What matters in every Week 14 game: Statement wins in playoff hunt for Texans, Bills, Packers, Steelers

Week 14 of the 2025 NFL season began with an offensive shootout between the Cowboys and Lions. Detroit ended Thursday night on top, led by three touchdowns from running back Jahmyr Gibbs.

In the early window Sunday, multiple starting quarterbacks exited early due to injuries. Indianapolis quarterback Daniel Jones left the team’s loss to the Jaguars in the first quarter with an Achilles injury, while Washington’s Jayden Daniels exited in the third quarter of a shutout loss to the Vikings with an elbow injury.

In Atlanta, the Seahawks kept the Falcons out of the end zone in a dominant win. The Dolphins easily handled the Jets, while the Titans squeaked out a win over the Browns and the Saints stunned the Bucs. In Buffalo, the Bills made big defensive plays in the fourth quarter to come back against the Bengals. And the Steelers took sole possession of the AFC North lead with a close win over the Ravens.

In the late window, the Broncos secured a season sweep over the Raiders. Meanwhile, the Rams blew out the Cardinals in their first matchup of the season as NFC West foes. And in the last of three matchups for first place in their respective divisions, the Packers picked off Bears quarterback Caleb Williams‘ pass in the end zone to seal the win.

In Kansas City, the Chiefs’ playoff hopes diminished as the Texans’ top-ranked defense shut down Patrick Mahomes & Co., giving Kansas City (6-7) its worst record through 13 games since 2012.

Our NFL Nation reporters reacted to all the action, answering lingering questions coming out of each game and detailing everything you need to know for every team. Let’s get to it.

Jump to:
HOU-KC | CHI-GB | LAR-ARI
DEN-LV | TEN-CLE | PIT-BAL | CIN-BUF
NO-TB | IND-JAX | MIA-NYJ
SEA-ATL | WSH-MIN | DAL-DET

Catch up on the action: Box score | Recap

Texans

Can Houston run the table and win out? Houston faces the Arizona Cardinals and Las Vegas Raiders in the next two weeks before traveling to play at the Los Angeles Chargers. The Cardinals and Raiders are a combined 5-21, and the Texans match up well with the Chargers on paper as Los Angeles quarterback Justin Herbert has been pressured on 41% of his dropbacks. And guess what? Houston is known for pressuring quarterbacks. Then the Texans take on the Indianapolis Colts, a team that just lost starting quarterback Daniel Jones to an Achilles injury. A regular-season record of 12-5 is very possible for these Texans, which would be a remarkable feat considering they opened up the season 0-3.

Most surprising performance: Safety Jalen Pitre had an outstanding game, playing like an All-Pro. He made his presence known, making an aerobatic interception and laying a huge hit on wideout Rashee Rice to force an incompletion. — DJ Bien-Aime

Next game: vs. Cardinals (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)

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Chiefs

Is the Chiefs’ 10-year streak of making the playoffs over? After this loss, the odds are not in the Chiefs’ favor. Too often, Patrick Mahomes couldn’t find enough teammates who could help him lift the team to a must-win victory. Despite being without four linemen — rookie left tackle Josh Simmons (left wrist), right guard Trey Smith (right ankle), right tackle Jawaan Taylor (left triceps) and backup tackle Wanya Morris (left knee) — the quarterback still played well enough to give the Chiefs a chance in the fourth quarter. But running back Kareem Hunt, receiver Rashee Rice and tight end Travis Kelce dropped critical passes. Kelce’s fourth-quarter drop led to Mahomes’ third interception, ending any chance for a Chiefs comeback victory.

