From a quarterback building off a stellar performance to a rookie tight end helping his team end its division title drought and a running back on a roll, here are players to watch in Week 16
SUNDAY’S POSTGAME HEADLINE TODAY | Baker Mayfield delivers in another flawless outing
Mayfield earned NFC Offensive Player of the Week following a Week 15 victory over the Green Bay Packers (6-8). In the 34-20 win, the first overall pick of the 2018 NFL Draft became the first opposing QB to post a perfect passer rating (158.3) at Lambeau Field. He believes the Buccaneers (7-7) have hit their groove.
“We’re improving at the right time,” he told Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer after the win against Green Bay. “All we have to do is get into the playoffs. After that, anything can happen. I think our guys are realizing that.”
At home, Mayfield — a Comeback Player of the Year candidate, per oddschecker — should guide Tampa Bay to its fourth straight win. The Jaguars (8-6) are 29th in the league in passing yards allowed per game (256.6). As of Friday, oddschecker lists the Buccaneers as 2.5-point favorites.
SUNDAY’S POSTGAME HEADLINE TODAY | Sam LaPorta helps Lions secure first division title since 1993
Through 14 games, the second-round pick out of Iowa has 71 receptions for 758 yards and nine TD catches — the third most for a rookie TE in league history, per the Associated Press. Lions head coach Dan Campbell admitted LaPorta’s growth has surprised him.
“You would love to say that every rookie’s going to come in and fill that vision immediately, but that’s not the reality. That’s not the truth,” Campbell told the media Wednesday. “But I think, overall, that vision was going to be where he is. That was what we saw [when we drafted him], a complete tight end that had a ton of versatility.”
Expect LaPorta to help the Lions (10-4) clinch the NFC North in a road game against the Minnesota Vikings (7-7), who rank 17th in the league in passing yards allowed per game (224 YPG). As of Friday, oddschecker lists Detroit as a three-point favorite.
SUNDAY’S POSTGAME HEADLINE TODAY | Raheem Mostert bulldozes Cowboys
In his first eight seasons, Mostert scored 19 TDs. This season, the Dolphins RB has already surpassed that figure with 20 TDs in 14 games, tied with San Francisco’s Christian McCaffrey for the league lead. He’s also fourth in rushing yards (966 yards on 198 carries).
Don’t be shocked if the 31-year-old keeps rocking in a home game against Dallas (10-4). Over their past three games, the Cowboys have allowed 444 rushing yards — the fifth most in the league, per StatMuse — so it makes sense for Miami (10-4) to rely heavily on its feature back.
SUNDAY’S POSTGAME HEADLINE TODAY | Russell Wilson airs it out against Patriots
On Wednesday, Denver’s QB dodged questions about HC Sean Payton lashing out at him in a Week 15 loss to Detroit, saying, “We’re focused on beating New England.”
Regardless, Payton and Wilson must move on in a crucial matchup against the Patriots (3-11). Denver’s playoff chances will increase from 24 percent to 81 percent if it wins its next three games, per the New York Times simulator.
New England is 16th in the NFL in passing yards allowed per game (223.4). The Broncos (7-7) should let Wilson air it out to exploit the Patriots. Through 14 games, the 35-year-old is tied for eighth in the league in passing TDs (24).