Also before Sunday's games, we currently saw the biggest return in NFL history. What else ya obtained, Week 15? Simply hrs after the Vikings stormed back from a 33-0 deficiency to beat the Colts in overtime, 39-36, in Minneapolis, the Expenses had a fourth-quarter return of their own, topping the division-rival Dolphins-- as well as getting rid of stable snowfall and unmanageable snowball-throwing followers-- with a last-second basket in dramatization proceeded into Sunday. The Eagles got the win in Chicago, but it was hard-fought. The Chiefs had to play an extra period to defeat the Texans. And the Jaguars stunned the Cowboys on a choice 6 in overtime. In the six early-afternoon video games, eight points was the largest margin of lastly, the late-afternoon video games featured possibly the wackiest play of the week-- and also season-- with Raiders protective end Chandler Jones "intercepting" it was ruled a fumble) an in reverse pass from rushing Patriots large receiver Jakobi Meyers and taking it to your home for the game champion with no time left in do these outcomes tell us? We asked The Athletic's Jeff Howe, Kalyn Kahler and Tim Graham to weigh all the Week 15 activity with our live blogAfter trailing by 33 factors, the Vikings rallied to win in overtime. Kirk Cousins as well as the passing game looked unstoppable. Was this all on the hapless Colts, or did they turn a button that the rest of the NFC must be worried about?Kahler: These Vikings are really with the ability of anything-- great or negative. They are capable of excavating deep openings for themselves, and also they're simply as capable of obtaining out of them. Somehow, the protection enabled simply one touchdown Saturday; the remainder of the Colts' 36 factors began special groups, defensive touchdowns and a whole lot of field goals. As soon as the Vikings ultimately got on the board in the third quarter, it actually felt like they can pull it off. And Also when RB Dalvin Cook took off for a 64-yard goal on a display pass to provide the Vikings a chance to link the video game with simply greater than two mins left in law, you simply recognized it was going to Vikings violation has the talent to rack up on anyone, and also prior to Saturday, the last group to conquer a shortage of 24-plus indicate win a regular-season video game was Washington in Week 7 of the 2015 season versus the Buccaneers. That was the Kirk Cousins "You like that?" game. This things remains in Relatives' blood, as well as I wouldn't ever before count the Vikings : The Jeff Saturday experiment in Indianapolis the good news is has actually run its program and also needs to put an end to all those sporting activities radio calls or barroom declarations we've listened to for many years in practically every market. "Why don't the Browns bring back Bernie Kosar to be their offending organizer? They have not been the same considering that he left!" Not simply any person that talks "footballese" and can blow a whistle can be a reliable coach. Who recognized? Maybe if the quarterback behind the NFL's previous return record, Frank Reich, still coached the Colts, he could've emphasized not choking. All that off my chest, I credit the never-say-die Vikings greater than I blame the Colts, whose very early lead was fluky. You can not reject all the returns Vikings instructor Kevin O'Connell as well as Kirk Cousins have actually overseen this year. The Vikings protection doesn't shrivel despite ball game; they quit one TD, as well as the Dalvin Cook-Justin Jefferson combination is often also lethal to have for 60 : It takes a whole lot from numerous celebrations to wipe away a 33-point shortage. It was definitely remarkable to enjoy the Vikings keep after it in spite of absolutely nothing going their method the initial fifty percent. They were getting screwed by the officials, as well, as well as still took care of to keep their composure. That sort of stamina will offer them well in the playoffs. However this was on the Colts. They entered into a shell offensively as well as totally botched this game, as well as the defense made it way as well simple for DEEPERColts-Vikings: The incredible numbers behind the largest return in NFL historyThe Cowboys got away with a win versus the lowly Texans last week, after that blew a late lead as well as lost on a choice six in overtime to the Jaguars on Sunday. Are you worried? Additionally, exactly how 'bout them Jaguars ?! Wins over the Ravens, Titans and Cowboys in the past 4 : There ought to be some worry about the Cowboys because they're unverified on the playoff stage. They're right there with the Eagles and 49ers in regards to talent, yet we can not neglect their last quarter-century of playoff disappointments. No, Jason Garrett as well as Tony Romo don't have anything to do with the 2022 Cowboys, yet odd points tend to happen to the Cowboys in the postseason, as well as instructor Mike McCarthy has a suspicious record over the last years. They're talented