Turning point: With 10 minutes remaining, the Chiefs faced fourth-and-1 from their own 31-yard line. Instead of giving the ball to Hunt — one of the most reliable running backs in short-yardage situations (such as his 2-yard touchdown run on fourth-and-1 early in the third quarter) — coach Andy Reid instead had Mahomes operate from the shotgun with receiver Hollywood Brown in the backfield. The play backfired on the Chiefs, who gave the Texans a short field after an incompletion. A few minutes later, the Texans scored the winning touchdown on a 5-yard run from running back Dare Ogunbowale. — Nate Taylor

Next game: vs. Chargers (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)

Catch up on the action: Box score | Recap

Packers

Should Jordan Love be in the MVP conversation? His chances have spiked in the past two weeks. After throwing four touchdowns in the Thanksgiving win at Detroit, Love backed it up with three more touchdowns Sunday, vaulting the Packers into first place in the NFC North. Though Love’s four-game streak without an interception ended, his deep ball was on point again. A week after a 51-yard touchdown to Christian Watson, Love hit Bo Melton for a 45-yard touchdown. Only Love and Sam Darnold (with three) have multiple touchdown passes of 40-plus air yards this season. Though Love’s passing yardage isn’t among the league leaders, he surpassed 3,000 yards with 22 touchdowns and 4 interceptions.

Trend to watch: Watson has shown no signs that his torn ACL last year has slowed him down. After catching a 23-yard touchdown in the second quarter, he caught a quick slant and ran 41 yards to the end zone in the third quarter. He reached 21.6 mph on the catch-and-run score, according to NFL Next Gen Stats. That was the top speed by a Packers ball carrier since Watson hit 21.7 mph on a rushing touchdown against the Bears in 2022.

Best quote from the locker room: Love on taking over first place in the NFC North: “It’s huge. Obviously, we’ve still got a couple weeks left here, but it’s all about finishing. We’re here, we’ve been here before, but we’ve got to finish it. So, it doesn’t really mean anything right now, but tonight was a huge win, and going in the right direction going forward. But, like I said, we’ve still got a couple more weeks here, so we’ve got to keep stacking.” — Rob Demovsky

Next game: at Broncos (Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET)

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Bears

What do Bears need to fine-tune to contend down the stretch? Quarterback Caleb Williams‘ fourth-down throw that was intercepted in the end zone to end the game will be magnified, but there are other areas the Bears need to improve to make the playoffs. The Bears didn’t get off to a fast enough start on offense and allowed the Packers to connect on too many explosive plays. It wasn’t until Chicago’s 17-play touchdown drive in the fourth quarter that the Bears felt like the more dominant team up front, and the Bears’ defensive line struggled to generate consistent pressure for most of the game. The Bears get another shot at the Packers on Dec. 20 and need to use this loss as a lesson.

Biggest hole in the game plan: Allowing explosive plays. The Bears’ defense didn’t have a great game plan for Love — the most efficient NFL quarterback on third downs — and allowed the Packers to convert 8 of 12 attempts. All three of Love’s touchdowns traveled at least 20 yards. Whether it was miscommunication in the secondary or blown coverages, that area needs to be cleaned up during Chicago’s next four games.

Best quote from the locker room: Ben Johnson on the Bears’ fourth-and-1 play at the end of the game: “We had a lot of options there. Don’t know who’s going to pop necessarily, but between the options that we have and then Caleb using his legs, I was hopeful that we could find a way to get a yard there.” — Courtney Cronin

Next game: vs. Browns (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)

Catch up on the action: Box score | Recap

Rams

What is the best part of the Rams’ offense? The Rams have shown they can win in multiple ways this season. Quarterback Matthew Stafford had his seventh game of the season with three or more passing touchdowns Sunday (most in the NFL). But in the past two games, Los Angeles has improved on the ground with Kyren Williams and Blake Corum. Last week in their loss to the Panthers, the Rams had a season-high 117 rushing yards before first contact. They topped that against the Cardinals, with 162 rushing yards before first contact. Williams and Corum combined for 212 rushing yards and 3 touchdowns on 25 carries. Either way, the Rams’ offense made a statement with 530 total net yards.

Stat to know: Wide receiver Puka Nacua had six catches for 136 yards and a touchdown in the first half. His 136 receiving yards are the most in a half of his career and the most in a half by a Rams player since Cooper Kupp had 165 in 2019, according to ESPN Research.

