Winners of Week 15: 49ers RB Christian McCaffrey enters the MVP discussion
Now that the majority of Week 15 is behind us, let’s take a look at the winners:
Running back Christian McCaffrey of the San Francisco 49ers: Following his four touchdowns against the Arizona Cardinals in their first meeting, McCaffrey had an incredible return on Sunday. With an outstanding stat line to support him, McCaffrey led the Niners in their 45-29 thrashing of the division rival.
He was obviously lethal in the passing and running game, amassing 72 receiving yards (five catches) and 115 rushing yards (18 carries) along with three touchdowns. McCaffrey’s seven touchdowns against the Cardinals are the most by a player in a single season against a single team in the Super Bowl era (1967), according to ESPN Stats and Info.
Along with quarterback Brock Purdy, McCaffrey has emerged as an MVP candidate, leading the league in all-purpose yards (1,801). But Purdy told reporters following the game, “I think Christian should be MVP.”
According to Oddschecker, McCaffrey (+2500) was far behind the overwhelming favorite, Purdy (-150), in the MVP race going into Week 15. After his performance on Sunday, he should have more opportunities.
Detroit Lions: After a commanding 42-17 thumping of the Denver Broncos (7-7), the Lions turned things around in Week 15, going on to improve to 10-4.
For the first time since Week 8, the defense shut out the Broncos in the first half and limited the opposition to fewer than 26 points and 300 yards of offense. On the other hand, Jared Goff, who became the second Lions quarterback in history to throw for five touchdowns in a game without an interception, followed Matthew Stafford (2015) in helping the offense get back on track. Elias Sports Bureau reports that TE Sam LaPorta and RB Jahmyr Gibbs combined for five touchdowns in a game, making them the first rookies to do so since 1970.
It’s safe to say that the Lions turned the corner against the Broncos after their recent struggles. With three games remaining, they have a three-game lead over the opposition in the NFC North, which means they can win the division for the first time since 1993.
QB Joe Flacco of the Cleveland Browns: Flacco’s magic extended one more week as the Browns defeated the Bears 5-9, 20-17. Cleveland won their second straight game thanks to a nine-play, 63-yard field goal drive that the 38-year-old masterminded late in the contest.
Flacco came through when it mattered most, even though he threw three interceptions. He threw for 212 of his 374 yards in the last stanza, helping the Browns to 13 points after the team was behind 17–7 after three quarters. As reported by CBS’s John Breech
Thanks to Flacco, the Browns are 9-5, smack dab in the middle of the AFC playoff picture, and surprisingly, they are still alive for the division title, too.
Buffalo Bills offensive line: In a 31-10 trouncing of the Dallas Cowboys, the Bills did what they wanted up front against a unit only a week removed from holding the Philadelphia Eagles offense to two field goals. The O-line provided plenty of push, allowing the Bills to run the football at will.
Bills RB James Cook easily had the best game of his career. Cook ran for 179 yards off 25 carries (7.2 YPA) with a TD on the ground while also impacting the passing game, finishing with two catches for 42 yards and a score. As a team, Buffalo rushed for 266 yards, with QB Josh Allen (24 yards, TD) and backfield mates Ty Johnson (54 yards) and Latavius Murray (1
With the line tightening up, the 7-6 Bills have won two straight and three of their last four. Finally shaping up into the contender everyone expected, they’re becoming a scarier playoff draw as the weeks go by.
Jake Browning, Cincinnati Bengals QB: Revenge is sweet. Cut by the Minnesota Vikings three times between 2019 and 2021, Browning returned to haunt his former squad in a 27-24 overtime win on Saturday.
Browning admitted that there was a “little bit more” added motivation this week, which showed. The career backup finished 20-of-42 for 324 yards with two TDs and an interception, directing a come-from-behind win, including a game-tying TD drive with 39 seconds left to force extra time.
After losing Joe Burrow to a season-ending knee injury, many wrote off the Bengals. However, with Browning in command, they’re 8-6, firmly entrenched in the AFC postseaso
