Week 14 NFL Power Rankings: Cold December

Noted NFL head coach Bill Belichick has often stated that you want a football team to be playing their best in December.

If that is indeed the case, then a few teams around the NFL might be worried right now.

Week 14 provided a few surprises, a notable debut from a rookie quarterback, another loss from the Pittsburgh Steelers, and yes, the game of the year on Monday Night Football that is almost indescribable.

We dive into that and a whole lot more in the Week 14 Power Rankings.

New York Jets (0-13. Last week: 32)

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Well, you cannot pin this loss on Gregg Williams. The New York Jets continued their dreadful 2020 season, falling to 0-13 on the year in a loss to the Seattle Seahawks. Quarterback Sam Darnold struggled in the early going, completing just five of his first 12 passes on the afternoon. Even when the Jets defense made a play, as they did with an early interception of Russell Wilson, the New York offense failed to capitalize. On their ensuing possession the Jets had to punt after four plays and just 17 yards of offense. Even without Williams there were some...odd coverage decisions. I still for the life of me do not know what the Jets were trying to accomplish on Wilson’s first touchdown throw of the day. Just...go back and watch the play and maybe you can figure it out, because for the life of me I cannot. There were fumbles as well, including one from Frank Gore. There was a missed field goal. There was just another afternoon of bad football on a season filled with bad football. At some point as a Jets fan you want to believe in the hope of the draft and the promise of better days ahead, but right now even that seems like it might be a struggle. The best you can do as a Jets fan in this moment is hope that the team does for Trevor Lawrence what they failed to do for Darnold: Build a strong system around him from the front office to the field.

Jacksonville Jaguars (1-12. Last week: 31)

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During the first half the socially-distanced crowd in Jacksonville began to chant. It was unmistakable and clear. “We want Minshew.” That is where things have fallen for Jacksonville. After starting the year with Gardner Minshew under center the Jaguars turned first to Jake Luton, and then to Mike Glennon, as Minshew recovered from a thumb injury. Even when cleared to play, the organization stuck with Glennon. But that reached an endpoint on Sunday in a blowout loss to the Tennessee Titans, and the fans got what they wanted. To his credit, Minshew did deliver a touchdown pass to Keelan Cole: https://twitter.com/NFL/status/1338214532821340160 It was all a case of too little, too late. Something Jaguars fans have grown accustomed to over the past few seasons. Perhaps help is on the way.

Cincinnati Bengals (2-10-1. Last week: 30)

There are few silver linings right now for the Cincinnati Bengals. Perhaps the notion that Joe Burrow’s surgery went well and a full recovery is expected is one. Perhaps the idea of Penei Sewell, offensive tackle prospect is another. A bleak season remained so on Sunday, as the Bengals were outclassed by the Dallas Cowboys. For those looking for such silver linings, perhaps one can be found in this play, with quarterback Brandon Allen targeting A.J. Green in the passing game: https://twitter.com/NFL/status/1338200317876293632 If you had your volume up while watching that you heard the phrase “the growth of Brandon Allen” which is... perhaps another silver lining. Maybe the Bengals have their backup quarterback behind Burrow for the next few years. I’m trying, kids, I am...

Atlanta Falcons (4-9. Last week: 28)

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Some of the best work in the NFL the past few seasons has come on social media, and at the top of that list might just be handling such duties for the Atlanta Falcons. A few years ago Atlanta announced their schedule with a video inspired by the opening to each episode of HBO’s “Game of Thrones:” https://twitter.com/AtlantaFalcons/status/1118665439263981568 Hardcore fans of both the series and the books from George R.R. Martin loved the work. They took a more subtle approach Sunday before the Falcons squared off with the Los Angeles Chargers, another team that has endured a few brutal losses in 2020: https://twitter.com/AtlantaFalcons/status/1338151190849150979 Shortly after the game began I would personally feel a bit of vindication. A few weeks ago I penned an article trying to find an emergency quarterback for every NFL team, which provided me with more knowledge about which NFL players were high school quarterbacks than I ever thought imaginable. One such player was my pick for the Falcons should they face a Kendall Hinton situation: Wide receiver Russell Gage. Gage was an option quarterback in high school and as I recently wrote, you can still see his high school highlights on Hudl. Well: https://twitter.com/AtlantaFalcons/status/1338240550005301254 I mean, that is a legitimate dime. Sadly for Atlanta, there were few dimes to be had in the second half. After getting out to a 17-10 halftime lead, the Falcons failed to score in the second half, and watched the Chargers eke out the win. Even the social media managers had a tough time with that outcome.

