The current state of the NFL playoffs continues to change after Week 15 concluded on Monday night giving us more scenarios and takeaways heading into the final two weeks of the season. The Kansas City Chiefs took another step in securing the number one seed in the AFC while the Green Bay Packers did the same in the NFC in Week 14.
However, with a number of things that can — and most likely will — go wrong, the playoff seeding could shake up entirely when the dust settles. But, as they say, that’s why they play the game.
Without further ado, let’s take a look back at Week 15’s takeaways from the week that was.
Playoff Edition: NFL Week 15 Takeaways
Green Bay Survives on Saturday
As the NFC’s number one seed with two weeks left to go, Green Bay showed they can beat teams a number of ways. But, perhaps just as important, they can withstand momentum swings. Green Bay hosted the Carolina Panthers on Saturday night but featured a game of two halves. The first one was a surgical half by potential MVP candidate Aaron Rodgers orchestrating three touchdown drives.
The second half saw a resilient Carolina team looking to score an upset victory on the road. But even though it got within one-score late in the fourth, Rodgers and company were able to provide enough offense to put it away. Credit Green Bay’s defense, too. Whereas in years past, Carolina might’ve won that Saturday game. Defensive coordinator Mike Pettine has been under fire at times, but dialing up the pressure to halt a potential comeback should give Green Bay hopes of doing that in the playoffs. Which just might be at Lambeau Field this season.
Kansas City Dominating the Entire NFL in Week 15
The defending Super Bowl champs got all they could handle in the New Orleans Saints but as long as they have Patrick Mahomes, then Kansas City is always in a position to win. The target remains on Kansas City’s back as New Orleans welcomed back Drew Brees from IR — albeit putting Michael Thomas on IR the rest of the season. Brees wasn’t as sharp in his return on Sunday but still showed promise of a team that could go on a deep run. Should New Orleans go on a deep run, then they’ll need Alvin Kamara to take on the bulk of the offense.
The two teams will only meet again should they play in this year’s Super Bowl, but stopping Kansas City at home or on the road proves to be an impossible task. However, Kansas City did suffer a setback with Clyde Edwards-Helaire leaving the game with a high-ankle sprain. You never wish injury upon anyone, but if anything is going to slow this Kansas City down, it would be injuries at the wrong time. But, as Mahomes has proven time and time again, as long as you have number 15 and his right arm in play, anything is possible.
Buffalo Surging at the Right Time
For the first time in nearly three decades, the Buffalo Bills are AFC East champions. Buffalo is quickly emerging as one of the few teams that could challenge Kansas City in the playoffs. Josh Allen and Stefon Diggs continue to be a deadly combo. Buffalo’s defense has a strong bend-but-not-break mentality led by stud defender Tre’Davious White. This Buffalo team has taken major strides from just a season ago and will be a tough test for whatever Wild Card team comes in there.
While last year’s Wild Card loss to the Houston Texans still lingers over this team, Buffalo has all the pieces to put that game far behind them. Allen has looked unstoppable in the past three games, throwing eight touchdowns and just one pick. If their offense continues to produce at this high volume, then Buffalo may be celebrating more than just a division title.
Pittsburgh, We Have a Problem
What has happened to the once mighty Pittsburgh Steelers? After starting the season 11-0, they’ve now lost three consecutive games to leave the door wide open for the Cleveland Browns to win the AFC North. Ben Roethlisberger and company have struggled mightily. From drops to turnovers, to major defensive miscues, Pittsburgh has entered a freefall at the worst possible time. Once thought a team that was going to wrap up the number one seed in the AFC and steamroll their way to the Super Bowl, Pittsburgh has to avoid going one-and-done in three weeks.
With their ugly loss on the road against the Cincinnati Bengals, Buffalo has now secured the number two seed in the AFC, for the time being. But Pittsburgh hasn’t shown that they’re able to overcome their slow starts. In fact, they haven’t scored more than 20 points since Week 11 against the one-win Jacksonville Jaguars. Head coach Mike Tomlin should be in the conversation for Coach of the Year this season, but if they want to go where many thought they would earlier in the season, Tomlin is going to have to do his best coaching yet. Especially since they finish the season with the Indianapolis Colts and Cleveland.
With Week 15 concluding just two weeks remain in the 2020 NFL season and the playoff picture could still change a hundred times by season’s end. Buckle up for a wild ride as the playoffs draw ever closer.
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