NFL Week 15: Jaguars Shine, Bucs Collapse Late, Dolphins Eliminated
Week 15 in the NFL brought its fair share of drama, heartbreak, and breakout performances - especially for Florida’s trio of teams. From Trevor Lawrence lighting up the Jets, to the Bucs letting one slip away in Atlanta, and the Dolphins seeing their postseason hopes vanish in the Pittsburgh cold, it was a weekend that reshaped playoff outlooks and raised major questions heading into the final stretch.
Let’s break it all down.
Falcons 29, Buccaneers 28 - A Gut-Punch Loss for Tampa Bay
This one’s going to sting for a while in Tampa.
The Buccaneers were seconds away from taking full control of the NFC South. Instead, they walked off the field stunned after Atlanta's Zane Gonzalez drilled a 43-yard field goal as time expired, handing the Falcons a 29-28 win on Thursday Night Football.
Kirk Cousins looked every bit the veteran leader Atlanta hoped for when they brought him in. He torched the Bucs defense for 373 yards and three touchdowns - all of them to tight end Kyle Pitts, who had a career night. Tampa Bay simply had no answers for the Cousins-to-Pitts connection, particularly in the red zone.
Despite the loss, the Bucs remain tied atop the NFC South at 7-7, thanks to the Panthers’ defeat at the hands of the Saints. That sets up a crucial weekend ahead, with both teams still very much in the division race - but Tampa knows this was a missed opportunity to take the driver’s seat.
Steelers 28, Dolphins 15 - Playoff Dreams Frozen in Pittsburgh
The Dolphins went into Monday night needing a win to keep their postseason hopes alive. What they got instead was a cold, hard elimination in the Pittsburgh chill.
Miami fell 28-15 to the Steelers, a loss that officially knocked them out of playoff contention. The offense never found its rhythm, and the Steelers’ defense turned up the heat - even as the temperature dropped.
It was a disappointing end to a season that once held real promise for Miami. Now, the focus shifts to what’s next.
There are questions to answer - at quarterback, on defense, and about the team’s overall direction. The Dolphins have talent, but this year, it just didn’t come together when it mattered most.
Jaguars 48, Jets 20 - Trevor Lawrence Puts on a Show
If there was any doubt about who owns the AFC South right now, the Jaguars answered it with authority.
Jacksonville dominated the Jets 48-20 in a game that was never really close. Trevor Lawrence was simply electric, accounting for six total touchdowns - five through the air and one on the ground. It was the kind of performance that puts him squarely in the conversation among the league’s top young quarterbacks.
Running back Travis Etienne wasn’t just along for the ride either. He hauled in three of Lawrence’s touchdown passes, showcasing the kind of versatility and explosiveness that makes Jacksonville’s offense so dangerous when it’s clicking.
With the win, the Jaguars remain firmly in control of the AFC South and are looking like a team nobody wants to face in January. If Lawrence and Etienne keep playing at this level, Jacksonville might just be getting warmed up.
Looking Ahead
With just a few weeks left in the regular season, the stakes keep getting higher. The Bucs are still alive in the NFC South, but they can’t afford another late-game collapse.
The Dolphins are out, but their offseason storylines are just beginning. And the Jaguars?
They’re surging at the right time - and looking like a real problem for the rest of the AFC.
Week 16 can’t come soon enough.