The NFL playoff picture is getting clearer as season draws to a close

The good, bad and ugly from NFL week 15

San Diego pulled off a big win. Chargers Team Website

Wow! What a week 15 we had in the NFL this week. Just when we thought we had it all figured out, the league showed us why the games are played. Here's how I saw week 15 play out:

The Good

-The Chargers beat the Chiefs on a gutsy call. Down 28-14 with about eight minutes left, they managed to come back. After scoring the second unanswered touchdown to bring the score to 28-27, they elected to go for the two point conversion. A missed man coverage assignment covering a bunch formation later and they went up 29-28 with four seconds left in the game. Major props to Chargers coach Anthony Lynn for that call.

-The Vikings fired offensive coordinator Joe DeFilippo after last week's loss to the Seahawks. Head coach Mike Zimmer wanted a more run based offense. This week with their playoff hopes in the balance, they dropped a 40 burger on the Dolphins. Sure they held the Phins to 37 yards passing, but the Vikes rushed for 220 yards and controlled the clock. Big boy football is back in Minnesota.

-The Browns are 4-2 since firing head coach Hue Jackson and offensive coordinator Todd Haley. More importantly, rookie quarterback Baker Mayfield has improved with Freddie Kitchens now calling the plays. Whether interim coach/defensive coordinator Gregg Williams gets the permanent job or not, Kitchens should be the OC. His work with Mayfield has been invaluable.

The Bad

-The Colts ended the Cowboys five game win streak 23-0. This was the first time the Cowboys had been shut out since 2003. How you ask? They ran the football well, controlled the clock, and forced the Cowboys into a pass-heavy offense which they aren't adept at doing. They also kept their own playoff hopes alive by doing so.

-Speaking of shutouts, the Titans shut the Giants out in their own home. This was the first time since December 15, 2013 that the Giants have been shut out at home. This was surprising considering rookie sensation Saquon Barkley can almost single-handedly change a game.

-The Rams dropped a home game to the lowly Eagles 30-23. Backup Nick Foles came into L.A. and led the charge. Their defense stepped up as well. Now the Rams are essentially two games behind the Saints for homefield advantage in the playoffs in the NFC.

The Ugly

-Happy trails to Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco. Word came down that the team is looking to part ways with the former Super Bowl MVP following this season. Flacco was Wally Pipped by rookie Lamar Jackson earlier this season and the team hasn't looked back.

-Jags lost to the Skins 16-13 on a field goal as time expired. Losing on a game winning field goal is one thing. But losing on a game winning field goal to a quarterback that hasn't been on his team's roster for a whole month is something else. This Jags team needs to hit the reset button.

-The Packers lost to the Bears 24-17. At 5-8-1, they've been eliminated from the playoff picture. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers says he wants to play in the team's final two games. However, I think it's best he sit out. They have two first round picks in the upcoming draft. I suggest they look at using them and their cap space to build a better team while Rodgers has anything left.

We saw the Patriots lose their second consecutive game in December for the first time in forever. We also saw teams move into more or less favorable playoff positions; depends on which fan base you ask. Late season NFL has gotten much better because of the way the schedules have been done lately. Here's to hoping it keeps up over the next couple weeks.

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After another poor performance from former Houston Texans QB Deshaun Watson, the Cleveland Browns' season is starting to look like an uphill climb. Pro Bowl running back Nick Chubb is out for the year, and Cleveland fans aren't too pleased with the way Watson is playing, especially considering the massive contract extension he signed with the team. And we didn't even get to the off the field drama that comes with Watson.

However, Houston fans are invested in the Browns' season outcome as well, with the Texans holding the Browns' first round pick in 2024, and having sent their own first rounder to the Cardinals in the Will Anderson trade.

So each loss for the Browns, means a better draft pick for the Texans!

For Houston, it looks like they have their QB of the future in CJ Stroud. And he'll be on a less expensive rookie contract for the next several years, giving the Texans more cap space to upgrade the roster.

With all of this in mind, is it fair to question if the Texans dodged a bullet when Watson demanded a trade?

DeMeco Ryans vs. Lovie Smith

Plus, we're only two games into the season, but Lovie Smith's defense was much better (with a similar roster) than what DeMeco Ryans' defense has shown thus far, and DeMeco has the benefit of Will Anderson rushing the QB.

Are the struggles on defense more about the roster GM Nick Caserio has put together, or does this slow start fall on DeMeco?

Don't miss the video above as we break it all down!

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