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2021 NFL Week Fifteen: Biggest Storylines and Takeaways

2021 NFL Week Fifteen

AP Photo:Wilfredo Lee

2021 NFL Week Fifteen
AP Photo: Wilfredo Lee

2021 NFL Week Fifteen: Biggest Storylines and Takeaways

Technically, 2021 NFL Week Fifteen is not over yet with there being two Tuesday Night games but the biggest headlines came from the Saturday and Sunday slate. The Colts continue their hot streak, the Cardinals had a gutless performance against the Lions and the Bucs got shut out on Sunday Night Football. Check out the other storylines from week fifteen right here.

2021 NFL Week Fifteen- Colts Continue To Roll

After starting 1-4, the Indianapolis Colts have won six of eight and currently hold the 5th seed if the playoffs started today. I don’t think their record does justice to how good this team actually is. They have become one of the more balanced teams in the NFL with an elite running game that starts with Jonathan Taylor, a formidable passing attack with Carson Wentz, and a rangy, athletic defense led by Darius Leonard. On Saturday night, they kicked the shit out of the Patriots and they did it with Wentz throwing for a career-low 58 yards on five completions. The story of the game was the defense and Jonathan Taylor. Leonard and company forced a number of turnovers while Taylor ran wild on one of the better defenses in the NFL which included a 67 yard TD to ice the game. I want no part of this team right now.

As for the Patriots, this was a come-back-to-earth game and I don’t think it was the worst thing to happen. The Patriots were riding high and on a seven-game win streak, this loss was a reality check for a team full of unproven and young players. Mac Jones looked like a rookie throwing two bad interceptions that put New England in a hole early and they were never able to recover. They showed some fight in the fourth quarterback mounting a comeback to bring the game within three but in the end, Jonathan Taylor was inevitable. The Patriots have their biggest game of the season next week against Buffalo to decide the division, they need to flush this game down the toilet and start prepping for the Bills.

2021 NFL Week Fifteen- Lions Embarrass The Cardinals

The most pathetic performance of the weekend goes to Kyler Murray, Kliff Kingsbury, and the Arizona Cardinals. As for Murray, he was outplayed by Jared Goff and Dan Campbell put on a coaching clinic against Kingsbury. This was my gripe with Kingsbury and why I thought he’d be fired after this year, his teams always seem to start off strong and once the calendar turns to December they just fall off a cliff, no pun intended. I can understand a playoff team in late December dropping a game to an inferior opponent but as for the Cardinals, this loss is inexcusable. They just lost to their division rival last week in the Rams and now they go out and lay an egg against the worst team in the league. They caught a break with Tampa Bay losing but now the Rams only sit one game behind Arizona for the division lead with San Francisco coming up the rear.

On the flip side, the Detriot Lions are officially America’s team. If you are not rooting for Dan Campbell and company then you don’t have a soul. Unlike the Texans, Jaguars, and Jets the Lions don’t seem as hopeless as those other teams. They have some young offensive firepower in D’Andre Swift, Penei Sewell, TJ Hockenson and now Amon-Ra St. Brown is emerging as a legitimate weapon for Jared Goff. If they can develop a pass rush and add another corner alongside Amani Oruwariye, this team could win some games. But I think the number one thing to be optimistic about is that the players love playing for Dan Campbell. You can lose games as a coach but you cannot lose the locker room and despite having two wins Detriot is one of the toughest teams in the league.

2021 NFL Week Fifteen- Saints Shutout Brady and The Bucs

For just the third time in his illustrious career, Tom Brady was shut out by the Saints on SNF. I don’t know what it is about the Saints against Tom Brady but they have owned him since coming to Tampa Bay. Brady falls to 1-4 against the Saints since joining Tampa Bay with the one win coming in the 2020 Divisional Round. Sunday was a brutal performance by Brady and the Tampa Bay offensive line. Cam Jordan and company were in the backfield on every play and sacked TB12 a number of times. Tristan Wirfs has become one of the best right tackles in the league but on Sunday, Cam Jordan took him to school. Tampa Bay was decimated with injuries throughout the game as Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, and Leonard Fournette all left early with injuries. there is optimism about Evans and Fournette but it was announced yesterday that Chris Godwin will miss the remainder of the season with a torn ACL. This was a bad loss for Tampa in their pursuit for home-field advantage, the Packers beat the Ravens and now hold sole possession of the one seed.

The Saints sit at 7-7 and are tied with the Vikings for the seventh seed in the NFC. With Philadelphia and WFT playing tonight, there could be three teams vying for that final wild-card spot. I think the Vikings get it just because of the quarterback. Kirk Cousins is no elite talent but I would take him over Taysom Hill, Taylor Heinicke and Jalen Hurts in a one-off game.

2021 NFL Week Fifteen- Chiefs Round Back Into Form

After starting 3-4 and everyone claiming the Chiefs are dead, fifteen weeks into the season they are not only the number one seed in the AFC but they are now the betting favorite to win the Super Bowl. They got a huge win on Thursday beating the Chargers in dramatic fashion. Everyone can take a deep breath because as long as Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce, and Tyreek Hill are on the field they have a chance to beat anyone. I thought that the Chiefs didn’t play great but they won the game so who cares.

As for the Chargers, I like Justin Herbert, they have formidable weapons, and Brandon Staley seems like a smart coach but I thought he lost that game on Thursday. I understood a couple of the decisions to go for it but the one at the end of the half was inexcusable. The advantage to going for it inside the five is that if you don’t get it, your opponents are backed up against your own endzone. At the end of the half that doesn’t apply so why they didn’t kick that field goal was mind-boggling. Then when they decided to go for it at the right time, their playcalling was atrocious. I know Staley doesn’t call the offense but how hard is it to tell his 6’6” stud quarterback to get under center and sneak that thing right up the gut for one yard. I hated the Chargers play calling that night and it ultimately cost them the game.

Tuesday Night Preview

Seattle/LA Rams- This is a huge game for the Rams because if they win they will be tied with Arizona for first place in the NFC West. They are coming off a big win last week but I wouldn’t take Seattle lightly as long as they have Russell Wilson, these NFC West games seem to always end in a shootout. If Seattle wins they will be 6-8 and have the Lions and Bears as their next two opponents. We could look up entering week eighteen and Seattle is 8-8. I think Seattle keeps in close but the Rams win by a field goal.

Eagles/WFT- This game could end up deciding who gets the final playoff spot in the NFC. Both teams sit at 6-7 and could have an outside chance at the playoffs. I like the Eagles in this game, they get back Jalen Hurts, they are the more healthy team and the WFT has been decimated with COVID. I think the Eagles win by a touchdown or two.

***

Check out week fourteen here, come back for week sixteen!

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