Week 14 concludes with playoff spots filled and draft positions dropping and rising. But the biggest winners are teams rising in their division and taking over. The biggest losers are those who had it all but failed to capitalize. Let’s go over them!
Scrubs: Cowboys
Dallas is dead in the water at this point. The difference between the Giants and Cowboys is that New York had zero expectations, and they’re terrible this season. Dallas is lackluster, but they had expectations! However, two wins in a row gave Dallas a possible opening to try to tighten the race for a wild card spot. Defensive star Micah Parsons has attempted to rally the troops with a hopeful quote after the Giants win: “We know what we got, we know what we can do here, and I believe in every one of these guys here. I believe we’re going to turn it around and make a run.” The Cowboys would then lose 27-20 Monday night to Cincinnati in unfortunate fashion. It was a botched punt block that made Brandon Bostick shiver in PTSD and cost the Cowboys from getting the ball back in a tie game with two minutes to go and put Cincy in good field position. One long touchdown to JaMarr Chase later, Dallas suffers their eighth loss of the season as hope for a wild card spot may have just evaporated.
Dubs: Buccaneers
I need to find out if this is more of a product of the Bucs winning or just the Falcons failing, but either way, the Buccaneers are first in the NFC South division. A solid performance from running back Rachaad White and plenty of touchdowns from Baker Mayfield would give the Bucs a winning record for the first time since week seven. An interesting schedule remains for Tampa as they look to win the division and tie with New Orleans for most NFC South division titles with seven.
Scrubs: Jets
Aaron Rodgers throws for over 300 passing yards for the first time in three years, and the Jets were the winners in terms of yards, third and fourth down efficiency, and had no turnovers. In terms of the game, though, the Jets weren’t winners. It was bad enough losing to a division rival but also being officially eliminated from playoff contention. But the worst part? Zach Wilson from last year has a better winning record than Aaron Rodgers this year. But yes, Robert Saleh was the ONLY problem, and trading for Aaron Rodgers’s old flame in Davante Adams would automatically make the Jets contenders. Since Saleh’s firing and the trade for Adams, the Jets are 1-7.
Dubs: Seahawks
The Seahawks are strange. Nobody can decide if they’re good or bad. They have moments of brilliance, from Geno Smith to Jaxon Smith, and their running game seems to flourish, no matter who gets the ball. But they also have moments that make you wonder if it is because their division isn’t too imposing that their record is good. But the twelfth man mustn’t question the method to all this madness. 17 points in the first quarter, Zach Charbonnet having a career day, and two picks and sacks on Kyler Murray. But an 8-5 record means the Seahawks need one more win, and for the first time since 1999, a head coach on the Seahawks will have a winning record in their first season.
Scrubs: Falcons
Atlanta, you make me sick. You beat teams like Tampa Bay twice and Philadelphia. You had a 6-3 record when the rest of the division was in the dark, and if you could pull the talent together, you could’ve run away with this division! Instead, you lose four games in a row, your QB leads the league in interceptions, and your defense is ranked 23rd in average total yards allowed (349.8 yards), 25th in average passing yards allowed (229.1 yards), 17th in average rushing yards allowed (120.7 yards), 25th in average points allowed (25.6), 24th in red zone touchdown rate (61.9%), and 30th in 3rd down conversions allowed (46.3%). Not a single stat has them in the top half defensive-wise. My advice? Start Penix. Kirk is cold. Get the rookie out there and see if he can spark something in your cold streak.
Dubs: Rams
Uh, are the Rams back? And I mean the Rams that won Super Bowl 56. Josh Allen had one of the most incredible performances of his career, got six total touchdowns, and didn’t even turn the ball over. And the Rams still won?! The fatal four of QB Matthew Stafford, RB Kyren Williams, and WRs Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua all felt a touchdown in the Sunday evening showdown. The Rams have a winning record for the first time this season at 7-6 after a 1-4 start. Winning six of your last eight games is no small feat, and the Rams are second in the division, a game behind the Seahawks. However, this game brings some concern with the Rams defense as they allowed 42 points and 445 total yards. But if this offense resurrects the spirit of “The Greatest Show on Turf,” the Seahawks and the NFC West need to watch out, and so do the rest of the league!
Next week will feature some fantastic evening and night games! Lions vs. Bills, Steelers vs. Eagles, Packers vs. Seahawks, and the biggest game of the year: JETS VS. JAGUARS! A genuinely remarkable timeline we live in!
