NFL Week 15 winners and losers: Bills, Bears earn key victories; Packers defense in trouble?
Published: Dec 15, 2025 at 01:18 AM
Emotional Statement: It's already been a wild year in the NFL, with parity and the rise of upstarts like the Patriots, Bears, and Jaguars. Week 15 was a stark reminder of the league's unpredictability, with the Bills sending a message that the AFC East is still up for grabs.
Controversial Point: The Patriots' quarterback, Drake Maye, could've secured the AFC East title for his team by beating Josh Allen. Instead, he underperformed, while Stafford, despite losing star wide receiver Davante Adams to a hamstring injury, thrived in his showcase game.
Thought-Provoking Question: Did the Patriots' soft schedule contribute to Maye's poor performance, or was it simply a case of him not stepping up in a big moment?
Biggest Winners:
1. Matthew Stafford: Enjoying the best year of his career at 37, he passed for 368 yards with two touchdowns and an interception in a 41-34 win over the Detroit Lions, giving him 37 touchdown passes and just five interceptions on the season.
2. Sean McDermott: The Bills' head coach was thrilled by his team's effort after falling behind early against New England. Buffalo has won the last five AFC East titles, and McDermott saw his underwhelming defense make key stops.
3. Chicago Bears: Now the No. 2 seed in the NFC after a win over Cleveland and Green Bay's loss to Denver, the Bears are in a strong position to potentially play playoff games at home in January.
4. Jesse Minter: The Chargers' defensive coordinator is turning heads for a head coaching job, leading a unit that forced five turnovers in a Monday night win over Philadelphia and holding the Chiefs to 13 points in a victory that moved the Chargers closer to a playoff spot.
Biggest Losers:
1. Kansas City Chiefs: Their playoff hopes and dynastic era died in a loss to the Chargers, with star quarterback Patrick Mahomes suffering a torn ACL.
2. Jeff Hafley: The Packers' defense, once led by Micah Parsons, is now struggling without him. Hafley will have to adjust and ask more of lesser talents.
3. Dave Canales: The Panthers suffered a 20-17 loss to New Orleans, and Canales watched a better opportunity evaporate. They'll play the Buccaneers this week and again in the season-finale.
4. Philip Rivers: The 44-year-old quarterback did much better than expected after returning to the NFL, but he ended the game with a desperation interception in the final seconds.
Three Up:
1. Jacksonville Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence: He produced an impressive day with 330 passing yards, 51 rushing yards, and six touchdowns, leading the Jaguars to five straight wins.
2. New Orleans Saints QB Tyler Shough: He threw for 272 yards, rushed for 32 yards, and led the Saints on the drive that set up the game-winning field goal in a 20-17 win over Carolina.
3. Los Angeles Chargers LB Otito Tuipulotu: He had two sacks, three tackles for loss, and four total quarterback hits in a win over Kansas City, and has been a disruptive pass rusher all year.
Three Down:
1. Cincinnati Bengals QB Joe Burrow: He threw two interceptions in a 24-0 loss to Baltimore, calling it 'one of the worst games' he's played.
2. Tampa Bay Buccaneers WR Cece Egbuka: The rookie wide receiver is struggling to find his way, with 18 receptions for 193 yards and no touchdowns in his last five games.
3. Carolina Panthers RB Miles Sanders: He gained just 49 yards on 16 carries in a loss to New Orleans, and hasn't been as dangerous as he was earlier in the season.
Three Intriguing Games:
1. Bills over Patriots: Buffalo overcomes a 21-0 deficit to keep its AFC East title hopes alive and end New England's 10-game win streak.
2. Falcons over Buccaneers: Atlanta pulls off a miraculous comeback, converting a fourth-and-14 in the final minute to set up the game-winning field goal.
3. Seahawks over Colts: Seattle needs a 56-yard field goal from Jason Myers with 18 seconds remaining to spoil Philip Rivers' return to the NFL.
Most Intriguing Game of Week 16:
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Carolina Panthers: This game will reveal how real the Panthers are, after their upset loss to the Saints. The Buccaneers, despite injuries, have won the last four division titles, but are more vulnerable than ever this season.
- NFL Week 15 takeaways: What We Learned from Sunday's 14 games
- 2026 NFL Draft underclassmen tracker: Which college football players intend to enter?
- Notable injuries, news from Sunday's Week 15 games: Rams WR Davante Adams injures hamstring vs. Lions
MVP Watch:
1. Los Angeles Rams QB Matthew Stafford: DraftKings odds -300, Weeks in top five: 7, Next game: vs. Seahawks (Thursday, Dec. 18)
2. New England Patriots QB Drake Maye: DraftKings odds +425, Weeks in top five: 8, Next game: at Ravens (Sunday, Dec. 21)
3. Buffalo Bills QB Josh Allen: DraftKings odds +550, Weeks in top five: 9, Next game: at Browns (Sunday, Dec. 21)
4. Green Bay Packers QB Aaron Rodgers: DraftKings odds +7500, Weeks in top five: 3, Next game: at Bears (Saturday, Dec. 20)
Extra Point: My Super Bowl pick, Rams over Bills, is slowly evolving based on performances.
