What we realized in NFL Week 15: MVP is Josh Allen’s to lose, Packers keep sizzling

If Sunday’s recreation in Detroit was a Super Bowl preview, New Orleans is in for a heck of a present — and Josh Allen will probably be entrance and heart.

The Buffalo quarterback continued his tear on Sunday, main the Bills previous the Lions within the Motor City with one other electrical efficiency. It was the most recent snapshot into simply how dominant Allen’s been this season: on the house subject of the NFC leaders, he led an offense that piled up 559 yards and 6 touchdowns. Allen had a hand in 4, throwing for 2 and operating for 2 within the 48-42 victory. At this level, the MVP award is his to lose.

“The greatest I’ve seen him play,” Bills coach Sean McDermott gushed. “He’s onerous to cease. People have tried. They’ll hold attempting.”

No one’s had all that a lot success this season. Detroit, bear in mind, hadn’t misplaced a recreation since Week 2. One go to from Allen and the 11-game win streak is historical past.

GO DEEPER

NFL playoff image, Week 15: Eagles be part of Lions atop NFC; Rams take management of NFC West

Sunday started with 4 groups — Kansas City, Buffalo, Detroit and Philadelphia — having already clinched a playoff spot. Now we are able to add three extra. The Steelers are in. The Texans clinched a second straight AFC South title after a win over the Dolphins and a Colts’ loss in Denver. And throw within the Vikings, who secured their spot Sunday evening after Green Bay’s win in Seattle.

Kansas City’s prime concern for the time being isn’t its seed within the AFC however the ankle of its star quarterback, Patrick Mahomes, who exited Sunday’s 21-7 win in Cleveland within the fourth quarter. The excellent news? Per coach Andy Reid, x-rays revealed no break. The unhealthy information? “It’s sore,” Reid mentioned, and Mahomes will probably be “day-to-day.” Reid added that the two-time MVP might have re-entered the sport, however there “was no want for that.”

The Chiefs, 13-1 and in entrance of the AFC, have two video games throughout the following 10 days: at residence in opposition to Houston on Saturday, then on the highway the next Wednesday in Pittsburgh, on Christmas Day. They proved final 12 months they don’t want the playoffs to run via Arrowhead, but when Mahomes’ ankle harm lingers, an additional week of relaxation may be what the champs want earlier than they chase a 3rd straight Super Bowl.

If Mahomes can’t go Saturday, Carson Wentz will step in. The Chiefs will probably be going through a Texans staff coming off a 20-12 win over the Dolphins thanks partly to 2 touchdowns from Nico Collins. While Houston has been uneven at occasions this season, give DeMeco Ryans his due: he’s now the sixth head coach since 2000 to win two straight division titles to open his profession, becoming a member of Matt LeFleur (Packers), Sean McVay (Rams), Jim Harbaugh (49ers), Jim Caldwell (Colts) and Mike Tomlin (Steelers).

The Dolphins and Colts watched their playoff hopes dim significantly on Sunday. Now 6-8, each are more likely to watch the postseason from residence in January.

In New Orleans, the Commanders outlasted the Saints on the sport’s closing play — stopping a two-point conversion try that may’ve received it for New Orleans. Spencer Rattler changed Jake Haener at quarterback and almost pulled the house staff to a fourth victory below interim coach Darren Rizzi, hitting Foster Moreau for a 1-yard landing as time expired to chop the Commanders’ result in 20-19. Rizzi went for 2 — why not? —however Rattler’s throw to Juwan Johnson was damaged up. The Commanders (9-5) stay within the seventh and closing NFC playoff spot.

In New York, Giants followers made one other plea to proprietor John Mara. A aircraft flew over MetLife Stadium earlier than the sport with a banner studying, “Mr. Mara Enough – We received’t cease till you fireplace everybody.” (There was an analogous banner within the skies earlier than final week’s loss.) This week’s end result — Ravens 35, Giants 14 — was extra of the identical. One of the league’s worst groups inched somewhat nearer to incomes the primary general choose in April’s draft.

At this price, the Giants (2-12) needs to be rooting for the Raiders (2-11) Monday evening. A Las Vegas win would give New York a transparent path to the highest choose. Three extra losses to shut the season and it’s theirs.

