Brace yourselves. Winter is coming.
For some teams, winter has already arrived.
With the bye weeks already in the past and just four games left in the season, many teams are trying to battle for a playoff spot.
The Lions are suffering through yet another miserable season. The Jaguars are a mix of terrible play and dysfunction that defies description. Both New York teams are awful... again.
But for others, the sun is still shining.
The Chiefs have won six straight games, while the Patriots have won seven straight. The Packers and Cowboys are rolling through their respective divisions. For those teams and others, playoffs are a certainty.
But for others, nothing is certain.
A dozen teams are either 7-6 or 6-7 as the final month is set to be underway in the NFL. Get some wins, and it’s on to the playoffs. Suffer more losses, and they will be watching the ‘yoffs from the couch.
Given the rising stakes, it’s not surprising that Week 14 featured close games, including those that went to overtime in Tampa Bay and Cincinnati. As playoffs are coming closer, we check in on the power rankings again. This time, it starts off in a city where their owner once appeared to retain the worst head coaching hire of last offseason.
Key:
e - Eliminated from playoff contention
#32: e - Jacksonville Jaguars
Week 14 @ TEN: L, 0-20 | Record: 2-11
Previous Rank: #31
Nothing has gone right for the Jaguars this season. Week 14 is another emphasis to that. First came a report from Tom Pelissero of NFL Network that the organization became a dysfunctional mess under Urban Meyer, with the head coach calling his assistants “losers” and himself a “winner,” to the point where Marvin Jones Jr. stormed out of the team’s facility. Then came their shutout loss to the Titans, where Trevor Lawrence threw four interceptions and the Jags rushed for just eight yards after Lawrence repeatedly clashed with Meyer last week about James Robinson’s lack of carries. But it gets worse. When asked about the drama surrounding the team after the game, Meyer handled it about as well as Eric Cartman did when one of his evil plots doesn’t go his way. “What someone’s brother said, or someone said someone said, that will occupy very little of my time,” said Meyer. “And if there is a source, that source is unemployed. I mean, within seconds, if there’s some source that’s doing that.” Meyer may have been fired, but he joins a list of college coaches with a legendary résumé that made the jump to the NFL on a massive contract and flooded the entire organization with a hurricane of toxicity. There have been previous college coaches flopping in the NFL before, such as Bobby Petrino and Nick Saban, but Meyer’s case shaped to be the masterpiece of this. There was serious unrest behind this as Meyer had no indication that he has the ability to turn the Jags franchise around, and it led to Shad Khan realizing that the whole experiment was a total disaster. Lawrence is also being ruined as he was not put in a position to succeed schematically.
Week 15 Projected Starters
QB: Trevor Lawrence
RB: James Robinson
WR: Marvin Jones Jr., Laviska Shenault Jr., Laquon Treadwell
TE: James O’Shaughnessy
OL: Cam Robinson (LT), Andrew Norwell (LG), Brandon Linder (C), Ben Bartch (RG), Jawaan Taylor (RT)
DL: Malcom Brown (LDE), DaVon Hamilton (NT), Dawuane Smoot (RDE)
EDGE: Josh Allen (WLB), Jihad Ward (SLB)
ILB: Damien Wilson (LILB), Myles Jack (RILB)
CB: Tyson Campbell (LCB), Shaquill Griffin (RCB)
S: Rayshawn Jenkins (SS), Andrew Wingard (FS)
ST: Matthew Wright (K), Logan Cooke (P), Ross Matiscik (LS)
RS: Jaydon Mickens
#31: e - Detroit Lions
Week 14 @ DEN: L, 10-38 | Record: 1-11-1
Previous Rank: #30
In Week 13, the Lions stunned the football world by getting their first win of the season against the Vikings. In Week 14, they go back to their losing ways. It wasn’t really unexpected—the Lions rely a lot on the ground game and they were without their top two running backs in D’Andre Swift and Jamaal Williams. And after losing their top tackler in Alex Anzalone to an ankle injury, the defense had no answers for the Broncos’ two-headed monster in the ground attack—the Broncos put up 184 yards on the ground. The offense even struggled to get big plays with Swift, Williams, and TJ Hockenson sidelined with injuries in the 38-10 loss as Jared Goff didn’t complete a pass over 20 yards the entire game. Hockenson also had a season-ending surgery on his left thumb. There’s not much else to say about them. They have close games, and even though effort is not an issue, but with a COVID outbreak leaving an already thin roster even more depleted, the Lions couldn’t keep it close this time. They are the most talent-deficient team in the league, with a lot of weaknesses on both sides of the ball. They were hopeful that Swift comes back, but unfortunately, he’s not, so they’re down to Jermar Jefferson and Craig Reynolds at running back. But at this point in time, the last thing they would want to do is win another game. If they win out, they are out of the top 5 in the Draft. It may be good for internal morale, but bad for a team trying to reload with draft picks. The best-case scenario is that they lose out and lock up the 1st overall pick in the 2022 Draft.
Week 15 Projected Starters
QB: Jared Goff
RB: Craig Reynolds
WR: Amon-Ra St. Brown, Josh Reynolds, Kalif Raymond
TE: Shane Zylstra
OL: Taylor Decker (LT), Tommy Kraemer (LG), Evan Brown (C), Halapoulivaati Vaitai (RG), Penei Sewell (RT)
DL: Michael Brockers (LDE), Alim McNeill (NT), Nick Williams (RDE)
EDGE: Charles Harris (WLB), Austin Bryant (SLB)
ILB: Alex Anzalone (LILB), Jalen Reeves-Maybin (RILB)
CB: Amani Oruwariye (LCB), Ifeatu Melifonwu (RCB)
S: Will Harris (SS), CJ Moore (FS)
ST: Riley Patterson (K), Jack Fox (P), Scott Daly (LS)
RS: Godwin Igwebuike (KR), Kalif Raymond (PR)
#30: e - Houston Texans
Week 14 vs. SEA: L, 13-33 | Record: 2-11
Previous Rank: #32
The Texans are terrible. That they were in the bottom spot in the Week 14 edition of the power rankings speaks to that. Getting pasted by a mediocre Seahawks team does nothing to change that perception. The only good thing they have is that they have four games left in their season. That and Davis Mills doesn’t really look all that terrible as a quarterback against the Seahawks. He has been having a rocky rookie season, which usually happens once you throw a rookie QB to the wolves on a terrible football team. But he actually played well, throwing for 331 yards and the only touchdown the Texans had. That’s not going to stop them from looking at an elite QB prospect with their top 5 pick in the 2022 Draft. Nothing that Mills does between Weeks 15 and 18 will change that. The Texans may have landed themselves a quality backup for the years to come. However, their major limitations on defense were exposed by the Seahawks’ power run and downfield pass. Questions are rising if David Culley will survive the mess for a Year 2. At least Ka’imi Fairbairn hit a 61-yard field goal for the longest field goal in Texans franchise history?
Week 15 Projected Starters
QB: Davis Mills
RB: David Johnson
WR: Brandin Cooks, Nico Collins, Chris Conley
TE: Pharaoh Brown
OL: Geron Christian Sr. (LT), Tytus Howard (LG), Justin Britt (C), Max Scharping (RG), Charlie Heck (RT)
DE: Jacob Martin (LDE), Jordan Jenkins (RDE)
DT: Maliek Collins (LDT), Roy Lopez (RDT)
LB: Eric Wilson (WLB), Neville Hewitt (MLB), Kevin Pierre-Louis (SLB)
CB: Desmond King II (LCB), Lonnie Johnson Jr. (RCB)
S: Eric Murray (SS), Jonathan Owens (FS)
ST: Ka’imi Fairbairn (K), Cameron Johnston (P), Jon Weeks (LS)
RS: Tremon Smith (KR), Desmond King II (PR)
#29: e - New York Jets
Week 14 vs. NO: L, 9-30 | Record: 3-10
Previous Rank: #29
The more things change, the more things stay the same. With another lopsided loss to the Saints, the Jets showed they are a bad football team. This marks their 7th double-digit loss of the season. And keep in mind that this isn’t the Drew Brees-led Saints. Neither is it the Jamies Winston-led Saints. This is a Saints team with Taysom Hill at QB. There are so many issues with the Jets, including a lack of talent, which stands out the most. They don’t have any game-changers on offense, and they are futile without Corey Davis (core surgery), Michael Carter (ankle), and Elijah Moore (leg). This is just making things harder for Zach Wilson, who, like Sam Darnold before him, is becoming hard to evaluate because of no structure. But despite the loss, Robert Saleh is insisting postgame that the team is getting better, even if you don’t see it on the field. “It’s going to flip,” said Saleh. “This crappy part is part of the process, but at the same time, it’s not discouraging by any sense of the imagination because we’ve got a lot of young guys getting a lot of good playing time.” However, the NFL is a results-based business, and there is few and far between. The Jets’ 22nd-ranked offense managed just 256 yards against the Saints. Wilson completed just 19 of 42 passes. And the defense allowed 30 points to a Saints team that lost five in a row. Saleh better start figuring out how to produce those results if he wants to live up to the promise of things “going to flip.” They’re now 11 years into a playoff drought that is showing no signs of it finally breaking.
