NFL Week 15 takeaways: Chiefs, Eagles survive tests, Jaguars shock Cowboys, Lions' playoff hopes still alive

December 18, 2022 ndowd

5:00 PM ET

NFL NationESPN

Welcome to Week 15 of the 2022 NFL season, where the playoff picture is beginning to take shape.

On Thursday, rookie quarterback Brock Purdy helped the San Francisco 49ers clinch the NFC West by beating the division-rival Seattle Seahawks.

Saturday’s three-game slate started with the Minnesota Vikings hosting the Indianapolis Colts, who built a 33-0 halftime lead before Kirk Cousins and the Vikings pulled off the biggest comeback in NFL history — clinching the NFC North in the process. In the afternoon game, the Cleveland Browns rode a stingy defense and uncharacteristic Justin Tucker misses to beat the Baltimore Ravens in Cleveland. And in the night game, Josh Allen threw four TD passes as the Buffalo Bills clinched a playoff berth with a win over the Miami Dolphins.

On Sunday, the Kansas City Chiefs clinched the AFC West with an overtime win over the Houston Texans. The Dallas Cowboys failed to clinch a spot in the playoffs after losing to the Jacksonville Jaguars in overtime. And the Detroit Lions kept their playoff hopes alive with a win at the New York Jets,

Our NFL Nation reporters react with the biggest takeaways and lingering questions off this week’s matchups and look ahead to what’s next. Let’s get to it.

Jump to a matchup:

Eagles

What to know: When all else fails, the Eagles can bank on their pass rush. Philadelphia registered six-plus sacks for the fifth time this season. That’s the most by an Eagles team since team sacks were first tracked in 1963, and is one game shy of tying the most by any team in a season. The money they gave Haason Reddick in free agency this offseason (three-years, $45 million) has been well worth it. He led the way with two sacks and a fumble recovery against Chicago and now has 12 sacks on the season for the Eagles, who entered Week 15 with a league-best 49 takedowns.

What’s the concern level over the passing game? Low. Jalen Hurts threw multiple interceptions in a game for the first time this season, and was below his normal efficiency as a passer. There was some wind and cold to contend with as well as some trap game vibes to this one, seeing that it was sandwiched between a pair of division games and considering the Eagles have their biggest game of the season coming up Saturday against the Cowboys. The offense was clunky for long stretches. Still, Hurts scored three times on the ground — he now has 13 rush TDs on the year, one shy of Cam Newton’s record — and made plays through the air when it mattered. This group will be fine. — Tim McManus

Next game: at Cowboys (Saturday, 4:25 p.m. ET)

Bears

What to know: The Bears were tough against the top team in the NFC. Justin Fields threw two touchdowns and ran for 95 yards, joining Lamar Jackson and Michael Vick as the only quarterbacks in NFL history to rush for 1,000 yards in a season. Chicago’s secondary had arguably its best performance of the season by holding MVP candidate Jalen Hurts to his third-lowest completion percentage of the season (59.5%) while forcing him to throw two interceptions. This season is all about finding foundational pieces the Bears can build around in 2023. On defense, Jaylon Johnson continues to prove he’s one of those players by recording three passes defended, all of which came against Eagles receiver A.J. Brown.

How will the Bears overcome another onslaught of injuries? Chicago entered Week 15 without wide outs Chase Claypool (knee) and N’Keal Harry (back). The receiving team took another hit when Equanimeous St. Brown left the first quarter with a concussion. One play after St. Brown’s injury, right guard Teven Jenkins sustained a neck injury and was taken off the field on a stretcher. Linebacker Jack Sanborn injured his ankle in the third quarter and never returned while Johnson was sidelined late with a rib injury. The Bears are in survival mode with three games to play amid a seven-game losing streak and hope the rash of injuries doesn’t get any worse. — Courtney Cronin

Next game: vs. Bills (Saturday, 1 p.m. ET)

Jaguars

What to know: The Jaguars’ defense has been criticized all season for giving up big plays and having a weak pass rush, but it has delivered the past two weeks, including in one of the most improbable victories of the season. Nickelback Tre Herndon had a rough time dealing with CeeDee Lamb all day, but he got his hand on a pass intended for Noah Brown, and safety Rayshawn Jenkins grabbed it and went 52 yards for the winning score in overtime. The Jags picked off Prescott twice and turned both into touchdowns. The Jaguars forced four turnovers in their rout of Tennessee the week prior despite giving up 121 rushing yards to Derrick Henry. The big plays the past two weeks have kept the Jaguars in the AFC South race.

