Questions, takeaways from NFL Week 15: Our reporters break down every game, including the Bills' comeback

Week 15 of the 2025 NFL season began with an NFC South game between the Falcons and Buccaneers on Thursday night. Led by three touchdowns from tight end Kyle Pitts Sr., the Falcons won thanks to a field goal as time expired from kicker Zane Gonzalez.

In the early window Sunday, the Eagles bounced back from a five-turnover performance last Monday with a shutout win over the Raiders. The Ravens also shut out the Bengals, which was quarterback Joe Burrow's first no-score outing as Cincinnati's starter.

In the AFC East, the Bills halted the Patriots from securing the division title. And in the NFC East, the Commanders ended an eight-game losing streak against the Giants. The Texans also scored 40-plus points for the second time this season in a win over the Cardinals. And the Bears easily handled the Browns to get to 10 wins on the season.

Our NFL Nation reporters reacted to all the action, answering lingering questions coming out of each game and detailing everything you need to know for every team. Let's get to it.

Jump to:
CLE-CHI | ARI-HOU
WSH-NYG | BUF-NE
BAL-CIN | LV-PHI | ATL-TB

Chicago 31, Cleveland 3

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Bears

The Bears got to 10 wins. Now what? Chicago needed a statement victory to get to double-digit wins for the first time since 2018, especially with three playoff-caliber teams coming up (Green Bay, San Francisco and Detroit) and the fact that it believes 11 victories will get the team into the postseason. The Bears' defense logged three INTs to bring their takeaway total to 30, and the offense scored off those turnovers with a strong rushing attack. Most importantly, the Bears had the fast start they've been aiming for with two first-quarter touchdowns.

Most surprising performance: It wasn't hard to predict a bounce-back performance by wide receiver DJ Moore one week after he logged one catch for minus-4 yards. Moore and quarterback Caleb Williams' connection sparked Chicago's aerial attack against the league's No. 1 pass defense and resulted in the 28-year-old wideout scoring twice. When Williams and Moore are on the same page, special plays like their third quarter scramble-drill touchdown can happen. This offense is better when these two are clicking. -- Courtney Cronin

Next game: vs. Packers (Saturday, 8:20 p.m. ET)

Browns

Changes inevitable after another embarrassing Browns loss? The Browns were undermanned, ruling out four starters before the game, but they were thoroughly outclassed by the Bears. The mounting injuries only further highlighted the lack of playmakers on both sides of the ball for Cleveland. Owner Jimmy Haslam said before the season that another 3-14 season wouldn't cut it for the current regime. The Browns are staring at that outcome again with three games remaining against teams in playoff position.

Stat to know: Defensive end Myles Garrett recorded 1.5 sacks against the Bears, increasing his season total to 21.5. He is one sack away from tying the NFL's single-season sack record shared by Michael Strahan and T.J. Watt. -- Daniel Oyefusi

Next game: vs. Bills (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)

Houston 40, Arizona 20

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Texans

Are the Texans peaking at the right time? Yes. Houston is thriving amid its six-game win streak. Sunday's win was more about the Texans' offense, which produced its second-most points in a game this season (40). Quarterback C.J. Stroud threw for 260 yards with three touchdowns, while Houston got unlikely help from practice squad running back Jawhar Jordan and his team-high 101 rushing yards on 15 carries. The defense allowed 20 points for the first time since Week 10 but still forced a takeaway. With the Raiders, Chargers and Colts left on the schedule, the Texans appear to be bulldozing their way toward the playoffs and look scarier with each passing week.

Most surprising performance: Sunday's game marked the first in which Jordan received a carry in his two-year pro career. The 26-year-old, who was a sixth-round pick out of Louisville in 2024, has been cut multiple times by the Texans and placed on the practice squad. Despite the adversity he has faced, Jordan stepped up and became the Texans' first 100-yard rusher of the season. -- DJ Bien-Aime

Next game: vs. Raiders (Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET)

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C.J. Stroud finds Nico Collins for his 2nd TD

C.J. Stroud connects with Nico Collins in the back of the end zone to extend the Texans' lead.

Cardinals

How tough is it to evaluate this season with all the injuries? Pretty much near impossible, regardless of what anyone thinks. Seemingly every week, more and bigger names get added to the injury report and miss time. This week, the Cardinals didn't have starters at left tackle or left guard, and were without their starting receiver and safety. That's in addition to being short five of their top six receivers, their starting quarterback, three of their top four running backs, two of their top four tight ends and a right tackle. Regardless of what happens every week, evaluating Arizona's season as a whole with that many injuries doesn't paint an accurate picture. Sure, that's life in the NFL, but teams aren't built to consistently play with a second- or third-string lineup.

