looking like the clear MVP frontrunner at this point. Please let this be the Super Bowl matchup; it would make this chaotic season all worth it in the end.
Around the League (as of 12 p.m. Dec. 27)
AFC East
#1: Buffalo Bills (11-3, clinched division)
#2: Miami Dolphins (10-5)
#3: New England Patriots (6-8, eliminated)
#4: New York Jets (1-13, eliminated)
AFC West
#1: Kansas City Chiefs (13-1, clinched division)
#2: Las Vegas Raiders (7-8, eliminated)
#3: Denver Broncos (5-9, eliminated)
#4: Los Angeles Chargers (5-9, eliminated)
AFC North
#1: Pittsburgh Steelers (11-3, clinched wild card)
#2: Cleveland Browns (10-6)
#3: Baltimore Ravens (9-5)
#4: Cincinnati Bengals (3-10-1, eliminated)
AFC South
#1: Tennessee Titans (10-4)
#2: Indianapolis Colts (10-4)
#3: Houston Texans (4-10, eliminated)
#4: Jacksonville Jaguars (1-13, eliminated)
NFC East
#1: Washington Football Team (6-8)
#2: Dallas Cowboys (5-9)
#3: New York Giants (5-9)
#4: Philadelphia Eagles (4-9-1)
NFC North
#1: Green Bay Packers (11-3, clinched division)
#2: Chicago Bears (7-7)
#3: Minnesota Vikings (6-9, eliminated)
#4: Detroit Lions (5-10, eliminated)
NFC West
#1: Seattle Seahawks (10-4, clinched wild card)
#2: Los Angeles Rams (9-5)
#3: Arizona Cardinals (8-7)
#4: San Francisco 49ers (6-9, eliminated)
NFC South
#1: New Orleans Saints (11-4, clinched division)
#2: Tampa Bay Buccaneers (10-5, clinched wild card)
#3: Atlanta Falcons (4-10, eliminated)
#4: Carolina Panthers (4-10, eliminated)
