2023 B/R NFL Power Rankings: Where Does Every Team Stand Entering Week 15?

The stretch run for the 2023 regular season is underway—and Week 14 featured no shortage of games that had a major impact on the playoff race.

In Cincinnati, Jake Browning's star turn continued as the Bengals pounded the Indianapolis Colts. In Atlanta, the Buccaneers created a three-way quagmire atop the NFC South with a win over the Falcons. In Cleveland, Joe Flacco (no, really) led the Browns to a big win over the slumping Jaguars. In Baltimore and San Francisco, two of the league's best teams kept winning at home. In New York, the playoff hopes of the Houston Texans took a thumping courtesy of a blowout loss to the Jets. In Kansas City, the Chiefs were stunned by the Buffalo Bills in a game that came with a controversial ending.

And in the week's showcase game, the Dallas Cowboys created a tie atop the NFC East—while the Philadelphia Eagles got the brakes beaten off them for the second week in a row.

As is the case every week in the NFL, Week 14 featured action and surprises in equal measure, and the league's pecking order got the snow-globe treatment as a result. As happens every week here at Bleacher Report, NFL Analysts Gary Davenport, Maurice Moton and Brent Sobleski have gathered to examine the week that was and slot the league's teams No. 32 to No. 1.

One thing hasn't changed—and that's the team at the bottom of the league.

Last Week: 32

Week 14 Result: Lost at New Orleans 28-6

Things just get better and better for the one-win Carolina Panthers.

Sunday in New Orleans, the Saints managed just 206 yards of total offense—and still blew the Panthers out. Carolina quarterback Bryce Young continues to struggle, having completed just 13 of 36 passes for 137 yards. Young was sacked four times, and the team botched a punt that resulted in a New Orleans touchdown.

Carolina interim head coach Chris Tabor acknowledged to reporters that the Panthers haven't done much right of late.

"We shot ourselves in the foot and made catastrophic mistakes," Tabor said. "Everything's frustrating if I can be completely honest. How are you going to handle it? It's tough after this loss, but we have to keep going."

Quarterback Bryce Young stated the obvious after arguably his worst game as a pro—the team is sick and tired of losing every week.

"We're all sick of it," Young said. "We're all tired of it. But that doesn't entitle us to anything. It's on us ultimately why we're there. We have to do a better job to prevent that, so no matter how tired we are, we got to be better."

The Panthers may be tired, but there has been zero indication that anything is going to change for them any time soon.

This is a bad football team.

Last Week: 30

Week 14 Result: Bye Week

Positive momentum hasn't been easy for the Arizona Cardinals to come by in 2023. But after downing the Steelers in convincing fashion in Pittsburgh in Week 13, the Redbirds finally managed some heading into the bye week.

The win makes the Cardinals 2-2 since quarterback Kyler Murray returned to the lineup, and he told reporters that with each successive game, he's feeling more and more like himself.

"Every time I touch the field I expect to win," Murray said. "Obviously, I'm still frustrated with the two losses, and me playing and dealing with those losses, but I was talking to 'Is' (quarterbacks coach Israel Woolfork) and this is technically preseason for me, four weeks into the season. I told him it was starting to slow down for me and getting more comfortable, and I just feel better out there right now. Hopefully, we can keep getting better and keep continuing to grow."

These last four games may well be the biggest of Murray's NFL career. The Cardinals are in the mix for a high enough draft pick to at least consider hitting the reset button under center, as expensive though that may be.

The much easier scenario for the organization is building around the quarterback it gave a $230.5 million contract.

Last Week: 31

Week 14 Result: Won at Pittsburgh 21-18

We don't mean to cause undue concern, but we may be in the opening stages of an alien invasion. The pod people may be among us.

Because the New England Patriots team that took the field in Pittsburgh Sunday certainly didn't look like the team we've seen most of this season. The Patriots scored 21 points in the first half Sunday—more than the Pats had scored in their last three entire games combined.

Veteran center David Andrews remembers a time when the Patriots were expected to score 21 points in a half. And he told reporters after the game that while this season hasn't gone according to plan, there was never any quit in the New England locker room.

"No one has quit in this locker room," Andrews. said "We're fighting. We're working. We're trying to get better. That's all you can do. That's all you can ask for. It hasn't been perfect."

"Hasn't been perfect" is the understatement of the year. The Patriots remain dead last in the league in scoring, averaging a meager 13 points per game. And there are likely seismic changes coming for a franchise that was the model of stability for two decades.

But for one week at least, the Patriots have reason to smile.

