With Change Comes Excitement: NFL Week Fourteen Recap

This week of the NFL marked the final teams on bye, meaning a busy schedule lies ahead. With six teams currently tied in the AFC, anyone still has a chance to make the playoffs. The top spot in each conference changed once again, as teams are fighting for not only survival but superiority.

Here is everything that went down during week fourteen of the NFL:

Thursday Night Football

New England Patriots 21 – Pittsburgh Steelers 18

After Patriots’ quarterback Bailey Zappe tossed three first half touchdowns, the Patriots looked in the clear early on against Pittsburgh. Zappe threw an interception in the second half, while he and his team were unable to score. Despite allowing the Steelers to make it a three point game in the final quarter, New England stopped three Pittsburgh drives in the final 11 minutes. Each side struggled offensively, with only seven combined third down conversions and just over 400 combined offensive yards. Along with his three touchdowns, Zappe threw 240 yards and completed 19 of 28 attempts.

Steelers’ quarterback Mitchell Trubisky earned a rushing touchdown and threw one as well, but tossed an interception which led to a New England touchdown drive. Neither team converted a fourth down, as each quarterback’s interceptions were the only turnovers. The Steelers have lost to a 2-10 side for the second week in a row. They have also been defeated by the Patriots three times straight. Tied with five other teams in the conference, they play one next week in what will be a crucial visit to Indianapolis.

Sunday

Tampa Bay Buccaneers 29 – Atlanta Falcons 25

In a battle for the top spot in the NFC South, the Buccaneers earned revenge over the Falcons and took their division lead in doing so. After losing to Atlanta back in week seven, Tampa Bay was almost defeated again after losing its lead with three minutes in the game. Trailing for the first time in the afternoon, the lead was restored with 31 seconds remaining after quarterback Baker Mayfield’s second touchdown pass. Mayfield finished the game with two passing touchdowns and a rushing touchdown.

Running back Rachaad White led the Buccaneers with 102 rushing yards. The only turnover of the game was an interception thrown by Falcons’ quarterback Desmond Ridder. He also threw a touchdown, but the interception resulted in a Tampa Bay scoring drive. Atlanta earned almost 150 more yards and seven more first downs than its opponents despite losing. The game remained close throughout and proved an entertaining battle for first place in the division. As it now holds a playoff spot, Tampa Bay will look to keep it with a week fifteen victory in Green Bay.

Los Angeles Rams 31 – Baltimore Ravens 37 (OT)

In perhaps the most nail biting matchup of the week, the Ravens reclaimed the top spot in the AFC while the Rams’ three game win streak came to an end. The game remained back and forth throughout as each side played an even game. The Rams earned 24 first downs to the Ravens 23, but Baltimore had more yards with 449 to 410 earned by Los Angeles. The only turnover of the game was by the winning team, as Ravens’ quarterback Lamar Jackson threw an interception. He finished the game with three touchdown passes and 316 passing yards. Rams’ quarterback Matthew Stafford played lights out completing three touchdown passes, while receiver Cooper Kupp led the team with 115 receiving yards and a touchdown.

Both kickers Justin Tucker of the Ravens and Lucas Havrisik of the Rams had a perfect day, each completing all three of their field goal kicks. Havrisik’s third attempt sent the game to extra time with 11 seconds in the final quarter. Victory was achieved by Baltimore with the help of receiver Tylan Wallace who completed a 76 yard punt return for the win. These sides have only faced nine times in history, and with a win the Ravens now lead the series 6-3. They will look to keep their conference lead as they headline next Sunday’s action in Jacksonville.

Detroit Lions 13 – Chicago Bears 28

Scoring 13 points in the second quarter was all the Lions could muster in trying to stop the Bears for the fourth time straight. They were hurt by three turnovers, two of which were interceptions by quarterback Jared Goff. A fumble by Lions guard Graham Glasgow also led to a Bears touchdown drive. Chicago saw zero turnovers occur while its quarterback Justin Fields completed a passing and rushing touchdown. Its kicker Cairo Santos also had a near perfect day, knocking back all three field goals taken, but he missed an extra point.

