Welcome back, Philip Rivers
This has been an NFL season like no other. You would be forgiven for asking what year it is when you look at the standings in both the AFC and NFC. This week, another element was added to the conversation when future Hall of Fame quarterback Philip Rivers came out of retirement to sign with the Indianapolis Colts.
At the time of writing, it looks as if Rivers will make a push to play on Sunday - his first game in five years if it happens. If he does, he will have to wait at least five more seasons to be eligible for the Hall again.
The 44 year old father of ten who recently became a grandfather has been coaching in a high school in Alabama over the last few years.
Make no doubt about it - this is a stunning return that nobody saw coming.
The Colts need help immediately, with a difficult trip to Seattle on the cards this weekend. Sitting at 8-5, Indianapolis needs to pick up the pace if they want to make the playoffs next month.
The question is, just how ready will Rivers be for a league that has changed dramatically on the offence over the last few years?
If Rivers would give them the push they need in the next few weeks, it would be a story for the ages.
"I'm just taking it one day at a time", Rivers said this week.
Aren't we all?
Smyth’s home debut
Charlie Smyth will play his third game in a row this weekend when the New Orleans Saints host the Carolina Panthers, in what will be the Mayobridge man's home debut.
While Smyth kicked three extra point attempts last weekend in Tampa Bay along with a 30 yard field goal, he missed his first attempt on a dreary day in Florida from 48 yards.
This is Smyth’s final elevation from the practice squad to the full 53 man roster. If he is to play again after this week, the Saints would have to officially sign him to the full team.
Saints Head Coach Kellen Moore is confident that Smyth will take this weekend's opportunity in his stride.
"We feel good about Charlie", he said.
"This is a great opportunity for him. Resiliency? Facing adversity? Perfect - He gets to have a game where he missed one and he will get to respond the way he needs to."
Cade York is also on the Saints books and it will be fascinating to see what New Orleans decides to do after this weekend.
With three games left in their season after Sunday, it could be a great chance for the Down man to cement a starting spot on the team for 2026.
A potential Super Bowl?
The term 'Mile High Magic’ is usually reserved for Denver Broncos fans. This weekend, we could see magic from both sides, as Dan Whelan’s Green Bay Packers arrive in town.
The sides met in Super Bowl XXXII in 1998 and with the way that both teams are playing entering the final weeks, you would not bet against each other meeting again in early February in Santa Clara, the site of Denver’s last Lombardi trophy victory.
The Broncos are 11-2 and have ten straight wins, a streak that is shared with the New England Patriots for the longest active streak in the NFL.
That being said, Denver is seen as a slight underdog going into this game. The Packers are improving each week, with Micah Parsons starting to really come out of his shell.
The former Dallas Cowboy has 12.5 sacks on the season (his career high season record is 14, with four games left in the regular season).
What really helps for Parsons is the defensive unit that he is playing with in Green Bay. Their spacing is allowing him to make big plays - and he will look forward to going up against Bo Nix on Sunday.
The Packers have allowed the seventh-fewest passing yards per game since Week 10, which will present a challenge to the Broncos, meaning a potential reliance on running back RJ Harvey from Sean Payton and company.
That being said, Nix isn’t too bothered about being an underdog.
"I don’t really care," he said. "My mum thinks we’ll win, so that’s all that matters."
AFC East on tap
What a year it has been for Mike Vrabel, Drake Maye and the New England Patriots. Entering Week 15, the Patriots sit reborn post Tom Brady and Bill Belichick at 11-2.
With Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills coming to town on Sunday, the Patriots have an opportunity to not only clinch the AFC East title with a win, but also their first postseason appearance since 2021.
That being said, it won’t be easy. Josh Allen has been in scintillating form for the Bills this season. Last week, he had four touchdowns for 329 total yards and has almost 500 rushing yards this season.
Allen’s dual threat of both the passing and run game will be a huge factor in determining how far the Bills go this season, especially if they go on the road in the playoffs, which is now likely.
If the Patriots want to close out the AFC East for the season this Sunday, they are going to have to limit Allen’s running - five of his rushing touchdowns have come on a third down play this season.
For as good as Allen has been, Drake Maye has been superb in his second season. The former UNC man and his team are on a ten game win streak, but this Sunday will pose a different challenge.
When the eyes of the league are on Maye, will he deliver and take this Patriots team to the next level?
An early Christmas cracker awaits.
Stafford - Goff
If Maye against Allen wasn’t enough to satisfy this weekend, we see Goff and Stafford meet again at the crunch time of the season.
Entering the second weekend of December, the Detroit Lions sit at 8-5, one game outside of a playoff position. This game is crucial for them, before they welcome the Pittsburgh Steelers to Ford Field next weekend.
While it is crucial for Detroit, it’s the same for the Rams as well. Yes, they sit at the top of the NFC and NFC West, but if they lose, they could fall to as low as the fifth seed.
For the Lions, it’s simple. They need to make sure that Matthew Stafford is contained. Former Michigan running back Blake Corum had a stellar performance last week and the Rams are effective not only in the passing game, but also on the run game.
It will be up to a Lions defence without Brian Branch to find a way to win and move their season into a different gear.
Aidan Hutchinson will be crucial in this game. He currently leads the NFL in pressures (80) and has had a superb season. He can be explosive in pressurising situations and could be the key factor if the Lions are to get out of Los Angeles with a win.
Expect points - and potentially a lot of them.
