It's been a wild 2018 NFL season to this point. Therefore,
when we say that Week 15 might just have been the wackiest week of the year, it
shouldn't be taken lightly.
Things kicked off with the Los Angeles Chargers knocking off
the Chiefs in Kansas City thanks to a gutsy two-point call near the end of
regulation. The Cleveland Browns knocked yet another team out of playoff
contention Saturday, and Sunday night, the Nick Foles-led
Philadelphia Eagles upset the Los Angeles Rams.
Oh, and the Pittsburgh Steelers managed to beat the New
England Patriots for the first time since 2011. This means the Patriots have
now lost back-to-back games in December, which either signals the start of the
apocalypse or the beginning of the end of New England's dynasty.
There were plenty of other intriguing outcomes sprinkled in
during Week 15. How did your favorite team grade out? Let's take a look.
PITTSBURGH
STEELERS
Week 15 Opponent: New England Patriots
Result: Won 17-10
The Steelers have been regularly owned by the Patriots in
recent years. They came into Sunday's game against New England on a three-game
losing streak in 2018. They also came in without starting running back James
Conner.
These are all reasons why this feels like such a big win.
They stay atop the AFC North, ended their skid and got
revenge over their biggest non-division rival. However, we shouldn't act like
Pittsburgh resembled a championship team.
New England shot itself in the foot repeatedly, and
Pittsburgh did enough to capitalize. However, the Steelers made plenty of their
own mistakes, including a pair of interceptions and yet another Chris Boswell
miss.
Pittsburgh cannot expect to play this type of game and
survive in January.
Week 15 Grade: A
Season Grade: B+
ARIZONA CARDINALS
Week 15 Opponent: Atlanta Falcons
Result: Lost 40-14
The Arizona Cardinals haven't had a lot to play for this
season, other than the future. Against the Atlanta Falcons, most of the
Cardinals looked like they didn't want to play, and that spelled trouble for
rookie quarterback Josh Rosen.
Rosen was sacked six times and tossed two interceptions
before head coach Steve Wilks decided to pull him in favor of Mike Glennon. An
injury-hampered offensive line was part of the problem, but Rosen didn't play
well either.
"It was frustrating," Rosen said, via the team's official website. "A couple were my
fault ... I've got to play better. We've all got to play better."
With tough games against the Los Angeles Rams and Seattle
Seahawks left on the schedule, we're not likely to see Arizona play much better
in 2018. It'll be a sign of progress if the Cardinals can avoid a total
embarrassment like the one suffered on Sunday.
Week 15 Grade: F
Season Grade: F
ATLANTA FALCONS
Week 15 Opponent: Arizona Cardinals
Result: Won 40-14
It took a matchup with the listless Cardinals to do it, but
the Falcons finally reminded everyone of how dangerous they can be when
everything is clicking.
This was as dominant a performance as we've seen from
Atlanta since losing Super Bowl LI. While the Falcons have long been out of
playoff contention, this is the kind of win that can give them some momentum to
carry into the final two weeks and possibly next season.
If Atlanta can manage to knock off the Carolina Panthers and
Tampa Bay Buccaneers, it'll at least end this disappointing season on a high
note.
Week 15 Grade: A+
Season Grade: D+
BALTIMORE RAVENS
Week 15 Opponent: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Result: Won 20-12
The Baltimore Ravens may not be winning pretty with Lamar
Jackson under center, but they're winning games exactly the way they want to.
They're winning with defense, a lethal rushing attack and the occasional
big-time throw from their rookie quarterback.
Jackson finished his game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
14-of-23 for 131 yards and a touchdown with an additional 95 yards on the
ground. Gus Edwards and Kenneth Dixon chipped in another 152 rushing yards,
while the Ravens defense limited Tampa to just 241 yards of offense.
What Baltimore is doing right now runs counter to what the
majority of the NFL is trying to do. That's kind of the point, though, as it
keeps opponents who regularly face high-octane passing attacks off-balance.
This is why the Ravens have won five in a row and why they'll be a dangerous
team if they are able to get into the postseason.
