Week 15 in the NFL wrapped up with a Monday night showdown in Pittsburgh, where the Steelers held off the Dolphins to stay atop a tightly contested AFC North. It was a gritty, physical win that kept Mike Tomlin’s squad in the driver’s seat with just three weeks left in the regular season. But that was just the tip of the iceberg in a wild weekend of action that shook up the playoff picture, delivered some emotional returns, and saw a pair of devastating injuries to two of the league’s biggest stars.
Let’s break it all down and look ahead to a Week 16 slate packed with playoff implications, quarterback storylines, and divisional battles that could define the postseason race.
AFC Chaos: Comebacks, Collapses, and Crushing Injuries
Buffalo pulled off one of the most dramatic wins of the season, erasing a 21-point deficit to stun the Patriots and tighten the race in the AFC East. The Bills’ offense found its rhythm late, and the defense made just enough plays to seal the comeback. For New England, it was a gut-wrenching loss that undid three quarters of dominant football-and left them scrambling to stay in the playoff hunt.
Speaking of scrambling, the Chiefs are officially out. That’s not a typo.
The three-time defending AFC champs were mathematically eliminated from playoff contention in Week 15, marking a stunning fall from grace for a team that’s been the gold standard in the conference for years. It’s the end of an era-and unfortunately, it came with a brutal twist.
Both Patrick Mahomes and Cowboys star Micah Parsons suffered season-ending ACL injuries this weekend, sending shockwaves through the league. Mahomes going down is monumental-not just for the Chiefs, but for the NFL as a whole.
Parsons, meanwhile, was in the middle of another All-Pro caliber season and was the heartbeat of a Cowboys defense with Super Bowl aspirations. There’s no sugarcoating it: these are massive losses.
On a more hopeful note, Packers wide receiver Christian Watson, who was hospitalized with a chest injury, received positive news. While he’s still being monitored, early reports suggest he avoided serious complications.
Thursday Night: NFC West Showdown in Seattle
Week 16 kicks off with a heavyweight battle in the NFC West as the Rams head to Seattle to take on the Seahawks. Both teams are 11-3, but the Rams own the head-to-head tiebreaker after their win earlier this season. That means Thursday night could swing the division-and maybe even the top seed in the NFC.
Matthew Stafford continues to build a compelling MVP case, and his connection with Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua has been surgical. On the other side, Sam Darnold’s resurgence has been one of the most surprising storylines of the season.
He’s playing with confidence, protecting the football, and giving Seattle a real shot at a deep playoff run. Kickoff from Lumen Field is set for 8:15 p.m.
ET, streaming exclusively on Amazon Prime Video.
Saturday Doubleheader: Division Titles and Rivalry Heat
With college football’s regular season in the rearview, the NFL is sliding into Saturday with a pair of in-division matchups that could reshape the playoff landscape.
Game 1: Eagles at Commanders - 5:00 p.m. ET on FOX
Philadelphia heads to D.C. looking to lock up the NFC East and build on last week’s win that snapped a rough midseason stretch. The Eagles are still one of the most complete teams in the league when they’re clicking-and they’ll need to bring that energy against a Commanders team that, while out of the playoff picture and without rookie QB Jayden Daniels, would love nothing more than to play spoiler.
Game 2: Packers at Bears - 8:20 p.m. ET on FOX
This one’s got classic NFC North vibes written all over it. The Bears are 10-4 and red-hot, winning six of their last seven and eyeing their first playoff berth since 2020.
The Packers, at 9-4-1, are right on their heels despite a tough loss to Denver and the loss of Micah Parsons on defense. Lambeau may not be the setting, but the stakes couldn’t be higher in Chicago.
Sunday Slate: Stacked and Sprawling
Sunday brings a full schedule, starting with seven early kickoffs at 1:00 p.m. ET, followed by a pair of 4:05 p.m. games and two more at 4:25 p.m. While most of the divisional fireworks are reserved for Thursday and Saturday, Sunday still has plenty of juice.
Notable matchups include:
- Cowboys vs. Chargers - Dallas will need to regroup quickly without Parsons, while the Chargers are still clinging to wild-card hopes.
- Jaguars at Broncos - Jacksonville is trying to stay on top of the AFC South, while Denver is playing its best football of the season.
- Steelers at Lions - Pittsburgh is riding high after their Monday night win, but Detroit’s physical brand of football at home is no easy task.
Sunday Night Football: Patriots at Ravens - 8:20 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock
This one’s got serious postseason implications. The Patriots, fresh off that blown 21-point lead to Buffalo, are reeling.
Drake Maye had arguably his worst outing as a pro, and the defense collapsed in the second half. They’ll need a bounce-back performance in Baltimore to keep their playoff hopes alive.
The Ravens, meanwhile, are coming off a crucial division win over the Bengals and are now right in the thick of the AFC North title race. At 7-7, they’re also battling for a wild-card spot, and with a 5-5 record in the conference, every game matters. Expect a physical, playoff-style atmosphere at M&T Bank Stadium.
Monday Night: Rivers Returns to Indy
Philip Rivers is back under center for the Colts-and back in Lucas Oil Stadium for the first time in nearly five years. The 44-year-old quarterback, who came out of retirement earlier this season, will start against the 49ers in a game that could make or break Indy’s postseason chances.
Despite Anthony Richardson reportedly being cleared to return, head coach Shane Steichen confirmed that Rivers will get the nod in Week 16. The Colts are 8-5 but have dropped four straight, and they’ll need to right the ship quickly.
San Francisco, on the other hand, is surging. Winners of four straight, the 49ers are 10-4 and just one game back in the NFC West. Brock Purdy is back in rhythm, tossing four touchdowns and no picks over the last two weeks, and the defense has been dominant-holding opponents to single digits in two of their last three games.
Kickoff is set for 8:15 p.m. ET on ESPN and ABC.
Final Stretch
With just three weeks left in the regular season, the playoff picture is still wide open. Injuries have thrown some contenders off course, while others are peaking at just the right time.
Week 16 is loaded with must-watch matchups, and the margin for error is razor-thin. Buckle up-December football is here, and it’s not waiting for anyone.