With most of Week 15 within the books, here is a have a look at the winners for the week:
Christian McCaffrey, San Francisco 49ers operating again: After victimizing the Arizona Cardinals for 4 whole TDs of their first assembly, McCaffrey had one heck of an encore on Sunday. The Niners stomped the division rival, 45-29, with McCaffrey main the cost backed by a powerful stat line.
Naturally, he was harmful within the operating and passing sport, recording 115 dashing yards (18 carries) and 72 receiving yards (5 catches) with three touchdowns. In accordance with ESPN Stats and Info, McCaffrey’s seven TDs versus the Cardinals is essentially the most by a participant in a single season in opposition to one crew within the Tremendous Bowl period (1967).
Main the league in all-purpose yards (1,801), McCaffrey has emerged as an MVP candidate alongside QB Brock Purdy. Nevertheless, talking with reporters after the sport, Purdy said, “I believe Christian needs to be MVP.”
Coming into Week 15, McCaffrey (+2500) was a distant underdog within the MVP race behind Purdy (-150), the overwhelming favourite, per Oddschecker. Following his efficiency Sunday, his possibilities needs to be on the rise.
Detroit Lions: The Lions turned issues round in Week 15, enhancing to 10-4 following a dominant 42-17 drubbing of the Denver Broncos (7-7).
The protection shut out the Broncos within the first half and held an opponent to below 26 factors and 300 yards of offense for the primary time since Week 8. Conversely, the offense obtained again on observe behind Jared Goff, who joined Matthew Stafford (2015) because the second Lions QB in historical past to throw for 5 touchdowns in a sport with out an interception. In the meantime, TE Sam LaPorta and RB Jahmyr Gibbs grew to become the primary rookies since 1970 to mix for 5 TDs in a sport, per Elias Sports Bureau.
After struggling not too long ago, it is protected to say the Lions righted the ship in opposition to the Broncos. They personal a three-game lead atop the NFC North with three video games to go, which means the crew’s first division title since 1993 is inside their grasp.
Joe Flacco, Cleveland Browns QB: Flacco’s magic continued for an additional week in a 20-17 win over the Bears (5-9). Late within the sport, the 38-year-old orchestrated a nine-play, 63-yard game-winning area aim drive to assist Cleveland win their second straight.
Regardless of throwing three interceptions, Flacco stepped up when it mattered most. With the Browns trailing 17-7 via three quarters, he led the Browns to 13 factors whereas throwing for 212 of his 374 yards within the ultimate stanza. In accordance with John Breech of CBS Sports activities, that is essentially the most yards thrown by a Browns QB in any quarter since a minimum of 1991.
Because of Flacco, the Browns are 9-5, smack dab in the course of the AFC playoff image, and surprisingly, they’re nonetheless alive for the division title, too.
Buffalo Payments offensive line: In a 31-10 trouncing of the Dallas Cowboys, the Payments did what they needed up entrance in opposition to a unit solely per week faraway from holding the Philadelphia Eagles offense to 2 area objectives. The O-line offered loads of push, permitting the Payments to run the soccer at will.
Payments RB James Cook dinner simply had one of the best sport of his profession. Cook dinner ran for 179 yards off 25 carries (7.2 YPA) with a TD on the bottom whereas additionally impacting the passing sport, ending with two catches for 42 yards and a rating. As a crew, Buffalo rushed for 266 yards, with QB Josh Allen (24 yards, TD) and backfield mates Ty Johnson (54 yards) and Latavius Murray (11 yards, TD) combining for 89 yards and two TDs.
With the road tightening up, the 7-6 Payments have received two straight and three of their final 4. Lastly shaping up into the contender everybody anticipated, they’re turning into a scarier playoff draw because the weeks go by.
Jake Browning, Cincinnati Bengals QB: Revenge is nice. Lower by the Minnesota Vikings 3 times between 2019 and 2021, Browning returned to hang-out his former squad in a 27-24 extra time win on Saturday.
Browning admitted that there was a “little bit more” added motivation this week, which confirmed. The profession backup completed 20-of-42 for 324 yards with two TDs and an interception, directing a come-from-behind win, together with a game-tying TD drive with 39 seconds left to drive additional time.
After dropping Joe Burrow to a season-ending knee harm, many wrote off the Bengals. Nevertheless, with Browning in command, they’re 8-6, firmly entrenched within the AFC postseason combine.
Miami Dolphins: Behind a powerful all-around effort, the Dolphins saved their first-place cushion within the AFC East after a 30-0 win over the New York Jets.
Taking part in with out electrical wideout Tyreek Hill as a consequence of harm, QB Tua Tagovailoa and firm did not miss a beat dealing with off in opposition to the NFL’s second-ranked passing protection. Tagovailoa had a near-perfect day, ending 21-of-24 for 224 yards (9.3 YPC) and a landing, whereas receiver Jaylen Waddle picked up the slack, catching eight of 9 targets for 142 yards (17.8 YPC) and a rating. Likewise, RB Raheem Mostert had an enormous sport, dashing for 42 yards (15 carries) and discovering the endzone twice to set the franchise single-season report for dashing TDs with 18.
On the defensive aspect, Miami was relentless in opposition to the Jets, coming away with six sacks, two fumbles and two interceptions whereas posting a shutout.
The Dolphins are 10-4 for the primary time since 2000 and management their future with three difficult video games forward in opposition to the Cowboys, Baltimore Ravens and Payments.
Baker Mayfield, Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback: An opposing QB hardly ever enters historic Lambeau Area and makes historical past, however that is exactly what Mayfield did on Sunday. Because of a extremely environment friendly outing, he grew to become the primary visiting participant to depart with an ideal passer ranking (158.3). Per Jenna Laine of ESPN, he joins former Packer Aaron Rodgers as the one residence or away quarterback to do it.
In a must-win sport, Mayfield went off in a 34-20 win over the Inexperienced Bay Packers, going 22-of-28 for 381 yards (13.6 YPC) with 4 touchdowns and nil interceptions.
Successful the NFC South would possibly really feel like a doubtful honor. Nevertheless, at 7-7 with three video games left, Mayfield has the Bucs within the driver’s seat to take the crown.