Every weekend in the NFL, elements attract our attention regarding the forces present, the records that are within reach or in relation to certain historical marks. Here, for the 15th week of activities, are 5 elements to watch out for.
• Read also: Our predictions for Week 15: Quarterbacks are dropping like flies
• Read also: Care of Mom and Giants Quarterback: Here’s the Crazy Story of Tommy DeVito
• Read also: On the doorstep of the playoffs: Matthew Bergeron enjoys an “incredible” first season with the Falcons
1. “Scoring” machines
Josh Allen and Dak Prescottent offer quite a quarterback duel. AFP
The late Bob Bissonnette sang “The scoring machine” in reference to hockey, but we will allow ourselves a nod to his work by associating it here with the match between Bills and Cowboys. Indeed, both Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott and his Bills counterpart Josh Allen are scoring machines. Prescott leads his peers with 28 passing touchdowns, while Allen leads in total touchdowns with 35 (25 passing and 10 rushing). This will be only the third duel since 1970 between the leader in passing touchdowns and the leader in offensive touchdowns.
2. Two conferences, two worlds
Travis Kelce and the Chiefs find themselves in the heart of a heated battle in the American Conference. Getty Images via AFP
There is a jostling at the doors in the race for the playoffs. In Conference USA, Week 15 began with 11 teams with winning records, something that had happened only three times before. The record was 12 clubs in 2014. There are six clubs in the American that started the week with a 7-6 record, which is a first in the conference. In the National, it’s the opposite with 11 teams who had losing records at the start of week 15. Of the lot, six teams were 6-7, which has never been seen at this stage of the season in one or other of the conferences.
3. McCaffrey in a class of his own
Christian McCaffrey has been ahead of the competition since the start of the season. Getty Images via AFP
49ers running back Christian McCaffrey leads the NFL in rushing yards with 1,177, 253 more than his closest pursuer, Raheem Mostert of the Dolphins. McCaffrey could potentially become the first running back in 28 years to lead this category from start to finish, having taken the lead in Week 1. Cowboys great Emmitt Smith was the last to achieving the feat, in 1995. In history, the only others who can say the same are Walter Payton, in 1977, and OJ Simpson, in 1973 and 1975.
4. Big sequence of bags
Justin Madubuike wins with the Ravens defense. AFP
We don’t talk about it too much, but Ravens tackle Justin Madubuike is having quite a season, with 11 quarterback sacks. He is riding a prolific streak of at least a half sack (a sack recorded with another player) in his last 10 games. If he collects at least one more half-sack against the Jaguars, he will extend his streak to 11, something only five players in history have achieved. At the same time, he is getting closer to the record of 12 consecutive games held by Javon Kearse, with the Titans, spanning the 1999 and 2000 seasons.
5. The return of an old duo
DK Metcalf will reconnect with his former teammate AJ Brown in the game against the Eagles. AFP
Monday night’s game between the Eagles and Seahawks will be a reunion for a former duo of prolific receivers, who ran rain and shine together in the NCAA, at Ole Miss, from 2016 to 2018. AJ Brown has become the Eagles’ target of choice while DK Metcalf establishes himself for the Seahawks. The two are part of an inner circle of six receivers who boast at least 350 receptions, 5,000 yards and 40 touchdowns over the last five seasons.
2023-12-17 06:00:00
#watch #week #NFL
