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NFL WEEK 15 WINNERS AND LOSERS: BILLS, BEARS EARN KEY VICTORIES; PACKERS DEFENSE IN TROUBLE?

This was one of those weeks in the NFL when you were reminded how crazy this league can be. It’s already been a wild year with all the parity and the rise of upstarts like the Patriots, Bears and Jaguars. Week 15 was a reminder of how much unpredictability still remains. You saw that in places like Tampa Bay and Carolina and certainly in New England, where the Bills sent a stark reminder that the AFC East is still open for business.

This was a week filled with important matchups. What we ultimately learned is that a lot can change in a matter of days in this league. That’s why this edition of The First Read wants to go back to an old favorite: winners and losers. It feels like the best way to make sense of what we just witnessed.

WINNERS

1) Matthew Stafford

Stafford sits at the top of the MVP race with New England falling to Buffalo on Sunday. Patriots quarterback Drake Maye seemed to be on the verge of taking a sizable lead when his team led the Bills, 21-0, in that contest. But then Buffalo stormed back and Maye wound up with his worst stat line of the season (14-for-23 for 155 yards and an interception). Stafford, on the other hand, passed for 368 yards with two touchdowns and an interception in a 41-34 win over the Detroit Lions. That now gives Stafford 37 touchdown passes and just five interceptions on the season. At 37 years old, he’s enjoying the best year of his career and doing it for a team that is rolling. Maye could’ve helped himself immensely by beating Josh Allen and putting the Patriots in position to clinch the AFC East title. Instead, he failed in one of the few big moments he’s had because of New England’s soft schedule, while Stafford — who lost star wide receiver Davante Adams to a hamstring injury on Sunday — thrived in his showcase game.

2) Sean McDermott

Speaking of the Bills, their head coach had to be thrilled by the effort his team produced after falling behind early against New England. Buffalo has won the last five AFC East titles, and it proved why on Sunday: This team usually plays its best football in November and December. The Bills won seven of their last nine regular-season games in 2024. They ended the 2023 regular season on a five-game win streak and the 2022 campaign on a seven-game win streak. This is what they do. It was equally important for McDermott to see his underwhelming defense make some key stops that allowed quarterback Josh Allen and the Buffalo offense to get this team back into the game. Of course, the Bills still need help to have a chance of winning the division. But there’s something else that has to make McDermott feel better: As long as the Bills don’t implode, they’ll go into their first postseason under this head coach without any chance of seeing Kansas City in January.

3) Chicago Bears

The Bears have been bouncing all over the playoff picture these days, but they have to like where they sit right now. Chicago is now the No. 2 seed in the NFC after Sunday’s win over Cleveland and Green Bay’s loss to Denver. The Bears had been the top seed heading into Week 14, but a defeat to the Packers dropped them all the way down to the seventh seed. Now that the Bears are back in position to potentially play playoff games at home in January, their circumstances are in a much better place. For one, they’ll play a rematch with Green Bay on Saturday, and the Packers just took a major hit when edge rusher Micah Parsons apparently sustained a torn ACL in a loss to Denver. Chicago also hosts the Lions in Week 18, and Detroit is two games behind the 10-4 Bears. If that’s not enough, the Bears also hold the tiebreaker over the Eagles — who are currently the No. 3 seed — because Chicago beat Philadelphia on Black Friday. These games won’t be easy, but the Bears can set themselves up by handling their business.

4) Jesse Minter

The Chargers defensive coordinator is turning himself into a hot prospect for a head coaching job. Six days after leading a unit that forced five turnovers in a Monday night win over Philadelphia, Minter watched his defense hold the Chiefs to 13 points in a victory that moved the Chargers one step closer to clinching a playoff spot. Kansas City generated just 239 total yards and committed two turnovers in that contest. Minter’s defense also was able to exploit an injury-plagued Chiefs offensive line to produce five sacks. The play of the Chargers defense has been crucial to this team’s success because Los Angeles has been dealing with its own health issues, both along its offensive line and with quarterback Justin Herbert (who’s been playing with a fractured left hand). Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh helped launch the career of one of his former defensive coordinators at Michigan, as Mike Macdonald has done great things in Seattle. Minter could be next in line if his defense continues to perform at a high level.

