NFL Player News

Though the Vikings hadn't been so great against the pass recently, allowing an average of 246.8 passing yards to the last four quarterbacks they faced, Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford made sure their No. 6 ranking against the pass this year held up Week 15 in Detroit, failing to reach even the 185 yards he had against them back in Week 6. He finished with a season-low 153 yards on 17-of-28 passing, throwing for just one touchdown.

This after back-to-back games with 300-plus passing yards in which he threw for a combined five touchdowns. Not even the great Calvin Johnson, who was absent for the previous meeting with the Vikings, could redeem Stafford in this one. He had 53 yards after averaging 152.0 yards the previous two weeks.

Of course, the Lions faced the Bears and Buccaneers in those two weeks, or the league's 24th- and 30th-ranked pass defenses heading into Week 15. The Vikings are certainly better than them. Still, for as few yards as they had allowed through the air, the touchdown-to-interception ratio against them was nothing foreboding. It didn't seem like an unfavorable matchup.

But with Stafford, if the numbers say it's an unfavorable matchup, it's an unfavorable matchup. He's been the most predictable quarterback in Fantasy this season; we just keep making it harder than it needs to be. The good news is that in Week 16 he'll be facing those same Bears that he torched in Week 13, so you'll want to keep him active if you're still alive in Fantasy.

If you were fortunate enough to survive quarterback Aaron Rodgers' uncharacteristically poor performance Week 15 at Buffalo, know this: It was a one-time thing.

This wasn't a case of the Packers deciding they're better off running the ball more, as the Broncos have done. They lost 21-13 to the Bills, OK? Things clearly didn't go according to plan.

Of course, the Bills had something to do with that. Believe it or not, they've been one of the toughest matchups for quarterbacks this season. They've allowed only 14 touchdown passes while recording 19 interceptions, making them one of just two teams with more of the latter than the former.

Rodgers also didn't get as much help from his teammates as usual. Most notably, wide receiver Jordy Nelson had a couple drops, including what would have almost certainly been a 94-yard touchdown late in the third quarter. If the two connect on that one, we're not even having this conversation.

And then you just have the anomalous aspect of it. This was the first game over his entire career in which Rodgers had zero touchdown passes and two interceptions. He entered with only three interceptions all season.

Naturally, you'll want to keep him active for Week 16 at Tampa Bay.

Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford tossed one touchdown Week 15 against the Vikings.

Stafford completed 17 of 28 passes for 153 yards and a score during the contest. For the most part, Stafford had no issues with the Minnesota pass rush. He did not take any sacks or turn the ball over during the game. The Vikings defense did give him some problems, particularly with the big-play. Stafford averaged just 5.5 yards per completion, with his longest catch going for 23 yards. He had one rushing attempt, picking up 2 yards.

Stafford will look for more Week 16 against the Bears.

After quarterback Jake Locker left the game with a shoulder injury, Titans quarterback Charlie Whitehurst came off the bench to throw for 203 yards in a 16-11 loss to the Jets Sunday.

Whitehurst completed 10 of his 24 pass attempts, but did not throw a touchdown or an interception. He also rushed for 9 yards on two attempts.

The game appearance was Whitehurst's first since Oct. 19. The Titans will play at Jacksonville Thursday.

Jets quarterback Geno Smith avoided turning the ball over to help lead the Jets to a 16-11 victory against the Titans Sunday.

Smith completed 16 of his 28 passes for 179 yards and also threw one touchdown. Smith connected with fullback John Conner for a 9-yard touchdown pass. It was the first time Smith was able to throw a touchdown pass without throwing an interception in a game this season. Smith also rushed for 16 yards on four attempts.

The Jets host the Patriots Week 16.

Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater tossed one touchdown Week 15 against the Lions.

Bridgewater completed 31 of 41 passes for 315 yards and a score. He had some trouble holding onto the ball, tossing two interceptions and fumbling once. The Vikings were able to recover Bridgewater's fumble. While the Lions were aggressive, sacking Bridgewater four times, he was also able to pull off some decent plays when he had time. Bridgewater averaged 7.7 yards per attempt. He was also active in the rushing game, gaining 30 yards on three attempts. 

Bridgewater will look for more Week 16 against the Dolphins.

Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson threw for one touchdown Week 15 against the 49ers.

Wilson completed 12 of 24 passes for 168 yards and a score during the contest. It wound up being a fairly tame game for Wilson, as the San Francisco defense was able to put pressure on him most of the day. Wilson wound up taking five sacks, and turned the ball over on an interception. He wasn't as much of a threat on the ground, either, gaining just 27 rushing yards.

Wilson will hope for more Week 16 against the Cardinals.

The Cowboys have listed the following players as inactive for Sunday night's Week 15 game against the Eagles: defensive tackle Josh Brent (calf), linebacker Dekoda Watson (hamstring), quarterback Dustin Vaughan, tackles Tony Hills and Donald Hawkins, defensive end Kenneth Boatright and defensive back Jakar Hamilton.

Heath was doubtful to play Sunday while Watson had previously been ruled out. The team will have all seven players listed as probable active, including quarterback Tony Romo (back), linebacker Rolando McClain (knee), cornerback Tyler Patmon (knee, ankle), safety Jeff Heath (thumb) and defensive ends Demarcus Lawrence (chest), Jeremy Mincey (not injury related) and George Selvie (thumb).

Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers endured an abysmal performance as he was picked off twice and held out of the end zone in his team's 21-13 defeat to Buffalo in Week 15. He was held without a touchdown for the first time since Nov. 4, 2013 -- the game he broke his collarbone last season. His streak of five games without an interception also came to an end.

Rodgers was picked off twice by Bacarri Rambo -- once in each quarter of the second half. Rodgers compiled 185 yards through the air while completing 17 of 42 passes. He was held under 200 passing yards for the fourth time this season and finished with a season-low 34.3 passer rating.

Rodgers has 3,837 passing yards with 35 touchdowns and five interceptions. He'll look to get back on track come Week 16 at Tampa Bay.

Redskins quarterback Colt McCoy never returned to the game Sunday against the Giants after aggravating a neck injury on the opening drive.

"I felt like I could go. I was cleared to go. There is a disc aggravated in my neck and when that gets fired up, I can't do anything," McCoy said.

Even if McCoy is able to play Week 16 against the Eagles, coach Jay Gruden still might turn to Robert Griffin III.

"We've got to look at film and see where we stand," Gruden said about his quarterback situation. "Robert's definitely in the mix. He came out here and competed, which I like."