Best quote from the locker room: After the Rams’ lopsided victory, there were MVP chants in the postgame locker room for Stafford, who completed 22 of 31 passes for 281 yards and 3 touchdowns before he was taken out of the game early in the fourth quarter. “It’s fun,” Stafford said of hearing the chants from his teammates. “I don’t play the game for that, play the game for those guys in there and the respect of those guys and the guys that we compete against, but it’s cool.” — Sarah Barshop

Next game: vs. Lions (Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET)

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Cardinals

Have the Cardinals hit rock bottom? It’s hard to argue against it after they lost their 10th game of the season, thanks to two five-game losing streaks. Sunday was their third blowout loss of the season, and the Cardinals have given up more than 40 points in each. Arizona’s roster has been decimated by injuries, which has been a root cause for the struggles. Sunday’s loss to the Rams was a measuring stick. The Cardinals faced a top-tier NFC West foe and found out how far they are from that level.

Trend to watch: All Michael Wilson does when he’s WR1 is go for 100 yards. On Sunday, with Marvin Harrison Jr. out because of a heel injury, Wilson finished with 142 yards and 2 touchdowns on 11 catches. That’s the third time he has been the WR1 and had 100 yards. — Josh Weinfuss

Next game: at Texans (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)

Catch up on the action: Box score | Recap

Broncos

What was the most important thing about the Broncos’ win? The Broncos improved to 11-2 — tied for the best record in the AFC — and earned their 10th consecutive win. They also claimed the tiebreaker over the Patriots if the Broncos and New England finish the season with the same record. The Raiders defeated the Patriots in Week 1, and the Broncos’ sweep of the Raiders gives Denver a better record against common opponents. So, though the Broncos didn’t clinch a postseason spot Sunday, they put themselves on the inside track for the No. 1 seed in the AFC.

What to make of the QB performance: It was clear Bo Nix wasn’t going to challenge a Raiders secondary intent on keeping everything in front of it or give Maxx Crosby too many chances to hit him. But a patient, efficient Nix went 31-of-38 and completed passes to 11 players. His longest completion was 15 yards through the first three quarters, and he was sacked once with no turnovers. The Broncos had three scoring drives of at least 80 yards, including a 19-play, 90-yard field goal drive that consumed most of the fourth quarter.

Best quote from the locker room: Nix commented on the Broncos’ 10th consecutive win and their ninth one-score win of the season: “Winning 10 football games [in a row] is not easy. … It’s not easy doing what we do. It’s not easy going to work each week, it’s not easy pulling out these tough wins, but we’re resilient and we continue to do it. And if that’s what it takes, we’re going to continue to go through it and find ways to stack wins.” — Jeff Legwold

Next game: vs. Packers (Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET)

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Raiders

How did Caleb Rogers perform at right guard? If there’s a positive from Las Vegas’ seventh straight loss, it should be Rogers’ performance. The rookie third-round pick started for the second straight game but was fairly solid. He gave up just one sack against the league’s best pass rush. The Raiders’ offensive line play hasn’t been great, but Rogers has created a bit of optimism for the future.

Stat to know: Missed tackles have been a major issue for the Raiders throughout the season. The trend continued Sunday. Las Vegas missed 11 tackles, resulting in 50 yards allowed. Against the Chargers last week, they missed 18 tackles. — Ryan McFadden

Next game: at Eagles (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)

Catch up on the action: Box score | Recap

Titans

Did Jeffery Simmons‘ two-sack performance make a case for him as the best interior defender in the league? Simmons was basically unstoppable in Tennessee’s second win of the season. In addition to his sacks, he got multiple quarterback pressures and posted a tackle for loss. The 2025 Walter Payton Man of the Year nominee also had a pass deflection. He was in the backfield constantly — and he let the Browns’ fans know by doing quarterback Shedeur Sanders signature dance multiple times.

