Tua Tagovailoa, Mike McDaniel and Miami Dolphins want to vary one thing, says Neil Reynolds

From strain on Mike McDaniel and Tua Tagovailoa in Miami to the newest Patrick Mahomes damage scare for the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs – Sky Sports activities NFL presenter Neil Reynolds has his closing say on Week 15 of the season…

Week 15 within the NFL featured a number of video games with playoff implications and whereas nothing definitive has modified by way of the main pack, I do really feel there was a slight energy shift.

That’s the place we are going to start this week…

Allen ‘miles’ forward in MVP race

The Buffalo Payments look scarily good of their victory over the Detroit Lions, particularly quarterback Josh Allen. He jogged my memory of standing on the sidelines at numerous youth sports activities through the years and seeing the opposite workforce with that child who regarded like he had gone by way of a development spurt faster than anyone else.

He was greater, stronger, sooner. It should not occur on the NFL stage however it does, it occurs within the type of Josh Allen, who regarded completely dominant in a 48-42 win. He accounted for 424 yards and 6 touchdowns towards the Los Angeles Rams the earlier week, and backed that up towards the Lions with 362 passing yards and two touchdowns whereas speeding for an additional two scores.

There’s nothing he can not do in the mean time. He appears near unstoppable and for me, I’ve been a long-time supporter of Lamar Jackson for MVP this 12 months, I feel Allen is main that race by a mile now.

Damage issues for the Lions

The Lions regarded large on offense but once more, with Jared Goff throwing for 494 yards, 5 touchdowns and no interceptions. However I’m beginning to fear about this Cinderella season probably unravelling.

Going into the sport towards Buffalo the Lions had 21 gamers on injured reserve, they usually have now misplaced defensive deal with Alim McNeill to a season-ending knee damage and working again David Montgomery to a season-ending knee damage.

The accidents are mounting, which is de facto irritating as a result of this was shaping as much as be a magical season. They must dig actually deep now and depend on their stars on offense to recover from the end line.

Carson Wentz time in Kansas Metropolis?

The Kansas Metropolis Chiefs are nonetheless the main workforce within the AFC after a routine 21-7 win over the Cleveland Browns to maneuver to 13-1, however their lack of safety for Patrick Mahomes reared its ugly head as soon as once more.

Mahomes discovered himself on the sidelines with what was a nasty-looking ankle damage as he tried to run for a primary down on fourth down. He has a excessive ankle sprain which implies he faces a race towards time to be match for what’s is an advanced schedule developing. They play on Saturday towards the Houston Texans after which 4 days later towards the Pittsburgh Steelers on Christmas Day.

I feel we may very well be bracing ourselves for a festive version of Carson Wentz.

Baker’s Bucs put the NFL on alert

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers may be demanding extra of our consideration. They scored 30 unanswered factors in a 40-17 highway victory over the Los Angeles Chargers.

It was their fourth straight win, they lead the race for the NFC South title and in the event that they win that division it is going to be the fourth 12 months in a row.

It begins with their offense. Baker Mayfield threw 4 landing passes, Mike Evans went over 150 receiving yards and had two touchdowns, they ran the soccer 39 occasions for 223 yards. They have not actually been examined of their earlier three victories towards the New York Giants, Carolina Panthers and Las Vegas Raiders, however towards the No 1 scoring protection within the NFL the Bucs handed their check with flying colors.

They are going to be a playoff workforce and a tricky one after they get there.

Eagles discover new method to win

Whether or not it was due to AJ Brown’s feedback or not, the Philadelphia Eagles modified their method somewhat bit in Week 15. That they had gone into that weekend working the soccer 473 occasions, probably the most within the NFL, whereas making an attempt simply 328 passes, the fewest within the league.

On Sunday possibly Saquon Barkley was banged up somewhat so he solely had 65 speeding yards, they usually gained in one other means with AJ Brown and DeVonta Smith, who each topped 100 yards receiving and every caught a landing go.

The Eagles are actually 12-2 and look a whole workforce. They’re going to push the Lions arduous for that prime seed within the NFC.

Participant of the Week – Josh Allen, QB, Buffalo Payments

My participant of the week comes as no shock, it’s in fact Josh Allen of the Payments. That workforce has now scored not less than 30 factors in eight straight video games, the longest streak in a single season in NFL historical past.

Allen has accounted for 14 offensive touchdowns in Buffalo’s final three video games, scoring by throwing, working and catching a lateral which counted as a receiving landing. He does all of it and was excellent on Sunday.

Play of the Week – ANY Josh Allen play

You would have had any variety of Josh Allen performs. There was one early within the first quarter on Buffalo’s first drive when he rolls to his proper, stops, takes a success and throws a go downfield to Ty Johnson again throughout the center. There was one mid-way by way of the primary quarter the place he rolls to his left and hits James Prepare dinner.

And one other, my favorite, the place he rolls proper and appears downfield to Keon Coleman, the defender takes away the deep throw so Josh Allen throws it even deeper and Coleman goes and tracks the ball. Unbelievable go, which featured a person proper in Josh Allen’s face as he landed flat on his again. It was simply one other instance of the wow throws he makes time and time once more.

Coach of the Week – Sean Payton, Denver Broncos

It wasn’t a fantastic begin for Sean Payton and the Denver Broncos. They had been actually helped out by Jonathan Taylor’s ridiculous fumble on the goalline as he began to rejoice earlier than crossing the goalline, however the Broncos caught with it.

Bo Nix overcame some interceptions, the protection performed nicely down the stretch they usually have now gained 4 in a row. We maintain questioning if they’ll get caught from behind or slip up within the AFC playoff race, all they maintain doing is successful and bettering their seeding in that convention. They’re forward of schedule, however it’s what Sean Payton does. He is tough across the edges, particularly with the media, and he can rub gamers the improper means however all he is aware of how one can do is win.

On my radar…

On my radar is what the Miami Dolphins do to vary their scenario within the offseason. They misplaced one other large recreation on an enormous stage towards a top quality opponent as they fell 20-12 towards the Houston Texans, who clinched the AFC South.

This was a winnable recreation for the Dolphins however Tua Tagovailoa melted down by throwing three interceptions and it regarded like Mike McDaniel did not have a solution for what DeMeco Ryans was throwing at him and his workforce. The Dolphins can speak all they like about how they wish to end stronger and win large video games, however they have not accomplished that point and time once more with Mike McDaniel and Tua main the best way.

Do they bring about in a sure sort of participant? Do they modify issues on the roster? Is there going to be strain on the pinnacle coach and quarterback? I feel these two shall be very protected, however one thing has to vary in Miami, as a result of what they’ve served up in recent times has not been adequate to be thought-about one of many NFL’s contenders.

Watch Kansas Metropolis Chiefs towards Houston Texans from 6pm Saturday, dwell on Sky Sports activities NFL. Stream with NOW.