enough to win the Super Dish Nikko Remigio Jersey, but they'll probably need to win three road games to reach that phase, as well as that's a great deal to ask from a core that hasn't won much together in for the Jaguars, they have actually been in nearly every video game this period, but they had major concerns liquidating success throughout the very first number of months. Now, you can tell by the means they play they think they can win these tight video games instead than playing like something devastating is regarding to occur. They're a fun team, and they're boosting : I'm always fretted about the Cowboys, specifically with McCarthy's clock administration history as well as the means their period finished in 2014, which I will certainly always remember Dallas lacked time for a final play due to the fact that Dak Prescott and also the offending line concurrently neglected they might not detect the ball themselves as well as the umpire could not get with the line!). An all-time crisis. So indeed, I am concerned, specifically given the fact Philly can secure up the division next week in Dallas, which makes for a tougher postseason roadway for the : We're conditioned now to envision the Cowboys not as "America's team, " yet rather Jerry Jones' repeated damaged dreams. The Cowboys generate a Pavlovian reaction. After all these years of high assumptions as well as Super Dish wishes, the Texans as well as Jaguars jingle that bell and all the Cowboys haters available reach drool over the impending disappointment. All four NFC East groups entered Sunday in a playoff slot. The Cowboys can not pay for to stumble over the final 3 weeks as well as-- organizationally, longer-term-- do not appear as much in advance of the Giants and also Commanders as they assumed. Dallas racked up 34 factors in defeat, however with 106 passing lawns in the second half as well as overtime, you need to question whether today's collapse fuels Jerry's desperation to splurge on Odell Beckham DEEPERCowboys discussions with Odell Beckham Jr. 'very alive'QB Zach Wilson actioned in and played well for the Jets, yet they shed once more in a thriller to the heated Lions. Was it enough for Wilson to get his old task back?Graham: Nah, I stay not impressed. At this moment, Wilson needs to do something brave to replace Jets folk hero Mike White, who declined to leave last week's intense loss to the Costs regardless of a busted rib. White obtained his opportunity last month because Wilson was a pathetic leader. In 2015's No. 2 draft pick needs greater redemption than what we saw Sunday at MetLife Stadium. Wilson did aid the Jets take a fourth-quarter lead as well as later on established a 58-yard area objective effort that would certainly have tied the video game as time expired-- Greg Zuerlein missed the kick-- however he was instead pedestrian for much of the video game. His interception right after halftime almost was a choice six, and also he went into the 4th quarter having completed fewer than half of his efforts. Wilson's passing overall 317 lawns) was padded by a couple of jump balls that might have gone the other way with much better Lions insurance coverage. His final play prior to Zuerlein's rebellious kick was a despair scramble-and-chuck after taking a sack that made it third-and-18. This remains White's : No. The Jets selected White since the crime is much more efficient when he remains in there, yet he also has actually given the entire group a stimulate. Wilson made some beautiful great tosses versus the Lions, but he also missed out on some simple ones. If he obtains an opportunity to start once again Thursday against the Jaguars and can play a lot more regularly, that 'd make a difference. But up until that takes place, I would certainly be shocked if this isn't White's work when he's healthy sufficient to : I desire I can summon up a contrarian viewpoint here, however I just can't. I am a longtime Mike White fan, and also the means he played in three games for the Jets thrilled me. His colleagues were stressed with him, as well as he did that point that backups so typically do: He injected life as well as power into a sad violation. White boosted off his play last period, and also he's the rare example of a late-round draft pick that is obtaining a possibility to establish and also he's proving he can improve. One game isn't enough for Wilson to earn his job back, particularly when that video game was not a W. Wilson played better than a great deal of us anticipated him to, yet when it boils down to it, he hasn't shown enough uniformity yet. Likewise, can we take a moment to recognize the Detroit Lions are currently ultimately at.500? It's a new period, baby!GO DEEPERLions beat Jets to keep playoff hopes aliveDo the Patriots recognize there is this thing called overtime? What entered your mind when you saw the Raiders' scoop-and-score since the play was ruled a fumble, not an interception) to beat New England without time on the clock?Graham: What