# NFL Week 15 **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Tags:** football-nfl\ **Created:** [December 9, 2025, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-15/1025554 "2025-12-09T14:42:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2025, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-15/1025554/101 "2025-12-13T04:01:30Z")
> [@EllisDee](#): > > Dude stunk up the joint in his last season(s), as far as I recall. He wasn’t bad when he played for the Patriots in 2020, but when he returned to the Panthers mid-season in 2021 (they signed him when Sam Darnold got hurt), he was pretty bad, and the team went 0-5 in his starts. ---
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2025, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-15/1025554/102 "2025-12-13T04:36:44Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > He wasn’t bad when he played for the Patriots in 2020 Really? I remember him being terrible on the Patriots, on par with Russell Wilson now. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2025, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-15/1025554/103 "2025-12-13T04:48:46Z")
> [@EllisDee](#): > > Really? I remember him being terrible on the Patriots Look at his 2020 numbers on Pro Football Reference: - 66% completion rate (one of the best in his career) - 82.9 quarterback rating (not awesome, but not that off from his career numbers, and driven by throwing only 8 TDs) - 2.7% interception rate (also right on par for his career) - 592 rushing yards, 4.3 YPC (lower than his peak years), 12 rushing TDs PFR gave him an “Approximate Value” rating of 12 for that season: not as high as his best seasons, but on par with his 2014 and 2016 seasons. Other than the low passing touchdowns, his performance in 2020, both passing and rushing, were pretty comparable to his performance in 2018 (the last year that he had significant playing time with Carolina). Granted, he wasn’t playing at the level he was at a few years earlier, but he wasn’t nearly as bad as he was the following year. I suppose it depends on how you want to define “terrible.” > **[Cam Newton Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College |...](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/N/NewtCa00.htm)** > > Checkout the latest stats for Cam Newton. Get info about his position, age, height, weight, college, draft, and more on Pro-football-reference.com. ---
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2025, 6:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-15/1025554/104 "2025-12-13T06:26:54Z")
That shows his QBR in New England as 39.4, significantly below the 50s and 60s he’d been posting in Carolina until his last year there. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2025, 7:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-15/1025554/105 "2025-12-13T07:39:26Z")
Yeah, Rivers at least shows mental maturity. Newton has always been a clown, temperament-wise. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2025, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-15/1025554/106 "2025-12-13T16:27:02Z")
> [@EllisDee](#): > > That shows his QBR in New England as 39.4, significantly below the 50s and 60s he’d been posting in Carolina until his last year there. A fair point. ESPN’s QBR system is a black box, and I don’t entirely understand it, but it’s supposed to weigh situational context to a QB’s numbers, as well as incorporating sacks and fumbles. Looking at that, and some other numbers (sack percentage, adjusted net yards per attempt), I concede that Newton wasn’t particularly good in 2020, and in the bottom half (maybe the bottom quarter) of starting quarterbacks that year. I’m not sure that I’d say he was “terrible” that year, which he certainly was in 2021, but I concede the point that his 2020 wasn’t as good as some of his stats suggested. ---
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2025, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-15/1025554/107 "2025-12-13T18:56:41Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > I’m not sure that I’d say he was “terrible” that year, which he certainly was in 2021 Also a fair point, agreed. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2025, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-15/1025554/108 "2025-12-14T00:01:12Z")
Philip Rivers has officially been activated for the game, and is reportedly going to be the starter. > **[Colts put Philip Rivers on roster for Sunday’s game, completing NFL return...](https://www.cnn.com/2025/12/13/sport/football-nfl-colts-activate-philip-rivers-nfl-return)** > > The Indianapolis Colts anounced Saturday that Philip Rivers has been signed to the team’s 53-man active roster ahead of a Sunday showdown against the Seattle Seahawks. ---
**Author:** ![fedman1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e495f1/32.png) [@fedman1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fedman1)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2025, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-15/1025554/109 "2025-12-14T01:44:01Z")
yeah when was into his “Superman” pose he was unbearable, but when Denver exposed him to kryptonite, he wasn’t classy to man up to face the media afterward, like other better QBs do. But he is a colorful dresser ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2025, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-15/1025554/110 "2025-12-14T02:04:53Z")
