Big questions on Week 15 games: Can the Rams take the 1-seed? What now for the Chiefs?

Week 15 of the 2025 NFL season began with an NFC South game between the Falcons and Buccaneers on Thursday night. Led by three touchdowns from tight end Kyle Pitts Sr., the Falcons won thanks to a field goal from kicker Zane Gonzalez as time expired.

In the early window Sunday, the Eagles bounced back from a five-turnover performance last week with a shutout win over the Raiders. The Bengals and Chiefs were eliminated from playoff contention after losses to the Ravens and Chargers, respectively. Kansas City quarterback Patrick Mahomes left the Chiefs’ loss late in the fourth quarter with a left knee injury.

The Bills denied the Patriots a chance to clinch the AFC East title. And in the NFC East, the Commanders ended an eight-game losing streak with a win against the Giants. The Texans and Jaguars also scored 40-plus points in dominant victories. Meanwhile, the Bears easily handled the Browns, marking the team’s first 10-win season since 2018.

In the late window, the Rams and Broncos clinched playoff berths with wins over the Lions and Packers, respectively. Green Bay lost edge rusher Micah Parsons (knee) and wide receiver Christian Watson (chest) to injuries in the third quarter. The 49ers and Seahawks also won, with Seattle squeaking by the Colts in 44-year-old quarterback Philip Rivers‘ first start in five years. In a big NFC South matchup, the Saints defeated the Panthers thanks to a winning field goal from Charlie Smyth. The Vikings ended Sunday’s action with a win over the Cowboys.

Our NFL Nation reporters reacted to all the action, answering lingering questions coming out of each game and detailing everything you need to know for every team. Let’s get to it.

Jump to:
MIN-DAL | DET-LAR | GB-DEN
CAR-NO | TEN-SF | IND-SEA
LAC-KC | NYJ-JAX | CLE-CHI
ARI-HOU | WSH-NYG | BUF-NE
BAL-CIN | LV-PHI | ATL-TB

Catch up on the action: Box score | Recap

Vikings

Was this J.J. McCarthy‘s best game? All things considered, yes. McCarthy was far from perfect, but he made more impactful throws than in any of his previous seven starts. The Vikings’ offense is built on chunk plays in the passing game, something McCarthy had been unable to deliver in volume. But he completed five passes that traveled at least 15 yards in the air on Sunday night, including a 58-yard throw to Jordan Addison and a 20-yard touchdown to Jalen Nailor. His 250 passing yards were a career-high.

Key stat to know: The Vikings defense got after Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott all night, pressuring him on 48% of his dropbacks. That was the highest pressure percentage Prescott has faced in a game in his career. and it was a big reason the Cowboys couldn’t gobble up chunks of the field in their passing game. Prescott completed eight of 15 passes for 117 yards on those dropbacks. — Kevin Seifert

Next game: at Giants (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)

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Cowboys

Did the Cowboys’ season end with the loss to the Vikings? Officially? No. Realistically? Yes. The best the Cowboys can finish now is 9-7-1. They need to win their three remaining games and the Eagles have to lose their final three for Dallas to win the NFC East. The wild-card route is over. Two of the Eagles last three games are against the 4-10 Commanders. The Cowboys can look back at losses to the Panthers and Cardinals as deal breakers, but they have lacked the consistency needed to be a playoff team. The sad part is that it has come with the 32-year-old Prescott having one of his best seasons. As has been the case for most of the season, the defense let the Cowboys down when it was needed the most.

Key stat to know: Third down was not kind to the Cowboys. They converted only two of 12 opportunities after entering Sunday’s game with the NFL’s sixth-best third-down rate (43.8%). Remarkably, the Cowboys did not convert a third down through the air. Minnesota provided a number of different looks for Prescott, and the Cowboys struggled to come up with answers. Prior to Sunday, the Cowboys’ worst third-down day came Week 3 at Chicago, when they converted only 3 of 11 opportunities in a loss. — Todd Archer

Next game: vs. Chargers (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)

Catch up on the action: Box score | Recap

Rams

Now that the Rams have clinched a playoff berth, how realistic is the NFC’s No. 1 seed? It seemed realistic for the Rams (11-3) in the fourth quarter, as they led the Lions thanks to another strong offensive performance. But in consecutive drives, Los Angeles lost wide receivers Davante Adams (hamstring) and Puka Nacua (cramps) to injuries. The Rams sit atop the NFC, and they have a 54% chance to end the season there, per ESPN Analytics. Nacua returned to the game late in the fourth quarter, but Adams did not. The Rams’ potential seeding might be heavily impacted by the health of Adams, who has 14 touchdowns this season. The Rams’ next test comes quickly as they face the Seahawks (11-3) on Thursday.

