As the weeks of the NFL regular season dwindle, the plot thickens and the stakes rise even higher.
Week 15 has arrived, with the Atlanta Falcons kicking it off by dealing a significant blow to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ playoff hopes. With all of the bye weeks complete, we’re due for a loaded Sunday slate that features 14 games before concluding Monday night, when the Pittsburgh Steelers host the Miami Dolphins.
In a reflection of just how hotly contested this season has been, Week 15 kicks off with every playoff berth up for grabs. This is only the third time since 2002 that all playoff berths remain undetermined entering Week 15 (2014 and 2021 being the other times).
There are two possible clinching situations included in this week’s action, but it will take a little longer for everything else to sort itself out. The outcomes of this week’s games will definitely help, however.
Here’s a look at five of the most compelling storylines of Week 15.
Trap games galore
This is the time of year when quality teams can get caught looking past inferior opponents. But doing so represents a great risk, especially for those in tight divisional or playoff races, and that’s why they call them trap games. There are plenty on tap this week.
The 9-4 Chicago Bears aim to rebound from last week’s last-second loss to Green Bay, and they’ll face the Packers again next week. But first, they must focus on dispatching the 3-10 Cleveland Browns in the Windy City.
The 8-5 Houston Texans have revived their postseason hopes by winning five straight. They still have work to do to catch up to the Jacksonville Jaguars in the AFC South, so they can’t afford a letdown this week at home against the 3-10 Arizona Cardinals. And Jacksonville (9-4) just took over first place in the AFC South with last week’s win over the Indianapolis Colts, and it would be easy to subconsciously coast against the visiting 3-10 New York Jets. But doing so would open the door for those hard-charging Texans.
As losers of three straight, the 8-5 Philadelphia Eagles shouldn’t be looking past anyone. If any team needs an authoritative victory to help get their groove back, it’s the Eagles. A date with the 2-11 Las Vegas Raiders seems like the perfect medicine. But could former Philadelphia backup Kenny Pickett provide a spark and capitalize on his familiarity with the Eagles’ defense?
And as the San Francisco 49ers return from their bye week, they should be refreshed and focused on a strong finish that will keep them in the thick of the NFC playoff hunt. Of course, they’ll stomp the two-win Tennessee Titans, right? You would think. But the Titans did just hang 31 on a Browns defense that ranks among the stingiest in the league.
Will this group of contenders take care of business, or will some of these underdogs manage to play the role of spoiler this week? (Browns at Bears, 1 p.m. ET, Sunday, Fox; Raiders at Eagles, 1 p.m. ET, Sunday, Fox; Jets at Jaguars, 1 p.m. ET, Sunday, CBS; Cardinals at Texans, 1 p.m. ET, Sunday, Fox; Titans at 49ers, 4:25 p.m. ET, Sunday, Fox)
Ol’ Man River(s)
It’s 2025, where 40-plus-year-old quarterbacks like Aaron Rodgers and Joe Flacco have given franchises hope. So it’s only fitting that the Colts lured Philip Rivers away from his fatherly, grandfatherly and high school coaching duties to help keep their Super Bowl dreams alive.
Entering last week, the Colts boasted one of the most prolific offenses this season and ranked among the favorites to win the AFC South and make a run at a Super Bowl. Then quarterback Daniel Jones ruptured an Achilles tendon. With 2023 first-round pick Anthony Richardson still shelved after a freak accident left him with a fractured face, and backup Riley Leonard hobbled by a knee injury, the Colts reached into their past, signing the 44-year-old Rivers this week.
Five years after he quarterbacked them to their last postseason appearance, Rivers will try to quickly dust off the rust and do so again. The pressure couldn’t be any higher. The Colts trail Jacksonville in the division and close out the season against the Seattle Seahawks (this week), 49ers, Jaguars and Texans. Rivers knows the offense, having played under head coach Shane Steichen when the latter served as offensive coordinator with the Los Angeles Chargers. But he faces physical challenges, having not played in a game or taken a hit in five years.
The Seahawks boast a vaunted defense that ranks fifth in the league with 21 takeaways and gives up just 17.4 points per game (second-fewest). But Rivers is prepared to let it rip, just as he always did, and see what happens. (Colts at Seahawks, 4:25 p.m. ET, Sunday, CBS)
Now or never?
We’ve been saying for weeks now that time is running out for a handful of would-be contenders. Well, that clock is down to its final ticks for some of the AFC’s most esteemed teams.
The Kansas City Chiefs are on the brink of elimination after losing two straight and four of their last five. Their run of nine consecutive AFC West titles isn’t extending to 10. Their run of 10 straight playoff appearances could come to an end as well. On Sunday, they host the Chargers, who already beat them once (Week 1, 27-21) and boast a 9-4 record and rank second in the division behind the Denver Broncos. Injuries and inconsistencies have caused the Chiefs to stumble as of late, but they have no margin for error. They’ll have to find a way to limit Justin Herbert and the Chargers, or else this loss could mark the end for this generation’s most dominant team.
