Welcome to another installment of my weekly NFL Column. My goal is to watch everything so that you don’t have to. I will present to you the best games to watch back; the craziest moments; the best individual performances and the season-long stat leaders and records. I will also be previewing the upcoming gameweek, too.
If that sounds like something you’re interested in, check in each week.
Not everybody in the UK has the ability to watch almost 20 hours of live NFL every week, but I’ll make sure you don’t miss anything you’d wish you didn’t. Without further delay…
This is what happened This Week in the NFL.
Game of the Week
If you can only watch one full game in its entirety, watch this one:
Los Angeles Rams @ Baltimore Ravens
This game was an absolute blast. Two teams trading blows, making epic plays and just generally making it impossible to predict what might come next. That’s what the NFL is all about. Neither Los Angeles team is having the type of year they’d like this year, but the Rams are a formidable opponent when healthy. Matthew Stafford and Lamar Jackson went at it, and the defenses on both sides were pushed to their absolute limits. There was over 850 yards of offense, and plenty of points, so go watch this game before you read any further!
Other games to watch back
Buffalo Bills @ Kansas City Chiefs
Tennessee Titans @ Miami Dolphins
Jacksonville Jaguars @ Cleveland Browns
Upset of the Week
Patrick Mahomes
I have never seen a player be so salty after a loss in my life. So much so that I have completely changed the way that we’re going to interpret what I mean by ‘Upset of the Week’ for this week.
Without a doubt, he was right to be disappointed, because the referees called back what would have been one of the greatest plays I’ve ever seen in the NFL for a stupid penalty – but, he should be mad at Kadarius Toney for lining up offside, nobody else. The fact that he was screaming at referees and was even moaning and complaining when he met Josh Allen on the field after the game is embarrassing. Again, I completely understand the frustration, but the fault only lies on one man, and he was wearing a Chiefs uniform.
As a general fan of the NFL, I truly wish Kelce’s epic ingenuity counted and they won on that incredible play, because it was amazing, but Toney’s lack of awareness deserved to be punished. Plus, I can’t feel bad for Mahomes, now that I’ve seen his reaction.
Honourable mention (the actual upset of the week): Titans 28 – 27 Dolphins
Winners and Losers
Winners
New England Patriots (3-10)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-7)
Chicago Bears (5-8)
Cincinnati Bengals (7-6)
Cleveland Browns (8-5)
New Orleans Saints (6-7)
New York Jets (5-8)
Baltimore Ravens (10-3)
Minnesota Vikings (7-6)
San Francisco 49ers (7-6)
Buffalo Bills (7-6)
Denver Broncos (7-6)
Dallas Cowboys (10-3)
Tennessee Titans (5-8)
New York Giants (5-8)
Losers
Pittsburgh Steelers (7-6)
Atlanta Falcons (6-7)
Detroit Lions (9-4)
Indianapolis Colts (7-6)
Jacksonville Jaguars (8-5)
Carolina Panthers (1-12)
Houston Texans (7-6)
Los Angeles Rams (6-7)
Las Vegas Raiders (5-8)
Seattle Seahawks (6-7)
Kansas City Chiefs (8-5)
Los Angeles Chargers (5-8)
Philadelphia Eagles (10-3)
Miami Dolphins (9-4)
Green Bay Packers (6-7)
Bye Week
Arizona Cardinals (3-10)
Washington Commanders (4-9)
Standout Individual Performers
Deebo Samuel, WR, San Francisco 49ers
7 receptions on 9 targets for 149 receiving yards and a TD, plus 1 rushing yard and another TD.
The entire Niners offense is eligible in any given week for this list, but for the second week in a row, Deebo Samuel went absolutely nuclear. He caught 7 of his 9 targets and terrorised the Seahawks defense for 149 receiving yards and a TD. Plus, he also added a 1-yard rushing TD on his only carry of the game, when Kyle Shanahan gave him the carry to finish the job after he was tackled on the 1-yard line the play prior. Deebo is about as electric as they come, and if you have him in your fantasy team, you probably won both of your last two matchups.
Evan Engram, TE, Jacksonville Jaguars
11 receptions on 12 targets for 95 receiving yards and 2 TD’s.
This segment of the column doesn’t usually feature many appearances from tight ends, especially not this high up, but this week Evan Engram balled out. Targeted 12 times by a painkiller-riding Trevor Lawrence, the ex-Giant was able to pull in 11 of them and turned them into 95 receiving yards and a pair of touchdowns against a tough Cleveland D.
Drake London, WR, Atlanta Falcons
10 receptions on 11 targets for 172 receiving yards.
Before this season began, a lot of people were calling for a Drake London breakout as he entered his second year, after showing some flashes in his rookie campaign. Unfortunately, in a very run-heavy offense that has a mediocre QB, that hasn’t panned out. However, this week he went crazy, and looked like a legitimate superstar. He caught 10 of his 11 targets for a whopping 172 receiving yards, and made one of the more impressive catches of the season, too. Hopefully, this is the start of a strong finish for the 22-year-old.
Lamar Jackson, QB, Baltimore Ravens
55.8% completion rate, 316 passing yards and 3 TD’s with 1 INT, plus 11 rush attempts for 70 rushing yards.