Stat to know: The Rams have three rushing touchdowns in consecutive games for the first time since Weeks 15 and 16 of the 2000 season, according to ESPN Research. In the midst of an MVP-level season for Matthew Stafford, the Rams have relied on their running game down the stretch.

Best quote from the locker room: Sean McVay said Adams was “optimistic” about his left hamstring injury, but cast doubt on the receiver playing Thursday night. “We’ll see what that means,” McVay said. “I can’t imagine that’s good for Thursday with just the short amount of time, but I certainly wouldn’t rule him out quite yet. But it didn’t look good.” — Sarah Barshop

Next game: at Seahawks (Thursday, 8:15 p.m. ET)

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Lions

Have the Lions ruined their playoff hopes? Every game matters at this point, as the Lions continue to fight for a playoff spot with time running out this season. Although reaching the postseason is not impossible, it isn’t a given, either. Detroit dug a deeper hole with its latest loss against the Rams, as its chance to make the playoffs fell to 34% (independent of other games), according to ESPN Analytics. Also concerning is that Detroit’s defense allowed a season-high 41 points Sunday.

Stat to know: Defensive end Aidan Hutchinson‘s 58-yard interception return at 8:24 in the first quarter was the fourth longest by a defensive lineman in team history, and the longest since Shaun Rogers (66 yards) on Nov. 4, 2007. Hutchinson has five career interceptions, tying Larry Hand for the most interceptions by a defensive lineman in franchise history. — Eric Woodyard

Next game: vs. Steelers (Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET)

Catch up on the action: Box score | Recap

Broncos

Are the Broncos the team to beat in the AFC? They check all the boxes with three games left. In yet another comeback win, Denver clinched a playoff berth and has the inside track for the No. 1 seed. The Broncos’ defense surrendered more explosive plays than usual (six of at least 20 yards) and didn’t get its first sack until more than 10 minutes were gone in the third quarter. But in a game that had a playoff look and feel, the Broncos held the Packers to 1-of-4 in the red zone. And cornerback Pat Surtain II‘s first interception of the season changed the momentum in the third quarter with the Broncos trailing by nine points. The Broncos showed their big-game mettle with their 10th one-score win of the season.

What to make of the QB performance: Bo Nix has had bigger statistical performances, but he has not had a more complete game in a bigger situation. Nix had more touchdown passes (two) than incompletions (one) in the first half and was precise throughout. He threw with accuracy on the move, was decisive in the pocket and kept his footwork clean in a four-touchdown day — to four different players. He tied his career high for touchdown passes and pushed the Broncos’ win streak to 11 games. He finished 23-of-34 for 303 yards. — Jeff Legwold

Next game: vs. Jaguars (Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET)

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Packers

How much trouble are the Packers in now? Halfway through Sunday’s game, the Packers looked like a Super Bowl favorite. That was before they lost their best defensive player, edge rusher Micah Parsons (knee), and their most explosive offensive player, wide receiver Christian Watson (chest), in the third quarter. Now, they’re a hobbled team that might have lost significant momentum heading into the final three games of the season. This Saturday’s game is still for the NFC North lead, but even if they win the division, Green Bay appears to be much less of a threat to go on a long playoff run.