Week 15 Grade: A
Season Grade: B
BUFFALO BILLS
Week 15 Opponent: Detroit Lions
Result: Won 14-13
Buffalo Bills rookie quarterback Josh Allen had another
inconsistent game as a passer, but he still won with his arm against the Detroit
Lions. He only rushed for 16 yards, but he threw for 204 and a touchdown. This
was a sign of progress for Allen because he's already proved he can eviscerate
defenses with his legs.
Allen got some help from undrafted rookie Keith Ford, who
rushed for 42 yards, and from emerging receiver Robert Foster. The speedy
wideout, also an undrafted rookie, caught four passes for 108 yards and a
touchdown.
Buffalo's defense shut out the Lions in the second half,
though it was helped by a missed field goal. This allowed the 42-yard
connection between Allen and Foster—and the ensuing PAT—to be the winning
points.
This was in no way a decisive win, but it provided some
glimpses of promise that Buffalo can build upon heading into 2019.
Week 15 Grade: C+
Season Grade: C-
CAROLINA PANTHERS
Week 15 Opponent: New Orleans Saints
Result: Lose 12-9
The Carolina Panthers playoff hopes vanished Monday night
with a 12-9 loss to the New Orleans Saints. Even playing at home didn’t help
the Panthers
Week 15 Grade: D
Season Grade: C
CHICAGO BEARS
Week 15 Opponent: Green Bay Packers
Result: Won 24-17
The Chicago Bears handled the Green Bay Packers to claim
their first NFC North title since 2010, but it wasn't easy, as the two were
tied heading into the fourth.
What's encouraging is Chicago didn't win solely with
defense.
The defense did play well, particularly in the fourth
quarter, when it forced three three-and-outs and grabbed an interception. But
the Bears also got tremendous play out of quarterback Mitchell Trubisky, who
finished 20-of-28 for 235 yards and two touchdowns.
We've seen Trubisky be great at times this season, but we've
also seen him play inconsistently. Ideally, this will be the start of a quality
stretch the Bears can ride into the postseason.
Trubisky outplayed Aaron Rodgers, and because
of that, Chicago's postseason is guaranteed.
Week 15 Grade: B+
Season Grade: B+
CINCINNATI BENGALS
Week 15 Opponent: Oakland Raiders
Result: Won 30-16
The Cincinnati Bengals may not be a playoff team, but
they're still showing plenty of fight. With Andy Dalton and A.J. Green both on
injured reserve, it would be easy for Cincinnati to coast out the season.
Instead, the Bengals dropped a strong performance on the Oakland Raiders.
Joe Mixon ran over the defense for 129 yards and two
touchdowns. Quarterback Jeff Driskel didn't have a stellar game—14-of-33 for
130 yards with a touchdown and an interception—but he kept the defense
off-balance with his rushing ability (32 yards on seven carries).
The Cincinnati defense also managed to keep Oakland less
than 300 yards.
This wasn't domination by any means, but Cincinnati was in
control the whole way. The Bengals never trailed, never led by less than a
touchdown after getting on the board, and controlled the clock for more than 33
minutes.
Playing this way, Cincinnati will have a legitimate chance
against the Browns and Steelers in the final two weeks.
Week 15 Grade: B+
Season Grade: C-
CLEVELAND BROWNS
Week 15 Opponent: Denver Broncos
Result: Won 17-16
The Browns aren't a playoff team, but they've been playing
like one ever since jettisoning head coach Hue Jackson. Cleveland won in
Denver, which isn't easy to do this time of year, with a rookie quarterback, an
interim head coach and a first-time coordinator.
Baker Mayfield, however, isn't playing like a typical
rookie. He played far from a perfect game against Denver, but he never got rattled,
and it never appeared that the game or the moment was too big for him. He did
enough to pull the Browns ahead in the fourth quarter. The Cleveland defense
made sure it stayed ahead.
This was the second prime-time game Cleveland had this
season. We're likely to see many more in 2019. The Browns are young, they're
talented, and they're a lot of fun to watch. They're also learning something
important: how to win.
Week 15 Grade: C+
Season Grade: C
DALLAS COWBOYS
Week 15 Opponent: Indianapolis Colts
Result: Lost 23-0
During their five-game winning streak, the Dallas Cowboys
won close in almost every one. Against the Indianapolis Colts, Dallas failed to
even keep the game close.
