Tag: Week 15

Good, bad and ugly from Packers’ 34-0 win over Saints in Week 16

The good, the bad and the ugly coming out of the Packers’ 34-0 win over the Saints in Week 16.

The Green Bay Packers are 11-4 and playoff bound are dominating the New Orleans Saints in a 34-0 primetime win on Monday night at Lambeau Field.

Matt LaFleur’s team scored on three straight possessions to create a 21-0 first half lead and Jeff Hafley’s defense did the rest, producing the NFL’s first shutout of the 2024 season with two takeaways and two fourth down stops.

A huge betting favorite, the Packers did what was expected: Dominated a shorthanded opponent from start to finish.

Here’s the good, the bad and the ugly coming out of the Packers’ win over the Saints:

The Good

The start: The Packers produced touchdown drives of 63 yards, 96 yards and 67 yards to open the game. Josh Jacobs was dominant, Jordan Love created explosive plays and the Packers offense consistently converted on third or fourth down and in the red zone. This was the Packers at their very best. For the second straight week, the Packers scored on three or more straight possessions to open a game and opened up a three-score lead.

The defense: Jeff Hafley’s group didn’t allow a point or even a trip into the red zone against nine Saints possessions, creating the first shutout of the 2024 season and the first from the Packers since 2021. And while the Saints were shorthanded on offense, the Packers were missing four preferred starters. New Orleans finished with 196 total yards and only 67 rushing yards.

Another playoff berth: The Packers will be in the postseason for the second straight year under Jordan Love and for the fifth time in six years under Matt LaFleur. Is this the year that the Super Bowl drought comes to an end in Titletown? The Packers are 11-4 overall but will have to do it the hard way as a wildcard team in the loaded NFC. This looks like a well-balanced football team that can win in multiple ways and is starting to play its best football late in the season.

The Bad

Love’s start to second half: The Packers passing game cooled off in a big way to start the second half. Love completed just two of his first seven passes for six total yards before hitting Jayden Reed for a 37-yard gain with 11 minutes left in the fourth quarter. Despite a strong start, Love finished 16 of 28 passing for 182 yards and one touchdown. He didn’t have a turnover, but the Saints dropped a pick on a batted ball. Love’s passer rating was just 88.1, snapping a five-game streak at 100.0 or better.

The Ugly

Christian Watson’s injury: Watson injured his knee at the end of a run in the first half, and he had to exit the game after briefly returning and trying to play through the issue. Coach Matt LaFleur admitted there is concern over the severity of the injury but more testing is required on Tuesday. Watson rushed twice for 23 yards and was open several times on Monday night. Losing him before the postseason would be a big blow to an offense that has caught fire with Watson producing explosive plays since the bye.

Instant analysis of Packers’ 34-0 win over Saints in Week 16

Instant analysis of the Packers’ 34-0 win over the Saints in Week 16.

The Green Bay Packers went over 30 points for the fifth straight game and delivered the NFL’s first shutout of the 2024 season in a 34-0 win over the New Orleans Saints on “Monday Night Football” from Lambeau Field.

Now 11-4, the Packers have officially clinched a playoff berth in the NFC field.

Here is an instant analysis of the Packers’ win over the Saints in Week 16:

Final score: Packers 34, Saints 0

1 2 3 4 F
NO (5-10) 0 0 0 0 0
GB (11-4) 7 14 3 10 34

Live scoring

First quarter

GB 7, NO 0: Dontayvion Wicks 2-yard catch (8:41)

Second quarter

GB 14, NO 0: Josh Jacobs 2-yard run (11:43)
GB 21, NO 0: Chris Brooks 1-yard run (0:32)

Third quarter

GB 24, NO 0: Brandon McManus 55-yard field goal (7:03)

Fourth quarter

GB 27, NO 0: Brandon McManus 46-yard field goal (7:13)
GB 34, NO 0: Emanuel Wilson 1-yard run (2:41)

It was over when…

… Zayne Anderson intercepted Spencer Rattler inside the 10-yard line with the Packers leading 24-0 in the third quarter. The Saints never truly threatened again.

Game balls

Offense — RB Josh Jacobs: He barely played in the second half but still managed to produce 107 total yards and a touchdown on 17 total touches.

Defense — DE Brenton Cox Jr.: He produced another sack, finished with two quarterback hits and was in on probably a half-dozen other pressures of Spencer Rattler.

