Week 15 NFL losers: MVP chances suffer significant setback

Week 15 NFL losers: MVP chances suffer significant setback

With almost all of the Week 15 NFL games completed, let’s take a look at some of the league’s biggest losers.

Dak Prescott’s chances for MVP. Prescott began the week as one of the league’s leading contenders for the MVP award, but his chances took a significant hit on Sunday. Not only because he and the Cowboys were a complete non-show in a 31-10 loss to the Buffalo Bills, but also because one of the other top contenders, San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy, had another monster game with four touchdown passes and no interceptions.

Prescott is having a fantastic season regardless of whether he wins the award or not, but he almost certainly trailed Purdy in the MVP race on Sunday.

Chargers of Los Angeles. Following Thursday night’s humiliating 62-21 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders, the Chargers had little choice but to fire head coach Brandon Staley and general manager Tom Telesco. During his three years as Chargers head coach, Staley repeatedly demonstrated that he was not cut out for the job, and it was only a matter of when, not if, a change would be made.

The Chargers’ bigger problem is that the coach and general manager may not matter as long as Dean Spanos makes the hiring decisions. He’s been getting it wrong for two decades, and history suggests he’ll do it again.

The defense of the Minnesota Vikings. With a playoff spot on the line and a 17-3 lead entering the fourth quarter in Cincinnati on Saturday, the Vikings defense completely imploded, allowing three consecutive touchdown drives to the Bengals (all three of which were over 63 yards), sending the game to overtime, where they eventually lost. With the NFC wild-card race so tight, this was a game they needed to win.

George Pickens, wide receiver for the Pittsburgh Steelers. George Pickens has been visibly frustrated all season and spoke about the issues with the routes he is being asked to run this week. On Saturday, he talked a big game but didn’t play one. Pickens had two bad plays in the Steelers’ 30-13 loss that will not look good on film.