The Dallas defense, which has usually been the strength of
the team, surrendered 178 yards rushing and 4.6 yards per run. It also failed
to log a sack. The offense was able to move the ball well at times, but it
couldn't finish drives.
Dallas had a field goal blocked on its first possession.
Ezekiel Elliott fumbled inside the Indianapolis 5-yard line on the second. The
Cowboys punted from their own 49-yard line, punted twice in Colts territory and
were stopped twice on downs in the fourth quarter.
Hopefully, this performance will provide a lesson about
finishing.
"I think a loss like this was very much needed,"
Elliott said, per Jori Epstein of USA Today.
Week 15 Grade: F
Season Grade: C-
DENVER BRONCOS
Week 15 Opponent: Cleveland Browns
Result: Lost 17-16
Broncos head coach Vance Joseph made the decision to put the
game in the hands of his defense late on Saturday night. With less than five
minutes remaining and down four, he decided to take the field goal on 4th-and-1
from the Cleveland 6-yard line.
Plenty of people are going to question this decision, but
ultimately, it was the Broncos defense that failed Joseph.
Yes, Denver stopped Cleveland on 4th-and-1 and got the ball
back with just under two minutes remaining. However, the Broncos did so from
their own 10-yard line after allowing a long drive. Case Keenum and Co. were
forced to cover a lot of ground to get into kicking range. They got to the 50
before a fourth-down sack ended Denver's drive, and ostensibly, its season.
This was a sloppy game that the Broncos should have won at
home. Because of key mistakes—like Keenum's red-zone interception—and
questionable decisions, they didn't.
Week 15 Grade: C-
Season Grade: C-
DETROIT LIONS
Week 15 Opponent: Buffalo Bills
Result: Lost 14-13
Lions fans will likely blame kicking woes on Sunday's close
loss. A botched extra point and a Matt Prater miss in the fourth quarter left
four points on the board.
Let's be clear, though. Those four points are not the only
reason Detroit lost. Matt Patricia's defense couldn't stop uneven rookie Josh
Allen from beating it with his arm. Patricia, who has plenty of familiarity
with Buffalo from his time in the AFC East, couldn't devise a game plan to beat
the Bills defense.
On a positive note, Kenny Golladay continues to prove that
he is a certifiable No. 1 receiver. He had another strong day, finishing with
seven catches and 146 yards. The downside is that Matthew Stafford had
just 62 yards passing to guys not named Golladay.
The Lions should have won this game. Mistakes—like jumping
offsides on Buffalo's final drive—cost them. That's been the story of Detroit's
season. We'll see if the Lions can turn things around in the spoiler role next
week against the Minnesota Vikings.
Week 15 Grade: D
Season Grade: C-
GREEN BAY PACKERS
Week 15 Opponent: Chicago Bears
Result: Lost 24-17
Well, it doesn't appear the firing of head coach Mike
McCarthy has fixed Green Bay's offensive woes. Against the Bears, the defense
played an admirable game, allowing 329 yards and 24 points on the road. Aaron
Rodgers and Co., though, couldn't hold up their end of the bargain.
Rodgers seemed especially off, which isn't a new trend this
season. He missed multiple open receivers, frequently failed to avoid pressure
and threw a fourth-quarter interception in the red zone.
It didn't help that the Packers were without two starting
linemen or that running back Aaron Jones suffered a knee injury early
and didn't return. A lot of this loss has to be placed on Rodgers, though, and
his continued poor play leaves questions about his future and the future of the
Packers.
For now, we know that Green Bay is at least guaranteed a
losing season.
Week 15 Grade: D+
Season Grade: D+
HOUSTON TEXANS
Week 15 Opponent: New York Jets
Result: Won 29-22
The Houston Texans didn't roll the New York Jets the way
some may have predicted. It was a struggle, but road games in December often
will be.
The Texans survived, and that's the important takeaway. They
got some terrific play from Deshaun Watson late, and the defense shut the door
on New York's final shot. However, this was in no way a comfortable win, and it
raises some concerns moving forward.
The biggest is pass protection. The Jets don't have a
premier pass-rusher like J.J. Watt, but they were constantly able to pressure
Watson. He was sacked six times, and if not for his elite mobility, he would
have been taken down even more.
