NFL Scores Week 15: Results, Playoff Picture and Top Fantasy Performances
Complicated playoff scenarios, division rivalries, teams in control of their own destinies and all the other things common to the end of an NFL season are upon us.
It's now, more than ever, that the teams still fighting for playoff positioning need their fantasy stars to really perform.
The Seattle Seahawks got that from Tyler Lockett, who went for 130 receiving yards and a touchdown on Thursday. On Saturday, the Miami Dolphins got it from an unexpected source. More on him later.
To see who else put up monster performances this week, as well as updated playoff standings, see the tables below:
| Rams | 3-24 | Seahawks | Tyler Lockett | 7 rec., 130 yds, 1 TD |
| Dolphins | 34-13 | Jets | Matt Moore | 12-of-18, 236 yds, 4 TDs |
| Colts | 34-6 | Vikings | Andrew Luck | 21-of-28, 250 yds, 2 TDs |
| Lions | 6-17 | Giants | Eli Manning | 20-of-28, 201 yds, 2 TDs |
| Browns | 13-33 | Bills | LeSean McCoy | 153 rush yds, 2 TDs |
| Titans | 19-17 | Chiefs | Derrick Henry | 58 rush yds, 2 TDs |
| Eagles | 26-27 | Ravens | Ryan Mathews | 128 rush yds, 1 TD |
| Packers | 30-27 | Bears | Ty Montgomery | 162 rush yds, 2 TDs |
| Steelers | 24-20 | Bengals | Chris Boswell | 6-of-6 FGs |
| Jaguars | 20-21 | Texans | Nick Novak | 4-of-4 FGs, 1-of-1 XPs |
| 49ers | 13-41 | Falcons | Devonta Freeman | 139 rush yds, 3 TDs |
| Patriots | 16-3 | Broncos | NE D/ST | INT, 2 FR, 3 PA |
| Saints | 48-41 | Cardinals | Brandin Cooks | 7 rec., 186 yds, 2 TDs |
| Raiders | 19-16 | Chargers | Philip Rivers | 17-of-30, 206 yds, 2 TDs |
| Buccaneers | 20-26 | Cowboys | Ezekiel Elliott | 159 rush yds, 1 TD |
Playoff Standings
| Team | W | L | T |
| New England Patriots | 12 | 2 | 0 |
| Oakland Raiders | 10 | 3 | 0 |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | 9 | 5 | 0 |
| Houston Texans | 8 | 6 | 0 |
| Kansas City Chiefs | 10 | 4 | 0 |
| Miami Dolphins | 9 | 5 | 0 |
| Team | W | L | T |
| Dallas Cowboys | 12 | 2 | 0 |
| Seattle Seahawks | 9 | 4 | 1 |
| Atlanta Falcons | 9 | 5 | 0 |
| Detroit Lions | 9 | 5 | 0 |
| New York Giants | 10 | 4 | 0 |
| Washington Redskins | 7 | 5 | 1 |
Notable Week 15 Performers
Matt Moore
When Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill went down with an ACL injury, many were understandably concerned about Miami's playoff hopes.
On Saturday night, backup quarterback Matt Moore settled a lot of those concerns when he threw for four touchdowns and put up a 126.1 passer rating.
"There were some nerves, and maybe it showed a little early," Moore said after the game, per the Associated Press (via USA Today). "We started slow, but got in the groove in the middle part. Once we got going, that negative stuff wore off and I got on a roll."
The NFL shared video of one throw from that roll:
You can't expect Moore to go out and play like this every week, but Dolphins fans should certainly feel encouraged. Following this week's win, the Dolphins now have a 55 percent chance to make the playoffs, per FiveThirtyEight.
LeSean McCoy
The Buffalo Bills may be all but eliminated from the postseason, and their coach has been a magnet for drama all year. But there's been at least one bright spot. Really bright, actually.
LeSean McCoy has found himself in this space several times this season, and here he is again after going for 153 rushing yards and two touchdowns. It was his fourth 100-plus-yard and two-plus-touchdown game of the season, per ESPN Stats & Info:
McCoy has undoubtedly been one of the league's top running backs this season, giving Bills fans something to cheer about in an otherwise disappointing season.
Ty Montgomery
The Green Bay Packers' Ty Montgomery, who started the season as a receiver, has become more than a legitimate threat out of the backfield.
In fact, he was the most productive fantasy player from the entire early slate of games, rushing for 162 yards and two touchdowns on just 16 carries.
The NFL Network shared video of one of his scores:
The Packers have been dependent on Aaron Rodgers' arm for years, but with the emergence of Montgomery and the addition of Christine Michael, this offense suddenly feels much more balanced.
Devonta Freeman
The Atlanta Falcons pounded the San Francisco 49ers, 41-13, thanks in large part to Devonta Freeman's dominance on the ground.
Freeman went off for 139 yards and three touchdowns. That second number is a feat Freeman pulls off more than anyone else, per ESPN Stats & Info:
The blowout win for the Falcons moved them closer to clinching a playoff spot and kept them one step ahead of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for the NFC South title.
Brandin Cooks
After a relatively quiet run through the middle of the season, New Orleans Saints receiver Brandin Cooks blew up again in a 48-41 win over the Arizona Cardinals.
Cooks hauled in seven receptions for a whopping 186 yards and two touchdowns. The Saints shared video of one of his scores:
New Orleans may be out of the playoff hunt, but performances like Cooks' could make it a spoiler over the next couple of weeks.
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