NFL Week 15: Steelers Eye OBJ, AFC Wild Card Race Heats Up, Plus Rising Stars Jack Jones and Quentin Johnston

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Welcome to another episode of NFL Catch Up, a recap of the opinions and analysis from national experts across the NFL podcasting landscape -- delivering you a weekly catch-up of the most interesting takes from around the NFL. We drop NFL Catch-Up every Friday morning all year long across the major podcast platforms. You can find us on X at nfl underscore catch up. We're also available on YouTube and on the web at nflcatchup.com.

Let's dive right into our first segment, where we're taking a closer look at the Pittsburgh Steelers' potential interest in soon-to-be released wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. The Steelers are in a tough spot with their star receiver George Pickens expected to miss their Week fifteen game against the Philadelphia Eagles, and possibly longer. According to Ray Fittipaldo of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Pickens might not return until Week eighteen. This leaves the Steelers in a precarious situation at the wide receiver position.

Without Pickens, the team will have to rely more heavily on Mike Williams, Calvin Austin, and Van Jefferson. Now, none of these players can really be considered a true number one receiver, which is less than ideal for a team pushing for the playoffs. This is where Odell Beckham Jr. comes into play. The Miami Dolphins and Beckham have agreed to part ways, and once he's cut, he'll be available on waivers.

The interesting thing here is that Beckham is only owed about two hundred thousand dollars for the rest of the season, making him a low-risk, potentially high-reward pickup for a team like the Steelers. Now, it's worth noting that Beckham's stint in Miami was far from successful. He recorded just nine catches for fifty-five yards and didn't find the end zone. However, we have to consider that he didn't get a lot of snaps to prove himself in South Beach.

If we look back to his time with the Baltimore Ravens last season, we see a different story. Beckham tallied thirty-five catches for five hundred and sixty-five yards and three touchdowns over fourteen contests. That's a much more respectable stat line and shows that Beckham can still contribute when given the opportunity.

For the Steelers, bringing in Beckham could be a smart move. He could help weather the storm while Pickens is out and add some much-needed length to the wide receivers room for a potential playoff push. It's a low-risk move that could pay dividends if Beckham can recapture some of his past form.

Moving on to our next segment, let's shift our focus to the AFC wild-card playoff picture. With just four weeks remaining in the NFL regular season, there's still a lot to be figured out in terms of playoff positioning. As it stands now, only the Kansas City Chiefs and Buffalo Bills have clinched playoff spots in the AFC.

Let's break down some of the wild-card contenders, starting with the Cincinnati Bengals. The Bengals are in a tough spot, currently sitting with a two point two percent chance of making the playoffs according to SportsLine simulations. Their path to the playoffs is narrow, requiring them to win out and finish nine and eight, while also needing the Broncos to lose at least three games, the Dolphins to lose twice, and the Colts to lose twice.

The Bengals' offense has been firing on all cylinders lately, with Joe Burrow going four straight games throwing for three hundred yards and at least three touchdowns. Ja'Marr Chase has been equally impressive, leading the NFL in receptions with ninety-three, receiving yards with one thousand three hundred and nineteen, and receiving touchdowns with fifteen. However, their defense has been a major liability, ranking bottom ten in yards allowed per game and bottom four in scoring defense.

Next, let's look at the Miami Dolphins. They've won four of their last five after a rough two and six start. Tua Tagovailoa has been on fire, completing seventy-five point one percent of his passes for three hundred twenty-five point three passing yards per game with eleven touchdowns and zero interceptions over the last four games. Tyreek Hill has also stepped up his game, catching four touchdown passes over his last five contests.

However, the Dolphins' defense remains a question mark. They allowed Aaron Rodgers to have his first three hundred-yard outing in thirty-five regular-season games in their last matchup. The Dolphins currently have an eleven point four percent chance of making the playoffs, according to SportsLine simulations.

Moving on to the Indianapolis Colts, they actually have a path to steal the AFC South from the Houston Texans, but it would likely require winning out. Their upcoming matchup against the Broncos is crucial. Anthony Richardson has shown flashes of brilliance, leading two game-winning touchdown drives in his last three games. However, his forty-seven point four percent completion percentage ranks last among qualified quarterbacks.

The Colts might want to lean more on Jonathan Taylor down the stretch, as his one hundred ten point one rushing yards per game in December or later rank most in NFL history. The Colts have a sixteen percent chance of making the playoffs, per SportsLine simulations.