"Thursday's outcome couldn't have been more perfect for the Patriots," Sobleski said. "New England beat the Pittsburgh Steelers on a short week under the spotlight of a national audience after turning to Bailey Zappe at quarterback. More importantly, the victory didn't hurt the franchise's draft standing. Zappe played well with three touchdown passes. But the Patriots are still very much in the quarterback market. Even with the win, they still own the second overall pick for the 2024 NFL draft, which they could use on whoever is available between North Carolina's Drake Maye and USC's Caleb Williams. But room for improvement is now tricky since the Arizona Cardinals feature the same record. No team wants to lose, especially one led by Bill Belichick. But it really is in the Patriots' best interests not to win another game."

Last Week: 29

Week 14 Result: Bye Week

By just about any objective measure, the 2023 season has been a disaster in Washington. In fact, even some of the things have appeared to go right come with an uneasy undercurrent.

With Commanders quarterback Sam Howell pacing the NFC in passing yardage, one would think offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy's performance would be a bright spot. But per Jeremy Fowler and John Keim of ESPN, Bieniemy's long practices and meetings have ruffled some feathers among the players—something Bieniemy has no intention of apologizing for.

"I'm never going to change who I am," Bieniemy said. "I've always been like this. I'm going to be your biggest fan, but I'm also going to be your harshest critic. I know everybody's not perfect, but one thing that they can control is their effort and their attitude."

A house-cleaning is coming in the nation's capital. Head coach Ron Rivera is going to be gone after the season. General manager Martin Mayhew will follow. That's as certain as death and taxes.

The question is whether Bieniemy has done enough with the offense to merit serious consideration as Rivera's successor—and whether Howell has done enough to be the team's starting quarterback in 2024.

Last Week: 24

Week 14 Result: Lost vs. Minnesota 3-0

In a season with its share of lows, the Las Vegas Raiders hit a new one Sunday—shut out 3-0 by the Vikings in the lowest-scoring NFL game in 16 years.

After the listless effort, Raiders interim head coach Antonio Pierce didn't pull any punches while talking to the media.

"No excuse there," Pierce said. "It is shocking. Plenty of time to prepare for an opponent. They did nothing new. Poor coaching. Poor performance by the players."

Bleacher Report's resident expert on all things silver and black didn't pull any punches either.

"The Raiders offense may have less fizz than a soda left on the kitchen counter for five days. Coming out of a bye week, they scored zero points against the Minnesota Vikings in Week 14. Las Vegas has scored 17 or fewer points in four straight contests," he said. "As the head coach, Antonio Pierce has to accept some of the blame for the team's inept offense along with offensive coordinator Bo Hardegree, who didn't call plays to challenge the Vikings defense 10 yards beyond the line of scrimmage. After two wins and three consecutive losses under Pierce, the Raiders are likely headed toward another campaign without a winning record or playoff berth and a basement-dwelling spot in our power rankings."

Things could be even worse—running back Josh Jacobs left the game with a knee injury, and with the Raiders playing on a short week against the similarly banged-up Los Angeles Chargers, he's all but certainly going to be sidelined in Week 15.

Last Week: 27

Week 14 Result: Won vs. Houston 30-6

There was no more surprising outcome Sunday than the New York Jets steamrolling the Houston Texans Sunday. The Texans had worked their way into playoff contention in the AFC South, while the Jets had lost five straight and cycled through a carousel of dismal quarterbacks.

Zach Wilson was one of the horses on that carousel, but a funny thing happened on the way to another terrible outing. Wilson played well against the Texans, especially in the second half—27 completions in 36 attempts for 301 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions.

Wilson's performance drew praise from head coach Robert Saleh.

"The second half, I thought Zach probably played the best game of his career," Saleh told reporters. "I thought he was outstanding today."

Wide receiver Garrett Wilson, who had his best game in weeks, echoed those sentiments.

"I mean, he balled, man," Wilson said. "Zach went crazy today."

One good game isn't going to salvage what has become a lost season in New York. And we've seen this before from Wilson—one good game here and there.

But given how miserable the past month-plus has been, the Jets will take good news any way they can get it.

"Last Sunday, the Jets thumped the Texans 30-6 thanks in large part to Wilson." Moton said. "Gang Green isn't going to surge the power rankings with its first win in six weeks, but Wilson needed a strong performance after he lost his starting job to Tim Boyle a few weeks ago. Assuming Aaron Rodgers doesn't return to play, with the Jets near the bottom of the AFC standings, Wilson will have four weeks to show steady progress and any potential left in his game. Gang Green has a low ceiling with Wilson, but he's done enough to keep some Jets fans intrigued with his development."

Last Week: 28

Week 14 Result: Won vs. Green Bay 24-22

You cannot stop Tommy DeVito. You can only hope to contain him.

Ahead of Monday's meeting with the Green Bay Packers, Giants running back Saquon Barkley admitted to reporters even he was enjoying the story of DeVito—the 25-year-old backup quarterback who lives with his parents who had guided the Giants to back-to-back wins.

"I love the whole storyline," said Barkley. "I love that he's from Jersey, he lives with his parents, and he's the starting quarterback of the New York Giants. That whole thing is something I'd do in Madden. I would go and draft or pick an undrafted guy and put him on my team and just make him into a superstar."

