The GIST: A stiff arm masterclass, a near wardrobe malfunction, and a not-so-subtle flyover characterized Week 15 of NFL action. And there’s even more where that came from after another chaotic Sunday on the gridiron.
❤️🩹 Injuries continue to wreak havoc: From Kansas City Chiefs quarterback (QB) Patrick Mahomes (ankle) to Cleveland Browns running back Nick Chubb (foot) to Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt (ankle), plenty of big names were bit by the injury bug yesterday.
- But there was one moment that had every fan holding their breath — Miami Dolphins wide receiver Grant DuBose was stretchered off in a neck brace after a scary hit in Miami’s 20–12 loss to the Houston Texans. Thankfully, DuBose is in stable condition at a local hospital.
🦬 Buffalo Bills prevail in battle of league’s top-two offenses: Bills QB Josh “MVP” Allen made yet another statement yesterday, tossing two touchdowns and running for two more in Buffalo’s 48–42 win over the Detroit Lions. The potential Super Bowl preview marked the league’s highest-scoring game of the season, a trend for these high-flying squads.
🏆 Three more squads punch their playoff tickets: Four teams had already secured postseason berths heading into Week 15 (the Buffalo Bills, Detroit Lions, Kansas City Chiefs, and Philadelphia Eagles), and while there were plenty of clinching scenarios in Week 15, a total of three squads checked the box yesterday.
- The aforementioned Texans snagged the AFC South with their win, while the Pittsburgh Steelers, despite losing 27–13 in a feisty affair against the Eagles, locked in a playoff ticket thanks to the Indianapolis Colts’ 31–13 loss to the Denver Broncos.
- As for the NFC, the Minnesota Vikings booked the conference’s lone postseason ticket of the weekend — and they did so without even taking the field, capitalizing on the Seattle Seahawks 30–13 Sunday Night Football loss to the Green Bay Packers. Whatever it takes.
⏩ What’s next: On the 15th week of football, the NFL gave to us…not one but two Monday Night Football matchups. Full disclosure, tonight’s 8 p.m. ET game featuring the Vikings and the Chicago Bears is much more interesting than the 8:30 p.m. ET tilt between the grounded Atlanta Falcons and 2-11 Las Vegas Raiders. Choose wisely.