Houston Texans (4-9. Last week: 24)

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In this matchup of 2017 first-round quarterbacks it was Mitchell Trubisky and the Chicago Bears who had the advantage early, with Chicago racing out to a quick 14-0 lead. But you knew that Deshaun Watson would respond, and he did, connecting with Keke Coutee on this red zone touchdown to slice into Chicago’s advantage: https://twitter.com/NFL/status/1338195310611288064 This play is quintessential Watson with shades of “The Catch” and Joe Montana. Watson slides to his right in the pocket, flashes the football to get the pressuring defender to leave his feet, and then slides back to the left before finding Coutee for the score. Unfortunately for Houston, Watson cannot play defense. Trubisky carved up the Texans in the first half, throwing a trio of TDs, and the Bears got out to a 30-7 lead at the break. During the halftime show on CBS Bill Cowher might have delivered the line of the week: https://twitter.com/GregRajan/status/1338208433326206976 The situation did not improve in the second half, as Watson limped to the sidelines with an injury and suffered more punishment and dropped passes in the end zone. Protecting Watson as the Texans look to rebuild is critical, and at some point you wonder if sitting him down would be a wise decision for the organization. Running him out there to withstand the kind of punishment he endured Sunday might just be the latest in a long string of poor decisions. For his sake, it might be time.

Carolina Panthers (4-9. Last week: 23)

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The Carolina Panthers were on a bye week last Sunday, and in the Week 13 Touchdown Wire Power Rankings, I waded into the biggest question facing the Panthers right now, and into the future: The quarterback position. I enlisted assistance from John Ellis, who covers the team, to try and get some insight. After Bridgewater’s performance against the Denver Broncos, that picture likely remains cloudy. Bridgewater did not throw an interception in the loss to Denver, but as ESPN’s David Newton frames his performance, it still was not a good effort. As Newton put it, the quarterback “...made two costly mistakes in the final six minutes of Sunday's 32-27 loss to Denver. He took a delay of game penalty inside the Denver 10 and he rushed a third-down play to beat the two-minute warning when that wasn't necessary. As a result the Panthers are close to locking down a top 10 draft pick at 4-9.” Top 10 is often quarterback territory. After the loss Matt Rhule reiterated his belief that Bridgewater is the quarterback of the team going forward and everyone has to play better. But as the offseason looms, that is usually when ownership and management gets involved, and when that happens, plans change.

Detroit Lions (5-8. Last week: 21)

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Last week’s comeback victory over the Chicago Bears pulled the Detroit Lions back into the playoff hunt. The odds were slim, as according to the New York Times the Lions had just a five percent chance at getting into the postseason. Those odds dipped to just one percent in the wake of Detroit’s loss Sunday to the Green Bay Packers. As has been the case for most of the season, the woes were on the defensive side of the football. The Lions could not slow down the Green Bay passing game, particularly due to the mounting injuries in the secondary and up front. Aaron Rodgers threw for three touchdown passes, and ran for one more. Adding insult to injury - literally - was the fact that Matthew Stafford was knocked out of the game after taking a big hit near the end zone, giving way to Chase Daniel for the finish. Now, the task is even tougher for the Lions to sneak in. They’ll have to win out, and given that they’ll face three teams in the playoff hunt (Tennessee, Tampa Bay and Minnesota) even that seems like an insurmountable task, before considering the help they’d need along the way.

Dallas Cowboys (4-9. Last week: 27)

(AP Photo/Aaron Doster)

The early slate of NFL games this weekend provided us with some quality matchups, most notably the Kansas City Chiefs squaring off with the Miami Dolphins. Yet we were also treated to this meeting between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Dallas Cowboys, a pair of teams with nine losses squaring off. Cannot wait to see the Nielsen numbers on this one. Early on it was the Cowboys defense, a much-maligned unit, with the big play as Aldon Smith scooped up this fumble for a 78-yard touchdown: https://twitter.com/NFL/status/1338188683552247808 The offense also got involved, with this pretty connection between Andy Dalton and Amari Cooper: https://twitter.com/NFL/status/1338195183846899712 The win keeps Dallas alive, technically, in the NFC East. The New York Giants’ loss to the Arizona Cardinals helped as well. With San Francisco, Philadelphia and those Giants remaining on the schedule, all is not lost for Dallas just yet. Whether Sunday’s performance is a reflection of the opponent, or actual signs of improvement on both offense and defense, remains to be seen. Odds are it is the former, but stranger things have happened in the NFL this season.

Los Angeles Chargers (4-9. Last week: 26)

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Yes, the Los Angeles Chargers won on Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons. It was a close win, badly needed in what has been a tough season, aside from the discovery of Justin Herbert. The rookie quarterback again flashed his arm talent and athleticism, particularly down in the red zone against the Falcons. his first touchdown pass of the game was a thing of beauty in terms of ball placement. However. This cannot happen: https://twitter.com/PFN365/status/1338253224294436872 When it happens once or twice, you can find a way to explain it. But when a football team is simply unprepared for situations like this over the course of an entire season, there is no explanation. The Los Angeles Chargers continue to make mistakes of the situational awareness kind, and they have been as, the announces says in the above clip, a “snapshot of their season.” There is nothing left to say. Changes are not just coming, but they are necessary. The Chargers are too talented a team on paper to see things like this continue to happen.

