High-scoring matchups, close upsets and performances from some of the top receivers. NFL Week 15 had some interesting implications for the playoff race and helped one player solidify his MVP status.
Now, with just one game left on the Monday Night Football schedule, let’s take a look at the biggest storylines from Sunday’s game.
Allen helps Bills score high again
If you’re a fan of high-scoring football, the Buffalo Bills have plenty to offer you.
The Bills came to the Motor City for a heavyweight showdown with the Detroit Lions in a game that was billed as a Super Bowl-caliber matchup and certainly lived up to the hype.
Buffalo looks to bounce back from a tough loss to the Los Angeles Rams, and they definitely got the wake-up call they needed. This time, they find themselves on the positive side of the scoreboard.
The Bills know the Lions defense is terrible, and Josh Allen is ready to take advantage. The Bills quarterback finished with 362 yards through the air while adding 68 yards on the ground and two rushing touchdowns.
If you need further validation of Allen’s status as this season’s MVP, another loss to one of the NFL’s top teams should provide more justification.
Over the past two games, Allen has five touchdowns through the air and five more on the ground. What’s more important is that Allen protects the football while still pushing the ball down the field.
The Bills also had an impressive game, dominating the scrimmage. Few teams can run the ball better than the Lions, but Buffalo won that battle with 197 yards on the ground, while Detroit finished with 48 yards.
Granted, the Lions were forced to give up the running game early and faced a 14-0 deficit after the first quarter. This forced Jared Goff to attempt nearly 60 passes in the game, and he was sacked three times as he shredded the Bills for 473 yards.
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Lion does poorly in measuring stick game
It’s hard to worry about a team that has lost just two games this season, but the red flags are starting to appear in Detroit.
The Lions were praised for their aggressive play-calling, but head coach Dan Campbell’s decision left many shaking their heads.
With 12 minutes left in the game and the Lions trailing by two possessions, the team decided to kick the onside kick. Bills receiver Mike Hollins recovered the ball and drove it into Lions territory for a touchdown.
That’s an acceptable risk in a Week 15 game, especially considering the Lions’ defensive performance. However, what if this was a playoff game?
Of course, the increasing number of defensive injuries cannot be ignored, especially at this point in the season.
Carlton Davis III, Aleem McNeil and Khalil Dorsey all left the game and appear to be dealing with serious injuries. Campbell said Davis and McNeil may not return this season.
It’s hard to see the Lions going on injured reserve right now, especially their defensive line, which has been without star pass rusher Aidan Hutchinson since mid-October.
Can the Lions survive this series of injuries? They have three games remaining, two of which are against NFC North opponents, but more importantly, they will be competing for the top spot in the division.
From all aspects, this game against the Bills was a measuring stick, and it’s a pity that they failed to pass this test. It’s not all bad, though.
Goff was outstanding once again, throwing for five touchdowns and nearly 500 yards passing. Amon-Ra St. Brown (193 yards) and Sam LaPorta (111 yards) both led the way, and the run game in particular struggled.
That’s probably the only reason the scoreboard was respectable, as the Lions were playing catch-up from the start.
Eagles face another playoff test
The Philadelphia Eagles are currently in good form, having won their tenth consecutive victory and setting a franchise record after defeating another playoff team.
Philadelphia beat the Pittsburgh Steelers not just because of them, but because of how they did it. The Eagles gained over 400 yards of offense against the No. 1 defense, but more importantly, the Steelers only had 163 yards of their own.
Jalen Hurts and AJ Brown dismissed suggestions of a rift between the two, combining for eight catches on 11 targets for 110 yards and a touchdown.
Even with two Eagles fumbles, the defense limited the Steelers to three turnovers.
Saquon Barkley suffered a minor injury, but that didn’t stop the Eagles from having a strong run game, finishing with 131 yards.
The Eagles are currently tied with the Lions atop the NFC and will likely end the regular season with the Commanders, Cowboys and Giants.
Mahomes’ familiar position
Seeing Patrick Mahomes limping to the sideline, every Kansas City Chiefs fan is probably trying to stay calm as backup Carson Wentz checks the play.
The Chiefs quarterback was hit high and low as he tried to throw the ball away and make a play. You can see him getting rolled up in the game.
Fortunately, X-rays of his injured ankle came back negative, and reports suggest Mahomes’ status is changing week to week.
The Chiefs will certainly be cautious about Mahomes’ injury, but history also tells us that if the reigning Super Bowl MVP wants to play, he will find a way.
In 2022, Mahomes can still lead Kansas City to the championship despite suffering a high ankle sprain in the divisional round.
Watch out for the Packers
The NFC North is one of the toughest divisions in the NFL, and the Green Bay Packers seem to be a little under the radar.
However, you could ask a lot of teams and they’d probably agree they don’t want to play the Packers in the playoffs.
Josh Jacobs set the tone early in the game, rushing the ball 11 times on the team’s first two possessions. He rushed for 94 yards and a touchdown and had four catches for 42 yards.
It also gives Jordan Love the confidence to move the ball everywhere and make some big plays.
With that said, the defense was ready for the offense, with seven sacks from six different defenders and 12 quarterback hits from nine players.
Green Bay will face the Saints in Week 16 before taking on the Minnesota Vikings in a heavyweight matchup. A win over their NFC North rival could give the Packers a higher seed in the NFC playoffs.
It’s always a good thing when some players unexpectedly shine.
Leading the charge was T’Vondre Sweat, the 366-pound tackle who ripped the ball away from Joe Burrow, rumbled 30 yards and hit offensive lineman Alex Cappa with a stiff-arm stiffness.
At the same game, Sam Hubbard thought Sweet couldn’t have been the only one having fun.
The Bengals defensive end caught Burrow’s pass in the end zone and made sure to enjoy the moment.
Unfortunately for Hubbard, that score came at a cost, as He said he hurt his knee When the catch falls. That might explain why big men don’t always find themselves in these situations.
The Lions have never been shy about getting their offensive linemen involved in the offense. Dan Skipper was one of those contributors, and the Bills didn’t cover him on the Lions’ second touchdown drive late in the second quarter.
Credit the Lions for their creative play, but more importantly, Skipper gained nine yards and beat the Bills defender.
