What We Learned from NFL Week 14: Cowboys Dominate Eagles, Chiefs Fall to Bills, Ravens Survive
What We Learned from NFL Week 14: Cowboys Dominate Eagles, Chiefs Fall to Bills, Ravens Survive
The Dallas Cowboys had an exhilarating 33-13 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles in an NFC showdown on Sunday night. We review the Week 14 takeaways, reinforcing key concepts.
Sunday witnessed the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' triumph over the Atlanta Falcons, causing a three-way tie for first place in the NFC South. Additionally, the New York Jets, led by Zach Wilson, delivered a dominant performance against the Houston Texans, while the Baltimore Ravens emerged victorious in overtime. Injuries were sustained by quarterbacks, Jake Browning (right hand) and C.J. Stroud, who was in the concussion protocol, departed the games because of injuries.
To cap off the day of football, the Dallas Cowboys delivered a decisive blow to the Philadelphia Eagles, triumphing by an impressive 20-point margin in a stunningly lopsided "Sunday Night Football" clash, where the Cowboys operated flawlessly and the Eagles faltered at every turn.
Let’s take a look at the key insights from week 14 together.
Cowboys have their signature win
The Dallas Cowboys thrived in the glare of prime time, leading to a decisive victory. Through their passing attack, rushing attack, and defense, they exhibited dominance at every level. Dallas initiated the game with great prominence on Sunday night and used it to achieve a substantial victory.
Dak Prescott served as captain for his Cowboys, leading them to points on all of their first four offensive series, — a touchdown, field goal, TD, TD — resulting in a resounding 24-6 lead at halftime. Prescott's statistical performances were impressive, but he established the tempo and guided Dallas to a comprehensive victory. Spearheaded by Stephon Gilmore, the defense was stifling, and kicker Brandon Aubrey etched his name as NFC Special Teams Player of the Week.
The quarterback shoulders a tremendous amount of pressure, nevertheless. In the presence of defeat, Prescott has resolutely confronted the scrutiny. Currently, the Cowboys have emerged victorious in five straight games, managing to score not less than 30 points in each contest, resulting in their ascent to first place in the NFC East following a resounding defeat of the previous division and conference champions. There has been significant discussion about Prescott's current campaign for Most Valuable Player, and if he doesn't defeat the Eagles, he would lose even before the final votes are submitted. Prescott displayed immense resilience, as did the rest of his teammates.
49ers have an “explosive” day
The Niners’ explosive plays help mask some hindered drives. A brief overview of the 49ers' offensive data would indicate it was another successful day, amassing 527 yards and 28 points. If you hadn't watched the game, though, you might have missed that the 49ers' offense didn't establish a consistent rhythm until late in the second half. The lack of play-to-play efficiency was compensated by the 49ers' reliance on explosive plays - which can occasionally occur when you have their talented players.
Each of the 49ers' four primary playmakers recorded a reception or rushing play that surpassed 44 yards on Sunday. That will probably be the most remarkable statistic you encounter all day. Altogether, the Niners successfully executed eight plays that went beyond 25 yards, resulting in a total of 280 yards—a figure that represented over half of their entire production. Despite recording six catches for 126 yards, Brandon Aiyuk seemed to contribute to Brock Purdy's interception and lost possession of the ball after a 31-yard gain towards the end of the game. The 49ers had a streak of two consecutive three-and-outs in the first half and a total of five punts. Perhaps it speaks to the formidable nature of the 49ers' offense and the overall excellence of the team that they can have an inconsistent game and still dominate the opponent and secure a comfortable victory.
Kelce makes the greatest play that never was
The Chiefs once again stumble as their offensive weapons fail to catch the ball. It's a recurring narrative for Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs offense. In between sporadic long drives, the same issues that have afflicted Kansas City throughout the season persisted. Mahomes threw a deflected interception on the opening drive. The run game suffered greatly in the absence of Isiah Pacheco. Most notably, receivers persistently grappled with generating space and endured a substantial number of missed catches. In the third quarter, Rashee Rice, the standout wide receiver for the Chiefs, made a critical mistake in the way of a fumble.
The unfortunate incident on Sunday was Kadarius Toney's offside penalty during the Chiefs' final drive, nullifying Travis Kelce's remarkable play. The tight end successfully caught a pass over the middle, swiftly changed direction, and then made a lateral to Toney, who proceeded to score a hypothetical touchdown. However, Toney lined up in the neutral zone, thereby nullifying an incredibly preposterous score that would have granted the Chiefs a late advantage and potential victory. Once again, Mahomes found himself in a situation where he was left with no choice but to throw a desperate pass on fourth-and-long, hoping for a miracle.
The play serves as a symbol, representing the struggles faced by the receiver room in 2023, as they find themselves unable to overcome their own obstacles. The Chiefs' frustrations are becoming increasingly apparent, as they navigate through a period of inconsistent play and contend with frustrating officiating. As the game came to a close, Mahomes found himself in a state of extreme frustration on the sideline, vigorously slamming his helmet and raising his voice to express his dissatisfaction towards the officials. Prior to their friendly exchange post-game, you could see him sharing his thoughts on the officiating with Josh Allen.
The Chiefs' wide receiver room is currently at a standstill. Since their Week 1 game against the Lions, they have found themselves in this predicament and have been unable to find a way out, resulting in them leading the league in drops this season. During the previous season, the Chiefs, as a team, had a total of 34 drops. However, this year, they have already accumulated 32 drops so far in the season, indicating that they are on track to surpass their previous record. It is widely recognized that there is a glaring issue within this team. Fortunately, their next opponent happens to be the Patriots, who are still on the hunt for a quarterback capable enough to efficiently lead their team (they might have to rely on the draft to find a solution). Following the Patriots game, they will be facing the Raiders. As the Broncos are hot on their trail for the top spot in the AFC West, it becomes of utmost importance that the offense, and specifically the pass catchers, locate their rhythm.
