Quite a few teams are just playing out the string at this point in the NFL season, but the stakes are incredibly high for others over the next few weeks.

Week 15's first game featured a pair of NFC West teams trying to stay in the hunt in the NFC West. The Los Angeles Rams' win raised them to the top of the division and all but ensured there will be a new Super Bowl representative from the NFC this season.

The Kansas City Chiefs won again, but wear and tear could limit Patrick Mahomes going forward. Lamar Jackson, meanwhile joined Michael Vick as one of two quarterbacks to accomplish an impressive feat.

The Pittsburgh Steelers exited Sunday with a playoff berth, but their best player is now questionable for the stretch run. The Buffalo Bills, meanwhile, leaned on their offense to hand the Detroit Lions their second loss of 2024.

The Atlanta Falcons and Minnesota Vikings picked up wins on Monday night, though only one of those teams looks to bring intrigue to the NFC playoff race.

Week 15 created a seismic impact on the postseason races in both conferences, and Bleacher Report NFL analysts Gary Davenport, Kristopher Knox, Maurice Moton and Brent Sobleski covered all of the action, with the biggest takeaways from every game on the schedule.

AFC Playoff Picture

Current AFC Playoff Standings

1. Kansas City Chiefs (13-1)*

2. Buffalo Bills (11-3)*

3. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-4)*

4. Houston Texans (9-5)*

5. Baltimore Ravens (9-5)

6. Denver Broncos (9-5)

7. Los Angeles Chargers (8-6)

In the Hunt

8. Indianapolis Colts (6-8)

9. Miami Dolphins (6-8)

10. Cincinnati Bengals (6-8)

Eliminated: Cleveland Browns (3-11), Jacksonville Jaguars (3-11), Las Vegas Raiders (2-12), New England Patriots (3-10), New York Jets (4-10), Tennessee Titans (3-11)

*= clinched playoff berth

NFC Playoff Picture

Current NFC Playoff Standings

1. Detroit Lions (12-2)*

2. Philadelphia Eagles (12-2)*

3. Los Angeles Rams (8-6)

4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-6)

5. Minnesota Vikings (12-2)

6. Green Bay Packers (10-4)

7. Washington Commanders (9-5)

In the Hunt

8. Seattle Seahawks (8-6)

9. Atlanta Falcons (7-7)

10. Arizona Cardinals (7-7)

11. San Francisco 49ers (6-8)

12. Dallas Cowboys (6-8)

13. New Orleans Saints (5-9)

Eliminated: Carolina Panthers (3-11), Chicago Bears (4-10), New York Giants (2-12)

*= clinched playoff berth

Minnesota Vikings 30, Chicago Bears 12

Vikings Must Be Willing to Lean on Aaron Jones When Necessary

Detroit's loss on Sunday gave the Vikings a prime opportunity to steal the NFC North. The two rivals now have two losses apiece and could potentially play for the division when they meet in Week 18.

For much of Monday night's game against the Chicago Bears, however, Minnesota failed to operate like a top-tier contender. Quarterback Sam Darnold appeared to be just a bit off, and the Vikings struggled to take full advantage of Chicago's miscues—and there were many of them.

For whatever reason, head coach Kevin O'Connell was unwilling to lean on running back Aaron Jones to help stabilize the offense, sustain drives and keep Minnesota's defense off of the field.

Jones, the prize offseason addition plucked away from the rival Packers, had fewer than 10 carries midway through the third quarter. However, the Vikings finally turned to him on their final drive of the period, which resulted in their second touchdown of the night. Jones carried it seven times on the drive and punched it in from one yard out.

It was arguably Minnesota's most impressive drive of the night—the Vikings' first touchdown drive began at the Chicago 39-yard line.

Jones finished with 18 carries for 86 yards, a touchdown and a 4.8 yards-per-carry average.

Minnesota's desire to go pass-heavy isn't altogether surprising. Darnold has played at a high level this season, while Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison and T.J. Hockenson form one of the most dangerous pass-catching trios in the league.

Against a Bears defense that came in ranked 29th in yards per carry allowed (4.8), however, Jones should have been a significant part of the game plan from the beginning.

There will be games where it makes sense to let Darnold sling it. However, if the Vikings want to ensure they enter Week 18 with a chance to win the NFC North, they must be willing to take the ball out of Darnold's hands when it makes sense to keep it on the ground.

Bears Must Prioritize Experience In Offseason's Head Coaching Search

The Bears, who fired Matt Eberflus over Thanksgiving weekend, will be looking for a new head coach in 2025. It's likely that they'll prefer a coach with an offensive background who can help develop quarterback Caleb Williams.

According to ESPN's Seth Wickersham, that's the conclusion Bill Belichick reached when he evaluated Chicago's opening before turning to the University of North Carolina.

"[Belichick's] group expects the same thing that most around the league do: that the Bears will go offense."

An offensive coach would make sense, but it might be even more important for Chicago to find a coach who has been a head coach before. Eberflus was a first-time head coach, and he always seemed to struggle with managing the whole operation on game days.

Interim coach Thomas Brown—who, to be fair, went from being the quarterbacks coach to the offensive coordinator to the head coach in a matter of weeks—is having similar issues.

Silly penalties were a big problem for the Bears on Monday. The most egregious was an illegal substitution penalty that erased a third-quarter D'Andre Swift touchdown.

