The NFL week concludes with playoff spots filled and dreams killed. Four spots are confirmed in the AFC, and three divisions are decided. Three spots are established in the NFC, but no divisions have won yet. The NFL season is almost up as time is running out for teams to sneak in and punch their ticket for a shot in the Super Bowl in New Orleans. Who got the biggest wins or committed the worst sins? Let’s go over them!
Scrubs: Dolphins
Tua haters are salivating right now. The Dolphins offense struggled mightly against Houston. Tua Tagovailoa threw three interceptions, neither Tyreek Hill nor Jaylen Waddle could get going, there were third-down struggles, and there were the same number of punts as picks. The next loss will be the killing blow for a team that has underperformed all season. The Dolphins face the 49ers, Browns, and the Jets. Three underperforming teams as well! The Dolphins need to win out with some help if they hope for a berth—a 7% chance in ninth place in the AFC behind the Colts. With a loss in the week 16 matchup, the Dolphins will have a 1% chance. Tua Tagovailoa’s jersey number. With a win, 12%. Tom Brady’s jersey number. Figures.
Dubs: Packers
The Packers dominated the inconsistent Seahawks with a strong defensive performance, including two picks and seven sacks! The offense followed up in style, with Jordan Love throwing for 229 yards and two touchdowns and Josh Jacobs running in for 94 yards and a touchdown. The Packers now stand over a 99% chance of a playoff berth at 10-4 and face New Orleans, Minnesota, and Chicago. A win would give them the spot, but a loss will still give them a good chance, with a 98% chance. With the Packers heating up on both sides, are they a dark horse for a Super Bowl?
Scrubs: Colts
Let’s put this into perspective. The Colts are 6-8 and will be second in the AFC South division. If they moved to the NFC West, they would likely be last. They went from being up by 10-0 at one point to losing 13-31 by the end of the game. They were outscored by 28 points since being up by 10 is quite an accomplishment. Having your best player, Jonathan Taylor, let the ball go when he had a surefire touchdown before crossing the plane is also quite an accomplishment. Losing despite picking off Bo Nix three times is additionally quite an accomplishment. The only accomplishment the Colts won’t be getting is a division title. The last time the Colts were division champions? 2014. A happy decade of distress, Indy! It’s not all lost, however. The Colts are right outside the playoff bubble in eighth place and hold an 11% chance of making the playoffs. And you face incompetent teams in the next three weeks in the Titans, Giants, and Jaguars. With a win, you improve to 15%. But with a loss, you’ll be hanging by a thread with a 1% chance. Will the luck of the horseshoe strike the iron stake with three games left?
Dubs: Eagles
The Eagles faced their Pennsylvania brethren with no brotherly love versus the Steelers and humbled them. Their two top receivers each got over 100 receiving yards. Saquan killed it, Jalen Hurts minimized mistakes, and the defense showed out. Things are exciting with a win against Pittsburgh as the #1 seed hangs in the balance. Buffalo defeated Detroit, and now it’s down to the Lions, Eagles, and the Vikings (yes, really). The Lions have massive injuries on their team, and it is time to strike for Philadelphia. With the injuries to Detroit, it’s likely the Eagles are the best team in the NFC conference. The remaining schedule for Philly is the Commanders, in a matchup that will decide if Philly will be able to call themselves NFC East champs yet, then the Cowboys, and finally, the Giants. An NFC East gauntlet should be no challenge for the Eagles as they’re undefeated against divisional opponents this year. The Lions face two opponents. They should be able to beat the Bears and 49ers, but a matchup against the Vikings could trip them up.
Scrubs: 49ers
What could put the 49ers in the biggest scrubs category this week? Is it scoring six points after scoring 38 last week? What about getting 191 total yards but having 316 punting yards? Could it be Deebo Samuel having a crucial drop on third down after saying he’s not getting the ball enough but has more drops than touchdowns this year? That would put them in consideration. But something else happened that night. Keep in mind, in the 49ers locker room is a man who lost his baby less than a month ago and a player who was shot and still played in his debut less than two months later. However, De’Vondre Campbell refused to play and walked off the sideline. For what reason, you ask? Time for some backstory. Dre Greenlaw was the original starter but got injured in the Super Bowl with a torn Achilles. He would return Thursday night and play for the first time since the injury but was taken out after 30 snaps due to knee soreness. Campbell would be asked to go in but would refuse. It wasn’t even like the 49ers were getting destroyed either; it was a one-score game still early in the fourth quarter. 49ers teammates like George Kittle, Charvarius Ward, and more would trash his name in postgame interviews. Maybe Campbell is the biggest scrub this week?
Dubs: Bills
The Bills have the biggest win of the season yet against the Lions. Josh Allen continues to carry his offense as the likely MVP can do it all! 400 total yards from his arm and legs. And with this win, the Bills may have an advantage coming up as the season reaches its end. The number one seed in the AFC is down to the Chiefs and Bills. And even though the Chiefs have a two-game lead, the Bills could strike at the right time. The Bills face the Patriots, Jets, and the Patriots once more in their final three games. Two teams that are vastly inferior to Buffalo. And to make the odds better for the Bills, Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes hurt his ankle Sunday and could likely be out a week or two. The Chiefs face the Texans, Steelers, and Broncos. Three teams with winning records. If the Bills win out and the Chiefs lose two games, the #1 seed is theirs.
Week 15 features huge divisional games like the Broncos vs. Chargers, Steelers vs. Ravens, and Eagles vs. Commanders. And other fun games like Texans vs. Chiefs and Vikings vs. Seahawks. And even games that will have big implications for the #1 draft pick for 2025. Jaguars vs. Raiders, anyone?
