Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
The New England Patriots defeated the Houston Texans 27-6 in front of a national audience on NBC’s Sunday Night Football at NRG Stadium in Houston, TX. Of course, New England had already won earlier in the day as both the Cincinnati Bengals and Denver Broncos lost allowing the Patriots to leapfrog the two teams and stake claim to the number one overall seed in the AFC.
AFC Power Rankings Week 15: Pats back on top
The Patriots took care of business against the Texans jumping out to a two touchdown lead for the third straight week. However, after special teams breakdowns (Chris Harper fumbled punt return in Denver; take your pick of the doofus drop-kick, punt block for touchdown, or punt return for a touchdown against Philadelphia) swung momentum and doomed the Patriots, this week the defense stepped up and stopped Houston on fourth down to stymie the home team.
Of course, it would not be a Patriots game without significant injuries. Starting running back LeGarrette Blount exited midway through the second quarter with a hip injury after getting his heaviest workload of the season. On defense New England saw backup linebacker Jonathan Freeny–starting in place of injured Dont’a Hightower–leave with a hand injury early in the first quarter, defensive tackle Dominique Easley leave with a left thigh injury, and Devin McCourty left with an ankle injury.
For the Patriots there was good news on Monday as the x-rays of Freeny’s hand was negative, and McCourty is expected back for the playoffs with just a sprain. The status of Easley and Blount is still unknown but Easley was seen on a stationary bike during the game and may not have a serious injury.
However, the news on the injury front was bad for the AFC North leading Cincinnati Bengals as they not only lost the game but their starting quarterback as well. Let’s start with the Bengals as we take another look at how the top contenders in the AFC did in week 14 of the 2015 NFL season and most importantly how it impacts the New England Patriots.
Next: CINCINNATI BENGALS
CINCINNATI BENGALS:
Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
For the Bengals, it was a bad break as Andy Dalton not only threw a red zone interception on their 33-20 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers but he broke his thumb on his throwing hand making the tackle. Cincinnati is now having to go with untested second year quarterback A.J. McCarron for at least the rest of the regular season.
As far a s Dalton’s return, NFL.com is reporting he will not need surgery, but he still may not be ready to go in the playoffs. Much like Julian Edelman and his broken foot, it is just a matter of when the bone heals and there is not much that can be done to speed up the process.
Cyrus Geller: Takeaways from win over Texans
The Bengals have been one of the healthiest teams in the NFL in 2015, a big part of their success owing to the fact that they have had few significant injuries. Cincinnati still has a two game lead with three games to play over the Pittsburgh Steelers, but their schedule includes a trip to Denver sandwiched between games they should win against San Francisco (4-9) and Baltimore (4-9).
HOW IT IMPACTS THE PATRIOTS:
For the Patriots, the loss by Cincinnati gives them a leg up for the number one seed in the AFC as the Bengals and Broncos had leapfrogged the Patriots after New England inexplicably lost to the Philadelphia Eagles last week. The loss of Dalton is the worst part for the Bengals, as they could conceivably win out with their strong defense carrying them.
In the playoffs, the Bengals may not have the luxury of playing at home and may have to deal with Andy Dalton having to shake off significant rust (if he is able to return). The Bengals still have a strong defense but their dangerous offense takes a significant step back with McCarron behind center. Sunday’s loss on the scoreboard and on the field just made the Patriots’ path to the Super Bowl much easier.
Next: PITTSBURGH STEELERS:
PITTSBURGH STEELERS:
Mandatory Credit: David Kohl-USA TODAY Sports
The Steelers crushed the Bengals 33-20 and knocked Andy Dalton out for the likely the rest of the regular season. Once again Ben Roethlisberger and his trio of receivers are difficult to slow down. Cincinnati is one of the few teams with a secondary talented enough to be capable of matching up with Antonio Brown, Martavis Bryant, and Markus Wheaton.
Throw in the ageless tight end Heath Miller and resurgent running back DeAngelo Williams and the Steelers offense has all the makings of the most explosive unit in the NFL. Roethlisberger continues to play at a high level–when healthy. If not for having to start Michael Vick and Landry Jones five games, the Steelers may be in first place rather than on the outside looking in.
