The NFL season is flying by, and with it, the playoffs are fast approaching. It’s Week 15, and I’ll be breaking down the top three matchups of the week.
Matchup No. 1: Pittsburgh Steelers @ Philadelphia Eagles
This game carries a lot of hype, as both teams boast over 10 wins this season and feature no shortage of star players. For the Steelers, edge rusher T.J. Watt enters this game as one of the league’s top defenders, with 9.5 sacks on the year. The Eagles will look to counter Watt and the Steelers’ pass rush with their run game, led by Saquon Barkley. Barkley has been the league’s best this year, racking up 1,623 yards and 11 touchdowns. This game is in Philadelphia, which could give the Eagles the edge they need to win this pivotal matchup.
Matchup No. 2: Buffalo Bills @ Detroit Lions
Both of these teams are juggernauts in their respective conferences, making this a potential Super Bowl preview. The Bills travel to Detroit with a 10-3 record to face the 12-1 Lions. This game promises plenty of points. The Bills feature a potential MVP in Josh Allen, who is coming off a six-touchdown performance (three passing and three rushing). They’re also looking to get rookie wide receiver Keon Coleman back from injury, which would bolster an already potent offense. On the Lions’ side, Jared Goff has been on fire, throwing for 3,265 yards and 25 touchdowns so far this season. Perhaps even more impressive than Goff and the passing game is the dynamic rushing duo of “Sonic and Knuckles,” Jamyr Gibbs and David Montgomery. Together, they’ve combined for 1,787 yards and 22 touchdowns. Like the Steelers-Eagles matchup, the home team may have the slight edge, making the Lions the slim favorite in this clash.
Matchup No. 3: Green Bay Packers @ Seattle Seahawks
The Seahawks and Packers enter this game in tight division races, with the Seahawks holding a one-game lead in theirs and the Packers trailing by three games in theirs. The run game will be a critical factor for both teams. For the Packers, their ground attack is led by free agent acquisition Josh Jacobs, who has 1,053 yards and 11 touchdowns this season, including three in his last game. The Packers will undoubtedly aim to get him going early and often. On the Seahawks’ side, the run game typically revolves around Kenneth Walker, but he missed last week and may be out again this week. In his absence, Zach Charbonnet stepped up as the lead back, rushing for 134 yards and two touchdowns last week. Whichever team establishes the run game first is likely to come out on top in this matchup.
