Division rivalries, playoff implications highlight Week 15
Division rivalries add extra spice to NFL matchups. There are a bunch of them in Week 15 as teams hit the stretch run.
OK, maybe no one is paying attention to the AFC South meeting between Houston and Jacksonville. Balance that with these: Saints at Buccaneers, Cowboys at Giants, Washington at Eagles, Jets at Dolphins, and Vikings at Bears. All with some playoff implications.
Not to forget other significant games in a week severely impacted by COVID-19. That includes Las Vegas at Cleveland, moved from Saturday to Monday; Seattle at the Los Angeles Rams, and Washington at Philadelphia, both switched from Sunday to Tuesday.
“Guys know, but at the same time we try every week to make it about the week, not make it bigger than it needs to be,” Colts quarterback Carson Wentz says of facing New England in one of those big games. “We know the magnitude of the game, the magnitude of who we are playing in the conference and where teams sit. We know all that stuff.”
The action began Thursday night with Kansas City’s 34-28 overtime win over the Los Angeles Chargers. Travis Kelce caught a short pass from Patrick Mahomes and made several defenders miss for a 34-yard, game-ending touchdown as the Chiefs (10-4) won their seventh straight and took command of the AFC West. Kelce caught 10 passes for a career-high 191 yards and two touchdowns, and Mahomes threw for 410 yards and three scores. The Chargers (8-6) failed to convert three fourth downs while in field-goal range and also lost a fumble at the Kansas
City 2, ending a 97-yard drive with no points.
New England (9-4) at Indianapolis (7-6), Saturday
Fans won’t see Tom Brady vs. Peyton Manning, the glory days of QB competitions. The folks in Indiana surely don’t like seeing any players from New England. Indianapolis has lost eight straight against the Patriots since a win in 2009. The Patriots are tied with Kansas City for most consecutive 30-point games in a series. New England has done it nine straight times against the Colts.
A seven-game winning string has put New England atop the AFC. Staying could require slowing down the league’s leading rusher, Jonathan Taylor. He has rushed for 100 yards in seven of the past 10 games and can tie Lenny Moore’s franchise record with a TD run in his 11th straight contest.
Las Vegas (6-7) at Cleveland (7-6), Monday
What a mess. No, not just the plummeting Raiders. Cleveland is in the midst of a major COVID-19 outbreak that could see quarterbacks Baker Mayfield and Case Keenum sidelined, putting Nick Mullens in the lineup. Browns coach Kevin Stefanski also is in the protocol; he missed a playoff win at Pittsburgh in January for the same reason.
The Raiders have won three straight in this series, but have dropped five of six games since starting the season 5-2. They come off their second-most lopsided regular-season loss in the Super Bowl era, 48-9 to Kansas City and have been held to 16 points or fewer in all seven losses.
Green Bay (10-3) at Baltimore (8-5)
The Ravens have been ravaged by injuries from the preseason on, and might be in their worst shape yet. Quarterback Lamar Jackson
was sidelined in a loss to Cleveland by a sprained ankle, and the secondary is down to third-stringers. Not the best way to face Aaron Rodgers, who is having another superb season, and the balanced Green Bay attack.
But history is on Baltimore’s side. It has won 13 straight games against the NFC, the longest active streak by a team against the opposing conference. Slowing wideout Davante Adams will be the biggest challenge, and the Packers take the NFC North by winning.
Arizona (10-3) at Detroit (1-11-1)
One of the NFC’s top teams against the league’s tail-ender. Seems like a rout, especially with Arizona being 7-0 on the road and in position to clinch a playoff spot.
If the Cardinals win, they will be the 10th team with eight road victories in a season; they play at Dallas on Jan. 2 and could be the NFL’s first team with a 9-0 road record in a season. The league is playing a 17-game schedule for the first time.
Tennessee (9-4) at Pittsburgh (6-6-1)
Despite their inconsistencies in all aspects, the Steelers remain viable for the playoffs. A win over the Titans, who have a two-game edge in the AFC South, would be massive. The Steelers are optimistic star linebacker T.J. Watt (groin) and DB Joe Haden (foot) will be able to play. Watt, the NFL’s sacks leader with 16, is the key: Pittsburgh is 6-2 when he plays a full game and 0-4-1 in games when he sits or is limited because of injury.
Tennessee can win its second straight division title with a win and an Indianapolis loss to New England.
Dallas (9-4) at New York
Giants (4-9)
Dallas is in a strong position to secure a playoff berth and, soon, the NFC East title. Don’t look for the undermanned Giants to stand in the Cowboys’ way. Dallas is 3-0 against the NFC East and has a threegame division lead with four games remaining. No other NFL team is unbeaten in its division.
The Cowboys likely will return to the run game; they rushed for 201 yards on 39 attempts in an early season victory over New York. Meanwhile, the Cowboys have tied a club record with five defensive touchdowns, and Trevon Diggs is the NFL leader in interceptions with nine.
