Here's the Biggest Reason Why Unders Dominated Week 15 in the NFL

Some weeks in the NFL are defined by lopsided results on the spread or total. Week 14, for example, was dominated by favorites who went 11-1 straight up and 10-2 against the spread.

Week 15, however, was one of the lowest scoring Sundays in NFL history; leading unders to to 11-5 for the week. In fact, the 40 total touchdowns scored were the least in any Sunday with at least 10 games since Nov. 27, 1994.

It’s worth noting, however that there were only 10 games played due to a COVID-19 outbreak. 

While the entire day was dominated by defenses, there are a few performances that stand out and kept scores low on the week. 

The first and most obvious game to blame would be the Tampa Bay Buccaneers being shut out by the New Orleans Saints. Heading into Sunday, Tampa Bay was the highest-scoring offense in the NFL, averaging 31.5 points per game. Yet against a depleted Saints defense, they managed to put up a doughnut. It was the first time in NFL history that the team with the best record in the league was shut out after Week 12. It was also Brady’s first shutout loss since 2006 when he was 29 years old.

To be fair to Brady and the Bucs, they were without Chris Godwin, Mike Evans, Antonio Brown, and Leonard Fournette. The nine total points scored made this the lowest scoring game in two years and was a big factor in the lack of touchdowns scored on Sunday.

Another shocking letdown performance came from the Arizona Cardinals in a loss against the 2-11-1 Detroit Lions. The Cardinals have one of the most electric offenses in the league but were held to a single touchdown in this game. In a matchup they were expected to cruise into, win, and clinch a playoff spot, they left embarrassed instead.

Kyler Murray was at the center of the meltdown and was missing passes left and right all day. The offensive line blew some key blocks in big spots and they were 0-4 in the red zone.

The good news for NFL bettors is scores should expect to tick back up to where fans are used to seeing them this week. Following the low touchdown total of Week 13 back in 1994, scoring was way up in Week 14. Perhaps a similar outcome can be expected in Week 15!