Denver Broncos: (5-8. Last week: 25)

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For those teams not in the playoff hunt, the roster evaluation process begins during the final weeks of the season. Younger players and those who might be on the roster bubble in the year ahead are given a chance to show what they can do for the organization. In Denver, two younger Broncos on the offensive side of the football are K.J. Hamler and Drew Lock. If those players were facing criticism heading into Week 14, their effort Sunday in a win over the Carolina Panthers might ease some of those concerns. Lock had perhaps his best day as a professional, completing 21 of 27 passes for 280 yards and four touchdown passes in the victory. His favorite target on Sunday was the rookie wide receiver. Hamler caught two passes for 86 yards, with both going for scores. Their first touchdown connection came shortly after halftime, with Hamler getting over the top of the defense on a vertical route for six: https://twitter.com/Broncos/status/1338209225353297920 Then late in the game the two connected to seal the win on another deep shot play: https://twitter.com/Broncos/status/1338224388458467328 This was a statement performance from Lock, and a great effort from Hamler. A few more performances like this from the young quarterback and perhaps those fears about his status with the team will truly be put to rest.

Philadelphia Eagles (4-8-1. Last week: 29)

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A common joke format on social media right now is the “...well I did not have this on my 2020 bingo card.” A bit of gallows humor to close out a difficult year. But no one, and I mean no one, had “Taysom Hill versus Jalen Hurts in Week 14 of the 2020 NFL season” on their bingo card. That is what NFL fans were treated to Sunday at Lincoln Financial Field, with Hurts getting the start at quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles against Hill and the New Orleans Saints. It was the rookie who struck first, on this well-executed back shoulder throw to Alshon Jeffery for a touchdown on a fourth-down play in the second quarter: https://twitter.com/NFL/status/1338241967730245634 The Eagles continued to execute and had the run of play in the first half. Miles Sanders ripped off an 82-yard touchdown run, they intercepted Hill, and before the half a Hurts’ scramble set Philadelphia up for what might have been a huge score before the break. Jake Elliott’s chip-shot field goal hit the upright, and Philadelphia had to settle for just a 17-0 lead at halftime. You might have forgiven Eagles fans for thinking the miss was a bit of foreshadowing, particularly when the Saints scored the next 14 points to close within three, but Philadelphia held on. A second touchdown run from Sanders pushed the Eagles’ lead to 24-14, and they would hold on for the victory. Yet again, Doug Pederson’s team delivered in a critical late-season game. This time, it might just put them back in the NFC East race.

San Francisco 49ers (5-8. Last week: 19)

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Entering Sunday afternoon, the San Francisco 49ers were one of a cluster of teams clinging to playoff hopes. Like some of the other teams, San Francisco’s hopes were likely extinguished with a loss. The 49ers got out to a lead against the Washington Football Team on a touchdown run from Jeff Wilson, but two defensive scores from Washington doomed the 49ers, who now have to win out and get a ton of help to squeak into the postseason. Problems with the quarterback position continue to plague the 49ers. Nick Mullens completed 25 of 45 passes for 260 yards and a touchdown in the loss, but that works out to an average of just 5.8 yards per attempt. Making matters worse, the quarterback threw a back-breaking Pick-Six near the end of the third quarter, allowing Washington to build their lead to 23-7. A late touchdown cut into the Washington advantage, but it was too little, too late. What could help San Francisco keep their dreams alive for another week is the fact that they’ll travel to Texas to take on the Dallas Cowboys next week, a team that the 49ers should beat. But with the Cardinals and the Seahawks looming in Weeks 16 and 17, the odds do seem against them. Worst still? Another win or two before the year ends might cost the 49ers valuable draft position, for those fans dreaming of Zach Wilson or another quarterback in the draft.

New England Patriots (6-7. Last week: 18)

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On the bright side, the New England Patriots outscored their opponents 48-24 on their two-game West Coast road swing… (I wish I could take credit for that but that is courtesy of Patrick Brown, a listener to my Patriots podcast). Now New England finds themselves in very unfamiliar territory: Facing a postseason as observers and not participators. The Patriots have not missed out on the postseason since 2008, the year they lost Tom Brady for the season in Week 1 due to a knee injury. But unless the forces conspire to give New England a ton of help, they are going to be watching from the couch along with the rest of us. The burning question right now in New England centers on Cam Newton. As one might expect the quarterback has become the focus of discussion, and the Patriots do face a decision on his future in New England. From my vantage point, there are problems beyond Newton in the Patriots offense. There have been protection breakdowns, receivers have struggled to separate on a consistent basis, there is almost no production from the tight end position, and when added to Newton’s own struggles that does not amount to much in the passing game. That has led to calls for Jarrett Stidham to start and for a savior in the first round of the next draft. So if it were up to me, Newton gets another shot at the job in 2021. But it is not up to me. And even in that scenario the Patriots have to have a viable Plan B, whether Stidham, a free agent, or a rookie. Newton was acquired late during unprecedented times and contracted COVID-19 during the season, and while he stated he did not have lingering “brain fog” when he returned to the lineup, we as a society are still learning about this condition. I think this context is an argument for giving Newton another shot, but the organization has to hope for the best, and plan for the worst. Believe me, as someone who focuses his work on the quarterback position the prospects of New England being in the QB draft game early this spring is enticing. Even though A: I am still going to try and speak Kyle Pitts: Patriot into existence and B: We all know Bill Belichick is going to trade out of the first round and draft a random defensive back in the second. We all know this to be true.