Brown has also seemed to struggle with in-week preparation, as slow starts have plagued the Bears recently.

Chicago may prefer to pursue a coach like Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson or perhaps Washington Commanders offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury—who was an analyst at USE during Williams' final college season. However, the Bears must also consider former head coaches with a defensive background like Mike Vrabel and Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores.

The Bears can afford to trust that their next head coach will hire a capable offensive staff. They can't afford another year (or more) of sloppy operation, bad decision-making and inefficient game management.

Atlanta Falcons 15, Las Vegas Raiders 9

The Falcons Aren't Serious Playoff Contenders And Seem to Know It

The Falcons scraped by a two-win Las Vegas Raiders team in the second game of Monday's doubleheader. However, it was impossible to watch the game and believe that Atlanta is a legitimate playoff team.

Now, the Falcons could still sneak into the postseason. They'll need help, as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers lead the NFC South. However, Atlanta won both regular-season meetings with Tampa and only needs to make up one game over the final three weeks to claim the division.

With winnable contests against the New York Giants and Carolina Panthers remaining—plus, a more daunting matchup with the Washington Commanders—the Falcons could win out.

However, the Falcons just aren't good enough to make a deep run in the playoffs. Atlanta's defense is average at best, and Kick Cousins has become a liability. He did end his touchdown-less streak at four games on Monday, but he threw another bad interception and struggled to provide any sort of spark.

What's more, the Falcons' entire game plan seemed to revolve around limiting Cousins' opportunities for mistakes. He finished with a mere 17 pass attempts.

Leaning on Bijan Robinson, Tyler Allgeier and the running game isn't a bad idea, but i Cousins can't lead a potent passing attack, Atlanta simply isn't going to out-pace a team like Minnesota or Green Bay in the postseason.

Atlanta also didn't trust Younghoe Koo to attempt a pair of long field goals in the first half, which is another problem for a team with playoff aspirations.

It would seem that Raheem Morris' entire goal was to get out of Las Vegas with an ugly win, and that's exactly what happened. The Falcons recorded a trio of takeaways, scored on a safety and still only recorded a six-point win after Las Vegas' failed Hail Mary attempt.

The Buccaneers, meanwhile, just dropped 40 points on a good Los Angeles Chargers team.

The Falcons aren't making a Super Bowl run this season, and if they want to get anything of value out of these final few weeks, they have to consider giving rookie quarterback Michael Penix Jr. some playing experience.

Raiders Should Be Done with Desmond Ridder at the End of the Season

Las Vegas started in-season acquisition Desmond Ridder because of the knee injury Aidan O'Connell suffered in Week 15. That was a less-than-ideal situation, obviously, but it did give Las Vegas an opportunity to evaluate another quarterback ahead of the 2025 offseason.

Gardner Minshew will probably be a cap casualty, as the Raiders can release him with a post-June 1 designation and save $6.2 million in 2025 cap space.

It was always unlikely, of course, that Ridder was going to show anything to suggest he can be Las Vegas' quarterback of the future. The Raiders will likely target a new quarterback at the top of the draft or target a quarterback like Darnold in free agency.

However, NFL teams need quarterback depth, and Ridder does now have 18 starts on his resume. His performance on Monday, though, suggests that Las Vegas should look elsewhere for a third quarterback behind O'Connell and a QB-to-be-named in 2025.

Ridder did enough on the Raiders' final drive to get in position for a desperation heave. However, he was woefully inefficient for most of the game. He threw a horrible interception right to safety Justin Simmons in Raiders territory, took unnecessary sacks and finished just 23-of-39 for 208 yards, one touchdown and two picks.

O'Connell has shown enough to justify being a long-term backup and/or a 2025 bridge starter. Las Vegas should reload the rest of its quarterback room.

Baltimore Ravens 35, New York Giants 14

Running Lamar Jackson Is Back in Time for AFC North Showdown

After a Week 13 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson took some criticism from his mother about missing running lanes. He responded with 65 rushing yards in a win over the New York Giants.

Jackson became the second quarterback to rush for 6,000-plus career yards, sharing that distinction with Michael Vick.

As many expected, the Ravens controlled the entire game against the Giants, though Jackson needed that tune-up as a ball-carrier ahead of a crucial matchup with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

As a passer, Jackson has struggled against Pittsburgh in his career, throwing for five touchdowns and eight interceptions with a 57 percent completion rate in 13 games. His willingness to use his legs with more purpose as a ball-carrier may loosen things up for the Ravens offense against the Steelers defense in Week 16.

Giants Have the NFL's Worst QB Situation

In Sunday's loss to the Ravens, the Giants turned to seventh-year journeyman Tim Boyle. He took over for Tommy DeVito (concussion) at the end of the second quarter.

If you count Daniel Jones, whom the Giants released three weeks ago, Big Blue is on its fourth-string quarterback. Drew Lock missed this game with a heel injury.

Regardless of who the Giants trot out in Week 16 against the Atlanta Falcons, they're at a major disadvantage at the position, even with Kirk Cousins' recent slump (zero touchdown passes and eight interceptions over his last four games).

Likely to make one of the top picks in the 2025 draft, the Giants will be laser-focused on quarterback prospects in the offseason.