This isn't a new problem, as Watson has now been sacked 52
times this season.
The Houston offense can go toe to toe with anyone in the
postseason, but only if Watson remains upright.
Week 15 Grade: C+
Season Grade: B
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS
Week 15 Opponent: Dallas Cowboys
Result: Won 23-0
Whether or not the Colts are able to reach the postseason,
they can know two things for certain: Andrew Luck is
completely healthy, and Indianapolis hired the right coaching staff.
Head coach Frank Reich had a perfect game plan to beat the
Cowboys, playing keep-away by leaning on the run. This limited Dallas'
opportunities and helped minimize the Cowboys' pass rush. As a team, the Colts
rushed 39 times for 178 yards and two TDs. Luck wasn't sacked.
Defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus has the Indianapolis
defense playing with a sense of purpose. While rookie linebacker Darius Leonard
is a rising star, there aren't a lot of big names on the defense. However, the
group flies around the field, making impact plays like a squad of elite
defenders. The Colts defense forced two turnovers, logged three sacks and,
ultimately, pitched a shutout.
If the Colts do slip into the playoffs, they'll have a
chance to make a run.
Week 15 Grade: A+
Season Grade: B-
JACKSONVILLE
JAGUARS
Week 15 Opponent: Washington Redskins
Result: Lost 16-13
The Jacksonville Jaguars are a lost team. They don't have an
answer at quarterback—Cody Kessler was awful as a passer Sunday—their defense
isn't playing with any intensity, and there is zero sense of unity among
players and the coaching staff.
"I ain't worried about nobody but myself,"
cornerback Jalen Ramsey told reporters when asked about coach Doug Marrone's job
security.
Ramsey and the Jaguars defense failed to protect a touchdown
lead in the fourth quarter. Newly crowned Washington Redskins starter Josh
Johnson managed to engineer a 10-play, 68-yard touchdown drive to pull even.
Washington then leaned on Adrian Peterson to
get into field-goal range for the game-winner as time expired.
That game-winning drive was made possible by an interception
from Kessler. He finished with just nine completions and 57 yards.
A team that went to the AFC title game last season should
have been able to handle a Washington team playing its fourth quarterback on
the road. The Jaguars couldn't.
Week 15 Grade: F
Season Grade: F
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS
Week 15 Opponent: Los Angeles Chargers
Result: Lost 29-28
The Kansas City Chiefs still own the top spot in the AFC
West and in the conference, but Thursday night's loss to the rival Los Angeles
Chargers left them no room for error. There was little room for error on
Thursday night as well. After controlling most of the game, Kansas City was
doomed by a few key mistakes in the closing minutes.
The defense, which has been a weakness for most of the
season, played well early, picking off Philip Rivers twice and sacking him five
times. However, it couldn't stop the Chargers on their final two possessions.
Defensive-holding and pass-interference penalties helped extend both of L.A.'s
fourth-quarter scoring drives.
Miscommunication allowed the Chargers to convert a two-point
attempt and take the lead just before the end of regulation.
This game could have easily gone Kansas City's way, but it
proves that as good as the Chiefs may be, they can't survive miscues against a
playoff-caliber team. They'll face another one next week when they meet the
Seattle Seahawks.
Week 15 Grade: C-
Season Grade: A-
LOS ANGELES
CHARGERS
Week 15 Opponent: Kansas City Chiefs
Result: Won 29-28
Just as the Chiefs easily could have won, the Chargers
easily could have suffered a decisive loss Thursday night. They made more than
a few early errors and found themselves down 14 points late in the fourth
quarter.
Make no mistake; the Chargers played a sloppy brand of
football for most of the night.
Perseverance and some clutch play down the stretch allowed
Los Angeles to dig itself out of a hole, though, and that's something the
Chargers have been able to do with regularity this season. It's something they
didn't do last season.
"This isn’t the same old Chargers," safety Derwin
James said, per AP writer Joe Reedy. "We’re here to compete
with anybody in this league, and we showed it tonight."
The Chargers' ability to not get knocked out when they're
down is what makes them so dangerous heading into the postseason.