Stat to know: Tight end Trey McBride -- who had 12 catches for 134 yards and two touchdowns -- set some records Sunday. His 12 receptions put him over 100 for the season, which made him the first tight end in NFL history to reach triple digits on catches in one season. His performance at Houston also helped him set an NFL record for most consecutive games with five or more catches. He now has done it in 16 games, passing Kansas City's Travis Kelce, who held the record with 15 in 2018. -- Josh Weinfuss

Next game: vs. Falcons (Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET)

Washington 29, N.Y. Giants 21

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Commanders

How badly did Washington need to end its eight-game losing streak? The Commanders' draft positioning took a hit, but they needed a win after last week's 31-0 debacle at Minnesota. During the week, wide receiver Terry McLaurin said they couldn't let that happen again, especially versus a team that had lost seven straight. Washington has dealt with a lot of injuries this season, which partly explains the demise. But for a team that preaches standards and winning habits, a 12-game losing streak to end the season wouldn't help what the coaches preach. With two games against Philadelphia and one versus Dallas up next, that was a real possibility. That's not a scenario owner Josh Harris wanted to confront so soon coming after a 12-5 season.

Most surprising performance: Washington had an all-around strong day on special teams, a big key in its victory. Returner Jaylin Lane returned a punt 63 yards for a touchdown, kicker Jake Moody made all three field goals and punter Tress Way averaged 45.8 yards on four punts (three landed inside the 20-yard line). The lone blemish: Moody missed an extra point. -- John Keim

Next game: vs. Eagles (Saturday, 5 p.m. ET)

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Jacory Croskey-Merritt bursts through for a TD

Jacory Croskey-Merritt scores a 16-yard touchdown to give the Commanders a 10-0 lead over the Giants.

Giants

What do all these losses mean for GM Joe Schoen and interim coach Mike Kafka? The Giants have lost all four games since Kafka took over. It's becoming close to impossible to envision him having the interim tag removed given these results. As for Schoen, the pressure continues to build. His return next season seems far from certain given that the team has dropped eight straight and is 5-26 over the past two seasons. Schoen's defense has been that the talent is better than the results. A change at head coach and defensive coordinator haven't altered much. The Giants were favorites in this game for the first time in more than a calendar year, yet still trailed from start to finish.

Stat to know: Rookie outside linebacker Abdul Carter came into the contest with more benchings (two) than tackles for loss (one) over the first 13 games of the season. He had three tackles for loss, a sack and two forced fumbles against the Commanders. -- Jordan Raanan

Next game: vs. Vikings (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)

Buffalo 35, New England 31

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Bills

Can the Bills be counted out of any game after yet another slow start? Not if quarterback Josh Allen is healthy. After looking woefully unprepared in the first half, the Bills put together a comeback that tied for the third biggest in franchise history (21 points). The Bills were previously 2-60 all time when trailing by 21 points or more. A series of five straight touchdown drives for the offense paired nicely with the defense holding the Patriots to 100 yards in the second half. There continues to be major concerns with slow starts and a struggling run defense, but this was a big win on the road that denied the Patriots a chance to clinch the division title.

Stat to know: With the four rushing touchdowns allowed against the Patriots, the Bills have given up 23 this season. That's the most in a season under coach Sean McDermott (hired in 2017) with three games still to go, per ESPN Research. -- Alaina Getzenberg

Next game: at Browns (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)

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0:19

James Cook's 3rd TD put Bills back on top

James Cook takes the handoff and finds the end zone to give the Bills a late lead.

Patriots

How did the Patriots let a 17-point halftime lead slip away, and what does it mean for the future? After playing one of their best halves of the season, the Patriots played one of their worst. They had poor coverage on the opening kickoff of the second half (allowing a 58-yard return), penalties (six after halftime), their defense struggled to stop the run and answer Allen in the clutch, and their rushing offense couldn't generate consistent positive yardage after looking dominant in the first half. The Patriots would have clinched the AFC East with a win. The Patriots still have to prove they can put some of the NFL's best teams away.

Stat to know: Henderson's 52-yard touchdown run in the second quarter and his 65-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter were the Patriots' third and fourth rushing touchdowns of 50-plus yards this season. They had two such touchdowns over the previous 15 seasons, according to ESPN Research. -- Mike Reiss

Next game: at Ravens (Sunday, 8:20 p.m. ET)

Baltimore 24, Cincinnati 0

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Ravens

How much did the Ravens improve their playoff chances? Significantly. Baltimore moved to within half a game of first-place Pittsburgh in the AFC North and boosted its playoff chances to 48% (independent of other results), according to ESPN Analytics. Perhaps more importantly, the Ravens looked like a playoff team with their most complete game of the season. Quarterback Lamar Jackson looked like Lamar Jackson, ending a career-worst streak of five games without multiple touchdown passes. Baltimore's defense recorded its first shutout in seven years and scored a touchdown with safety Alohi Gilman's 84-yard return off an interception. It's still a challenging finish for the Ravens to make the postseason. Baltimore's final three games are against division leaders: New England, then at Green Bay and Pittsburgh.