New York Jets 32, Jacksonville Jaguars 25

Jets Should Not Give CB Sauce Gardner a Market-Setting Extension

In the offseason, Sauce Gardner will be eligible for an extension, but the New York Jets shouldn't be eager to make him one of the league's highest-paid cornerbacks.

Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson made it clear that he wanted to get rookie wideout Brian Thomas Jr. involved early in this game. Thomas caught 10 passes for 105 yards and two touchdowns.

As the Jets' best cornerback, Gardner should have the responsibility to slow Thomas and the Jaguars' aerial attack down.

Though Gardner sealed the Jets' win with an interception, he didn't shadow Thomas the entire game and continued to have his ups and downs in coverage.

Entering Sunday's contest, Gardner allowed a 104.6 passer rating in coverage, which shows that he's having his worst season.

Gardner is coming off a down year, and the Jets cannot rely on him to neutralize the opposing team's best receiver. He hasn't earned a lucrative extension.

The Jets must stall contract talks with him as they bring in a new front office and coaching staff.

Jaguars Can Build Passing Offense Around Brian Thomas Jr.

Thomas flashed star potential early in the season. Over the past few weeks, he's shown the Jaguars can run their aerial attack through him.

Jacksonville lost wideout Christian Kirk (broken collarbone) and Gave Davis (meniscus) to season-ending injuries weeks ago. Quarterback Trevor Lawrence has missed significant time over the past month as well. This week, the team placed tight end Evan Engram (torn labrum) on injured reserve.

Despite all the injuries, Thomas has been the most consistent playmaker in the Jaguars' passing game. Over the previous four weeks, he's caught 27 passes for 349 yards and three touchdowns.

In the offseason, the Jaguars may be open to trading Kirk or Davis, allowing Thomas to take on a bigger role in 2025.

Cincinnati Bengals 37, Tennessee Titans 27

Bengals Must Re-Build Defense But Do Have Some Building Blocks

The Cincinnati Bengals handled the Tennessee Titans in a turnover-fest on Sunday. Neither team fared well in the turnover department—we saw 10 giveaways in total—but Cincinnati won the turnover battle and better capitalized en route to a convincing victory.

Good performances have been few and far between for Cincinnati's much-maligned defense this season. Joe Burrow, Ja'Marr Chase and the offense have kept the Bengals in most games, but the league's 29th-ranked scoring defense has prevented Cincinnati from being a contender.

Cincinnati must improve its defense—and possibly evaluate defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo—in the offseason if it hopes to return to the Super Bowl hunt in 2025. However, Sunday's game was a reminder that the Bengals do have a few standout defenders around which they can build.

Trey Henderson entered Week 14 with a league-lading 12.5 sacks, and he repeatedly harassed Tennessee quarterbacks on Sunday. Cornerbacks Cam Taylor-Britt, Josh Newton and Mike Hilton each secured interceptions, while safety Geno Stone—arguably Cincinnati's biggest free-agent addition this year—put six points on the board with a pick and a thrilling 39-yard return.

The Bengals have a lot of offseason work ahead of them. They need to figure out if they can retain wideout Tee Higgins, and they must extend Chase sooner than later. They must also rebuild a defense that hasn't been good enough this season, though the proverbial cupboard isn't quite as barren as this season's records and rankings might indicate.

Titans Must Have a New Quarterback Plan in 2025

For most of the year, Tennessee has felt like a strong candidate to pursue a new quarterback in 2025—be it a top draft prospect or a free agent like Sam Darnold. However, some in the Titans organization still have faith in 2023 second-round pick Will Levis.

At least, that's been their stance publicly.

"There's a lot of things I think he's getting better at and plenty of things that I think he still continues to have to get better at. So that evaluation for him is ongoing," Titans head coach Brian Callahan said, per Terry McCormick of Titan Insider.

Levis had played somewhat better over his last few games, defeating the Houston Texans in Week 12 and going his next two games without an interception. However, Sunday's putrid performance should put a stamp on his 2024 evaluation.

The Kentucky product threw a trio of interceptions, including a pick-six, and lost a fumble before he was pulled for backup Mason Rudolph. Even if the Titans do still believe Levis has a bright future, there's no way they can go into next season with him as the unquestioned starter.

Levis simply hasn't developed enough in key areas like pocket awareness, ball security and processing. He's now thrown 12 interceptions in 11 starts and has lost five fumbles.

Tennessee must, at the very least, bring in some legitimate competition at quarterback, someone who can potentially be a long-term answer. Levis continues to prove that he's unreliable. Rudolph, who will be a free agent in March and turn 30 in July, isn't the answer.

Kansas City Chiefs 21, Cleveland Browns 7

Chiefs' Offensive Issues Continue, Patrick Mahomes Injury Looms Large

The Kansas City Chiefs defeated the Cleveland Browns fairly convincingly, though it was another slog for their 15th-ranked offense.

Kansas City did put three touchdowns on the board, though the first was set up by a muffed punt and a short field. Big plays were hard to find, and Patrick Mahomes spent most of the game under heavy pressure.

Left tackle has been a problem area for the Chiefs, who gave Joe Thuney a shot at the position with underwhelming results.

Had the Chiefs defense not secured six takeaways on Sunday, this game may have gone very, very differently. The fact that Kansas City only scored 14 points off of those turnovers is concerning.

The Chiefs, who have only topped 21 points since the start of November, have been scraping by opponents. Their experience in one-score games might give them a mental edge in the playoffs, but it's fair to wonder if Kansas City can win an offensive track meet with a team like the Baltimore Ravens or Buffalo Bills.

