NFL Week Fifteen Review: Hopefuls get Bitter Taste of Reality
This was a pivotal weekend for conference hopefuls and possible SuperBowl contenders! Fans were rooted to their seats as the NFL delivered seven hours of drama and Sunday and again for MNF. The Chiefs did not have to rely on a final play score to win … but most people’s attention was focused on the mouth watering encounters between the Bills and Lions and the Pennsylvania Derby. The MVP race between Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson resumed as Jackson’s Ravens returned to action.
Bills Overcome Injury Ravaged Lions
This match really lived up to the billing. The Bills roared back from last week’s shock defeat to the Rams with a commanding start. After two possessions, the Bills were 14-0 up! Josh Allen was the stand out … AGAIN! He completed 23 passes from 34: orchestrating the offense with 362 yards passing and 68 rushing yards: he leads the MVP race! Lions fans will be worried as the defensive injuries piled up. Carlton Davis, Khalil Dorsey and Alim McNeil were all forced to leave the game due to respective injuries: thus adding to Aaron Glenn’s defensive woes. His defensive calls leaving the game with no sacks on Allen. Jared Goff completed 494 yards and threw for five touchdowns, but the pressure the Bills’ defense were able to exert upon him, including three sacks, was the difference in the result. The Lions will refocus and look to return to the win column against the Bears in week sixteen. The Patriots fanbase will be worried with the in-form Bills next up for them!
Bills 48 Lions 42
Eagles Soar Over Steelers
The Philadelphia Eagles overpowered the Steelers from the very first quarter to remain the undisputed Pennsylvania State Champions. The Steelers probability to win the AFC North has dropped to 53% and that may please the Eagles fandom, never mind their own grip on the strengthening. Jalen Hurts threw for 290 yards as the Steelers aimed to quiet the threat of Saquon Barkley: in which they were partly successful. Hurts was able to find AJ Brown and DeVonta Smith to relieve the initial Steelers pressure. The Eagles took a commanding possession: 40 minutes in total and the tiring Steelers were never able to wrestle back the Eagles early scores. Next the Steelers take on The BAltimore Ravens and the formidable Lamar Jackson. The Steelers have won eight of the past ten meetings with the Ravens, but Lamar Jackson will look to disrupt that trend and thus further his own personal aim to land the MVP title.
Eagles 27 Steelers 13
Ravens Return With A Win
Was this result ever really in doubt? The Ravens probability to win the AFC North rose to 43% given the Steelers difficult schedule of the Ravens themselves and then the indomitable-yet-vulnerable Chiefs on Christmas Day … and then the Bengals! The Ravens enjoyed this return to league action and resumed their traditional rough and ready style. Their lack of discipline made headlines again this week with twelve flags: adding up to 112 yards. This may have slowed progress down the field and on the scoreboard, but this result was never truly in doubt. With a 21-7 half-time lead, the Ravens all but took their foot off the gas pedal in the second-half. Jackson caught the attention for all the wrong reasons during the first offensive play by fumbling the ball and then recovering it … the greats ARE human too! He soon settled into a rhythm with 17 of 19 attempts completed: and four touchdowns against zone coverage … a personal record! Any rays of hope for the Giants? Tim Boyle had to deputise at QB for Tommy Devito late into the second quarter: and Devito was himself replacing the injured Drew Lock: it never rains, but it pours!
Ravens 35 Giants 14
As Week Fifteen concludes, we can never truly appreciate the physical and mental toll this sport takes on the players to take to the field this late on in the season. How many hours must they spend in treatment rooms, ice-baths and on trainers tables to make it to the field? This is even before I mention the pain killing injections some players rely upon to merely function as a father or husband/ fiance/ partner … I would then suggest we, the mere spectator, refrain from public displays of consternation when a professional athlete takes the decision to leave the field! Yes we may have our opinions on the choice, but allow the player an opportunity to explain themselves to their team-mates, management, et al before we pile on!
Roll on Week Sixteen! More drama! More unforgettable moments!