Two more weeks is all that separates us from the end of the regular season. In two weeks, 12 teams will advance to the playoffs to try and compete for a Lombardi Trophy. This week, there was a lot on the line, as eight of the twelve playoff berths were clinched. Today, we will be wrapping up all of week 15, and naming the best, bad, and worst parts.
The Good:
Drew Brees
Wow. Just wow. Going into Monday Night Football, the Saints certainly were favored against a much weaker Colts team, and they showed it. In a 34-7 beat down of Indianapolis, Drew Brees had arguably the best statistical performance a quarterback has had in a game ever. He threw for 207 yards, four touchdowns, and had one incompletion. He had 21 straight completions at one point, and many thought he would break Phillip Rivers' record of 26 straight. Oh, and, he happened to break the regular season passing touchdowns record, overtaking Peyton Manning with 541 touchdowns in his career. That will be an interesting race to keep tabs on for the rest of the season, as Tom Brady is on his heels(538 touchdowns) for the record. That could be a competition that comes down to whoever lasts longer in the league.
Jameis Winston
Jameis Winston might have just earned himself a lot of money. Going into a contract year, there were some questions about whether or not Winston could last in the league given his erratic throwing at times. Even during the season, he paced the league in interceptions and fumbled quite a lot too. However, especially over these last two games, Winston has proven his worth. He became the first QB ever to eclipse 450 yards in back to back games, and at this point, interceptions are just fuel to the fire(Tampa Bay is 4-1 when Jameis throws an opening drive pick this year). Given his extremely high ceiling, the Bucs will have to resign him to at least a franchise tag come July. He certainly ate a W.
Defensive Player of the Year favorite Stephon Gilmore
Stephon Gilmore is the best cornerback in the NFL. He has proven it time and time again, and this season, it could lead to him becoming just the third cornerback ever to win the DPOY award(Charles Woodson and Deion Sanders are the other two). No player impacts a defense like Gilmore does with the Pats. Week in and week out, he locks down the opposing teams' best receiver. Against Cincinnati on Sunday, he had two picks, one of them going for a touchdown. In other words, he had the same amount of catches and more yards than the man he was covering(Tyler Boyd). Gilmore has scored twice on the season, and allowed a grand total of 0 touchdowns on the year despite facing the likes of DeAndre Hopkins, Tyreek Hill, Amari Cooper, Odell Beckham, etc. With midseason favorite Nick Bosa taking a step back in the second half, this award should go to Gilmore.
The Bad
The Los Angeles Chargers
Come on LA. Even if you aren't the Super Bowl contender I thought you would be, it doesn't mean you have to be this bad. In a duel with the Vikings, the Chargers put up one of the worst offensive performances I have ever seen. They had seven(!) turnovers as a unit, and faltered every step of the way in a 39-10 blowout. Phillip Rivers looks like he's done, and it might be time to blow things up for the Chargers.
The Chicago Bears' almost Miracle
The Bears were down 8 with one second left at the Green Bay 34 yard line. They would have needed a miracle to win, and they almost got it. Mitch Trubisky threw it to speedy running back Tarik Cohen over the middle of the field, who, after running some, lateraled it back to Trubisky. Trubisky then threw it to tight end Jesper Horstead, who looked like he had a lane to the end zone. At about the five yard line the Packers surrounded him. Horstead had not one, but two open players open on his left that he could have lateraled to, but instead, tried to take it himself and was tackled at the two yard line. The play eliminated Chicago from playoff contention.
The Ugly
The Oakland Raiders' Final Home Game
The Raiders played their last game in Oakland on Sunday, and it was a perfect depiction of Raiders football for the past two decades or so. The Raiders had all the opportunity to win the game, but gave it away. Firstly, with a minute and a quarter left, up by three, the Raiders had a shot to kick a field goal to go up by 6. Kicker Daniel Carlson missed it wide left. The defense promptly collapses, and surrendered a touchdown on 3rd and goal with 30 seconds left. Given that they had missed the field goal, the Raiders needed to score a touchdown in thirty seconds. The final hail mary attempt was surprisingly close, but it bounced off a Raiders receiver's helmet, a microcosm of Raiders football if there ever was one.
Other notes on things around the league:
Lamar Jackson has essentially secured himself the MVP trophyHouston gained a one game lead for the division over the TitansThe Bills clinched a playoff spot for the second time since the turn of the centuryThe NFC East will come down to Dallas vs. Philly next week
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