Chicago Bears (6-7. Last week: 22)

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(Alternate caption for the above photo: NFL players are superhumans, Exhibit eleven billion). With Deshaun Watson and the Houston Texans coming to Chicago to take on the Bears, much of the discussion prior to this contest focused on Bears general manager Ryan Pace and how he handled the quarterback evaluation process prior to the 2017 NFL draft. Much has been made of Pace’s decision to trade up for Mitchell Trubisky - with Watson and Patrick Mahomes on the board - and this week saw yet another article showing how Pace approached the decision. That might ultimately lead to Pace’s firing at the end of the season, but two other decisions of his flashed early in this contest. First it was running back David Montgomery with an 80-yard touchdown run, and then Pace’s trade for Khalil Mack was highlighted when the defensive end ripped the football away from Duke Johnson after an handoff, to force a turnover: https://twitter.com/NFL/status/1338186668562497536 Then the beleaguered Trubisky took advantage of a creative Y-Iso, 4x1 formation to find tight end Jimmy Graham on a red zone fade route for a touchdown: https://twitter.com/NFL/status/1338193173521203202 In all, Trubisky threw three touchdowns in the first half as the Bears raced out to a 30-7 lead. They salted the game away in the second half, continuing to put pressure on Watson, and kept their slim postseason chances alive with the win. Probably not enough to let Bears fans forget about decisions made back in 2017, but for one afternoon, Trubisky and Pace looked like geniuses.

New York Giants (5-8. Last week: 16)

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Thanks to a four-game winning streak, the New York Giants entered Week 14 with a 5-7 record and as the leaders in the NFC East due to a two-game sweep of Washington. But it was the more distant past, and not that stretch of good play, that many were reminded of Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals. Last year Arizona visited MetLife Stadium and unleashed a torrent of pressure on rookie quarterback Daniel Jones, sacking him eight times en route to a win. That pressure was unleashed again on Sunday, starting with this early strip-sack of the second-year passer: https://twitter.com/NFL/status/1338183827638767616 That was one of eight sacks from the Cardinals defense on the afternoon, and they were a combination of stunts that the Giants could not pick up, and coverage sacks where the New York quarterbacks ran out of time. Arizona built a 13-0 lead at halftime, and added to that early in the third quarter on a touchdown run from Kenyan Drake. Jones kept battling however in his return from a hamstring injury, finding Golden Tate on this vertical route to get the Giants into scoring range: https://twitter.com/NFL/status/1338213204594368513 But it would not be enough on this day and now the Giants have to rebound quickly. Unfortunately for New York they might have the toughest finish to the season out of the three contenders in the division. The Giants face the Browns and the Ravens in the next two weeks before finishing with the Cowboys, so if they manage to pull out the division after running that gauntlet, they will certainly have earned the crown.

Washington Football Team (6-7. Last week: 20)

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At many times throughout this season, football analysts have pointed to the defense - and in particular the front seven - in Washington as a big reason that the Football Team remains in postseason contention. That was true again on a Sunday afternoon in the desert, as Washington notched a 23-15 victory over the San Francisco 49ers. Rookie Chase Young was a huge part of the win, as he tallied six tackles, two passes defended and this play that resulted in a touchdown: https://twitter.com/NFL/status/1338255809575178241 Kamren Curl, another rookie, got in on the fun with this pick-six late in the third quarter: https://twitter.com/NFL/status/1338270945367060480 That gave Washington a pair of defensive touchdowns on the afternoon, propelling the Football Team to the victory. Offensively, Washington struggled. Alex Smith left the game with an injury and Dwayne Haskins was solid in relief, but the offense managed just a pair of field goals. However, he win, coupled with the Giants’ loss, moves Washington into sole possession of first place in the NFC East. This was reflected in ESPN’s NFC East playoff chances: https://twitter.com/SethWalder/status/1338285481361104897 Of course, that can change in a hurry. Washington faces Seattle next weekend, and that will be a tough test. Also looming? A Week 17 showdown with the Eagles. After everything that has transpired this season, could the division title be on the line in Philadelphia on the final day of the season?

Minnesota Vikings (6-7. Last week: 15)

(AP Photo/Mark LoMoglio)

Prior to Sunday Night Football last week Steve Kornacki of MSNBC made his “Football Night in America” debut, outlining the various playoff scenarios around the NFL. The segment was a huge hit, and Kornacki returned before Sunday night’s game between the Steelers and the Bills to reprise the role. Last week Kornacki went into detail about how the Minnesota Vikings had crawled back into the playoff standings, but it was the Arizona Cardinals who were favored to end up in the final spot when the season was over in place of Minnesota. Why? Strength of schedule. The Cardinals face a much easier path down the stretch than the Vikings: https://twitter.com/BenScottStevens/status/1335754793243922438 That seemed to play out on Sunday. While the Cardinals were winning at MetLife Stadium, the Vikings were struggling to keep pace with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Yes there was a rather...questionable pass interference call on a Hail Mary before halftime. However, another reason for those struggles? Kicker Dan Bailey. The placekicker attempted four kicks on Sunday, three field goals and an extra point. He missed them all. The Vikings lost by 12. Do the math friends, and you don’t need Kornacki for that puzzle. Minnesota needs to regroup as they’ll face the Chicago Bears in Week 15 and then have to turn around quickly to play the New Orleans Saints on Christmas Day just a few days later. The Vikings deserve a ton of credit for fighting back into the playoff picture, but this might be the loss they point to should they miss out.

