In Week 15, two AFC North teams were playing for their season, while the other two played against opponents at opposite ends of standings. The games of the AFC North division were played as follows:
In Week 15, two AFC North teams were playing for their season, while the other two played against opponents at opposite ends of standings. The games of the AFC North division were played as follows:
The Steelers maintained their one-game division lead with a 28-15 victory over the Miami Dolphins in frigid Pittsburgh on Monday Night Football.
Aaron Rodgers completed 23 of 27 passes, totaling 224 yards with two touchdowns. DK Metcalf, his top receiver, connected with him three times in a row for 55 yards and one touchdown. Metcalf’s touchdown play saw him throw former Steelers safety Minkah Fitzpatrick aside. Kenneth Gainwell led with 80 yards in 13 carries. He added 46 yards of receiving yardage on seven catches, for a total of 126 yards.
The Steelers defense stepped in without T.J. Watt who was out of action following surgery to repair a partly collapsed lung. The Steelers’ defense held the Dolphins at just three points throughout the entire game until Miami scored two touchdowns in the fourth quarter. At that point, the game was already over. Pittsburgh’s defensive unit sacked TuaTagovailoa 4 times without Watt, and Asante Samuel Jr. added an interception.
In Week 15, the Ravens ended a two-game losing streak with a 24-0 shutout of the Bengals.
The Baltimore defense was the star of the show, but the offense also played a part in the game. Lamar Jackson was back to his normal self on Sunday, after a sluggish performance since his return from injury. Jackson completed 8 of 12 pass attempts, resulting in 150 yards, 2 touchdowns and 1 interception. Zay Flowers, who had an excellent day with a team leading 68 receiving yard and a touchdown from three catches, was the one to make the interception. Derrick Henry ran for 100 yards in 11 attempts.
Joe Burrow was frustrated by the Ravens defense throughout the game. They used a combination pressure and good coverage in the secondary to force him into two interception, one of which was returned 68 yards for a touchdown. Kyle Van Noy intercepted the ball, but Alohi Gillman finished the return. Teddye Buchanan, Baltimore’s inside linebacker, suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament. Trenton Simpson, a third-year Ravens linebacker who was a Ravens starter as an inside linebacker since the fourth-round rookie’s arrival in 2004, will replace Teddye Buchanan.
Cincinnati’s season ended last Sunday with a 24-0 defeat to Baltimore. They were officially eliminated from the playoffs.
Joe Burrow’s Bengals offense struggled against the Ravens. They failed to score a touchdown once, after scoring 32 against them a few weeks earlier on Thanksgiving. Burrow had 25 completions out of 39 attempts, 225 yards and zero touchdowns. He also had two interceptions. Ja’Marr chase ended the game with 10 catches for 132 yards, but the usual star duo had a difficult time in the air. Chase dropped the ball multiple times throughout the game. One of those drops led to an interception from Marlon Humphrey. Chase Brown, who led the team in rushing yards with 53 on just 13 carries, also struggled to get things going.
Cincinnati’s defense struggled to contain Baltimore’s rushing offense, which allowed the Ravens 189 yards. Demetrius Knight, Jr. and Jordan Battle each sacked Jackson twice.
After a Week 15 loss of 31-3 to the Chicago Bears, the Browns are now 3-11 for the season.
After a week of giving Cleveland fans hope with his strong performance against the Tennessee Titans he has now delivered the disappointment they have all grown accustomed to by delivering a three interception performance against Bears. Sanders completed 18 of 35 passes for 177 yard, zero touchdowns and three interceptions. He was sacked 5 times. Sanders led the team with 24 yards on just two carries, as the overall ground game only produced 50 yards. Isaiah Bond, a rookie, was the top receiver with 89 yard on two catches.
T.J. Watt and Michael Strahan both tied the record for sacks in a single season with 22.5. Garrett has now had a sack in eight straight games, nine of which came in November.