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A bit week in the NFL, and the playoff picture has been rearranged, just like that. The Vikings lost and the Cardinals won, which means that Arizona moves into that final playoff spot, for now. The Saints lost and the Packers won, which means that Green Bay moves into the top spot in the NFC for now. The Seahawks and the Rams remain tied atop the NFC West.
Meanwhile, in the NFC East, every team except the Giants managed to play well and win. Washington outlasted San Francisco in a defensive struggle to take sole possession of first place, the Cowboys roughed up the Bengals, and the Eagles stunned the Saints in a result that many, myself included, just did not see coming. Now, there may be a quarterback controversy in Philadelphia.
In the AFC, the Chiefs stayed red hot by beating the Dolphins in Miami, and improving to 12-1 in the process. Miami's loss, coupled with Buffalo's win, puts the Bills in excellent position in the AFC East, two games ahead with three games left to play. The Titans and Colts both won, and remain tied atop the AFC South standings with identical 9-4 records.
The Browns predictably lost to the Ravens on a wild Monday Night Football contest, just as they seemed to have gotten back into the division race. Pittsburgh clinching the division is more a matter of when, not if. But there are three teams in the AFC North - the Steelers, Browns, and Ravens - who have an excellent chance at reaching the playoffs this year.
Let's take a look at the games that were in Week 14:
Arizona 26, NY Giants 7 - When the Giants fell, they fell hard. This game was at home, and they did not play well at all, despite the return of starting quarterback Daniel Jones. The G-Men performed poorly at home, ultimately losing to the visiting Arizona Cardinals in blowout fashion. The offense never got going, and the offense just had a very difficult time trying to slow down Kyler Murray and the Cardinals offense. Arizona played their best game when they had to, and have been rewarded for their efforts. If the season ended today, they would be in the playoffs. For the Giants, not so much. This loss drops them down to a full game behind in the race for the NFC East, and they were the only team in the NFC East to lose this weekend, meaning they lost ground to everyone. Not good. My pick: Inaccurate
Kansas City 33, Miami 27 - This was actually a pretty tough game, yet the Chiefs just keep on winning. They were down for most of the early part of the game, but as usual, they started clicking before too long, and built up a solid lead. The Dolphins did manage to make a comeback, and fought well for this game. But in the end, KC just had a little too much experience that served them well, and explosiveness on offense, even if they seriously stalled at key points early in the fourth quarter. In the end, the Chiefs likely won on a day when they did not play their best, and with the win, they have now officially clinched the AFC West division title for a fifth straight season, as they improve to 12-1 on the season. As for the Dolphins, they fall to 8-5, but still look good for a playoff spot at the very least.
Chicago 36, Houston 7 - Well, Da Bears finally snapped out of their funk, and when they won, they won big. They were very well prepared for this one, and jumped out early and scored often. Before long, the game was out of control, a rout. For the first time in well over a month, the Bears actually won a game, and managed to stop the bleeding. It comes at a great time, as both the Lions and the Vikings lost, too, which gives the Bears an outside chance at the playoffs, if only for the moment. To be sure, they still would need a lot of help. But at least there is a chance, and there really would not have been had this been still another loss. A very solid performance and a much needed victory that came in exclamation point fashion, although it is kind of hard not to wonder if this is just too little, and comes too late. We shall see. My pick: Accurate
Tampa Bay 26, Minnesota 14 - Both of these teams kind of have their backs up against the wall, and neither can afford to lose anymore. But the Vikings were in worse shape, just barely clinging to that seventh and final seed in the NFC, and this loss knocked them out of that delicate position. Tom Brady and the Bucs looked a little bit like they had earlier this season, when they appeared to be a legitimate contender in the NFC ranks. It comes after a cold streak that saw Tampa losing three of their last four, and teetering a bit too uncomfortably to the edge of the playoff pictures, which they once appeared comfortably in. A loss here would really have hurt their chances, but this important home win almost assures that they will be there. They control their own destiny with three games left, and that would not necessarily have been the case had they lost this game. As for the Vikings, once again, they are outside of the playoff picture looking in, and in need of help. My pick: Accurate
Tennessee 31, Jacksonville 10 - The Titans took care of business, doing what they needed to do. They entered as the much better of these two teams, and showed why early and often. The Jaguars, who have now lost 12 straight games, just had no answers, allowing too many points with their defense, and scoring too few points on offense. You don't have to be the biggest sports expert to recognize that this is problematic, and it is why the Jaguars are now 1-12 on the season. As for the Titans, they improve to an impressive record of 9-4, and remain in a first-place tie with the Colts atop the AFC South. My pick: Accurate
Denver 32, Carolina 27 - The Broncos are not really in the playoff picture, but they played as if they were with this impressive road win in Carolina. They took a decent lead, and then hung on to defeat a Panthers team that mounted a serious comeback effort, particularly in the final quarter. But Denver held them off to earn a satisfying win, albeit more for pride than relevance at this point.