Stat to know: Running back Tony Pollard‘s 65-yard and 32-yard rushing touchdowns were his first ones of 30 yards or longer since 2022, when he had five total for the Cowboys. He had 161 rushing yards on the day, becoming the first Titans running back to do so this season. Pollard joined Ravens running back Derrick Henry as the only backs to run for over 100 yards against the Browns this season. — Turron Davenport

Next game: at 49ers (Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET)

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Browns

Is quarterback Shedeur Sanders showing enough to dissuade the Browns from targeting a QB in the 2026 draft? Sanders made strides in his third start, throwing for 364 yards and three touchdowns — both career highs — while running for another score. He also showed room for growth, as he threw an interception in the third quarter that allowed the Titans to take a lead they never surrendered. Sanders has brought a boom-or-bust feel to Cleveland’s offense, but Sunday’s loss was an impactful one that put the Browns back in contention for the No. 1 draft pick.

Stat to know: Myles Garrett recorded his 20th sack of the season, becoming the 13th player to reach that mark since it became an official stat in 1982. He is three sacks away from breaking the single-season record of 22.5. — Daniel Oyefusi

Next game: vs. Browns (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)

Catch up on the action: Box score | Recap

Steelers

Can the Steelers win the AFC North? Not only did the Steelers’ win put them back in front of the Ravens for the AFC North lead, but it also helps their case that a now-healthy, pesky Bengals team lost to the Bills. The Steelers showed flashes of dominance in the first half as Aaron Rodgers aired it out and DK Metcalf erupted for a season-high 148 yards on seven receptions. The defense contained Ravens running back Derrick Henry better than it did in their previous two meetings, but the Steelers also struggled midway through the game, giving up four straight scoring drives while their own offense sputtered. Alex Highsmith, though, sealed the win by sacking Lamar Jackson with three seconds left in the game.

What to make of the QB performance: Three weeks removed from fracturing his left wrist against the Bengals, Rodgers (23-for-34, 284 yards, 1 TD) played his best football in more than a month — for at least one half. After punting just once in the first half, the Steelers recorded three consecutive three-and-outs in the fourth quarter. Rodgers looked more mobile, extending plays and rushing for his first touchdown as a Steeler. He capped it off with a discount double check celebration, too.

Best quote from the locker room: Linebacker Patrick Queen didn’t waver when asked if the Steelers’ losses in Baltimore last season were motivating factors in Sunday’s win, saying, “It was just more of us coming out here and fighting for what’s at stake.” The sixth-year linebacker reminded that Pittsburgh has control of its postseason hopes: “Everything is about the future. So today we just had to be present and do what we had to do to control our destiny in the future.” — Brooke Pryor

Next game: vs. Dolphins (Monday, 8:15 p.m. ET)

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Ravens

Does this loss end the Ravens’ playoff hopes? Baltimore’s season feels essentially over after back-to-back home losses to AFC North rivals, although ESPN Analytics project the Ravens still have a 31% chance. It’s difficult to justify hope going forward because Jackson is struggling with his consistency throwing the ball and the defense is giving up too many big passing plays. The Ravens will insist tight end Isaiah Likely‘s 13-yard touchdown catch — which would have put Baltimore ahead 28-27 with 2:43 remaining — should not have been overturned. But they made too many mistakes and Jackson completed just 54.3% of his throws for 219 yards. With seven losses, the Ravens don’t have any assurances they can make the postseason by winning out, which is already a challenging task considering three of their final four games are on the road.

Trend to watch: Giving up big pass plays. The Ravens allowed Rodgers to go 4-of-4 on throws that went at least 20 yards in the air. Baltimore entered Sunday’s division matchup by holding teams to a 26.9% completion rate on such throws, which ranked sixth in the NFL. Now the Ravens face strong-armed quarterbacks Joe Burrow, Drake Maye and Jordan Love over the next three weeks.