Stat to know: Gilman's 84-yard touchdown off an interception was the Ravens' longest defensive score since 2019. Baltimore preserved its shutout when outside linebacker Kyle Van Noy picked off Joe Burrow and then handed the ball to Gilman, who raced to the end zone. This was Baltimore's first touchdown off an interception since last season's finale. -- Jamison Hensley

Next game: vs. Patriots (Sunday, 8:20 p.m. ET)

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0:47

Joe Burrow throws a pick-6

Kyle Van Noy picks off Joe Burrow and passes the ball back to Alohi Gilman, who returns it for a touchdown.

Bengals

After Burrow said he wants to enjoy football, was it surprising to see the Bengals shut out for the first time with him starting? Yes. The Bengals had looked sharp in snowy conditions against Buffalo, but Cincinnati never looked settled Sunday as it was officially eliminated from the playoff race. Miscues from the opening drive onward kept the Bengals from finding that elusive momentum that coach Zac Taylor speaks about. What happened Sunday was not good when you have a QB like Burrow, who said he is looking to at least enjoy the end of a frustrating season. Sunday marked the Bengals' first shutout loss since 2017.

What to make of the QB performance: Burrow didn't get a lot of help. Cincinnati's receivers took turns being unable to make catches in critical spots. The offensive line had considerable issues, a problem made worse when right tackle Amarius Mims left the game in the fourth quarter with a right knee injury. However, Burrow didn't have his best showing either. He was 25-of-39 passing for 225 yards and two interceptions, including a pick-six thrown under pressure. -- Ben Baby

Next game: at Dolphins (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)

Philadelphia 31, Las Vegas 0

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Eagles

Have quarterback Jalen Hurts and the offense found their footing? It's hard to get carried away given the quality of the opponent, but Hurts' three-touchdown outing was exactly the type of performance needed following a five-turnover game against the Chargers. The coaching staff fed running back Saquon Barkley to strike a nice balance between the run and pass. And the Eagles showed some creativity near the goal line in particular, resulting in a pair of Dallas Goedert scores. It was a healthy step in the right direction for a quarterback and an offense that haven't lived up to expectations for much of the season.

Most surprising performance: Brandon Graham, who came out of retirement earlier this season, led the team with two sacks against Las Vegas. At 37 years, 255 days old, he is the oldest player in Eagles history to record a sack. -- Tim McManus

Next game: at Commanders (Saturday, 5 p.m. ET)

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0:23

Dallas Goedert high steps in for his 2nd TD

Jalen Hurts hits Dallas Goedert with a shovel pass to extend the Eagles' lead.

Raiders

Will coach Pete Carroll survive this season? Each week has made it seem less and less likely that Carroll will be the Raiders' coach beyond a disastrous 2025 campaign. Sunday's loss marked the second time that Las Vegas has been shut out this season. The last time the Raiders were shut out in multiple games in a season was 2006 (three times). Las Vegas has lost by double digits for the eighth time, and its eight-game losing streak is the longest of Carroll's NFL coaching career. Clearly, the Raiders are far from being competitive and need to embrace a true rebuild, which is why Carroll, 74, might not be the right coach to lead the team moving forward.

What to make of the QB performance: Carroll said this week that health will be the main factor when determining whether Geno Smith remains the starting quarterback for the rest of the season. And that should still be the case. Pickett started in place of Smith, who was out with a shoulder/back injury, and didn't add much of a spark despite being more mobile in the pocket. Pickett completed 15 of 25 passes for 64 yards and an interception. -- Ryan McFadden

Next game: at Texans (Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET)

Atlanta 29, Tampa Bay 28

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Falcons

Could the Falcons look to re-sign Kyle Pitts Sr. after his recent surge? What was once improbable now seems possible. Pitts came into the game fourth among tight ends in both receptions and receiving yards. On Thursday night, he went off for 11 catches for 166 yards and three touchdowns. It was his first 100-yard receiving game since 2021. And he went over that 100-yard mark in the first half, the first Atlanta player to do that since 2018. Pitts has dealt with injuries since a record-breaking rookie season. These past few weeks have probably been enough to earn him a lucrative contract somewhere next year.

Trend to watch: Edge rusher James Pearce Jr. had two sacks, extending his streak of at least one sack to six games. That's tied for the second-longest streak for a rookie since sacks became official in 1982, per ESPN Research. Pearce already owns the rookie franchise record for most in a season since 1982. -- Marc Raimondi

Next game: at Cardinals (Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET)

Buccaneers

How badly did this loss impact the Bucs' playoff chances? The Bucs and Panthers have two head-to-head games remaining, one of which is next week. But if the Panthers beat the Saints on Sunday, the Bucs' chances at winning the division drop to 35% (independent of other results), according to ESPN Analytics. With a Panthers loss to the Saints, the Bucs have a 76% chance. But after starting the season 5-1 and then going 1-5 in the past six games, it's hard to feel optimistic even with the returns of Mike Evans and Jalen McMillan.

Most surprising performance: Even with the defense's struggles as of late, and even with the Bucs' historic struggles in prime-time games, surrendering a season-high 476 yards of total offense to a 4-9 team that had 19 penalties at home is a new low. -- Jenna Laine

Next game: at Panthers (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)