As it turns out, the legend of "Tommy Cutlets" is only just beginning.

It's all just so surreal. But lost in the memes and the nickname is the fact that DeVito is playing well—he had just four incompletions Monday night and posted a passer rating over 110 while adding 71 yards on the ground. When it was time for DeVito to lead the Giants on a game-winning drive late, he didn't flinch.

These wins have all come far too late for it to save New York's season. But DeVito is certainly giving fans in New York something to cheer as the season winds down.

Last Week: 22

Week 14 Result: Lost vs. Denver 24-7

The Los Angeles Chargers were already in big trouble. At 5-7, the team's playoff chances were hanging by a thread.

Sunday at SoFi Stadium, that thread snapped.

It's not just that the Chargers got rolled 24-7. The team also lost starting quarterback Justin Herbert to a finger injury.

The injury turned out to be a fractured index finger on his throwing hand. With just four games remaining in the season, that sort of injury is probably season-ending. But Herbert told reporters that if there's a chance he can play, he will.

"It's something that we'll know more [about] as the week goes on," Herbert said, via Jeff Miller of the Los Angeles Times. "If there's any chance to play, I'll do everything I can to be out there. I'm going to do everything I can in the treatment room to get back to 100 percent. You feel bad for hanging the team out like that. You never want to be taken out of the game."

Herbert's attitude is commendable. But the Chargers' postseason hopes are toast. There's no reason to risk really injuring Herbert's hand by rolling him out there. And with surgery on tap Tuesday, the odds he plays again in 2023 are slim.

At this point, the bigger question may be if Brandon Staley's tenure as head coach of the Bolts is toast as well.

Last Week: 26

Week 14 Result: Won vs. Detroit 28-13

These last five games for the Chicago Bears are critically important—not because the Bears are vying for a playoff spot, but because the team may well have the first overall pick in 2024.

The Bears need to figure out what to do with quarterback Justin Fields.

If Sunday's win over the NFC North-leading Lions was any indication, perhaps the Bears should consider building around the young signal-caller rather than starting over under center. It wasn't a flawless performance against Detroit, but Fields turned it on in the second half—making plays with his arm and his legs on the way to a two-score win.

As Josh Schrock wrote for NBC Sports Chicago, if Fields could play consistently the way he did in that second half, the Bears may be on to something.

"With these final five games potentially setting the tone of the Bears' offseason quarterback plan," he said, "Fields' second half was a window into what is possible. If the Bears can get that to be the four-quarter norm—(offensive coordinator Luke) Getsy owns a big role in that—that will open up a multitude of options this offseason with Fields entrenched as the starting quarterback."

Of course, the issue all along has been getting Fields to play well consistently.

Last Week: 25

Week 14 Result: Won at Miami 28-27

Will Levis had his coming-out party Monday night.

After a pair of costly gaffes, the Titans trailed the Miami Dolphins by 14 with three minutes to play. Since 2016, teams in that scenario were 0-767.

Make that 1-767. And while Levis doesn't deserve all the credit for Tennessee's miraculous comeback, he looked nothing like a rookie while guiding the Titans to two quick scoring drives to stun one of the AFC's best teams in their house.

After the victory, Levis told reporters that he enjoyed the opportunity to show a national audience what the Titans are capable of.

"Awesome. We knew we had an opportunity to do something special tonight on national television. Probably our last prime time game. Hope America liked what they saw," Levis said.

"Where the 2023 season is concerned, this win changes little in Nashville," Davenport said. "But where 2024 is concerned, it could mean a lot. Maybe firing head coach Mike Vrabel isn't such a great idea given how this team fought. The Titans appear to have their heir apparent to running back Derrick Henry in Tyjae Spears. And most importantly, Tennessee has a quarterback in Levis who just cemented his role as next year's starter under center—emphatically."

Last Week: 21

Week 14 Result: Won vs. Carolina 28-6

Given that New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek Carr threw for just 119 yards against the Carolina Panthers and the Saints managed just 207 yards of total offense, one might assume that the Saints' offensive woes had continued into Week 14. Carr even got into a dust-up with center Erik McCoy after a sack.

But Carr threw for a pair of touchdown passes, the Saints scored on special teams, and nothing cures what ails a team quite like playing the one-win Panthers.

While addressing the media after the blowout victory, Carr downplayed the exchange with his center as just two players caught up in the heat of competition.

"I'm not trying to be negative," Carr said.

"There really is nothing wrong," Carr added. "We had a moment. I've had some of those moments in my 10 years a lot of times, with a coach, with a teammate, somebody. You always circle back and make it right and keep going."

To be clear, the Saints still have issues on offense. But at 6-7, New Orleans is in the mix in the NFC South. And with games at Tampa and home against Atlanta to close out the season, the Saints have control over their destiny in the division.