Best quote from the locker room: Jackson didn’t hesitate when asked about the overturned touchdown to Likely in the fourth quarter: “I thought it was a touchdown, but the refs made the call they wanted. They believed that was right. So, you got to go with it.” Jackson and the offense had to move on, and the Ravens eventually turned the ball over on downs. “I can’t do the refs’ job. It is what it is,” Jackson said. — Jamison Hensley

Next game: at Bengals (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)

Catch up on the action: Box score | Recap

Bills

What does this win mean for the Bills’ chances to contend? The Bills’ defense continued its trend of improving in the second half and coming up with splash plays when needed. Cincinnati was largely able to work its way up and down the field, but the Bills’ defense made big plays when it needed to. Cornerback Christian Benford recorded a pick-six in his second straight game. Defensive end AJ Epenesa had an interception on the following drive. While the improved performance late in the game was a good sign, the defense still showed its weaknesses, especially on third down (10/12), against an elite offense.

Trend to watch: James Cook’s fumbling woes. Cook had two fumbles on the day, and the one he lost was critical, as the ball fell out of his hands as he approached the end zone. A score would have given the Bills their first lead of the day. The fourth-year back now has six fumbles on the season and three lost, a career high.

Best quote from the locker room: “When you have the best football player in the world on your team, anything’s possible,” said left tackle Dion Dawkins when asked if he’s ever surprised by quarterback Josh Allen‘s performance. “So, there’s no doubt, there’s no hiccup, there’s no blink. And Mr. 17 is one of them ones, man. Telling you, he’s one of them ones. I am thankful to be a part of his journey.” — Alaina Getzenberg

Next game: at Patriots (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)

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Bengals

Did the Bengals ruin their playoff chances? It might be a wrap. Cincinnati needed to win out in order to have a shot at winning the AFC North. But a disastrous sequence in the fourth quarter — a Josh Allen rushing TD and back-to-back interceptions by Joe Burrow — foiled Cincinnati’s hopes of a hot streak to finish the year. And the Bengals will lament their missed chances, especially considering how the team looked last week against the Ravens and for the majority of Sunday’s loss.

What to make of the QB performance: Burrow made some spectacular plays that put the Bengals in a position to win. But he’ll surely want one throw back — the swing pass that wasn’t lofted high enough and led to a pick-six by Benford. His next pass was a batted ball that was also picked off. It spoiled what started off as a great performance for Burrow in his second game back from injury. — Ben Baby

Next game: vs. Ravens (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)

Catch up on the action: Box score | Recap

Saints

What does quarterback Tyler Shough need to do to secure the starting job? The rookie is making his case to keep the Saints from drafting a quarterback in 2026. Shough (13-for-20 for 144 yards and seven rushes for 55 yards) made two impressive plays with his feet, scoring his first career rushing touchdowns of 34 and 13 yards, with the latter coming after he scrambled out of a sack. There were rookie mistakes, as Shough was sacked three times and had an interception after a miscommunication with receiver Chris Olave. But with his second win as a starter, he’s also giving the Saints some hope.

Trend to watch: Protection issues have been a constant factor for the past three games — a combination of a rookie quarterback and an offensive line that is missing right tackle Taliese Fuaga and center Erik McCoy. The Saints have now allowed 12 sacks in the past three games and gave up three sacks against Tampa Bay.

Best quote from the locker room: Linebacker Demario Davis, 36, said playing in the rain felt like being a kid again. “It was me and my cousins playing two-on-two football in the rain. And every time you tackled it just felt like a highlight because somebody would go and slide 3 or 4 yards and the water would go everywhere and it just felt like you knocked somebody out,” he said. “Their helmet came off and the pads was flying everywhere, and that’s what it looked like because the rain was splashing and I just remembered, like, I wanted to savor that moment. … So when you get those little moments where the rain is coming down, it kind of takes you back to that why you started playing in the first place and it’s just the joy of the game.” — Katherine Terrell

Next game: vs. Panthers (Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET)

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Buccaneers

How does this loss impact the Bucs’ footing in the NFC South? With Tampa Bay’s loss and Carolina’s bye, the Bucs have now lost their half-game lead in the NFC South; both teams are tied at 7-6. Their chances of winning the division dropped from 80% to 68% after the loss, according to ESPN Analytics. Still, the Bucs have two games remaining against the Panthers, so this division is very much up for grabs. They’ll certainly get a boost when wide receiver Mike Evans returns from injury — but with the explosive plays this defense has surrendered and the team’s inability to close out this game, the arrow is pointing down.