When people talk about the MVP race at the moment, it sometimes sounds like an argument between Brock Purdy and a skill position player (which I disagree with massively, but that’s another conversation we’ll have in a few weeks!). However, I think Lamar Jackson should be in with a good shout for his second MVP. This week he continued to thrive as the best dual-threat in the league. He completed 24 passes for 316 passing yards, finding the end zone 3 times with one interception. As he is known to do, he also added a casual 70 rushing yards, as Baltimore came out on top in an epic matchup with the Rams.
Cooper Kupp, WR, Los Angeles Rams
8 receptions on 10 targets for 115 receiving yards and a TD.
While Puka Nacua has rightfully had the spotlight placed firmly on him this season, Cooper Kupp is still doing Cooper Kupp things – when he’s able to stay healthy. He carved the Ravens’ secondary up for 115 yards on 8 receptions and scored a touchdown. If you watch back the TD play, you can see that Matthew Stafford actually throws the ball extremely early, due to pressure, but still drops it right in the basket for his WR.
Maxx Crosby, DE, Las Vegas Raiders
7 solo tackles and 3 assists, including 2.0 Sacks.
The Raiders season has been bad. And this week was one of the worst games of football I’ve ever watched in my life. Maxx Crosby enjoyed himself, at least. Playing on his swollen and injured knee, Mad Maxx wrecked the game, making 7 solo tackles (three of which were tackles for loss) and 3 assists. He also had two Sacks, which puts his total at 13.5 on the season.
Jonathan Greenard, DE, Houston Texans
5 solo tackles and an assist, including 2.0 Sacks.
Everyone is talking about Houston’s promising future with their young offense at the forefront, but DeMeco Ryans’ team has quietly put together a solid defense, too. 26-year-old defensive end Jonathan Greenard had a fantastic game this week, despite a very poor result. He made 5 solo tackles and had one assist, recording 2.0 Sacks on Zach Wilson.
Jaquan Brisker, S, Chicago Bears
13 solo tackles, 4 assists and a forced fumble.
The Bears season has been poor, but this week they upset their division-leading rivals, the Detroit Lions. Their win involved a very solid defensive effort, limiting the Lions to just 13 points. Within that effort, Jaquan Brisker had a beautiful performance. He made 13 solo tackles and had 4 assists, while forcing a fumble. This was a new career-high for the second-year safety.
Martin Emerson, CB, Cleveland Browns
4 solo tackles and 2 Interceptions.
The Browns defense can often be boiled down to Myles Garrett being an absolute superstar and the other guys making plays. This week, though, the stars of their defense were their cornerbacks. Greg Newsome had 5 solo tackles and an interception, so he deserves a quick shoutout, and Martin Emerson balled out, too. He had 4 solo tackles and 2 Interceptions on Trevor Lawrence, who was fighting through injury.
Stat Leaders Through Week 14
Passing Yards – Tua Tagovailoa MIA, 3697
Passing TD’s – Dak Prescott DAL, 28
Rushing Yards – Christian McCaffrey SF, 1177
Rushing TD’s – Raheem Mostert MIA, 16
Receiving Yards – Tyreek Hill MIA, 1542
Receiving TD’s – Tyreek Hill MIA, 12
Total TD’s – Raheem Mostert MIA, 18
Tackles (combined) – Zaire Franklin IND, 144
Sacks – Khalil Mack LAC, 15.0
Interceptions – DaRon Bland DAL, 8
Week 15 Preview – What to watch
Saturday Football!
Minnesota Vikings @ Cincinnati Bengals, 6pm
Pittsburgh Steelers @ Indianapolis Colts, 9:30pm
Denver Broncos @ Detroit Lions, Saturday Night Football!
Week 15 Best Games
Dallas Cowboys @ Buffalo Bills
Baltimore Ravens @ Jacksonville Jaguars
Denver Broncos @ Detroit Lions
Tyler’s Bold Week 15 Prediction
Despite Dallas upsetting the Eagles this week, Buffalo will beat them in Week 15.
Week 15 Storylines
Two AFC West teams who are bitterly disappointed with their 5-8 records, Chargers @ Raiders, TNF
Currently-in 7-6 Minnesota face the currently-out 7-6 Cincinnati as they fight for wildcard spots. Vikings @ Bengals, Saturday 6pm
Pittsburgh (6th seed) and Indianapolis (7th seed) try to maintain their grip on a playoff spot. Steelers @ Colts, Saturday 9:30pm
Denver look to keep up their unreal back-half of the season as Detroit hope to bounce back on SATURDAY Night Football! Broncos @ Lions, Sunday 1:15am
Tampa need to protect their NFC South lead, as Green Bay look to stay in a wildcard spot. Buccaneers @ Packers, 6pm
Houston need to bounce back after a disappointing loss. Texans @ Titans, 6pm
Sean McVay and co looking to sneak into the playoffs. Commanders @ Rams, 9:05pm
Two teams that just defeated Super Bowl favourites last week meet. Cowboys @ Bills, 9:25pm
An AFC playoff matchup a few weeks early. Ravens @ Jaguars, SNF
Philly need to bounce back, while Seattle try and make a wildcard spot. Eagles @ Seahawks, MNF