LOSERS

1) Kansas City Chiefs

There will be a long offseason in Kansas City after the way the Chiefs watched their playoff hopes — and certainly this dynastic era — die in Sunday’s loss to the Chargers. The major news was the torn ACL that ended the season of star quarterback Patrick Mahomes. There’s now plenty of uncertainty about when he’ll be ready to play for this team next season. The Chiefs also were officially eliminated from playoff contention with the Charger loss (combined with wins by the Bills, Jaguars and Texans). It tells you how bad the Chiefs’ season has been when they still need a variety of things to happen to be eliminated … and all of them ultimately occur. The way that game ended — with a number of other Chiefs either needing medical attention or leaving the game for certain stretches — creates the question of how bad this season will become. Kansas City is currently 6-8 and playing without the one player who always gave this team hope. It’s not impossible to think this squad doesn’t win another game this year.

2) Jeff Hafley

The loss of Micah Parsons will be seismic for the Packers and, specifically, Hafley’s defense. Parsons changed the entire trajectory of that unit when he arrived in a trade from Dallas prior to the season-opener. Suddenly, a defense that had all sorts of issues with pressuring opposing quarterbacks had a one-man wrecking ball working off the edge every week. Parsons already had produced 12.5 sacks this season, and he surely was responsible for helping his teammates accumulate many others. That’s all gone today. Hafley will have to scheme, adjust and ask more of lesser talents to make this work. That doesn’t mean the Packers will be lousy moving forward. It just means they lost their best chance to be dominant.

3) Dave Canales

How do you lose that game? That is what every Carolina fan must be asking after the Panthers suffered a 20-17 loss to New Orleans on Sunday. All the momentum favored Canales and his team coming into the game. The Buccaneers incredibly lost to the Falcons on Thursday night, so all the Panthers had to do was beat a 3-10 team to create an ideal scenario. If the Panthers had beaten the Saints, they would be playing Tampa Bay this coming Sunday with a chance to clinch their first NFC South title since 2015 (and first playoff appearance since 2017). Now Canales has to hope his team can do this the hard way. Carolina will play Tampa Bay this week and then again in the regular-season finale. The Panthers still have a good shot of accomplishing their goal, but Canales watched a better opportunity evaporate right before his eyes.

4) Everyone who thought Philip Rivers would flop

Admit it: Rivers did much better than most folks imagined he would do after returning to the NFL at age 44. The man hadn’t played in five years, but he somehow did enough to give Indianapolis a chance to win a huge game in Seattle against the Seahawks’ vaunted defense. Rivers looked every bit his age when it came to how he moved and how often he pushed the ball down the field. What he didn’t do was embarrass himself. He played with savvy, managed the game as best he could and drove the Colts into a position where they kicked a go-ahead field goal with just under a minute left. Give Sam Darnold and the Seahawks credit for driving into position for a game-winning field goal from Jason Myers. Even though Rivers ended the game with a desperation interception in the final seconds, he did enough to make the Colts not look crazy for bringing him back.

INJURIES TO PATRICK MAHOMES AND MICAH PARSONS RUIN NFL’S WEEK 15

First, Patrick Mahomes went down. Then, it was Micah Parsons.

The NFL lost two of its all-time greatest players to serious knee injuries in a span of a few hours on Sunday, ruining a day filled with exciting comebacks and fascinating stories.

Forty-four-year-old Philip Rivers played his first game in 1,800 days and nearly led the 14-point underdog Indianapolis Colts to a stunning upset against Seattle before Jason Myers kicked a 56-yard field goal with 29 seconds left to lift the Seahawks to an 18-16 victory.

