5 NFL Storylines for Week 15
We are now well into December football, and over the course of the last month of regular season NFL action, every single game counts. This has been one of the wildest and wackiest editions of the NFL ever, and it’s not finished yet! We still have another four weeks of exciting action to enjoy, and as we enter Week 15, here are the top things that you need to know!
- Philip Rivers returns to the NFL.
Yes, you read that right. Philip Rivers has come out of retirement, and is in line to start for the Indianapolis Colts against the Seattle Seahawks this weekend. At 44 years of age, Rivers is the oldest active player in the league and was signed earlier in the week to replace the injured Daniel Jones. The move came as a bit of shock, with many thinking it was a joke but in reality it demonstrates just how desperate the Colts are to save their season. Head Coach Shane Steichen is familiar with Rivers as well, having worked with him in Los Angeles. Whether Riley Leonard or Rivers ultimately gets the start is still to be determined, but this is certainly one of the stranger things that we’ve seen in the NFL this season!
- Charlie Smyth’s first home game.
After back to back games on the road, Charlie Smyth will finally get a chance to play in New Orleans on Sunday, as the Saints host the Carolina Panthers. This will be Smyth’s third consecutive start, and after missing a field goal against Tampa Bay last weekend, could be his final audition for the full time kicking job. The Saints have now reached the practice squad elevation limit for Charlie and per the league rules will either need to formally sign him to their 53 man roster, or waive him and risk another team claiming him. Whatever happens after Sunday, the young man from County Down can be incredibly proud of what he has achieved. And hopefully the Saints see sense and keep him on!
- Get Dan Whelan to the Pro Bowl!
Speaking of Irish men taking the NFL by storm, Green Bay Packers punter Dan Whelan is currently 4th in the Pro Bowl voting and has a great chance of being selected! Whelan has had an incredible season thus far, including a career long 72 yard kick and over 2000 yards! The Packers are well on their way to the playoffs, thanks in no small part to the right foot of the punter, and there is a concerted effort back home to make the Enniskerry native the first ever Irishman selected to the Pro Bowl.However, it won’t be easy, as only two specialists are chosen each year – one from each conference, so it’s very important that you play your part and vote Dan Whelan to the Pro Bowl by following this link: https://www.nfl.com/pro-bowl-games/vote/ You could be the difference!
- NFL backs professional Flag Football League
Earlier this week, all 32 NFL clubs voted to invest in the development of and launch of a professional flag football league. The move reflects the NFL’s commitment to a long-term effort to support flag football in all forms as it continues to grow and evolve. Flag football is one of the fastest growing sports in the world, with 20 million players worldwide, and will make its Olympic debut in Los Angeles in 2028. Both Irish national teams will be aiming to compete in LA, with the men’s and women’s teams ranked 19th and 21st respectively in the world. Flag football is hugely popular here, and as of 2025 there are 60 schools (35 primary and 25 post-primary) engaged across the island of Ireland in the sport with more than 4,500 boys and girls playing. And who knows, maybe we’ll even get a professional team here one day!
- NFL returning to Munich in 2026.
After the first international fixture in the German capital of Berlin back in November, the NFL is returning to Munich in 2026 with a further game confirmed for 2028. The games will be played at the FC Bayern Munich Stadium, which has previously hosted NFL regular season games in 2022 and 2024. Germany is a key market for the NFL globally, with more than 20 million fans of the game, the largest fanbase in Europe. The announcement has left Irish fans wondering if another Dublin game announcement is imminent, and if so – which teams will be featured. There are several other international fixtures already on the slate for 2026, including the inaugural Australia game in Melbourne, a game in Rio De Janeiro and two games in Tottenham Hotspur stadium. Paris is also a possibility for next season with the New Orleans Saints committed to playing in the city of light.
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