And while the Chiefs did escape with a win, they didn't escape unscathed. Mahomes suffered an apparent lower-leg injury late in the fourth quarter and was replaced by Carson Wentz.

According to ProFootballTalk, Mahomes suffered a high-ankle sprain and is "probably week-to-week."

Having Mahomes at less than 100 percent behind a struggling line could be a big problem over the next couple of weeks. Kansas City will face the Houston Texans next Saturday before facing the Pittsburgh Steelers the following Wednesday.

The 13-1 Chiefs have a strong grip on the AFC's No. 1 seed, but they haven't secured it just yet.

Browns Need a Special Teams Makeover

This season hasn't gone well for the Browns, to say the least. However, it appears that Cleveland will stick by head coach Kevin Stefanski and general manager Andrew Berry.

"According to sources in Cleveland, the Browns believe Stefanski and Berry remain the right duo to guide the team forward," Dianna Russini of The Athletic wrote on Saturday. "Leadership within the organization is focused on maintaining stability and giving them the opportunity to address the team's challenges and improve."

While Stefanski is expected to be back, the Browns need to make some significant changes to the special-teams unit. Special-teams coach Bubba Ventrone got some solid results in 2023, but his unit has been a massive liability this season.

Kicker Dustin Hopkins, who has made just 64 percent of his field-goal attempts, was pulled in favor of Riley Patterson this week. Cleveland's kicking woes have been just part of the special-teams problem.

Kadarius Toney muffed a punt that essentially sealed last week's loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. James Proche fumbled a punt that set up Kansas City's first touchdown on Sunday.

This game wasn't lost because of special teams. Poor play by Jameis Winston—who was eventually pulled for Dorian Thompson-Robinson—and a severe lack of ball security ensured that Cleveland never really had a chance. At this point in a lost season, though, the Browns must be deciphering where improvements can be made in 2025.

It's no secret that Cleveland needs to find a quarterback and re-load its offensive line. It may need to find a new running back, as impending free agent Nick Chubb suffered a broken foot on Sunday.

Revamping the special-teams room must also be on the to-do list.

Washington Commanders 20, New Orleans Saints 19

Commanders Need a No. 2 Wide Receiver to Emerge in Passing Game

This week, the Washington Commanders placed wideout Noah Brown (ribs and kidney) and running back Austin Ekeler (concussion) on injured reserve. They lost tight end Zach Ertz to a concussion on Sunday.

The Commanders' thinning pass-catching group didn't cost them the game, but it could become an issue against playoff-caliber teams. Washington will play the Philadelphia Eagles next week.

Ertz, Brown and Ekeler are behind McLaurin in targets, catches and receiving yards. Unless someone emerges in the short term, Washington should fill a void in the pass-catching group with a free-agent signing until their playmakers return to action.

Spencer Rattler Should Be Saints' No. 2 QB

The New Orleans Saints opted to start Jake Haener in place of quarterback Derek Carr, who's dealing with a concussion and a left-hand injury, and they benched him after two quarters.

Haener only completed four out of 10 passes for 49 yards and an interception. With him under center, the Saints offense couldn't establish a rhythm or continuity.

New Orleans inserted Rattler into the lineup, and he moved the ball, throwing for 135 yards and a touchdown. The rookie fifth-rounder nearly led the Saints to a comeback victory, but the team failed on a two-point conversion attempt to win the game.

Rattler isn't a starting-caliber player yet, but he gives the Saints the best chance to be competitive in Carr's absence.

Houston Texans 20, Miami Dolphins 12

Derek Stingley Jr. Serves as Closer for AFC South-Leading Houston Texans

Players make plays. Ball don't lie. The best of the best show up when it matters the most. Use whatever cliché you like, because the coverage skills of the Houston Texans' Derek Stingley showed up with the game on the line against the Miami Dolphins to the tune of a pair of fourth-quarter interceptions.

The Dolphins pulled within one score with 4:30 remaining in the third quarter. The 20-12 score didn't change from that point forward, mainly because of Stingley.

Over Miami's subsequent three offensive possessions before the game ended, Stingley snagged an interception, helped make a tackle on 3rd-and-15 and ripped a ball away from Tyreek Hill to end any hope the Dolphins had of winning.

To be fair, the first interception can be viewed as a poor throw by Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, who was late and left the pass inside. Still, Stingley secured the turnover inside the Texans' 10-yard line.

The second pick bordered on the spectacular. Hill had outjumped him and had possession of the ball...only for Stingley to come down with the pigskin.

Houston invested the third overall draft pick in the talented corner two years ago. Stingley played well last year. But this year, the cornerback has been healthy and playing at a high level again.

The Texans aren't just about C.J. Stroud and the weapons found on offense. The defense tends to be overlooked despite being ranked top-five entering Sunday's contest. Stingley's playmaking ability in coverage can help shut down half the field for the AFC South-leading Texans.

Do the Miami Dolphins Start to Consider Possibility of Moving on From Mike McDaniel?

Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel is fun. He's always a great quote. He likes to chirp on the field. And Miami's offense has generally been one of the league's best since he took over the team. However, McDaniel's squad isn't particularly good.