Reigning NFL MVP Josh Allen led the Buffalo Bills from a 21-0 deficit to a 35-31 victory at New England, snapping the Patriots’ 10-game winning streak and preventing them from clinching the AFC East.

Rookie quarterback Tyler Shough rallied the New Orleans Saints to a 20-17 comeback victory over the Panthers capped by Charlie Smyth’s 47-yarder as time expired, damaging Carolina’s chances to win the NFC South and boosting Tampa Bay’s hopes.

Matthew Stafford and the Los Angeles Rams overcame a 10-point deficit and rolled past the Lions 41-34, dampening Detroit’s playoff bid. The Rams lost three-time All-Pro wide receiver Davante Adams to a hamstring injury in the game. He could miss Thursday night’s game at Seattle, a battle for first place in the NFC West.

Jalen Hurts played like the Super Bowl MVP and the Philadelphia Eagles snapped a three-game losing streak with a 31-0 rout over the woeful Las Vegas Raiders.

But the injuries to Mahomes and Parsons overshadowed everything else that happened in Week 15.

Even the Chiefs being eliminated from playoff contention was secondary to the news about Mahomes.

The three-time Super Bowl MVP tore the ACL in his left knee late in the fourth quarter of a 16-13 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers that ended Kansas City’s streak of 10 straight playoff appearances and seven consecutive trips to the AFC championship game.

“Don’t know why this had to happen,” Mahomes posted on social media before the diagnosis was announced. “And not going to lie it hurts. But all we can do now is trust in God and attack every single day over and over again. Thank you Chiefs kingdom for always supporting me and for everyone who has reached out and sent prayers. I Will be back stronger than ever.”

Parsons is believed to have suffered a torn ACL in his left knee, a person with knowledge of the All-Pro pass rusher’s injury told The Associated Press on Sunday.

The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the severity of the injury hadn’t been confirmed by tests.

“I’m sickened,” Parsons told the AP in a text message.

Parsons’ injury is a devastating blow to the Green Bay Packers, who lost 34-26 to Denver on Sunday to fall a half-game behind the NFC North-leading Chicago Bears.

Parsons was steps away from another sack when he suddenly pulled up and fell to the ground, grabbing at his left knee.

Asked about the possibility that Parsons tore his ACL, coach Matt LaFleur responded: “It doesn’t look good. I’ll leave it at that.”

With Parsons, the Packers were Super Bowl contenders. Without him, it’ll be much more difficult to get there. The Packers take on the Bears in a showdown for first place on Saturday night.

“We all know what type of player he is and the impact he’s had on our football team and to lose somebody like that, it’s tough,” LaFleur said. “Like I said, nobody’s going to feel sorry for us. We’ve got to find a way and guys have got to rally around one another.”

Mahomes and Parsons will not only miss the rest of this season but their status for the start of 2026 is uncertain. Players typically return from ACL injuries in 9-12 months.

Running back Adrian Peterson tore the ACL and MCL in his left knee on Dec. 24, 2011. He was back on the field for Week 1 the next season, ran for 2,097 yards in 16 games and became the last non-quarterback to win the NFL MVP award in one of the most remarkable comebacks in league history.

Quarterback Carson Wentz tore his ACL, LCL and sustained damage to his IT band and meniscus on Dec. 17, 2017 and ended up watching the Eagles win the first Super Bowl in franchise history from the sideline. He returned to the starting lineup in Week 3 the following season, and threw for 3,074 yards, 21 touchdowns, seven interceptions and a 102.2 passer rating in 11 games.

If Mahomes and Parsons didn’t damage other ligaments, it increases the possibility they could return for the 2026 season opener.

Regardless, both star players have a long, grueling rehab ahead.

MRI CONFIRMS PACKERS STAR MICAH PARSONS SUFFERED TORN ACL VS. BRONCOS

The expected worst-case scenario for Green Bay was realized on Monday when an MRI confirmed that Packers star pass rusher Micah Parsons tore his ACL during Sunday’s 34-26 loss to the Broncos, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported.