Week 15 Projected Starters
QB: Zach Wilson
RB: Michael Carter
WR: Keelan Cole, Denzel Mims, Jamison Crowder
TE: Ryan Griffin
OL: Conor McDermott (LT), Alijah Vera-Tucker (LG), Connor McGovern (C), Laurent Duvernay-Tardif (RG), Morgan Moses (RT)
DE: John Franklin-Myers (LDE), Bryce Huff (RDE)
DT: Sheldon Rankins (LDT), Quinnen Williams (RDT)
LB: Del’Shawn Phillips (WLB), CJ Mosley (MLB), Quincy Williams (SLB)
CB: Brandin Echols (LCB), Bryce Hall (RCB)
S: Ashtyn Davis (SS), Elijah Riley (FS)
ST: Eddy Piñeiro (K), Braden Mann (P), Thomas Hennessy (LS)
RS: Braxton Berrios
#28: Carolina Panthers
Week 14 vs. ATL: L, 21-29 | Record: 5-8
Previous Rank: #26
During Cam Newton’s first stint with the Panthers, he had a great deal of success, it was successful, as he led the Panthers to the playoffs four times, being named MVP in the 2015 season and taking his team to Super Bowl 50 that same season. But that was time ago. Now he is an aging and limited QB who is winless as a starter in his second stint with the team. They essentially excused themselves from the playoff picture with their loss to the Falcons which featured three turnovers and extensive playing time for both him and PJ Walker. The fact that Rhule even has Sam Darnold to be back in the mix for who will be under center for the Panthers once he recovers from his shoulder injury speaks to how bad the offense is. They’re very bleak. After starting the season 3-0, the Panthers have lost 8 of their last 10, four of their last five, and three games in a row. With the Bills and two games against the Buccaneers up next, a 10-loss season looks to be very likely. And even so, they may be looking for a new head coach in a month or so. Maybe, just maybe, Joe Brady was not the problem. A once-promising season has now fallen to where one can question Rhule’s effectiveness as an NFL head coach can be called to question.
Week 15 Projected Starters
QB: Cam Newton
RB: Chuba Hubbard
WR: DJ Moore, Robby Anderson, Brandon Zylstra
TE: Ian Thomas
OL: Dennis Daley (LT), Michael Jordan (LG), Pat Elflein (C), John Miller (RG), Taylor Moton (RT)
DE: Brian Burns (LDE), Morgan Fox (RDE)
DT: Bravvion Roy (LDT), DaQuan Jones (RDT)
LB: Shaq Thompson (WLB), Jermaine Carter Jr. (MLB), Haason Reddick (SLB)
CB: CJ Henderson (LCB), Stephon Gilmore (RCB)
S: Juston Burris (SS), Jeremy Chinn (FS)
ST: Lachlan Edwards (K/P), JJ Jansen (LS)
RS: Ameer Abdullah (KR), Alex Erickson (PR)
#27: New York Giants
Week 14 @ LAC: L, 21-37 | Record: 4-9
Previous Rank: #25
The first two seasons of Joe Judge’s tenure with the Giants has been a mess. He has only won 10 of 29 games as their head coach. And it’s hard to find something that they do well at. The offense has not been good with Daniel Jones at quarterback. It’s even worse when Mike Glennon is under center. Then there’s the defense, which has been their strength last season. It’s been average this year. But despite the lack of success, Judge sounded like someone who expects to be the Giants’ head coach next season after the game. “We are making lots of progress going forward,” insisted Judge. “My scope is always the big picture. I look to every week, week to week, but ultimately, my vision goes beyond that. I am looking long-term. ... In terms of the big scope of where we are going, internally, we are seeing a lot of pieces being put together. A lot of things are moving in the right direction and are being solidified.” In his defense, it’s not his fault Jones was hurt or that Kenny Golladay is being paid $18 million to not stay consistently healthy—the latter is on Dave Gettleman. But there has been nothing to show that both Judge and Gettleman can turn the Giants into a contender. This game is further proof of that Justin Herbert and the Chargers torched the Giants defense for 289 yards, 18 first downs, and 24 points in the first half alone. It’s fair to wonder how much of this mess should be blamed towards Judge. While he isn’t getting the results, he also hasn’t been set up for success, either. But it’s time to start thinking about the future and what changes will come. And that starts with letting go of Judge and Gettleman. Another question: Do they pick up Jones’ 5th-year option and commit to him beyond 2023? Do they bring in a veteran QB in the offseason? Or do they use another 1st round pick on a passer?
Week 15 Projected Starters
QB: Mike Glennon
RB: Saquon Barkley
WR: Kenny Golladay, Sterling Shepard, Darius Slayton
TE: Evan Engram
OL: Andrew Thomas (LT), Matt Skura (LG), Billy Price (C), Will Hernandez (RG), Nate Solder (RT)
DL: Dexter Lawrence (LDE), Austin Johnson (NT), Leonard Williams (RDE)
EDGE: Lorenzo Carter (WLB), Azeez Ojulari (SLB)
ILB: Tae Crowder (LILB), Reggie Ragland (RILB)
CB: James Bradberry (LCB), Keion Crossen (RCB)
S: Xavier McKinney (SS), Logan Ryan (FS)
ST: Graham Gano (K), Riley Dixon (P), Casey Kreiter (LS)
RS: Pharaoh Cooper
#26: Chicago Bears
Week 14 @ GB: L, 30-45 | Record: 4-9
Previous Rank: #28
In many football fans’ opinions, we are in the final month of the Matt Nagy era in the Windy City. The Bears stayed in the game against the rival Packers for one half. But a 2nd half showing from the Packers in which they had 24 unanswered points resulted in an end result too familiar for the Bears with Nagy as their coach: A loss. While Nagy commented at halftime, “I’m having so much fun,” when the Bears led 27-24, it was the internet that had so much fun after the game. It’s these in-game quotes from coaches who know that they will not be back after the season. For all the struggles the Bears have had this season, Nagy is still actually three games above .500 in the regular season as the head coach of the Bears. In two of the last three seasons, the Bears made the playoffs, including the 2018 season when the Bears went 12-4 and Nagy won Coach of the Year. But in the last two seasons, they went 12-17, and there were more than a few questionable play calls and game plans. Nagy tried to enjoy the moment in the head coaching job because he won’t be in there for much longer. Simply put, the Bears are one mess of an organization. And they need to find a head coach that can properly develop Justin Fields in the way Nagy could not do with Mitch Trubisky.
Week 15 Projected Starters
QB: Justin Fields
RB: David Montgomery
WR: Darnell Mooney, Damiere Byrd, Jakeem Grant
TE: Cole Kmet
OL: Teven Jenkins (LT), Cody Whitehair (LG), Sam Mustipher (C), James Daniels (RG), Germain Ifedi (RT)
DL: Akiem Hicks (LDE), Eddie Goldman (NT), Bilal Nichols (RDE)
EDGE: Bruce Irvin (WLB), Robert Quinn (SLB)
ILB: Roquan Smith (LILB), Alec Ogletree (RILB)
CB: Thomas Graham Jr. (LCB), Kindle Vildor (RCB)
S: Teez Tabor (SS), Deon Bush FS)
ST: Cairo Santos (K), Pat O’Donnell (P), Patrick Scales (LS)
RS: Jakeem Grant
#25: Las Vegas Raiders
Week 14 @ KC: L, 9-48 | Record: 6-7
Previous Rank: #20
Before their game with the Chiefs, the Raiders gathered as a team at the midfield logo for some metaphorical stomping. But it was the Chiefs who did the stomping during the game. That is not a metaphor. It took just one play from scrimmage to know that things would not go well for the Raiders—a Josh Jacobs fumble returned for a Chiefs touchdown is an accurate summary of this game. They fell behind 35-0 in the first half on the way to a 48-9 loss that stood as the worst defeat in the history of the 62-year rivalry. Rich Bisaccia’s postgame press conference showed how further downhill things went. “I don’t have a lot of words for it,” said Bisaccia. “It started with a fumble recovery the first play of the game. As it went on, we missed more and more tackles. We had more dropped passes. Penalties on defense, gave up explosive plays. Struggled to protect the quarterback. Struggled to run the football. And on top of that, missed a PAT.” After a 5-2 start to take first place in the AFC West briefly, they have now lost five of their last six to drop to below .500 for the first time this season. With their last four games against teams with winning records, their playoff hopes are fading fast. This shows yet another December collapse, and it could very much lead to sweeping changes. The roster has so many holes, and even though the reality should be enough to get any necessary urgency, they are looking like a team that just wants to go home. They tried to duct-tape everything after Jon Gruden’s firing, but losing key players and a murky offensive identity with Derek Carr is what led to this.