"Somehow, the New Orleans Saints lost the total yards battle 303-207 to the Carolina Panthers," Moton said. "In fairness, quarterback Derek Carr played through a rib injury, and he didn't have two of his top wide receivers, Michael Thomas (knee) and Rashid Shaheed (thigh). Versatile tight end Taysom Hill also missed the contest with hand and foot injuries. With that said, the Saints offense had been inconsistent before dealing with key injuries. Head coach Dennis Allen's defense may have to carry this squad to the playoffs."

Last Week: 18

Week 14 Result: Lost vs. New England 21-18

The Pittsburgh Steelers have problems—plural.

Two weeks ago, the Steelers were a 7-4 team in the thick of the playoff chase in the AFC. Now, the team is 7-6 and hanging on by a thread.

It's not just that the Steelers have lost two straight. They lost two straight to a pair of two-win teams in the Cardinals and Patriots. An offense that has struggled most of the season turtled again, managing just 264 yards with Mitch Trubisky under center. Star edge-rushers T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith are both now in concussion protocol.

And despite never having coached a losing season in Pittsburgh, head coach Mike Tomlin may suddenly be on the hot seat.

"Enough with adhering religiously to what daddy and granddaddy did," Mark Madden wrote for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. "When the coach deserves to be fired, fire him. Never changing coaches is supposed to give the Steelers stability. Do these Steelers look stable to you? Tomlin's more recent failings have added up to a bad career. Tomlin belongs nowhere near the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He's a fraud. He started fast with somebody else's players, somebody else's leaders and somebody else's culture. But Tomlin hasn't had a playoff win in the last six seasons. He's not had a playoff win in 12 of his previous 16 seasons."

Yikes. Tell us how you really feel, Mark.

Last Week: 19

Week 14 Result: Lost vs. Tampa Bay 29-25

There have been multiple opportunities this season for the Atlanta Falcons to establish themselves as the "best" team in the NFC South. But seemingly every time that opportunity has presented itself, the Falcons have faltered.

The same thing happened Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Falcons had a late lead and a chance to open up a two-game lead over Tampa and get above .500. But the Falcons faltered, and now the top of the NFL's weakest division is a three-team tie.

While addressing the media after the game, Falcons head coach Arthur Smith said it was frustrating to come up short in what appeared to be a winnable game.

"We had plenty of opportunities in all three phases," Smith said. "We're frustrated losing like that."

"At least Arthur Smith finally used his offensive weapons Sunday," Davenport said. "Wide receiver Drake London, tight end Kyle Pitts and running back Bijan Robinson all played major roles against Tampa. But that has been more exception than rule—Smith's offensive scheme is bland and uninspired. Partly that may be due to the team's limitations under center, but that just underscores what the Falcons need to do in 2024—go shopping for both a new head coach and an upgrade at quarterback. Can we interest you in a gently used Jake Browning?"

Last Week: 15

Week 14 Result: Won at Las Vegas 3-0

Without question, the most exciting game of Week 14 took place in Las Vegas, a thrilling back-and-forth affair between the Raiders and Minnesota Vikings.

Just kidding. The Vikings and Raiders actually played a "game" that was an affront to the sport of football—the lowest-scoring NFL game in 16 years.

It was a hideous affair, but Vikings quarterback Nick Mullens (who replaced the ineffective Josh Dobbs) told reporters he'll take a win any way he can get one.

"You never know when your name is going to be called, but you prepare and work as hard as you can and trust that there's a plan out there for you," Mullens said. "I did that, stepped in. The guys did an incredible job. ... It doesn't matter what it looks like. A win is a win."

"Based on perspective, you could say the Vikings pulled off a gritty 3-0 road win over the Raiders, but in reality, their offense has put together subpar performances going back to Week 11. Minnesota has failed to score more than 20 points in three consecutive outings," Moton said. "On Sunday, the Vikings benched quarterback Joshua Dobbs for Nick Mullens, who helped lead the offense into field-goal range for the game-winning kick. Because of the Vikings' questions under center, they're not going to make much movement in the power rankings. They must address a quarterback controversy, which will significantly impact their push for a playoff spot."

Last Week: 23

Week 14 Result: Won at Atlanta 29-25

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers had an opportunity Sunday to really muddy up the NFC South, which has become the division no one wants to win. And while it wasn't a pretty effort by any stretch of the imagination, Tampa came back to force a three-way tie atop the NFC South when Baker Mayfield found a wide-open Cade Otton with less than a minute to play.

Mayfield told reporters it was an easy throw to make, largely because the Falcons were devoting so much attention to wide receivers Mike Evans and Chris Godwin.

"We knew down there in the red zone, they were going to take Mike and Chris away," Mayfield said. "So, Cade had a one-on-one."

Still, Otton credited his quarterback for putting the ball where it needed to be.