In Tennessee, the Bengals stored their slim playoff hopes alive by beating the Titans 37-27. And in Jacksonville, Aaron Rodgers and Davante Adams provided a peek at what might’ve been for the Jets — if not for the nightmare of the earlier three months. The longtime teammates linked for 198 yards and two scores in a 32-25 win over the Jaguars, who at the moment are 3-11. It’s New York’s first win since Halloween.

In Carolina, Cooper Rush threw for a career-high three touchdowns within the Cowboys’ 30-14 win over the Panthers. Bryce Young — undeniably higher in latest weeks — turned it over 4 occasions and was sacked six occasions. He’s now 4-21 as a starter, relationship to final season.

In the late afternoon slate, the Bucs elevated their lead within the NFC South with a 40-17 rout of the Chargers. Tampa Bay, now 8-6, has received 4 straight to earn some respiration room forward of the reeling Falcons. Atlanta (6-7) faces the Raiders on Monday evening, trying to snap a four-game skid.

In Arizona, the Cardinals beat the Patriots 30-17 to stay a recreation again within the NFC West. With Seattle’s loss Sunday evening, the Seahawks and Rams — each 8-6 — are tied atop the division. Los Angeles at the moment owns the tiebreaker by advantage of a Week 9 win, however the two will meet once more in Week 18.

Here’s what we realized throughout Week 15 within the NFL:

Bills can beat anybody

Dan Campbell knew this week the Bills would bounce again. He knew they have been too proficient, too well-coached and too resilient to not put up a greater effort than they did in final week’s 44-42 loss to the Rams.

He was proper. And instantly, Detroit’s lead within the race for the NFC’s prime seed has vanished.

This was the Bills at their greatest, not less than on offense, scoring early and sometimes and in any method they needed. This was Allen doing somewhat little bit of the whole lot: forcing the pile ahead for an early landing run, scrambling within the pocket and rifling throws whereas piling up 4 touchdowns in one other ridiculous efficiency. It’s only a disgrace his chest go for a rating was referred to as again as a result of holding.

And don’t overlook about James Cook (14 carries, 105 yards), who continues to point out how deadly this Buffalo assault could be when the run recreation is rolling.

The Bills have scored 90 factors of their final two video games and have put up 30 or extra in eight straight, tied for the longest streak in NFL historical past. The 4 earlier groups to do it — the 2013 Broncos, 2007 and 2010 Patriots and 2000 Rams — every had the eventual MVP on the roster. Allen is now the primary participant in NFL historical past with not less than two passing touchdowns and two speeding touchdowns in consecutive video games, and the primary ever to do it 3 times in the identical season.

Josh Allen led a Bills offense that scored six touchdowns and punted simply as soon as versus the Lions. (Mike Mulholland / Getty Images)

McDermott is correct: Allen has by no means performed higher. And the Bills have by no means appeared extra harmful. No staff within the AFC has a better ceiling, and that features Kansas City. At their greatest, the Bills can beat anybody, they usually’ve confirmed it over the past month with convincing wins over the Chiefs and Lions.

Detroit, in the meantime, falls to 12-2 and right into a tie with Philadelphia for the NFC’s prime seed. Minnesota, a half-game again at 11-2, will face Chicago Monday evening.

Most troubling for the Lions are the accidents, which hold coming. After the loss, Campbell mentioned the concern is defensive deal with Alim McNeil and cornerback Carlton Davis could possibly be misplaced for the season. And that’s after the staff entered Sunday’s recreation with greater than a dozen gamers on injured reserve.

As for the No. 1 seed, the Lions stay within the driver’s seat. If Detroit wins its closing three — at Chicago, at San Francisco and residential in opposition to Minnesota — it’ll safe the highest seed.

Eagles let it fly

Broken finger? Alleged beef along with his star receiver? No room for error within the race for the NFC’s prime seed? Say this a lot for Jalen Hurts: he simply retains profitable.

Make it 10 straight after the Eagles’ star quarterback pushed his staff to 12-2 Sunday with a 27-13 victory over the Steelers within the Pennsylvania state championship. Hurts completed with simply seven incompletions on 32 makes an attempt for 290 yards and two scores, then added one other on the bottom.

He’s coping with a damaged finger on his non-throwing hand, and hypothesis swirled final week about his relationship with wideout A.J. Brown after Eagles defensive finish Brandon Graham hinted on a radio present that the 2 weren’t as shut as they as soon as have been. The pair collectively dismissed the story, each of their phrases final week and their play Sunday.