Week 15 Projected Starters
QB: Derek Carr
RB: Josh Jacobs
WR: Hunter Renfrow, Bryan Edwards, Zay Jones
TE: Foster Moreau
OL: Kolton Miller (LT), John Simpson (LG), Andre James (C), Alex Leatherwood (RG), Brandon Parker (RT)
DE: Maxx Crosby (LDE), Yannick Ngakoue (RDE)
DT: Johnathan Hankins (LDT), Quinton Jefferson (RDT)
LB: Cory Littleton (WLB), Will Compton (MLB), KJ Wright (SLB)
CB: Desmond Trufant (LCB), Casey Hayward Jr. (RCB)
S: Johnathan Abram (SS), Tre’von Moehrig (FS)
ST: Daniel Carlson (K), AJ Cole III (P), Carson Tinker (LS)
RS: Peyton Barber (KR), Hunter Renfrow (PR)
#24: Atlanta Falcons
Week 14 @ CAR: W, 29-21 | Record: 6-7
Previous Rank: #27
The Falcons’ trip to Charlotte marked their 7th road game of the season for the Falcons. They have won five games on the road while winning just once in six games at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. And now, they are, almost impossibly, alive in the NFC playoff race. They forced three Panthers turnovers, including a huge Mykal Walker pick six of Cam Newton, on the way to a 29-21 win. A 5-2 record on the road would normally be a path to the playoffs, but a 1-5 record at home is holding them back. They won this game because they combined these turnovers with a strong ground game—they went over 100 yards on the ground for the third straight week, with Mike Davis finally looking like the running back the Falcons thought they were getting when they saw him putting up solid numbers in the absence of Christian McCaffrey last season with the Panthers. Walker told reporters that if the Falcons were going to make a late push for the playoffs, they have to figure out a way to win at home. “For me personally, I don’t see any difference between playing on the road or at home,” said Walker. “But now we’ve got to make the home field a home-field advantage. For us, we know what we’ve got to do now—and that’s go 4-0 the rest of the way.” At 6-7, the Falcons are 10th in the NFC but have the same record as 7th-seeded Washington. They have a 12% chance to make the playoffs, but they’re not good enough to be truly competitive, neither are they bad enough to be in contention for a top draft pick. Winning out and making the playoffs is more than a dream than a reality, and two of their last four games are against teams that are presently in a playoff spot—they face the 49ers in Week 15 and the Bills in Week 17. Although both games are on the road, they’ll likely head into the offseason with the same questions on who will be their starting QB plaguing them, but now with fewer good answers to solve it.
Week 15 Projected Starters
QB: Matt Ryan
RB: Cordarrelle Patterson
WR: Russell Gage, Tajae Sharpe, Olamide Zaccheaus
TE: Kyle Pitts
OL: Jake Matthews (LT), Jalen Mayfield (LG), Matt Hennessy (C), Chris Lindstrom (RG), Kaleb McGary (RT)
DL: Mike Pennel (LDE), Tyeler Davison (NT), Grady Jarrett (RDT)
EDGE: Steven Means (WLB), Dante Fowler Jr. (SLB)
ILB: Deion Jones (LILB), Foyesade Oluokun (RILB)
CB: AJ Terrell (LCB), Fabian Moreau (RCB)
S: Duron Harmon (SS), Jaylinn Hawkins (FS)
ST: Younghoe Koo (K), Thomas Morstead (P), Josh Harris (LS)
RS: Avery Williams
#23: New Orleans Saints
Week 14 @ NYJ: W, 30-9 | Record: 6-7
Previous Rank: #23
After Week 14, there are five teams fighting for the 7th seed in the NFC at 6-7. The Saints sit last in that order. But even after losing five straight games, any win is a good win, even if it is against the lowly Jets. The Saints ran away with this game and didn’t look back, piling up 203 yards on the ground while giving up just 256 total yards to the Jets. Few players are as important to their team as Alvin Kamara is to the Saints. He returned from his four-game absence and rushed for 120 yards and a touchdown. He’s basically the only real firepower to an offense that lacks proven playmakers when they’re without Michael Thomas and Jameis Winston, forced to rely on Taysom Hill, a quarterback who isn’t a natural quarterback. Hill didn’t look all that great against the Jets, and it was a surprise for how long it took his rushing ability to be shown in this game. After the game, Hill spoke about the importance of this game with reporters. “This has been a tough stretch for this team,” said Hill. “It’s been a foreign thing, losing so many games. ... It’s nice to get this win.” But things get harder from here. They play the Buccaneers in Week 15 in a game that is very close to must-win. But if they can find a way to upset the defending Super Bowl champions a second time, three games (and an outside chance of the playoffs) against teams with losing record are all what follow up. They will need Hill’s dual-threat ability if they want to survive.
Week 15 Projected Starters
QB: Taysom Hill
RB: Alvin Kamara
WR: Marquez Callaway, Tre’Quan Smith, Ty Montgomery
TE: Nick Vannett
OL: James Hurst (LT), Calvin Throckmorton (LG), Erik McCoy (C), Cesar Ruiz (RG), Jordan Mills (RT)
DE: Cameron Jordan (LDE), Marcus Davenport (RDE)
DT: David Onyemata (LDT), Shy Tuttle (RDT)
LB: Kwon Alexander (WLB), Demario Davis (MLB), Zack Baun (SLB)
CB: Paulson Adebo (LCB), Marshon Lattimore (RCB)
S: Malcolm Jenkins (SS), Marcus Williams (FS)
ST: Brett Maher (K), Blake Gillikin (P), Zach Wood (LS)
RS: Marquez Callaway
#22: Seattle Seahawks
Week 14 @ HOU: W, 33-13 | Record: 5-8
Previous Rank: #24
Nothing that happened during the Seahawks’ 33-13 win in Houston is going to “fix” an incredibly disappointing 2021 season for the Seahawks. But there were at least some positives. Russell Wilson had his best game in weeks, throwing for 260 yards and two touchdowns. Former 1st round pick Rashaad Penny, who basically became a forgotten man in Seattle as injuries stunned his growth, got the struggling ground game going, rushing for 137 yards and two scores, from 32 and 47 yards out, in just 16 carries, doing this despite the return of Alex Collins. Tyler Lockett joined Steve Largent as the only receivers in Seahawks history to total 1,000 yards in three straight seasons. Pete Carroll praised Lockett’s performance in his postgame press conference. “This was another masterpiece today of just body control, getting open, using the sideline, the balls that Russ threw to him,” said Carroll. “Just such a graceful, beautiful athlete. I was thinking about Lance Alworth was the guy back in the day that used to be … so graceful. Tyler just looked unbelievable on it and did a great job.” When there are even just a minimal amount of bright spots, you take them where you get them. Maybe this could be some momentum for the Seahawks to recover from their horrendous start? They found a groove as of late, and they have an experience advantage over other teams. Maybe there is a slight glimmer of hope for them in the NFC playoff race?
Week 15 Projected Starters
QB: Russell Wilson
RB: Rashaad Penny
WR: DK Metcalf, Dee Eskridge, Freddie Swain
TE: Gerald Everett
OL: Duane Brown (LT), Damien Lewis (LG), Ethan Pocic (C), Gabe Jackson (RG), Jake Curhan (RT)
DE: Rasheem Green (LDE), Carlos Dunlap II (RDE)
DT: Poona Ford (LDT), Al Woods (RDT)
LB: Jordyn Brooks (WLB), Bobby Wagner (MLB), Benson Mayowa (SLB)
CB: Bless Austin (LCB), Sidney Jones IV (RCB)
S: Ryan Neal (SS), Quandre Diggs (FS)
ST: Jason Myers (K), Michael Dickson (P), Tyler Ott (LS)
RS: DeeJay Dallas (KR), Freddie Swain (PR)
#21: Philadelphia Eagles
Week 14 Bye | Record: 6-7
Previous Rank: #22
The Eagles have a history of backup quarterbacks taking the team to playoff runs, including Nick Foles’ miraculous run to winning Super Bowl LII. Gardner Minshew’s excellent outing against the Jets drew national attention, but even though that happened, the identity of the Eagles’ offense is still their rushing attack. They ran for at least 180 yards in four straight games, the longest such streak by the Eagles since at least 1950. It’s also the longest such streak the NFL has had since the Lamar Jackson-led Ravens attack in 2018. Jackson’s early career arc is something the Eagles are trying to accomplish with Jalen Hurts, another fast dual-threat QB whose passing abilities can use some fixing. Nick Sirianni even made it clear to reporters that Hurts will remain the starting QB. “He’s played good football. He’s played really good football,” said Sirianni. “There’s been times where he’s been one of the best in the league with the way he’s moved around and made plays. We look at the quarterback rating and what he’s had there, so he’s played really good football when he’s in. So when he’s healthy and he’s back, he’ll be our starter.” While there is no guarantee that Hurts will be the long-term answer at QB for the Eagles, from how Minshew played in his time in Jacksonville, he is more of as a backup than a starter. The Eagles made the right choice in riding with Hurts as they want to go on with the ground-and-pound offense they thrived with throughout the season. It should go in their favor should they play well in a closing stretch entirely within the NFC East.
