NFL Week 15 was perhaps the wildest of the season, with spectacular finishes and awe-inspiring plays across the board. Below are some of our most-significant takeaways for gamblers and fans from yet another incredible slate of professional football.
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Minnesota Vikings 39 – Indianapolis Colts 36
Never Turn Off the TV
Indianapolis led 33-0 at Halftime, and the Vikings orchestrated the greatest comeback in NFL history. The Colts still managed to cover the spread. But how can we bet on this team moving forward? They were fortunate to buildup such a great lead and looked like the worst team in the NFL as they blew it late. Are we sure Interim HC Jeff Saturday is better for this team right now?
As to the Vikings, the team continues to confound. Despite their historic comeback, they are not as formidable as their 11-3 record would indicate. Good teams don’t spot the Colts 33 in the first half, but they also find ways to win. Few would list Minnesota as a Super Bowl contender, but they’ll have their say come the postseason.
Cleveland Browns 13 – Baltimore Ravens 3
Browns Blunder
Perhaps we can excuse the Ravens due to the absence of QB Lamar Jackson, but they’ve got issues that are hard t0 ignore. In this game, Baltimore’s offense got within the Browns’ 35-yard line five times and managed three total points… with the greatest kicker in NFL history. The team’s only consistent pass-catcher, TE Mark Andrews, hasn’t been featured in weeks. The Ravens elected to pass the ball more than run… despite rushing for seven yards for carry and facing one of the NFL’s most generous run defenses. Lamar is not the cure-all for this team’s issues, and the Ravens may be staring at an early playoff exit once again.
Buffalo Bills 32 – Miami Dolphins 29
Super Bowl Contender(s)
Miami has now lost three straight and are no lock to make the postseason in a contentious AFC. Yet, how does one not feel great about this team moving forward? It’s not often that a loss is impressive, but the Dolphins gave the Bills everything they could handle in one of the greatest games this NFL season. Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa was once again decisive, and RB Raheem Mostert was a revelation. The Dolphins were a play or two away from winning this one, and if they can contend in this environment, they can anywhere. These are two Super Bowl contenders.
Philadelphia Eagles 25 – Chicago Bears 20
Never Easy On the Road
In the end, talent prevailed, but for a long while, it looked as if the Bears might steal this game. For Chicago fans, this remains their best-case scenario. The team continues to leverage its season into a high draft pick and have clearly found their QB of the future in Justin Fields. For Philly fans, I wouldn’t be too worried. Even on the teams’ worst day, they still find ways to win. The team has all but locked up the NFC’s No. 1 seed.
The Eagles took care of business, but nothing was given to them. Philadelphia is now 6-12 ATS on the road with Hurts and has a date in Dallas looming in Week 16.
New Orleans Saints 21 – Atlanta Falcons 18
Forgettable First Start
Perhaps this was the reason why Marcus Mariota held onto the Falcons’ starting QB job for so long. Rookie Desmond Ridder didn’t look NFL-ready. But few do in their first start, and Atlanta continues to prove competitive despite their overall lack of talent.
It’s doubtful we hear from either of these teams moving forward, but they’re worth keeping tabs on in the season’s waning weeks.
Detroit Lions 20 – New York Jets 17
Jettisoned Jets
Do we think the Jets win this game with Mike White as their starting QB? Who knows, but they should still have Zach Wilson at the helm, and the second-year pro gave the team a shot at the end.
All season, the Jets had leaned on their defense en route to victory, and today their defense let them down in the game’s most crucial moments. Leading 17-13 with less than two minutes remaining, the Jets allowed an underneath crossing route to go the distance on fourth and one, from 51 yards out. Today, New York has relinquished their playoff chances and afforded the Lions an opportunity to shake up the NFC.
Pittsburgh Steelers 24 – Carolina Panthers 16
Carolina’s Limitations
Carolina had inspired optimism with their play of late, but this showing should put to rest any chatter surrounding them stealing the NFC South’s crown. I suppose they’re still alive, but it’s tough to believe in this team moving forward. The Panthers let Pittsburgh dictate pace for the game’s entirety and lacked answers on offense without the presence of a run game.