Biggest hole in the game plan: In Jeff Hafley’s nearly two seasons as the Packers’ defensive coordinator, they had never allowed four touchdown passes in a game. That changed when Nix lit up the Packers. It marked the first time the Packers have allowed four touchdown passes in a game since Week 15 of the 2023 season against the Buccaneers. Their 33-game streak was the third longest in the NFL behind the Seahawks (48) and Steelers (47), per ESPN Research. — Rob Demovsky

Next game: at Bears (Saturday, 8:20 p.m. ET)

Catch up on the action: Box score | Recap

Saints

Did Charlie Smyth seal the Saints’ kicking job for the future? Smyth was essentially given a tryout after the Saints cut former starting kicker Blake Grupe, and in three games, he has proven that the Saints should put him on their active roster. The Saints have to decide because they are out of elevations for Smyth. Should they stick with him, or give Cade York a try from the practice squad? That decision likely won’t take very long. Smyth showed he can win under pressure after nailing a 47-yard field goal to beat the Panthers with two seconds left.

Turning point: Rookie quarterback Tyler Shough came striding out of the injury tent with one chance to tie the score in the fourth quarter, and he was almost perfect, completing 7 of 8 attempts before throwing a touchdown pass to wide receiver Chris Olave in a possession that lasted just 2:08. He then drove the Saints downfield again in the final minute to allow Smyth to win it.

Best quote from the locker room: Saints kicker Charlie Smyth turned to the Panthers bench and threw up his hands after kicking a game-winning field goal Sunday. “I’m not really in control of my body at that stage so whatever happens, happens,” Smyth said. “I think I might have looked at their sideline, probably shouldn’t have done that but division opponent was a big rivalry or whatever, so it was a fun moment.” When told that Smyth did in fact look at the sideline, he quickly admitted, “I know I did.”— Katherine Terrell

Next game: vs. Jets (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)

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Panthers

What does the loss mean for the Panthers and their playoff hopes? With a win over the Saints and a win next week versus Tampa Bay, the Panthers could’ve clinched the NFC South title. But they blew their chance at that after a fourth-quarter collapse that was similar to the Bucs’ loss Thursday night against Atlanta. Now, it will come down to how the Panthers and Bucs fare head-to-head in two of their final three games. As Panthers coach Dave Canales likes to say, this was a missed opportunity — and a big one at that.

What to make of the QB performance: Bryce Young needed to step up in his biggest December game in the NFL, and he didn’t do quite enough. The 2023 first-round pick made some big plays, including a 32-yard touchdown pass to Jalen Coker in the third quarter that was perfectly thrown. He also had an 11-yard scramble on third-and-10 on what could have been the winning drive. But in the end, the quarterback, who went 15-for-24 for 163 yards and 1 touchdown, didn’t do enough. — David Newton

Next game: vs. Buccaneers (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)

Catch up on the action: Box score | Recap

49ers

Is the 49ers’ offense finding its stride at the perfect time? If San Francisco is going to make a push for the NFC’s No. 1 seed, the offense needs to step up. The Niners moved the ball easily for most of the game against the Titans, scoring on their first five possessions. Quarterback Brock Purdy finished with 289 passing yards and three touchdowns. But San Francisco’s final three games are against the Colts, Bears and Seahawks. Those are three of the top-seven scoring offenses in the league, and they figure to stress the Niners’ defense more than Tennessee and Cleveland did. That puts the onus on the offense to carry the bulk of the weight for this final playoff push.

Trend to watch: Though it hasn’t come back to bite San Francisco during its four-game winning streak, the 49ers’ run defense has been shaky in the past three contests, particularly in the first half. Tennessee gashed the 49ers for 4.7 yards per carry on 12 attempts, and the Niners have allowed that average to their past three opponents in the opening 30 minutes. Indianapolis and Chicago are among the top-seven teams in rushing yards per game and per carry, so the challenge will get tougher. — Nick Wagoner

Next game: at Colts (Monday, 8:15 p.m. ET)

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Titans

Is rookie quarterback Cam Ward leaving too many big plays on the field? The Titans had a good chance to tie the score late in the second quarter, but Ward missed receiver Van Jefferson wide open down the sideline. Jefferson would have scored or at least gotten the ball to San Francisco’s 5-yard line if Ward hadn’t misfired. Ward then had wide receiver Chimere Dike open on a couple of deep crossing routes, but threw to Jefferson on one of them, a pass that was nearly intercepted by 49ers safety Malik Mustapha. Ward missed Dike on a deep pass last week against the Browns. The rookie will need to make those throws during big-play opportunities.