Las Vegas Raiders (7-6. Last week: 12)

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If the Las Vegas Raiders end up missing the playoffs, this loss to the Indianapolis Colts might not be the game that cost them, but it could serve as the microcosm for the reasons why. On Sunday against the Colts, Derek Carr and the Raiders offense was good enough. Yes he threw an interception in the end zone, but that came as a result of one of the best plays you will ever see from an NFL defensive back. (Don’t worry, we’ll be talking about Kenny Moore’s one-handed interception soon). No, the bigger story - and the concern all year for the Raiders - was on the defensive side of the football. The Colts and rookie running back Jonathan Taylor ran almost at will, Philip Rivers threw a pair of touchdown passes, and Las Vegas could not get stops when they desperately needed them. The impact on their playoff chances? Huge. In fact when Taylor scored his second touchdown of the day to give Indianapolis a 14-point lead in the fourth quarter, look at what happened to the odds: https://twitter.com/SethWalder/status/1338260202966183936 Now, the Raiders need wins and help. After the game defensive coordinator Paul Guenther was removed as defensive coordinator, so perhaps that will help? Or maybe the fact that the Raiders invested more in their backup quarterback position than the cornerback position will continue to haunt them...

Arizona Cardinals (7-6. Last week: 17)

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On the Touchdown Wire Week 14 Matchup Podcast, Doug Farrar and I dug into the struggles on the offensive side of the football in recent weeks for the Arizona Cardinals. We talked about DeAndre Hopkins, struggles on third down and more. It looks like they did not need our advice. The Cardinals offense got back on track in a win over the New York Giants, keeping their playoff chances intact. They got on the scoreboard early with this touchdown pass from Kyler Murray, finding his tight end in the red zone: https://twitter.com/NFL/status/1338198594659078144 Murray makes this throw off his back foot, and Dan Arnold fights off multiple defenders for the score. In the second half, the Cardinals extended their lead on this touchdown plunge from running back Kenyan Drake: https://twitter.com/NFL/status/1338211839692341248 Arizona now has to set their sights on the final three games of the season, all of which are winnable games. The Cardinals face Philadelphia and San Francisco over the next two weeks, and finish with a huge clash against the Los Angeles Rams that could decide their playoff fate. The matchup between Hopkins and Jalen Ramsey with playoff implications on the line will be must-watch television.

Miami Dolphins (8-5. Last week: 11)

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It was arguably the game of the weekend, and early on, it did not disappoint Miami Dolphins fans. Facing Andy Reid, Patrick Mahomes and the explosive Kansas City Chiefs offense the Dolphins needed to generate some big plays on defense. In the first quarter, Miami did just that. Byron Jones intercepted Mahomes off a deflection from Andrew Van Ginkel, and then on a third down Jerome Baker sacked Mahomes for a 30-yard loss, forcing Kansas City to punt from inside their own five-yard line. The Dolphins capitalized after the sack, with Tua Tagovailoa connecting with Mike Gesicki on a touchdown to give Miami the early lead. How did the defense follow that? With another interception of Mahomes: https://twitter.com/NFL/status/1338191366203924480 On this occasion it is Eric Rowe who capitalizes off the tipped throw, and the Dolphins were in business once more. Unfortunately, as too many teams have discovered, there is a difference between slowing down Kansas City, and stopping them: https://twitter.com/schadjoe/status/1338202790766768129 The situation worsened after the break when Mecole Hardman unleashed a punt return touchdown and the Chiefs built a 28-10 lead. The Dolphins fought back and made it a one-score game late, but they could not overcome the deficit. On this day, the Dolphins did not have enough. But Miami fans should remember that Rome was not built in a day, and this team was not built to win in 2020 alone. It was built to win in 2021 and beyond behind Tagovailoa. As Joe Schad himself put it during the game: https://twitter.com/schadjoe/status/1338199082800721921 It is great that Miami is competing for a playoff spot right now, and that bodes well for their future. A future that should go beyond just competing for postseason relevance, but much more.