MVP Watch: Cam Newton over Tom Brady is a joke
The defense continues to gel in Pittsburgh as their secondary and linebackers improve. Ryan Shazier (who is healthy at last) and Bud Dupree (who was injured Sunday) have keyed a defense which is quietly 11th in the NFL in points allowed. Other than shootouts against Oakland and Seattle, the Steelers’ defense has been consistently strong.
FanSided
HOW IT IMPACTS THE PATRIOTS:
Oddly enough, the Patriots will be rooting for Denver next week against the Steelers. The Steelers are behind the Jets and Chiefs in the wild card race and if the playoffs started next week they would be on the outside looking in. Pittsburgh is looking like the 2008 Patriots who were one of the best teams coming down the stretch but missed the playoffs due to tiebreakers. That Patriots team would have been interesting to see in the playoffs.
Pittsburgh would have to go on the road and play three road games even if they did make the playoffs (unless Cincinnati completely collapses). Ben Roethlisberger is one of the few quarterbacks who could roll into Foxboro in the playoffs and not be intimidated. Keeping the Steelers out of the playoffs sounds good to the Patriots.
Next: DENVER BRONCOS
DENVER BRONCOS:
Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports
The Broncos lost to the Raiders on Sunday afternoon 15-12. A year or two ago, that would be big news but these are not the hapless Raiders of previous years. The Broncos’ defense is legitimate and remains remarkably healthy as the season heads into the final quarter of the regular season. T.J. Ward is out a few weeks (and the defense may actually be better without him) and linebacker Danny Trevathan is dealing with concussion symptoms but otherwise the top defensive unit in the NFL is intact.
Must-read: 6 reasons why the Patriots won in Week 14
On offense more is expected with impact receivers like Emmanuel Sanders and Demaryius Thomas. The offensive line fluctuates in quality of play week to week but his team should be much more consistent on offense. The inconsistent running game and growing pains of quarterback Brock Osweiler held back the Broncos last week.
Vernon Davis is an upgrade over tight end Owen Daniels, but his drop and Thomas’ drop on fourth down in the fourth quarter were inexcusable. Hard to believe, but the loss of Julius Thomas in free agency to Jacksonville seems to have been the biggest hit to the offense. Denver needs to get the offense straightened out for the playoffs.
More from Patriots News
- Patriots get steal of the night with perfect first round pick
- What trading Mac Jones during the draft can do for the Patriots
- Early round Patriots draft picks you’ll hate now, love later
- Musket Fire Roundup: Our own final predictions for round 1
- Breaking down the Patriots’ options in the 2023 NFL Draft
HOW IT IMPACTS THE PATRIOTS:
The Broncos needed everything to break right to beat the Patriots. They were at home. They were riding the momentum of the Brock Osweiler experience. They saw a key special teams mistake by New England swing the game back their way.
They needed an injury to Dont’a Hightower to open up their running game. An offense without Rob Gronkowski and Danny Amendola somehow managed to drive down the field and tie the game on their number one defense. New England was hamstrung by injuries and still almost went into Denver and pulled out the win.
Denver has a two game lead on Kansas City with three games to play in the West. However, the Broncos still have to play in Pittsburgh and then against Cincinnati. San Diego in week seventeen should be a cakewalk for them but they could conceivably be playing on Wild Card Weekend if they lose both games to the AFC North opponents. Not having home field and playing New England in Foxboro is a much better situation for the Patriots.
Next: NEW YORK JETS
NEW YORK JETS:
Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Speaking of teams which no one wants to play in the playoffs, the New York Jets are continuing to play well and stay ahead of the Steelers for the wild card. After losing four of five games the Jets seemed out of the playoff picture sitting at 5-5. Instead, despite an injured Darrelle Revis, the Jets have won three straight games.