Bears’ receiver D.J. Moore also played multiple roles in scoring a receiving and rushing touchdown. The Bears allowed only 13 first downs to Detroit, while the Lions were also hurt by four sacks and eight penalties. Each team completed six third downs and one fourth down. A win keeps the Bears’ playoff chances alive as it plays a Browns team next week which does not often lose at home.

Indianapolis Colts 14 – Cincinnati Bengals 34

Quarterback Jake Browning continued to impress for the Bengals after starting his third game of the season. His lone interception was returned by the Colts for a game tying touchdown minutes before halftime, but he made up for it in the second half. Adding to his touchdown pass in the first quarter, he threw another touchdown and earned a rushing touchdown. He finished the game with 275 yards and completed 18 of 24 attempts. Despite the large win for Cincinnati, each side finished the game with 19 first downs and three completed third downs of 11 tries. 

The Bengals held the ball for three minutes longer, while two Colts’ turnovers took away scoring opportunities. Quarterback Gardner Minshew threw an interception for Indianapolis just 25 yards away from scoring, while receiver Isaiah McKenzie dropped a punt return, allowing the Bengals a field goal. Colts’ kicker Matt Gay failed to score his only field goal attempt and extra point attempt. His side was also knocked back 66 yards across nine penalties. These sides are currently tied in the AFC with the Colts still holding a playoff spot. They will look to hand the Steelers their third loss in a row next week.

Jacksonville Jaguars 27 – Cleveland Browns 31

A win over Jacksonville gave Joe Flacco the opportunity to become Cleveland’s fourth quarterback this season to win a game. Flacco, who made his second start for the Browns, threw two touchdown passes in the first quarter. He fired an interception in the second quarter, but finished the game with another touchdown pass and 311 passing yards. His interception was one of three turnovers for his side, as he also fumbled the ball, along with receiver Amari Cooper. Jaguars’ quarterback Trevor Lawrence had three of his team’s four turnovers with three interceptions.

He also tossed three touchdowns and 257 yards, but failed to complete 22 passes. The Browns held the lead the entire game and finished it off by holding the ball the last minute and a half. Jacksonville earned more first downs and third downs, but almost 100 yards less than its opponents. Cleveland stayed strong and converted all three fourth downs at hand, while managing to hold the ball three minutes longer than the Jaguars. It has defeated Jacksonville twice in a row as it looks to defeat the Bears next week and continue its climb in the AFC.

Carolina Panthers 6 – New Orleans Saints 28

The Saints completed their season sweep over the Panthers in convincing fashion and terminated their three game losing streak. New Orleans only allowed Panthers’ kicker Eddy Pineiro to score for Carolina, as he made two of his three field goal attempts. Panthers’ quarterback Bryce Young had a rough day as he completed only 13 of 36 attempts. The Saints scored two touchdowns in the second quarter and two in the fourth quarter. Their first two came from running back Alvin Kamara and linebacker D’Marco Jackson who blocked and returned a Panthers’ punt. Quarterback Derek Carr came to life in the final quarter, tossing two touchdowns.

He threw an interception towards the end of the first half, but nothing was made of it from his opponents. Despite losing by a large margin, the Panthers earned two more first downs than their opponents. They also earned almost 100 more total offensive yards and converted five more third downs. It lacked scoring opportunities in failing to convert six fourth downs. The Saints kept their playoff hopes alive and will need a win against the Giants next week to continue doing so.

