Santiago Leon and Dan Madden recaps the 2023 NFL Week 15 games.
Contributors
Santiago Leon – @sleon
Dan Madden – @danimal2478
The Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin just announced that Mason Rudolph will be the starting quarterback this weekend versus Bengals.
Week 15 Recap
Bengals 27, Vikings 24 (OT) (Saturday)
Jake Browning led Cincinnati to three fourth-quarter touchdowns and directed the winning drive in overtime in his latest extraordinary performance since taking over for the injured Joe Burrow, and the Bengals beat the Minnesota Vikings 27-24 on Saturday to improve their position in the playoff race.
Bengals beat the Minnesota Vikings 27-24 in overtime on Saturday, December 16, 2023. The Bengals’ Jake Browning took over for the injured Joe Burrow and led the team to three touchdowns in the fourth quarter. The Bengals also made a game-winning field goal in overtime.
- The Bengals entered the fourth quarter trailing 17-3.
- The Vikings had a two-score lead entering the fourth quarter.
- The Bengals had interceptions on back-to-back Minnesota possessions but didn’t turn those into points.
- Browning missed Charlie Jones on what would’ve been a game-changing touchdown.
- Browning evaded the Vikings pass rush and floated his final pass of regulation toward the end zone.
The Vikings lose to the Bengals in OT, 27-24. Nick Mullens threw two INTs in the red zone. The Bengals scored three TDs in the fourth quarter. Kevin O’Connell rolled the dice in OT … but no dice.
Colts 30, Steelers 13 (Saturday)
Minshew matched his career high with three touchdown passes, Indianapolis rushed for 170 yards and the Colts improved their playoff prospects with a 30-13 win over the sagging Pittsburgh Steelers on Saturday.
Trubisky was 16 of 23 for 169 yards with one TD pass and two interceptions. Pittsburgh rushed for 74 yards and finished with 216 total yards.
Trey Sermon ran 17 times for 88 yards to lead the Colts after logging only 11 runs this season.
The Colts scored 30 unanswered points, with Diontae Johnson’s touchdown early in the second quarter being the key.
Gardner Minshew threw three touchdown passes, rushed for 170 yards, and completed 18 of 28 pass attempts for 215 yards.
The defense held the Steelers to 216 total yards and 4-of-12 on third downs.
The Colts’ victory improved their playoff prospects.
Lions 42, Broncos 17 (Saturday)
The Detroit Lions defeated the Denver Broncos 42-17 to move to 10-4 on the year. Offensive spotlight: Lions quarterback Jared Goff finished the game 24-for-34 passing with 278 passing yards and five passing touchdowns.
The Lions’ quarterback, Jared Goff, completed five touchdown passes, including three to rookie tight end Sam LaPorta, and finished the game with 278 passing yards and 24-for-34 passing.
The Broncos’ defense forced a punt on the game’s opening drive, and quarterback Russell Wilson was strip-sacked at the Lions’ 39-yard line. The Lions then scored touchdowns on five consecutive drives.
Browns 20, Bears 17
Despite throwing three interceptions, Joe Flacco led the Cleveland Browns to a second straight win, passing for 374 yards and two touchdowns in a 20-17 win over the Chicago Bears. ‘
The Browns got the ball back with 1:50 remaining and Flacco, the fourth QB to start for Cleveland this season, completed two passes to tight end David Njoku for 65 yards to set up Hopkins’ go-ahead kick.
- Flacco’s performance: Joe Flacco, the Browns’ quarterback, passed for 374 yards, including 212 yards in the fourth quarter. He also threw two touchdowns.
- Fields’ performance: Justin Fields, the Bears’ quarterback, threw 166 yards and one touchdown, and completed 19 of 40 passes. He was intercepted on Hail Mary passes at the end of both halves.
- Defense: The Bears’ defense disrupted Flacco all day, including interceptions by Eddie Jackson, Tremaine Edmunds, and Tyrique Stevenson.
- Running backs: The Bears’ running backs could not get anything going combining for just 58 yards.
- Field goal: Dustin Hopkins made a 34-yard field goal with 32 seconds to play.
- Win: The Browns’ victory keeps their playoff hopes alive.
