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The NFL nationESPN
NFL Week 15 highlighted the return of football on Saturday, with a pair of games that featured two of the best teams in the league. The Green Bay Packers, despite fighting in the second half, and Buffalo Bills flexed in front of a national audience that could also see them make a deep run in next month’s playoffs. That’s after a wild game on Thursday night between the Los Angeles Chargers and the Las Vegas Raiders.
It’s just the beginning as we head to the heart of Week 15, but here are the NFL Nation’s biggest dishes in three games.
Jump to a match:
CAR-GB | BUF-DEN | LAC-LV
Outstanding performer: Aaron Jones: 20 transports, 145 meters, 1 TD
Defender Aaron Rodgers came out of Saturday’s victory over the Panthers with this assessment: “This type of football in the second half will not be completed in the playoffs.” A good thing for the Packers (11-3) – who still have the advantage for No. 1 in the NFC – that the struggling Panthers are not a playoff team. Otherwise, he could have lost his home advantage throughout the season. After scoring in the first three possessions, the Packers scored five times in a row and only managed one goal in the second half. They will receive a much tougher test next Sunday when the Titans come to Lambeau. – Rob Demovsky
Next game: vs. Titans (20:20 ET Sunday, December 27)
When coach Matt Rhule looks back this season, games with a score will jump off the scoreboard. Panthers (4-10) are 0-8 in single-possession games after Saturday’s loss. This is an indictment for young players who did not fully realize how to finish the games. It’s an indictment for defender Teddy Bridgewater. It is also an accusation for a young personal trainer who did not fully realize how to put players in a position to get over the hump. The good news? Carolina could be heading for a top five pick. – David Newton
Next game: in Washington (1 pm ET Sunday, December 27)
Outstanding performer: Josh Allen, 359 meters pass, 33 meters speed, 4 TD in total
There is no team that plays better football now than the Bills. They’ve talked a lot in the last month about the peak at the right time – with three resounding victories in the first half, the bills seem to do just that. Their last three matches were the most complete efforts of the season and it seems that they will be a difficult period in the playoffs. If both sides of the ball continue this level of play, they can walk from head to toe and even win. – Marcel Louis-Jacques
Next game: at the Patriots (8:15 pm ET Monday, December 28)
In a season in which they didn’t have former Super Bowl MVP Von Miller for a single shot, played a game without any defenders and matched three employees on Saturday, all the Broncos bills finally came when Bills came to town. A bleak third quarter turned a game with a break score into what Broncos coach Vic Fangio called “a totally disappointing performance for the team.” The Broncos simply have too many starters in the rugged reserve and did not have enough talent left on the depth chart. The biggest sign of the team’s broken spirit was Devin Singletary’s 51-yard touchdown run, with 1 minute and 40 seconds to play in the middle of a Broncos defense. Broncos says there is the potential to get something good this season, but they only have two games left to show them. – Jeff Legwold
Next game: at the Chargers (16:05 ET ET Sunday, December 27)
Outstanding performer: Justin Herbert, 22-of-32 for 314 yards, 2 TDs, 0 INT
Kicker Michael Badgley became the NFL leader in the field goals lost by nine at the same time, the Chargers got the second win in a row and the first divisional victory of 2018. Defender Justin Herbert equaled the debutant record for most passing touchdowns with 27. – Shelley Smith
Next game: vs. Broncos (16:05 ET Sunday, December 27)
So this is why the Raiders signed quarterback Marcus Mariota, who showed not only the desire to extend the games with his feet and take off and run, but also a preternatural talent to do this. work against the Chargers. No, there is no controversy in Las Vegas. Not even with Mariota rushing for an 88-meter game and passing 226 more, only in her third game being active for the Raiders. It showed a scent that Derek Carr, who left with a groin injury in the first trimester, might be missing. But with the Raiders eliminated from the playoff race, why not give Mariota the last two games with her own playoffs just to see what she has in the off-season, because you already know what you have in Carr ? – Paul Gutierrez
Next game: vs. Dolphins (8:15 pm ET Saturday)