Week 15 Projected Starters
QB: Jalen Hurts
RB: Miles Sanders
WR: DeVonta Smith, Quez Watkins, Jalen Reagor
TE: Dallas Goedert
OL: Jordan Mailata (LT), Sua Opeta (LG), Jason Kelce (C), Nate Herbig (RG), Lane Johnson (RT)
DE: Josh Sweat (LDE), Derek Barnett (RDE)
DT: Javon Hargrave (LDT), Fletcher Cox (RDT)
LB: Alex Singleton (WLB), TJ Edwards (MLB), Genard Avery (SLB)
CB: Darius Slay Jr. (LCB), Avonte Maddox (RCB)
S: K’Von Wallace (SS), Anthony Harris (FS)
ST: Jake Elliott (K), Arryn Siposs (P), Rick Lovato (FS)
RS: Jalen Reagor
#20: Denver Broncos
Week 14 vs. DET: W, 38-10 | Record: 7-6
Previous Rank: #21
The Broncos spent just one week below .500 all season long. After blowing out the one-win Lions in Week 14, they are one of five 7-6 teams fighting for two playoff spots in the AFC. They took the field on offense for the first time with just 10 men, a nod of respect and recognition for the late Demaryius Thomas, the longtime Bronco who suddenly died at the age of 33. They went on to put up together one of the most complete efforts of the season in their 38-10 stomping. The key to the success was the 184 rushing yards combined from Melvin Gordon III and Javonte Williams, along with four touchdowns. It’s the kind of attack Vic Fangio would love to replicate on a weekly basis. Fangio even said to reporters postgame that if the Broncos were to make a late playoff push, they’ll have to rely on the ball carriers. “Our two backs are really, really good,” said Fangio. “I love them both, I’m glad we have them both. … We have a good commitment to the run game. And we need to have that, especially this time of year. If you can run it, you can build a lot of things off of it.” While they do have an outside shot at making the playoffs, it may not be likely. But they are good at running the ball and have a solid defense. Not every opponent will be like the Lions, but the Broncos could at least play spoiler to some teams down the stretch, and that’s especially true considering their next three opponents—the Bengals, Raiders, and Chargers—are all in contention for a playoff spot.
Week 15 Projected Starters
QB: Teddy Bridgewater
RB: Melvin Gordon III
WR: Courtland Sutton, Jerry Jeudy, Tim Patrick
TE: Noah Fant
OL: Garett Bolles (LT), Dalton Risner (LG), Lloyd Cushenberry III (C), Quinn Meinerz (RG), Bobby Massie (RT)
DL: Shelby Harris (LDL), Mike Purcell (RDL)
EDGE: Bradley Chubb (WLB), Stephen Weatherly (SLB)
ILB: Micah Kiser (LILB), Baron Browning (RILB)
CB: Ronald Darby (LCB), Pat Surtain II (RCB), Bryce Callahan (NB)
S: Kareem Jackson (SS), Justin Simmons (FS)
ST: Brandon McManus (K), Sam Martin (P), Jacob Bobenmoyer (LS)
RS: Diontae Spencer
#19: Washington Football Team
Week 14 vs. DAL: L, 20-27 | Record: 6-7
Previous Rank: #15
If the season ended today, Washington would be in the playoffs for the second year in a row. However, they had their winning streak snapped against the Cowboys. Taylor Heinicke has had his moments this season, but Washington’s offense looks often mediocre when he doesn’t have a run game to rely on. With Antonio Gibson and the rushing game neutralized by the Cowboys’ front seven, Heinicke couldn’t move the offense before leaving the game with a knee injury. It didn’t help matters that Terry McLaurin also left with a concussion and Tyler Larsen left with an Achilles injury. These injuries, along with a COVID outbreak within the team that led to the postponement of their Week 15 game with the Eagles to Tuesday. With the Cowboys now up by three games to go with a head-to-head win, the NFC East race is effectively decided now. And the injuries and the COVID outbreak can be an even bigger problem for them. They have just one game left against a team with a winning record, and that is a rematch with the Cowboys in Week 16, but along with the Week 15 game against the Eagles, they also have another game against them. Their margin for error is essentially at zero.
Week 15 Projected Starters
QB: Garrett Gilbert
RB: Antonio Gibson
WR: Terry McLaurin, DeAndre Carter, Adam Humphries
TE: Ricky Seals-Jones
OL: Charles Leno Jr. (LT), Ereck Flowers (LG), Keith Ismael (C), Saahdiq Charles (RG), Sam Cosmi (RT)
DE: James Smith-Williams (LDE), Montez Sweat (RDE)
DT: Da’Ron Payne (LDT), Jonathan Allen (RDT)
LB: Cole Holcomb (WLB), Jamin Davis (MLB), Landon Collins (SLB)
CB: Darryl Roberts (LCB), William Jackson III (RCB)
S: Deshazor Everett (SS), Bobby McCain (FS)
ST: Brian Johnson (K), Tress Way (P), Camaron Cheeseman (LS)
RS: DeAndre Carter
#18: Pittsburgh Steelers
Week 14 @ MIN: L, 28-36 | Record: 6-6-1
Previous Rank: #16
The Steelers are a dead man walking. Yet they don’t even know that. They take all the hits, appear that they are no longer among those who are alive, yet they still keep coming. They almost made the largest regular season comeback in NFL history, having trailed 29-0 in the 3rd quarter against the Vikings, but the potential game-tying touchdown went off the fingertips of Pat Freiermuth as time expired. Mike Tomlin didn’t hold back about the team’s performance—especially after getting dominated in the first half. “We were JV again tonight, and I’m talking up front on both sides,” he said. “We’ve got to be better than we were. We’ll turn over every stone to do that. We’ve got a long week coming up between this and our next one. We’ll make good use of that time and assess not only what we’re doing, but who we’re doing it with.” The final score of the game doesn’t show the whole story: Dalvin Cook exposed the Steelers’ terrible run defense, running through gaping holes and rushing for 205 yards and two touchdowns on 27 carries. The O-line is even worse: Ben Roethlisberger was lasted multiple times by blitzers who was untouched. While there was a part of the coach that had admiration for an obviously flawed team that refused to show any quit, at 6-6-1, there still remains a path for the Steelers to go to the playoffs. However, their remaining schedule is filled with teams all in contention for a playoff spot, so it’s becoming increasingly likely that Tomlin will have his first losing season of his career.
Week 15 Projected Starters
QB: Ben Roethlisberger
RB: Najee Harris
WR: Diontae Johnson, Chase Claypool, Ray-Ray McCloud
TE: Pat Freiermuth
OL: Dan Moore Jr. (LT), Joe Haeg (LG), Kendrick Green (C), Trai Turner (RG), Chukwuma Okorafor (RT)
DL: Chris Wormley (LDL), Cameron Heyward (RDL)
EDGE: TJ Watt (WLB), Alex Highsmith (SLB)
ILB: Devin Bush Jr. (LILB), Joe Schobert (RILB)
CB: Joe Haden (LCB), Cam Sutton (RCB), Tre Norwood (NB)
S: Terrell Edmunds (SS), Minkah Fitzpatrick (FS)
ST: Chris Boswell (K), Pressley Harvin III (P), Christian Kuntz (LS)
RS: Ray-Ray McCloud
#17: Cleveland Browns
Week 14 vs. BAL: W, 24-22 | Record: 7-6
Previous Rank: #18
There is life in Cleveland. After losing to the Ravens two weeks ago they spent their bye week thinking about the loss. If the first half of that game was any indication, they didn’t care at all. At halftime of the rematch, they were crushing the Ravens 24-6. But it got terrifying as the game went on. Although they were facing a Ravens team led by backup quarterback Tyler Huntley, they let them back into the game. The Browns didn’t score another point after halftime and allowed a pair of 4th quarter touchdowns. They nearly blew a 21-point led largely because the offense is still stuck in mud with Baker Mayfield under center, even when he told reporters that his banged up body was feeling better after the bye. They managed less than 300 yards of offense in the game. But it was the defense that got the last stop in the end to avoid disaster and put them in a position to possibly win the AFC North. More problems persist: Kareem Hunt is now week-to-week after hurting his ankle in the first half, plus there is a COVID outbreak within the team severe enough to postpone their Week 15 match to Monday. Considering the logjam in the AFC, they can easily go from disappointment to playoff contender if they show up within the next four weeks. All they have to do is stay afloat.