Atlanta (6-7) at San Francisco (7-6)
Yet another game involving two contenders. The Niners have won four of five. Atlanta is 5-2 on the road and seeks its first season with six road wins since 2016, when it went to the Super Bowl.
This one could be decided in the red zone. San Francisco has scored an NFL-best 5.7 points per trip inside the 20 with touchdowns on a league-leading 73% of those drives. Atlanta has struggled to stop teams near the end zone, ranking 29th in points allowed per red-zone drive (5.58) and 28th in TDs allowed (68.8%).
Carolina (5-8) at Buffalo (7-6)
Each team is reeling, though the Bills still control their chances of being in the Super Bowl mix they once were favored for. The Bills have dropped three of four and five of eight. They have not lost three straight since a four-game skid in 2018 when quarterback Josh Allen was sidelined with a sprained right elbow. Now he has a left foot issue.
Bills coach Sean McDermott faces his former team for the second time; he was the Panthers defensive coordinator from 2011-2016. Carolina has lost eight of its past 10 and QB Cam Newton has lost 11 straight starts for Carolina going back to the 2018 season.
New York Jets (3-10) at Miami (6-7)
Winners of five straight to climb back into the playoff chase, the Dolphins have won seven of the past eight games in the series, including the past three by a combined 68-20. But the Jets, losers in their past five visits, actually are 4-0 in their past four December trips to Miami. New York will clinch last place in the AFC East by losing; that’s a spot it has owned four of the past five seasons.
Jets rookie quarterback Zach Wilson needs to watch for a fellow rookie, linebacker Jaelan Phillips. He has five sacks in his past two games and seven sacks during the victory string.
Sports briefs run as space permits throughout the week in The Record. To submit an item, e-mail sports@troyrecord.com.
Girl’s Winter Lacrosse: Capitalland Lacrosse will be running girl’s lacrosse programs this winter on Sunday mornings starting on November 14 and ending on January 2 at the All Star Academy in Latham. Levels include: Leagues for youth grades fourth through sixth, modified/JV grades, seventh through ninth grades, and varsity programs; An advanced skills and drills program designed for players who want to take his game to the next level, grades six through eight and nine through 12; Instructional programs for novice players’ grades four through six and seven through eleven; Instructional programs for beginners grades four through six and seven through eleven; a co-ed kindergarten through fifth learn to play program.
For more information go to capitallandlacrosse.com or Email us at Chad@capitallandlacrosse.com
Girl’s Winter Field Hockey: Capitalland Field Hockey will be running girl’s field hockey programs this winter on Sunday mornings starting on November 14 and ending on January 2 at the All Star Academy in Latham. Levels include:League for modified/JV grades seven through nine; An advanced skills and drills program designed for players who want to take his game to the next level for grades six through eight and nine through 11; Instructional programs for novice players’ grades five through seven and eight through 11; Instructional programs for beginner grades four through six and seven through 11; Learn to play beginner program grades kindergarten through third: for all young players who want to learn how to play in a friendly fun atmosphere. The emphasis is fun.
For more information go to capitallandlacrosse.com or Email us at Chad@capitallandlacrosse.com
Boy’s Winter Lacrosse: Capitalland Lacrosse will be running boy’s lacrosse programs this winter on Sunday mornings starting on November 14 and ending on January 2 at the All Star Academy in Latham. Levels include: Coaches’ corner grades four through six and seven through nine in an dvanced skill program that has varsity-level coaches recreate a set of advancedlevel practices full of skills & drills that players need to know for the next level; Instructional programs for novice players’ grades six through nine and second through fifth; Instructional programs for beginner grades six through ten and second through fifth; A co-ed kindergarten through fifth learn to play program.
For more information go to capitallandlacrosse.com or Email us at Chad@capitallandlacrosse.com
Hockey Hut Summer Camps are right around the corner: The Hockey Hut is excited for another summer of maximizing players development spots are starting to fill up! Put in your deposit now to reserve your players spot in our camps! Camps include over three hours of on-ice instruction including power-skating, puck control, and shooting. All camps will involve instruction tailored to that week. Camps also include outdoor off-ice training and hockey skills. All players will receive a jersey at the beginning of each camp.
If you have any questions, you can call or email Jeff Silengo at the Hockey Hut.
SAVE! Ice Hockey Goalie Academy Skills Clinic: Every Monday night from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Hockey Hut followed by a one hour goalie-focused off-ice training session.The clinic will include stations that focus on rebound control, depth, angles, skating skills, and hand positioning. Game type situations and video and photo to help goalies show their position and movement in the crease. $25 drop-in and $20 promotion if you bring a skilled shooter. Complimentary assessments and on-ice evaluations available for more personalized private and semi-private sessions in and out of season, just ask! To reserve a spot please contact: Austin Christopher at 207-441-4564 or Goalieace30@gmail.com.
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Hockey Hut presents Drop In Shooting Class: Drop in class to work on the wrist shot and scoring moves. Saturdays at 11 am at the Hockey Hut. Cost: $20 per class. Payment received on location.
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