"Baker put up a perfect ball," Otton said. "It's such a satisfying win. It didn't go great the whole game, but we believed and we fought."

The Buccaneers have been all over the place this year—3-1 before the bye week, but just 3-6 since. However, the Bucs have won two straight, and next week's trip to Lambeau Field to face the Packers is a now a critically important game.

"The NFC South is terrible," Sobleski said. "It's easily the worst division in the NFL. However, the Buccaneers are currently the best of a bad lot. At 6-7, Tampa Bay is the only division leader with a losing record and it is hanging on by tiebreakers, since the Atlanta Falcons and New Orleans Saints sport the same record. To the Bucs' credit, they overcame adversity Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons to find themselves in their current position. When trailing by three with just over three minutes to play, Tampa Bay and quarterback Baker Mayfield orchestrated a 12-play, 75-yard drive that resulted in the game-winning touchdown to tight end Cade Otton. During the drive, the Bucs converted a third down and a fourth down to keep momentum going. The significance of the moment shouldn't be overlooked since it is Tampa Bay's first win when trailing with under a minute to go this season."

Last Week: 11

Week 14 Result: Lost at San Francisco 28-16

The 2023 season is getting away from the Seattle Seahawks.

After falling to the San Francisco 49ers for the second time in three weeks, the Seahawks have dropped four straight and five of six after a 5-2 start. With an injured Geno Smith on the shelf, Drew Lock drew the start, and while he told reporters it was great to be starting for the first time since 2021, it was bittersweet given the outcome of the game.

"I think it was a blast being out there again," Lock said. "I'm trying to balance the feeling of just finally playing again and how good that feels and also not getting it done."

Safety Julian Love isn't ready to throw in any towels just yet.

"You can fall victim to your circumstances, or you can rally," Love said. "We have four more opportunities in the regular season, and we have to capture them. Everything we can get is in front of us still, thankfully. There are two ways to go. Each person in that locker room needs to decide what they're going to do."

With the team's starting quarterback banged up and the team piling up the losses, the Seahawks will officially be in desperation mode this week at Lumen Field against an angry Philadelphia Eagles team.

Last Week: 14

Week 14 Result: Lost at New York Giants 24-22

The Green Bay Packers entered Monday night's matchup with the New York Giants as one of the hotter teams in the NFL. Winners of four of five, the Packers had gone from dead in the water to back in the postseason hunt.

Quarterback Jordan Love had played a major role in that resurgence, in part by taking care of the football. But as Ryan Wood wrote for Packers News, Monday he made a pair of costly mistakes.

"During the win streak," he said, "Love had eight touchdown passes without a turnover. On Monday, Love made a pair of costly mistakes. The first came when he fumbled while trying to convert a third-and-2 with his legs. Love had a potential first down if he kept stretching the play wide right, but he didn't follow Kraft's block. Instead, Love cut inside and was met by a pair of Giants tacklers, losing the football before he fell to the ground. Later, Love tried to force a deep shot to Wicks down the right side, but he underthrew the pass while under pressure and was intercepted. Love's talent was still evident as it's been in recent weeks. The quarterback's top priority is always taking care of the football."

Granted, the Packers were without two top weapons in running back Aaron Jones and wide receiver Christian Watson. But this was a game Green Bay was expected to win—and one that could come back to haunt them a month from now.

Last Week: 15

Week 14 Result: Lost at Baltimore 37-31 (OT)

There are no moral victories in the NFL. But if there were, the Los Angeles Rams would have earned one Sunday. The Rams did in Week 14 what playoff contenders like the Seattle Seahawks and Detroit Lions could not—give the Ravens everything they could handle at M&T Bank Stadium.

After the overtime loss (which ended on a punt-return touchdown, because ouch), Rams head coach Sean McVay tried to find the silver lining in a soul-crusher that would have gotten the Rams above .500 and into a better standing in the NFC wild-card race.

"Give the Ravens credit for finding a way," McVay said. "There were some opportunities, but we made a lot of plays to stay in that game and there will be some opportunities for us as a team."

Still, in some respects, a 6-7 record through 13 games is something of a success for the Rams. This team wasn't expected to do anything in 2023. Young players like wide receiver Puka Nacua, running back Kyren Williams and edge-rusher Byron Young have emerged as key contributors. Matthew Stafford isn't getting any younger, but the 35-year-old has shown this year that he isn't washed, either.

With a successful offseason and their first first-rounder since Jared Goff in 2016, these Rams could be rebuilt a lot faster than most expected six months ago.

Last Week: 13

Week 14 Result: Lost at Cincinnati 34-14

The Indianapolis Colts entered Week 14 one of the hottest teams in the league after winning four straight.

They left it wondering what the heck happened after getting rolled by the Bengals in Cincinnati.

Head coach Shane Steichen said the Colts were their own worst enemy Sunday.