Special teams — K Brandon McManus: He comfortably made field goals of 55 yards (season long) and 46 yards and was 4-for-4 on extra points. The veteran has become automatic.

Key stat

188: The Packers dominated on the ground, rushing 39 times for 188 yards and three scores. Nine different players had a rushing attempt. Josh Jacobs, Emanuel Wilson and Chris Brooks combined for 144 yards and three touchdowns.

Deciding factor

Another fast start: Last week, the Packers scored on four straight possessions to grab a 20-0 lead in Seattle. This week, the Packers got three straight touchdown drives to establish a 21-0 lead in the first half. Game over.

Jordan Love watch

Love started fast, throwing a touchdown pass to Dontayvion Wicks on third down to finish the first drive and hitting Tucker Kraft for a pair of explosive plays on the two other touchdown drives in the first half. But he cooled off and finished just 16 of 28 passing for 182 yards and a touchdown — good for a passer rating of 88.0. He had a couple of passes knocked down and wasn’t pin-point accurate down the stretch. A near interception was dropped on a deflected pass. Credit the Packers for scoring over 30 points and winning comfortably without a top performance from their quarterback.

Play of the game

This play set the tone. Well blocked up front, and Josh Jacobs finishing the run with power. The 20-yard run set up the Packers’ opening drive touchdown.

Injury updates

Receiver Christian Watson exited with a knee injury. Linebacker Ty’Ron Hopper left with an injury early but returned.

What’s next

A trip to Minneapolis to play the Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium next Sunday. The NFL flexed the game to the 3:25 p.m. timeslot on FOX, so it’ll be a nationally televised game.

NFC North update

The Lions beat the Bears and the Vikings came back to beat the Seahawks on Sunday, eliminating the Packers from contention for the NFC North title. The Lions and Vikings are both 13-2. The best the Packers can hope for now is getting the No. 5 seed as a wildcard.

Is it time to hit the panic button on the Pittsburgh Steelers defense?

The Steelers’ defense has faltered in back-to-back losses, raising questions about their identity and playoff readiness.

The Pittsburgh Steelers have dropped to 10-5 following two consecutive losses to the Philadelphia Eagles and Baltimore Ravens in Weeks 15 and 16, respectively.

While both of these teams boasted high-powered offenses, the Steelers’ defense has recently showcased a loss of identity. The Lamar Jackson-led Ravens offense produced over 400 yards in the Steelers’ loss, and the Eagles accomplished the same the previous week.

Back in November, the Steelers held the Ravens to 16 total points compared to the 34-17 blowout loss in Week 16. What truly changed—and should fans begin to panic?

It is understandable that exhaustion has set in for the Black and Gold, as the team is currently in the midst of playing three games against Super Bowl contenders in just a 10-day span.

Injuries are also a likely cause, with the team missing CB Joey Porter Jr., CB Donte Jackson, DT Larry Ogunjobi, and SS DeShon Elliott. Their absences impact all facets of the defensive side of the ball.

With the Steelers’ playoff spot clinched, keeping the team healthy should be the primary concern rather than forcing players who are less than 100% to play injured.

Don’t worry, Steelers fans—this defense will reign supreme once again!

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Broncos OLB Nik Bonitto fined $8,791 for obscene gesture vs. Colts

Broncos OLB Nik Bonitto was fined $8,791 for an obscene gesture against the Colts in Week 15.

Denver Broncos outside linebacker Nik Bonitto was fined $8,791 for an obscene gesture against the Indianapolis Colts in Week 15, according to multiple reports. Bonitto made the gesture after a fumble-six.

In addition to Bonitto’s fine, Broncos safety Brandon Jones also received two fines from Week 15 — a $16,883 fine for a hip-drop tackle and a $11,255 fine for a late late hit, according to KUSA-TV’s Mike Klis.

Any potential Denver fines from their Thursday Night Football showdown with the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 16 will be announced next week.

Jones ($28,138) has been the team’s most-fined player this season, followed by safety P.J. Locke ($27,944), defensive lineman Malcolm Roach ($25,324), Bonitto ($17,582), cornerback Pat Surtain ($11,255), fullback Mike Burton ($7,653), center Luke Wattenberg ($5,872), tight end Lucas Krull ($5,083) and safety Devon Key ($4,417).

