Week 14 of the 2024 NFL season turned into a flat-out sprint toward the postseason.

The first game of the week involved the most heated race in the league's best division. The Green Bay Packers rolled into Ford Field trying to end Detroit's 10-game winning streak and tighten up the race with the Lions in the NFC North.

The home team kicked a last-second field goal to earn a three-point win.

Otherwise, the Week 14 schedule was rather light on big matchups outside Sunday night's showdown between the Los Angeles Chargers and Kansas City Chiefs, which resulted in the Chiefs once again finding a way to win. However, several contests carried significant playoff implications.

The Philadelphia Eagles clinched a playoff spot by fending off the pesky Carolina Panthers, while a Buffalo Bills loss created more uncertainty atop the AFC standings.

Monday's finale featured two teams trying to stay alive in the playoff hunt. The Cincinnati Bengals won after one of the wildest finishes we've seen this season, which is saying a lot.

The happenings of Week 14 brought more clarity to the playoff chase. Bleacher Report NFL analysts Gary Davenport, Brad Gagnon, Kristopher Knox, Maurice Moton and Brent Sobleski broke down what it all means with the biggest takeaways from every game and provided an updated outlook on who's in (and out) of the postseason as things stand.

AFC Playoff Picture

Current AFC Playoff Standings

1. Kansas City Chiefs (12-1)*

2. Buffalo Bills (10-3)*

3. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-3)

4. Houston Texans (8-5)

5. Baltimore Ravens (8-5)

6. Los Angeles Chargers (8-5)

7. Denver Broncos (8-5)

In the Hunt

8. Indianapolis Colts (6-7)

9. Miami Dolphins (6-7)

10. Cincinnati Bengals (5-8)

Eliminated: Cleveland Browns (3-10) Jacksonville Jaguars (3-10), Las Vegas Raiders (2-11), New England Patriots (3-10), New York Jets (3-10), Tennessee Titans (3-10)

*= clinched playoff berth

NFC Playoff Picture

Current NFC Playoff Standings

1. Detroit Lions (12-1)*

2. Philadelphia Eagles (11-2)*

3. Seattle Seahawks (8-5)

4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-6)

5. Minnesota Vikings (11-2)

6. Green Bay Packers (9-4)

7. Washington Commanders (8-5)

In the Hunt

8. Los Angeles Rams (7-6)

9. Atlanta Falcons (6-7)

10. Arizona Cardinals (6-7)

11. San Francisco 49ers (6-7)

Eliminated: New York Giants (2-10)

*= clinched playoff berth

Cincinnati Bengals 27, Dallas Cowboys 20

Bengals Win But May Still Need to Consider Coaching Changes in 2025

There's no other way to put it. Cincinnati was fortunate to win on Monday. The Bengals were about to give Dallas a prime go-ahead opportunity when their punt was block but the ball was touched by the Cowboys and recovered by the Bengals. By rule, that gave Cincinnati a fresh set of downs.

A few plays later, a 40-yard touchdown pass to Ja'Marr Chase provided the winning margin.

It's been a frustrating season for the Bengals, to say the least. Quarterback Joe Burrow would be a legitimate MVP candidate if he was on a winning team. Cincinnati's offense has been one of the best in the league. Yet, Cincinnati has consistently struggled to win.

Given what we saw from the Bengals over the last three years—two trips to the AFC title game, one Super Bowl appearance and a 9-8 season with Burrow finishing on injured reserve—one might assume that Cincinnati was decimated by injuries. That hasn't been the case,at least, not compared to teams like Dallas or even the 12-1 Lions.

A putrid defense has been the Bengals' biggest problem this season, and some of that can be blamed on poor roster construction. Despite significant additions to the offensive line over the past couple of years—Orlando Brown Jr. in free agency, Amarius Mims in the 2024 draft—the unit is still a liability far too often.

Sloppy play and questionable coaching haven't helped matters. All of these issues were on display on Monday night. The defense repeatedly gave up easy yards to Dallas, while the Bengals committed 10 penalties. Brown was given only 14 carries in a game where both the defense and the offensive line struggled.

Cincinnati's struggles have reportedly led to questions about the future of head coach Zac Taylor.

"I've had multiple coaches in the league text me this week about the Bengals job, wondering if Zac Taylor is on the hot seat," ESPN's Jeremy Fowler wrote on December 4.

Taylor, who is under contract through 2026, may be safe. However, offensive coordinator Dan Pitcher—who took over when Brian Callahan departed for the Tennessee Titans—defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo and offensive line coach Frank Pollack should all be under the microscope.