Turning point: The Bucs went for it on fourth-and-2 from New Orleans’ 46-yard line with the game tied at 17 with 12:56 to go. Quarterback Baker Mayfield found wide receiver Chris Godwin Jr. on an out route, but officials ruled he was out of bounds, resulting in a turnover on downs. Nine plays later, defensive end Logan Hall dove and missed a tackle a Shough, who found the end zone on a 13-yard scramble to grab a 24-17 lead with 8:34 to go. — Jenna Laine

Next game: vs. Falcons (Thursday, 8:15 p.m. ET)

Catch up on the action: Box score | Recap

Jaguars

Should Liam Coen be in consideration for Coach of the Year? The Jaguars clinched a winning record and took sole possession of first place in the AFC South by beating the Colts. With games against the Jets and Titans on the horizon, reaching 11 victories is realistic — a surprise considering the Jaguars had lost 18 of their past 23 games before this season. New England’s Mike Vrabel is the heavy favorite to win Coach of the Year, but if the Jaguars continue to win like they did Sunday — and have a chance to host a playoff game — that should at least get the rookie head coach in the conversation.

Most surprising performance: Wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. had issues with drops early in the season (and an ankle injury), but he has been solid since he returned two weeks ago. Against the Colts, he had three catches for 87 yards, with Lawrence taking downfield shots when Thomas had one-on-one coverage. The Jaguars needed Thomas to step up with Parker Washington inactive (hip), and he did, notching his first game with multiple 30-plus-yard catches.

Best quote from the locker room: After taking control of the AFC South, quarterback Trevor Lawrence said the Jaguars deserve more respect. “We all feel like we’re a really good team and probably don’t get the credit we deserve and everybody talks about every other team. … Nobody really cares about the Jags, which is fine. It’s kind of just how it is and we’ll use it as a chip on our shoulder and keep playing.” — Mike DiRocco

Next game: vs. Jets (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)

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Colts

How does quarterback Daniel Jones‘ injury impact the Colts in the short and long term? Jones’ Achilles injury puts Indianapolis in serious jeopardy of missing the playoffs, given their remaining schedule and the fact that they are now trailing Jacksonville for the division lead. Rookie quarterback Riley Leonard will likely be called upon to start for the foreseeable future, putting the offense at a disadvantage. In the long term, the Colts were on track to try to retain Jones in the offseason, when he is scheduled to become a free agent. But if he is in line for a lengthy absence, it clouds their future decisions.

Trend to watch: The Colts have now lost 11 straight road games to the Jaguars, a streak dating back to 2015, when Matt Hasselbeck was starting at quarterback in place of Andrew Luck. The Colts have lost in every possible way in Jacksonville (and one “road” game in London), including a 6-0 loss in 2018 and a 51-16 defeat in 2015 that started the streak. — Stephen Holder

Next game: at Seahawks (Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET)

Catch up on the action: Box score | Recap

Dolphins

What will Dolphins do if running back De’Von Achane misses time after exiting with a rib injury? While the Dolphins’ offensive line has played well over the past month, Achane has been the centerpiece of Miami’s offense for the better part of two seasons. With 1,500 total yards and nearly 250 touches, he has roughly 800 more yards and 200 more touches than the next-closest Dolphins player. However, second-year back Jaylen Wright performed well in Achane’s stead, rushing for 107 yards and a touchdown on 24 carries. He doesn’t offer the same explosiveness as Achane, though Wright ran a 4.38-second 40 at the combine. These new smashmouth Dolphins are equipped to run the ball without Achane, but replacing him in the passing game is a different story.

