In the latter weeks of the regular season, teams are indeed jockeying for playoff positions, with some securing their spots, while others face elimination. The battle for home-field advantage is crucial, as it can significantly impact a team’s chances in the postseason.
Struggling teams being eliminated is a common occurrence, and it’s not uncommon for teams to make a late-season push to secure victories and keep their playoff hopes alive. The NFL regular season is often marked by surprises, upsets, and intense competition as teams vie for the opportunity to compete in the postseason.
Here are the grades for all 32 NFL Teams after the week 15 games:
Arizona Cardinals: D (Last week Bye Week)
The Cardinals returned to action after their week 14 bye week and suffered a tough 29-45 beat-down loss to the San Francisco 49ers in week 15. Kyler Murray threw a touchdown against two interceptions and was sacked three times. James Conner and Emari Demercado both scored rushing touchdowns while Elijah Higgins scored a receiving touchdown. On defense, the Red Birds had no sacks or interceptions as they had no answers on how to stop the 49ers’ fiery offense.
Atlanta Falcons: D (Last week C-)
The Falcons played a tough and rain-filled afternoon in their week 15, 7-9 loss to the Carolina Panthers. Desmond Ridder threw a touchdown against an interception and lost a fumble while Tyler Allgeier rushed for 45 yards on the afternoon. Jonnu Smith had 61 receiving yards and Cordarrelle Patterson caught the only touchdown of the game. On defense, the Falcons had three sacks but no turnovers in their wet and painful loss on the road as they look to salvage what they can for their remaining three games of the season.
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Baltimore Ravens: B (Last week B-)
The Ravens played very well and conquered the Jacksonville Jaguars 23-7 in Duval County. Lamar Jackson threw a touchdown against an interception but was sacked three times. Jackson also led the Ravens in rushing yards with 97 yards while Gus Edwards scored a rushing touchdown but Keaton Mitchell suffered a torn ACL in the win. Isaiah Likely played a good game and scored a touchdown in the fourth quarter. On defense, the Ravens had two fumble recoveries and a sack but the team had no interceptions on the night. Even so, it was a good night for the Ravens as they kept the Jaguars at bay and secured a playoff berth along with the victory.
Buffalo Bills: B+ (Last week B)
The Bills had a very strong showing at home as they stunned the Dallas Cowboys with a 31-10 victory. Josh Allen threw a touchdown pass against zero interceptions and scored a rushing touchdown. James Cook and Latavius Murray both scored rushing touchdowns and Cook scored a receiving touchdown while Stefon Diggs had 48 receiving yards. On defense, the Bills had three tackles and an interception as they kept their playoff hopes alive with a massive upset win over the Cowboys in dominating fashion.
Carolina Panthers: C- (Last week F)
The Panthers won their second game of the season thanks to Eddy Pineiro kicking the game-winning field goal in their 9-7 win over the Atlanta Falcons. Bryce Young threw no touchdowns or interceptions but was sacked three times. Chubba Hubbard rushed for 87 yards while Adam Theilen caught four receptions for 43 yards. On defense, the Panthers did not have any sacks but they did have an interception and a fumble recovery. Not the best performance by the Panthers but they did get the win. This surely must be satisfying as well as an important spirit boost in the season’s final quarter- for a team that has been struggling all season long.
Chicago Bears: D+ (Last week B)
The Bears had a tough road game against the Cleveland Browns and lost 17-20 in the final seconds of a hard-fought contest. Justin Fields threw one touchdown against two interceptions. Roschon Johnson had 36 rushing yards, DJ Moore had 52 receiving yards, and Cole Kmet scored the Bear’s only offensive touchdown. On defense, the Bears had four sacks, a fumble recovery, and three interceptions (one of them returned for a 45-yard pick-six by Tremaine Edmunds). Despite a great defensive effort, the Bears lost a tough one on the road in Cleveland.
Cincinnati Bengals: B- (Last week B-)
The Bengals built on their week 14 win with another solid and decisive 27-24 overtime victory over the Minnesota Vikings. Jake Browning threw two touchdowns against one interception while Joe Mixon scored a rushing touchdown. Tee Higgins scored two receiving touchdowns and Ja’Marr Chase caught four receptions for 64 yards. On defense, the Bengals had three sacks while Mike Hilton and BJ Hill both had an interception against Nick Mullens. It was a great afternoon for the Bengals as they secured the victory- keeping their playoff hopes alive.