What do the Jaguars do at offensive tackle? Both starters — Cam Robinson (knee) and Jawaan Taylor (hamstring) — left the game with injuries on Sunday, and that’s critical with a short week to prepare for the New York Jets on Thursday night. Walker Little went in for Taylor at right tackle earlier in the second half and then moved to left tackle after Robinson’s injury. Taylor gutted it out for the Jaguars’ final drive, but if he’s unable to play, they will likely bring up a replacement from the practice squad with the short week (possibly Coy Cronk). — Mike DiRocco

Next game: at Jets (Thursday, 8:15 p.m. ET)

Cowboys

What to know: Dak Prescott has promised he would fix his problem with interceptions. It didn’t happen Sunday. Prescott was bumped as he was throwing to Dalton Schultz on one pickoff in the third quarter, and the Cowboys lost in overtime when his third-down pass to Noah Brown was intercepted and returned for a touchdown. Prescott now has nine interceptions in his past six games and 11 in his nine games played this season. He had 10 interceptions last year on 596 passes. The Cowboys blew a 27-10 lead, marking the first loss of Prescott’s career when having a 17-point lead (1-30). Prescott has been picked off in four straight games, tying the longest streak of his career.

Are the Cowboys ready for Philadelphia? They aren’t playing their best entering a huge NFC matchup. They needed a 98-yard drive to beat the one-win Houston Texans. They blew a 17-point third-quarter lead against the Jaguars. They led the Colts by just two points entering the fourth quarter before a 33-point explosion. Maybe they were just playing down to their AFC South foes, but they will not have the same margin for error against the Eagles. They will have revenge on their mind, having lost 26-17 at Philadelphia in October. Prescott did not play that game because of a broken thumb. — Todd Archer

Next game: vs. Eagles (Saturday, 4:25 p.m. ET)

Chiefs

What to know: Turnovers can easily bring the Chiefs down in the playoffs. After committing a couple of turnovers against the Texans, the Chiefs are minus-seven in that category for the season. That’s the domain of losing teams. The Chiefs have survived the past couple of weeks despite a flurry of turnovers but against inferior opponents. They’re pressing their luck if this continues, particularly against better opponents in the playoffs.

Will the Chiefs get the AFC’s No. 1 playoff seed if they win out? In that case, the only other team that could get the top seed is Buffalo. The Bills in this scenario would need to win out themselves to get the top seed, and they have a Week 17 game against a tough Bengals team. The better question is whether the Chiefs can win their final three games against Seattle, Denver and Las Vegas. That’s not an intimidating schedule, but the way they’ve played recently doesn’t inspire confidence. — Adam Teicher

Next game: vs. Seahawks (Saturday, 1 p.m. ET)

Texans

What to know: The Texans’ loss to the Chiefs was another example of failing to finish in a lost season for the club. The Texans led the Chiefs 21-16 going into the fourth quarter, the seventh time this season they were either tied or had a lead to start the final quarter. But they’ve managed to win only one of those games, which is why they’re heading toward the No. 1 pick in the 2023 NFL draft. It was a respectable effort considering they were without their leading rusher in Dameon Pierce and their two top receivers, Nico Collins and Brandin Cooks. Still, not being able to finish games has plagued the Texans all season.

Is the two-QB system fizzling out? The Texans had a plethora of success using two quarterbacks with Davis Mills and Jeff Driskel against the Cowboys. They produced 23 points, their second highest of the season, and the package netted 4.34 yards per play. But against the Chiefs, it produced only 1.24 yards per play. Driskel went 2-for-4 with 16 total yards, half of those on the ground. Mills threw for two touchdowns and ran for another one, but he had a costly turnover in overtime that led to the game-winning touchdown by Chiefs running back Jerick McKinnon. — DJ Bien-Aime

Next game: at Titans (Saturday, 1 p.m. ET)

Lions

What to know: The Lions’ offense didn’t appear to be as sharp as it has looked over the past six weeks, with just 20 total points — their fourth-lowest mark of the season — but they showed resilience when it mattered to improve to 7-7. Quarterback Jared Goff‘s 51-yard touchdown pass to Brock Wright was the second-longest go-ahead touchdown scored in the final two minutes of regulation in a game in the past 20 seasons, per ESPN Stats & Information.