The Bengals haven't been eliminated from playoff contention yet, but the Bengals aren't title contenders. Throwing money and draft picks at the defense in 2025 will only fix so many issues—it certainly won't fix the inability to draft and develop linemen.

Cincinnati was lucky just to outlast a banged-up Cowboys team on Monday. If the Bengals want to get back to winning consistently, they must at least consider making some significant changes.

Cowboys Should Re-Sign Rico Dowdle, Cooper Rush in the Offseason

The Cowboys will have several needs to address in the upcoming offseason. That includes an injury-hampered offensive line, one that lost rookie center Cooper Beebe to a concussion on Monday. .

Dallas also needs defensive help—and it lost promising pass-rusher DeMarvion Overshown to what appeared to be a significant knee injury on Monday as well.

However, the Cowboys might have found themselves a running back in fifth-year man Rico Dowdle.

Dallas spent much of this season searching for a consistent rushing attack. The Cowboys started with a committee that included Ezekiel Elliott, but their ground game has been better since making Dowdle the clear-cut starter.

The 2020 undrafted free agent had the first 100-yard rushing game of his career last week against the New York Giants. He shined again against the Bengals, providing balance to the offense and slicing through Cincinnati's defense early and often. He finished wth 131 rushing yards and a 7.3 yards-per-carry average.

It's worth noting that neither the Giants (30th in yards per carry allowed) nor the Bengals (14th) have been great against the run. Dallas can and should add to its backfield in the offseason. However, re-signing Dowdle, who will be a free agent in the spring, would be sensible.

It would also be wise for Dallas to bring back quarterback Cooper Rush, who continues to prove himself to be a capable spot starter.

The Cowboys may have a new coaching staff in 2025, as head coach Mike McCarthy is in the final year of his contract. That could potentially change what Dallas wants in Dak Prescott's understudy.

However, Rush knows the personnel and should be available at a fair (for a backup) market price. Rush last re-signed with Dallas in 2023 on a two-year, $5 million deal.

Minnesota Vikings 42, Atlanta Falcons 21

Vikings May Need to Consider Franchise Tag for Sam Darnold in Offseason

Quarterback Sam Darnold has had his fair share of shaky outings in 2024. Every time he delivers a performance like Sunday's, however, the Minnesota Vikings have to put a little more thought into hanging on to the 2018 first-round pick.

Darnold practically carried the Vikings against the Atlanta Falcons on a day when Minnesota's defense was heavily turnover-dependent. He threw for 347 yards and five touchdowns and made multiple high-level plays throughout the game.

The big-picture problem for Minnesota is that Darnold is set to be a free agent in 2025, and the Vikings will eventually turn the reins over to rookie first-round pick J.J. McCarthy, who is on IR with a knee injury.

Right now, it would seem that the Vikings aren't considering replacing McCarthy with Darnold as their quarterback of the future.

"Sam Darnold and the Vikings have not had any discussions regarding a long-term contract, per sources," ESPN's Adam Schefter posted on X on Sunday.

Now would be a great time for Minnesota to start pondering the franchise tag. The Vikings may still need a bridge quarterback in 2025, given McCarthy's lack of a rookie season. Tagging Darnold could also provide the option of trading him to a quarterback-needy team for significant capital.

According to OverTheCap, the cost of tagging a quarterback in 2025 will be $41.3 million. That's a high cost for a bridge quarterback, but it should be viewed as an acceptable one if it helps ensure that the Vikings are contenders again in 2025.

Falcons Finally Finding a Pass Rush, But It May Be Too Late

For much of the season, the Falcons have seemed like a team that could make the playoffs but not be a serious threat in the postseason. The up-and-down play of quarterback Kirk Cousins has been one part of the problem. Atlanta's serious lack of a pass rush has been the other.

Cousins had another rough outing—he threw two interceptions after throwing four in Week 13. Falcons fans searching for a silver lining, however, can look to Atlanta's improving pass rush.

Championship-caliber defenses come in all flavors, but they all tend to find ways to get after the quarterback.

Producing pressure was a constant struggle in most of Atlanta's early season. Before last week's game against the Los Angeles Chargers, the Falcons had recorded just 10 sacks in 11 games. However, they tallied five sacks against the Chargers in a strong defensive effort that was spoiled by Cousin's mistakes.

Atlanta's pass rush again found some success Sunday. The Falcons got to Darnold four times, meaning they've recorded nearly as many sacks over the last two games as they did over their first 11.