> [@fedman1](#): > > when Denver exposed him to kryptonite, he wasn’t classy to man up to face the media afterward [![](https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcS2hYFF6b1YO6CvViEcKQLjO9BdF_hoTW37hp0UVEjPiT0gPJ5tDpgCfX1w&s=10) ](https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcS2hYFF6b1YO6CvViEcKQLjO9BdF_hoTW37hp0UVEjPiT0gPJ5tDpgCfX1w&s=10) > [@fedman1](#): > > But he is a colorful dresser I guess that’s one way to put it. [![](https://assets.vogue.com/photos/5d7d71910d2fd10009701643/master/w_2560%2Cc_limit/00-story-cam-newton.jpg) ](https://assets.vogue.com/photos/5d7d71910d2fd10009701643/master/w_2560%2Cc_limit/00-story-cam-newton.jpg) Granted, some of his outfits were really nice. [![](https://caughtinsouthie.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/image2.jpeg) ](https://caughtinsouthie.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/image2.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![Chisquirrel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6bbea6/32.png) [@Chisquirrel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chisquirrel)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2025, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-15/1025554/111 "2025-12-14T03:47:25Z")
And thus, as pointed out earlier, no longer a semi-finalist for the Hall of Fame. ---
**Author:** ![smithsb](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smithsb/32/12107_2.png) [@smithsb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smithsb)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2025, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-15/1025554/112 "2025-12-14T19:24:56Z")
Patriots off to a good start, 24-7 over the Bills at NE. 177 yds on the ground 1st half. ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2025, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-15/1025554/113 "2025-12-14T20:03:32Z")
> [@smithsb](#): > > Patriots off to a good start, 24-7 over the Bills at NE. And now it’s 24-21 with 4 minutes left in the 3rd. ---
**Author:** ![SenorBeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senorbeef/32/2220_2.png) [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2025, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-15/1025554/114 "2025-12-14T20:14:27Z")
Oh man Jerry Jeudy is so soft. Sanders threw an absolute beautiful ball to him in the end zone and Jeudy caught it and then the bears defender just sort of casually took it away from him and it was an interception > **[Reddit - The heart of the internet](https://old.reddit.com/r/nfl/comments/1pmnqjg/highlight_jaylon_johnson_takes_it_out_of_jerry/)** ---
**Author:** ![SenorBeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senorbeef/32/2220_2.png) [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2025, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-15/1025554/115 "2025-12-14T20:43:36Z")
This kind of play by Drake Maye is the kind of thing that makes dudes run through walls for you > **[Reddit - The heart of the internet](https://old.reddit.com/r/nfl/comments/1pmo7wt/highlight_drake_maye_blocks_downfield_for_long/)** ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2025, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-15/1025554/116 "2025-12-14T20:51:11Z")
> [@Railer13](#): > > > [@smithsb](#): > > > > Patriots off to a good start, 24-7 over the Bills at NE. > > And now it’s 24-21 with 4 minutes left in the 3rd. And now after forcing a punt, Buff’s win % is 82% with 5 minutes to go up 35-31, after bottoming out @ 7% in the middle of the 2nd quarter. Meanhoo I know it’s the Jets (c.f. the Bears blowing out the Browns today), but now I think Jax has to be considered a contender. Have tix for their home finale (5 for $600, when $600 was the cost of ONE playoff ticket). ---
**Author:** ![SenorBeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senorbeef/32/2220_2.png) [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2025, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-15/1025554/117 "2025-12-14T20:56:06Z")
Miles Garrett is 1 sack from tying the season sack record. He’s gonna break it in 16 games which is nice because I hate when records are broken just because there are more games played. I have nothing against Michael Strahan but the way Green Bay gave him a free sack to break the record was such a bunch of bullshit. I’m glad to see the new record will be earned ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2025, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-15/1025554/118 "2025-12-14T21:00:48Z")
Bills take over on downs. Trevor Lawrence C/ATT YDS AVG TD INT SACKS RTG 20/32 330 10.3 5 0 0-0 136.7 ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2025, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-15/1025554/119 "2025-12-14T21:14:47Z")
The KC dynasty officially comes to an end. ---
**Author:** ![Great\_Antibob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Great\_Antibob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Antibob)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2025, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-15/1025554/120 "2025-12-14T21:16:59Z")
Or at least for this season. Never say never when you still have a top QB. But safe to say (not that there was much doubt), Gardner Minshew isn’t going to create any QB controversies [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-15/1025554.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-15/1025554.md?page=7)