Week 15 Projected Starters
QB: Nick Mullens
RB: Nick Chubb
WR: Donovan Peoples-Jones, Anthony Schwartz, Rashard Higgins
TE: David Njoku
OL: Alex Taylor (LT), Joel Bitonio (LG), JC Tretter (C), Wyatt Teller (RG), Blake Hance (RT)
DE: Myles Garrett (LDE), Takk McKinley (RDE)
DT: Malik Jackson (LDT), Jordan Elliott (RDT)
LB: Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (WLB), Anthony Walker Jr. (MLB), Sione Takitaki (SLB)
CB: Denzel Ward (LCB), Greedy Williams (RCB)
S: John Johnson III (SS), MJ Stewart Jr. (FS)
ST: Chase McLaughlin (K), Dustin Colquitt (P), Charley Hughlett (LS)
RS: Demetric Felton
#16: Minnesota Vikings
Week 14 vs. PIT: W, 36-28 | Record: 6-7
Previous Rank: #19
The Vikings played arguably their most dominant half of the season against the Steelers in the first half of their Week 14 match. Then they let them back into the game after taking a 29-0 3rd quarter lead, somehow ending up with yet another game that came down to the final snap. which speaks to the problems they have had all season long. Dalvin Cook gashed the Steelers for over 200 rushing yards, but Kirk Cousins completed less than half of his passes. The Vikings shut out the Steelers in the first half, but allowed touchdowns on three straight drives in the second half. And so, we get to three of the biggest mysteries in the world: What happened to Malaysian Airlines Flight 370? Where is the Lost City of Atlantis? Why can’t the Vikings be normal? These questions are complicated and have no true answer. Credit the Vikings’ defense for forcing the incompletion on the potential game-tying touchdown, but it’s very obvious that Mike Zimmer’s team is affected by the simple fact that they always let opponents back into games. It’s part of their DNA. “That team that played in the first half could probably beat anybody,” said Zimmer. “That team that played in the second half could probably get beat by anybody.” And he's not wrong. Anthony Barr told reporters after the game that all the close games are mentally exhausting, but he’s also happy to be on the right side after the Week 13 embarrassment to the Lions. “It is frustrating having to come down to the last second,” said Barr. “It’s taken a few years of my life this season, but it’s good to be on this side of a close one.” They have a shot at getting back to .500 in Week 15 against the Bears, but they have the Rams and Packers on their schedule after that, so making a playoff push are equally difficult and unlikely.
Week 15 Projected Starters
QB: Kirk Cousins
RB: Dalvin Cook
WR: Justin Jefferson, Adam Thielen, KJ Osborn
TE: Tyler Conklin
OL: Christian Darrisaw (LT), Ezra Cleveland (LG), Garrett Bradbury (C), Oli Udoh (RG), Brian O’Neill (RT)
DE: DJ Wonnum (LDE), Patrick Jones II (RDE)
DT: Michael Pierce (LDT), Dalvin Tomlinson (RDT)
LB: Nick Vigil (WLB), Eric Kendricks (MLB), Anthony Barr (SLB)
CB: Patrick Peterson (LCB), Cameron Dantzler (RCB)
S: Harrison Smith (SS), Xavier Woods (FS)
ST: Greg Joseph (K), Jordan Berry (P), Andrew DePaola (LS)
RS: Kene Nwangwu (KR), KJ Osborn (PR)
#15: Miami Dolphins
Week 14 Bye | Record: 6-7
Previous Rank: #17
Heading into November, the Dolphins were in a seven-game losing streak. A top five draft pick (which belongs to the Eagles as part of the Jaylen Waddle trade) looked more likely than a playoff ticket. But the Dolphins didn’t collapse. After beating the lowly Texans, they stunned the Ravens, and followed it up with wins over the Jets, Panthers, and Giants. They are just one game under .500 and are the first team since the 1994 Giants to follow a seven-game losing streak with five consecutive wins. Their defense, which has been awful early on, has considerably tightened up. Waddle is now Tua Tagovailoa’s favorite target in the passing attack. His rookie season has been under the radar, but he needs 16 receptions in the last four games to break Anquan Boldin’s all-time rookie reception record (101 in 2003). Waddle already has six games with eight receptions or more this season, tied with Odell Beckham Jr. in 2014 for the most by a rookie since at least 1950. With just four games left, the Dolphins have a real shot at a second straight 10-win season. The ’94 Giants actually won the final six games of their season to finish 9-7, even entering the final week of the season with a chance at the playoffs before just falling short. Given how many teams are ahead of the Fins in the AFC this season, making the playoffs is not going to be easy. But since the conference is filled with underachievers, it leaves the door wide open for one or two teams to rise up in the conference. Eight teams currently have six or seven wins, but none of the AFC teams have 10 wins yet. The Dolphins are positioned for a late playoff push despite currently being under .500.
Week 15 Projected Starters
QB: Tua Tagovailoa
RB: Myles Gaskin
WR: DeVante Parker, Mack Hollins, Albert Wilson
TE: Mike Gesicki
OL: Liam Eichenberg (LT), Austin Jackson (LG), Michael Deiter (C), Robert Hunt (RG), Jesse Davis (RT)
DL: Emmanuel Ogbah (LDL), Christian Wilkins (RDL)
EDGE: Andrew Van Ginkel (WLB), Jaelan Phillips (SLB)
ILB: Elandon Roberts (LILB), Jerome Baker (RILB)
CB: Xavien Howard (LCB), Byron Jones (RCB), Justin Coleman (NB)
S: Eric Rowe (SS), Sheldrick Redwine (FS)
ST: Jason Sanders (K), Michael Palardy (P), Blake Ferguson (LS)
RS: Noah Igbinoghene (KR), Tommylee Lewis (PR)
#14: Cincinnati Bengals
Week 14 vs. SF: L, 23-26 (OT) | Record: 7-6
Previous Rank: #13
The Bengals are no longer a doormat for the entire league to walk on and now a fun team to watch with potential. But it seems they continue to elude the next step in which they consistently become a winning team. Back in Week 7, they blasted the rival Ravens to take control of first place in the AFC North. They appeared to take a step forward in Joe Burrow’s sophomore season. But ever since, they’ve struggled. They blew out the Steelers in Week 12, but that was just one of two wins in their last six games. They forced overtime against the 49ers in Week 14, rallying from down 14, only to have the defense fall apart and allow a game-winning touchdown to fall to 9th in the AFC. It was not helping that the Niners used a lot of light boxes to limit Bengals running backs to 3.1 yards per carry during the game. Zac Taylor is left to answer questions to his conservative play calling once Burrow and the pass attack got into field goal range in overtime. Ja’Marr Chase was asked the same question, and his answer was very telling: “Shoot. Good question, man. Good question,” he said. Sam Hubbard even said that the Bengals are their own worst enemies these past six games. “Can’t beat yourself,” said Hubbard. "Can’t make the mistakes we have been making the last few weeks and win games.” Even if they’re 9th in the AFC, they’re just a game behind the Ravens in a tightly packed division, but beginning with their Week 15 match with the Broncos, they don’t play a team with a losing record the rest of the way, including trips to Cleveland and Denver, who are both top 10 in defensive snaps featuring boxes of six defenders or less, per TruMedia. Playoffs are not going to be easy.
Week 15 Projected Starters
QB: Joe Burrow
RB: Joe Mixon
WR: Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, Tyler Boyd
TE: CJ Uzomah
OL: Jonah Williams (LT), Quinton Spain (LG), Trey Hopkins (C), Hakeem Adeniji (RG), Fred Johnson (RT)
DE: Sam Hubbard (LDE), Trey Hendrickson (RDE)
DT: DJ Reader (LDT), Larry Ogunjobi (RDT)
LB: Germaine Pratt (LILB), Markus Bialey (RILB)
CB: Trae Waynes (LCB), Eli Apple (RCB), Mike Hilton (NB)
S: Vonn Bell (SS), Jessie Bates III (FS)
ST: Evan McPherson (K), Kevin Huber (P), Clark Harris (LS)
RS: Stanley Morgan (KR), Tyler Boyd (PR)
#13: Baltimore Ravens
Week 14 @ CLE: L, 22-24 | Record: 8-5
Previous Rank: #9
It’s panic time in Baltimore. It’s not because they lost to the Browns. Losses do happen, and even so, they’re still at the top of the AFC North. But they lost Lamar Jackson due to injury. And even though Tyler Huntley nearly led the Ravens to a win over the Browns, there are no moral victories in the NFL, especially in December. John Harbaugh told reporters that Jackson avoided a high ankle sprain and is hopeful that he will play in Week 15 against the Packers. However, he also said they are ready to move forward with Huntley if necessary. “Tyler showed a lot of grit, and I felt like the whole team did that,” said Harbaugh. “That’s who we are and that’s why we have a chance to still win a championship in the AFC North and go on from there. That’s what we’ll be fighting to do in the next four weeks.” Huntley played well against the Browns and led the Ravens to a win over the Bears in Week 11, but if Jackson is out for an extended time, the Ravens’ chances of a deep run are out of the question, and playoffs, in general, are a tall task given the grueling schedule. Jackson’s presence is a necessity as the Ravens are trying to patch up an offense that has been struggling for weeks, and it’s fair to wonder if he can attack defenses with his legs if his ankle is hurt. They’ve been able to survive because of his brilliance, but there couldn’t be a worse time for him to get hurt. They’re 3-4 in their last seven games, and have the Packers, Bengals, Rams, and Steelers to close out the season. They have outscored their opponents by just 20 points all season. Given that all AFC North teams do not presently have a losing record, their division title chances could be in jeopardy.