The money the league receives from fines is “donated to the Professional Athletes Foundation to support Legends in need and the NFL Foundation to further support the health, safety and wellness of athletes across all levels,” per the NFL.

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NFL reveals officiating mistake with fines for Steelers-Eagles fight

The NFL’s fines after the Steelers-Eagles fight expose officiating errors from Week 15’s heated altercation.

It appears the NFL is attempting to right the wrong from the terrible officiating on the penalty resulting from the Week 15 skirmish between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Philadelphia Eagles.

The fight in question saw Steelers TE Darnell Washington take his blocking assignment a little too far, Eagles CBs Darius Slay Jr. and Quinyon Mitchell throw haymakers, and Steelers WR Calvin Austin III defend his teammate. However, the NFL initially only penalized the Black and Gold, claiming they had not seen any punches thrown by Philadelphia. Footage emerged following the game, clearly showing Slay punching Washington.

Almost a week later, the NFL has seemingly realized its mistake while handing out fines. While Austin and Washington were also fined—$6,173 and $6,760 respectively—it is nowhere close to the amount Mitchell and Slay are being charged, with both fined $14,069 each for their involvement.

Did the NFL do enough to correct the awful call from the Steelers-Eagles game? One could argue they did, but it’s a mistake that may have contributed to the Black and Gold’s loss.

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Cam Heyward tears into controversial Week 15 officiating vs Eagles

Cam Heyward calls out poor officiating in the Week 15 Steelers-Eagles game that saw several questionable penalty decisions made.

As viewers of the Week 15 contest between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Philadelphia Eagles are well aware, the officiating was—to say the least—terrible.

Veteran Steelers DT Cam Heyward took exception with two poor calls in particular, one that saw his little brother TE/FB Connor Heyward being punched, and the other was TE Darnell Washington being slugged by Eagles CB Darius Slay.

On the most recent episode of Not Just Football with Cam Heyward, the Steelers defensive tackle discussed both of the atrocious officiating decisions: “The reasoning behind those two plays just felt idiotic.”

Heyward would continue to rip into the officials’ decisions and vision on these penalties, arguing that it “did not feel like they even looked at the plays.”

Heyward concluded his analysis and criticism of the officials from Week 15’s contest, describing that, at the very least, the penalties should have offset between Washington and Slay.

Heyward will need to recompose himself, as the team has little time to focus on the poor officiating from Week 15. The Pittsburgh Steelers have the potential to take the AFC North title by defeating the Baltimore Ravens in Week 16, and to do so, every bit of energy and effort will need to be spent on stopping the Lamar Jackson-led offense.

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All 32 NFL quarterbacks (including Bo Nix) ranked by Total QBR

Broncos rookie quarterback Bo Nix has a Total QBR rating of 52.2 through 15 weeks. He ranks 21st in the NFL.

Denver Broncos rookie quarterback Bo Nix posted a Total QBR rating of 15.2 in the team’s 31-13 win over the Indianapolis Colts in Week 15, bringing his season-long Total QBR average to 52.2.

Nix’s season-long rating has dropped since last week (56.2) and his overall rank (No. 21) among starters is also down since last week (No. 19).

Nix’s traditional passer rating this season is 86.1, which ranks 24th.

Unlike a traditional passer rating, the Total QBR “incorporates all of a quarterback’s contributions to winning, including how he impacts the game on passes, rushes, turnovers and penalties,” according to ESPN.

The metric takes into account scenarios that a traditional passer rating overlooks and considers “a team’s level of success or failure on every play to provide the proper context and then allocates credit to the quarterback and his teammate to produce a clearer measure of quarterback efficiency.”

With that context in mind, here’s a look at how Nix stacks up against the NFL’s other starting quarterbacks this fall.