Third-year linebacker Arnold Ebiketie has played a big role in the Falcons' recent pass-rushing surge. He recorded two sacks against the Chargers, had three in Atlanta's last four games and got to the quarterback again Sunday.

Unfortunately, an improved pass rush wasn't nearly enough for Atlanta to get the win in Minnesota, and a fourth straight loss dropped the Falcons out of playoff position.

With four weeks to play, the Falcons can get back into the postseason mix. However, it's fair to wonder where this team would stand had it found a competent pass rush just a few weeks earlier.

Pittsburgh Steelers 27, Cleveland Browns 14

Return of Alex Highsmith Gives Pittsburgh a Championship-Caliber Defense

The Pittsburgh Steelers increased their lead over the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC North with a big divisional win Sunday. Russell Wilson and the Steelers offense got off to a slow start. However, Pittsburgh's defense set the tone early and gave Wilson and Co. time to find a rhythm.

The Steelers defense welcomed back pass-rusher Alex Highsmith on its first series. The 27-year-old sacked Jameis Winston for a seven-yard loss deep in Browns territory, leading to a punt, great field position and Pittsburgh's first points.

Pittsburgh's defense continued to make plays throughout the game. Keeanu Benton picked off Winston to set up a Steelers touchdown. Cleveland had two potential scoring drives stymied and then ended by misses from kicker Dustin Hopkins.

The Browns had multiple drives stall in Steelers territory.

Highsmith's individual numbers (3 tackles, 1 sack) weren't eye-popping, and it's not as if Pittsburgh's defense was awful without him. Of course, all three of the Steelers' losses did come in games in which he was inactive.

However, Highsmith takes the defense from great to elite when he's available. He provides a top-tier complement to T.J. Watt, helps take attention away from Watt and allows coordinator Teryl Austin to rely more on a four-man rush.

It's no coincidence that Pittsburgh's defense looked a different unit than the one that surrendered 38 points to the Cincinnati Bengals last week or the one that lost to Cleveland two weeks ago.

And when the Steelers defense plays like it did Sunday, the team must be considered a legitimate Super Bowl threat in the AFC.

Browns Would Be Foolish to Replace Kevin Stefanski in the Offseason

The Browns head into the offseason with a handful of obvious needs.

Cleveland needs a long-term answer at quarterback because Deshaun Watson has done nothing in three years to suggest that he's the answer—and Winston is likely a bridge at best. Given Hopkins' struggles this season, the Browns should be in the kicker market.

After Kadarius Toney's muffed punt ended Cleveland's chances Sunday, a new returner should be on the menu too.

The Browns should not, however, be in the market for a new head coach in 2025. NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported last month that the reigning Coach of the Year was indeed safe.

"Kevin Stefanski, to my knowledge, based on everything I know, is not going anywhere," Rapoport said on The Insiders (h/t NFL.com's Eric Edholm).

Of course, three-win teams in December usually do have coaches on the hot seat. The X-factor here is the possibility that franchise owner Jimmy Haslam still wants to make things work with Watson—and in the weeks since Watson's season-ending Achilles injury, it's become evident that Stefanski's offense works much better without him.

However, replacing the head coach—or giving Watson another opportunity, for that matter—would be a monumental mistake. The Browns continue to fight amid a lost season. We saw that during Monday night's track meet with the Denver Broncos, and we saw it again against Pittsburgh, even if the final score might indicate a one-sided game.

Cleveland played hard until the final whistle and likely would have had a legitimate chance to win if not for Hopkins' two misses.

The Browns should experience a fair amount of turnover in the offseason, including at the game's most important position. They'll need a coach who can keep the locker room together, and Stefanski continues to show that he can do just that.

Philadelphia Eagles 22, Carolina Panthers 16

Saquon Barkley's Historic Season Continues to Drive Surging Philadelphia Eagles

Saquon Barkley is turning out to be everything the Philadelphia Eagles hoped he'd be and more when the organization signed the running back to a three-year, $37.8 million free-agent contract in March.

During Sunday's 22-16 victory over the Carolina Panthers, Barkley ran for 124 yards on 20 carries. In doing so, he eclipsed the Eagles' single-season rushing record set by LeSean McCoy.

"I'd be lying to you if I said that wasn't pretty cool," Barkley said during a postgame interview on Fox Sports. "Having my name mentioned with that guy means a lot."

Barkley is now at 1,623 yards and counting. With the Baltimore Ravens on a bye, the Eagles back has established a commanding lead as the league's top rusher over Derrick Henry. Meanwhile, Philadelphia has won nine games in a row. During that stretch, Barkley ran for 1,188 yards, with eight total touchdowns.