What are the Lions’ chances of making the playoffs? Coach Dan Campbell knew his team had to win out to even position itself for a potential playoff spot entering Sunday’s game. With a win, the Lions have now boosted their playoff chances to 28 percent, according to ESPN analytics. Detroit has now won six of seven games for the first time since the 2016 season, when they last made the playoffs. — Eric Woodyard

Next game: at Panthers (Saturday, 1 p.m. ET)

Jets

What to know: The Jets lost their third straight game — all by one score — with their vaunted defense collapsing in the final minute on Brock Wright‘s 51-yard touchdown reception on fourth-and-inches. They got fooled big time, and it may have cost them a playoff spot. The Jets are a young team, still learning how to win, especially in big games. Clearly, they’re not ready for these stakes. In crunch time, they were undermined by their best unit: the defense.

Do the Jets have a quarterback controversy? Zach Wilson or Mike White? Wilson, returning from his three-game benching, was all over the place — some good, some ugly and some almost-spectacular moments in the fourth quarter. Some of the issues that got him benched — poor decisions, off-target throws — cropped up again. Chances are, he will start Thursday night against the Jacksonville Jaguars, as White (fractured ribs) may need more time. When he’s ready, coach Robert Saleh will have a decision to make. — Rich Cimini

Next game: vs. Jaguars (Thursday, 8:15 p.m. ET)

Saints

What to know: The Saints finally got the key takeaway they’ve been missing all year when Justin Evans and Bradley Roby combined for a forced fumble and recovery to help seal the game. But it was the Saints’ rookie wide receivers who impressed the most: Rashid Shaheed had a 69-yard touchdown catch and Chris Olave crept closer to a 1,000-yard season with three catches for 53 yards, taking his season total to 940 yards.

Do the Saints still have a chance at the playoffs? It seems almost unbelievable, but the Saints’ win keeps them in the playoff hunt at 5-9 after sweeping the Falcons. The Saints have to win out with two road games against the Browns and the Eagles before a home divisional matchup against the Panthers (5-9). The Saints entered the day two games behind the division-leading Buccaneers, who swept them this season, but it’s not impossible to make it to the postseason. Still, it feels like it’s too little, too late. — Katherine Terrell

Next game: at Browns (Saturday, 1 p.m. ET)

Falcons

What to know: It was not the prettiest or most efficient debut, but expecting that from Falcons rookie quarterback Desmond Ridder might have been a bit much. But after a rough start with four straight incompletions, Ridder calmed down. While the numbers won’t wow anyone (13-of-26 for 97 yards, six rushes for 38 yards) there were things to build on. As he gets more experience, he will likely trust himself and his decisions more, something that looked like he wasn’t doing much of in the first half. Let’s be clear: The performance wasn’t good. But it wasn’t a disaster, either.

Coming out of the bye, what did we learn about the Falcons’ rookies? While we knew Ridder would play his first snaps, how Atlanta deployed the rest of its rookies for its final four-game stretch told us a little bit more. Linebacker Troy Andersen, who had been showing steady progress prior to the bye, got the start and had seven tackles. Running back Tyler Allgeier had a career-high 139 rushing yards and one touchdown. He is looking more like a potential back of the future after averaging 8.2 yards per carry. Receiver Drake London was Ridder’s top target, with 11 targets, seven catches and 70 yards. Edge rusher Arnold Ebiketie also forced a fumble. — Michael Rothstein

Next game: at Ravens (Saturday, 1 p.m. ET)

Steelers

What to know: The Steelers topped the Panthers to avoid mathematical playoff elimination, but the final quarter was closer than it should’ve been because of self-inflicted wounds. The Steelers were cruising after opening the third quarter with a dominant 21-play drive that ate up 11 minutes, 43 seconds — the Steelers’ longest drive in 45 years — followed by what appeared to be a defensive stop. And then an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on Marcus Allen prior to Carolina’s punt flipped the game. The flag gave the Panthers a fresh set of downs, and they went on to kick a field goal. Thanks to a stout Steelers red zone defense, Carolina settled for another field goal on its next drive (aided by an offsides call on T.J. Watt). But the Steelers’ offense survived a third-down false start call on George Pickens on the ensuing drive and went on to grind out a game-sealing, 13-play possession that took up more than five minutes and ended with a field goal .

Does the late-season offensive improvement give Matt Canada job security? A popular scapegoat for the Steelers’ early offensive struggles, Canada has quietly overseen a solid improvement from his unit since the bye week. Against the Panthers, the Steelers’ historic 21-play drive ate up nearly the entire third quarter and gave the Steelers a two-score lead. And after a quiet week against the Baltimore Ravens, the Steelers’ run game put up 157 yards and the offense totaled 326 yards. Najee Harris finished with 86 yards on 24 carries and a touchdown. The biggest hole in the game plan remains George Pickens‘ inconsistent involvement, but overall, the offense has found a rhythm after a slow start — and perhaps that could keep Canada as the Steelers’ OC for a third season. — Brooke Pryor

Next game: vs. Raiders (Saturday, 8:15 p.m. ET)

Panthers

What to know: This was a huge missed opportunity, The Panthers (5-9) now have no margin for error if they hope to win the weak NFC South after being beaten at their own game: a solid running attack and defense. They almost assuredly will have to win out, with their final two games against division-leading Tampa Bay (6-7 before Sunday’s game against Cincinnati) and New Orleans (5-9), which helped Carolina’s cause by beating Atlanta (5-9).

