BURSTIt would be fair to say that Week 15 in the NFL got off to a rather, umm, dull start.
In Thursday’s opener, the Los Angeles Rams won a 12-6 slog over the San Francisco 49ers in a game where not one touchdown was scored.
The Rams and their fans were probably the only ones who truly enjoyed that game.
Thankfully, with no more byes on the schedule, Week 15 is chock full of matchups that should make up for a dreary opener.
It even includes a heavyweight clash that many Canadian NFL fans will be keeping a very close eye on.
Here are the biggest storylines to keep an eye on in Week 15:
Super Bowl preview?
Many Canadians have at least one Buffalo Bills fan in their life. They usually know at least one or two Detroit Lions fans, too.
So, the Week 15 matchup between two cities that sit near Lake Erie and spitting distance from the border, would do big numbers in Canada regardless of either team’s record.
But this season, for two teams where the words “pain” and “heartbreak” are commonplace for any longstanding fan, this Sunday’s game means so much more.
It’s easily the game of the week, and arguably the most anticipated game of the regular season. Why you ask? Well, not only is it a matchup between two of the most passionate fanbases and the most expensive ticket of the season, but it’s also looking like this could be the matchup on Feb. 9 when the Lombardi Trophy is handed out.
And what a sight that would be. After years of disappointments and failures, one of these teams would finally bring home a Super Bowl to its city where football is king.
Of course, there is a long way to go, and certain obstacles — the Kansas City Chiefs for example — will certainly try to ruin the party.
But it’s a hard Super Bowl matchup to root against.
“Buffalo lives and dies and bleeds with the Bills,” former Bills and Lions tight end Pete Metzelaars told The Athletic’s Tim Graham this week. “The city’s hopes and dreams rise and fall whenever the Bills win or lose, walking around Monday morning all wowsy wowsy woo woo. Detroit’s been waiting for years and years and years to have a successful team. Now they’re living and dying with the Lions too.”
And while Sunday’s game is not life or death for either team, as both have already secured playoff spots, there is still a lot on the line.
The Bills have already locked up the AFC East and are guaranteed at least one home playoff game at Orchard Park. They currently hold the No. 2 seed in the AFC but are deadlocked with Pittsburgh Steelers at 10-3. Their dreams of home-field advantage throughout the playoffs likely died with a loss to the Rams last week. But they do have the head-to-head tiebreaker over Kansas City, and the Chiefs don’t like to win easy, so it’s not over quite yet.
Meanwhile, the Lions do have the inside track at the NFC’s No. 1 spot, but a loss Sunday and suddenly everything starts to look a bit shaky. Detroit (12-1) heads into Week 15 just one game up on both the Minnesota Vikings (11-2) and Philadelphia Eagles (11-2). As good as the Lions have been this year, the race from the NFC North is far from over. Starting the playoffs on the road is not something the Lions couldn’t overcome, but it’d be a shame if we didn’t get a few home playoff games at Ford Field.
While the Lions are favoured, the Bills should get a bit of a boost this week as both TE Dalton Kincaid and rookie WR Keon Coleman are expected to return. But if their defence looks the way it did against the Rams again last week, it might not matter. Though, with Josh Allen at the helm, the Bills are never truly out of any contest.
The anticipation and the fanbase for this game are so great, who could possibly be mad if we did it all over again in two months?
May the best border city win.
Down to their last life
It’s that time of year when certain teams need everything to go right to make the playoffs.
The Miami Dolphins (6-7), Indianapolis Colts (6-7) and Cincinnati Bengals (5-8) all fit in that category this year.
A loss for any team in Week 15 and it can kiss its slim playoff chances goodbye.
The Dolphins are the hottest of the bunch, winning four of their past five games. Maybe things would’ve been different if Tua Tagovailoa hadn’t missed four games with a concussion. But even with their QB back in the lineup, they still haven’t been able to beat the top teams. They get a chance to change that narrative Sunday against the Houston Texans.
The Colts have the best opportunity of the three, as they play the Denver Broncos who are the third wild-card team they will be hoping to catch.
And though the Bengals have the worst playoff odds of the bunch, out of the three, they’re the team no AFC contender would want to see in the first round. Not with the way Joe Burrow is slinging the rock.
The 49ers were in desperation mode Thursday against the Rams and didn’t come through. We’ll see how the Dolphins, Colts and Bengals fair in a similar spot.
Game to Watch: Pittsburgh Steelers (10-3) @ Philadelphia Eagles (11-2) — Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET
You’re going to want to get a second screen going for Week 15’s afternoon slate.
The Bills-Lions game will steal a lot of the thunder, but the all-Pennsylvania matchup between the Eagles and Steelers deserves some attention, too.
Both teams come into Week 15 red-hot. Philadelphia has won nine in a row, while Pittsburgh has won seven of its last eight.
It’s also a strength versus strength matchup, as the Steelers boast a top-five rushing defence, while the Eagles have the league’s No. 1 rusher and MVP candidate in Saquon Barkley.
Barkley is on pace to break Eric Dickerson’s all-time single-season rushing record, but the focus of the Steelers’ gameplan will start with limiting No. 26.
Good thing everything is hunky dory among the Eagles’ other playmakers … or not. Reports of tension between Eagles WR A.J. Brown and QB Jalen Hurts surfaced this week as the team is currently last in the NFL in passing attempts and 31st in passing yards.
If the passing game struggles again in a loss to their state rivals, it could be a fascinating week in Philly.
Forrest’s Favourites (Season record: 18-18) — All odds courtesy of BetMGM):
Steelers @ Eagles — Pick: Steelers +5.5 (-110): The Eagles might have the more skilled team overall, but the Steelers have the better coach. Ride with Mike Tomlin and the points.
Chiefs @ Browns — Pick: Chiefs -4.0 (-110): Jameis Winston has given the Browns some life, but he’s also thrown 5 interceptions over his past two games. That’s not going to fly against Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs.
Packers @ Seahawks — Pick: Packers -2.5 (-110): The Packers haven’t lost to a team outside of the NFC North since Week 1. We expect that to continue on Sunday.
Thursday, Dec. 12
Los Angeles Rams 12, San Francisco 49ers 6
Sunday, Dec. 15
Dallas Cowboys at Carolina Panthers, 1 p.m. ET
Kansas City Chiefs at Cleveland Browns, 1 p.m. ET
Miami Dolphins at Houston Texans, 1 p.m. ET
New York Jets at Jacksonville Jaguars, 1 p.m. ET
Washington Commanders at New Orleans Saints, 1 p.m. ET
Baltimore Ravens at New York Giants, 1 p.m. ET
Cincinnati Bengals at Tennessee Titans, 1 p.m.ET
New England Patriots at Arizona Cardinals, 4:25 p.m. ET
Indianapolis Colts at Denver Broncos, 4:25 p.m. ET
Buffalo Bills at Detroit Lions, 4:25 p.m. ET
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Los Angeles Chargers, 4:25 p.m. ET
Pittsburgh Steelers at Philadelphia Eagles, 4:25 p.m. ET
Green Bay Packers at Seattle Seahawks, 8:20 p.m. ET
Monday, Dec. 16
Chicago Bears at Minnesota Vikings, 8 p.m. ET
Atlanta Falcons at Las Vegas Raiders, 8:30 p.m. ET