While MVP has become a quarterback-driven award, the Eagles are tied for the NFC's second-best record, which places Barkley firmly in that conversation. Whether he's seriously considered or not, Philadelphia is now driven by its running game and has legitimate Super Bowl aspirations again.

Give Bryce Young Some Help, and Carolina Panthers Will Be Cooking

Ever since Bryce Young reentered the Panthers' lineup, Carolina has been highly competitive. The U-turn really helps a franchise that looked lost earlier in this season after benching the 2023 No. 1 overall pick. But Sunday's loss to the Eagles further highlighted the fact that Young doesn't have enough help around him.

Young is now wheeling and dealing. His pocket presence, escapability and play-making skills that were seen during his Alabama days are present again. They were never more obvious during Carolina's final offensive possession against Philadelphia.

The Panthers started their final drive at their own 3-yard line. Young continued to make plays when necessary. He found a streaking Xavier Legette for what could have been the game-winning 32-yard touchdown toss. Instead, the rookie receiver dropped the ball, and Carolina failed to finish the drive.

Even with Young playing much better, his targets aren't. Aside from a veteran like Adam Thielen, who's a proven commodity, no one else on the roster managed more than 39 receiving yards during Sunday's contest.

From here, Carolina's path is obvious: The Panthers front office needs to add weapons, particularly at wide receiver, to open up the offense for Young and a burgeoning run game led by Chuba Hubbard.

Jacksonville Jaguars 10, Tennessee Titans 6

Jacksonville Jaguars Lose Even When They Win

The Jacksonville Jaguars snapped a five-game losing streak with Sunday's 10-6 victory over the rival Tennessee Titans. In doing so, the organization is worse off than it would have been with another loss. No one should ever argue that a team is willingly attempting to lose, not when jobs are on the line. The players and coaches are always trying to win.

However, the Jaguars front office also understands the opportunity that could present itself as the silver lining to a lost season. Prior to Sunday's outcome, Jacksonville owned this year's No. 1 overall draft pick. As a team not in the market for a quarterback, the Jags could leverage that selection to receive a windfall of draft picks.

With the New York Giants and Las Vegas Raiders both losing, they now claim the first and second overall picks with 3-11 records. Unlike Jacksonville, New York and Las Vegas do need quarterbacks, and they're now positioned to choose between Colorado's Shedeur Sanders and Miami's Cam Ward.

Granted, the Jaguars are still in the market to add an elite talent, which they'll be well within range to do. But the chance to trade down, add extra assets and still draft a top-end prospect is a far better setup, which is now off the board unless something drastically changes during the final four games of the regular season.

Will Levis Can't Gut His Way Through Offseason to Remain Tennessee Titans' Starting QB

No one is ever going to question Will Levis' toughness. His standing as the Tennessee Titans' starting quarterback is an entirely different matter.

The second-year quarterback told reporters he reaggravated his sprained AC joint during Sunday's contest. Levis threw for only 168 yards during the contest and missed an open Nick Westbrook-Ikhine in the end zone on 4th-and-3 with under 1:15 remaining.

The 25-year-old has thrown for fewer than 200 yards in six of 10 appearances this season. The Titans rank bottom-five in total and scoring defense. Not all of the issues fall on the quarterback, but it's the starting point for building a roster.

Levis may be able to endure a lot and shows a big arm. However, very little indicates he's the long-term solution for Tennessee at the game's most important position.

The question is what the Titans do to address the position. They're not sitting in a slot to draft a quarterback, unless the organization decides to reach for one following a season when no prospect stepped up to seriously claim QB3 status for the 2025 class.

Maybe a strong predraft effort from someone like Alabama's Jalen Milroe places him in the conversation. A choice like that isn't an easy sell—though it's even more difficult to rationalize starting Levis for another campaign.

New Orleans Saints 14, New York Giants 11

Kendre Miller Can Emerge in Saints' Depleted Offense

The New Orleans Saints only scored 14 points in a win over the New York Giants, though running back Kendre Miller flashed enough to earn more snaps in the season's remaining weeks.

In his first appearance since Week 8, Miller recorded 10 carries for 32 yards and a touchdown.

Without wideouts Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed, the Saints may have to rely on their running backs to muster up offensive production. Alvin Kamara and Miller may be the one-two combination to rev up an injured-riddled unit.

Because of Kamara's heavy involvement in the short passing game, Miller can work his way into a timeshare on the ground, handling 10-plus carries per game.