Parsons suffered a non-contract knee injury during the second half of Sunday’s game when he was in pursuit of Broncos quarterback Bo Nix. Parsons took an awkward step on the play, immediately grabbed at his knee and went down. He was helped to the locker room with his arm around a trainer.

“I may be sidelined, but I am not defeated,” Parsons wrote Monday on social media. “This injury is my greatest test — a moment God allowed to strengthen my testimony. I believe He walks with me through this storm and chose me for this fight because He knew my heart could carry it. I’m deeply grateful to the Packers organization and my teammates for their unwavering support, love, and belief in me during this season. I trust His timing, His plan, and His purpose. I will rise again.”

Packers head coach Matt LaFleur did not paint an optimistic picture of Parsons’ status after the game, telling reporters, “It doesn’t look good, I’ll leave it at that,” when asked if Parsons had torn his ACL. Monday’s news confirmed the team’s fears.

Parsons joined Green Bay just before the start of the season as the headliner of a stunning blockbuster trade with the Dallas Cowboys. Parsons, a four-time Pro Bowl selection, was on his way to more postseason accolades in 2025, posting 12.5 sacks and 26 QB hits to help lead a Packers squad that is on the cusp of a third consecutive playoff berth.

Green Bay (9-4-1) currently holds the No. 7 seed in the NFC playoff picture and has a 88 percent chance to make the postseason, according to Next Gen Stats.

However, making the playoffs — and more importantly, making a push to a Super Bowl — is a much more difficult proposition without Parsons in the fold.

Rashan Gary is currently second on the team in sacks (7.5), and Green Bay will look for greater contributions from edge rushers Quay Walker and Lukas Van Ness, who each have 1.5 sacks on the year.

In their first game without Parsons, the Packers will face off against the rival Chicago Bears (10-4) at Soldier Field on Saturday.

CHIEFS QB PATRICK MAHOMES VISITING DALLAS FOR SECOND OPINION ON ACL

Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes is heading to Dallas for a second opinion on his left knee injury after initial testing revealed a torn ACL.

Head coach Andy Reid said Mahomes would visit Dr. Dan Cooper in Dallas and then attack his plan for surgery and recovery.

In general, players who suffer major injuries that require surgery seek a second opinion. Reid said the additional medical input is not a sign the Chiefs fear additional ligament damage.

“Most guys get a second opinion. That’s just part of it,” Reid said.

Mahomes was injured running away from pressure Sunday when he was hit on his left leg from behind by pursuing Chargers defensive lineman Da’Shawn Hand.

“I’ve had a good visit with him a couple of different times. He’s in a good place,” Reid said Monday of Mahomes. “He feels like he let people down, but he’s ready for the challenge ahead, which is what’s real right now. He’s just got to get through surgery, wherever it might be, and move on from there.”

Typical recovery from ACL reconstruction would likely put the Chiefs in position to need another quarterback next year, at the very least as insurance Mahomes will not be available for the start of the regular season.

Gardner Minshew entered Sunday’s game when Mahomes was injured and was driving the Chiefs for a potential game-tying field goal when his pass intended for tight end Travis Kelce was intercepted.

Reid said Monday he has a “ton of confidence” Minshew can do the job. Backup Chris Oladokun, 28, has been on the practice squad since 2022.

REPORT: RAVENS BELIEVE LB TEDDYE BUCHANAN TORE ACL

The Baltimore Ravens fear rookie linebacker Teddye Buchanan tore his ACL during Sunday’s shutout of the Cincinnati Bengals, ESPN reported Monday.

Buchanan, 23, was set to undergo more testing to confirm the initial diagnosis.

He fell to the field while covering a punt in the first quarter of Baltimore’s 24-0 road win. He clutched his right knee, walked to the sideline with the support of staff and was carted to the locker room.

