Week 15 of the 2024 NFL season delivered its share of revelations and heartbreaks. As the playoff picture crystallizes in the AFC, the NFC remains a battleground of resilient contenders, none more intriguing than the resurgent Minnesota Vikings and the decimated but defiant Detroit Lions. Let’s delve into the key takeaways from this pivotal week on the gridiron.
The O’Connell-Darnold Connection: A New Power Duo Emerges
When the Vikings tapped Kevin O’Connell as their head coach, eyebrows raised at his decision to stake his reputation on journeyman quarterback Sam Darnold. Fast-forward to Week 15, and the Vikings are playoff-bound at 11-3, fueled by Darnold’s shocking revival under O’Connell’s tutelage.
O’Connell has unlocked Darnold’s potential by leaning on the tactics that made Sean McVay and Jared Goff a feared tandem in Los Angeles: heavy doses of play-action, designed rollouts, and route concepts that accentuate Darnold’s arm strength. The results speak volumes:
- Darnold ranks 3rd in under-center rate (29%) and 8th in play-action rate (27%)
- 34% of his throws travel 10+ yards downfield
- Darnold sports a minuscule 1.4% interception rate despite aggressive throwing
While some of McVay’s disciples have evolved their schemes, O’Connell has boldly stuck to the formula and elevated Darnold into an elite passer. His deft play sequencing and ability to manipulate defenses have the Vikings offense humming, anchored by the brilliant route-running of Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison. With O’Connell at the helm, Minnesota looks equipped for a deep playoff run.
Can the Depleted Lions Still Roar?
The football gods have not been kind to Detroit. The Lions’ injured reserve list reads like a Pro Bowl roster, with impact players on both sides of the ball shelved, including RB David Montgomery, CB Carlton Davis III, and LB Alex Anzalone. After conceding 79 combined points to the Packers and Bills, doubt shrouds the Lions’ Super Bowl aspirations.
Yet a narrow path to glory remains. If Detroit secures the NFC’s top seed and a first-round bye, they could welcome back key reinforcements like Anzalone and S Ifeatu Melifonwu. Defensive wizard Aaron Glenn has proven adept at scheming around the Lions’ personnel shortcomings, but the onus falls on Jared Goff and a potent offense to carry the load.
The 2024 Lions have scored 30+ points in eight straight games, tying an NFL record. Even with a battered defense, Goff and company are equipped to win shootouts against any opponent.
Close source from Detroit’s locker room
The margin for error is slim, but if Goff plays at a peak level and the defense holds firm situationally, the Lions could still be the last team standing. Injuries be damned, don’t count out the Pride of Detroit.
The Brilliance of Allen and Jackson
Let’s take a moment to marvel at the unprecedented quarterback play we’re witnessing from Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson. In Week 15, Allen unfurled a 50-yard laser to Keon Coleman that traveled 2.53 seconds in the air—the fastest completion of that distance in NFL history. His arm talent is stretching the boundaries of what we thought possible.
Not to be outdone, Jackson registered his fourth career game with 5+ passing TDs and 50+ rushing yards. The rest of the NFL combined has just four such games all-time. While the MVP debate rages, there’s no denying we’re privileged to watch two generational talents redefine the position before our eyes.
Week 15 Notes and Musings
- Defensive Player of the Year watch: Despite gaudy sack numbers from the likes of T.J. Watt and Danielle Hunter, don’t sleep on Cowboys LB Micah Parsons or Broncos CB Pat Surtain II. Their impact goes beyond the box score.
- The Steelers’ second-half dismantling at the hands of the Eagles was historic. Philly’s 88-yard, 10:29 fourth-quarter drive was the longest by time to end a game since 2009.
- Monitor the Chargers defense closely. After a hot start, they’ve plummeted to 28th in success rate since Week 9. Is Brandon Staley’s unit out of answers?
From Minnesota’s offensive sorcery to Detroit’s tenacity in the face of adversity, Week 15 encapsulated the magic and mayhem that make the NFL irresistible. As the season barrels toward its climax, the storylines only grow richer. Buckle up and savor the chaos.