New Orleans may have to rely on its running backs out of necessity in the short term. Saints interim head coach Darren Rizzi told reporters that quarterback Derek Carr injured his left hand and may have to go into concussion protocol.

Giants' Nightmare Season Will Have a Draft Rainbow at the End of It

The Giants have started three quarterbacks this season: Daniel Jones, Tommy DeVito and Drew Lock.

Two weeks ago, Big Blue released Jones, and Lock has taken over the offense as DeVito recovers from a forearm injury. But regardless of who's under center, the Giants offense has looked inept and inefficient. They have scored more than 20 points once since Week 6.

Currently No. 2 in the 2025 draft order, the Giants will likely finish with one of the league's worst records.

In its remaining four games, Big Blue will play teams in the AFC and NFC postseason races. Because of the Giants' subpar quarterback play and a laundry list of injuries across their roster, they may not win another game this season.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers 28, Las Vegas Raiders 13

Aidan O'Connell Injury Likely Ensures Top-Three 2025 Draft Pick for Raiders

Late in the third quarter, Aidan O'Connell suffered an ankle injury. He left the game on a cart with his leg in an air cast.

As of Sunday, Desmond Ridder is the only healthy quarterback on the Raiders' active roster. They have undrafted rookie Carter Bradley on the practice squad.

The Raiders have been reluctant to insert Ridder into the starting lineup, though he finished a couple of games for Gardner Minshew, who's out for the season with a broken collarbone.

O'Connell had momentum following an impressive performance against the Kansas City Chiefs on Black Friday, but he completed 11 of 19 passes for 104 yards and an interception on Sunday before his exit.

In spot duty, Ridder has completed 28 of 44 passes for 239 yards and a touchdown, and he's lost two fumbles.

On one hand, Ridder is more athletic than O'Connell, but he's turnover-prone. If he has to start for the remainder of the season, the Raiders will likely secure a top-three draft pick.

Buccaneers Have the Offensive Firepower, Depth to Compensate for Another Wave of Injuries

Tampa Bay lost a couple of key players in the win over Las Vegas. Running back Bucky Irving and All-Pro safety Antoine Winfield suffered injuries in the first half.

Irving came into the game with hip and back injuries. In his absence, running back Sean Tucker took on a more significant role and finished with 47 scrimmage yards.

The Buccaneers' backfield rotation, which includes Rachaad White, who scored two touchdowns in the win, should be able to keep the ball moving on the ground and in the short passing game.

Early in the season, Winfield missed four games because of a foot injury. Without him, the Buccaneers gave up 16 points in two games and nearly beat the Atlanta Falcons on the road in a shootout.

Moreover, second-year safety Christian Izien has played well and could fill multiple roles in the secondary, similar to Winfield.

At 7-6, Tampa Bay is one game ahead of Atlanta (6-7) for first place in the NFC South. Because the Falcons won the season series, the Buccaneers must stay ahead of them to win the division title, and they're equipped to do that with a deep roster.

Miami Dolphins 32, New York Jets 26

Jets Will Be a Scary Spoiler Team Down the Stretch

On Sunday, the Miami Dolphins eliminated the New York Jets from playoff contention, though Gang Green can play a good spoiler role in the final weeks of the season.

Though the Jets lack discipline, which is reflected in their boneheaded penalties, they score enough points to put better teams on upset alert.

In their last two games, the Jets have led the Seattle Seahawks and Miami Dolphins going into the fourth quarter but lost both contests. They're flawed and dangerous with nothing to lose.

In the final three weeks of the season, Gang Green will play the Los Angeles Rams, Buffalo Bills and Dolphins. All three teams are in races for either home-field advantage or to clinch a playoff spot.

Dolphins Must Tighten Up Defensively Amid Playoff Run

From Weeks 10 to 12, the Dolphins allowed an average of 16.3 points. Even though their offense made headlines, the defense made strides.

However, over the last two games, Miami has allowed 56 points combined to the Green Bay Packers and Jets.

While anyone can understand giving up 30 points to a top-seven scoring offense, the Dolphins allowed the Jets to record their second-highest scoring output of the season.

Perhaps the imminent return of edge-rusher Bradley Chubb boosts the defense. The unit needs help slowing down quarterbacks. Over the last two weeks, Miami has surrendered 674 yards and three touchdown passes to Jordan Love and Aaron Rodgers.

San Francisco 49ers 38, Chicago Bears 13

Isaac Guerendo Finds Footing as San Francisco 49ers' Lead Back

San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan can always spot a quality running back for his offensive system. Fourth-round rookie Isaac Guerendo is the latest example, if he's healthy enough to maintain the spot.