Brown completed with eight catches for a team-best 110 yards and a landing. DeVonta Smith added 109 of his personal.

After Brown’s rating, he danced with Hurts on the sector in celebration. Asked later about it, Brown mentioned, “That was our second to inform all people to close up.”

“The scrutiny is endless,” Hurts mentioned. “It’s nothing new. It’s one thing I discover the fun in. I recognize being advised that ‘I can’t’ and that ‘We can’t.’ I do know that I lead this staff, and it calls for quite a bit out of you. I simply wanna be the most effective I could be for the fellows on this staff.”

A passing recreation that had stalled in latest weeks appeared fairly sound on Sunday. Add in an Eagles’ protection that held the Steelers to simply 2 fourth-quarter yards, and this was one other convincing victory for a staff that has the makings of a Super Bowl contender. This roster is deep and battle-tested. This staff’s going to be a troublesome out in January.

Broncos go take a look at; Colts flunk it

This is the a part of the season the place groups reveal themselves. The Broncos and Colts did so Sunday.

Denver, chasing its first playoff berth in 9 years, overcame three interceptions from Bo Nix to bury Indianapolis 31-13. Sean Payton’s staff ripped off 21 straight to shut the sport, Denver’s fourth win in a row. Coupled with the Chargers’ loss, the Broncos are at the moment the No. 6 seed within the AFC playoffs.

But this one mentioned way more about Indy. This was the Colts’ largest recreation of the season, in opposition to the staff one spot forward of them within the playoff race. They’d appeared revitalized since Anthony Richardson returned to the beginning lineup, profitable two of three. Here was their probability.

And not solely did they blow that probability, but in addition they blew it in inexplicable trend. Two performs value the Colts a golden alternative to climb the ladder within the AFC playoff standings. One was careless. The different was reckless.

In the second quarter, with the Colts main 13-7, operating again Jonathan Taylor discovered a gap behind the proper aspect of his offensive line and took off. Forty-one yards later he was in the long run zone untouched — however not earlier than dropping the soccer inches earlier than he reached the purpose line. The Broncos took over by advantage of a fumble out of the top zone.

A recreation that ought to’ve been 20-7 instantly tightened.

“That can’t occur,” Taylor mentioned later. “Can’t occur.”

Then, trailing 17-13 early within the fourth quarter, the Colts dialed up a trick play that went horrifically incorrect. Richardson lobbed it to rookie wideout Adonai Mitchell, who then tried to throw it again to Richardson. Problem was, the Broncos sniffed it out. Easily. Mitchell’s throw was late, and Denver linebacker Nik Bonitto swiped the go and returned it for a landing.

The rout was on from there, and the Colts had nobody in charge however themselves.

“We repped that play all week, and it was nice,” coach Shane Steichen mentioned. “In follow, (Mitchell) threw it nice … that one didn’t work out. Maybe he didn’t see the man, to be fully sincere.”

The loss sinks Indianapolis’ playoff possibilities to simply 7 %. The Colts have now gone 10 straight seasons with out profitable the AFC South.

Green Bay could possibly be an issue

The Packers at the moment sit in third place within the NFC North. They’ve misplaced twice to the Lions. They’ve overwhelmed simply three groups at the moment within the playoffs.

And but, they may be the NFC staff nobody needs to see in January.

Matt LeFleur’s staff is now 10-4 after beating the Seahawks 30-13 in Seattle on Sunday evening.

The offense has proven it might rating in a rush, placing up 30 factors or extra 5 occasions since Halloween. Jordan Love has minimize down on his interceptions, an early-season downside. And Jeff Hafley’s confirmed to be a wonderful defensive coordinator rent.

This was a staff that final 12 months received its closing three common season video games to make the postseason at 9-8. Then the Packers embarrassed the Cowboys in Dallas within the wild-card spherical and almost upset the top-seeded 49ers in San Francisco within the divisional spherical.

Could they be harmful once more come the postseason? It’s not all that tough to examine. This will probably be LeFleur’s fifth journey to the playoffs in six seasons in Green Bay. His staff can get sizzling when it counts.

(Photo of Jordan Love: Steph Chambers / Getty Images)