Baltimore Ravens (8-5. Last week: 14)

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Week 14 of the NFL season provided one of the better Monday Night Football contests we've seen in a while. A back-and-forth affair between division rivals with playoff implications. A game with more twists and turns than you often see in a summer blockbuster, complete with a surreal finish. One of those teams had to lose, but on this night it would not be the Baltimore Ravens, who won one of the most incomprehensible games in recent memory. In the first half, the biggest storyline was Lamar Jackson’s cleats. From social media to texts from my mother, it seems everyone was wondering if the talented Ravens quarterback would find his footing on the slippery surface at FirstEnergy Stadium. Right before halftime, Jackson certainly did. First he escaped from multiple potential sacks before finding tight end Mark Andrews all alone downfield: https://twitter.com/NFL/status/1338676656295215106 Then he capped off the drive himself, scampering in from 17 yards out to give the Ravens a seven-point lead at the break: https://twitter.com/NFL/status/1338676656295215106 Baltimore - and Jackson - stayed hot coming out of halftime. The quarterback ripped off a huge gain on this counter bash design: https://twitter.com/NFL/status/1338682819770343425 Then Baltimore finished the drive with a Gus Edwards touchdown, his second of the game, to extend their lead to 14. But then, the surreal happened. Jackson left the game with “cramps” and while the jokes started to fly on Twitter, the Browns stormed back. Cleveland had the lead, Jackson was in the locker room, and Trace McSorley was in the game. Then McSorley went down with an apparent knee injury with the Ravens trailing by one and facing a fourth down with the game - and perhaps their season - on the line. That’s when Jackson returned to the field. And threw a touchdown pass to give the Ravens the lead. Cleveland would then tie the game with a heroic drive of their own, but that left just enough time for Jackson and the offense. The Ravens got into field goal range and Justin Tucker split the uprights with just seconds left, to give Baltimore a critical win in the game of the year. Now look at their schedule. The Ravens finish with Jacksonville, the Giants, and Cincinnati. They could easily finish with 10 or 11 wins, and if after tonight, a whole lot more.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-5. Last week: 13)

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Perhaps the biggest topic of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ bye week was how they would rejuvenate an offense that was struggling. After a hot start early in the season, particularly in the downfield passing game, Tom Brady and the Buccaneers offense could not get things going in recent weeks. In losses to the New Orleans Saints and the Kansas City Chiefs, Brady and the passing game seemed completely out of sync. One of the ways many analysts believed the offense could get going again was by using play-action. On such designs this season Brady has put up elite numbers, placing him in the top five in many passing categories when using play-action, despite the Buccaneers not using it that often. It did seem to be a part of the gameplan Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings, as it was on this touchdown from Brady to Rob Gronkowski down near the end zone: https://twitter.com/NFL/status/1338209895267483648 What set up that connection? Play-action, of course: https://twitter.com/NFL/status/1338209713016590336 Brady came up firing out of the play-action fake and found Mike Evans along the left sideline for a huge gain, and a few plays later Brady found his TE for the score. The win over the Vikings was a big rebound for the team, and they finish the season with three very winnable games. Tampa Bay will face Atlanta twice, as well as the Detroit Lions in Week 16. It has been an up-and-down season for the Buccaneers even with Brady, but they have a chance to finish on quite the up note given that slate of games.

Tennessee Titans (9-4. Last week: 10)

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After a blowout loss to the Cleveland Browns, the Tennessee Titans needed a bounce-back performance. Thankfully a trip south to Jacksonville to take on the Jaguars was on the docket. Early on, it was the A.J. Brown Show. The star wide receiver snared a touchdown from Ryan Tannehill in acrobatic fashion to give the Titans an early advantage. From there, however, it was the Derrick Henry show. First it was this touchdown run that saw the running back channel LeBron James in celebratory fashion: https://twitter.com/NFL/status/1338202024354037760 Then Henry was off and rumbling a little later, on this big gain: https://twitter.com/NFL/status/1338208600624300033 As play-by-play announcer Spero Dedes described him after the first touchdown, Henry is a “bad man.” Now the Titans can focus on their final three games, two of which Tennessee should be considered favorites in. They’ll host the Detroit Lions in Week 15 and finish the season on the road against the Houston Texans. Only their Week 16 contest against the Green Bay Packers should be a tough test for them, but with that bad man in the backfield - and another one outside in Brown - Tennessee looks to be in solid shape as this season draws to a close.

Seattle Seahawks (9-4. Last week: 9)

(Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports)

Last week I crafted a piece outlining a “holiday gift idea” for every NFL franchise. Whether playoff wins, a new manager or even a new quarterback, I tried to find the best gift for each NFL team. When it came to the Seattle Seahawks, the best gift idea I could come up with was an answer for sub defensive personnel packages. Both the Arizona Cardinals and the New York Giants found creative ways to pressure and confuse Russell Wilson, and in my mind having a response for those defensive looks was essential for the Seahawks. However, the NFL scheduling gods one-upped me. They provided a gift in the form of the New York Jets: https://twitter.com/MarkSchofield/status/1338566486416363523 Wilson threw a pair of touchdowns in the first half, the Seattle defense forced mistakes from the Jets, and the Seahawks raced out to an early 23-3 lead. In the second half Pete Carroll’s charges salted the game away, and sent the Jets home with yet another loss. Looking ahead, Seattle faces three teams that are still in the playoff hunt to close out the year. They’ll get Washington in Week 15 before a pair of NFC West showdowns with the Rams and the 49ers in the final two weeks. If they can replicate this performance a few more times, they’ll be able to emerge atop the division when the regular season is over.