Week 15 Grade: C+
Season Grade: B+
LOS ANGELES RAMS
Week 15 Opponent: Philadelphia Eagles
Result: Lost 30-23
The Rams played a terrible game of football last week
against Chicago, but it was easy to blame that on the blustery road conditions.
On a warm night in Los Angeles, it was harder to find valid excuses for an
equally big letdown.
L.A. was inefficient and mistake-prone against the Eagles on
Sunday night. Jared Goff looked a lot like the shaky rookie version, missing
several open receivers and tossing a pair of interceptions. A muffed punt added
to the turnover margin, and the defense couldn't stop Philadelphia when it
needed to.
A poor game plan may have been part of the problem, as it
was against the Bears. Though he ran well, Todd Gurley only got 12 carries.
Goff passed 54 times. While it may not have seemed necessary to grind out a
game to limit Nick Foles' opportunities, that's what the Rams should have done.
Instead, the Eagles were able to take complete control in
the second half, opening up a 17-point lead.
Week 15 Grade: F
Season Grade: A-
MIAMI DOLPHINS
Week 15 Opponent: Minnesota Vikings
Result: Lost 41-17
The Miami Dolphins are still technically alive in the AFC
playoff race, but their hopes took a major hit with Sunday's blowout loss to
the Minnesota Vikings.
Running back Kalen Ballage ripped off a 75-yard touchdown
run and finished with 123 yards on the ground. That's the only positive the
Dolphins can take away. Every other aspect of this game was a disaster.
Nothing was more disastrous than Miami's pass protection.
Ryan Tannehill was under pressure almost every time he dropped back. He was
sacked nine times and lost 71 yards, and that left the Dolphins with just 193
yards of net offense.
Miami's defense was nearly as bad. It grabbed one
interception and forced three punts, but every other one of Minnesota's drives
ended with either points or the end of the half.
The Dolphins we saw Sunday have no business being in the
playoff conversation.
Week 15 Grade: F
Season Grade: C
MINNESOTA VIKINGS
Week 15 Opponent: Miami Dolphins
Result: Won 41-17
Firing Mike McCarthy didn't help the Packers offense. Firing
offensive coordinator John DeFilippo seems to have done wonders for the Vikings
offense, though. In his first game as interim coordinator, Kevin Stefanski
watched his unit rack up 41 points and 418 total yards.
Minnesota did most of its damage on the ground—40 rushes for
220 yards and three TDs—with Kirk Cousins serving as more of a game manager.
This was the formula the Vikings used with Case Keenum last season all the way
up to the NFC title game.
Dalvin Cook, who rushed for 136 yards and had a 27-yard
reception, was particularly impressive. So was the Vikings defense, which
racked up nine sacks and allowed less than 200 yards of offense.
At 7-6-1, the Vikings control their playoff destiny.
Week 15 Grade: A+
Season Grade: C+
NEW ENGLAND
PATRIOTS
Week 15 Opponent: Pittsburgh Steelers
Result: Lost 17-10
Is this finally the beginning of the end for the New England
Patriots? The death knell has been prematurely rung before. However,
the Patriots we've seen over the last two weeks don't like the dynasty we're
used to.
New England lost last week because it failed to properly
defend a last-second desperation play. Against the Pittsburgh Steelers, the
Patriots lost because they played uncharacteristically sloppy football.
Tom Brady missed several throws and tossed an ill-advised
floater that was picked off right outside the end zone. The defense allowed
nearly 400 yards, and the Patriots racked up a whopping 14 penalties.
Fundamentals like sound tackling and not jumping pre-snap were lacking.
The Steelers made their fair share of mistakes, which kept
New England in the game, but this was a big loss and part of a trend. New
England has been awful on the road this season, and after dropping to the No. 3
seed, the Patriots may well be playing most of the postseason away from
Foxborough.
Week 15 Grade: D-
Season Grade: B-
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS
Week 15 Opponent: Carolina Panthers
Result: Win 12-9
The Saints continue
to roll through the NFC with there win against the Panthers.
NEW YORK GIANTS
Week 15 Opponent: Tennessee Titans
Result: Lost 17-0
The New York Giants got pasted by the Tennessee Titans on
Sunday. Unlike some of the blowout losses New York has suffered, this one
cannot be blamed entirely on quarterback Eli Manning.