Cleveland Browns: B+ (Last week B-)
The Browns played a physical matchup against the Chicago Bears and won a nail-biter against the Bears 20-17. Joe Flacco threw two touchdowns against three interceptions and was sacked four times. The Browns’ rushing attack was held to 29 rushing yards on the afternoon while Amari Cooper and David Njoku both scored touchdowns. On defense, the Browns had three sacks, a fumble recovery, and two interceptions (one of them being the game-ender caught by D’Anthony Bell) saving the Browns from a game-ending touchdown by Chicago. The Browns with Joe Flacco and their elite defense can potentially make some serious noise in the playoffs as a wildcard team, if they win out and secure their playoff spot.
Dallas Cowboys: D (Last week A-)
Despite being in first place in the NFC East for now, the Cowboys suffered a tough 10-31 upset loss to the Buffalo Bills on the road. Dak Prescott threw an interception against zero touchdowns. Tony Pollard rushed for 52 yards while CeeDee Lamb had 53 receiving yards and scored a rushing touchdown. On defense, the Cowboys had a sack but no turnovers against the Bills as they were stunned on the road.
Denver Broncos: D (Last week B-)
The Broncos were brought back down to reality as they fell on the road to the Detroit Lions 17-42. Russell Wilson threw a touchdown against zero interceptions and scored a rushing touchdown while Samaje Perine rushed for 37 yards on six carries. Jerry Jeudy had 74 receiving yards, Courtland Sutton had 71 receiving yards, and Lil’Jordan Humphrey scored the Broncos’ only receiving touchdown of the night. On defense, The Broncos had two sacks but no interceptions or fumble recoveries. This loss hurts the Broncos’ playoff chances but the team still has some time to turn things around despite three more weeks left in the shrinking regular season.
Detroit Lions: A- (Last week D+)
The Lions turned things around after their messy week 14 loss in Chicago to a statement 42-17 victory over the Denver Broncos. Jared Goff threw five touchdowns against zero interceptions. Jahmyr Gibbs scored a rushing touchdown and caught a receiving touchdown while Sam LaPorta caught three touchdowns, and Amon-Ra St. Brown caught a touchdown. On defense, the Lions had two sacks, and Isaiah Buggs had a fumble recovery but the team didn’t have any interceptions on the night. With this win, the Lions look to continue securing a winning record as well as securing the division and a playoff spot with three weeks left to go.
Green Bay Packers: C- (Last week C-)
The Packers fell at home to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in a 20-34 loss. Jordan Love threw two touchdowns against zero interceptions but was sacked twice while Aaron Jones rushed for 53 yards on the afternoon. Tucker Kraft and Jayden Reed both caught touchdowns in the first and third quarters respectively while Dontayvion Wicks had 97 receiving yards on the day. On defense, the Packers had five sacks and a fumble recovery but no interceptions. Not the best offensive showcasing for the Packers, but they could’ve played a lot worse, which is saying something about a team that has been a mixed bag all season long.
Houston Texans: C+ (Last week D-)
The Texans played a close and nail-biting battle with the Tennessee Titans and won in a 19-16 overtime victory with the help of Ka’imi Fairbairn’s kick in the final seconds of overtime. Case Keenum (filling in for C.J. Stroud recovering from a concussion) threw a touchdown against an interception but was sacked three times. Devin Singletary rushed for 121 yards on 26 yards while Noah Brown scored a touchdown. On defense, the Texans had seven sacks and one interception on the afternoon. It was a strong victory for the Texans as they kept their playoff hopes alive, as they continued the hunt for a playoff spot.
Indianapolis Colts: B (Last week D+)
The Colts played very well as they came back from behind 6-0 and defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers 30-13 at home. Gardner Minshew threw three touchdowns against zero interceptions but was sacked thrice while Trey Sermon rushed for 88 yards. Michael Pittman Jr. caught four receptions for 78 yards but left the game with a concussion after taking a hit from Damonte Kazee. D.J. Montgomery, Mo Alie-Cox, and Zack Moss all scored touchdowns. On defense, the Colts had four sacks and two interceptions on the evening as they kept the Steelers out of the end zone for the second half of the game.
Jacksonville Jaguars: D (Last week D+)
The Jaguars are starting to unravel as they lost at home to a very strong Baltimore Ravens team 7-23. Trevor Lawrence threw a touchdown against no interceptions and rushed for 41 yards on the night while Jamal Agnew scored the Jaguars’ only touchdown of the night. On defense, the Jaguars had three sacks and an interception which is good, but wasn’t good enough to stop the Ravens from outperforming them, all night long as well as the Indianapolis Colts gaining momentum as they try to compete for first place in the AFC South.
Kansas City Chiefs: C+ (Last week C)
The Chiefs finally snapped their two-game losing skid and secured a 27-17 victory over the struggling New England Patriots on the road. Patrick Mahomes threw two touchdowns against two interceptions but was sacked three times. The Chiefs’ rushing attack was held to 43 yards all game while Rashee Rice, Clyde Edwards-Helaire, and Jerick McKinnon all scored touchdowns on the afternoon. On defense, the Chiefs had four sacks and a Willie Gay interception as they look to finish out the 2023 season on a positive note- just in time for the upcoming playoffs.