Stat to know: Defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons‘ strip-sack gave the Titans the ball and helped set up a 1-yard touchdown catch by Simmons a couple of plays later. The sack was his ninth of the season, a career high. He became the first defensive player with a forced fumble and scrimmage touchdown in a game since 2014, when the Texans’ J.J. Watt did so in Week 13 against the Titans. — Turron Davenport

Next game: vs. Chiefs (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)

Catch up on the action: Box score | Recap

Seahawks

Will slow starts by the offense ultimately sink the Seahawks? Seattle entered Week 15 with the NFL’s sixth-highest scoring offense, despite a tendency to sleepwalk through the first halves of games. This was the sixth time this season and third week in a row in which the Seahawks’ offense has been held to under 10 points through the first two quarters. Thanks to one of the best defenses in the NFL, the Seahawks got away with it against Max Brosmer, Kirk Cousins and Philip Rivers — though they needed a late field goal by Jason Myers to beat 44-year-old Rivers on Sunday. This looks like one flaw that could catch up to the Seahawks against better quarterbacks in the playoffs.

What to make of the QB performance: Six field goals by Myers — a franchise record — accounted for all of the Seahawks’ scoring. Penalties, dropped passes, an ineffective run game and some questionable no-calls that went against Seattle were the issues — not another clunker by Sam Darnold. He completed 22 of 36 passes for 271 yards and no turnovers. He was sacked once. He missed a late touchdown pass to Rashid Shaheed, but he found the receiver twice on the winning field goal drive.

Best quote from the locker room: “Never a doubt,” Darnold said in jest about the outcome to begin his postgame news conference before striking a serious note. “We’ve just got to start faster as an offense. We’ve got to finish in the red zone. I feel like it’s becoming a theme now these [last] few weeks and we’ve got to get it figured out. I feel like our defense is playing really, really good football. We’ve got to step it up a little bit as an offense, and that starts with me.” — Brady Henderson

Next game: vs. Rams (Thursday, 8:15 p.m. ET)

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Colts

Is the Rivers experiment actually viable? The 44-year-old quarterback gave the Colts what they were hoping for in his first action in five years. All the basic questions — could he handle the physicality, keep up with the speed of the game and make any plays — were answered. The Colts weren’t looking for a masterpiece, and they certainly didn’t get one. Rivers completed 18 of 27 pass attempts for 120 yards with a touchdown and an interception. But his ability to manage the offense and the blocking schemes against a talented Seattle defense, largely because of his expertise in Shane Steichen’s system, was a major contribution. Look for Rivers to remain the starter.

Most surprising performance: The Colts’ defense had an impressive day against Seattle, limiting the team to six field goals. It was the first game this season in which the Seahawks did not score a touchdown. And it was the first game this season in which a team won without reaching the end zone. The Colts stuffed the running game throughout the day, limiting the Seahawks to 51 rushing yards. — Stephen Holder

Next game: vs. 49ers (Monday, 8:15 p.m. ET)

Catch up on the action: Box score | Recap

Chargers

Are the Chargers Super Bowl contenders? The Chargers are riding a three-game winning streak, capped by back-to-back victories over last season’s Super Bowl teams, the Eagles and Chiefs. With injuries decimating the offense, the Chargers have leaned on their defense, which sealed Sunday’s win with a late interception, just as it did a week ago. This time, it was safety Derwin James Jr. who picked off Chiefs backup quarterback Gardner Minshew. If the defense continues to play at this level, the Chargers have a legitimate chance to make a run at the title.

Trend to watch: Sunday was Justin Herbert‘s fourth straight game with an interception, his longest such streak since 2022. He continues to be uncharacteristically careless with the football this season. After throwing the fewest interceptions in the NFL last season, he has already thrown 12, which is the second-highest total of his career. As the Chargers look to win the AFC West and jockey for better seeding, his turnovers could be an issue. — Kris Rhim

Next game: at Cowboys (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)

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Chiefs

What’s next for the Chiefs after missing the postseason? The Chiefs will have plenty of questions, especially after quarterback Patrick Mahomes left the game late in the fourth quarter with a left knee injury. Coach Andy Reid might have to make changes to his staff after the offense struggled for much of the second half of the season. The front office will also have to prioritize improving the Chiefs’ pass rush and rushing attack, considering their top two running backs — Isiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt — struggled to produce explosive plays in 2025.