Has Sam Darnold shown enough to be Carolina’s quarterback in the final three games? He’s not somebody the Panthers can count on when down by two scores, another reason the Panthers still need to focus their 2023 first-round pick on a quarterback. Darnold is only as good as his running game, and that was almost nonexistent against Pittsburgh. He made some nice throws to keep Carolina close, but he isn’t enough of a playmaker to beat a team with his arm or legs. The more mobile PJ Walker might be the better option next week against a high-scoring Detroit team. — David Newton

Next game: vs. Lions (Saturday, 1 p.m. ET)

Saturday

Bills

What to know: The Bills rebounded from a sluggish third quarter and played at a high level when it mattered most, coming back from an eight-point fourth-quarter deficit to win. It marked the Bills’ largest fourth-quarter comeback win since Week 1 of the 2019 season vs. the Jets (trailed by 13). There’s no doubt that Buffalo has things to clean up, but for all three phases to step up when it mattered most was significant for this team’s larger aspirations. The Bills also extended their winning streak to five games and clinched a playoff berth in the process.

Can the tight ends and running backs be involved in the passing attack consistently? All four of the Bills’ receiving touchdowns went to a running back or a tight end, which marked a career high for Josh Allen. Tight end Dawson Knox was involved in the passing game in a way he hasn’t been all season, finishing as the team’s leading receiver with 98 yards. Getting Knox — along with running backs Nyheim Hines and James Cook — involved in the passing game should open the door to more opportunities for those players and benefit the offense moving forward. As Allen said, “That’s what makes an offense scary and dangerous, when you know at any point any of these guys can catch the ball and make a play.” — Alaina Getzenberg

Next game: at Bears (Saturday, 1 p.m. ET)

Dolphins

What to know: All is not lost for the Dolphins. Yes, the NFL is a results-driven business, and Miami has now lost three straight games in the most critical month of the season. But Saturday’s loss didn’t feel as hopeless as the Dolphins’ previous two. Their offense came back to life with 405 total yards, they ran for more than 100 yards for the first time since Week 10 and made into the red zone on four occasions after failing to do so over the past two weeks. If this loss to the top-seeded Bills represents a return to form for Miami, this team shouldn’t have a problem winning at least two of its next three games.

Can the Dolphins hang on to their playoff position? Of the five other teams jockeying for the three wild-card spots in the AFC, the Dolphins hold a tiebreaker over three of them. They also play the New England Patriots and New York Jets over the next three weeks; beating both gets the Dolphins into the playoffs. If they’ve truly broken out of their offensive rut from Weeks 13 and 14, the playoff drought in South Florida should be over soon. — Marcel Louis-Jacques

Next game: vs. Packers (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)

Vikings

What to know: The Vikings clinched the NFC North title in the most dramatic way imaginable, launching the largest comeback in NFL history — regular season or in the playoffs — to overcome a 33-point deficit to the Colts. Cornerback Patrick Peterson told players in the halftime locker room that that they would win if they could score five touchdowns thereafter, a whopping number that not everyone thought was realistic. But they did exactly that, and now have won 11 of the first 14 games of coach Kevin O’Connell’s tenure.

Which Vikings team will we see in the playoffs? Is it the one that fell behind 33-0 at halftime, having allowed a blocked punt to be returned for one touchdown and an interception returned for another? Or is it the one that outscored the Colts 39-3 the rest of the way? No one was willing to say afterward the Vikings had solved all their deficiencies, but quarterback Kirk Cousins said that Saturday’s performance was “something that doesn’t happen to average people.” — Kevin Seifert

Next game: vs. Giants (Saturday, 1 p.m. ET)

Colts

What to know: The Colts’ second-half breakdown had many contributing factors. Chief among them were the offense’s inability to generate first downs and the defense’s failure to prevent big plays. On offense, the Colts produced just 132 yards in the final 40 minutes — the second half and overtime. That gave the Vikings numerous chances on offense, leaving the Indianapolis defense struggling to get stops. The big plays were especially damaging, with Minnesota ripping gains of 64, 63, 35 and 21 yards on plays in the second half. It takes a total collapse for a comeback of this magnitude to happen.