Las Vegas Raiders: A- (Last week D-)
The Raiders delivered an astonishing performance against the Los Angeles Chargers, securing a 63-21 victory. Aidan O’Connell showcased his prowess with four touchdown passes, complemented by Jakobi Meyers’ trick play touchdown and Davante Adams, Tre Tucker, and Michael Mayer’s receiving touchdowns. Zamir White and Brandon Bolden contributed rushing touchdowns. Defensively, the Raiders shone with four fumble recoveries (one returned for a touchdown), three sacks, and an interception by Jack Jones, who returned it for a 16-yard pick-six touchdown. The Silver and Black left an indelible mark with this outsized triumph over the struggling Chargers.
Los Angeles Chargers: D- (Last week D)
The Chargers suffered a staggering 63-21 defeat at the hands of the Las Vegas Raiders. Easton Stick, filling in for the recovering Justin Herbert, managed three touchdowns against one interception. Austin Ekeler faced a challenging day on the field with minimal rushing yards. Joshua Palmer, Quentin Johnston, and Alex Erickson added receiving touchdowns late in the game. Despite one sack and nine pass deflections on defense, the Chargers failed to secure interceptions or fumble recoveries. The aftermath led to the dismissal of head coach Brandon Staley and general manager Tom Telesco.
Los Angeles Rams: C+ (Last week C)
The LA Rams played a decent game as they defeated the Washington Commanders 28-20. Matthew Stafford threw two touchdowns against zero interceptions on the afternoon. Kyren Williams scored a rushing touchdown while Cooper Kupp and Demarcus Robinson both scored receiving touchdowns. On defense, the Rams had a sack and an interception, as they kept their playoff hopes alive.
Miami Dolphins: B+ (Last week D+)
The Dolphins rebounded from their Monday night meltdown from week 14 and shut out the New York Jets 30-0. Tua Tagovailoa threw one touchdown pass against zero interceptions, Raheem Mostert scored two rushing touchdowns, and Jaylen Waddle scored a touchdown. On defense, the Dolphins had six sacks, and two fumble recoveries, and Brandon Jones had two interceptions in the afternoon. It was a strong statement win for Miami as they inch closer and closer to claiming the AFC East title.
Minnesota Vikings: C (Last week D)
The Vikings were able to put more points on the board but couldn’t get the win as they fell on the road to the Cincinnati Bengals in a 24-27 overtime loss. Nick Mullens threw two touchdowns against two interceptions while Ty Chandler scored a rushing touchdown. Jordan Addison had a huge receiving game as he had 111 receiving yards and scored two touchdowns while Justin Jefferson had 84 receiving yards. On defense, the Vikings had five sacks and one interception but no fumble recoveries. Losing in overtime, certainly stings, but the Vikings put up a fight against the Bengals and scored more points than they did in week 14.
New England Patriots: D (Last week C+)
The Patriots losing ways continued as they fell to the Kansas City Chiefs 17-27. Bailey Zappe threw a touchdown against an interception, Kevin Harris scored a rushing touchdown, and Hunter Henry did score a rushing touchdown on the afternoon. On defense, the Patriots had three sacks and two interceptions which wasn’t enough to stop their sinking season from continuing with another tough loss at home to the defending Super Bowl champions, Kansas City Chiefs.
New Orleans Saints: B (Last week B-)
The Saints played very well at home as they defeated the New York Giants 24-6 while they continued fighting for the NFC South crown against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Derek Carr threw three touchdowns against zero interceptions but was sacked once while Alvin Kamara rushed for 66 yards and had 44 receiving yards. Juwan Johnson, Jimmy Graham, and Keith Kirkwood all scored receiving touchdowns. On defense, the Saints had seven sacks against Tommy DeVito but no interceptions or fumble recoveries. This was a solid win for the Saints at home, but they have to win out and watch to see if the Buccaneers lose at least one or two games, to keep their NFC South crown chances alive.
New York Giants: D (Last week A-)
The Giants took a road trip to the Big Easy and were clobbered against the New Orleans Saints 6-24 in the Superdome. Tommy DeVito didn’t throw any touchdowns or interceptions but was sacked seven times. Randy Bullock and Jamie Gillan both kicked field goals for the Giants while Bullock suffered a hamstring injury. DeVito also led the team in rushing yards with 36 yards while Darius Slayton caught four receptions for 63 yards. On defense, the Giants had one sack from Jason Pinnock but no interceptions or fumble recoveries. It was a very rough day for the G-Men as they look to forget about this road trip, with only three games left in the regular season.