Dallas 30, Cincinnati 7 - The Cowboys finally snapped out of their funk. A week after their defense looked just terrible, especially against the Ravens powerful running attack, Big D put on a clinic on the road against the Bengals. It came at a good time, as their offense also found steadier footing, and were able to produce some serious points, looking almost explosive. A huge win for the Cowboys that keeps them in the running for the NFC East title, although time is running out, as they are two games behind with three games to go. Still, the Cowboys improve to 4-9 on the season, and this has to feel like a satisfying win for a team that was receiving criticism for an untimely collapse that likely was costly enough to eliminate any realistic hopes of a division title or playoff berth. My pick: Inaccurate
LA Chargers 20, Atlanta 17 - A battle between two teams going nowhere this season. The Falcons still played fairly well, especially on defense, for most of this game. Yet, they lost a tight one after an untimely turnover, after Matt Ryan threw a bad interception late in the game that gave the Chargers a chance at a last minute field goal to avoid overtime and earn a win outright. This was a solid win for the Chargers, and it had to be satisfying to get the memories of that horrific and humiliating loss to the Patriots out of their heads. My pick: Inaccurate
Green Bay 31, Detroit 24 - What slim chances the Lions had to reach the postseason this year finally basically ended with the family taste of defeat to an all-too familiar opponent. Yes, the Green Bay Packers once again dispatched with the Lions, as they usually do. Too much offense, too much Aaron Rodgers, and enough defense to earn a very predictable win that now officially clinches the division title for the Pack. For the Lions, yet another season without a playoff berth. Ho, hum. My pick: Accurate
Seattle 40, NY Jets 3 - Yikes. This was an ugly game, and it went downhill fast for Gang Green. The Jets entered the game as the league's only remaining winless team, but they really got pummeled in the Emerald City. The defense played awfully, and the offense reverted back to it's inept ways in what was truly one of the ugliest games in recent Jets history. We knew this was going to be a tough game, but a 37-point drubbing was disappointing, even for the Jets. Very few positives to take away from this game if you are a fan of Gang Green, as they fall to 0-13, and slip a bit closer to the possibility of a winless season. As for the Seahawks, this was a victory that they needed, and got, handily. It must feel good, and they once again are tied with the Rams atop the NFC West standings. A great day for both the defense and the offense, as the 'Hawks won in every facet of the game. My pick: Accurate
Washington 23, San Francisco 15 - A defensive battle, and Washington's Chase Young was all over the field, a destructive and disruptive presence for the 49ers offense, who had no answer for him, or for Washington's defense more generally. Young even managed to pick up a fumble and return it all the way for a touchdown. Considering how close this game proved to be, that may very well have been the de facto game winner. Washington stays hot with their fourth straight win, and are now alone atop the NFC East at 6-7. As for the 49ers, this loss, more than any other single loss this season, probably proved costly, as it almost assuredly means that they will not be in the playoffs this year. My pick: Accurate
Philadelphia 24, New Orleans 21 - Now, this was an unexpected result! The Saints came in looking like one of the hottest teams in the league, while the Eagles pretty much felt like they were going in the opposite direction. But urgency, perhaps even desperation, helped to make this result. Philly could not afford another loss, if they hoped to salvage any chance at a division title or playoff berth. But they switched quarterbacks and suddenly, just like that, the offense started moving and even scoring. The Eagles jumped out to a 17-0 lead, and hung on for a huge 24-21 win, handing the Saints a costly loss that knocks them out of the top spot in the NFC. But the win keeps the Eagles relevant in the NFC East. My pick: Inaccurate
