Just two weeks to go, and the play-off field is almost set…
1. Can we please get Odell-Norman II in the play-offs?
It’s looking unlikely, unfortunately. One of the fiercest, over-the-top receiver-cornerback battles in recent years, and includes those involving Steve Smith, unfolded in New York yesterday, as Odell Beckham Jr and Josh Norman treaded a fine line, and frequently crossed it as Carolina held off a furious Giants rally to stay unbeaten.
The loss leaves the Giants as the outsiders in the NFC East, however, so the real question surrounds whether the impressive Carolina Panthers can continue to overcome every obstacle thrown at them and make a run at immortality.
They are just the fourth side to ever get to 14-0, but with a first-round bye secure and closing in on homefield advantage throughout the play-offs, there has to be a temptation to rest star players like MVP frontrunner Cam Newton and linebacker Luke Kuechly, although there was no sign of either sitting out at any point yesterday, even after Cam shipped this big hit and the Panthers led 35-7.
https://twitter.com/WorldofIsaac/status/678655880741654528
How to spell MVP: Cam Newton is 1st player in NFL history with at least 300 passing yards, 100 rushing yards and 5 TD passes in same game.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 21, 2015
2. Are Pittsburgh the biggest threat to New England in the AFC?
It’s beginning to look that way. Certainly, their offence is the most potent of the AFC challengers, including the Patriots, as the Steelers roared back from a 17-point first-half deficit to the Denver Broncos, scoring 24 unanswered points to win 34-27.
They became the first side to score more than 30 against the Broncos all season, and with a play-off tested coach and quarterback combo in Mike Tomlin and Ben Roethlisberger that already have two Super Bowls on their CVs, the Steelers are unlikely to be psyched out by the prospect of facing Bill Belichick and Tom Brady in a postseason game.
Of course, Pittsburgh needs to get into the dance first, and last night’s win could prove the major difference in their three-way battle with the New York Jets and Kansas City Chiefs – all 9-5 – for the AFC wild cards.
3. Why aren’t you talking about the Jets at all?
We probably should have been, but it’s frankly hard to take a team led by journeyman Ryan Fitzpatrick all that seriously.
However, the inconsistent Fitzpatrick has played the best football of his career over the past month, throwing ten touchdown passes and just one interception over the past four games – all of which were won by Gang Green.
Under first-year head coach Todd Bowles, the defence has made sure that Fitzpatrick hasn’t been asked to do too much, limiting rivals to an average of 16 points over that spell.
It’s a recipe for success in a league filled with mediocre teams, and undoubtedly a season of progress for New York, but we’re still backing KC and Pittsburgh to sneak into the play-offs ahead of the Jets.
4. What’s gone wrong in Buffalo?
The Jets’ final game of the season is against AFC East rivals Buffalo, and for the Bills it will certainly be a case of what might have been.
Buffalo went into this season with reasonable expectations of becoming the team the Jets are instead, hiring former NY coach Rex Ryan to further beef up an explosive defence and installing unpredictable QB Tyrod Taylor to spark and offence featuring one of the NFL’s rising stars, receiver Sammy Watkins.
But while the offence has generally done its job and increased its output from last season, it’s Ryan’s defence which has regressed, dropping from a top-five unit into one struggling to stay in the middle of the pack in 2015.
5. Who will be the last men into the play-off club?
In the land of the blind, one-eyed Washington is king. At least for now. With quarterback Kirk Cousins leading the way with some surprisingly impressive recent passing performances, Washington has taken a one-game lead over Philly and New York with just the final two games of the season to come.
Each NFC East team has been outscored this year:
Washington: -1
New York: -3
Philadelphia: -21
Dallas: -78— Football Perspective (@fbgchase) December 20, 2015
Washington convincingly beat Buffalo 35-25 to make it three wins in their last four, and another victory over the Eagles next week in Philadelphia will send them to the play-offs. In the wild card battle, Seattle booked their spot with a win over Cleveland, while Minnesota will join them by either beating the Giants or a defeat for Atlanta against the Panthers.
In the AFC South, Houston’s 16-10 win over Indianapolis handed them a one-game lead over the Colts with just divisional games against Tennessee and Jacksonville to come.
Monday Night Football – Detroit Lions (5-8) at New Orleans Saints (5-8)
Bonus sixth question of Week 15: What did we do to deserve this garbage Monday Night schedule? It’s another utterly meaningless clash tonight between two teams well out of the play-off mix, leaving only hardcore fans and those who fancy a bet tuning in.
That being said, there should at least be plenty of points in this one, as the NFL’s 28th and 32nd-ranked defences face-off in the Superdome, while both sides have shown the ability to score in bunches in recent weeks. The points total is set at 51, but we reckon these two sides will sail past that as they make the most of their last shot at a national audience this season.
And finally…
A genuine ‘and finally’ this week, as the San Diego Chargers and St Louis Rams hosted what could be their last games in their current homes.
Both franchises are in the running, along with the Oakland Raiders, to relocate to Los Angeles, and while city officials in St Louis are pulling out the stops in a bid to stop owner Stan Kroenke – yep, the same lad who owns Arsenal – upping sticks, San Diego has made little attempt to hold onto the Chargers amidst difficult public finances in the state of California.
NFL logos, including Chargers helmet at midfield, were removed Sunday night at Qualcomm Stadium. May never return. pic.twitter.com/LGE5abB0JT
— Michael Gehlken (@GehlkenNFL) December 21, 2015
Week 15 results:
St Louis 31-23 Tampa Bay
NY Jets 19-16 Dallas
Minnesota 31-17 Chicago
Atlanta 23-17 Jacksonville
Kansas City 31-14 Baltimore
Houston 16-10 Indianapolis
Washington 35-25 Buffalo
Carolina 38-35 NY Giants
Cincinnati 24-14 San Francisco
New England 33-14 Tennessee
Arizona 40-17 Philadelphia
Seattle 30-13 Cleveland
Green Bay 30-20 Oakland
Pittsburgh 34-27 Denver
San Diego 30-14 Miami