With Christian McCaffrey returning to injured reserve—this time because of a PCL injury—and Jordan Mason dealing with a high-ankle sprain, Guerendo was forced into the Niners' starting lineup Sunday against the Chicago Bears. Shanahan didn't expect a downturn despite the rookie's lack of experience that included only one start at the collegiate level.

"I expect him to fill in and play like a starting running back," Shanahan told reporters earlier in the week. "That's how we look at everything on our team. You'd like to build guys who are a little bit different and have the perfect package to mix them all together. I always want guys who are capable of being a starting back.

"When you're a backup for us, if you're not a guy that we think can be a starting back, we usually don't like you as a backup because it's very rare that not all these guys play."

Guerendo didn't disappoint during his first professional start. This year's 129th overall pick acquitted himself well, with 78 rushing yards and two touchdowns. The running back also caught two passes for 50 yards.

The rookie ball-carrier has always been talented. But he shared a backfield with Braelon Allen and Jawhar Jordan during his time with the Wisconsin Badgers and Louisville Cardinals, respectively.

Unfortunately, Guerendo left the 31-13 victory in the fourth quarter with a foot injury. He went to the locker room and didn't return. Depending on his status, he can continue to be a big part of the 49ers' potential playoff push or be the next hit San Francisco takes to its backfield.

Rookie WR Rome Odunze Provides Glimmer of Hope for Sinking Chicago Bears

The Bears don't have a lot to be happy about after losing their seventh straight contest. In what turned out to be a dominant victory by the 49ers, Rome Odunze's two-touchdown performance is something the transitioning squad can eventually build upon as they look toward the final quarter of the season and move into the offseason.

These Bears have already fired their offensive coordinator and head coach. Those changes didn't matter all that much. The four yards Chicago's offense managed in Sunday's first half were the franchise's worst effort since 2000, per CBS Sports. They've been outgained 594-57 in the first half over the last two contests, according to Pro Football Focus' Steve Palazzolo.

In the second half, Odunze provided some sparks, with four catches for 42 yards and the aforementioned touchdowns. The first score was particularly impressive, as the 6'3" target showed tremendous body control to tiptoe his way into the back of the end zone.

More importantly, this year's ninth overall pick doubled his season's scoring total.

During a campaign when everything has been about Caleb Williams' development as this year's No. 1 pick, Odunze continuing these flashes, even in garbage time, will allow the duo to grow together over time.

Seattle Seahawks 30, Arizona Cardinals 18

Seattle Seahawks Can Find Offensive Identity with Their Ground Game

The Seattle Seahawks offense features one of the league's best wide receiver trios. DK Metcalf is in his prime. Jaxon Smith-Njigba is coming along as a dynamic playmaker. At 32, Tyler Lockett is still a reliable chain-mover.

However, the Seahawks offense has been inefficient. They entered Week 14 ranked 15th in scoring, 16th in total yards and tied for fifth in turnovers.

On Sunday, the Seahawks offense recorded its second-highest scoring total (30) of the season. Second-year running back Zach Charbonnet led the charge in place of Kenneth Walker III, who's battling ankle and calf injuries.

Charbonnet had a career day, racking up 193 scrimmage yards and scoring two touchdowns.

When Walker returns, the Seahawks should employ a run-heavy game plan, which may have been the unit's vision all along.

During the offseason, Metcalf talked about the identity of the offense under play-caller Ryan Grubb.

"Our run game, we're going to run the ball downhill and make the defense stop our run first," Metcalf said.

On Sunday, none of the Seahawks wideouts finished with more than 82 receiving yards. Yet they put together one of their best offensive performances in a win.

Cardinals Have Been Exposed as Playoff Pretenders

The Cardinals shouldn't treat their third consecutive loss as if the sky is falling in Arizona, but they may have peaked early in the season.

From Weeks 7 to 10, the Cardinals won four consecutive games and seemed ready for postseason contention, but they're pretenders in the NFC playoff picture.

Over the last three weeks, the Cardinals have lost by double digits to the Seahawks twice, and they couldn't close out a tight game with the Minnesota Vikings.

The Cardinals have lost their way offensively, averaging 15.3 points in that stretch, and coming off their bye, they're giving up more points each week.

Arizona could bounce back to beat the New England Patriots and Carolina Panthers in the next two weeks, but this team isn't equipped to make a run for a postseason spot.

Los Angeles Rams 44, Buffalo Bills 42

This Rams Offense Is Potent Enough to Worry the NFC Playoff Field

Can the Los Angeles Rams become serious Super Bowl threats? Perhaps not. They've already lost to the Lions, Packers and Eagles this season—though, only the Eagles loss was lopsided—and their defense remains suspect.