Texans 19, Titans 16 (OT)
Texans topple Titans in OT on Fairbairn’s 54-yard FG. Ka’imi Fairbairn sinks a 54-yard field goal to give the Texans a 19-16 win over the Titans. NASHVILLE, Tenn. — — The Houston Texans gave themselves a confidence boost winning without injured quarterback C.J. Stroud and several other key players.
- After a short run by Singletary, the Texans ran the clock down to two seconds and called a timeout.
- Fairbairn kicked a 54-yard field goal as time expired in overtime to win the game.
- The Texans’ pass rush put Will Levis under pressure and he eventually left the game in overtime.
- Jonathan Greenard led the team in total pressures and had the best pass-rush win rate on the Texans defense.
Bucs 34, Packers 20
The Buccaneers surge to victory over the Packers, 34-20. The Buccaneers defeated the Packers at Lambeau Field 34-20 and improve to 7-7. Baker Mayfield put on a clinic in the Frozen Tundra, completing 22 of 28 passing attempts for 381 yards, four touchdowns and a perfect passer rating of 158.3.
- 22 of 28 passing attempts
- 381 yards
- Four touchdowns
- 158.3 passer rating
Mayfield becomes the first visiting quarterback in Lambeau Field history to achieve a perfect passer rating. The Packers’ pass defense is unable to stop Mayfield, allowing four touchdown passes.
Panthers 9, Falcons 7
Pineiro rewarded his coach by calmly kicking a 23-yard field goal as time expired as the Panthers defeated Atlanta 9-7 amid a steady downpour Sunday, dealing the Falcons’ playoff hopes a huge blow.
- Field goal: Eddy Pineiro kicked a 23-yard field goal as time expired to win the game.
- Interception: Desmond Ridder’s late interception costs the Falcons.
- Defense: The Panthers’ defense forced two turnovers in the game.
- Running back: Rookie running back Bijan Robinson fumbled deep in his own territory and finished with 11 yards on seven carries.
- Edge defender: Rookie edge defender Zach Harrison got home for a sack.
- Quarterback: Bryce Young threw for 167 yards.
- Running back: Chuba Hubbard ran for 87 on 22.
Chiefs 27, Patriots 17
That’s a hard team to score on in the red zone. One of the best.” Mahomes passed for 305 yards and threw two TD passes of his own to help the defending Super Bowl champions snap a two-game losing streak, thrilling Chiefs superfan Taylor Swift and all the Swifties in New England with a 27-17 victory.
- The Patriots put up a good fight early in the game.
- Bailey Zappe’s first half is competitive, but the Chiefs are able to keep pace with Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs.
- Mahomes takes advantage of a big mistake and big plays to reestablish a double-digit lead.
- Mahomes throws for 305 yards and two touchdowns, and running back Jerick McKinnon runs for a touchdown and throws for another.
- The Chiefs snap a two-game losing streak with this victory.
Dolphins 30, Jets 0
Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa threw for 224 yards and a touchdown while wide receiver Jaylen Waddle and running back Raheem Mostert combined for three scores and the Dolphins defense posted its first shutout of the season in a dominant 30-0 win over the New York Jets Sunday afternoon at Hard Rock Stadium.
On December 17, 2023, the Miami Dolphins beat the New York Jets 30-0 at Hard Rock Stadium in Week 15 of the NFL season. The Dolphins’ defense recorded their first shutout of the season, while wide receiver Jaylen Waddle and running back Raheem Mostert scored three touchdowns each. Mostert’s 19th touchdown of the season is a Dolphins record, and he also broke the single-season record for most touchdowns with 20.
Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa threw for 224 yards and a touchdown, and Bradley Chubb had a career-high three sacks and two tackles for a loss.
Saints 24, Giants 6
The New Orleans Saints took down the New York Giants, 24-6, to move to 7-7 on the year. The Giants opened the scoring on a 56-yard field goal from Randy Bullock, and the Saints closed out the first quarter with a seven-yard touchdown pass from Derek Carr to Keith Kirkwood.
The Saints’ Derek Carr threw for 218 yards and three touchdowns, and the Saints sacked Tommy DeVito seven times.
The Giants’ Randy Bullock kicked a 56-yard field goal to open the scoring, and Keith Kirkwood received a seven-yard touchdown pass from Carr to close out the first quarter.
