The NFL playoff picture is getting clearer as season draws to a close
The good, bad and ugly from NFL week 15
Dec 17, 2018, 7:30 am
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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C.J. Stroud and the Houston Texans are looking for answers after their passing game couldn’t get going in a loss to the Green Bay Packers.
Houston’s passing attack had been a strength all season, and the Texans ranked fifth in yards passing per game through their first six games. But on Sunday at Lambeau Field, Stroud was limited to a career-low 86 yards in the 24-22 loss, which snapped a three-game winning streak.
Stroud was 10 of 21 and didn’t have a touchdown pass for the first time this season. The second-year player was under duress for much of the day and was sacked four times and hit seven other times.
“We have to go back to the drawing board and see what those issues were,” coach DeMeco Ryans said. “As we watch the film, we’ll see what happened, starting for me the communication and just guys being on the details of the job.”
'Everything is on the table. We have to get it fixed' #Texans coach DeMeco Ryans on offensive line and if personnel changes are being contemplated @KPRC2 pic.twitter.com/AwK0rqeU2z
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) October 21, 2024
The Texans scored a season-high 41 points in a win over New England a week earlier in which Stroud threw a season-best three touchdown passes despite being without star receiver Nico Collins.
They were unable to replicate that success Sunday with Collins out for the second of at least four games after a hamstring injury landed him on injured reserve.
Stefon Diggs led the team with five receptions against the Packers, but they only amounted to 23 yards. Tank Dell, who the Texans expected to step up with Collins out, was targeted four times but didn’t have a catch.
Stroud discussed the importance of getting Dell more involved in the offense.
“We have to find a way to try and get him the rock early and often and then go from there,” he said. “It has to be a focus for us, not only just him, but the whole offense clicking early. That is really my job to get the ball out on time and to where it is supposed to go. So yeah, that definitely has to be fixed.”
Ryans spoke about his confidence is getting Dell going.
'I have all the faith in Tank' #Texans coach DeMeco Ryans expressed confidence in Tank Dell ability to get back to making explosive plays again as he did as a rookie @KPRC2 pic.twitter.com/bojBEx3lYo
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) October 21, 2024
What's working
The Texans have forced seven turnovers combined in their last two games after they hadn’t caused any in their previous three games.
Houston scored 16 points off three turnovers Sunday. The Texans had two interceptions and recovered a fumble on a punt. In their win over the Patriots, they scored 17 points off a season-high four turnovers.
What needs help
The Texans won’t get to where they want to be this season if Stroud doesn’t get back on track. Before Sunday, last year’s AP Offensive Rookie of the Year was averaging more than 262 yards passing a game, giving the team confidence that the problems in the passing game are fixable.
Ryans knows the line must give Stroud more time to throw and said the coaching staff will focus on improving in that area this week.
Stock up
RB Joe Mixon continued to shine Sunday in his second game back after missing three games with an ankle injury. Mixon, who is in his first season in Houston after a trade from Cincinnati, had 25 carries for 115 yards and two touchdowns against Green Bay.
Mixon is confident the Texans will rebound this week if they quit making mistakes.
“Does it look I’m worried? I’m not worried at all,” he said. “Like I said, we got a ... good football team. At the end of the day, we are our own worst enemy.”
Stock down
Dell was unable to help Stroud get the passing game going. The second-year player had a solid rookie season with 709 yards receiving and seven touchdowns in 11 games before breaking his leg. But he hasn’t been able to build on that success this year and has just 194 yards receiving with one score in six games.
Injuries
LB Azeez Al-Shaair (knee), LB Henry To’oTo’o (concussion), CB Kamari Lassiter (shoulder) and S Jimmie Ward (groin) all missed Sunday’s game and it’s unclear if any of these starters can return this week.
Key number
3 — Safety Calen Bullock had his third interception Sunday to tie Dunta Robinson and Jumal Rolle for most interceptions by a rookie in franchise history through the first seven games. He leads NFL rookies in interceptions this season and is tied for third-most among all players.
Next steps
The AFC South-leading Texans (5-2) return to division play Sunday when they host the second-place Colts (4-3), who have won two in a row and four of five.