The idea of moving on from McDaniel may seem a tad premature after two winning seasons before dropping to 6-8 with Sunday's loss to the Texans. However, Miami isn't winning the important games.

As The Athletic noted, the Dolphins are now 3-13 against opponents with a record over .500 during McDaniel's tenure. Basically, Miami is good enough to win the games they should but not good enough to actually matter in the grand scheme of things.

Furthermore, Miami has bowed out in the first round of the playoffs against legitimate contenders during back-to-back postseason appearances.

Yes, McDaniel has done a great job handling his team and dealing with scary situations with a couple of his players. But the NFL is a bottom-line business. If the Dolphins can't show they can compete with the league's best, someone else may be needed to lead the squad into the future.

Dallas Cowboys 30, Carolina Panthers 14

Dallas Cowboys Defense Shows Up When It's Needed Most to Keep Postseason In Play

The Dallas Cowboys haven't packed it in despite all of the injuries the team has endured this season, specifically to quarterback Dak Prescott, who needed season-ending hamstring surgery. During Sunday's 30-14 victory over the Carolina Panthers, Dallas' defense showed renewed vigor to help the Cowboys improve to 6-8 and keep their (slim) playoff hopes alive.

To be fair, any hopes of Dallas actually entering the postseason remain farfetched, with 11 NFC teams having as many or more wins already. Still, Sunday's effort proved to be promising, when the Cowboys could have no-showed the rest of the season.

Defensively, the preseason promise finally showed up against the Panthers, who had been playing highly competitive football. Dallas ranked 26th in total defense entering the contest. The Cowboys were particularly bad against the run, as the league's 30th best against opposing ground games. The group had previously allowed 365.3 yards per contest. The Cowboys D suffocated Bryce Young and Co. Carolina managed just 235 total yards.

First, Mike Zimmer's unit didn't allow Panthers running back Chuba Hubbard to get going. Hubbard was the league's sixth-leading rusher with over 1,000 yards already. Dallas held him to 32 yards at 3.2 yards per carry.

Without an effective run game, Carolina struggled to protect Young or keep a hold of the ball. The Cowboys sacked Young on six different occasions. The group mustered 10 quarterback hits. Micah Parsons was unleashed after Dallas built a strong second-half lead, and he generated a pair of sacks.

Furthermore, the Dallas defense created turnovers. Four to be exact.

Any team allowing fewer than 250 yards and easily winning the turnover battle can compete with anyone. Again, the effort may be too little, too late for the Cowboys. At the same time, Dallas still has a chance. If the defense plays to this level for the rest of the season and helps an offense missing multiple key pieces, some hope can still flicker.

WR Jalen Coker is Long-Term Keeper for Carolina Panthers

Rookie wide receiver Jalen Coker returned to the Panthers lineup and continued to show exactly why he should no longer be considered a pleasant story as an undrafted free agent and more of a building block for the franchise's future.

During Sunday's contest—Coker's first since missing the last three games with a calf injury—the first-year target caught four passes for 110 yards, including an 83-yard touchdown.

"He's separating on NFL fields. That's not easy to do," Panthers head coach Dave Canales said of Coker in late October. "We have to look at the challenges against winning against NFL players outside, in the slot, and to do it with the consistency he has over the last couple of games is awesome. ... But what we saw from him is that when he gets the opportunities, he makes the most of them."

Yes, Coker has. The Holy Cross product looks the part to play alongside Young and this year's first-round draft pick, Xavier Legette, for the long haul. The Panthers still require a third target—one potentially capable of serving as the squad's X-receiver or a mismatch at tight end—but the organization has a good start at wide receiver to build out the rest of the roster.

Arizona Cardinals 30, New England Patriots 17

Cardinals Offense Operates Optimally When Going Downhill with James Conner

The Arizona Cardinals likely expected more out of their passing offense after they selected wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. with the No. 4 pick in this year's draft. Arizona's passing attack ranked 22nd in yards coming into Week 15.

For now, the Cardinals offense is most efficient when James Conner racks up yards on the ground.

Quarterback Kyler Murray contributes to the run game (444 rushing yards and four touchdowns), but Conner is the catalyst of the offense.

Arizona is 4-1 when Conner runs for 101-plus yards. On Sunday, he ran for 110 yards and two touchdowns in the Cardinals' dominant win over the New England Patriots.

Patriots May Have Buyer's Remorse Regarding Kyle Dugger's Recent Extension

This past offseason, the Patriots signed Kyle Dugger to a four-year, $58 million extension. In 17 starts last year, he allowed an 82.7 passer rating and one touchdown in coverage.

Entering Week 15, Dugger allowed a 134.2 passer rating and four touchdowns in coverage. In fairness, he has appeared on the injury report with an ankle injury.

On Sunday, Dugger struggled mightily in coverage against tight end Trey McBride and whiffed on an open-field tackle that allowed the Cardinals deep in New England territory. Patriots.com's Evan Lazar noted that the Cardinals purposely targeted Dugger's side of the field with specific play designs.

The Patriots have much bigger problems on the offensive side of the ball, with quarterback Drake Maye taking his rookie lumps, but he doesn't have much support on defense.

In terms of points allowed, New England's defense has been on the decline since 2021. Now one of its top defenders seems like he's regressed after a standout campaign.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers 40, Los Angeles Chargers 17

Buccaneers Will Finish Season as One of the Hottest Teams Behind Explosive Offense

On Sunday, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers lit up the Los Angeles Chargers' No. 1-ranked scoring defense. Baker Mayfield threw for 288 yards, four touchdowns and an interception. Tampa Bay ran for 222 yards.

