Quick Hits for NFL Week 14

HTGanzo - stock.adobe.com

Vikings 31, Commanders 0
The headline here should be "What could have been..." What if our offensive line had been healthy all season long? What if Kevin O'Connell had been willing to a) commit to the run, and b) start QB JJ McCarthy out with training wheels and less content to overthink? Yeah, Washington stinks, but what could the Vikings have been if they had started this way instead of sinking the season before simplifying your strategy? Let's see now how they look against Dallas.

Lions 44, Cowboys 30
Both teams surprised me with this week's Thursday game. The Lions looked like they were just about as cooked as a turkey in their Thanksgiving loss to the Packers, while Dallas looked like they might actually make a playoff run. In the words of Willy Wonka, "Strike that. Reverse it." 

Seahawks 37, Falcons 9
Burning questions: Will Sam Darnold melt under pressure in the playoffs again this year? Will Kirk Cousins find a team desperate enough for a starter to save Atlanta from his terrible contract? Also, why do the Falcons look amazing one week and terrible the next? The inconsistency is alarming. Anyway, the Seahawks look like a tough out in the playoffs if Darnold can keep his head on straight.

Bills 39, Bengals 34
At times in this game, it looked like Cincy was going to blow out the Bills in the snow again like that playoff game a couple years ago. But Josh Allen must be wearing a Superman "S" under his jersey, because he saved Buffalo yet again. Will he run out of heroics before the playoffs? It won't matter unless he figures out how to also play defense...no one else on the Bills can, it seems.

Titans 31, Browns 29
Are the Browns tanking on purpose? Are the Titans so bad that they forgot to tank on purpose? Ahh, no one outside these fan bases really cares. The only difference is that Tennessee could conceivably hire a good coach and get better. After the Browns fire Kevin Stefanski, they'll hire someone guaranteed to keep Cleveland at the bottom of the league for another decade.

Dolphins 34, Jets 10
Miami would have to sweep its next four games against Pittsburgh, Cincy, Tampa Bay, and New England to finish 10-7, which probably won't be enough to make the playoffs, but it might be good enough to save Mike McDonald's job. Nothing will be enough to save Aaron Glenn's job in New Jersey, though, maintaining the Jets' place in football Hell for at least another five years. 

Saints 24, Bucs 20
I doubt the Saints are going to waste a top-five draft pick on another QB next year. Too bad for Tampa that injuries have derailed what was looking like a deep playoff run at the beginning of the season. They still have two head-to-head games against Carolina that will determine the NFC South winner, though, so we have to wait and see whether it's too late for them to bounce back.

Jags 36, Colts 19
The Jags are going to win the AFC South, the Texans will grab a wild card spot, and the Colts will say "What could have been?" with the loss of QB Daniel Jones to an Achilles injury this Sunday. Next season's AFC South is going to be a great division to watch.

Steelers 27, Ravens 22
I'm so old, I remember when this game was must-see TV. This Sunday was "Rusty QB TV." Does anyone really believe Aaron Rodgers is going to win a playoff game?

Broncos 24, Raiders 17
What about the possibility of a Texans-Broncos steel cage defensive death match in the AFC playoffs? Also, Tom Brady should be embarrassed to be associated with a football team that is this bad. This is the group that should draft a QB.

Packers 28, Bears 21
How many times will Jordan Love throw up a rainbow pass while falling backward under two defenders to a wide-open receiver in the end zone? Caleb Williams almost brought the Bears back, but you simply cannot throw short into the end zone against a defense as good as the Packers. The Bears fall from one to seven in the playoff seedings, and they have a gauntlet schedule left just to make it. Stay tuned...

Rams 45, Cardinals 17
Matthew Stafford regained his MVP-caliber play against one of the five worst franchises in the NFL. I'm in the neighborhood of Packers vs. Rams for the NFC Championship after this week.

Texans 20, Chiefs 10
Stop whining about it. You have three championships in five years. Some franchises will never even make it to the big game. Everything ends. Don't cry because it's over; smile because it happened. Also, get used to it; this team will be in rebuilding mode for the next two years. 

Eagles vs. Chargers on MNF
Yes, both these teams are going to the playoffs. No, neither one of them will make it past the Divisional round.