Five Wide: 2024 Week Fifteen

By Thomas Willoughby

I am writing this at 7pm, the day before it’s published. I am shattered. I made the mistake of staying up for the Falcons/Raiders MNF fixture, and have paid the price all day. Not one cup of tea either. That was probably my biggest mistake.

Horrid game, by the way. Nothing redeeming about it whatsoever. Which it’s why it’s even more perplexing that the NFL have opted to flex the Falcons into the Week 17 Sunday Night Football slot. No respect for anyone, there.

Anyway, here are five things that happened.

February previews in December

Sunday’s slate of fixtures was headlined with a real clash of the titans. The Detroit Lions hosted the Buffalo Bills in, what was being billed as, a potential Super Bowl preview. And it was a barnstormer. The Bills came away with a 48-42 victory, handing Detroit their 2nd defeat of the season. If this is what we have in store in February, I’m game.

Though, what I will say; at no point did it really feel like the Lions would win this one. Buffalo jumped out to a 14-0 lead early, and maintained that it to the last. Detroit’s final touchdown, scored with 12 seconds remaining, might give the impression of a one score game. But the reality is Buffalo were good value for their win.

Poor Jared Goff, though. He’s gonna need to ice his shoulder all week. 59 passing attempts, 494 passing yards, 5 touchdowns, and a defeat. Josh Allen passed last week’s baton to Goff this week. Assuming this trend continues, Caleb Williams is going to have a massive week 16.

Gregory Shamus-Getty Images

No ones favourite

The Panthers are such a funny team, man. The past few weeks they’ve been a legitimate issue for a lot of teams. They might not be vintage (yet), but when the Kansas City Chiefs need a last second field goal to escape with a win, you’re on the right path. Good teams are being played close by them, and that’s encouraging going into 2025. 

So, when they hosted the maligned Dallas Cowboys, for the first time in about 2 years, they were the bookies favourites. And they got slapped.

30-14 they lost by. The Cowboys defense made life incredibly difficult for Bryce Young. Sacked 6 times, threw 2 interceptions, and fumbled twice. This felt like he was being slammed back down to Earth after some admirable performances over the past month and a half.

As for the Panthers, they’ll never get too big for their boots again. It’ll be 2027 by the time they’re the favourite in a game again.

De'Gonedre Campbell

My favourite story of the week came from Thursday night. The San Francisco 49ers played the Los Angeles Rams close. 12-6 to the Rams, nothing but field goals. One for the purest of purists. In the 3rd quarter, the 49ers knew they needed something new from their defense. They turned to De’Vondre Campbell, and looked to put him in the game. 

Oh dear.

There’s something about a guy just walking off that’s so funny, but we must consider the reasons behind it. Did he suddenly realise he left the stove on before he went out? Perhaps he just wanted to beat the traffic? Either way, his team mates didn’t try to hide their disgust at all. 

Sounds like the 49ers are trying to have Campbell effectively banished, opting to petition the league for a “max-suspension”, rather than straight up cutting him. Basically, they want him to be out of the league without pay, and without the ability to sign for a new team. Still, at least he got back at a reasonable hour.

Welcome to January

We’ve only a few weeks of the regular season left to play, before half the league is kicked out so the competent ones can have a go at winning the whole thing. As the weeks whittle down, more and more teams are clinching playoff football. One of those teams is the Pittsburgh Steelers, who return to the post-season after a year off.

What’s funny is they did it without even trying. The Steelers were well beaten by their cross-State neighbours 27-14 at Philadelphia. They didn’t look anything close to the side that has quietly gone about their business all season. They were humbled, and were immediately asked to put on a happy face to celebrate playing at least one more game than they might have otherwise.

The more the merrier

They weren’t the only side to secure playoff football this weekend. Joining them, as well as the previously qualified Chiefs, Bills, Lions, and Eagles, were the Houston Texans and the Minnesota Vikings.

The Texans have been a strange beast this season, because I wouldn’t say they’ve been overly impressive at any point. They’re efficient, more than anything. That said, they did take a win from their hosting of the Bills, which can’t be understated. Being in the worst division in football probably helps. The AFC South has not been an enjoyable watch this season.

The Vikings are funny because they did it without even needing to play. THey watched the Sunday slate wrap up, punched their ticket to the playoffs, and underlined it by destroying the Bears on Monday night. They remain in contention to finish as the NFCs first seed, by the way. That trip to Detroit on the final game of the regular season might well decide it.

Featured Image Credit: Rusty Jones – AP Photo

Thomas Willoughby

NFL ANALYST

THOMAS IS A WRITER, AND REGULAR GUEST ON THE TOUCHDOWN REVIEW SHOW PODCAST, FOR THE TOUCHDOWN. YOU CAN FIND HIM @WILLO290592 ON TWITTER

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