Trend to watch: For a career-high fourth straight game, Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa finished with less than 200 passing yards. Granted, he didn’t need to do much through the air after Miami opened a 21-0 lead in the first quarter, but as opposing defenses key in on the run, the Dolphins need to be able to throw the ball effectively. Wright and Tagovailoa will have to spend time getting on the same page in the passing game after failing to connect against the Jets. — Marcel Louis-Jacques

Next game: at Steelers (Monday, 8:15 p.m. ET)

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Jets

How does the Jets’ dire QB situation impact their draft strategy? The Jets had to play the final three-plus quarters with rookie third-stringer Brady Cook, which speaks volumes about the state of the team. Journeyman Tyrod Taylor, in his third start for the demoted (and injured) Justin Fields, lasted only two series due to a groin injury. The No. 1 priority for the 2026 draft was and remains finding a quarterback. Fernando Mendoza, anyone? The Jets, who clinched their 15th straight non-playoff season, could have a total reset at quarterback in 2026. Not surprisingly, Cook was overmatched in his NFL debut, though he was hurt by a few drops.

Biggest hole in the game plan: The Jets, who started three rookies on defense, were completely fooled by the Dolphins’ pre-snap motion and misdirection. Result: Gaping holes in the defense and wide-open receivers. The Jets allowed touchdowns on the first three series, surrendering 153 rushing yards in the first half. This was a big step backward for a unit that displayed modest signs of improvement in recent weeks.

Best quote from the locker room: “I didn’t have these guys ready to play and that was obvious by the way we went out there and played. … No finger pointing on this one,” coach Aaron Glenn said. “This one is on me and I have to get our guys better going into next week. … When we don’t play up to par, that’s the head coach.” — Rich Cimini

Next game: at Jaguars (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)

Catch up on the action: Box score | Recap

Seahawks

Can Seattle’s defense become the NFL’s best? The Seahawks entered Week 14 allowing the third-fewest points on defense (17.0), having weathered a rash of injuries on that side of the ball. On Sunday, they showed how dominant they can be at full strength, forcing three turnovers and holding the Falcons to three field goals. Only one of Seattle’s 10 wins have come versus a quarterback who entered the game ranked in the top 20 in Total QBR, and they’ll have another favorable matchup next Sunday assuming the Colts’ Daniel Jones (Achilles) is out. The true test will come in Week 16 against Matthew Stafford and the Rams.

What to make of the QB performance: Sam Darnold was much better against the blitz on Sunday than he was last week, when he delivered his worst performance of the season by Total QBR while facing a barrage of pressure from Minnesota’s defense. All three of his touchdown passes in Atlanta came against the blitz, with Darnold completing 8 of 10 attempts for 101 yards on such plays. He finished 20-of-30 for 249 yards and one interception, which came on an aggressive throw he made on the run.

Best quote from the locker room: Coach Mike Macdonald said recently that Devon Witherspoon is playing “great football” even if the stats aren’t showing. Seattle’s Pro Bowl cornerback filled the stat sheet Sunday with an interception, a pass breakup that led to Nick Emmanwori‘s interception, a fumble recovery and seven tackles. “You had to have felt ‘Spoon throughout that game,” Macdonald said. “What a phenomenal player.” — Brady Henderson

Next game: vs. Colts (Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET)

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Falcons

Are there any silver linings for the Falcons during this miserable season? There aren’t many. Owner Arthur Blank said in training camp that he believed the organization had the right people in place to become a winner. Yet the Falcons will again miss the playoffs and finish with a losing record. Atlanta has not made the postseason since 2017, the second-longest active drought in the NFL. If there is one positive, rookie James Pearce Jr. has a sack in each of his past five games, the first time a rookie has done that since Micah Parsons in 2021.