Buchanan is the Ravens’ second-leading tackler (93) behind Roquan Smith. He assumed a starting role in Week 2 and was named the NFL’s Defensive Rookie of the Month in October.

The fourth-round draft pick out of Cal recorded five tackles for loss, one forced fumble and 0.5 sacks in 14 games (13 starts).

“It sucks anytime you see your guy go down — somebody you go to war with every day and truly just a good dude,” Smith said postgame Sunday. “It’s giving me chills thinking about it, and just knowing what (Buchanan) stands for, knowing all that he’s gone through. Obviously, it’s an unforgiving business, and we know that. We signed up for that, and it just sucks, but I know it’s a minor setback for him.”

The Ravens (7-7) trail the Steelers by a half-game in the AFC North standings heading into Pittsburgh’s Monday night matchup with the Miami Dolphins.

Baltimore hosts the New England Patriots next Sunday and visits the Green Bay Packers in Week 17 before traveling to Pittsburgh for the season finale.

REPORT: PACKERS WR CHRISTIAN WATSON AVOIDS MAJOR INJURY

Packers wideout Christian Watson avoided a major injury in Sunday’s devastating defeat in Denver, NFL Network reported on Monday.

Micah Parsons, Green Bay’s star pass-rusher, is believed to have sustained a torn left ACL during the 34-26 loss to the Broncos.

Watson, who missed the first six games this season while rehabbing his own torn ACL, left with 12:55 remaining in the third quarter with an apparent chest or shoulder injury that required a trip to the hospital.

Watson, 26, sustained the injury on a deep pass that was intercepted by Broncos cornerback Patrick Surtain II, who landed on Watson while making the catch.

Watson had three catches for 29 yards at Denver and has 28 receptions for 481 yards and five touchdowns in eight games (all starts) this season.

A second-round draft pick in 2022, the speedy Watson has recorded 126 catches for 2,134 yards with 19 TDs in 46 career games (43 starts).

JERRY JONES WITH 3 GAMES LEFT: ‘VERY DISAPPOINTED,’ COWBOYS ‘UNDERACHIEVED’

Owner and general manager Jerry Jones walked away from the home stadium of the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday night with one overwhelming emotion.

“It’s very disappointing. I’m really obviously very disappointed for our fans,” Jones said of the Cowboys losing to the Minnesota Vikings and falling to 6-7-1 to be eliminated from wild-card playoff contention.

“I’m disappointed for these players. I didn’t expect that. I thought we could come out here and on both sides of the ball make a better accounting of ourselves. Minnesota did the best job out there on both sides of the ball.”

The Cowboys have a playoff prayer left, but they would have to finish the season with three consecutive wins while the Philadelphia Eagles lose their final three games to forfeit their lead in the NFC East.

Dallas plays the Los Angeles Chargers (10-4) on Sunday and faces the Washington Commanders (4-10) on Christmas Day in another short-week, Thursday game. The season finale is Jan. 4 against the New York Giants (2-12).

Philadelphia plays at Washington on Saturday night, at Buffalo (10-4) on Dec. 28 and faces the Commanders again in the Week 18 finale on Jan. 4.

Like Jones, first-year head coach Brian Schottenheimer also used the “d” word after a deflating loss to the Vikings (6-8) that dropped Dallas to 3-6-1 against NFC opponents this season.

“I’m disappointed,” Schottenheimer said. “We didn’t play well against Detroit (Week 14). I really do think … we’re beating ourselves quite a bit and that starts with us as a coaching staff. It’s always going to start with me and the things that I messed up and didn’t do very well. (Vikings DC) Brian Flores was better than me.”

Quarterback Dak Prescott said he was “definitely surprised” by Sunday’s loss because of what the Cowboys knew was at stake. He’s focused on being a consistent voice the rest of the season to bring professional accountability to the offense.