Still, the Panthers control their destiny in the South… and that’s hilarious.
Jacksonville Jaguars 40 – Dallas Cowboys 34
Trevor Is the Truth
Don’t look now, but we may see Trevor Lawrence’s Jaguars in the postseason. It is overwhelmingly impressive to see the second-year pro play with such poise and to watch him elevate his team as the NFL’s greatest QBs so often do. Be cautious betting against the Jaguars right now. We like their chances of stealing the AFC South from Tennessee.
Let’s talk about the Cowboys. Their defense isn’t stout as we would like to believe, and the team has been pedestrian on the road this season. We want to view them as contenders in the NFC, but good teams don’t sputter in the second half as Dallas did today. Their chances of winning the NFC East are all but gone, but they can at least reclaim some rapport with a win over Philly on Christmas Eve.
Kansas City Chiefs 30 – Houston Texans 24
The Frisky Texans
Either we, as bettors, are undervaluing the Texans, or their opponents are. Houston has now covered back-to-back weeks as 14+ point underdogs. And what’s stopping them from doing so again moving forward? Even the worst teams cover the spread, and it is never so easy to blindly bet against them.
Conversely, the Chiefs have played uninspired of late, but their status in the NFL’s hierarchy is still unquestioned. Patrick Mahomes and co. have a poor reputation when favored by so many points, and them winning in OT is likely a fluke en route to a fifth consecutive AFC championship game.
Denver Broncos 24 – Arizona Cardinals 15
Nothing to Say
The Broncos won in what was perhaps the most inconsequential game of the weekend. There’s not much else to say. Both teams have underperformed, and no opinions have changed in this battle of backup QBs.
Football is better with Russell Wilson and Kyler Murray on the field.
Las Vegas Raiders 30 – New England Patriots 24
Inconsequential Blunder
The final play was comical, but both teams blew the game. It is not surprising that the Raiders surrendered yet another double-digit lead, nor is it that New England allowed Las Vegas QB Derek Carr to engineer a game-tying drive in the final two minutes.
Both teams continue to hold onto irrational playoff hopes. Such desperation may provide an opportunity to bet on them moving forward, but neither team is the least bit threatening.
Los Angeles Chargers 17 – Tennessee Titans 14
Longshot Chances in LA
Ladies and Gentlemen, our LAC future bets are still alive. The Chargers should have won this game by more. Yet, they eked it out and may run the table on their way to the postseason. Los Angeles is getting healthy at the right time and has one of the game’s best players under center - Look out.
Quickly, let’s mention the Titans. Four consecutive losses and the team has lost its stranglehold on the AFC South. They are in great jeopardy of missing the postseason and surely will do so if they drop one to Houston next Sunday.
Cincinnati Bengals 34 – Tampa Bay Buccaneers 23
False Sense of Contention
For a moment, the Buccaneers looked like they figured it out. But holy hell, did they fall off precipitously. It was stunning to see a Tom Brady-led team give up a 17-0 lead so quickly. Such ineptitude confirmed that Tampa is nowhere near contention this season.
There has to be a winner of the NFC South, and it likely will be Tampa Bay. But the gap between them and the rest of the division is negligible. A depressing chapter in what may be Brady’s final season continues.
New York Giants 20 – Washington Commanders 12
Best Team in New York (City)
Both of these teams are flawed, but they play some damn exciting, competitive football games.
The Giants exceeded all expectations this season and did so again last night. Quietly, QB Daniel Jones continues to play superior football, which is a chief reason New York may find itself back in the postseason for the first time since 2016.
Regarding the Commanders, this is surely a deflating loss. The team wasn’t explicitly outplayed this game but failed in its most crucial aspects and was scorned by a non-call on their final play. As the playoffs loom, Washington still controls their fate, but the games don’t get any easier.
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