The Los Angeles Chargers are in an interesting position. Under Jim Harbaugh and Jesse Minter, they boast the number one scoring defense in the NFL, allowing just fifteen point nine points per game. Justin Herbert has gone eleven straight starts without an interception, which is the second-longest streak since nineteen fifty. However, there are questions about the Chargers offense, with Herbert's two hundred twelve point six passing yards per game marking a career low.

The Chargers have a ninety-five point four percent chance of making the playoffs, according to SportsLine simulations. They have a relatively favorable remaining schedule, facing the Buccaneers, Broncos, Patriots, and Raiders.

Lastly, let's look at the Denver Broncos. They've been one of the surprise teams this season, currently holding the final wild-card spot in the AFC. The Broncos have seven wins by more than one possession this season, which is tied for most in the NFL with the Bills. Rookie quarterback Bo Nix has been impressive, already owning the most passing touchdowns by a Broncos rookie all time with seventeen.

The Broncos' defense has also been a strong point, with a plus twenty-eight sack differential that ranks number one in the NFL. They have a whopping five players who have recorded at least five sacks this season, which is more than any other NFL team. The Broncos have a seventy-seven point nine percent chance of making the playoffs, per SportsLine simulations.

Now, let's shift our focus to an exciting development in the world of NFL broadcasting. ESPN is set to launch a new cartoon trailer ahead of the NBA action on Christmas Day, featuring Disney's favorite characters. This follows their successful experiment with the Simpsons for an NFL game between the Dallas Cowboys and Cincinnati Bengals.

For the upcoming New York Knicks versus San Antonio Spurs game on December twenty-fifth at Madison Square Garden, ESPN has enlisted Mickey Mouse and his famous friends to promote the match. Mickey will team up with Minnie Mouse, Goofy, Donald Duck, Daisy, and Pluto to get younger fans excited about the game.

The Disney characters will participate in a live animated match between the Knicks and the Spurs, complete with a special half-time dunk contest dubbed "Dunk the Halls". Fans will be able to watch this Christmas special at noon on ESPN two, ESPN Plus, and Disney Plus.

This innovative approach to sports broadcasting is part of a larger trend to appeal to younger audiences. ESPN previously showed a Toy Story version of a game last year, and TNT Sports is expected to stream an NBA two K twenty-five video game version of NBA Cup knockout clashes.

While this isn't directly related to the NFL, it's an interesting development in sports broadcasting that could potentially influence how NFL games are presented in the future, especially to younger audiences.

Moving on to our next segment, let's discuss the remarkable growth of Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Jack Jones. Jones, who was picked up by the Raiders after being released by the New England Patriots, has shown significant improvement both on and off the field.

Raiders cornerbacks coach Ricky Manning Jr. had high praise for Jones, saying, "He still has so much upside. He is only touching his potential, and he's so hungry." This growth is particularly noteworthy given Jones' past struggles.

Jones' journey to the NFL wasn't straightforward. He made stops at Long Beach Poly High, USC, Moorpark Community College, and Arizona State before being drafted by the Patriots. His dismissal from USC came after a two thousand eighteen arrest and subsequent guilty plea for burglary of a Panda Express restaurant. While with the Patriots, he faced ten gun charges after allegedly bringing two loaded, unregistered guns to Boston Logan Airport.

However, under the guidance of Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce, who has known Jones since he was thirteen, Jones has shown significant improvement. Pierce said, "I've known Jack since he was thirteen, man, and he just keeps rising and there's still more there."

On the field, Jones has made his presence felt. He recorded two interceptions returned for touchdowns in seven games with the Raiders last season. This season, he's already notched another pick-six. However, it hasn't all been smooth sailing. Jones was benched for a quarter in Week four for not hustling.

Despite these setbacks, Jones remains confident in his abilities. "If I am on that field, I am going to make plays," he said. "I gotta make plays. I have always been able to, but I was just a knucklehead growing up. I had to learn ... I had to grow up. Man, I've come a long way."

Jones' growth extends beyond the field as well. He's been active in the Las Vegas community, recently playing games and having cookies and hot cocoa with two hundred twenty-five local kids at the Bill and Lillie Heinrich YMCA. Before Thanksgiving, he handed out two hundred Thanksgiving meal kits and gift cards to families in need at Casa de Luz in Las Vegas.

This kind of personal growth and community involvement is exactly what teams hope to see from young players. If Jones can continue to develop on the field while maintaining his commitment to personal growth and community service, he could become a cornerstone of the Raiders' defense for years to come.

In our next segment, let's discuss the impressive development of Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Quentin Johnston. Johnston, a rookie who has battled drops early in his NFL career, showed significant growth in the Chargers' recent game against the Kansas City Chiefs.

