NFL Update: Week 15 Highlights and the Playoff Picture for Former Pokes

Let’s check in with some former Cowboys after Week 15 in the NFL and then take a look at the playoff picture with just two weeks remaining.

Dez Bryant Scores

You love to see it.

Dez got to throw up the X in the end zone for the first time in over three years.

THROW UP THE X! @DezBryant TOUCHDOWN!

Tune in on CBS pic.twitter.com/dNfW19EKEB

— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) December 20, 2020

In just four games since signing with the Ravens, Bryant had five catches for 39 yards and that score. If the Ravens are able to make a postseason run, he could provide another red zone target for Lamar Jackson.

Emmanuel Ogbah Seals it with a Sack

Emmanuel Ogbah went on an historic run earlier this season with eight-straight weeks of recording at least a 0.5 sack, but hadn’t gotten to the quarterback in a month before the Dolphins’ home game against New England.

But in a move that surely tugged on the heart strings of Miami fans, Ogbah’s sack of Cam Newton sealed the 22-12 victory on Sunday and effectively ended the Patriots’ 11-year run of consecutive playoff appearances.

Chris Carson Rounding into Playoff Form

In his fourth game back, Carson is back up to his normal workload. He racked up 63 yards on 15 carries and also caught two passes from Russell Wilson.

Chris Carson com boa corrida pic.twitter.com/9Vb5BI2NHv

— Kenneth Howard Norton Jr (@alexcastrofilho) December 20, 2020

The Seahawks offense has rebounded thanks in part to Carson’s return. Though they’ve eased him back from the midfoot sprain that kept him sidelined for a month, Carson has averaged nearly 70 yards per game as the head of a RB-by-committee. The focus is to keep their physical RB1 healthy for a stretch postseason run.

Playoff Picture

Let’s take a look at the former Cowboys whose teams are in the playoff race.

Pittsburgh Steelers: In

James Washington
Mason Rudolph

The 11-3 Steelers may have already clinched and playoff spot but they’ve lost three straight. Big Ben & Co. host the Colts this Sunday and then finish up with a trip to Cleveland where the Fightin’ Baker Mayfields are close on their heels in a the AFC North race.

Washington has been up and down as of late. He enjoyed his best game of the season racking up 80 yards and a score shortly after Roethlisberger mentioned getting him the ball more but followed that up with a 29-yard outing and then Sunday’s three-target, zero-catch game against the Bengals.

Seattle Seahawks: In

Chris Carson
Tre Flowers

The Seahawks have already clinched a playoff berth but can clinch their division with a win over the Rams this Sunday. They finish the season against another NFC West opponent when they head to Santa Clarita to face the 49ers in Week 17.

Just as Carson came from injury, his fellow OSU alum Tre Flowers was put on injured reserve with a hamstring injury. He’s been out since Nov. 30.

Miami Dolphins: In the Hunt

Emmanuel Ogbah

The Dolphins control their own fate. If they can finish the year 2-0 against the Las Vegas Raiders and the white-hot Buffalo Bills, they will enjoy their first postseason action in four years. The Phins could still get in finishing 1-1 but they’d need some help with other teams falling.

Miami has enjoyed a turnaround in 2020, following a 5-11 finish with a chance to go 11-5. A big reason for that has been Emmanuel Ogbah’s wrecking ball of a career season. With two games to go, E-Man has nine sacks, 21 QB hits, six tackles for loss, five passes defended and three force fumbles.

Arizona Cardinals: In the Hunt

Kevin Peterson

With last week’s win over the Eagles, the Cardinals got a boost in their chances at a wildcard berth. Kliff Kingsbury’s squad has back-to-back division games against the 49ers and the Rams to decide its fate.

With Arizona’s win Sunday at State Farm Stadium, those improved to around 70%, per FiveThirtyEight.

A home game against the 49ers upcoming could improve those chances to 85% with a Cardinals victory before they travel to face the Los Angeles Rams in the season finale. [Arizona Sports.com]

Baltimore Ravens: On the Bubble

Dez Bryant
Justice Hill

If the season ended today, the team AFC’s runner-up last season would miss the playoffs this year. But it doesn’t and the Ravens still have a decent shot at a wildcard berth but will need some things to fall their way. And they do have the easiest path among fringe AFC teams.

The good news is that the Ravens have the easiest remaining games left of any of those teams. They face the Giants at home on Sunday before finishing the year with a trip to Cincinnati on January 3. Those teams hold a combined 8-19-1 which is a .285 winning percentage following the Bengals stunning win over the Steelers on Monday night. The Ravens’ competition for a Wild Card spot all have remaining opponents with better winning percentages. [CBS Baltimore]

Minnesota Vikings: On the Bubble

Dan Bailey
Jordan Brailford

The Vikings’ loss to the Bears all but ended their playoff hopes. They aren’t technically eliminated but the scenarios are too convoluted to delve into at this point. Suffice it to say, they need to win their last two and then some other teams would have to collapse ahead of them.