Week Fifteen has come and gone in the National Football League. it was a weird week in the NFL this week too, with teams losing that you didn't expect to lose. A perfect example of that is Dallas getting shut out by Indy. Chicago won the North for the first time since 2010 and did it in pretty convincing fashion, beating up on the Packers. Here's how you know the NFL was in an interesting place after week fifteen when the Cleveland Browns are still alive in the playoff race. This weekend saw blowouts, shut outs, nail bitters and everything in between. But enough of all of that. Here's the best and worst of the week that was in the NFL.
Best:
Philip Rivers, Quarterback Los Angeles Chargers
When the game got started between the Chargers and Chiefs, it didn't look good for Los Angeles. Philip Rivers threw an interception on his first pass attempt of the game, severely under throwing Tyrell Williams. Next time you turned around, Kansas City had jumped up to a 14-0 lead. Then the second half came around, and Rivers found his game again. Rivers led two consecutive touchdown-scoring drives in the final eight minutes of the game. He capped it all off with a gutty two-point conversion to Mike Williams, who had a monster game while Keenan Allen watched due to an injury. Rivers finished the day going 26 of 38 for 318 yards, tow touchdowns and two picks, and he was also sacked five times on the day. He still found a way to lead his team to victory against a very tough Kansas City club. Now at 11-3, the Chargers have a chance to claim the AFC’s top seed in the final weeks.
Worst:
Vance Joseph, Head Coach Denver Broncos
As a head coach in the NFL, or hell as a coach in any sport for that matter, you need to know what's going on at all times. You need to be aware of the situation in every circumstance. Somebody forgot to tell that to Denver coach Vance Joseph. Down by four points, with just over four minutes left on the clock, Denver's offense was sitting on the Cleveland six-yard line. We're looking at a fourth and one situation. Joseph, for whatever reason, decides to call for a field goal. Not surprisingly, the move backfired. Cleveland won the game by one point. In a must-win situation, Joseph retreated into his shell and cost his team the victory. He was booed heartily by the home crowd in Denver, and social media was brutal in its assessment of his awful decision. After a decision like this, I find it hard to believe that John Elway can keep him on the sideline for this team. Black Monday might not come fast enough for Broncos fans.
Best:
DeAndre Hopkins, Wide Receiver Houston Texans
This should come as no surprise to anybody. DeAndre Hopkins has been doing things to opposing cornerbacks throughout his entire career, and in Saturday's 29-22 win over the Jets. He finished with ten catches for 170 yards and a pair of touchdowns. His first touchdown, which was a thing of beauty really, came in the second quarter when he burned single coverage in the middle of the field. It ended up going 45 yards for the score to give Houston a 10-point lead. His second score was just as nice, which also proved to be the game-winner in the fourth quarter. Already banged up, he ripped a 50-50 ball out of the air and held on as he came crashing to the turf. After making the ridiculous touchdown reception, Hopkins had to be carried off the field by his teammates. This game made a strong case that he might be the very best overall receiver in the game today, which is saying something with some of the talent that's in the game right now. He's good, he's very good.
Worst:
Dallas Cowboys
This was simple, all the Dallas Cowboys had to do was win a game. That's it. Win this week and you clinch the NFC East title and a playoff spot. I guess it was easier said than done. Dallas got rocked by the Colts, falling to Indy 23-0. This marks the first time that the Cowboys had been shut out in a game since week eleven of the 2003 season. The Colts dominated Dallas on the ground, to the tune of 178 yards. Dallas turned the ball over on downs four out of five times. Amari Cooper, who had his monster 207 yard week last week, wasn't a factor at all. The Cowboys are still in the driver’s seat for the division, but with only one game of separation between them the Eagles and Redskins, they can’t afford another dud like that. They need to get regrouped and get ready to battle next week against Tampa Bay in order to try and clinch a playoff spot.
Best:
Alshon Jeffery, Wide Receiver Philadelphia Eagles
With Carson Wentz hurt with a back injury, Nick Foles was called on again to help keep the Eagles alive in the playoff race. He did that on Sunday in the Eagles 30-23 win over the Rams. Foles didn't do it alone, he got some bigtime help in the form of Alshon Jeffery. Jeffery had gone over 100 yards receiving just once in 2018. Against the Rams, he was the big-play machine the Eagles needed to spark the offense. When the final whistle blew, Jeffery had tallied eight receptions for 160 yards as Philly stunned the Rams in Los Angeles. He looked like a game breaker this week and the Eagles are going to need him to keep doing that if they are going to hope to get back into the postseason and repeat as champs.