Looking ahead, the Buccaneers will go on the road to face the Dallas Cowboys and then host the Carolina Panthers and New Orleans Saints in their last three games.

With their high-powered offense set to go against mediocre or below-average defenses, the Buccaneers are in a position to finish the season on a seven-game winning streak as a scorching-hot team equipped for a deep playoff run.

Chargers Defense Is Overrated

The Chargers have played against clubs with struggling offenses for most of the season.

Outside of the AFC West, Los Angeles faced the Carolina Panthers before they benched Bryce Young for poor performance, the Pittsburgh Steelers with Justin Fields, the New Orleans Saints with rookie fifth-rounder Spencer Rattler, the Cleveland Browns and the Tennessee Titans.

In their AFC West battles, the Chargers played against the Denver Broncos with rookie quarterback Bo Nix in his fifth start, the Las Vegas Raiders and the Kansas City Chiefs, who are averaging 21 points in their last five outings.

Over the past month, Los Angeles has allowed at least 27 points to three teams with top-six scoring offenses: the Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals and Buccaneers.

Coming into Week 15, the Chargers gave up the fewest points, but those numbers may be misleading because of the competition they faced through the first three-quarters of the season.

Buffalo Bills 48, Detroit Lions 42

Offense Can Carry Bills in Postseason, But Maintaining Intensity Could Be a Challenge

Buffalo's defense remains a question mark after doing next to nothing against the Rams last week and coughing up plenty of big plays against Detroit on Sunday. However, the Bills offense has looked like the NFL's best since roughly mid-October.

The last time Buffalo didn't top 30 points was in Week 6.

It's a credit to quarterback Josh Allen and offensive coordinator Joe Brady, who have figured out exactly how to maximize players like James Cook, Khalil Shakir, Ty Johnson and rookie wideout Keon Coleman.

The Lions had no answers for Buffalo's offense on Sunday, especially when Allen escaped the pocket. The Bills are going to be a problem for virtually anyone they face in January, especially if they can find a way to cover up their defensive deficiencies.

We may have gotten a glimpse at Buffalo's playoff approach on Sunday. Head coach Sean McDermott called an aggressive game from start to finish—going for it on fourth down in Bills territory in the second quarter, continuing to throw with a two-score lead late in the fourth.

By keeping their foot on the gas offensively and making a few well-calculated gambles, the Bills ensured that the Lions couldn't keep pace. The question, however, is whether Buffalo can maintain that intensity through the final three weeks.

The Bills have been battling over their last three games—against the Chiefs, Rams and Lions. They'll finish against the lowly Patriots (twice) and Jets.

Buffalo has already clinched the AFC East, and it needs at least two Kansas City losses to steal the AFC's No. 1 seed. Can the Bills keep their offense rolling in what could be largely meaningless games against inferior opponents? That becomes the biggest challenge remaining for Buffalo between now and the postseason.

Defensive, Injury Woes Could Derail Lions' Super Bowl Push

For most of the season, the Lions have looked and played like the best team in the NFL. They had blown out lesser teams and handled contenders, with their only loss coming in Week 2 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Injuries on the defensive side of the ball have created issues over the last couple of weeks, however. Detroit outlasted the Green Bay Packers last Thursday, but it needed a gutsy fourth-down call and a walk-off field goal to secure a 34-31 contest.

Unfortunately, injuries continue to be a problem. Defensive linemen Josh Paschal and Levi Onwuzurike returned to face Buffalo, but cornerbacks Khalil Dorsey (leg) and Carlton Davis (jaw) both left with what appeared to be serious injuries.

According to the CBS broadcast, Dorsey was taken to a local hospital for evaluation. Davis was quickly ruled out.

Star defensive tackle Alim McNeill also exited the game with a potentially severe injury. He was visibly upset when he came off the field and was quickly ruled out with a knee injury.

Even before Sunday's injuries started to mount, Detroit's defense was struggling. Coordinator Aaron Glenn's man-based scheme failed to contain Allen in the pocket and repeatedly broke down in the secondary.

The Lions have already secured a playoff spot and have enough offensive talent to go deep in the playoffs. However, this defense—which may or may not get star pass-rusher Aidan Hutchinson back in time for the Super Bowl, should the Lions reach—simply isn't championship-caliber in its current form.

Just as alarming for the Lions is the fact that they haven't even locked up the NFC North yet. With three weeks to go, there's still a chance that Detroit is forced to enter the postseason on the road.

Philadelphia Eagles 27, Pittsburgh Steelers 13

Philadelphia Eagles Passing Game Back on Track in Victory Over Pittsburgh Steelers

After three consecutive games in which Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts failed to throw for more than 179 yards, a frustrated A.J. Brown wasn't afraid to speak his mind.

When asked last week what was wrong with the team, Brown simply answered, "Passing."

He later clarified his comments, "That's why I'm bringing awareness or bringing it to everyone's attention. Like this is something we can control. You know we can run the ball; Saquon [Barkley] is doing a great job; we're not against running the ball; we love Saquon. Actually, what I tell him at the end of the game, in the game, like 'Do your job.' Like, so it's fine like I'm not, I'm not. I'm okay with being the bad guy; have to be for me, for the city or town, or whatever the case may be for my team to hold everybody accountable. Be accountable and to get better, so if I'm that guy, I will be that guy gladly."