On the Chargers' third offensive snap of the game, facing a third-and-sixteen, Johnston made a crucial catch. He battled through press coverage, ran a precise route, and made a contested catch while taking a big hit from Chiefs linebacker Nick Bolton. This play wasn't just important for the drive; it was a statement from Johnston about his development and resilience.

To understand the significance of this catch, we need to go back to Week twelve when the Chargers faced the Baltimore Ravens on Monday Night Football. In the fourth quarter of that game, with the Chargers trailing by seven, Johnston dropped a pass on a shallow crossing route that could have potentially resulted in a game-tying touchdown.

Chargers receivers coach Sanjay Lal remembers sitting down next to Johnston on the bench right after that drop. "Hey, this has to go," Lal told him. The coach emphasized the importance of moving on from mistakes and not letting them affect future plays.

Initially, Johnston struggled to apply this message. He had two more drops on back-to-back plays later in the fourth quarter of that Ravens game. However, over the next two weeks, Johnston showed remarkable dedication to improving his game.

Lal introduced a drill to the practice field that he learned from former NFL receiver Santonio Holmes. The drill, which Lal calls a "traffic-catch technique," focuses on squeezing the ball with two hands, bringing it to the chest, locking it, and pinning it without taking either hand off the ball.

This drill paid off in the game against the Chiefs. Johnston's catch on that crucial third down play was, in Lal's words, "textbook." He secured the catch with two hands, brought it to his chest, locked it, and pinned it without taking either hand off the ball, even as he absorbed a big hit.

This play seemed to ignite Johnston's confidence for the rest of the game. He beat cornerback Joshua Williams on a slant route, showing improved route running and release technique. In the red zone, he caught a touchdown pass while taking simultaneous hits from two Chiefs defensive backs, demonstrating his improved toughness and concentration.

Johnston's development isn't just about his hands and route running. Lal noted that Johnston has improved "in every phase" of the game. His knowledge base is growing, making him more curious and vocal in team meetings. He's asking questions and understanding how drills apply to game situations.

The numbers back up this improvement. As a rookie, Johnston averaged zero point eight nine receiving yards per route run. This season, he's averaging one point five four yards per route run, a significant improvement that ranks him fifty-fifth out of ninety-nine receivers with at least two hundred routes run.

This kind of growth is exactly what teams hope to see from young players, especially first-round draft picks like Johnston. If he can continue to develop at this rate, he could become a key piece of the Chargers' offense for years to come.

In our final segment today, let's take a look at some potential upset picks for Week fifteen of the NFL season. These predictions come from various NFL analysts and could provide some interesting storylines to watch this weekend.

First up, we have the Jacksonville Jaguars as three and a half point underdogs against the New York Jets. Despite the Jaguars' struggles this season, analyst Mark Schofield is picking them to pull off the upset. His reasoning? In a battle of two teams that are thinking more about the offseason, he's giving the edge to the team playing at home.

Next, we have the Miami Dolphins as three point underdogs against the Houston Texans. Analyst James Dator is picking the Dolphins in this one. He points out that Miami is essentially the same team that started the season strong, with Tua Tagovailoa back under center. On the other hand, the Texans have taken a significant step back from their surprising two thousand twenty-three season, and C.J. Stroud is struggling more than expected. Additionally, the Texans currently have the thirty-first ranked pass defense in touchdowns allowed, which could open up opportunities for Miami's high-powered offense.

Our final upset pick comes from analyst JP Acosta, who is taking the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as three point underdogs against the Los Angeles Chargers. Acosta notes that the Bucs have found new life after the Atlanta Falcons' recent slide, finding themselves in first place in the NFC South. He's particularly impressed with the Bucs' ground game, praising the group of running backs Rachaad White, Bucky Irving, and Sean Tucker. Acosta also points out that Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert is dealing with a lingering ankle injury from their game against the Chiefs, which could limit their offensive effectiveness.

These upset picks add an extra layer of intrigue to the Week fifteen slate. While favorites often come out on top, upsets are a big part of what makes the NFL so exciting week in and week out. It will be interesting to see if any of these underdogs can pull off the upset and shake up the playoff picture as we head into the final stretch of the regular season.

Thank you for listening today. We would kindly ask that you rate, review, share and subscribe to NFL Catch-Up. Remember we drop every Friday morning all year long across the major podcast platforms. You can find us on X at nfl underscore catchup. We're also available on YouTube and on the web at nflcatchup.com.