Worst:
New England Patriots
When you think of the New England Patriots around this time of year, you think that the Pats are in playoff mode. They're operating at full power and are ready for the playoff push and gunning for the top seed in the AFC race. Again, that's what we're used to seeing from the Pats, because we didn't see that from New England on Sunday. They got nipped by the Steelers, falling 17-10 to Pittsburgh in a game that could have been an early playoff preview. New England matched its season low in points and, somehow, managed to come up empty in three red zone trips. They've lost two in a row and have lost three of their last five games. Also around this time of year, Tom Brady looks like he's already in full playoff mode. Didn't see that late Sunday, as he made a poor decision to heave a prayer in the middle of the fourth quarter leading to a crushing Joe Haden interception. Under coach Bill Belichick, the Patriots are just 3-3 in the postseason and have never reached the Super Bowl when they haven’t had a first-round bye in the postseason. And to make matters worse, New England will finish the year 3-5 on the road for the year.
Best:
Chicago Bears
It's been a long time coming, the Chicago Bears as NFC North Champions, having won their division crown with a 24-17 beating over the Packers on Sunday. And look at what Chicago has done over the last two weeks beating the Rams and Packers. With the win over the Rams two weeks ago, they held Los Angeles to just six points. Then they held the Green Bay offense to one touchdown on Sunday. Oh and they just snapped Aaron Rogers NFL-record streak of passes thrown without an interception. They were all over the field against Green Bay, causing as much havoc as possible. The fact that they've managed to win ten games in that division, and claim the division title no less, says a lot as to how good a team the Bears really have this year. They could be a dangerous team to have to go against in the playoffs this year.
Worst:
Arizona Cardinals
Well the Atlanta Falcons needed to find a team that they could beat up on and feel good about something this season. That team turns out to be the Arizona Cardinals. Atlanta blasted the Cards 40-14, one of those games that a team tries to forget about quickly. Josh Rosen looked bad early, getting picked off twice, one of which was returned for a pick six. Hell Arizona's offensive line looked like garbage most of the day. It wasn't until Rosen was pulled in the 4th in favor of Mike Glennon that the Arizona offense showed any kind of life whatsoever. By the time that move happened, the game was already out of reach, part of which was due to the fact that the Cardinals defense was lit up like a cheap cigar. It's a shocker that the Cards have three wins on the year. They really do stink, and one has to wonder if Steve Wilks will have a job after this horrible dumpster fire of a season.
Best:
Lamar Jackson, Quarterback Baltimore Ravens
Baltimore pulled out a big win this week, beating Tampa Bay 20-12, to keep their playoff hopes alive and well. When you think of this team, you'd think about Joe Flacco being the one to lead the team, but that wasn't the case this week. Flacco was moved to the backup role for the first time in his career. It was a signal from head coach John Harbaugh that the Ravens are coming into a new era. Lamar Jackson got the start and did pretty well for himself in the win. He went 14 of 23 for 181 yards, a touchdown and was sacked twice. He finished with 226 total yards and managed to be able to do this in a rain soaked field. He's been able to really take control of the Ravens offense and has them in a primed spot for a playoff spot. Since he came under center, Baltimore is 4-1 in their last five games and are in the driver seat for snatching a post season spot. Jackson been a big force behind that and, if this is any indication, Baltimore is in good hands for their future.
Worst:
Jared Goff, Quarterback Los Angeles Rams
The Rams got upset by the Eagles on Sunday, falling to Philly 30-23. There was some good and there was some bad about the play off Jared Goff. The good was that he had more pass yards in the league then any other QB this week, throwing for 339 yards. That was the good. Now, here comes the bad. He threw a really bad interception in the first half, then doubled down on the nasty with perhaps one of the worst turnovers you’ll see all year long in the second half. He finished with two picks and didn't throw a touchdown pass. His accuracy wasn't great on the day, not really being able to get the ball to his playmakers in stride. In the last three games, the rams have really looked off. They've lost two of those last three games, with the lone win coming over the bad Detroit Lions. In those three games, Goff has one touchdown and seven picks. That's bad and its coming at the wrong time of the year.