Houston Texans 6 – New York Jets 30

After a scoreless first half, the Jets succeeded on a rainy afternoon with their most points in a half all season. The first half saw 11 combined punts and zero scoring attempts. Quarterback Zac Wilson excelled for New York, tossing over 300 yards and completing two touchdown passes. The final quarter saw Wilson’s second touchdown, along with Jets’ kicker Greg Zurlein completing all three of his field goal attempts. The only turnover of the game was a fumble by Wilson in the third quarter, which led to Houston’s only touchdown. It failed to score its two-point conversion attempt. 

Quarterback CJ Stroud only tossed 91 yards for Houston, while his team touchdown was scored by running back Devin Singletary. The Texans were held to only 10 first downs, while New York had twice as many. They also failed to convert three fourth downs and completed just one third down conversion. This game served as a setback for the Texans, as they no longer hold a playoff spot. They will look to reclaim it in week fifteen during their trip to Tennessee.

Minnesota Vikings 3 – Las Vegas Raiders 0

Last week’s score of 6-0 only held the record for lowest scoring game of the season for one week after this barnburner. The only scoring of the game came from Vikings’ kicker Greg Joseph with two minutes remaining. Joseph previously missed a field goal. Despite only two minutes remaining, the Raiders had two turnovers in that time frame. Quarterback Aidan O’Connell immediately tossed an interception after the Minnesota field goal, while guard Greg Van Roten fumbled the ball on the final play of the game. Las Vegas finished the game with three turnovers, as receiver Hunter Renfrow fumbled the ball in the third quarter.

Two different quarterbacks played for Minnesota, with each combining for less than 100 passing yards. Both Joshua Dobbs and Nick Mullens failed to score a touchdown for the Vikings. The Raiders struggled offensively, only earning eight first downs and failing to convert 11 third downs. They did complete both fourth down attempts at hand, and just over 200 offensive yards. With the slim margin of victory, the Vikings have defeated the Raiders three times straight. They will look to score more next week and keep their playoff hopes alive in facing the Bengals.

Seattle Seahawks 16 – San Francisco 49ers 28

The 49ers have defeated the Seahawks five times in a row, after scoring a touchdown in each quarter last Sunday. Their quarterback Brock Purdy tossed an interception, but completed 19 of 27 passes and two touchdowns. Two 49ers also got on the board with rushing touchdowns. The Seahawks trailed by just five points entering the final quarter when turnovers began to haunt them. Two interceptions were thrown by Seattle quarterback Drew Locke, after he had previously tossed two touchdowns. He finished the game with 22 completions and 269 yards but hurt his team’s chances of coming back.

San Francisco earned 19 first downs and six third downs to Seattle’s 17 first downs and measly two third downs. It also earned over 200 yards more than Seattle and over 500 offensive yards. As it defeats Seattle for the fifth time straight, it moves to the top spot in the NFC. Seattle is in danger of missing the playoffs after four straight losses and will have to beat a tough Philadelphia team next week to stay alive.

Buffalo Bills 20 – Kansas City Chiefs 17

A lateral pass attempted by Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce in the final quarter led to an amazing team touchdown, but it did not count. If Chiefs’ wide receiver Kadarius Toney was not inches offside, it would have perhaps changed the outcome of this game. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes threw his only interception on the opening drive of the game for Kansas City, while receiver Rashee Rice fumbled the ball in the third quarter. The only turnover for Buffalo came in the form of an interception thrown by quarterback Josh Allen, who also finished the game with a touchdown pass.

Each side had 21 first downs and six third downs, while the Bills converted a fourth down.  A win was secured for Buffalo by kicker Tyler Bass, who knocked back his second of two field goals with two minutes remaining. Ball possession played key to Buffalo’s victory as they held the ball 11 minutes longer than the Chiefs. The Bills have now taken three of the last four meetings between these sides, with their only loss being a playoff game. They sit tied with five other teams in the AFC and continue the search for a playoff spot. The Chiefs have now lost twice in a row for the first time since September of 2021.