Week 15 Projected Starters
QB: Tyler Huntley
RB: Devonta Freeman
WR: Marquise Brown, Devin Duvernay, Rashod Bateman
TE: Mark Andrews
OL: Alejandro Villanueva (LT), Ben Cleveland (LG), Bradley Bozeman (C), Kevin Zeitler (RG), Tyre Phillips (RT)
DL: Justin Madubuike (LDE), Brandon Williams (NT), Broderick Washington (RDE)
EDGE: Tyus Bowser (WLB), Justin Houston (SLB)
ILB: Josh Bynes (LILB), Patrick Queen (RILB)
CB: Anthony Averett (LCB), Tavon Young (RCB)
S: Anthony Levine Sr. (SS), Brandon Stephens (FS)
ST: Justin Tucker (K), Sam Koch (P), Nick Moore (LS)
RS: Devin Duvernay
#12: San Francisco 49ers
Week 14 @ CIN: W, 26-23 (OT) | Record: 7-6
Previous Rank: #14
After losing to the Colts in Week 7, the 49ers were an injury-plagued 2-4 team that was headed to nowhere. Fast forward to now, and things are a much different story. After beating the Bengals in overtime, the Niners are 5-2 in their last seven games and are in the playoff hunt in the NFC. The hero of the game was George Kittle, who hauled in 13 out of a jaw-dropping 15 targets for 151 yards and one touchdown, becoming the first tight end in NFL history to put up 150+ receiving yards and a touchdown in back-to-back games. Jimmy Garoppolo connected with Brandon Aiyuk for the game-winning touchdown pass that put them in playoff position with just four games left to play, but Kittle remains the Niners’ most valuable asset. When he’s on the lineup, the Niners can beat anyone. When he’s out of the lineup, they’re mortal. Overall, the rest of the season for the Niners is a tale of opposites—they have easy home games against the Falcons and Texans and challenges on the road against the Rams and Titans.
Week 15 Projected Starters
QB: Jimmy Garoppolo
RB: Jeff Wilson Jr.
WR: Deebo Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk, Jauan Jennings
TE: George Kittle
OL: Trent Williams (LT), Laken Tomlinson (LG), Alex Mack (C), Daniel Brunskill (RG), Tom Compton (RT)
DE: Arik Armstead (LDE), Nick Bosa (RDE)
DT: Kentavius Street (LDT), DJ Jones (RDT)
LB: Marcell Harris (LILB), Fred Warner (RILB)
CB: Deommodore Lenoir (LCB), Josh Norman (RCB), K’Waun Williams (NB)
S: Jaquiski Tartt (SS), Jimmie Ward (FS)
ST: Robbie Gould (K), Mitch Wishnowsky (P), Taybor Pepper (LS)
RS: Trenton Cannon (KR), Brandon Aiyuk (PR)
#11: Buffalo Bills
Week 14 @ TB: L, 27-33 (OT) | Record: 7-6
Previous Rank: #8
Earlier in the season, the Bills looked like they were one of the top contenders to be the top seed in the AFC. Now, after losing in overtime to the Buccaneers, they are 7-6 and are in danger of missing the playoffs altogether. They gave the defending Super Bowl champions all they can handle in the second half, but they were blasted 24-3 in the first half. Josh Allen, however, reminded everyone that the Bills are not devoid of hope with the comeback attempt, becoming only the 4th quarterback in NFL history to pass for 300 yards and run for over 100 yards in the same game. Unfortunately, the Bills faltered on both sides of the ball in overtime. While he suffered a foot injury during the game, he told reporters after the game that he was fine. “Finished the game. I don’t think it’s going to be a big deal,” he said. “It’s pretty sore. It’s football.” It’s not supposed to be possible that the team with the second-best scoring margin in the NFL have a 7-6 record, but the Bills found a way to do it. On one side, it suggests they are better than their record, but on the other hand, it shows they had very few impressive wins against quality opponents. Unless they beat the Patriots in Week 16, this is not their year.
Week 15 Projected Starters
QB: Josh Allen
RB: Devin Singletary
WR: Stefon Diggs, Gabriel Davis, Cole Beasley
TE: Dawson Knox
OL: Spencer Brown (LT), Ike Boettger (LG), Mitch Morse (C), Cody Ford (RG), Daryl Williams (RT)
DE: Gregory Rousseau (LDE), Jerry Hughes (RDE)
DT: Star Lotulelei (LDT), Ed Oliver (RDT)
LB: Matt Milano (WLB), Tremaine Edmunds (MLB), AJ Klein (SLB)
CB: Taron Johnson (LCB), Levi Wallace (RCB)
S: Jordan Poyer (SS), Micah Hyde (FS)
ST: Tyler Bass (K), Matt Haack (P), Reid Ferguson (LS)
RS: Isaiah McKenzie
#10: Indianapolis Colts
Week 14 Bye | Record: 7-6
Previous Rank: #12
If the season ended today, the Colts would be the 6th seed in the AFC, which is impressive considering they opened the season with three consecutive losses. Ever since their 1-4 start, it has been a very different story—they are the team nobody wants to play. With Derrick Henry out, Jonathan Taylor became the league’s best active running back. Carson Wentz rebounded from his sluggish and injury-marred start to his time with the Colts and is playing well. They have one of the best offensive lines in the league. A defense led by DeForest Buckner and Darius Leonard entered Week 14 leading the league with 29 takeaways. They have had the advantage of a late bye and have everything in front of them, including back-to-back games against the Patriots and Cardinals. Those two teams have a combined record of 19-7, and they have a chance to become a legitimate playoff contender in their most crucial two-week stretch of the season. There was a lot talked about their poor record against quality teams, but their last three losses to quality teams—the Ravens, Titans, and Buccaneers—were all games where they led or were tied in the 4th quarter. It’s put up or shut up time for the Colts now. They have that two-week span, and their Week 17 match with the Raiders isn’t exactly a breeze. But they still have a realistic shot at the playoffs in the crowded AFC—they just need to win at least two of those three games. If they can close out games, the sky is the limit.
Week 15 Projected Starters
QB: Carson Wentz
RB: Jonathan Taylor
WR: Michael Pittman Jr., TY Hilton, Zach Pascal
TE: Jack Doyle
OL: Eric Fisher (LT), Quenton Nelson (LG), Danny Pinter (C), Mark Glowinski (RG), Braden Smith (RT)
DE: Kwity Paye (LDE), Al-Quadin Muhammad (RDE)
DT: DeForest Buckner (LDT), Grover Stewart (RDT)
LB: Darius Leonard (LILB), Bobby Okereke (RILB)
CB: Rock Ya-Sin (LCB), Xavier Rhodes (RCB), Kenny Moore II (NB)
S: Khari Willis (SS), Andrew Sendejo (FS)
ST: Michael Badgley (K), Rigoberto Sanchez (P), Luke Rhodes (LS)
RS: Isaiah Rodgers (KR), Nyheim Hines (PR)
#9: Tennessee Titans
Week 14 vs. JAX: W, 20-0 | Record: 9-4
Previous Rank: #11
After losing two straight games heading into their bye week, including a loss to the Texans, the Titans badly needed a win in Week 14. Fortunately, their opponent was a Jaguars team in a heap of locker room turmoil that led to Urban Meyer’s firing. Getting back on track wasn’t just the only good news for them. Per Ian Rapoport of NFL.com, it’s expected that Derrick Henry will return in time for the playoffs, who could return as early as Week 18. Given that it took the Titans 34 carries to get 102 yards against one of the worst defenses in the NFL, Henry’s return is critical if the Titans want to make noise in the playoffs. Then there’s Julio Jones, whose return to the lineup produced a sigh of relief from besieged quarterback Ryan Tannehill. AJ Brown is also eligible to return from IR next week, too. Finally, they won a football game for the first time in nearly a month, with a 20-0 shutout, which is necessary as they want to get over the injury hump to lock up another AFC South title. With a two-game lead in the division, which is essentially three given they swept the head-to-head series over the Colts, and just one game left against a team that presently has a winning record, their second consecutive division title is all but locked up.