Los Angeles has a fairly potent pass rush thanks to young standouts like Jared Verse, Braden Fiske and Kobie Turner. However, the Rams have struggled to slow opposing offenses consistently. L.A. came into Week 14 ranked 21st in yards allowed per carry, 27th in net yards per pass attempt allowed and 25th in total yards allowed.

The Rams defense wasn't particularly good against the Buffalo Bills either. However, Matthew Stafford, Puka Nacua, Cooper Kupp and Kyren Williams put on a display that showed just how dangerous L.A. can be when things are clicking offensively.

While the Rams didn't dominate on the ground, they leaned on the run enough to slow Buffalo's pass rush. Stafford, meanwhile, picked apart a Bills secondary that had been fairly solid for most of the season (eighth in passing yards allowed).

Head coach Sean McVay continually found ways to poke holes in Buffalo's defense, allowing L.A. to trade punches after Hunter Long's punt-block touchdown opened a 10-point lead in the second quarter.

The Rams had to fend off a furious offensive flurry from Buffalo in order to escape with a win and maintain a strong chance of making the postseason. They were able to do so because their offense was virtually unstoppable.

And offensive performances like Sunday's are exactly why teams shouldn't be thrilled about the idea of seeing Los Angeles in the postseason.

Bills' Loss Creates Serious Questions About Which Team Is the Best in the AFC

Quarterback Josh Allen put another strong performance on his MVP resume by keeping Buffalo in the game almost single-handedly. Seriously, he was that good and might have locked up the MVP race had his efforts resulted in a victory.

Allen threw for 342 yards, rushed for 82 yards and found the end zone six total times.

However, the Bills shouldn't be worried about individual accolades at this point. Allen has been one of the league's top quarterbacks for several years now, and yet, Buffalo has repeatedly failed to deliver in the postseason.

For much of this season, though, it felt like this might finally be Buffalo's year. Only a few days ago, the Bills might have at least been considered the top team in the AFC. They were on a seven-game winning streak, steamrolled the 49ers last Sunday night and beat the Chiefs, fairly convincingly, three weeks ago.

That head-to-head win meant that Buffalo only needed to make up a game on Kansas City to earn the No. 1 seed.

Sunday's loss, however, exposed the fact that Buffalo's defense isn't built to play from behind. The Bills came into Week 14 ranked 30th in yards allowed per carry. While Buffalo's secondary has largely been reliable, it has struggled in losses to the Baltimore Ravens, Houston Texans, and now, the Rams.

Bad defense wasn't the only issue for Buffalo on Sunday either. Sean McDermott's decision to run the ball on Buffalo's final touchdown—and the ensuing decision to waste a timeout and essentially necessitate an onside-kick attempt—all but sealed the loss.

For as good as the Bills have looked at times, it's entirely fair to wonder if they can win three elimination games to get to the Super Bowl. And if Buffalo isn't the best team in the conference, who is?

The Chiefs have been scraping by, as of late, and Baltimore's defense is even more suspect than the Bills'. The Texans haven't been nearly as consistent as they were a year ago, and the Steelers seem to have a tendency to play to the level of their competition.

Right now, the AFC simply feels like a conference in which no team appears capable of staking its claim as the best.

Kansas City Chiefs 19, Los Angeles Rams 17

Chiefs Know How to Win In Close Scenarios Which Bodes Well for Another Super Bowl

How you view this year's Kansas City Chiefs depends on whether you're a person who believe the glass if half-full or half-empty. Yes, the 2024 Chiefs aren't as dynamic or deep at every level of their roster as previous seasons. Conversely, Patrick Mahomes and Co. continue to find ways to win.

With Sunday's 19-17 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers, Kansas City clinched its ninth consecutive AFC West title. The Chiefs have also won 15 straight contests decided by one score.

"We won the division. That's the first step," Mahomes said during a postgame interview on NBC. "We got a lot more goals to go for. We're going to keep going, getting better and hopefully keep winning football games."

To the quarterback's point, the Chiefs are far from perfect. They have issues along their offensive line, with D.J. Humphries now starting at left tackle. The Chargers hit Mahomes on 13 different occasions. Wide receiver remains an issue for the back-to-back Super Bowl champs. Furthermore, the secondary took a significant hit when cornerback Joshua Williams suffered a chest injury.

Three common denominators keep the Chiefs on the right path, though.