Denver Broncos 24 – Los Angeles Chargers 7

The Broncos proved their five game win streak that was halted last week was no fluke after getting right back into winning ways. It took four quarters for the Chargers to score, as running back Austin Ekeler finally reached the end zone for his team. They were down by 17 at that point and did not have much sight of victory. Quarterback Justin Herbert was forced to leave the game early after injuring his right index finger. He threw an interception in the first quarter which led to a Broncos touchdown drive. He was replaced by Easton Stick who threw for 179 yards but failed to toss a touchdown and fumbled the ball on his teams’ last drive.

As for the Broncos, their quarterback Russell Wilson threw an interception on their first drive but finished the game with two touchdown passes. The Chargers did not convert a third down the entire game, failing on 12 attempts. Herbert will miss the remainder of the season with a right index fracture. Meanwhile, the Broncos are still hunting for a playoff spot as they are one of the many teams tied for that final position. They will face a Lions team next week who may be looking to reclaim its status as a championship contender

Philadelphia Eagles 13 – Dallas Cowboys 33

For the second week in a row, the Eagles were unable to get the job done and have lost the top spot in the NFC in the process. Dallas led the entire game as its quarterback Dak Prescott played excellent. He threw two touchdowns and tossed for 271 yards. Cowboys’ kicker Brandon Aubrey also shined, completing all four field goal attempts taken, one of which was from 60 yards. The only mishap by the Cowboys’ was a Prescott fumble in the third quarter which was returned for an Eagles’ touchdown. 

Quarterback Jalen Hurts failed to throw a touchdown for Philadelphia while he committed one of three fumbles by his team. Kicker Jake Elliot scored both of his field goal attempts for the Eagles as his team earned 70 less offensive yards than Dallas. Only four third downs were completed by Philadelphia, while they received 90 penalty yards across 10 flags. Plenty of mistakes by the Eagles throughout allowed victory to come easy for the Cowboys, who now lead the division. Dallas will face a challenge next week during its trip to Buffalo.

Monday Night Football

Tennessee Titans 28 – Miami Dolphins 27

The last 367 games where a team was down by 14 points in the final three minutes have been lost by that team. The Titans flipped the script with two touchdowns in the final minutes, one from quarterback Will Levis and one from running back Derrick Henry. Levis earned his first road victory with his lone touchdown pass and 327 passing yards. He tossed an interception in the first quarter which was returned for a Dolphins’ touchdown. He also fumbled the ball later in the game as his team ended with three turnovers. Miami’s lone turnover came from quarterback Tua Tagovailoa who fumbled the ball on his team’s first drive. 

Running back Raheem Mostert shined for the Dolphins, completing two rushing touchdowns to put his team up by 14 in the final quarter. Tennessee’s heroics were helped in part by receiver DeAndre Hopkins who caught a touchdown and earned 124 receiving yards. The Titans earned more first downs and third downs than its opponents from Miami, as the Dolphins fell flat in the final minutes. Miami remains a game behind the Ravens for the top spot in the AFC as it faces its division member Jets next week.

Green Bay Packers 22 – New York Giants 24

Tommy ‘Cutlets’ DeVito got the job done again for New York, earning his and the Giants’ third victory in a row. He played a clean game, completing 17 of 21 passes and tossing a touchdown. The team was also led by running back Saquon Barkley, who earned two rushing touchdowns. A late fumble by Barkley almost cost his side the game, as it led to a Packers touchdown Jordan Love threw his lone touchdown pass for Green Bay, as he threw an interception and fumbled the ball in the second quarter.

 The game was won by Giants kicker Randy Bullock who slotted home his first field goal of the game in the final seconds after missing one earlier. Green Bay has not defeated the Giants since 2019, as a three game win streak of its own was put to an end. For coach Matt LaFleur, this game serves as his first loss in the month of December as the Packers’ coach after going 16-0. Green Bay still holds the final playoff spot in the NFC and will look to keep it next week by defeating the Buccaneers.

Teams on bye:

  • Arizona Cardinals
  • Washington Commanders
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