Neil Reynolds of Sky Sports gives the final say on Week 14 of the NFL, highlighting his five major learnings, player of the week, and more. Following a thrilling weekend on the road to the playoffs, Lamar Jackson, Mike Vrabel, and Deebo Samuel are.
Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs endured their latest setback included
When it comes to the NFL, Week 14 was tough for some of the top teams in the AFC, but it was also a win for the Baltimore Ravens, who moved up to the top seed in that conference.
1) Ravens show Super Bowl credentials
In a game where Baltimore was put to the test and given everything they could handle before rallying for a 37-31 victory over the Los Angeles Rams, the Ravens displayed their ability to contend for the Super Bowl.
Tylan Wallace scored a touchdown on a punt return in overtime, while Lamar Jackson delivered a strong final stretch performance.
We now regard the Ravens as a legitimate Super Bowl contender, and that was the kind of game they had to win. They intend to advance far in the AFC playoffs.
Highlights of the Los Angeles Rams clash with the Baltimore Ravens in Week 14 of the NFL
2) Cowboys on the rise
With a convincing victory against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, the Dallas Cowboys sent a message to the entire NFL.
While scoring massive amounts of points against the Giants, Panthers, Cardinals, and Commanders was one thing, holding the Eagles to 33 points, forcing and recovering three crucial fumbles, and holding Jalen Hurts and that offense without a touchdown suggested that Dallas was starting to find a rhythm that could make them a serious contender in the NFC right now.
For Philadelphia, however, these past several weeks have been worrying.
Highlights of the Dallas Cowboys against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 14 of the NFL
3) Chiefs problems continue
What is the Kansas City Chiefs’ problem? They were held to 20 points or fewer for the seventh time this season, and they dropped their third straight game at home that the Buffalo Bills had to win in order to win, 20-17. The Chiefs’ offense is simply not clicking, and their dropped passes and penalties have once again put them in a bad situation.
Highlights of the Buffalo Bills’ clash with the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 14 of the NFL.
While neither team was flawless—far from it—the Bills’ defense held up and Josh Allen produced just enough plays.
That crucial play, which would have resulted in a touchdown with a pass from Patrick Mahomes to Travis Kelce and a return across the field to Kadarius Toney for the score, just cannot be lined up offside. That simply isn’t possible. You should check with the officials; it doesn’t matter if they should be telling you. That’s football at its most fundamental.
Mahomes’ level of frustration at the conclusion of the game was unusual for us to witness, and I believe it stemmed from both the refereeing and his overall frustration with the season and the people in his immediate vicinity letting him down. The Chiefs aren’t in danger, but they’re also not nearly as good as they were a season ago.
Kadarius Toney’s touchdown throw was disallowed due to offside, which spoiled Travis Kelce’s incredible lateral to give the Kansas City Chiefs the lead over the Buffalo Bills.
4) The return of Joe Flacco!
The Jacksonville Jaguars had a difficult day as they were defeated by the Cleveland Browns 31–27. Despite spending the majority of the season lounging on his sofa, 38-year-old Joe Flacco is the star of the show in 2023. Trevor Lawrence was picked off three times. Even though it would have appeared improbable heading into Week One, with Flacco at the controls, the Cleveland Browns can make the playoffs. He has experienced it all, possesses seasoned calmness, and gives far more than Dorian Thompson-Robinson and PJ Walker.
Highlights of the Jacksonville Jaguars clash with the Cleveland Browns in Week 14 of the NFL
5) Bengals with unfinished business
The Cincinnati Bengals had a fantastic past two weeks, scoring over thirty points against both Jacksonville and Indianapolis, and they are still in the AFC playoffs. I believed this team to be in dire straits.
Jake Browning has had a fantastic week and a half, demonstrating his ability to contribute on the offensive end of the ball. However, we will have to wait and see how his injury holds up. They have a 7-6 record and are one of six teams in the AFC wild card competition, so they will need to rely on some defense. They haven’t really lost it yet.
In the Cincinnati Bengals’ 54-yard touchdown against the Indianapolis Colts, Chase Brown dashes off the field.
Player of the Week – Deebo Samuel, WR, San Francisco 49ers
Deebo Samuel of the 49ers, who scored a touchdown and had 149 receiving yards in addition to a touchdown on the ground against the Seattle Seahawks, is my choice because it is his second straight week of such play.
Highlights of the Seattle Seahawks’ clash with the San Francisco 49ers in Week 14 of the NFL
He is the best football weapon there is. He is an All-Pro caliber wide receiver who, if he switched positions permanently, would also be an All-Pro running back. He is so good that I even think you could use him as a tight end.
One of the numerous talents on that San Francisco squad contending for the NFC’s top seed. A significant element of their victory over Seattle was Deebo.
Play of the Week – Lamar’s game-saving TD pass to Flowers.
My play of the week will be divided into two parts. First, the Ravens took the lead thanks to a touchdown pass from Lamar Jackson to Zay Flowers on a third-and-17 play. Lamar produced an amazing play under duress, delivering a crucial pass precisely when his team needed it. It was a play fit for an MVP.
Zay Flowers and Lamar Jackson connect for a late touchdown and a two-point conversion, respectively, against the Los Angeles Rams.
After that, they have one play left to make the two-point conversion; if not, the Rams will win thanks to the field goal that forced overtime.
While prolonging the play by jogging around, Lamar is struck by a defender and splits in two as he throws the ball to Zay Flowers behind the end zone. It was simply breathtaking to witness and gave Baltimore the crucial victory they required.
Coach of the Week – Mike Vrabel, Tennessee Titans
With three minutes remaining in their game against the Miami Dolphins, Mike Vrabel’s Titans were trailing 27-13. They then rally, scoring a touchdown to make it 27-19 before Vrabel uses analytics to try and avoid overtime by going for two. If they score in the closing minutes of the game, they win.
Highlights of the Tennessee Titans’ clash with the Miami Dolphins in Week 14 of the NFLThe Dolphins should be kicking themselves this morning because they had this one under control. Perhaps devote more time on bringing games to a close than to celebrating touchdowns in the end zone. Give Mike Vrabel credit—this one got away. He is an expert at situational football and always demands that his side play hard.
On my radar… The faltering Eagles
The 49ers and Cowboys, two more top NFC contenders, have blasted the Eagles in back-to-back weeks. They are having trouble on defense, Jalen Hurts and the offense have completely stagnated, and they will now need to work extra hard if they want to be the top seed. They have been thoroughly exposed over the last two weeks, and I now doubt if they can represent the NFC in the Super Bowl; Dallas and the 49ers are ranked higher than them.