What to make of the QB performance: Mahomes performed his best on the Chiefs’ opening drive, making two clutch plays. He converted a third-and-11 snap with a timely completion to tight end Travis Kelce, and he outwitted the Chargers’ zone coverage in the red zone with a 12-yard touchdown scramble. But the Chargers made everything else difficult for Mahomes, whether through pressure against a makeshift offensive line or in man coverage, which denied the Chiefs’ receivers a chance to get open consistently. His biggest mistake was a fourth-quarter interception inside the red zone, when an incompletion could’ve resulted in a Harrison Butker field goal to tie the game. — Nate Taylor

Next game: at Titans (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)

Catch up on the action: Box score | Recap

Jaguars

Is quarterback Trevor Lawrence heating up the way he did in the second half of 2022? Sure looks like it. After throwing for 330 yards and a career-high five touchdowns (along with one rushing TD), Lawrence has now thrown for 225-plus yards and multiple touchdowns in four consecutive games. That’s the longest stretch of his career, and he has 14 touchdown passes (to six interceptions) and four rushing scores in the Jaguars’ past seven games, during which they are 6-1. Lawrence got hot after the bye in 2022 as well, when he threw 12 touchdown passes to only two interceptions to lead the Jaguars to a 6-1 record and a division title.

Most surprising performance: Running back Travis Etienne Jr. caught three touchdown passes, which tied his career total entering the game. Etienne now has 31 career touchdowns, which moves him into sixth place on the franchise’s all-time list. His last touchdown came on a screen pass, a play the Jaguars have not had much success on. “We have got to improve there, but it’s just like anything you’re trying to improve but not go reinvent the wheel with them,” coach Liam Coen said in late October. “I think there’s some fundamentals and techniques we can improve.” — Mike DiRocco

Next game: at Broncos (Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET)

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Jets

How did rookie Brady Cook fare in his first NFL start? Cook could’ve been prime Tom Brady, and it wouldn’t have mattered, considering the defensive performance. Under tough circumstances, Cook displayed poise and mobility (39 rushing yards). It was a nice first quarter (6-for-6, one touchdown pass) and a back-to-reality finish for the former practice squad player. He threw three interceptions, including his third end zone pick in two weeks. That said, it wasn’t the Jets’ worst passing performance of the season. Despite the hiccups, Cook (22-for-33, 176 yards) deserves another start. At 3-11, why not?

Biggest hole in the game plan: Another awful performance by the defense, raising the heat on embattled defensive coordinator Steve Wilks. The Jets had no answers for Lawrence, who threw four touchdowns with linebacker Quincy Williams as the nearest defender. This was the most points allowed by the Jets since 2021. Adding insult to insult, they went interception-less for the 14th straight game, tying an NFL mark for futility. — Rich Cimini

Next game: at Saints (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)

Catch up on the action: Box score | Recap

Bears

The Bears got their 10th win. Now what? Chicago needed a statement victory to get to double-digit wins for the first time since 2018, especially with three playoff-caliber teams coming up (Green Bay, San Francisco and Detroit) and the fact that it believes 11 victories will get the team into the postseason. The Bears’ defense logged three INTs to bring their takeaway total to 30, and the offense scored off those turnovers with a strong rushing attack and one of Caleb Williams‘ best passing performances of the season. Most importantly, the Bears had the fast start they’ve been aiming for, with two first-quarter touchdowns.

Most surprising performance: It wasn’t hard to predict a bounce-back performance by wide receiver DJ Moore one week after he logged one catch for minus-4 yards. Moore and Williams connected for two scores, sparking Chicago’s aerial attack against the league’s No. 1 pass defense. When Williams and Moore are on the same page, special plays like their third quarter scramble-drill touchdown can happen. This offense is better when these two are clicking.

