NFL Week 15 Blitz Read: Several teams clinch playoff spots

Ron Clements

•
NFL Week 15 Blitz Read: Several teams clinch playoff spots image

The Jaguars are back in the playoffs for the first time since 2007 and the Packers are in danger of missing the playoffs for the first time since 2008.

While not quite official, the Rams have all-but clinched their first division title since 2003. 

Jacksonville clinched a playoff spot with a dominating 45-7 win over the Texans. The Jaguars (10-4) have double-digit wins for the first time since going 11-5 in 2007. The Jaguars are also still in the hunt for home-field advantage in the AFC playoffs thanks to New England's controversial 27-24 win over the Steelers.

SIGN UP to watch every NFL game and RedZone this season on DAZN.

The Patriots (11-3) rallied to take a late lead and then got the win after a Steelers touchdown in the final minute was overturned following a replay review. The Patriots clinched the AFC East for a record ninth straight season with the win. Because the Jaguars beat the Steelers (11-3) earlier this season and own a tiebreaker over the Patriots, the Jags would be the top seed should all three finish 12-4. 

Jacksonville will close the season with two road games against the 49ers (4-10) and Titans (8-6). The Niners beat the Titans on Sunday to win their third straight game with Jimmy Garoppolo at quarterback. The Steelers, who had already clinched the AFC North, finish up against the Texans and Browns. The Browns (0-14) remained winless with a 27-10 loss to the Ravens (8-6), who are still in the mix for a playoff spot. 

New England's final two regular-season games are both at home against the Bills (8-6) and Jets (5-9). 

The Packers (7-7) got Aaron Rodgers back from injury on Sunday, but he threw three interceptions in a 31-24 loss to the Panthers. If the Falcons (8-5) win at Tampa Bay (4-9) on Monday, the Packers will be eliminated from playoff contention. The Packers have won the NFC North in five of the last six seasons, but the Vikings (11-3) clinched the division with a thorough 34-7 beating of the Bengals (5-9) on Sunday.

The Vikings remained in the two spot in the NFC as the Eagles (12-2) got by the Giants (2-12) as Nick Foles threw four touchdown passes in a 34-29 victory. Philadelphia clinched a first-round bye and can clinch home-field advantage with wins over either the Raiders or Cowboys in the next two weeks. The Rams, who lost to both the Vikings and Eagles this season, are securely in the three spot.

The Rams (10-4) had perhaps the most impressive win on Sunday, going into Seattle and delivering a 42-7 whipping of the Seahawks (8-6). The Rams now have a two-game lead in the NFC West with two games remaining and can clinch a division title with a win over the Titans next week. A home game against the 49ers will close the regular season. 

The Panthers (10-4) and Saints (10-4) both won Sunday to remain tied atop the NFC South. The Panthers would have to beat both the Bucs and Falcons and hope that one of those teams beats the Saints to win the division. The Saints have the tiebreaker by virtue of their season sweep. 

Injury report

Ravens receiver Jeremy Maclin left Baltimore's 27-10 win over the Browns early with a knee injury. 

Jaguars receiver Marqise Lee left Sunday's blowout win over the Texans with an ankle injury. 

Giants safety Landon Collins was unable to finish New York's 34-29 loss to the Eagles because of an ankle injury. 

Packers receiver Davante Adams was knocked from Green Bay's 31-24 loss to the Panthers with a concussion after an illegal crackback block by Panthers linebacker Thomas Davis. 

Cardinals receiver Brittan Golden fractured his arm during Arizona's 20-15 loss in Washington. 

Steelers receiver Antonio Brown left Sunday's 27-24 loss to the Patriots in the second quarter with a calf injury and could miss the remainder of the regular season.  

Star offensive linemen were injured in Sunday night's Cowboys-Raiders game. Dallas' Tyron Smith (knee sprain) and Oakland's Donald Penn (foot) were ruled out of a 20-17 Cowboys win. 

By the numbers

Bills running back LeSean McCoy ran for 50 yards in Sunday's 24-16 win over the Dolphins and became the 30th running back in NFL history with at least 10,000 career rushing yards.

On their way to a 45-7 win over the Texans, the Jaguars held a 31-0 halftime lead. That margin marked the largest halftime lead in the franchise's 23-year history. The Jaguars also have six wins this season of 20 points or more, which is more than their previous nine seasons combined. 

Panthers defensive end Julius Peppers got to Rodgers in the fourth quarter of Carolina's 31-24 win to give him 10 on the season. Peppers is just the third player since stats became an official stat in 1982 to record at least 10 sacks at the age of 37.

Saints receiver Michael Thomas caught nine passes for 93 yards in Sunday's 31-19 win over the Jets to give him 94 receptions for the season. He joins Giants receiver Odell Beckham Jr. as the only receivers in NFL history with at least 90 receptions in each of their first two seasons.

Highlights

Saints running back Mark Ingram had a big day in Sunday's win over the Jets. Ingram ran for 74 yards and caught five passes for 77 yards, including a 54-yard screen to set up the game's first score.

The Vikings defense led the way in a 34-7 win over the Bengals. Vikings linebacker Eric Kendricks got into the end zone with a 31-yard pick-six.

Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater entered the blowout win late and got a standing ovation from the home crowd.

Rodgers threw a trio of interceptions, but was able to make something out of nothing as he scrambled to find Randall Cobb for a 33-yard touchdown before halftime of Green Bay's 31-24 loss to the Panthers.

The Eagles started to heat up in the second quarter against the Giants and grabbed a lead on a 13-yard pass from Foles to a wide-open Trey Burton.

Rams running back Todd Gurley ran for 152 yards and scored four total touchdowns, including a 57-yard scamper off left tackle that gave the Rams a 34-0 halftime lead en route to a 42-7 victory in Seattle. 

Derek Carr reached for the goal line for game-winning touchdown against the Cowboys, but it was ruled he fumbled the ball into the end zone, resulting in a touchback and sealing a 20-17 Dallas win. 

Quotables

Rodgers on his performance against the Panthers: "I felt pretty good. I just missed some throws... The shoulder felt fine. Felt good all week in practice."

Jaguars owner Shad Kahn on securing a playoff berth for the first time in 10 years: "It’s unbelievable. To win it and win it the way we did, mind-blowing. Really, really grateful, obviously, and proud of the players, the football leadership and the fans. Especially, the last two games, have given us the energy, put it over the top. It’s been awesome."

Week 15 NFL scores

Thursday's game

Broncos 25, Colts 13

Saturday's games

Lions 20, Bears 10
Chiefs 30, Chargers 13

Sunday's games

Bills 24, Dolphins 16
Panthers 31, Packers 24
Ravens 27, Browns 10
Jaguars 45, Texans 7
Vikings 34, Bengals 7
Saints 31, Jets 19
Eagles 34, Giants 29
Redskins 20, Cardinals 15
Rams 42, Seahawks 7
49ers 25, Titans 23
Patriots 27, Steelers 24
Cowboys 20, Raiders 17

Monday's game

Falcons at Buccaneers, 8:30 p.m. ET

Ron Clements