"A lot of self-inflicted stuff," Steichen told reporters. "Penalties in critical situations and some misfortune stuff that happened out there today. It was just kind of an avalanche of stuff that happened that we can't allow to happen going forward."

However, Gregg Doyel of the Indy Star wrote that it may well be the Colts are a mediocre team that was exposed Sunday.

"The Colts won those four games in a row," he said. "We saw them happen. They won with weird things like a pair of Kenny Moore pick-6's against Carolina and a pair blocked punts against Tennessee. They won against a delightfully terrible New England team that scored just six points. They won against Tampa Bay thanks to some shenanigans from coach Shane Steichen. In real time, that looked like a four-game winning streak, period, end of story. Today? After this loss in Cincinnati full of turnovers, stupid penalties and brutal mistakes? Maybe that winning streak was smoke. Maybe it was mirrors. Maybe this team isn't very good after all."

Last Week: 20

Week 14 Result: Won vs. Indianapolis 34-14

When Joe Burrow went down with a season-ending wrist injury, most assumed that the Bengals' season went down with him.

But what they did not take into account is the immortal greatness that is Jake Browning.

For the second week in a row, Browning looked a lot less like a backup quarterback and a lot more like a legitimate NFL starter. Playing a Colts team that had won four straight entering Week 14, Browning completed 18 of 24 passes for 275 yards and two scores with a passer rating north of 120. While speaking to reporters after the game, wide receiver Tee Higgins said the team has rallied around the fifth-year veteran.

"He's playing his butt off," Higgins said. "He's playing like a true No. 1 quarterback, and that's all you can ask for."

It hasn't just been Browning. Running backs Joe Mixon and Chase Brown both surpassed 100 yards from scrimmage in the game. Cincinnati's defense limited the Colts to just 272 yards of offense.

"Let's not get carried away—the Bengals aren't going to go on some miracle playoff run with Browning and make their second Super Bowl in three years," Davenport said. "But this is a team that could have just packed it in after Burrow got hurt, but instead they have rallied around Browning and have a legitimate chance to make the playoffs. In Browning's three starts he's completed 69 of 87 passes for 856 yards with four touchdowns an two interceptions and a 113.4 passer rating. The Bengals are 2-1 in Browning's three starts, with both wins coming over teams in the playoff hunt. The schedule down the stretch isn't easy, but don't count Cincinnati out."

Last Week: 9

Week 14 Result: Lost at New York Jets 30-6

The Houston Texans have been one of the surprise success stories of the 2023 season. But if the Texans wind up coming up short of the playoffs, they will likely look back to this Week 14 blowout as the game where things got away from them.

The Texans didn't just lose to a bad Jets team Sunday—they were pounded. Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud had arguably his worst game as a pro, completing fewer than half his passes for just 91 yards. Injury was added to insult as well—Stroud was placed in the league's concussion protocol in the fourth quarter after taking a shot from defensive tackle Quinnen Williams.

While talking to reporters after the loss, tight end Brevin Jordan admitted that losing Stroud would be a major blow to Houston's postseason aspirations.

"He's really like the light of our team," Jordan said. "He's a guy who came in here and brought a lot of moxie, a lot of swag. To see him go down is tough, but it's football. The next man got to be up and ready to go."

Houston had just 135 yards of offense, converted just one of 12 third downs and allowed a 300-yard passing game to Zach Wilson.

It was an ugly day all around.

Last Week: 12

Week 14 Result: Won at Los Angeles Chargers 24-7

The Denver Broncos are in the mix in the AFC West.

Not that long ago, that notion would have seemed ridiculous. When the Broncos lost to the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 6, the team was 1-5. Now, after trouncing the Chargers in Los Angeles, the Broncos have peeled off six wins in seven games to move within a game of the Chiefs in the division.

Sunday's win snapped an 11-game road losing streak inside the division, but quarterback Russell Wilson told reporters that the team can't afford to take its foot off the gas now.

"We're in a horse race. We're three quarters the way through and we have to finish last quarter strong," Wilson said.

"While the Kansas City Chiefs are faltering down the stretch, the Broncos are thriving," Sobleski said. "Denver has won six of its last seven games, owns the same record as the two squads currently sitting in the last two AFC wild-card spots and finds itself one game behind the Chiefs in the AFC West. Keep in mind that KC has won seven straight division titles. Sean Payton's squad has a legitimate chance to emerge from the wreckage of last year, plus the start of this season, and do something special. The Broncos' schedule is manageable, too. Once Denver gets past the Detroit Lions, who are coming off a loss to the Chicago Bears, the Broncos' final three opponents own a combined 13-26 record. Don't be surprised if Payton backs up all the talk from the offseason and leads his team to a division crown in his first season as head coach."

