What actually matters in every Week 14 game: Statement wins in playoff hunt for Bills, Packers, Steelers
NFL NationDec 7, 2025, 07:55 PM ETCloseNFL Nation is made up of 32 team-specific reporters who cover the NFL year-round across ESPN.com, ESPN television shows, ESPN Radio, ESPN+ and social media platforms. It was established ahead of the 2013 season.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.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:CHI-GB | LAR-ARI | DEN-LVTEN-CLE | PIT-BAL | CIN-BUFNO-TB | IND-JAX | MIA-NYJSEA-ATL | WSH-MIN | DAL-DETCatch up on the action: Box score | RecapPackersShould 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. — Rob DemovskyNext game: at Broncos (Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET)BearsWhat 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. 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. — Courtney CroninNext game: vs. Browns (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)Catch up on the action: Box score | RecapRamsWhat is the best part of the Rams offense? They 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 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 three 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. — Sarah BarshopNext game: vs. Lions (Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET)play0:18Puka Nacua makes an unbelievable catch for his 2nd TDMatthew Stafford connects with Puka Nacua again for a 31-yard touchdown.CardinalsHave 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 they have given up more than 40 points in each one of them. Arizona’s roster has been decimated by injuries, which has been a root cause for the season’s struggles. Sunday’s loss to the Rams was a measuring stick. The Cardinals saw what a top-tier NFC West foe looks like and how far behind them they are.Trend to watch: All Michael Wilson does when he’s WR1 is go for 100 yards. On Sunday, with Marvin Harrison Jr. out with a heel injury, Wilson finished with 142 yards and two touchdowns on 11 catches. That’s the third time he’s been the WR1 and had 100 yards. — Josh WeinfussNext game: at Texans (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)Catch up on the action: Box score | RecapBroncosWhat was the most important thing about the Broncos’ win? They certainly reeled in a rather nice football bauble with their win. It pushed them to 11-2 — tied for the best record in the AFC — and their 10th consecutive win. It also gives them a guaranteed tiebreaker over the Patriots if the Broncos and New England finish the season with the same record. Why? The Raiders defeated the Patriots in Week 1, and the Broncos’ sweep of the Raiders now gives Denver a better record against common opponents. So, while the Broncos didn’t formally clinch a postseason spot Sunday, they did 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 passing to 11 different 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. — Jeff LegwoldNext game: vs. Packers (Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET)play0:21Bo Nix runs it in himself for a Broncos TDBo Nix calls his own number as he runs in a Broncos touchdown to open the scoring vs. the Raiders.RaidersHow did Caleb Rogers perform at right guard? If there’s a positive taken out of 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 McFaddenNext game: at Eagles (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)Catch up on the action: Box score | RecapTitansDid 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 DavenportNext game: at 49ers (Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET)play0:19Tony Pollard’s second TD put Titans on topTony Pollard turns on the jets and completes a 32-yard rush to give the Titans the lead.BrownsIs 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 OyefusiNext game: vs. Browns (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)Catch up on the action: Box score | RecapSteelersCan 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 PryorNext game: vs. Dolphins (Monday, 8:15 p.m. ET)play0:24Steelers sack Lamar on final play to secure AFC North-leading win over RavensSteelers sack Lamar on final play to secure AFC North-leading win over RavensRavensDoes 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 HensleyNext game: at Bengals (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)Catch up on the action: Box score | RecapBillsWhat 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 GetzenbergNext game: at Patriots (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)play0:25Christian Benford’s 63-yard pick-6 gives the Bills a late leadJoe Burrow is picked off by Christian Benford, who takes it to the house for a touchdown.BengalsDid 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 BabyNext game: vs. Ravens (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)Catch up on the action: Box score | RecapSaintsWhat 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 TerrellNext game: vs. Panthers (Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET)play0:34Saints capitalize on Mayfield INT with a Shough TDAlontae Taylor picks off Baker Mayfield’s pass, which later leads to Tyler Shough breaking off for a 34-yard Saints rushing touchdown vs. the Buccaneers.BuccaneersHow 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 LaineNext game: vs. Falcons (Thursday, 8:15 p.m. ET)Catch up on the action: Box score | RecapJaguarsShould 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 DiRoccoNext game: vs. Jets (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)play0:25Trevor Lawrence evades pressure, throws TD pass to Tim PatrickTrevor Lawrence finds Tim Patrick for a touchdown to extend the Jaguars’ lead vs. the Colts.ColtsHow 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 HolderNext game: at Seahawks (Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET)Catch up on the action: Box score | RecapDolphinsWhat 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-JacquesNext game: at Steelers (Monday, 8:15 p.m. ET)play0:19Jaylen Wright finds the end zone for the DolphinsJaylen Wright powers up the middle for a touchdown to extend the Dolphins’ lead.JetsHow 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 CiminiNext game: at Jaguars (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)Catch up on the action: Box score | RecapSeahawksCan 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 HendersonNext game: vs. Colts (Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET)play0:56Rashid Shaheed returns kickoff 100 yards for TDRashid Shaheed avoids several tackles and takes it 100 yards for a Seahawks touchdown.FalconsAre 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 RaimondiNext game: at Buccaneers (Thursday, 8:15 p.m. ET)Catch up on the action: Box score | RecapVikingsHow 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 SeifertNext game: at Cowboys (Sunday, 8:20 p.m. ET)play0:19J.J. McCarthy hits a wide-open Josh Oliver for 2nd TD connection of gameJ.J. McCarthy scans the field and finds a wide-open Josh Oliver to give the Vikings a 24-0 lead.CommandersWhat 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 KeimNext game: at Giants (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)Catch up on the action: Box score | RecapLionsHow 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 WoodyardNext game: at Rams (Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET)Breaking news from Adam SchefterDownload the ESPN app and enable Adam Schefter’s news alerts to receive push notifications for the latest updates first. Opt in by tapping the alerts bell in the top right corner. For more information, click here.
CowboysDid 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 ArcherNext game: vs. Vikings (Sunday, 8:20 p.m. ET)
Δημοσιεύτηκε: 2025-12-08 01:33:00
πηγή: www.espn.com
