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Belichick heads back to college - 5 NFL storylines

Michael McQuaid of Pro Football Ireland looks at some of the key storylines ahead of the 15th week of the NFL season, which gets under way tonight (1.15am Irish time) with the visit of the Los Angeles Rams to the San Francisco 49ers.

Bill Belichick

The legendary NFL coach is making a move that many did not see coming.

It was reported on Thursday that the former New England Patriots head coach would make the move to college football, making a return to the sidelines after agreeing a five-year contract to take over at the collegiate North Carolina Tar Heels.

College football is entering a different phase, with an expanded play-off system that allows for teams to be more competitive.

Next week, a 12-team competition starts and the interest in the game will reach a new level.

Belichick's NFL window is now more than likely closed, but he will aim to take North Carolina - a school which is known more for its basketball - to the heights of the sport in football.

With NIL monetary deals allowing college players to be remunerated, we are entering an unseen period in the game, with the legendary coach at the helm.

Belichick has the chance to become the fourth coach to win a Super Bowl and a national championship to stand alongside names such as Barry Switzer, Jimmy Johnson and Pete Carroll.

The 72-year-old is expected to radically change the concept of a college team, most notably in his staffing.

Former NFL executive and Patriots assistant coach Michael Lomabrdi is joining Belichick’s programme as a general manager, with many more big names expected to join over the next few weeks.

Coming to Olympic Stadium in 2025… the first-ever regular season game in Berlin! 🇩🇪 @NFLDeutschland pic.twitter.com/2kDRMpu2rt

— NFL (@NFL) December 11, 2024

Going international

The NFL is expected to continue to add to its international offering over the next few years and Berlin was added to its global portfolio on Wednesday. The Olympiastadion, which most recently hosted the Euro 2024 final will host games in 2025, 2027 and 2029.

Berlin is expected to be the start of an expanded reach, with hopes that Dublin will host a game next season.

While this has not been confirmed, sources indicate that there is a considerable amount of work happening behind the scenes to potentially make this a reality next season.

This situation will be intriguing to watch over the next few weeks as the season comes to a close.

Buffalo Bills QB Josh Allen is the clear favourite to land the MVP award this season

A Super Bowl preview?

We could literally see a preview of the Super Bowl this Sunday as the Buffalo Bills travel to Ford Field to take on the Detroit Lions.

Both teams are flying and this is a significant matchup between the league's two top scoring offences. The Lions are averaging 30.4 points per game, while the Bills average 30.2 points.

The Lions are riding high with a 12-1 record and are currently the top seed in the NFC.

Buffalo currently sit at 10-3 and have the AFC East title in the bag but want that number one seed in the conference, which is still in play as Kansas City have to travel to Pittsburgh on Christmas Day.

The Bills' defence, particularly their secondary, has been hit with injuries in recent weeks and this could be a key factor in the game.

Key performers, like cornerback Rasul Douglas and Taron Johnson are dealing with issues, which could potentially give the Lions' passing attack an edge.

However, the Lions' defence isn't without its concerns; they've struggled at times against elite running backs, which could be exploited by Josh Allen if he decides to take to the ground more frequently.

That being said, how the Lions run the ball against the Bills could be key on Sunday. The Bills defence needs to improve. Last week, they allowed 42 points against a potent Rams team, while conceding a total of 41 points over the Chiefs and Colts in two of the three weeks prior.

Stafford had relied on the run in the red zone quite a bit this season and the Bills rush defence will be crucial to this matchup.

Pittsburgh Steelers QB Russell Wilson has owned the Philadelphia Eagles during his illustrious career

Battle of Pennsylvania

Week 15 of the season brings some super matchups. The visit of the 10-3 Pittsburgh Steelers across the state to face the Philadelphia Eagles is one of the matchups of the season.

The Eagles have an offensive juggernaut. With receivers AJ Brown and DeVonta Smith, combined with running back Saquon Barkley's explosive runs, the Steelers defence are up against it this weekend. That said, Pittsburgh have been superb in terms of points allowed at 18.7 points per game, which is tied for the sixth-best in the league.

TJ Watt's 14.5 sacks lead the Steelers' pass rush, which will be a massive factor in trying to disrupt Jalen Hurts' rhythm and movement on Sunday.

However, the Eagles' defence has also stepped up significantly since the first five weeks of the season, particularly in the secondary, with rookie Cooper DeJean making a notable impact.

This could be a matchup to watch as QB Russell Wilson (who has had some impressive performances against the Eagles in years gone by), faces a defence that's been one of the best against the pass in recent games.

Stat of the week? The Pittsburgh Steelers have not won in Philadelphia since 1965, when Lyndon B Johnson was president. That’s a long time ago - and Wilson is 6-0 against the Eagles in his career. Something has to give!

Teams on tap

As we get towards the end of the regular season, teams are starting to focus towards their NFL Draft position.

Entering Week 15, the teams in the top eight are separated by only one game.

The Las Vegas Raiders and New York Giants make up the top two with 2-11 records, while there are a range of teams from the third to eighth position - New England, Carolina, Jakconville, Tennessee, the New York Jets and Cleveland.

The next few weeks will be crucial in determining the draft order of these teams, with some notable matchups in the final two weeks - one which includes the Jaguars travelling to take on the Raiders.

Watch this space - we're getting down to the final chapter of the 2024 regular season, with some big storylines ahead.

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