Is playcalling a big part of the Colts’ offensive issues? There were some curious playcalling decisions by the Colts in this game. When Indianapolis lost All-Pro running back Jonathan Taylor on the opening series, you’d think it might impact their play selection. But the Colts still called 37 combined runs for backups Deon Jackson and Zack Moss. It made sense when the Colts were up big, leading 33-0 at one point. But their lack of production in the running game combined with the Vikings’ terrible pass defense begs the question of whether the Colts got too conservative. Jackson and Moss averaged a combined 3.7 yards per carry. — Stephen Holder

Next game: vs. Chargers (Monday, Dec. 26, 8:15 p.m. ET)

Browns

What to know: The Browns completely shut down Baltimore’s offense — which was without quarterback Lamar Jackson — as they held an opponent out of the end zone for the first time all season. Cleveland’s defense has quietly been playing better of late — though it will likely be too little, too late for the 2022 season.

Can the 6-8 Browns still make the playoffs? Even after Saturday’s win, that still remains a long shot. The Browns will be officially eliminated from the AFC North race with just one more Cincinnati or Baltimore victory. And virtually every wild-card hopeful for the last two playoff spots — including the Dolphins, Patriots, Chargers and Jets — have the head-to-head tiebreaker over Cleveland, not to mention the better overall records. — Jake Trotter

Next game: vs. Saints (Saturday, 1 p.m. ET)

Ravens

What to know: The Ravens’ offense is in shambles. Saturday marked the first time Baltimore was held to three or fewer points in a regular-season game since 2008. It’s been a tough stretch for the Ravens, who have been held to 16 or fewer points in three consecutive games — the team’s worst such rut since 2000. Backup quarterback Tyler Huntley couldn’t push the ball downfield (138 yards passing), but Baltimore’s problems won’t be totally solved even if Jackson (knee) returns for the next game. Over his past nine outings, Jackson has thrown seven touchdown passes and five interceptions.

Can the Ravens still win the AFC North? This loss put a dent in Baltimore’s hopes to capture the division and opened the door for the Bengals to take control. Baltimore’s chances to win the AFC North dropped to 52% with the loss, according to ESPN’s Football Power Index. The Ravens showed no signs of panic after the deflating defeat in Cleveland, though, and they know they can take the division if they win out. Baltimore’s final three games are home against the Falcons and Steelers before finishing the regular season at the Bengals. — Jamison Hensley

Next game: vs. Falcons (Saturday, 1 p.m. ET)

Thursday

49ers

What to know: Niners rookie quarterback Brock Purdy continues to pass every key test thrown his way, including fighting through a painful rib injury to help beat the Seahawks and win the NFC West division. It’s too early to say where this is going with Purdy, but the Niners still have designs on winning the Super Bowl. It’s a huge ask of Purdy considering no rookie quarterback has ever started a Super Bowl, let alone won it. But the Niners have won seven in a row, and Purdy has been unfazed by the spotlight so far.

Now that they’ve clinched the division, how will the Niners handle their final three games? The 49ers can’t drop below the No. 3 seed in the NFC, but they can still realistically rise to No. 2. As long as that two spot is in play, don’t expect the Niners to take their foot off the gas, in part because they need to get Purdy as many snaps as possible before the postseason. — Nick Wagoner

Next game: vs. Commanders (Saturday, 4:05 p.m. ET)

Seahawks

What to know: The Seahawks have a long way to go before they can compete with San Francisco for NFC West supremacy. That was evident in their 20-point loss in Santa Clara in Week 2 and over the last month, as the 49ers blew out opponents while the Seahawks struggled against under-.500 teams. It was again obvious Thursday night as San Francisco controlled the game from start to finish with a third-string quarterback in Brock Purdy and no Deebo Samuel. It illustrated how big the gap has suddenly become between the 49ers and a Seattle team that used to own them not long ago.

Can the Seahawks still make the playoffs? That’s still very much in play. While they can no longer win the NFC West, ESPN’s Football Power Index had their chances of claiming one of the NFC’s two wild-card spots at 37% as of Friday. That’s because the Giants and Commanders also entered the weekend with seven wins, and Seattle has a head-to-head victory over New York. But it won’t be easy. Their defense has been reeling and they’ll be without star receiver Tyler Lockett for at least one game as he recovers from hand surgery. — Brady Henderson

Next game: at Chiefs (Saturday, 1 p.m. ET)

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