Ravens walk-off in spectacular fashion
The Ravens utilized their ability to make big plays in order to secure a walk-off victory in overtime. After back-to-back failed possessions to start overtime, Tylan Wallace, substituting for the injured Devin Duvernay, caught a punt, swiftly maneuvered to the right, eluded a tackle, and sprinted down the sideline for a touchdown, ultimately concluding an exhilarating game. Baltimore experienced a tumultuous day.
The offense experienced prolonged periods of slowdown and committed two turnovers, including a safety because of a bad snap, but managed to generate explosive plays to secure the win. Lamar Jackson located Isaiah Likely on a blown coverage, resulting in a 54-yard touchdown in the first quarter. On their subsequent possession, Odell Beckham found himself wide open on a double move, resulting in a 46-yard touchdown. Then, when faced with a five-point deficit in the fourth quarter, Jackson launched a 21-yard pass that found its mark in the hands of Zay Flowers for a touchdown. Jackson achieved four completions of 20 yards or more, three of which resulted in touchdowns. Despite a lackluster performance on third downs (4 of 12) and in the red zone (1 of 3), it was the explosive plays on offense and special teams that proved decisive for Baltimore.
The Ravens reclaim their throne as the top team in the AFC. The triumph propelled Baltimore to a record of 10-3, catapulting them back to the number one position in the conference. John Harbaugh's team's third consecutive win was crucial, as it maintained a two-game divisional lead over Cleveland. The path to the top gets harder with trips to Jacksonville and San Francisco, and home games against Miami and Pittsburgh to finish off the season. In terms of L.A., the loss on the road brings them to a record of 6-7, leaving them right on the cusp of a playoff berth in the highly competitive NFC. Nonetheless, if McVay's squad replicates their inspired performance in Baltimore, they will stay in contention until the final moments.
Lions offense stalls en route to stunning loss
The Lions offense crumbles in the second half. Detroit had a shaky start but managed to recover in the second quarter and claim a 13-10 halftime lead. Following that, the Lions began their period of hibernation. Detroit failed to convert on its first three second-half drives, fumbled a snap, turned the ball over on downs twice, and threw an interception. The Lions failed to secure their initial first down of the second half until less than nine minutes were left in the game. Jared Goff had a multitude of missed throws, two interceptions, and overall ineffectiveness while playing away. With the big plays on the ground stymied in the second half, Goff couldn’t puncture the Bears’ secondary. He ended the game with a 20-of-35 passing record for 161 yards, a touchdown, and two interceptions, being outmatched by his counterpart. When the offense performs similarly to how it did at Soldier Field, Detroit's chances of success are hindered. The defeat propels Detroit to a 9-4 record with only four games remaining, reinvigorating the Packers and Vikings' hopes in the division.
Flacco gives the Browns new hope
It is quite an unfamiliar task to maintain a successful season with a backup quarterback.
Doing it in mid-December becomes an entirely unique challenge, especially when you're already on your fourth QB.
Kevin Stefanski should be acknowledged for navigating a turbulent season in Cleveland, where four quarterbacks have started at least two games for the Browns. Despite this, his team is 8-5 and leading the AFC wild-card race.
While Houston's DeMeco Ryans and Detroit's Dan Campbell have received ample Coach of the Year recognition, Stefanski has quietly excelled in Cleveland, maintaining the Browns' competitiveness despite consistent changes at the game's most crucial position.
Buccaneers jump in front for NFC South crown
According to the rules, there will be a champion in the NFC South, regardless of their record being above .500 or not.
As we approach the final four weeks, it has become a three-team battle between the Falcons, Saints, and Buccaneers, all sitting at a 6-7 record.
It is hard to fathom, but out of all these teams, one will have the incredible opportunity to host a playoff game in the month of January.
Tampa Bay's aspirations for a third consecutive division championship, achieved in the previous two seasons with Tom Brady as the quarterback, received a significant boost on Sunday when Baker Mayfield orchestrated a 12-play, 70-yard drive in the waning moments of the fourth quarter, resulting in a 29-25 victory over the Falcons. Mayfield executed a magnificent throw with 34 seconds remaining, which tight end Cade Otten caught for the 11-yard, game-winning touchdown.
An 0-3 day for the AFC South
Sunday proved to be a disastrous day for the teams of the AFC South division, as the Jaguars, who were leading the division, suffered a defeat in Cleveland despite quarterback Trevor Lawrence bravely playing through an ankle injury. Furthermore, the Colts faced a humiliating loss in Cincinnati in which nothing went according to plan, while the Jets completely dominated the Texans.
As of now, Jacksonville is still leading the pack with a record of 8 wins and 5 losses, and they have an impressive division record of 4 wins and 1 loss. At the moment, both Indianapolis and Houston have a record of 7-6. The Colts have the upper hand over the Texans because they defeated them in Week 2, giving them the tiebreaker advantage. The next time they will meet is scheduled for Week 18 and the location will be in Indianapolis.
However, the Texans' main focus is currently on the condition of Stroud, who had to leave the game in the fourth quarter on Sunday. His helmet hit the turf forcefully at MetLife Stadium after a hit delivered by Jets defensive lineman Quinnen Williams. Stroud is currently in the concussion protocol; the Texans are in Tennessee on Sunday. In the event that Stroud is unable to play against the Titans, it raises the question of how backup quarterback Davis Mills will perform and whether the team will be able to remain competitive under his leadership.
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