Indianapolis 44, Las Vegas 27 - Despite being the road team in this one, the Colts are just the better team, and showed it. In fact, they left no doubt. The Raiders barely snapped a losing streak in the final seconds to the winless Jets the weekend before, but that was hardly solid preparation for a team as good as Indy. The Colts scored a ton of points, and they were able to play an all around solid game and earned a blowout road win against a team that, at least entering this game, appeared to be a legitimate playoff contender, although that status as a playoff contender will surely be called into question after this performance. A solid overall win for the Colts. My pick: Accurate
Sunday Night Football: Buffalo 26, Pittsburgh 15 - The Steelers had the best record in the league following each weekend of play until this weekend. Now, they have dropped two straight after starting off with a league and franchise best 11 straight wins. Instead of generating talk about the possibility of a perfect season, people are now asking what is wrong, as the Steelers lost first at home to Washington, and then on the road in Buffalo. If the season ended right now, the Steelers would be the second seed, behind Kansas City. Worse still, they now have to look over their shoulders to the Cleveland Browns, especially if the Browns manage to win against the Ravens tonight. My pick: Accurate
Monday Night Football: Baltimore 47, Cleveland 42 – Wow, what a wild game this was! This very well may have been the best game that I have seen this year, even though it did not necessarily look like that for most of the game. But it got really wild in the final quarter, with both teams suddenly catching fire and scoring touchdowns on four consecutive combined drives. Lamar Jackson, who left the game due to an unspecified injury, came back when things looks decidedly desperate, and immediately threw a wild touchdown pass to take a late lead. However, the Browns also came back, on a night when Baker Mayfield showed that he was a true leader for Cleveland, and that the Browns offense could deliver the goods even under pressure. The Ravens, however, were able to get just enough on the ensuing drive for a long field goal attempt by placekicker Justin Tucker, who calmly kicked a 55-yard field goal attempt through the upright with just a couple of seconds left in the game to ice the win for Baltimore. The Browns tried a ton of laterals on the next play as time expired, but they went all the way back to their own end zone, and ultimately sacrificed a safety for the final score in the game. A wild win, and the Browns offense does deserve praise, as the commentators made clear. However, the Browns defense seemed to me to be very suspect, often blowing coverage and missing tackles when they really should have buried the Ravens late in the game. Given that they gave up well over 40 points in this game, I think it is fair to say that a tougher or more complete defensive effort without the obvious lapses could have made the Browns offensive production stand up enough to give the home team the win. Instead, the Browns lost a key game that likely ends their hopes for a division title, as they now have lost three division games, all to the Steelers and Ravens. Frankly, the two Ohio teams have been like juniors in this division, while Pittsburgh and Baltimore almost seem to have a tag team to keep the two Ohio teams from serious relevancy. Even when the Bengals broke through on a few (really, just a few occasions) to win the division title, they never were all that good, and proved it by failing to win a playoff game. Meanwhile, when either the Steelers or the Ravens win the division title, you cannot rule out the real possibility of a run deep into the playoffs. So, while the Browns are clearly improving, and Mayfield was undeniably impressive, Cleveland likely cannot be regarded as a serious title contender, or even as a serious contender for a division title, until they actually start getting over that hump and winning games against the Ravens and Steelers. I was pulling for the Browns here, and despite how undeniably entertaining the game was, and impressive the Browns offense was in defeat, there is that same sense of disappointment at the all too familiar result, which is another loss to one of the two teams that has consistently tortured the Browns. My pick: Inaccurate
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