The Jets are winning games with their offense as Ryan Fitzpatrick continues his resurgence at quarterback. Expected to backup Geno Smith, Fitzpatrick has 25 touchdown passes and shown instant rapport with wide receivers Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker. The Jets have little impact on offense behind that duo as Chris Ivory has been wildly inconsistent. Wide receiver Devin Smith was supposed to be the third option but he struggled early and is out with a knee injury now.
HOW IT IMPACTS THE PATRIOTS:
The Jets are trying to hold off the Steelers but have a tough stretch to close the season. Dallas is not what they should have been this year, but the Jets still have to go to Texas and try to win. The Jets only remaining home game is against the Patriots and they have to go to Buffalo and face the Rex Ryan clown show to end the season.
What they said: How did Pats react to win over Texans?
The Patriots can help themselves by getting rid of the irritating Jets team (that’s a compliment–that defense is not one anyone in Foxboro wants to see in the playoffs) with a win in week sixteen in New Jersey. New England could use some help from Dallas to knock down the Jets a peg, but that week sixteen matchup is looking like it is going to be a fun one with playoff implications for both teams.
Next: INDIANAPOLIS COLTS
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS:
Mandatory Credit: Thomas J. Russo-USA TODAY Sports
Hard to believe that the Colts were the Super Bowl favorites in the AFC prior to the season (them and the Ravens) and now they are playing for their playoff lives next Sunday against Houston. Sure, Houston has no offense but the Colts have struggled with Andrew Luck injured much of the season and now backup Matt Hasselbeck is dinged up. Will the Colts have to turn to the Football Jesus, Charlie Whitehurst with their season on the line?
Good injury news: Devin McCourty has sprained ankle, should be fine
The Colts had played the Patriots well earlier in the season and took the Panthers to overtime. They upset the Broncos and feasted on the NFC South lightweights to get back over .500 at 6-5. However, the past two weeks have seen the Colts give up 45 points to the Steelers and then the Jaguars topped 50 points on Sunday.
HOW IT IMPACTS THE PATRIOTS:
The Colts or Houston (or Jacksonville, as they are still technically still alive) could end up hosting a playoff game in the Wild Card weekend and end up coming to New England. The Colts play Miami and Tennessee to end the season and still have a chance to make some noise. Would anyone be surprised if the Colts sneak into the playoffs at 8-8 and Andrew Luck gets back on the field to win at home and take a trip to Foxboro?
Next: BUFFALO BILLS
BUFFALO BILLS:
Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports
Buffalo is now two games out of the Wild Card with three games to play in the season. The Bills lost a close game to the Philadelphia Eagles which was full of poor execution, sloppy penalties, and the defense giving up big plays at the wrong time. In short, a Rex Ryan coached team.
The Bills seem to have found a diamond in the rough with quarterback Tyrod Taylor, but as the season has progressed and teams pickup more game tape on him, the numbers are trending downward. He has now had four straight games–starting with the Patriots in week 11–with less than a 60% completion rate after topping 60% in six of his first seven games this year.
Must-read: Week 14 stock watch: Logan Ryan, Gronk shine
The Bills have struggled on defense despite the wealth of talent as the unit has gone from one of the best pre-Rex to an undisciplined, middle-of-the-road unit despite adding probable defensive rookie of the year Ronald Darby to an already strong secondary. Injuries to safety Aaron Williams and tackle Kyle Williams have hurt, but all teams in the NFL are dealing with injuries.
HOW IT IMPACTS THE PATRIOTS:
The Bills play Washington and Dallas in the next two weeks and should have a good chance to beat both of those flawed NFC East teams. They finish with the Jets at home in a game of huge importance to Rex Ryan, particularly if he has a chance to knock his old team out of the playoffs in week 17.
Next: Week 15 AFC Power Rankings: Pats back on top
The Bills are a longshot to make the playoffs and the struggling Buffalo offense would have trouble putting points on the board against the Patriots in Foxboro if the Bills made some amazing run late in the season. That said, does Rex Ryan have one more magic defensive gameplan for Tom Brady? The good news for the Patriots is that they may not have to worry about it after the Bills loss to the Eagles.