NFL QBs ranked by Total QBR after Week 15

  1. Michael Penix: 95.3
  2. Josh Allen: 79.3
  3. Lamar Jackson: 76.0
  4. Joe Burrow: 74.0
  5. Kyler Murray: 68.3
  6. Jayden Daniels: 67.9
  7. Matthew Stafford: 66.4
  8. Jordan Love: 66.3
  9. Jared Goff: 65.6
  10. Jalen Hurts: 65.4
  11. Brock Purdy: 65.2
  12. Patrick Mahomes: 64.6
  13. Tua Tagovailoa: 61.2
  14. Sam Darnold: 60.2
  15. Drake Maye: 58.7
  16. Justin Herbert: 56.5
  17. Baker Mayfield: 56.1
  18. Russell Wilson: 55.3
  19. Aaron Rodgers: 53.9
  20. Mason Rudolph: 53.4
  21. Bo Nix: 52.2
  22. Geno Smith: 52.1
  23. C.J. Stroud: 49.8
  24. Caleb Williams: 48.1
  25. Anthony Richardson: 46.5
  26. Drew Lock: 45.3
  27. Bryce Young: 44.0
  28. Spencer Rattler: 42.0
  29. Aidan O’Connell: 40.7
  30. Cooper Rush: 36.3
  31. Mac Jones: 34.1
  32. Dorian Thompson-Robinson: 16.4

Nix will look to improve his Total QBR rating when the Broncos take on the Los Angeles Chargers on Thursday Night Football in Week 16.

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Former Steelers QB frustrated by botched plays in Week 15 loss

Ben Roethlisberger voices his frustrations over the Steelers’ Week 15 loss to the Eagles, pointing to key moments that sealed their fate.

While watching the Pittsburgh Steelers’ Week 15 matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles, one legendary Steelers quarterback shared the disappointment felt by much of the Black and Gold faithful.

Former Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger, while discussing Pittsburgh’s loss in Week 15 with co-host Spencer Te’o on his podcast, Footbahlin with Ben Roethlisberger, revealed the specific plays he deemed game “killers.”

Big Ben expressed frustrations with areas of the Steelers’ offense that fans have collectively agreed need improvement: finding a reliable WR2 and avoiding slow starts in the first half.

Roethlisberger highlighted a few plays in particular that he believed were “killers” for any hope of a late-game comeback against the Eagles in Week 15: “Najee fumbling the toss sweep—that was a killer.” He then pointed to what he argued was an even greater misstep: “I think one of the killers was Coach T punting on like the 47ish [yard line]. They never got the ball back.”

While the Pittsburgh Steelers’ overall performance was rough in Week 15, is Roethlisberger correct in his analysis that Harris and head coach Mike Tomlin’s “killer” plays sealed the Black and Gold’s loss?

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Top highlights from Chiefs’ Week 15 win over Browns

Check out all the top highlights from the Kansas City #Chiefs’ Week 15 win over the Cleveland #Browns.

This week the Kansas City Chiefs traveled to take on the Cleveland Browns at Huntington Bank Field in Week 15 and escaped Northeast Ohio with a hard-fought 21-7 win.

Though Kansas City was expected to steamroll the lowly Browns, Cleveland put up a great fight that kept the game relatively close until the final whistle blew.

The Browns’ defense held the Chiefs to just three touchdowns and were credited with 12 quarterback hits in the game despite Cleveland’s failure to tally a single sack.

Browns quarterback Jameis Winston threw three interceptions, the lion’s share of Cleveland’s six total turnovers that kept Kansas City in the driver’s set. Patrick Mahomes had a great game in comparison, throwing for two touchdowns without being intercepted.

While the Chiefs’ Week 15 victory over the Browns may not be the most notable game that the defending Super Bowl champions have played this season, Kansas City advanced its record to 13-1 with the win and maintained its position in the race for the AFC’s No. 1 playoff seed.

Top Highlights:

 

Najee Harris shocked to learn NFL blamed wrong player for his fumble

Najee Harris defends Russell Wilson after NFL credits him with costly fumble, taking full responsibility for the turnover.

Many would assume RB Najee Harris is a massive fan of NFL statistics—after all—it credited a different player with his costly fumble from Week 15’s loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.

However, Harris isn’t looking to shift the blame, and he certainly isn’t happy that the NFL credited the Pittsburgh Steelers’ signal caller for the turnover.

While speaking to reporters on Wednesday—in the build-up to Week 16’s AFC North showdown—Harris was asked his opinion on the NFL crediting QB Russell Wilson with the fumble.

Surprised but smiling, Harris questioned the decision itself: “I wasn’t? That’s crazy.” His attitude quickly took a more serious tone as the running back told reporters, “The stat sheet may say that—but nobody believes that. That was all on me. I don’t know why they put that on Russ.”

While admirable in defense of his teammate and his ability to fault himself for the game-changing turnover, it doesn’t change the narrative—Harris may have lost his team the game in Week 15.

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