NFL Takeaways: Week 14

Photo from Reuters

December football.

Where contenders either prove their worth, or fall aside.

Where legends and future MVPs are made.

Where the Sunday slate kind of sucks because the NFL puts too many games on other nights now that college football is done.

Here’s what we learned from week 14!

Lions defeat Cowboys 44-30

The Cowboys defense, ever since trading for Quinnen Williams, has been really solid!

It was absolutely ripped to shreds by a Lions offense that desperately needed a win to keep their playoff, and NFC North hopes, alive.

Statement performance for the Lions, and maybe the end of a noble comeback for the Cowboys.

Steelers defeat Ravens 27-22

First things first, I thought that Isaiah Likely catch was obviously a touchdown as is, let alone an obvious enough error for them to overturn it.

But that’s besides the point.

The redzone offense is still an issue. The defense, which has improved, made Aaron Rodgers look like he turned back the clock. The final two minute drill was an absolute disaster.

The Ravens had a great chance to run away with the division even though they started 1-5, and now their backs are up against the wall.

It’s shaping up to be a huge missed opportunity this year.

As for Tomlin and Rodgers, maybe the funeral bells rang a bit too early.

Dolphins defeat Jets 34-10

The Dolphins, somehow, are still alive for a playoff berth.

I don’t know, man!

Saints defeat Buccaneers 24-20

Tyler Shough might just be something!

But besides that, the Bucs are nowhere near the same team they were earlier in the season.

They are struggling, and now are a threat to not even make the playoffs, let alone win an easy division.

If so, some questions need to be answered in Tampa.

Jaguars defeat Colts 36-19

The football gods are cruel.

The Colts made a bold move earlier this year, going all in by trading two first round picks to the New York Jets for cornerback Sauce Gardner.

Since then, Deforrest Buckner was put on IR, it was discovered Daniel Jones had a partially broken leg, Sauce Gardner himself hurt his calf, and then Daniel Jones tore his achilles in his OTHER leg this past Sunday.

The gods saw the Colts go all in, and shot them down in a very mean and obvious way.

Sometimes, this sport ain’t fair.

Titans defeat Browns 31-29

I’m not that surprised that Shedeur played well against a bad Titans defense.

I’m more impressed the Titans put up 31 points against a very good Browns defense.

Shedeur has shown good things in his limited starts, but Sunday showed why Cam Ward was the top pick.

Get him a team and a good coach, and they’ll be ok.

Vikings defeat Commanders 31-0

The Vikings were the first team since the 1992 Broncos to shut out a team just one week after getting shut out themselves.

That doesn’t really mean anything, but I thought it was interesting!

The Commanders season from hell continues, as Jayden Daniels got hurt once again, and Zach Ertz career may have ended in tragic fashion with a bad knee injury.

Seahawks defeat Falcons 37-9

If Sam Darnold is just fine or pretty good, the Seahawks are Super Bowl contenders.

He was poor in the first half, and they went into the locker room tied 6-6 against a bad Falcons team.

He was good in the second half, and they blew their doors off.

This defense is incredible. It just needs a competent offense.

Bills defeat Bengals 39-34

The Bengals needed more from Joe Burrow.

I know it was an uphill battle. I know he’s only played four games this year. I know he just beat up the Ravens.

I don’t care.

If you have an outside chance at the playoffs, and have a good Bills team on the ropes in their own snowy building, you can not have two terrible turnovers on back to back drives.

Can not happen.

Broncos defeat Raiders 24-17

Another really unimpressive win for the Broncos.

I get that you never apologize for winning in the NFL, but it’s not helping me believe in them more.

Packers defeat Bears 28-21

If Jordan Love plays like he has the past two weeks, my Packers winning the NFC pick seems like a great prediction.

But he needs to keep it up.

Because there are a lot of good defenses in this league begging for him to throw them a duck.

Rams defeat Cardinals 45-17

Matt Stafford to Puka Nacua is a cheat code.

Poor Cardinals. Just getting absolutely bullied all year long.

Texans defeat Chiefs 20-10

I’ve said for weeks now I don’t think the Chiefs are that good.

But Sunday night showed a different issue.

They became desperate.

In a 10-10 game in the 4th quarter, with the Texans offense doing absolutely nothing of note whatsoever, the Chiefs went for it on 4th and 1 deep in their own territory.

Not only that, but they threw the ball instead of relying on a very good short yardage rushing game.

They failed, and the Texans lifeless offense was instantly put into field goal range, got a spark, and scored a touchdown.

That’s not what the Chiefs do. They don’t play desperate football.

It was a very, very weird decision, and to me, it shows that they are very worried about what they have in the room this year.

Chargers defeat Eagles 22-19

This was just a horrid game from Jalen Hurts when the Eagles needed him the most.

They are limping to the finish much like two years ago, and we all remember how that year ended.

I am officially fully concerned with Philadelphia.