Week 15 Projected Starters
QB: Ryan Tannehill
RB: D’Onta Foreman
WR: Julio Jones, Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, Chester Rogers
TE: Geoff Swaim
OL: Taylor Lewan (LT), Rodger Saffold III (LG), Ben Jones (C), Nate Davis (RG), David Quessenberry (RT)
DL: Jeffery Simmons (LDL), Denico Autry (RDL)
EDGE: Harold Landry (WLB), Bud Dupree (SLB)
ILB: Jayoon Brown (LILB), Zach Cunningham (RILB)
CB: Elijah Molden (LCB), Kristian Fulton (RCB), Dane Cruikshank (NB)
S: Amani Hooker (SS), Kevin Byard (FS)
ST: Randy Bullock (K), Brett Kern (P), Morgan Cox (LS)
RS: Dontrell Hilliard (KR), Chester Rogers (PR)
#8: Los Angeles Chargers
Week 14 vs. NYG: W, 37-21 | Record: 8-5
Previous Rank: #10
Throughout the past month, the Chargers were alternating between losses and wins. They would lose, then win, then lose, then win, then lose again, then win again. And for the first time since their bye week, they were able to stack wins in Week 14, beating the Giants in a game that wasn’t as close as the final score, but still took care of business of them anyway, which is welcome for a team that has struggled to stay consistent this season. Justin Herbert delivered another outstanding performance, throwing for 275 yards and three touchdowns, plus a highlight-reel connection with Jalen Guyton for the second straight week while becoming the first QB in NFL history to reach 30 touchdown passes in each of his first two seasons. His performance drew praise from Brandon Staley. “When you see something special, normally it looks easy,” said Staley. “That’s what he does. He makes the really, really challenging stuff look easy. And that’s a pretty good indicator that you’re witnessing something rare.” But from Week 15 onward is where things get serious. They first face the Chiefs at SoFi Stadium on Thursday Night Football. Find a way to knock off the Chiefs for the second time this season, and they will take the top spot in the AFC West. Lose, and they will slide back to a massive crowd of six-loss teams in the AFC. These Herbert vs. Mahomes affairs should gather national attention every season.
Week 15 Projected Starters
QB: Justin Herbert
RB: Austin Ekeler
WR: Keenan Allen, Mike Williams, Jalen Guyton
TE: Jared Cook
OL: Rashawn Slater (LT), Matt Feiler (LG), Corey Linsley (C), Michael Schofield III (RG), Storm Norton (RT)
DL: Jerry Tillery (LDL), Justin Jones (RDL)
EDGE: Joey Bosa (WLB), Uchenna Nwosu (SLB)
ILB: Drue Tranquill (LILB), Kyzir White (RILB)
CB: Chris Harris Jr. (LCB), Michael Davis (RCB), Tevaughn Campbell (NB)
S: Derwin James Jr. (SS), Nasir Adderley (FS)
ST: Dustin Hopkins (K), Ty Long (P), Matt Overton (LS)
RS: Andre Roberts (KR), Jalen Guyton (PR)
#7: Dallas Cowboys
Week 14 @ WSH: W, 27-20 | Record: 9-4
Previous Rank: #7
Heading into the Cowboys’ NFC East showdown with a hot Washington team, Mike McCarthy guaranteed that his Cowboys would win. “We’re going to win this game,” he said. “I’m confident in that.” McCarthy didn’t exactly blow the smoke. His team grabbed a big lead early on before holding on to win by a touchdown and an extra point. And once again, it was the defense being the big play machine. Randy Gregory’s return to the lineup paid dividends as me hade two huge plays—the first being an acrobatic interception that led to a Dak Prescott touchdown pass to Amari Cooper and the second being the strip sack of Kyle Allen recovered by Jayron Kearse to seal the win. Prescott praised the team’s start when speaking to reporters, but emphasized that they need to get better at closing out games. “We got high standards and high expectations for ourselves,” said Prescott, who finished the game completing 22 of 39 passes for 211 yards. “Got going pretty early, got a big lead, but we’ve got to be able to finish it off and not let them back in the game.” The offense took the foot off the gas pedal in the second half, but the Cowboys essentially sealed the NFC East by showing they don’t just have star power on the offensive side of the ball. The defense is playing at a high level now, thanks to the emergence of guys like Micah Parsons and Trevon Diggs. They can hang with any of the top three teams in the NFC in the Cardinals, Packers, and Buccaneers. They are a legitimate playoff contender and can possibly have an outside chance at the Super Bowl.
Week 15 Projected Starters
QB: Dak Prescott
RB: Ezekiel Elliott
WR: Amari Cooper, CeeDee Lamb, Michael Gallup
TE: Dalton Schultz
OL: Ty Nsekhe (LT), Connor Williams (LG), Tyler Biadasz (C), Zack Martin (RG), La’el Collins (RT)
DE: DeMarcus Lawrence (LDE), Randy Gregory (RDE)
DT: Neville Gallimore (LDT), Carlos Watkins (RDT)
LB: Leighton Vander Esch (WLB), Keanu Neal (MLB), Micah Parsons (SLB)
CB: Anthony Brown (LCB), Trevon Diggs (RCB)
S: Jayron Kearse (SS), Damontae Kazee (FS)
ST: Greg Zuerlein (K), Bryan Anger (P), Jake McQuaide (LS)
RS: Tony Pollard (KR), CeeDee Lamb (PR)
#6: Los Angeles Rams
Week 14 @ ARZ: W, 30-23 | Record: 9-4
Previous Rank: #6
The NFC West is getting interesting. Heading into the Monday Night match between the Rams and Cardinals, some were considering the Cardinals to have the division locked up. The Redbirds handled the Rams in Week 4 earlier, and with another win, they can have an insurmountable lead in the division. The Rams, however, played spoiler to that. If you thought that Sean McVay’s team is “too soft” to hang in with the league’s elite, think again. It got scary at the end, but the Rams turned to be the better team in this game, in which it could not just swing the NFC West but the balance of power in the NFC as a whole as the playoffs are getting closer. Thanks to a three-touchdown effort from Matt Stafford, a three-sack effort from Aaron Donald, and 13 receptions from Cooper Kupp, the Rams won by seven points that narrowed the Cardinals’ lead within the NFC West to just one game and gave the Rams consecutive wins after a three-game losing streak that raised questions about their status as a Super Bowl contender. This is even more impressive considering that Jalen Ramsey missed the game after landing on the COVID list. This win could set the Rams up for a run for the division title given their remaining schedule: Two straight games against teams with losing records before a match with the baffling Ravens before an important Week 18 match against the 49ers in SoFi Stadium. They could look the part of a legitimate Super Bowl contender again.
Week 15 Projected Starters
QB: Matt Stafford
RB: Darrell Henderson Jr.
WR: Cooper Kupp, Odell Beckham Jr., Van Jefferson
TE: Kendall Blanton
OL: Andrew Whitworth (LT), David Edwards (LG), Coleman Shelton (C), Austin Corbett (RG), AJ Jackson (RT)
DL: A’Shawn Robinson (LDE), Greg Gaines (NT), Aaron Donald (RDE)
EDGE: Leonard Floyd (WLB), Von Miller (SLB)
ILB: Ernest Jones (LILB), Troy Reeder (RILB)
CB: Darious Williams (LCB), Jalen Ramsey (RCB)
S: Nick Scott (SS), Taylor Rapp (FS)
ST: Matt Gay (K), Johnny Hekker (P), Matt Orzech (LS)
RS: Ben Skowronek (KR), Cooper Kupp (PR)
#5: New England Patriots
Week 14 Bye | Record: 9-4
Previous Rank: #4
When Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury was asked by reporters on how it felt to be a contender for Coach of the Year, he made it clear that, in his opinion, the award should be named after Bill Belichick. “I mean, they should just name the award ‘Bill Belichick,’” said Kingsbury. “And when he retires, like, bring that back. But yeah, until he retires, I don’t think anybody else should get the award, honestly. He should be that every single year that he’s coaching.” Belichick is widely regarded as the greatest head coach of all time in the NFL, but the job he has done in 2021 may have been his best in his Hall of Fame career. The Patriots entered the season with no expectations and a rookie QB, but fast forward to now, they are the top seed in the AFC with a healthy lead in the AFC East after beating the Bills in a game where the Pats attempted just three passes. He was widely applauded for his decision on turning to his running game. The defense also delivered in the clutch—the Pats have the league’s top-scoring defense, allowing just 15.4 points per game, and the 3rd-ranked total defense, allowing 310.0 yards per game. Those numbers are even better during their seven-game winning streak: Opponents have averaged just a tad over 10 points per game, with the Pats forcing at least one turnover in each of those games. Belichick may have the only defense in the league that can be a true difference-maker. Mac Jones also appears to be a perfect fit for the offensive scheme in New England. A 7th Super Bowl could be in the works.