Last Week: 10

Week 14 Result: Won at Kansas City 20-17

After losing three of four heading into the bye week to fall to .500 for the season, there wasn't a team in the NFL that needed a win in Week 14 more than the Buffalo Bills. And as if that wasn't enough pressure, the Bills had to go to Arrowhead to try to get that win against the defending Super Bowl champions.

The Bills got that win—and in doing so, the team may well have saved its season.

While speaking to reporters after the game, cornerback Rasul Douglas said that while the Bills never lost their confidence, it was good to show on the field that confidence wasn't misplaced.

"I think that's what we needed to do," Douglas said. "You know how it's easy for you to say something like, 'Oh, this is who I am, or this is what I am,' but until you do it, it's like, do you actually believe that that's who you are? So, I think that's something that we needed and I'm glad we got it and I feel like that will help us."

The Bills are back above .500, but if the season ended today, they would not make the playoffs. And with the red-hot Dallas Cowboys headed to Western New York next week, Buffalo still has precious little margin for error.

Last Week: 17

Week 14 Result: Won vs. Jacksonville 31-27

There hasn't been a team in the NFL hit harder by injuries this season than the Cleveland Browns. The team's starting quarterback (Deshaun Watson) and best offensive player (running back Nick Chubb) are both lost for the season. But the Browns may have found a hero who can ride in and rescue the team at a position that been a nightmare since 1999.

That hero? Joe Flacco.

No, really. Joe Flacco.

In his second start with the Browns, Flacco threw for 311 yards and three scores, Star edge-rusher Myles Garrett admitted to reporters that when the 38-year-old first arrived in Cleveland, he wasn't sure what Flacco had left.

You can consider him converted now.

"He's one of us," Garrett said. "And as long as he continues what he's doing, he's going to stay one of us. The guy doing it all. He's just giving it all for this team and got respect from the rest of the guys as well."

The Browns have one of the best pass defenses in the league, picking off Trevor Lawrence three times Sunday. Cleveland remains committed to the run game with Jerome Ford and Kareem Hunt. With just competent quarterback play, the Browns have shown they can beat good teams.

Cleveland may not be a Super Bowl contender. But they are becoming that team that no one wants to have to play in the first round of the playoffs.

"It's time to start believing in the Browns as legitimate contenders," Sobleski said. "For most of the season, they weren't a serious team because of the inconsistency and poor performances from the quarterback position. Joe Flacco has risen from the ashes like a phoenix to provide Cleveland with exactly what it needed: competent quarterback play. Flacco became only the fifth quarterback since the merger to throw for five touchdowns in his first two games with a new team. While the aging veteran has his limitations and he's still working his way through a different playbook and new teammates after signing three weeks ago, the Browns now look like a serious threat. The offense can actually do some damage with a quarterback capable of getting the ball into the playmakers' hands. The Browns' ferocious defense can handle the rest."

Last Week: 8

Week 14 Result: Lost at Cleveland 31-27

Not that long ago, the Jacksonville Jaguars were tied for the best record in the AFC. They had aspirations of much more than the AFC South. They wanted home-field advantage. They wanted a trip to Las Vegas and a berth in the Super Bowl.

Fast-forward two weeks and a pair of losses to Ohio teams, and the Jaguars have problems.

Top wide receiver Christian Kirk has been lost for at least a month with a core muscle injury, Quarterback Trevor Lawrence gutted through a sprained ankle Sunday, but he threw three interceptions and was outplayed by (and we are not making this up) Joe Flacco.

Lawrence told reporters after the defeat that the Jaguars made too many mistakes to earn a win in Week 14.

"We just shot ourselves in the foot over and over,'" Lawrence said. "It was not one of our cleaner games. Just too many mistakes. We were so inconsistent and didn't get into rhythm. There were too many miscommunications. There were too many things that we turned into turnovers or sacks or bad plays. There is stuff I didn't do well today."

"Jacksonville's not going to blow the postseason altogether," Davenport said, "not with one game left against a team with a winning record—a Week 15 home date with the surging Ravens. And Jacksonville got lucky when both Houston and Indianapolis lost as well. But it's getting awfully difficult to see these Jaguars as a legitimate Super Bowl contender. Not with Kirk out, Lawrence hurt and the team committing far too many mistakes and turnovers. Next week's tilt with the Ravens will be telling, whether it's a rebound or continued reeling."

Last Week: 5

Week 14 Result: Lost vs. Tennessee 28-27

Entering Monday night, it had been 767 games since an NFL team blew a 14-point lead with three minutes left.

That the Miami Dolphins broke that stretch against the Tennessee Titans is something that could come back to haunt them later on. This was a team looking to maintain a tie with the Ravens for the AFC's No. 1 seed—something the Dolphins haven't entered the playoffs as in four decades.

Instead, after Tennessee gifted Miami a two-touchdown lead, the Dolphins collapsed. The defense completely vanished. And with Tyreek Hill clearly limited by an ankle injury, the offense couldn't answer the Titans comeback.