Unsurprisingly, Hurts posted his second-best passing effort of the season, with 290 yards in Sunday's 27-13 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers. As for Brown, he caught a season-high eight passes for 110 yards and a touchdown.

Brown was right in that Barkley is the focal point of the Eagles' offense. Everyone inside and outside of the organization understands this. But Philadelphia believes it's a Super Bowl contender. The Eagles can't be with a marginal passing attack; not when they're far more capable with the talent that's in place.

Clearly, the wide receiver's words resonated, which makes the Eagles all the more dangerous.

Pittsburgh Steelers May Have Avoided a Significant Blow With T.J. Watt's Injury Status

In most cases, the quarterback is the face of an NFL franchise. That's not the case in Pittsburgh, where the Steelers are led by edge-defender T.J. Watt. The team simply isn't the same when the elite defender isn't in the lineup.

So, Watt leaving Sunday's meeting with the Eagles had to be a frightening proposition, even with how well the Steelers have played overall.

After the contest, Watt told reporters that "he rolled his ankle and X-rays were negative." However, his status for next week's contest with the Baltimore Ravens has yet to be determined.

With the loss to the Eagles, the Steelers and Ravens are now separated by only one game. Baltimore can close that gap and even hold the same divisional record with a win next weekend. The possibility of Watt not playing will only increase the Ravens' odds of that happening. It's too early to jump to any conclusions. Even if Watt plays, he may not be 100 percent healthy in what looks to be a crucial late-season AFC North showdown.

The loss to the Eagles hurts. Watt's status could prove to be more debilitating.

Denver Broncos 31, Indianapolis Colts 13

Denver Broncos One Step Closer to Ending NFL's Second-Longest Postseason Drought

The Denver Broncos didn't look like a playoff team when Sunday's contest against the Indianapolis Colts began. They did by the end, though.

The Broncos eventually captured a 31-13 victory after trailing going into the third quarter.

"I like their makeup," head coach Sean Payton told CBS' Aditi Kinkhabwala. "I like that I can be hard on them. I like their grit. I like their resilience."

To the coach's point, rookie quarterback Bo Nix threw three interceptions. Gus Bradley's coverage plan had the first-year signal-caller struggling to make correct reads or to throw in rhythm. Once the final whistle blew, Nix has three passing touchdowns, including a 20-yard connection with Courtland Sutton to put the game completely out of reach in the fourth quarter.

The effort is important, not only because of Denver's postseason aspirations but because of how far the Broncos have come in recent years.

At 9-5, Payton's squad is positioned very well to earn a playoff spot after failing to do so during the previous eight campaigns. The organization spent years searching for a quarterback to replace the retired Peyton Manning. Nathaniel Hackett's partial season as head coach proved to be an unmitigated disaster. Even last year with Payton at the helm, the coach wasn't on the same page with his highly paid quarterback, Russell Wilson, who the front office chose to release. In doing so, the Broncos took on the biggest dead-salary hit in NFL history.

Now, Denver is knocking on the door to play an extra game (or more), with a resilient roster that features a talented young quarterback in Nix. It's everything the organization and fan base wanted for years.

Indianapolis Colts Fumble Away Any Real Chance to Make Progress This Season

Colts running back Jonathan Taylor did the unthinkable, and it likely cost Indianapolis any chance to sniff the postseason.

With under 13 minutes to play in the third quarter and the Colts leading 13-7, Taylor broke free and raced to the end zone with no Broncos defender around him for 40 yards. Here's the problem: Indianapolis' best offensive player dropped the ball just short of the goal line thinking that he already scored. The ball went out of bounds in the end zone, thus giving the Broncos possession at the 20-yard line and maintaining the one-score margin.

Did Denver play much better in the second half to eventually win by 18 points? Of course. But the Colts clearly weren't the same after that point. The wind had been completely knocked out of their sails. It's no surprise that Denver outscored its opponent 24-0 from that point.

Once that occurred, the Colts never got back into any rhythm. As the game slipped away, the team pressed and made mistakes, which led to the Broncos breaking open the game. One play doesn't determine any entire contest. However, the swing the Colts experienced at the moment Taylor's touchdown was reversed can't be denied.

To make matters worse, Indianapolis had a legitimate shot to make the postseason prior to this outcome. The Broncos were one of the teams just ahead of them on the playoff pecking order, with upcoming games against the Tennessee Titans, New York Giants and Jacksonville Jaguars—a 7-7 record would have looked pretty nice.

Instead, the Colts are now 6-8 and two full games behind the Los Angeles Chargers for the AFC's final wild-card entry. Anthony Richardson's development is important. At the same time, an extra game or two that really matter could have gone a long way to develop both him and this Colts roster.

Green Bay Packers 30, Seattle Seahawks 13

Defensive Front Defines Green Bay Packers' Improvement

The Green Bay Packers reached 10 wins for the first time since the 2021 campaign with Sunday's 30-13 victory over the Seattle Seahawks. Jeff Hafley's influence on the improved defense can't be overstated, especially after the Packers played very poorly on that side of the ball last season, with a significant disconnect between all three levels.

Now, the Packers' defensive front is dominating to help offset key injuries to the secondary.