Pittsburgh Steelers (11-2. Last week: 4)

(Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports)

Before they even took the field on Sunday night the Pittsburgh Steelers received some great news. Thanks to events during the early slate of games on Sunday, most notably a loss by the Miami Dolphins, the Steelers clinched a playoff spot before playing a down in Week 14. Unfortunately, that would be the last bit of good news for the Steelers on Sunday. They struggled again on the offensive side of the ball in their loss to the Buffalo Bills. Drops, an issue that has plagued the Steelers recently, continued on Sunday night. Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger had his own issues in the pocket, and hinted after the game about potentially retiring if he could not be good enough for the Pittsburgh offense. He threw a rough Pick-Six early in the first half and the offense could not get on track. Now the Steelers have dropped out of the top spot in the AFC and face serious questions about how they will perform down the stretch. They get some good news in the form of the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 15, but they close out the season with the Colts and then the Browns in Week 17. This could go from bad to worse in a hurry.

Cleveland Browns (9-4. Last week: 6)

(Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports)

Week 14 of the NFL season provided one of the better Monday Night Football contests we've seen in a while. A back-and-forth affair between division rivals with playoff implications. A game with more twists and turns than you often see in a summer blockbuster, complete with a surreal finish. Unfortunately, one of those teams had to lose. This was perhaps the biggest regular-season game in recent memory for the Browns, and the Cleveland offense got out to the perfect start. Using a mix of play-action designs, and even a throw from wide receiver Jarvis Landry, the Browns marched right down the field on their opening drive to take a 7-0 lead. Then the Browns tied the game in the second quarter, getting a huge completion from Baker Mayfield to Donovan Peoples-Jones before running back Nick Chubb punched it in from 14 yards out to knot the contest at 14. However the Baltimore Ravens pulled off the “double-dip,” scoring before halftime and then on the opening possession of the third quarter, and Cleveland found themselves down by two scores early in the second half. They - or more accurately Kareem Hunt - would respond. Hunt caught a vertical shot along the left sideline for a huge gain and then finished off the drive with a touchdown run of his own. However, kicker Cody Parkey would miss the extra point, leaving the Browns trailing by eight. Unfortunately, looming large was the big mistake, and it came later in the third quarter from Mayfield: https://twitter.com/NFL/status/1338689217497419776 The quarterback could not fit the throw away from Tyus Bowser and the linebacker snared the one-handed interception, returning it down to the goalline. J.K. Dobbins would punch it in one play later and the Browns were down by two scores yet again. But Cleveland would storm back. Mayfield would hit Rashard Higgins for a touchdown on a fourth down play and the two-point conversion would cut the Ravens’ lead to six. Then after a Baltimore punt, the Browns ripped off a huge drive, covering 70 yards on 12 plays and ending with a Mayfield scramble for the score. Parkey’s extra point gave Cleveland their first lead since the first quarter. Of course, this game had more twists and turns, with the final one being Lamar Jackson leading the Ravens into position for a game-winning field goal from Justin Tucker. Leaving the Browns to wonder what could have been. However, Cleveland and their fans should not be disheartened tonight. The Browns are still just two games back of the Pittsburgh Steelers, who they will face in Week 17. They also get the Giants next week and the Jets in Week 16. There is a chance that this loss, while painful, sets them up for a three-game run to the playoffs...and more.

Los Angeles Rams (9-4. Last week: 8)

(Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports)

As someone lucky enough to cover football on a year-round basis, there are two periods of time on the calendar when I am my most hopeful, optimistic and perhaps naive. First are Friday afternoons during the season. The work is done for the week, the games have yet to start, and I can do things like clean the office, organize for the week ahead, and perhaps play a video game or two… Second is the month of June. The season, offseason and draft are over, training camp is in the future, and the football world pauses for a bit. This is football clinic season for me, when I spend my time pouring through videos, books and other bits of material to try and learn about this game we all love. Usually by the end of June I’m reminded anew that there is more to this sport than I can possibly ever fathom or understand. Top of that list for me this upcoming June is run fits. It is a part of the game that I often try and understand but then when I see something on Twitter or an article on a website, I am reminded that I do not have the depth of knowledge I would like. Thursday night Sean McVay and the Los Angeles Rams reminded me of that fact, as McVay found countless ways in the run game to create extra gaps, outflank the New England Patriots defense, and pour on the rushing yards en route to a 24-3 win over New England. It was a masterful performance. That bodes well for the Rams down the stretch. If they can remain as capable on the ground as they were on Thursday night, it sets up all the play-action designs that McVay loves to run with Jared Goff. When you combine an effective offense with what Brandon Staley has built on defense, you just might have the most dangerous team in the NFC.

