Week 15 Takeaways: Tight Ends Shine, AFC Picture Clears, and Injuries Shake the NFC
Week 15 brought plenty of clarity in the AFC playoff race, a few standout performances at tight end, and some unfortunate injury news that could reshape the NFC picture down the stretch. Let’s break it all down - from George Kittle’s continued dominance to the Broncos taking control of the conference, and everything in between.
Tight Ends Stealing the Spotlight
Let’s start with the big guys who line up next to the tackles but move like wideouts - the tight ends.
George Kittle is on one of those tears that reminds you just how special he is when healthy. After missing time earlier in the season with a hamstring injury, Kittle has been nothing short of elite since returning in Week 7.
He added to his hot streak with 8 catches for 88 yards and a touchdown in San Francisco’s 37-24 win over Tennessee. That’s his sixth score of the season and a continuation of a stretch that’s seen him rack up 41 receptions, 459 yards, and 5 TDs since Week 7.
When Kittle’s cooking like this, the Niners’ offense hits a different gear.
Over in Dallas, T.J. Hockenson helped close out the Sunday slate with a solid outing in Minnesota’s 34-26 win.
He hauled in 4 passes for 66 yards in a game that once again left us scratching our heads about this Vikings team. They’re inconsistent, unpredictable - and somehow still in the mix.
Unfortunately, not all the tight end news was positive. Noah Fant exited early in Cincinnati’s 24-0 loss to Baltimore with an ankle injury and didn’t return. He was held without a catch, and his status going forward is something to monitor for a Bengals squad that continues to be one of the league’s most puzzling teams.
Riley Moss, Lukas Van Ness, and the AFC’s New Top Dog
The Broncos are officially in the driver’s seat in the AFC, and a big reason why was the performance of Riley Moss, who had himself a moment late in Denver’s 34-26 win over Green Bay.
Moss was flagged earlier on a questionable pass interference call - one that set up a Packers touchdown - but he bounced back in a big way. With the game on the line in the fourth quarter, Moss came down with his first interception of the season (and second of his career), helping Denver slam the door shut.
That win, combined with a Patriots loss earlier in the day, gave the Broncos a clear path to the No. 1 seed in the AFC. And thanks to Denver’s sweep of Las Vegas - who beat New England back in Week 1 - the Broncos now hold the tie-breaker over the Pats.
The road to the Super Bowl in the AFC officially runs through Denver, and right now, that city is buzzing. The Broncos are rolling, the Avalanche look like a juggernaut, and the Nuggets are battling through injuries with one of the best records in the West.
(Let’s just not talk about the Rockies.)
As for the Packers, Lukas Van Ness made his full return to action after a limited showing in Week 12. He notched two tackles and nearly came down with a wild interception that bounced off his helmet in the fourth quarter.
Green Bay’s going to need him in a big way moving forward, especially after losing Micah Parsons to a season-ending knee injury. The non-contact nature of the injury only made it more gut-wrenching.
It was a brutal day for the Packers, who tumbled from first in the NFC North and a potential top seed to the 7th seed in a matter of hours.
Tory Taylor Keeps Flipping the Field
The Bears’ special teams unit continues to be a quiet weapon, and Tory Taylor is a big reason why. He had another efficient day, punting 4 times for 172 yards in Chicago’s emphatic 31-3 win over Cleveland.
Next week’s showdown at Soldier Field against the Packers just got a whole lot bigger. With Sunday’s results, the Bears now sit atop the NFC North.
And while they did lose to Green Bay at Lambeau just two weeks ago, this team is red-hot and showing no signs of slowing down. The timing couldn’t be worse for the Packers, who are banged up and reeling.
It’s setting up to be one of the most important games of the season - and one of the most fun.
Desmond King Calls It a Career
A quick and well-deserved shoutout to Desmond King, who announced his retirement last week after eight seasons in the league.
A 2017 fifth-round pick by the Chargers, King made an immediate impact and earned first-team All-Pro honors in 2018 as a return specialist. That season, he racked up 318 punt return yards and a touchdown on 23 returns, added 522 kick return yards on 22 attempts, and even took an interception to the house.
He played for five teams in total - the Chargers, Titans, Texans, Steelers, and Ravens - and leaves the game as one of the more underrated playmakers of the past decade. Cheers to a strong career.
Looking Ahead
With just a few weeks left in the regular season, the playoff picture is taking shape - but there’s still plenty of chaos to come. The Broncos are surging, the Bears are peaking, and injuries are reshaping the NFC landscape in real-time. Week 16 can’t get here fast enough.