initially entered your mind was, "Brilliant! Look at all that field the Raiders are surrendering to protect the deep pass! And also Rhamondre Stevenson's lateral has a much better chance of functioning right here than a Hailstorm Mary pass!" What entered your mind about 12 secs later on: "Oh, lort! What a mess! I like sports!" This was my preferred play on a fantabulous weekend break of walk-off finishes. What was Jakobi Meyers assuming when he chose he just had to huck the round to Mac Jones, the farthest player away from completion area? Did Meyers believe Jones would certainly be permitted to throw the ball downfield? Was Jones supposed to Barry Sanders his way 30 backyards to get to a Patriot to take the next lateral?I'll bet there currently are Patriots fans plotting a 4-D chess rationalization that Costs Belichick meant to lose as a present to beleaguered Josh McDaniels, therefore keeping him in Las Las vega as a mark for future exploitation because McDaniels as Raiders instructor is more effective to a different candidate and also they conspired to provide the goal to old close friend Chandler Jones, thus keeping all of it within the family, and in return there will be an offseason Mac Jones profession to the Raiders for generous draft funding, making Bailey Zappe the future QB as well as reconstructing New England's empire. Every one of which is extra possible than whatever description Meyers can : What a colossal meltdown. The Patriots took care of that final drive in relatively typical style. They agreed to let possibilities existing themselves or be material with overtime, which was rather obviously the situation with the final Stevenson run. He tried to obtain creative when the protection fell down around him, probably really hoping Meyers can turn around field for a wonder rating. After that Meyers made an outright mistake. Poetically, Chandler Jones remained in the perfect place to capitalize against his former there's a larger issue below. It might be simple to see that and believe the Patriots do not make errors like that to shed video games. As well as it's true, they have never made one of that size. Yet this is a team that has been making a lot of mistakes considering that 2020, whether it's procedural penalties, interaction issues with the play calls Jerick McKinnon Jersey, replacement mistakes, untimely turn overs in crunchtime or unique teams break downs-- an additional of which occurred versus the Raiders. They have actually been careless, and also it capped in inconceivable style in Las Las vega. For as long, the Patriots were gladly ready to allow their challengers discover a means to lose a video game, but they have actually been doing it to themselves more regularly over the last 3 periods. Now with a 7-7 record and also the Bengals, Dolphins and also Costs on tap, that play greater than likely finished the Patriots' : I recognize that gamers are typically not familiar with the policies of overtime-- whenever a video game ends in a connection, there's constantly a quote or 2 concerning someone not recognizing that a game can finish in a connection-- but this just blew my mind. I'm questioning if Stevenson kept in mind the rating was tied? There's truly nothing else description for his reckless choice to side to Meyers, that after that made a somehow extra negligent choice to toss to Jones. The clock was run out! This can have as well as must have gone to OT! Like the Dallas spot-the-ball-clock-runs-out concern from last period, this is mosting likely to become a play that will certainly be depictive of this Patriots period. As Howe mentions, this debacle brings a deeper definition concerning the placing concerns in New England that have actually come to be extremely noticeable since Tom Brady left. The Patriots and the Lions have the exact same document. Let that sink in. And the Lions seem much a lot more likely to make the postseason than the Patriots, that likely will miss the postseason for the 2nd time in 3 happened to the Titans? As soon as 7-3, they've currently lost 4 : The offending line hasn't been good enough, and also they're scoring only 18.5 points per game, which is 26th in the NFL and also not adequate to hang with the high-scoring offenses they've dealt with in recent weeks. The Jaguars are warm-- just one video game behind the Titans-- and today they feel like the much better group and also the only group in the AFC South that is really relocating an ahead direction. Remember when the Colts were.500 through Week 7? Then they benched Matt Ryan, after that fired Frank Reich as well as employed Jeff Saturday, and also now have actually shed six of seven video games. As well as finally, the Texans underwent the mass of their implosion last season and are in tank setting currently. The Titans seemed over the AFC South amateur hr until they fired basic manager Jon Robinson. Currently this group has entered the fray, as well as I don't recognize whether they'll appear of it this season.