Trend to watch: For the second straight week, the special teams play was a disaster. Zane Gonzalez had a field goal attempt blocked, and the Seahawks’ Rashid Shaheed returned the kickoff to open the second half for a touchdown, breaking a 6-6 tie. Last week, it was a long return and a muffed punt that led to scores for the Jets in a three-point loss. — Marc Raimondi

Next game: at Buccaneers (Thursday, 8:15 p.m. ET)

Catch up on the action: Box score | Recap

Vikings

How good was this win, really? On the one hand, this was one of most convincing victories in Vikings history, representing their biggest margin of victory in a shutout since 1980 and the fifth-largest margin of victory in any game. It came in front of a subdued home crowd that seemed more surprised than thrilled, and snapped a four-game losing streak. Perhaps most importantly, the Vikings moved past an ugly sequence of 22 possessions without scoring a touchdown, They also got quarterback J.J. McCarthy a “get right” game following a difficult start to his NFL career. On the other hand, the Vikings entered the game with less than a 1% chance of making the playoffs. A loss would have eliminated them entirely. As distasteful as it might sound to many fans, every future win does nothing but lower their standing in the 2026 draft.

What to make of the QB performance: This was by far the best game of McCarthy’s career. He returned from a one-game absence due to a concussion to complete 16 of 23 passes for 163 yards and a career-high three touchdowns, all of which went to tight ends. McCarthy was accurate, played with poise and benefited from a Commanders defense that largely declined to blitz him. On plays in which the Commanders sent a standard four-man pass rush, McCarthy was 11-of-14 for 106 yards and two touchdowns. — Kevin Seifert

Next game: at Cowboys (Sunday, 8:20 p.m. ET)

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Commanders

What now for quarterback Jayden Daniels? It has been a lost season for Daniels, who has been knocked out during each of his past three appearances because of injuries. The severity of Sunday’s injury is unknown, but it has been a struggle for him to stay healthy. Washington wanted him to play to help his development — and the development of the offense as a whole. But at some point, the Commanders have to consider simply shutting him down, especially if he reinjured his left elbow. Daniels must prove he can stay durable if the Commanders want to regain the momentum they had after the 2024 season.

Biggest hole in the game plan: The Commanders’ pass coverage was horrendous and allowed McCarthy to gain momentum early. The Vikings quarterback has had more issues versus man coverage but faced heavy zone from the Commanders — mostly out of necessity without enough good man corners. That allowed for a lot of open targets, especially since Washington’s pass rush couldn’t threaten him. They allowed three touchdown passes to McCarthy and a 98-yard touchdown drive. — John Keim

Next game: at Giants (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)

Catch up on the action: Box score | Recap

Lions

How can the Lions end the regular season strong? Once again, the Lions took care of business after their Thanksgiving loss to Green Bay. Detroit has now won 15 consecutive games following a loss, but Dallas did get within three points in the fourth quarter before Detroit pulled away with its strong rushing attack. Running backs David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs combined for four rushing touchdowns, and success on the ground could prove to be a major key entering this final stretch.

Stat to know: Gibbs has scored 47 career touchdowns, tying Hall of Famer Barry Sanders for the most touchdowns in a player’s first three NFL seasons. Gibbs delivered a hat trick against Dallas. He now has three games this season with three touchdowns, the most by a Lions player since Cloyce Box in 1952, per ESPN Research. — Eric Woodyard

Next game: at Rams (Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET)

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Cowboys

Did the defense revert back to pre-bye-week form? Giving up four rushing touchdowns wasn’t a good start, but 54 of the Lions’ 109 rushing yards came on two plays. They sacked Jared Goff only once after having eight sacks in the three-game winning streak. In that winning streak, they also gave up just two rushes of 10 yards or more; the Lions equaled that. They also allowed nine pass plays of 20 yards or more; the Lions had five. “We gave up too many explosives,” coach Brian Schottenheimer said. What might help the Cowboys in the next game is seeing a challenged Minnesota offense.

Stat to know: The Lions mustered just four sacks in their four previous games, but they took down Dak Prescott five times. He was pressured 20 times, including 10 in the fourth quarter. It was the third-most pressures Prescott has faced in his career and the second time he has been pressured at least 20 times this season (21 versus the Giants in Week 2). — Todd Archer

Next game: vs. Vikings (Sunday, 8:20 p.m. ET)