Best quote from the locker room: “I would say 99% of the quarterbacks, you tell them don’t even waste your time looking back there and trying to make that throw,” coach Ben Johnson said of Williams’ second touchdown to Moore. “There’s usually bad things that happen, and yet he’s got the ability to make that throw and DJ made a heck of a play there right on the back line as well. That was one of those highlight moments there.” — Courtney Cronin

Next game: vs. Packers (Saturday, 8:20 p.m. ET)

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Browns

Changes inevitable after another embarrassing Browns loss? The team was undermanned, ruling out four starters before the game, but they were thoroughly outclassed by the Bears. The mounting injuries only further highlighted the lack of playmakers on both sides of the ball for Cleveland. Owner Jimmy Haslam said before the season that another 3-14 season wouldn’t cut it for the current regime. The Browns are now 3-11 and staring at that outcome again, with three games remaining against teams in playoff position.

Stat to know: Defensive end Myles Garrett recorded 1.5 sacks against the Bears, increasing his season total to 21.5. He is one sack away from tying the NFL’s single-season record shared by Michael Strahan and T.J. Watt. — Daniel Oyefusi

Next game: vs. Bills (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)

Catch up on the action: Box score | Recap

Texans

Are the Texans peaking at the right time? Yes. Houston is thriving amid its six-game win streak. Sunday’s win was more about the Texans’ offense, which produced its second-most points in a game this season (40). Quarterback C.J. Stroud threw for 260 yards with three touchdowns, while Houston got unlikely help from practice squad running back Jawhar Jordan and his team-high 101 rushing yards on 15 carries. The defense allowed 20 points for the first time since Week 10 but still forced a takeaway. With the Raiders, Chargers and Colts left on the schedule, the Texans appear to be bulldozing their way toward the playoffs and look scarier with each passing week.

Most surprising performance: Sunday’s game marked the first in which Jordan received a carry in his two-year pro career. The 26-year-old, who was a sixth-round pick out of Louisville in 2024, has been cut multiple times by the Texans and placed on the practice squad. Despite the adversity he has faced, Jordan stepped up and became the Texans’ first 100-yard rusher of the season. — DJ Bien-Aime

Next game: vs. Raiders (Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET)

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Cardinals

How tough is it to evaluate this season with all the injuries? Pretty much near impossible, regardless of what anyone thinks. Seemingly every week, more and bigger names get added to the injury report and miss time. This week, the Cardinals didn’t have starters at left tackle or left guard, and were without their starting receiver and safety. That’s in addition to being short five of their top six receivers, their starting quarterback, three of their top four running backs, two of their top four tight ends and a right tackle. Regardless of what happens every week, evaluating Arizona’s season as a whole with that many injuries doesn’t paint an accurate picture. Sure, that’s life in the NFL, but teams aren’t built to consistently play with a second- or third-string lineup.

Stat to know: Tight end Trey McBride — who had 12 catches for 134 yards and two touchdowns — set some records Sunday. His 12 receptions put him over 100 for the season, which made him the first tight end in NFL history to reach triple digits on catches in one season. His performance at Houston also helped him set an NFL record for most consecutive games with five or more catches. He now has done it in 16 games, passing Kansas City’s Travis Kelce, who held the record with 15 in 2018. — Josh Weinfuss

Next game: vs. Falcons (Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET)

Catch up on the action: Box score | Recap

Commanders

How badly did Washington need to end its eight-game losing streak? The Commanders’ draft positioning took a hit, but they needed a win after last week’s 31-0 debacle at Minnesota. During the week, wide receiver Terry McLaurin said they couldn’t let that happen again, especially versus a team that had lost seven straight. Washington has dealt with a lot of injuries this season, which partly explains the demise. But for a team that preaches standards and winning habits, a 12-game losing streak to end the season wouldn’t help what the coaches preach. With two games against Philadelphia and one versus Dallas up next, that was a real possibility. That’s not a scenario owner Josh Harris wanted to confront so soon coming after a 12-5 season.

Most surprising performance: Washington had an all-around strong day on special teams, a big key in its victory. Returner Jaylin Lane returned a punt 63 yards for a touchdown, kicker Jake Moody made all three field goals and punter Tress Way averaged 45.8 yards on four punts (three landed inside the 20-yard line). The lone blemish: Moody missed an extra point.