Did Manning play great? No, he was pretty bad. However, the
play of the offensive and defensive lines was far worse. Both units got pushed
around for the full four quarters. Manning was under constant pressure, Saquon
Barkley (2.2 yards per carry) couldn't find open running lanes, and the defense
couldn't find an answer for the brutal running of Derrick Henry.
Henry racked up 170 yards on the ground and two TDs. The
Giants had just 90 yards of total offense more.
This may have been the worst overall game New York has
played since the first month of the season. The Giants had won four of their
last five, but any momentum they generated during that stretch is dead. With
games against the Colts and Cowboys remaining, New York's win total may be
stuck at five.
Week 15 Grade: F
Season Grade: D+
NEW YORK JETS
Week 15 Opponent: Houston Texans
Result: Lost 29-22
The Jets didn't knock off the playoff-bound Texans on
Saturday, and that doesn't come as a shock. New York nearly did, though, and a
lot of the credit has to go to rookie quarterback Sam Darnold.
He did just about everything one would expect of a franchise
quarterback. He used his mobility to escape pressure, he made big-time throws
under duress, and he even made some big plays with his legs.
"He can scramble," Texans defensive end J.J.
Watt said, per Mark Lane of Texans Wire. "He can make throws.
He's a good player. And obviously, he's young and he's got a great future ahead
of him."
What Darnold didn't do is finish. He made a couple of
terrible throws on New York's last possession before taking a sack and then not
converting a fourth-down play. If Darnold can thrive at the end of games, the
Jets really will have their franchise quarterback.
Week 15 Grade: C
Season Grade: D
OAKLAND RAIDERS
Week 15 Opponent: Cincinnati Bengals
Result: Lost 30-16
The Raiders upset the likely playoff-bound Steelers in Week
14. So of course, they'd go and decisively lose to the injury-riddled Bengals.
Now, making the cross-country trip to play an
early-afternoon game is never easy. But that doesn't excuse a flat offensive
performance against one of the worst statistical defenses in the league. The
problem was one part execution—two lost fumbles hurt—and one part poor
play-calling.
Though he averaged a solid 4.3 yards per carry, Doug Martin got just
nine of them. Despite having multiple injuries on the offensive line, Derek
Carr was asked to throw 38 times. He was frequently under pressure and ended up
being sacked five times.
"It was a very difficult situation for us today
offensively, with all the changes," Coach Jon Gruden said,
per AP sportswriter Joe Kay. "We've got to do better."
Oakland will indeed need to be better if it hopes to beat
the Broncos next Monday night.
Week 15 Grade: D
Season Grade: D-
PHILADELPHIA
EAGLES
Week 15 Opponent: Los Angeles Rams
Result: Won 30-23
Can the Eagles go on another playoff run with Nick Foles
under center? It doesn't feel quite as likely as last season—Philadelphia was
10-2 when Carson Wentz went down for the season—but they're still alive at 7-7
thanks to Foles.
He and the Eagles offense were on fire against the Rams,
racking up 381 yards of offense. The defense, which allowed 413 yards, wasn't
perfect, but it did get some key stops in the second half.
Yes, the Rams made mistakes, and the Eagles got some breaks.
However, Philadelphia still deserves credit for taking advantage and turning
good fortune into a victory.
If Philadelphia wins out, and the Vikings lose to either
Detroit or Chicago, the Eagles will be in the tournament once again. Hopefully,
this possibility doesn't cause fans to break out silly dog masks from last
year.
Week 15 Grade: B+
Season Grade: C
SAN FRANCISCO
49ERS
Week 15 Opponent: Seattle Seahawks
Result: Won 26-23 (OT)
Division rivalry games can be unpredictable, and Sunday's
overtime win by the San Francisco 49ers was proof of that.
The last time San Francisco battled the rival Seattle
Seahawks, they got blown out 43-16. This time around, San Francisco and Seattle
traded punches until the end. The 49ers made a big defensive stop in overtime
and then responded with a game-winning field-goal drive.
While the defense deserves credit for getting some timely
stops, undrafted free agent Nick Mullens, who finished with 275 yards and a
touchdown, was the offensive hero.
