The Athletic Football Show: A show about the NFL Week 15 Hangover: The Ravens stay alive, and the 49ers notch their 10th win
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Dec 16, 2025 The 49ers quietly notch their 10th win, raising questions about their playoff potential despite overlooked success. Meanwhile, the Ravens face a brutal loss to the Bengals, highlighting issues in their red zone efficiency and offensive line depth. The Vikings pull off a thrilling upset over the Cowboys, showcasing Brian Flores' creative defense and crucial fourth-quarter moments. Plus, insights into Brock Purdy's mobile resurgence for San Francisco and listener voicemails revealing the despair of fans from both Dallas and Green Bay.
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Shutouts Can Mask Similar Offensive Play
- The Bengals moved the ball but lost the game on turnovers and lack of big explosive plays.
- Robert Mays and Derrik Klassen say those margins and turnovers fully explain the 24-0 shutout despite similar offensive success rates.
Lamar Looks Healthy, Lines Remain The Question
- Lamar Jackson looked healthier and made several dynamic throws and scrambles that mattered.
- But Mays and Klassen flag both lines' lack of push and a missing true pass rusher as limits to playoff upside.
Lean Into High-Variance Perimeter Runs
- Increase designed perimeter and trick runs to hunt for explosives when the core run game is inconsistent.
- The hosts recommend using more high-variance calls (designer perimeter runs) to maximize big-play potential now.