“Nothing’s going to change for me, and that’s going to be my influence as a leader,” Prescott said. “My message to anybody around me is take pride in who you are as a man and who you are as a football player and the job responsibility that you have and what that entails is giving your best every day. And if you don’t, you probably won’t be in this league for long.”

GIANTS’ MIKE KAFKA NOT FOCUSED ON IMPACT TO HEAD COACHING OPPORTUNITIES

Mike Kafka is 0-4 as the interim head coach of the Giants but said he is not concerned about the impact the team’s continued struggles might have on his prospects to land a full-time head coaching job with New York or elsewhere.

“I’m not really concerned about any of that stuff,” he said Monday. “That would be super selfish of me to think about that. Where we’re at in this season, my only focus is on the players and the coaches and getting our guys ready to roll.”

The Giants were 2-8 when coach Brian Daboll was fired on Nov. 10 and Kafka was elevated from offensive coordinator to interim head coach. Since then, the Giants have dropped four consecutive games, including a 29-21 setback at home on Sunday against a Washington Commanders team that entered with an eight-game losing streak and a journeyman backup quarterback.

Kafka, 38, has been credited with aiding the development of quarterback Jaxson Dart and fellow rookie Cam Skattebo, the now-injured running back. The Giants do own the NFL’s 12th-ranked offense, but their average of 343.2 yards per game has been padded a bit by consistently playing from behind during their eight-game losing streak.

“I love being the head coach of the New York Football Giants and it’s a privilege to do this job,” Kafka said. “The challenges and the things that come with it are part of the job. I look forward to it every day, coming into work, to attack it every single day and give our players the best opportunity to be successful.

“Every day brings a new learning experience and a new opportunity to grow. So, I’ve just been taking those experiences to continue to learn from. When there are decisions to be made, I go in there and make those decisions with the best intentions for the team.”

New York will close out the string against Minnesota, at Las Vegas and home against Dallas. After that, general manager Joe Schoen will conduct the search for the next head coach.

That may or may not include Kafka, who interviewed for several vacancies last year and has been considered one of the top young offensive minds in the league.

“We’ve got a great opportunity ahead of us with three games left. Nothing’s more important than this game right now against Minnesota,” Kafka said. “So, that’s really where our mind’s at. That’s where my mind’s at. Watching the tape, getting these corrections made so that we can go and continue to improve, and then let’s get on the tape for Minnesota, let’s go attack those guys.”

Kafka was asked if learning the nuances of being a head coach, especially while being thrown into the fire mid-season with the Giants, has been an eye-opening experience.

“This is the situation that I’m in and I’m going to take full advantage of it,” he said. “Any opportunity that I have to help this team and put my fingerprint on the team, I will. Obviously, yeah, when you have the opportunity to do it from the start, you have a way to kind of change certain things, build the culture the way you want to build it.

“But we have a great team here, we have a great staff here and I look forward to coming to work every single day. I love working with these guys. They’re giving us everything they’ve got and we’re going to find a way to get a W.”

JETS FIRE DC STEVE WILKS AFTER 48-20 LOSS TO JAGUARS

New York Jets head coach Aaron Glenn fired defensive coordinator Steve Wilks on Monday following a lopsided loss in Jacksonville.

The Jets (3-11) surrendered season highs in yards (438) and points in the 48-20 thumping by the Jaguars (10-4) on Sunday.

Chris Harris, the defensive backs coach and passing-game coordinator, takes over as interim defensive coordinator with three games left in the season.

Through Sunday’s games, the Jets rank 20th in the NFL in total defense (337.4 yards per game) and 30th in scoring defense (28.4 points per game).

Wilks, 56, was in his first season with the Jets. He was the head coach of the Arizona Cardinals in 2018 and interim head coach of the Carolina Panthers in 2022.

Wilks also worked as the defensive coordinator for the San Francisco 49ers (2023), Panthers (2022, 2017), University of Missouri (2021) and Cleveland Browns (2019). He has been coaching in college and the NFL since 1995.

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