"I'd say he's playing like a top-half quarterback in
this league," cornerback Richard Sherman said, per Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle.
"You have guys that are out there right now that are not playing better
football than Nick Mullens."
The 49ers believe they have their franchise quarterback in
Jimmy Garoppolo, but they now know they can win tough matchups with Mullens in
the future if they have to.
Week 15 Grade: B-
Season Grade: C-
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS
Week 15 Opponent: Seattle Seahawks
Result: Lost 26-23 (OT)
Did the Seahawks overlook their division rivals? After
blowing them out in the last meeting and with a pivotal game against Kansas
City upcoming, it's possible. One thing is for sure, though: The Seahawks
didn't outplay them.
The Seahawks ran the ball well (168 yards, 4.8 yards per
carry), and quarterback Russell
Wilson was mostly efficient. However, the Seahawks also
struggled with short drives and with the field-position battle.
In overtime, Tyler Lockett muffed the kickoff and left the
Seahawks stranded at their 14-yard line. Seattle went three-and-out, and a
quick 49ers drive—aided by a pass interference call—led to a field goal and a
Seahawks defeat.
Seattle will be back at home next week, which will help.
However, the Seahawks have to be better at extending drives and controlling the
clock if they're going to beat the Chiefs.
Week 15 Grade: C-
Season Grade: B-
TAMPA BAY
BUCCANEERS
Week 15 Opponent: Baltimore Ravens
Result: Lost 20-12
It's time to blow up the Buccaneers, and it seems Buccaneers
ownership knows it. According to CBS Sports' Jason La Canfora, the Buccaneers
have "begun gathering information" on potential replacements
for coach Dirk Koetter.
Tampa Bay doesn't have the pieces to contend right now. The
defense, which allowed 242 rushing yards to the Ravens, has regularly been a
liability. The running game has been a disappointment—so has second-round pick
Ronald Jones—and the quarterback situation has been unstable, to say the least.
Jameis Winston, who was reinserted as the team's starter a
few weeks ago, accomplished little against the Ravens defense on Sunday. He was
off on several throws and finished just 13-of-25 for 157 yards and an
interception.
As a team, the Buccaneers were flat against Baltimore, and
they've been that way much of the season. There's a lot to figure out between
now and the start of 2019.
Week 15 Grade: D
Season Grade: C-
TENNESSEE TITANS
Week 15 Opponent: New York Giants
Result: Won 17-0
The Titans may not make it into the postseason, but if they
do, other teams should worry. Head coach Mike Vrabel has had his team playing
aggressive and inspired football all season, but Tennessee has looked like a
different and dangerous team over the last two weeks.
A lot of this has to do with the emergence of Derrick Henry.
After topping 200 yards last week (with four TDs), he rushed for another 170
and two scores against the Giants. He needed 33 carries to get there, but that
grinding approach wore down the Giants' front seven.
With Dion Lewis chipping in 35 rushing yards, the Titans
didn't need much help from quarterback Marcus Mariota. He made the occasional
play to keep the defense honest and finished 12-of-20 for 88 yards.
This brand of run-heavy, defensive football has proved to be
effective in January.
Week 15 Grade: A+
Season Grade: B-
WASHINGTON
REDSKINS
Week 15 Opponent: Jacksonville Jaguars
Result: Won 16-13
Give the Redskins credit. They've watched a division lead
slip away. They're playing with their fourth quarterback in Josh Johnson, who
hadn't appeared in a game since 2013 before last week. They spent most of
Sunday's game against Jacksonville wandering through an uninspired defensive
struggle.
However, Washington refused to give up. Instead, the team
went on a long touchdown drive to tie the game in the fourth, picked off Cody
Kessler near midfield, and then got into position to win the game on a
last-second field goal.
"It just shows how resilient this team is,"
linebacker Mason Foster said, per Jerry Brewer of the Washington Post.
The Redskins didn't quit against Jacksonville, and because
of it, they're still alive in the playoff race at 7-7. The path won't be an
easy one, as the Redskins have the Titans and Eagles—two other teams battling
for postseason life—remaining on the regular-season schedule.
Week 15 Grade: B-
Season Grade: C
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