New Orleans Saints (10-3. Last week: 2)

(James Lang-USA TODAY Sports)

Out of all the results this weekend, the New Orleans Saints’ loss to the Philadelphia Eagles might take the most film study to unpack. Perhaps the simplest answer is this: Taysom Hill finally faced a true test. Hill entered Sunday undefeated as an NFL starting quarterback, but those wins came against Atlanta (twice) and a Denver Broncos team forced to start a practice squad receiver at quarterback. Sunday against the Eagles Hill struggled, particularly early in the contest. He threw an early interception on a pass that was intended for Alvin Kamara and was tipped into the hands of linebacker Duke Riley, and Philadelphia turned that into three points. The Saints also missed a field goal attempt in the first half and were shut out over the first two quarters. Halftime adjustments might have helped, as the Saints scored on their first two possessions of the second half to pull within three. But they would be held scoreless on their next two possessions, with one ending when Hill lost the ball on a sackand the other ending with yet another missed field goal. Hill threw his second TD pass of the game late, but the Eagles would recover the onside kick attempt and run out the clock. Unfortunately, the notion of the top seed in the NFC seems to be slipping away. Right now the Green Bay Packers have that spot, thanks to their Week 3 win over the Saints. Making matters worse is the fact that New Orleans has to play the Kansas City Chiefs on next Sunday, and then the Minnesota Vikings just five days after that. Two games, both against playoff contenders (one of them perhaps the league’s best team) in five days? A tough test indeed.

Indianapolis Colts (9-4. Last week: 7)

(Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports)

The annual “best of” articles are coming our way over the next few weeks, with 2020 drawing to a close. Any discussion over the best interception of the 2020 season, however, ended late on Sunday afternoon when Kenny Moore did...this: https://twitter.com/NFL/status/1338246523562311680 The one-handed snag prevented a Las Vegas Raiders’ touchdown and is easily one of the best plays of the season. What made it all the more impressive is that it came in one of the better games of the weekend, a back-and-forth affair between two teams battling for playoff spots. Moore was not the only standout player for the Indianapolis Colts. Rookie running back Jonathan Taylor had a solid afternoon on the ground, scoring a pair of touchdowns. His second, coming in the fourth quarter to give the Colts a 14-point lead, gave a huge boost to the odds of Indianapolis reaching the playoffs: https://twitter.com/SethWalder/status/1338259911264890880 Of course, there is still the slight matter of the division title. As we argued last week, given the schedules both the Colts and the Tennessee Titans face in the final three weeks you might give the edge to the Titans. It could come down to Week 16, when the Titans play the Green Bay Packers and the Colts take on the Pittsburgh Steelers. Which team would you rather face right now?

Buffalo Bills (10-3. Last week: 5)

Don't look now, but the Buffalo Bills might be the second-best team in the AFC. They made such a case on Sunday night, dispatching the Pittsburgh Steelers and showing strength on both sides of the football. In the first half it was their defense. While Josh Allen and company were struggling the Bills notched a defensive touchdown on this Pick-Six: https://twitter.com/NFL/status/1338316005739675651 In the second half, the offense made their mark. Buffalo scored on their first two possessions of the third quarter, and on their second such touchdown drive Allen hit on three big passing plays, including a rocket shot for a touchdown to Gabriel Davis: https://twitter.com/NFL/status/1338325202157985793 With the win, the Bills ensured that for the first time since 2008 a team outside of New England will win the AFC East. Buffalo can lock the division up next Saturday with a win over the Denver Broncos. But with how they are playing right now - on both sides of the ball - their eyes should be aimed higher.

Green Bay Packers (10-3. Last week: 3)

(Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports)

Ho-hum. Another win, another solid outing from Aaron Rodgers, another division title, and another step closer to the top overall seed in the NFC. Not a bad day for the Green Bay Packers fan in your life. Hey, if you are reading this odds are it might be you! Nice work! Rodgers completed 26 of 33 passes in the win, with three of those going for touchdowns. Perhaps the most impressive of those three scoring plays was this catch-and-run touchdown from Davante Adams: https://twitter.com/packers/status/1338237975881244673 Although this back-shoulder throw to Marquez Valdes-Scantling also stands out: https://twitter.com/packers/status/1338243238369636362 As highlighted, the win secured the division for the Packers, who can now dream of a top seed in the conference thanks to a shocking loss by the New Orleans Saints. Down the stretch Green Bay will face Carolina, Tennessee and Chicago, with the toughest test being a non-conference game. Plus, they have the tiebreaker over the Saints thanks to a win back in Week 3. With how well Rodgers is playing (and a defense that seems to be getting a bit better down the stretch) they could be a very tough out in the postseason.

Kansas City Chiefs (12-1. Last week: 1)

(AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

The difficulty in playing Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs is that you need to play the full 60 minutes. Ask Kyle Shanahan and Jimmy Garoppolo. Ask Anthony Lynn and Justin Herbert. In both Super Bowl LIV and earlier this season, teams that executed a great gameplan against them and got some breaks found out the hard way that you can only slow them down for so long. Such was the case Sunday down in South Beach. The Miami Dolphins engineered a pair of first half interceptions as well as a 30-yard sack of Mahomes in the first quarter. However, this was the big play before halftime: https://twitter.com/NFL/status/1338202928155258880 Mahomes found tight end Travis Kelce for the touchdown to give the Chiefs the lead into the break. Then in the second half Kansas City raced ahead to a 28-10 lead thanks to a big punt return from Mecole Hardman. Miami made a game of it, but in the end Mahomes and company were simply too much. That is the big message of this game, and perhaps this season. There might not be a blueprint on stopping the Chiefs or anything else. Even when you get the breaks and force mistakes, they can just score too fast and overwhelm you in the end.

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