New York Jets: F (Last week B-)
The Jets traveled to South Beach and were shut out 0-30 by the fired-up Miami Dolphins. Zach Wilson was sacked four times and left the game with a concussion while Trevor Siemian threw two interceptions. Breece Hall rushed for 12 yards on five carries and both Xavier Gipson and Garrett Wilson had 29 receiving yards. On defense, the Jets had three sacks and two pass deflections but no interceptions or fumble recoveries in their humiliating loss in Miami. It is back to the drawing board, as the Jets try to finish this lost season.
Philadelphia Eagles: D+ (Last week C-)
The Eagles are slowly unraveling as the team lost their third straight game 17-20 to the Seattle Seahawks. Jalen Hurts threw two interceptions against zero touchdown passes but scored two rushing touchdowns. D’Andre Swift and A.J. Brown played very well on offense but didn’t score any touchdowns on the night. On defense, the Eagles had two sacks but no turnovers, with no good answers for stopping the Seahawks’ offense from stunning them on the road.
Pittsburgh Steelers: D+ (Last week D)
It was a tough Saturday afternoon for the Steelers as they lost 13-30 on the road to the Indianapolis Colts. Mitch Trubisky threw a touchdown against two interceptions and scored a rushing touchdown but was sacked three times. Jaylen Warren rushed for 40 yards, Najee Harris rushed for 33 yards but lost a fumble, and Dionte Johnson caught four receptions for 62 yards and scored a touchdown. On defense, the Steelers had three sacks but no fumble recoveries or interceptions. It was a rough evening for the Black and Yellow as they fell on the road to a tough Colts team looking to secure a spot in the playoffs.
San Francisco 49ers: A- (Last week A-)
The 49ers continued their domination as they defeated the Arizona Cardinals 45-29 in their week 15 matchup. Brock Purdy threw four touchdowns against zero interceptions and wasn’t sacked at all while Christian McCaffrey scored a rushing touchdown and two receiving touchdowns. Deebo Samuel also scored two receiving touchdowns on the afternoon as well and George Kittle had 54 receiving yards. On defense, the 49ers had three sacks and Charvarius Ward had two interceptions with one of them returned for a 66-yard pick-six. It was all business for the 49ers as they look to secure the one-seed for the playoffs if the Dallas Cowboys and/ or Philadelphia Eagles lose their final games of the season.
Seattle Seahawks: B- (Last week D+)
The Seahawks shocked the Philadelphia Eagles 20-17 in a close and nailbiting game at home as they kept their playoff hopes alive. Drew Lock threw a touchdown pass against zero interceptions, Kenneth Walker III scored a rushing touchdown, and Jaxon Smith-Njigba caught a touchdown pass. On defense, the Seahawks didn’t have any sacks or fumble recoveries but they did have two interceptions from Julian Love. The Seahawks upset victory over the Eagles also keeps their playoff hopes alive and shows opponents how tough it is to play in Seattle with their loud and passionate fan base behind them.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: B (Last week B-)
The Buccaneers played very well on the road as they defeated the Green Bay Packers 34-20. Baker Mayfield threw four touchdown passes but was sacked five times while Rachaad White had a good game with 89 rushing yards and scored a receiving touchdown. Ko Kieft, David Moore, and Mike Evans also scored receiving touchdowns. On defense, the Bucs had two sacks and a fumble recovery but no interceptions. The Bucs on offense put in the work and delivered against the so-and-so Packers team, as they continue their quest for a playoff appearance and the NFC South crown.
Tennessee Titans: D (Last week C+)
The Titans came oh so close to stopping and tying with the Houston Texans but came up short in their 16-19 overtime loss. Will Levis threw an interception against no touchdown passes but did score a rushing touchdown. Derrick Henry rushed for nine yards on 16 carries while DeAndre Hopkins caught two receptions for 21 yards. On defense, the Titans had four sacks and an Elijah Molden interception returned for a 44-yard pick-six. The Titans have struggled for the majority of the season and have a lot of work to do in the offseason, if they want to have a more successful 2024. The most important thing for them to do is protect Will Levis, and make sure he improves, if they want him to be their leader on offense.
Washington Commanders: C- (Last week Bye Week)
The Commanders returned to action and fell in a tough 20-28 loss to the Los Angeles Rams in week 15 as well as get eliminated from playoff contention. Sam Howell threw a touchdown against an interception and was benched for Jacoby Brissett who threw two touchdowns against no interceptions. Terry McLaurin scored a touchdown and Curtis Samuel scored two touchdowns on the afternoon. On defense, the Commanders had three sacks and two fumble recoveries but no interceptions as they prepare to finish the 2023 season on a positive note with three games left on the schedule.