Mahomes, Travis Kelce and Chris Jones bring a well of experience and game-changing talent. Even when things are breaking down, those three are like magic erasers. They make plays when necessary, as Mahomes and Kelce did once again when they connected on 3rd-and-7 during the Chiefs final draft, which allowed Kansas City to salt away the rest of the clock.

If Kansas City remains within striking range, the Chiefs hold the advantage. Too many opponents fail to put them away, thus costing potential victories. That's exactly how the Chiefs like it, and it should serve them well when trying to achieve the NFL's first-ever three-peat.

Kansas City Chiefs Expose Potential Weakness in Los Angeles Chargers' Standout Defense

At 8-5, the Chargers remain in the wildcard mix. However, opponents will watch Sunday's tape against the Chiefs and see how Andy Reid's play-calling exploited the league's best scoring defense.

Los Angeles harassed Mahomes throughout the first half. As mentioned earlier, the Chargers continually hit and pressured their nemesis. Reid adjusted, though. The Chiefs began to spread the field and get the ball out quickly.

As NFL Next Gen Stats noted, Mahomes completed 17-of-19 passes in the quick game (under 2.5 seconds before release). The Chargers are talented at all three levels. But they still have a pair of rookies playing huge minutes in the secondary.

Obviously, no other team has Mahomes pulling the strings. The next two matchups could still be extremely difficult when facing the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' Baker Mayfield and Denver Broncos' Bo Nix—both of whom who can be deadly when working in rhythm and getting the ball out quickly.

The Indianapolis Colts and Miami Dolphins are two games behind the three 8-5 wildcard squads. Even so, a quick swing could happen if the Chargers don't take care of business.

Detroit Lions 34, Green Bay Packers 31

Lions Have the NFC's Best Record, but They Aren't the NFC's Best Team

Before we go any further, let's make something clear: What the Detroit Lions have done this season is impressive.

After downing the Green Bay Packers 34-31 on a last-second field goal, they have won 11 straight. At 12-1, this is the most successful Detroit team at this point in the regular season in the franchise's storied history.

By season's end, the 2024 Lions will all but certainly be able to boast of the best regular season Detroit has ever had. Jared Goff may be the most underrated quarterback in football. The offense is loaded. The O-line is stout.

This team could absolutely advance to Super Bowl LIX, especially with home-field advantage in the NFC playoffs. The Lions could win the Lombardi Trophy. The team has 100 percent bought into Dan Campbell's aggressiveness and toughness.

But it wouldn't be surprising to see these Lions lose their first playoff game, because the defense is a genuine concern.

Yes, the Packers had fewer than 300 yards of total offense Thursday night. They also had a fistful of big plays and scored 31 points. And that was on a night when Green Bay quarterback Jordan Love didn't play especially well.

The front seven in Detroit has been eviscerated by injuries. The pass rush is all but non-existent, and the secondary is most assuredly not good enough to cover opposing receivers all day because of that non-existent pass rush.

The Lions and Philadelphia Eagles appear to be on a collision course for the NFC title game. But while both have offenses that can score at any moment, Philly also has the league's No. 1 defense.

As good as the Lions are, Detroit needs the Ford Field crowd to rattle Jalen Hurts and get the Eagles offense out of sync. Because in a vacuum, Philadelphia has a much better chance of making defensive plays than what's left of the defense in Motown.

Packers Need More from Jordan Love to Make any Noise in the Postseason

At first glance, Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love had a solid game Thursday night against the Lions: 206 passing yards, a touchdown and a passer rating of 111.7.

The Packers gave the Lions all they could handle in Detroit.

In the end, though, it wasn't enough. The Packers are headed for wild-card status and onto the road for the playoffs. And if they are to do any more than make a token appearance before bowing out, they need more from their young quarterback.

Love's numbers may look OK, but almost all that damage was done after halftime. His first half was, well, a mess.

The Packers were fortunate to only be down 10 at intermission.

Part of the problem may not even be Love himself. The fourth-year pro attempted just 20 passes against the Lions. He hasn't attempted 30 in a game since Green Bay's home loss to the same Lions a month ago—a game in which he had his lowest passer rating of the season.

Either the 26-year-old isn't getting into a rhythm because the play-calling isn't letting him, or the play-calling is conservative (24 run plays Thursday) because the coaching staff doesn't fully trust him. Either way we wind up back at the same spot.

Love has to play better.

Green Bay has a plethora of young pass-catchers, an excellent running back, a decent offensive line and defense. But against the NFC's best in the postseason, the Packers will go as far as Love takes them.

Right now, that looks like one and done.