Week 15 of the 2025 NFL season was brutal. It delivered crushing upsets and massive playoff seeding implications. The greatest impact was the painful fallout for big injuries involving two premier superstars. These events reshaped the entire AFC and NFC postseason picture.
Catastrophic Injuries Alter Super Bowl Trajectory
The biggest story involved Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes suffering a torn ACL injury near the end of the Kansas City loss. This season-ending injury abruptly ends one of the most remarkable runs in league history. Consequently, the Chiefs were officially eliminated from playoff contention. This incident marked the first time K.C. has missed the playoffs in a decade. Furthermore, Green Bay Packers DE Micah Parsons may have suffered a similar fate, potentially with a torn ACL. His loss is far more damaging to a team that looked like a Super Bowl 60 favorite. This long-term injury concern significantly alters the Packers’ season trajectory.
Speaking of concerning injuries, the Los Angeles Rams locked up an NFC clinched playoff berth. However, WR Davante Adams’ hamstring injury could be a giant setback. The Rams must now play at Seattle on Thursday Night Football. The Seattle Seahawks appear to be the healthier team ahead of that critical contest.
Playoff Tickets Punched, The No. 1 Seed Race Heats Up
The Denver Broncos secured their AFC playoff berth with a comeback victory over the Packers. Denver now owns the AFC’s No. 1 seed outright. Bo Nix tied a career high with four touchdown passes in the win. Los Angeles Rams also secured their spot in the NFC, but they now face competition for the top spot.
Meanwhile, the New England Patriots botched their opportunity to clinch the AFC East. This happened during a dramatic loss to the Buffalo Bills. The Cincinnati Bengals suffered a humiliating shutout loss to the Baltimore Ravens. It was their first since 2017, which decimated their postseason hopes. So much for the money tied up in QB Joe Burrow and WR Ja’Marr Chase. WR Tee Higgins was already in concussion protocol, unavailable to play.
Historic Milestones and Record-Setting Performances
Individual excellence still shone through the chaos of NFL Week 15.
- Jacksonville Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence had a dynamic day. He threw a career-high five TD passes and rushed for another score in the rout of the New York Jets.
- Commanders LB Von Miller moved up the all-time sack list to 136 sacks. This put him a half-sack ahead of Hall of Famer Jared Allen.
- Cleveland Browns DE Myles Garrett extended his career high to 21 sacks. He needs just one more QB takedown to tie the single-season record shared by T.J. Watt.
- Arizona Cardinals TE Trey McBride delivered an historic milestone. He now has a league-best 105 receptions. McBride became the first tight end ever to hit the century mark in successive years. Only Travis Kelce and McBride have multiple 100-catch seasons. Zach Ertz’s single-season receptions record is now within reach for McBride.
- Detroit Lions WR Amon-Ra St. Brown set a historic milestone. He became the first player ever to record at least 90 receptions in each of his first five NFL seasons.
- Rams RB Kyren Williams (2 TDs) outshined Lions counterpart Jahmyr Gibbs in a key NFC playoff race victory.
Draft Implications and Waiver Wire Gold
The New York Giants suffered an eight-game losing streak. Therefore, the Giants currently own the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 draft. The Las Vegas Raiders fell to number two after gaining only 75 total yards in their seventh consecutive loss. The draft order implications are now significant for both teams.
Finally, the Houston Texans saw a giant boost. RB Jawhar Jordan made his regular-season debut after being elevated from the practice squad. He rushed for 101 yards on 15 carries, consequently making him the best player to pick up on the fantasy waiver wire. His rushing production complements QB C.J. Stroud’s passing efficiency, bolstering the Texans’ bid for the AFC’s top spot.
