Also read: State of forces
Titan duels shook the NFL planet in Week 15 as the playoff picture almost crystallized permanently.
The Eagles took the measure of the Steelers, just like the Bills with the Lions. Two big victories with undeniable repercussions on the future, just like Patrick Mahomes’ worrying ankle injury.
As the holiday break is necessary in our calendar, these will be the last lessons of the week of the season, but rest assured that RDS will present all the playoff matches in addition to several very exciting duels during your family time .
Without further ado, here are the lessons of Week 15 as the playoffs are upon us.
It isn’t really close. pic.twitter.com/J1tGKrS2ha
— FanDuel Sportsbook (@FDSportsbook)
December 15, 2024“/>
With another four-touchdown performance this weekend, two passing and two rushing, the Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen practically put his name in permanent marker on the journalists’ ballots for the title of MVP of the regular season.
All the ingredients are there.
Impressive statistics (25 passing touchdowns and 11 rushing touchdowns), eight straight games with 30 or more points from his offense and signature victories against the Lions and Chiefs in the last month.
Alone at the top of the division with an 11-3 record, the Bills Josh Allen are more dangerous than ever as the star quarterback finishes his seventh season in Buffalo.
The title of MVP has already slipped through his fingers twice when he finished second in the voting in 2020 and third in 2022. This season, he will finally be able to add it to his collection barring an incredible rout during the last three weeks or historical performances on the part of Lamar Jackson or Saquon Barkley.
Now that the highest individual honor of a season is all but assured, Allen can focus on finally breaking out of his playoff torpor, having a 5-5 career record and never reaching the Super Bowl with the Bills. Additionally, he has two career losses at the Chiefs’ Arrowhead Stadium in the playoffs. Maybe the third time, if the Bills’ path crosses those of the Chiefs again, will be the right one for Allen against Mahomes in the playoffs.
The Eagles, executioners of the NFL
With their victory against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday, the Philadelphia Eagles took away the lead from the Lions in the race for first place in the association. Now it’s a battle to finish until the end of the season and the Eagles have the wind in their sails.
Especially when you pay attention to the details.
A score of 27-13 against the excellent Steelers already sends a strong message. Except the way of doing it was even more impressive.
— Josh Norris (@JoshNorris)
December 16, 2024“/>
In the second half, the Steelers only had two offensive sequences, notably due to a 21-play sequence from the Eagles. Jalen Hurts’ offense held the ball for more than ten minutes against one of the best defenses in the NFL.
This is the kind of thing you don’t see often.
The Eagles’ very physical ground attack completely dominated a very aggressive defensive unit. Ahead of winter playoff football, this is an undeniable stance on Philadelphia’s part.
With the cold weather and the accumulation of little injuries of the season, the physical game gains in value at the end of a campaign and Saquon Barkley has found the ideal place to deploy his arsenal. The NFL leader in rushing yards (1,688) could exceed the symbolic milestone of 2,000 yards with his current rate of 120 yards per game. Only eight players in the entire history of the NFL can boast this feat and the last one to do it, Derrick Henry, heats Barkley this season to the top of the league.
Tagovailoa does not seize opportunities
At the start of the season, during Week 2, Tua Tagovailoa suffered another concussion on the field and the severity of it kept the Dolphins franchise quarterback out four games.
Since his return, the Dolphins are 4-4 and let’s just say he picked a bad time to play his worst game of the season, Sunday against the Texans.
In the 20-12 loss, Tagovailoa was responsible for four turnovers in addition to taking responsibility for a poorly thrown pass to his receiver Grant DuBose who was seriously injured on the sequence.
Worse yet, despite his history of concussions, Tagovailoa still takes unnecessary risks on the field by diving headfirst to gain a few more yards.
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate)
December 15, 2024“/>
The Dolphins’ season is essentially over, and now there are questions about whether the $212 million man will be the solution for the team’s future.
With poor health and a propensity to miss big occasions, Tagovailoa is not helping his cause.
The game against the Texans was critical to the Dolphins’ survival in their playoff runs and Tagovailoa delivered that kind of performance. He did the same thing against the Titans in 2021 and against the Bills in 2020.
It’s starting to become more than coincidence. When the pressure mounts, Tagovailoa collapses.
In defense of the Dolphins quarterback, coach Demeco Ryans concocted a whole game plan for his defense and he was waiting for Miami firmly. Except that a quarterback as expensive as Tua should be able to find solutions to the creative blitzes of opposing defenses.
The Bucs could surprise
Joe Burrow
Jared Goff
Baker Mayfield
Lamar Jackson pic.twitter.com/8CedKVkwO7
— StatMuse Football (@statmusefb)
December 17, 2024“/>
This season, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers beat the Detroit Lions (Week 2) and the Philadelphia Eagles (Week 4). Baker Mayfield also held off the Ravens in the loss with 31 points and the Bucs also heated up the Chiefs in a close game.
Sunday, the team imposed 40 points on the Chargers, one of the good defenses in the NFL.
The question, therefore, arises: will the Bucs be taken seriously in the playoffs?
On paper, you could say yes, especially when you see that the offense can beat any team. But, the ups and downs are hard to predict and in one-way winter football, you can’t afford to make mistakes.
The division is in pretty good shape, barring a disaster. In addition, Mike Evans could pass the 1,000-yard mark for an eleventh consecutive season despite injuries. Things are going well for the Bucs and Baker Mayfield.
I like to imagine the executives of the Cleveland Browns watching the success of Baker Mayfield when they sign Deshaun Watson’s paychecks.
In bulk
📺: #NEWJvsJAX on FOX
📱: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/CwGfbTtbpF
— NFL (@NFL)
December 15, 2024“/>
Finally, Aaron Rodgers can still make magic with Davante Adams. Only problem is, it’s too little too late. The Jets are eliminated and they were playing against the Jaguars, also eliminated. Might as well say it never happened then.
— NFL (@NFL)
December 15, 2024“/>
Jonathan Taylor wins stupid game of the week. By letting the ball slip away before crossing the goal line, he prevented a two-possession lead for his team. Ultimately, the Colts lost and the Texans were assured of the division title.
Bravo Jonathan.
Despite a victory, the Falcons must begin to regret the big contract given to Kirk Cousins before the season. At 36 years old, he’s essentially playing the worst season of his career as a starter. The proof, Michael Penix Jr. will be the starter for the next match.
With that, I wish you great football this week and good family time for the holidays.
