The NFL Week 15 schedule is a juicy one in terms of playoff implications. Of the 16 games scheduled, 15 have playoff implications.
With the NFL playoff picture in both the AFC and NFC resembling similar mosh pits, the NFL Week 15 schedule features no fewer than 15 of the 16 games involving playoff implications.
That does not, however, include the Thursday night showdown in Las Vegas between quarterbacks Easton Stick and Aiden O’Connell — barely household names in their households — as the Los Angeles Chargers and Las Vegas Raiders dual for sole possession of last place in the AFC West.
Here are the five storylines to watch in NFL Week 15.
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5. The biggest DeVito since Danny
Undrafted rookie Tommy DeVito revived the nearly clinically dead New York Giants’ 2023 season. In four starts, DeVito has led the G-Men to a 3-1 record and, inexplicably, back into the playoff race in the pit of mediocrity known as the NFC.
At 5-8, New York trails No. 7 Green Bay by a game and visits the New Orleans Saints on Sunday. The Saints improved to 6-7, ending a three-game winning streak on Sunday with a victory over the Carolina Panthers (also known as a bye week that counts as a win).
DeVito’s stats don’t overwhelm anyone. He’s thrown for 855 yards and eight touchdowns with three interceptions and has absorbed 28 of the 69 sacks the Giants have surrendered. How bad is New York’s offensive line? Wide receiver Parris Campbell took a sack on a trick play.
But DeVito achieves rock star status with his Monday night performance against the Packers. For that matter, his agent went viral for his interesting style choices while at the game. But on the field, DeVito gives the Giants a fighting chance.
4. The Saturday showdowns
Three games dot the NFL Week 15 schedule on Saturday, all meaningful matchups. The day starts at noon Eastern with the Minnesota Vikings (7-6) taking on the Cincinnati Bengals (7-6). Cincinnati has two straight wins behind backup Jake Browning. The Vikings managed to win last week despite scoring just three points, taking a 3-0 snoozefest at Las Vegas, and will turn to quarterback Nick Mullens this week.
The Pittsburgh Steelers (7-6) come off consecutive losses at home to the woeful Arizona Cardinals and the even-more-woeful New England Patriots. On Saturday afternoon, the Steelers visit the Indianapolis Colts (7-6) in a matchup of the teams currently sixth and seventh in the AFC playoff jumble.
Finally, in prime time on Saturday, the resurgent Denver Broncos (7-6) head to Ford Field to take on the slumping Detroit Lions, who have lost two of three to fall to 9-4. Detroit gained a season-low 267 yards and turned the ball over three times in an ugly loss at Soldier Field to the Chicago Bears on Sunday.
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3. Sunday games of importance to one participant
Not every game on the NFL Week 15 schedule involves two teams fighting for position in the playoff race.
On Sunday, the Atlanta Falcons — at 6-7 owning a share of the NFC South lead (because, hey, someone has to win it) — visit the Panthers, who at 1-12 are sprinting toward sending the No. 1 overall pick to Chicago.
The Miami Dolphins lost to the Tennessee Titans at home last week and host the New York Jets, mathematically alive but in practicality too far gone at 5-8. Zach Wilson had the game of his NFL life in his return to the lineup, throwing for 301 yards and two touchdowns in a blowout of the Houston Texans.
The aforementioned Texans try to recover on the road when they visit Tennessee, also 5-8 and realistically in a spoiler role.
The Kansas City Chiefs take their two-game skid to Foxborough to take on the Patriots. Meanwhile, the 10-3 San Francisco 49ers go to Arizona and the 6-7 Los Angeles Rams host the 4-9 Washington Team of Many Names.
2. Sunday’s games of major significance
Now we arrive at the games on Sunday’s NFL Week 15 slate that mean much to all parties involved.
The Chicago Bears (5-8) can keep their postseason hopes on life support with a victory at the Cleveland Browns (8-5. Cleveland comes in with a ton of defensive injuries and the resurrected career of Joe Flacco at quarterback.
The NFC South-leading Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-7) visit the Green Bay Packers (6-7). This might just be the most unlikely matchup of teams currently holding playoff positions in recent memory.
The Giants and Saints pillow fight came up earlier,. But we also have the NFC East-leading Dallas Cowboys visiting the Buffalo Bills (7-6). Buffalo should consider a pair of shoes for Kadarius Toney if it is in a giving mood.
The Sunday night game pits a pair of division leaders. The Baltimore Ravens (10-3) head south to face the Jacksonville Jaguars. Jacksonville faces its third straight AFC North opponent after losses to the Bengals and at Cleveland. The Ravens lead the chase for the No. 1 seed and a first-round bye by a game over Miami.
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1. The game someone has to win … maybe
Just eight weeks ago, the Seattle Seahawks led the NFC West at 5-2. Only a couple of weeks ago, the Philadelphia Eagles were flying high. At 10-1, the Eagles boasted the best record in the NFL.
As the angry-bird fight ensues on Monday night, the situations are markedly different.
Seattle comes in with four straight losses and five defeats in six games. Now 6-7, the Seahawks are in the mishmash looking for a wild-card in the NFC.
Philadelphia spent the last two weeks being smacked around by NFC contenders. The San Francisco 49ers came to the Linc and laid down a 42-19 beating. At Jerry World on Sunday night, the Cowboys pounded Philly 33-13. And that, kids, is how to go from No. 1 seed to No. 5 seed in two easy steps.
Someone has to win on Monday night. Or so the theory goes. Given the recent work of these two clubs, however, a tie may be on the table.
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