Week 15 Projected Starters
QB: Mac Jones
RB: Rhamondre Stevenson
WR: Jakobi Meyers, Nelson Agholor, Kendrick Bourne
TE: Hunter Henry
OL: Isaiah Wynn (LT), Ted Karras (LG), David Andrews (C), Shaq Mason (RG), Trent Brown (RT)
DE: Deatrich Wise Jr. (LDE), Chase Winovich (RDE)
DT: Lawrence Guy (LDT), Davon Godchaux (RDT)
LB: Matt Judon (WLB), Dont’a Hightower (MLB), Kyle Van Noy (SLB)
CB: JC Jackson (LCB), Jalen Mills (RCB)
S: Kyle Dugger (SS), Devin McCourty (FS)
ST: Nick Folk (K), Jake Bailey (P), Joe Cardona (LS)
RS: Gunner Olszewski
#4: Kansas City Chiefs
Week 14 vs. LV: W, 48-9 | Record: 9-4
Previous Rank: #5
Not long ago, there were many questioning if the Chiefs’ reign of dominance in the AFC West may be coming to an end. The answer to those questions was all one word, two letters: “No.” The Chiefs dominated the Raiders in every way possible. The 372 yards of offense wasn’t overly impressive, but they were lethally efficient, converting nine of 13 3rd downs, even scoring 35 unanswered points in the first half on the way to the 48-9 stomping. They also avoided their two biggest issues they dealt with all season: Turnovers and drops. Defensively, they caused chaos, allowing just 263 yards of offense and forcing five turnovers. In a season full of false starts for the offense, the defense is what was the cause for the Chiefs’ resurgence, and it’s what led to the six-game winning streak that makes the Chiefs the team to beat in the AFC once again. It’s hard to believe this is the same Chiefs team that was 3-4 at one point in the season. While the rest of the AFC is a mess, the Chiefs are steadily improving and reminding the rest of the NFL that they are here to stay. They have given up 10.8 points per game during the winning streak, and the offense is starting to find its groove. They’re peaking at the best possible time and they could be in contention for a 3rd consecutive Super Bowl. If this defense continues to play at the high level they are playing at, they might be flirting at dynasty status in the process.
Week 15 Projected Starters
QB: Patrick Mahomes II
RB: Clyde Edwards-Helaire
WR: Tyreek Hill, Mecole Hardman, Byron Pringle
TE: Travis Kelce
OL: Orlando Brown Jr. (LT), Joe Thuney (LG), Creed Humphrey (C), Trey Smith (RG), Lucas Niang (RT)
DE: Alex Okafor (LDE), Frank Clark (RDE)
DT: Jarran Reed (LDT), Derrick Nnadi (RDT)
LB: Nick Bolton (WLB), Anthony Hitchens (MLB), Melvin Ingram III (SLB)
CB: Charvarius Ward (LCB), Mike Hughes (RCB)
S: Tyrann Mathieu (SS), Juan Thornhill (FS)
ST: Harrison Butker (K), Tommy Townsend (P), James Winchester (LS)
RS: Byron Pringle (KR), Mike Hughes (PR)
#3: Arizona Cardinals
Week 14 vs. LAR: L, 23-30 | Record: 10-3
Previous Rank: #1
Should the Cardinals fall to a wild card spot, this is the game they’re going to look back on as things were not going as planned. That’s not to say the Rams don’t deserve credit for how they played against the Cardinals, especially after Arizona won by 17 in Week 4. But this game was marred with errors. Their home troubles reared its ugly head in the disappointing 30-23 loss in which the Rams’ best players stepped up to cover the loss of Jalen Ramsey. However, some of the Redbirds’ top guys were not up for the challenge. Kyler Murray committed two turnovers as he made physical and mental errors throughout the contest. The ground game couldn’t get going. There were two missed 4th down conversions, the first on a DeAndre Hopkins drop and the other where the Cards were down 10 and the team was in field goal range. Hopkins was mostly neutralized in coverage throughout the night. Nobody on the defense stepped up to make a game-changing play as Stafford repeatedly torched the defense up and down the field. And lastly, there was terrible clock management before kicking another field goal down 10 or not clocking the ball to set up a potential Hail Mary. This was a sloppy all-around performance that raises questions about the Cardinals’ legitimacy as a Super Bowl contender. This also drops them from the top seed to the 3rd seed in the NFC, which could cost them a bye and potentially having them go on the road to play outdoors in January. Meanwhile, the Rams are just one game behind the Redbirds for the NFC West lead with four games left to play. Things are going to get interesting.
Week 15 Projected Starters
QB: Kyler Murray
RB: James Conner
WR: AJ Green, Rondale Moore, Christian Kirk
TE: Zach Ertz
OL: DJ Humphries (LT), Justin Pugh (LG), Max Garcia (C), Josh Jones (RG), Kelvin Beachum (RT)
DL: Jordan Phillips (LDE), Corey Peters (NT), Zach Allen (RDE)
EDGE: Chandler Jones (WLB), Markus Golden (SLB)
ILB: Jordan Hicks (LILB), Isaiah Simmons (RILB)
CB: Byron Murphy Jr. (LCB), Marco Wilson (RCB)
S: Jalen Thompson (SS), Budda Baker (FS)
ST: Matt Prater (K), Andy Lee (P), Beau Brinkley (LS)
RS: Rondale Moore
#2: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Week 14 vs. BUF: W, 33-27 (O) | Record: 10-3
Previous Rank: #3
At first it looked like the Buccaneers were going to blow out the Bills at Raymond James Stadium by how the first half played out. Thanks to a long touchdown by Leonard Fournette and a pair of Tom Brady touchdowns, the Bucs led 24-3 at the half. But the Bills stormed back to tie the game at 27 to force overtime, but Brady had to remind everyone in the end that, even though he may not be a Patriot anymore, he owns the Bills. Always has, and always will. With the defense stopping Josh Allen in overtime, Brady did the rest. He moves to 33-3 in his career against them with a 58-yard touchdown strike to Breshad Perriman in the extra frame. That touchdown pass was his 700th of his career—regular season and playoffs combined. He is now 107-1 in games where his team led by at least 21, and they are just one step behind the Packers in the race for the top seed in the NFC. It was weird seeing the Bucs cough up the lead in the second half, but Brady finds new ways to come out on top in the end. The Bucs are on track to win the NFC South and get a top 3 seed in the playoffs, and with the secondary getting healthier toward the end of the season, they have a very good chance of representing the NFC in Super Bowl LVI.
Week 15 Projected Starters
QB: Tom Brady
RB: Leonard Fournette
WR: Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, Tyler Johnson
TE: Rob Gronkowski
OL: Donovan Smith (LT), Ali Marpet (LG), Ryan Jensen (C), Alex Cappa (RG), Tristan Wirfs (RT)
DL: Ndamukong Suh (LDE), Vita Vea (NT), William Gholston (RDE)
EDGE: Jason Pierre-Paul (WLB), Shaquil Barrett (SLB)
ILB: Devin White (LILB), Lavonte David (RILB)
CB: Carlton Davis (LCB), Sean Murphy-Bunting (RCB)
S: Andrew Adams (SS), Jordan Whitehead (FS)
ST: Ryan Succop (K), Bradley Pinion (P), Zach Triner (LS)
RS: Jaelon Darden
#1: Green Bay Packers
Week 14 vs. CHI: W, 45-30 | Record: 10-3
Previous Rank: #2
Bad news, NFC: The unstoppable Packers offense that defined most of last season is officially back. While it appeared the Packers might stumble against their most hated rivals at the Frozen Tundra, with a pair of long Bears touchdowns had Chicago leading by six, the second half was a very different story—the Packers pulled off 24 unanswered points to cruise to a win that keeps them in the running for the top seed in the NFC. They’re not without flaws, but as long as Aaron Rodgers is under center, they are one of the most dangerous teams in the league. Rodgers keeps talking about his toe injury getting worse, but even so, his play is only getting better. The reigning MVP delivered a masterpiece of a performance, continuing his rampage across the NFL, throwing 10 touchdown passes to 0 interceptions with a completion percentage just shy of 70% since Week 11. The Packers are the closest team to being the most complete, but they are the most dangerous team in the league. But again, no team is without flaws. They have major concerns on special teams and have an offensive line hampered with injuries, as the latter is missing David Bakhtiari, Elgton Jenkins, Josh Myers, and Billy Turner. The cornerback depth is depleted. Yet they’re 10-3 because Rodgers is putting up MVP numbers and keeping the whole team together. Not to mention the possible returns of Bakhtiari, Jaire Alexander, and Za’Darius Smith, which could push them over the top and can lead to them being the best team in the NFC.
Week 15 Projected Starters
QB: Aaron Rodgers
RB: Aaron Jones
WR: Davante Adams, Allen Lazard, Marquez Valdes-Scantling
TE: Josiah Deguara
OL: Yosh Nijman (LT), Jon Runyan (LG), Lucas Patrick (C), Royce Newman (RG), Dennis Kelly (RT)
DL: Dean Lowry (LDE), Tyler Lancaster (NT), Kingsley Keke (RDE)
EDGE: Preston Smith (WLB), Rashan Gary (SLB)
ILB: De’Vondre Campbell (LILB), Krys Barnes (RILB)
CB: Eric Stokes (LCB), Kevin King (RCB)
S: Adrian Amos (SS), Darnell Savage Jr. (FS)
ST: Mason Crosby (K), Corey Bojorquez (P), Steven Wirtel (LS)
RS: Malik Taylor (KR), Amari Rodgers (PR)
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