The Saints’ victory improved their record to 7-7 and kept them tied for first in the NFC South with Tampa Bay with three games to play. The Giants’ loss ended their three-game winning streak and dropped their record to 5-9 on the season
49ers 45, Cardinals 29
49ers quarterback Brock Purdy threw three touchdown passes and running back Christian McCaffrey scored three times in their win.
The 49ers’ win improved their season record to 11-3 and clinched the NFC West title.
Here are some takeaways from the game:
- Quarterback Brock Purdy: Purdy threw four touchdown passes and had a quarterback-friendly system.
- Running back Christian McCaffrey: McCaffrey had 187 total yards and three touchdowns.
- WR Deebo Samuel: Samuel extended his touchdown streak with two scores.
- CB Charvarius Ward: Ward had a career-first in Arizona.
- Defensive front: The defensive front stacked the sacks.
- Run defense: The run defense suffered big time due to the absence of Arik Armstead and Javon Hargrave.
- Other stats: Nick Bosa recorded a sack and left the game for a few plays with a foot injury but came back. The 49ers gave up a season-high 234 yards on the ground, including a 49-yard touchdown run.
Rams 28, Commanders 20
Stafford passed for 258 yards and hit Kupp and Demarcus Robinson for touchdowns, and the Rams hung on for a 28-20 victory over freefalling Washington.
- Offense The Rams’ offense put up 445 total yards, with Kyren Williams rushing for 152 yards and Matthew Stafford throwing two touchdown passes. Stafford passed for 258 yards and hit Cooper Kupp and Demarcus Robinson for touchdowns.
- Defense The Rams’ defense largely shut down the Commanders’ offense until the final minutes. However, Jacoby Brissett led two touchdown drives in the fourth quarter.
- Late game Brissett’s two touchdown passes made it a one-possession game late, cutting the Rams’ lead to 28-21 with under 2 minutes remaining. However, the Rams were able to run out the remaining clock to secure the win after Kupp’s onside kick was knocked out of bounds.
Bills 31, Cowboys 10
Josh Allen completed 7 of 15 passes for 94 yards and a touchdown. Dak Prescott went 21 of 34 for 134 yards with an interception and the Bills held the Cowboys to 89 yards rushing. Buffalo allowed just 195 yards of total offense and sacked Prescott three times.
The Bills’ offense dominated the Cowboys’ defense, with James Cook leading the way.
Cook’s 221 yards from scrimmage and two touchdowns were career highs.
The Bills’ 266-yard ground game also contributed to the victory, with 351 yards of offense in total.
Here are some other stats from the game:
- Josh Allen completed 7 of 15 passes for 94 yards and a touchdown
- Dak Prescott went 21 of 34 for 134 yards with an interception
- The Bills held the Cowboys to 89 yards rushing
- The Bills allowed just 195 yards of total offense
- The Bills sacked Prescott three times
- CeeDee Lamb had seven receptions for 53 yards and a three-yard rushing touchdown in garbage time
Ravens 23, Jaguars 7
The Jaguars gave up 251 rushing yards and weren’t able to overcome self-inflicted mistakes leading to a 23 to 7 loss to the Baltimore Ravens in Week 15 of the 2023 Regular Season.
The Baltimore Ravens defeated the Jacksonville Jaguars 23–7 in Week 15 of the 2023 NFL season on Sunday, December 17, 2023. The Ravens dominated the Jaguars’ defense on the ground, with 251 rushing yards, including 97 yards from Jackson and 73 yards from Keaton Mitchell. Tight end Isaiah Likely’s play of the game, outmaneuvering two defenders to bring down the ball, propelled the Ravens to victory.
Other highlights from the game include:
- Tucker Sheriff’s first point of the game
- Calvin Ridley’s first turnover, which is brought down by Brandon Stevens
- Defensive tackle Justin Madubuike’s one sack, four quarterback hits, and one forced fumble
Predictions
PHI at SEA
Seattle has lost four games in a row, falling from 6-3 to 6-7 overall this season. Philadelphia is 10-3 overall and 5-2 in road games, but the Eagles have lost two straight and will try to avoid a three-game losing streak for the first time since Weeks 2-4 of the 2021 season. Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (illness) and Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith (groin) are both questionable.
DM:
PHI
Santiago Leon is the Founder and CEO of the Sports Cast. He covers NFL, NBA, and world soccer. He’s also founder of sleon productions, which he specializes in technology and serves clients with solutions to make their business grow.