Best quote from the locker room: “It’s hard to go two months without winning a game. Games like this are never easy, weather was tough, windy, cold, snowy. So many reasons, so many things for our guys to not show up and our guys found a way today,” said quarterback Marcus Mariota. — John Keim

Next game: vs. Eagles (Saturday, 5 p.m. ET)

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Giants

What do all these losses mean for GM Joe Schoen and interim coach Mike Kafka? The Giants have lost all four games since Kafka took over. It’s becoming close to impossible to envision him having the interim tag removed given these results. As for Schoen, the pressure continues to build. His return next season seems far from certain given that the team has dropped eight straight and is 5-26 over the past two seasons. Schoen’s defense has been that the talent is better than the results. A change at head coach and defensive coordinator haven’t altered much. The Giants were favorites in this game for the first time in more than a calendar year, yet still trailed from start to finish.

Stat to know: Rookie outside linebacker Abdul Carter came into the contest with more benchings (two) than tackles for loss (one) over the first 13 games of the season. He had three tackles for loss, a sack and two forced fumbles against the Commanders. — Jordan Raanan

Next game: vs. Vikings (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)

Catch up on the action: Box score | Recap

Bills

Can the Bills be counted out of any game after yet another slow start? Not if quarterback Josh Allen is healthy. After looking woefully unprepared in the first half, the Bills put together a comeback that tied for the third biggest in franchise history (21 points). The Bills were previously 2-60 all time when trailing by 21 points or more. A series of five straight touchdown drives for the offense paired nicely with the defense holding the Patriots to 100 yards in the second half. There continues to be major concerns with slow starts and a struggling run defense, but this was a big win on the road that denied the Patriots a chance to clinch the division title.

Stat to know: With the four rushing touchdowns allowed against the Patriots, the Bills have given up 23 this season. That’s the most in a season under coach Sean McDermott (hired in 2017) with three games still to go, per ESPN Research. — Alaina Getzenberg

Next game: at Browns (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)

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Patriots

How did the Patriots let a 17-point halftime lead slip away, and what does it mean for the future? After playing one of their best halves of the season, the Patriots played one of their worst. They had poor coverage on the opening kickoff of the second half (allowing a 58-yard return), penalties (six after halftime), their defense struggled to stop the run and answer Allen in the clutch, and their rushing offense couldn’t generate consistent positive yardage after looking dominant in the first half. The Patriots would have clinched the AFC East with a win. The Patriots still have to prove they can put some of the NFL’s best teams away.

Stat to know: Henderson’s 52-yard touchdown run in the second quarter and his 65-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter were the Patriots’ third and fourth rushing touchdowns of 50-plus yards this season. They had two such touchdowns over the previous 15 seasons, according to ESPN Research. — Mike Reiss

Next game: at Ravens (Sunday, 8:20 p.m. ET)

Catch up on the action: Box score | Recap

Ravens

How much did the Ravens improve their playoff chances? Significantly. Baltimore moved to within half a game of first-place Pittsburgh in the AFC North and boosted its playoff chances to 48% (independent of other results), according to ESPN Analytics. Perhaps more importantly, the Ravens looked like a playoff team with their most complete game of the season. Quarterback Lamar Jackson looked like Lamar Jackson, ending a career-worst streak of five games without multiple touchdown passes. Baltimore’s defense recorded its first shutout in seven years and scored a touchdown with safety Alohi Gilman’s 84-yard return off an interception. It’s still a challenging finish for the Ravens to make the postseason. Baltimore’s final three games are against division leaders: New England, then at Green Bay and Pittsburgh.

Stat to know: Gilman’s 84-yard touchdown off an interception was the Ravens’ longest defensive score since 2019. Baltimore preserved its shutout when outside linebacker Kyle Van Noy picked off Joe Burrow and then handed the ball to Gilman, who raced to the end zone. This was Baltimore’s first touchdown off an interception since last season’s finale. — Jamison Hensley

Next game: vs. Patriots (Sunday, 8:20 p.m. ET)

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Bengals

After Burrow said he wants to enjoy football, was it surprising to see the Bengals shut out for the first time with him starting? Yes. The Bengals had looked sharp in snowy conditions against Buffalo, but Cincinnati never looked settled Sunday as it was officially eliminated from the playoff race. Miscues from the opening drive onward kept the Bengals from finding that elusive momentum that coach Zac Taylor speaks about. What happened Sunday was not good when you have a QB like Burrow, who said he is looking to at least enjoy the end of a frustrating season. Sunday marked the Bengals’ first shutout loss since 2017.