Meanwhile, the Baltimore Ravens find themselves in a similar place of desperation. The Ravens clawed their way back from a 1-5 start to pry first place in the AFC North away from Pittsburgh. But then came last week’s loss to those Steelers, which caused them to fall out of the postseason picture at 6-7. This week, the Ravens travel to Cincinnati to face a problematic Bengals team. Cincinnati struggles to stop many opponents, but two weeks ago, they forced five Ravens turnovers and held Lamar Jackson and company to just 14 points. Meanwhile, since returning from injury, Joe Burrow has led offensive outings of 32 and 34 points, respectively. Baltimore can’t afford another loss to the Bengals. Instead, they need wins in this challenging stretch (Cincinnati, New England and Green Bay) so they have a shot at wrestling the division crown away from Pittsburgh in Week 18.
Over in the NFC, the Detroit Lions are in trouble. Having fallen behind Green Bay and Chicago, and having battled inconsistency and injuries much of the season, the Lions would miss the playoffs if they began today. Dan Campbell’s team needs to finish strong to give itself a chance to overtake Chicago in the wild-card race. But Detroit faces a tall task this week as it heads to Los Angeles to face the NFC-leading Rams. The Lions proved last week that they remain dangerous as they torched the Dallas Cowboys defense in a 44-30 victory. The Lions have struggled to string together success, however, and haven’t won two games in a row since Weeks 4 and 5. Containing a Rams offense that ranks among the most potent and efficient in the league will prove challenging, as will the need to overcome L.A.’s aggressive defensive front. (Chiefs at Chargers 1 p.m. ET, Sunday, CBS; Ravens at Bengals 1 p.m. ET, Sunday, CBS; Lions at Rams, 4:25 p.m. ET, Sunday, CBS)
Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs are on the verge of being eliminated from postseason contention. (Amy Kontras / Imagn Images)
Super Bowl preview?
The AFC’s top team welcomes in the NFC’s current No. 2 seed as the Broncos host the Packers, and there will be fireworks with two of the league’s brightest minds (Denver’s Sean Payton and Green Bay’s Matt LaFleur) facing off. But this game also features two of the NFL’s most aggressive and stingy defenses, led by the Broncos’ Vance Joseph and the Packers’ Jeff Hafley.
The Broncos enter this game riding a 10-game winning streak and looking to maintain a slight edge over the Patriots in the hunt for the top seed in the conference and a first-round playoff bye. They boast a 6-0 home record and also have great resilience. Quarterback Bo Nix has directed six game-winning drives this season, and Denver has won seven consecutive games decided by 4 points or fewer.
Slowing the most aggressive pass-rushing defense in the NFL ranks among the Packers’ top priorities Sunday, and one of the ways to hold off an aggressive pass rush is to establish the run game. There are two issues with that, however. First, Green Bay running back Josh Jacobs (tied for third in the NFL with 12 rushing touchdowns) missed multiple practice sessions this week because of a knee injury and was considered day-to-day, so it’s possible that the Packers will not have their workhorse (he’s officially questionable). Second, Denver fields one of the strongest run defenses and holds foes to just 89 rushing yards per game. That means more pressure on quarterback Jordan Love, who will need a strong showing from wide receiver Christian Watson, who had two touchdown catches in the win over Chicago. (Packers at Broncos, 4:25 p.m. ET, Sunday, CBS)
AFC East heavyweight bout
The Buffalo Bills have dominated the AFC East, winning the division five straight years. But after a 4-0 start to the season, Buffalo suffered a stunning defeat at the hands of the visiting New England Patriots in Week 5. Buffalo has trailed New England ever since, and the Patriots have only strengthened their standing, winning 10 straight (while improving to 3-0 in the division) and battling Denver for the top position in the conference. Now they meet again, this time in Foxboro.
Buffalo (2-2 in the division) would love to avenge that loss to New England, but doing so could prove challenging. The Patriots have only improved since and now field one of the most effective and balanced offenses in the league, while also excelling on defense and special teams. Buffalo, meanwhile, has struggled with consistency on both sides of the ball. Because of the Bills’ defensive issues, winning often requires an all-world performance from Josh Allen, and if he’s not at his best, Buffalo offers little support. Allen turned the ball over twice in the last meeting, and a win in the turnover department translated into a victory in the win column for New England. Allen and the Bills have a very slim margin for error. Meanwhile, the Patriots will look to Drake Maye — an MVP candidate in Year 2 and the second-leading passer this season — to continue to pace their offense while receiving support from a formidable defense. (Bills at Patriots, 1 p.m. ET, Sunday, CBS)