Without Jaire Alexander and Javon Bullard in the lineup, Green Bay held the Seahawks to 128 passing yards. Why? Because the front four consistently won their matchups without having to send extra dogs or full pressure packages.

In total, the Packers amassed seven sacks and 12 quarterback hits. Six of those seven sacks came from defensive linemen. According to Next Gen Stats, Green Bay created a quick-pressure rate of 21 percent before the game got out of hand. Kingsley Enagbare led the way with a pair of sacks and three tackles for loss.

A front playing that well allows the linebackers to roam and create plays, as rookie Edgerrin Cooper did on numerous occasions. Despite being thin along the back end, Green Bay's secondary wasn't exploited. It's all about the big guys winning up front.

Furthermore, the Packers continue to get better and better against the run. The Seahawks had built an identity on pounding the rock. They managed 80 yards on limited opportunities.

"I am really proud of the run defense," Hafley told reporters last week. "I think it's improved. I think the consistency of the guys playing in the scheme, familiarity, they're comfortable with it."

When Alexander and Bullard return to the lineup, the back end will be stronger to make this unit even better. Everyone knows the Packers offense can move the ball. Green Bay is also pretty stingy on the other side, too.

Injury to QB Geno Smith Creates Uncertainty for Seattle Seahawks

Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith left Sunday's third quarter with a knee injury and didn't return to the contest. The loss to the Packers already pushed Seattle out of the top spot in the NFC West. A Smith absence would almost certainly doom the team's postseason plans.

Backup Sam Howell is an experienced starter with an entire season leading the Washington Commanders. Yet he's prone to holding the ball too long, taking sacks and making mistakes.

In a quarter-and-a-half of play, Howell completed 35.7 percent of his passes and threw an interception, while the Packers also sacked him four times. Granted, the third-year quarterback had been thrown into the fire after not practicing as the starter at any point during the week. So, a little leeway is necessary.

At the same time, this type of performance has been typical throughout Howell's opportunities.

Seattle's upcoming games are against the Minnesota Vikings, Chicago Bears and Los Angeles Rams. Each needs to be treated like a playoff game, with two of them coming against legitimate postseason contenders.

Maybe the Seahawks can avoid this possibility since head coach Mike Macdonald told reporters, "Structurally [Smith's knee] looks like it's OK."

However, more tests will be run tomorrow.

Smith has been undervalued since he became the starter in Seattle. In this instance, everyone watching the team will realize how important the 34-year-old quarterback is to the team if he misses any time due to the injury.

Los Angeles Rams 12, San Francisco 49ers 6

Ugly Win Aside, Rams Are the 1st-Round Playoff Opponent No One Wants

Before we go any farther, let's be clear: The Rams' 12-6 win over what's left of the San Francisco 49ers was a Thursday night game. The weather played a part, but both offenses were…bad.

Still, the path to the postseason often features games like this—contests where teams have to find a way to gut out a victory desp

ite less-than-ideal circumstances.

Maybe last week's wild shootout took something out of the Rams. Outside running back Kyren Williams plowing forward all night and one big catch from wide receiver Puka Nacua, their offense was stuck in the Levi's Stadium mud. But they still found a way to claim a divisional win on the road for a seventh victory in their last nine games.

These Rams look eerily similar to last year's team that started slow, finished hot, won 10 games and gave the Lions all they could handle in the postseason. And that should terrify the rest of the NFC.

L.A. is battle-tested—many of its core players have Super Bowl rings. The offense has no shortage of skill-position talent. The offensive line isn't great, but now that it's healthy it's light years better than early in the season. And young defensive contributors such as tackle Kobie Turner speak to how well general manager Les Snead has done with the limited draft capital he has had in recent years.

There's also the matter of the Super Bowl champion quarterback and one of the best offensive minds in the game in head coach Sean McVay.

The Rams aren't a threat to usurp Detroit or Philadelphia as the NFC's top seed, but they are a team the Minnesota Vikings and Green Bay Packers should want no part of on Wild Card Weekend.

Loss to Rams Makes It Official: 49ers Need to Turn Attention to 2025

It was already unlikely the San Francisco 49ers were going to make the postseason, let alone repeat as NFC champions. There have just been too many losses. Too many injuries. Too many things have gone wrong.

Managing just six points in a home loss to the Rams was the final nail in the coffin. Where the 49ers are concerned, 2024 is toast. It's time to look to 2025—and trying to pry back open a Super Bowl window that seems to have slammed shut in the blink of an eye.

And there are some potentially massive issues facing the organization.

Running back Christian McCaffrey has lost most of another season to injury, and the 28-year-old is a high-priced back who is essentially uncuttable next year but at an age when many players at the position generally begin to decline. Wide receiver Deebo Samuel (who will effectively be in a contract year in 2025) isn't happy with his role in the offense. San Francisco's best offensive lineman is 36 and hurt. Wideout Brandon Aiyuk will be returning from a major injury next year—just after getting his big payday. Tight end George Kittle is on the wrong side of 30. Edge-rusher Nick Bosa's season has been a disappointment.

Oh, and general manager John Lynch has to decide whether quarterback Brock Purdy is worth the sort of major contract that almost guarantees at least one of the guys mentioned above won't be back next season.

This year was San Francisco's last run at a ring before the bill came due.

Now Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan have to figure out how to pay it.