What to make of the QB performance: Burrow didn’t get a lot of help. Cincinnati’s receivers took turns being unable to make catches in critical spots. The offensive line had considerable issues, a problem made worse when right tackle Amarius Mims left the game in the fourth quarter with a right knee injury. However, Burrow didn’t have his best showing either. He was 25-of-39 passing for 225 yards and two interceptions, including a pick-six thrown under pressure. — Ben Baby

Next game: at Dolphins (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)

Catch up on the action: Box score | Recap

Eagles

Have quarterback Jalen Hurts and the offense found their footing? It’s hard to get carried away given the quality of the opponent, but Hurts’ three-touchdown outing was exactly the type of performance needed following a five-turnover game against the Chargers. The coaching staff fed running back Saquon Barkley to strike a nice balance between the run and pass. And the Eagles showed some creativity near the goal line in particular, resulting in a pair of Dallas Goedert scores. It was a healthy step in the right direction for a quarterback and an offense that haven’t lived up to expectations for much of the season.

Most surprising performance: Brandon Graham, who came out of retirement earlier this season, led the team with two sacks against Las Vegas. At 37 years, 255 days old, he is the oldest player in Eagles history to record a sack. — Tim McManus

Next game: at Commanders (Saturday, 5 p.m. ET)

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Raiders

Will coach Pete Carroll survive this season? Each week has made it seem less and less likely that Carroll will be the Raiders’ coach beyond a disastrous 2025 campaign. Sunday’s loss marked the second time that Las Vegas has been shut out this season. The last time the Raiders were shut out in multiple games in a season was 2006 (three times). Las Vegas has lost by double digits for the eighth time, and its eight-game losing streak is the longest of Carroll’s NFL coaching career. Clearly, the Raiders are far from being competitive and need to embrace a true rebuild, which is why Carroll, 74, might not be the right coach to lead the team moving forward.

What to make of the QB performance: Carroll said this week that health will be the main factor when determining whether Geno Smith remains the starting quarterback for the rest of the season. And that should still be the case. Pickett started in place of Smith, who was out with a shoulder/back injury, and didn’t add much of a spark despite being more mobile in the pocket. Pickett completed 15 of 25 passes for 64 yards and an interception. — Ryan McFadden

Next game: at Texans (Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET)

Catch up on the action: Box score | Recap

Falcons

Could the Falcons look to re-sign Kyle Pitts Sr. after his recent surge? What was once improbable now seems possible. Pitts came into the game fourth among tight ends in both receptions and receiving yards. On Thursday night, he went off for 11 catches for 166 yards and three touchdowns. It was his first 100-yard receiving game since 2021. And he went over that 100-yard mark in the first half, the first Atlanta player to do that since 2018. Pitts has dealt with injuries since a record-breaking rookie season. These past few weeks have probably been enough to earn him a lucrative contract somewhere next year.

Trend to watch: Edge rusher James Pearce Jr. had two sacks, extending his streak of at least one sack to six games. That’s tied for the second-longest streak for a rookie since sacks became official in 1982, per ESPN Research. Pearce already owns the rookie franchise record for most in a season since 1982. — Marc Raimondi

Next game: at Cardinals (Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET)

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Buccaneers

How badly did this loss impact the Bucs’ playoff chances? The Bucs and Panthers have two head-to-head games remaining, one of which is next week. With a Panthers loss to the Saints, the Bucs have a 76% chance at winning the division (independent of other games). But after starting the season 5-1 and then going 1-5 in the past six games, it’s hard to feel optimistic even with the returns of Mike Evans and Jalen McMillan.

Most surprising performance: Even with the defense’s struggles as of late, and even with the Bucs’ historic struggles in prime-time games, surrendering a season-high 476 yards of total offense to a 4-9 team that had 19 penalties at home is a new low. — Jenna Laine

Next game: at Panthers (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)