Hill wasn't the only prominent Dolphin who got banged up, either. Fellow wideout Jaylen Waddle and cornerback Xavien Howard also left the game but returned. An already banged-up offensive line lost center Connor Williams.

Add it all together, and there's could be trouble brewing after Miami's first home loss of 2023.

"The Dolphins have a winnable game against the Jets in Week 15," Davenport said, "but the same was said about the Titans contest. Then comes a gauntlet—the Cowboys at home, at Baltimore and the rival Bills to close out the season. If Hill and Williams miss time, not getting the AFC's No. 1 seed may be the least of Miami's problems. The AFC East could be back in play. If you want to win the Super Bowl, you have to beat the teams you are supposed to. Blowing a 14-point lead against a 13.5-point underdog is the polar opposite of that."

Last Week: 6

Week 14 Result: Lost vs. Buffalo 20-17

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes is not a happy camper.

Some of that unhappiness is no doubt rooted in the fact that Kansas City has lost consecutive games for the first time since 2021. Kansas City's once seemingly insurmountable lead in the AFC West is down to a single game.

But what really chapped Mahomes is the way Kansas City lost—an offensive offsides call that wiped out the go-ahead touchdown in the fourth quarter.

"What you want as a competitor is you practice all week to go out there and try to win, and you want it to be about your team and that team and see what happens," Mahomes told reporters. "You don't want to be talking about this stuff after the game. I'm not worried about if there was a flag on the next player or whatever, not a flag. I want to go out there and play and then see what happens at the end, see what the score is, and then I can live with the results."

"Here's the thing," Davenport wrote. "Offensive offsides is a thing. It's being called more this year. And Kadarius Toney was obviously offside. The zebras didn't tell him to line up in that spot. The Chiefs lost because Travis Kelce is the only pass-catcher on the roster that scares opponents at all. They lost because they lost the turnover battle and committed more penalties than the Bills. They lost because Buffalo made more plays in critical moments than Kansas City. The Chiefs have a great 'get right' spot in New England next week, but Kansas City needs to spend less time whining about the officials and more time figuring out how to play better. Because right now, the Chiefs look—flawed. Mortal. Beatable."

"The last time the Kansas City Chiefs lost three of their last four games came during the 2021 season. Andy Reid's squad finished 10-2 during the rest of the campaign and eventually lost in the AFC Championship Game," Sobleski added. "Ironically, that previous stretch came to an end with a loss to the Buffalo Bills. KC sits in a similar position after Sunday's loss, though there's far less of the regular season to go and a potential turnaround doesn't seem realistic. Yes, the Chiefs still own a 8-5 record and sit atop the AFC West. But they no longer play like the standard-bearer for the rest of the league. Kansas City is making far too many mental mistakes, not making plays when necessary and lacks the personnel in certain situations to thrive. Patrick Mahomes and Co. are now in a dogfight for a division title and may not be good enough to do any damage during the postseason."

Last Week: 7

Week 14 Result: Lost at Chicago 28-13

The Detroit Lions are 9-4. If they can win one more game this season, they will post 10 victories for the first time since 2014. The Lions will probably be the champions of the NFC North this year. It's been the best season in Motown in years.

And it might be falling apart.

The Lions are just 2-2 over the past month, and the defense has stumbled badly. Edge-rusher Aidan Hutchinson committed a costly offsides penalty that led to the go-ahead touchdown Sunday, and Hutchinson told reporters afterward that those are the kinds of mistakes that just cannot happen.

"Yeah, yeah, it's just a bad play. Just a momentary lapse in judgment," Hutchinson said. "It's just a momentary lapse in judgment, you know. I'm disgusted with it. That play. I think, that play was just, it changed the momentum of the game. That's on me."

"Last week, we warned you all about the Lions even though they beat the New Orleans Saints 33-28," Moton said. "They've lost their roar on the field. Detroit has trended in the wrong direction since its Week 9 bye. Over the last three weeks, the Lions have lost to the Green Bay Packers at home in a game that they never led, almost allowed the Saints to overcome a 21-point deficit and took a 28-13 defeat courtesy of the Chicago Bears. As the Lions enter the home stretch of the season, they need to look over their shoulders at the Minnesota Vikings who can steal the NFC North division lead. These teams will play twice in the final four weeks of the regular season."

Last Week: 2

Week 14 Result: Lost at Dallas 33-13

All is not well in the City of Brotherly Love.

For the second straight week, the Eagles faced a top NFC contender in Week 14. And for the second straight week, the Eagles got their hats handed to them, dominated in all facets of the game by the rival Cowboys in a 20-point loss.

This came on the heels of a 23-point loss to the San Francisco 49ers. But quarterback Jalen Hurts told reporters that the Eagles just need to clean a few things up to get back on track.

"It's something that we're going through, not necessarily stuck in," Hurts said. "We've to be able to learn from it and we will. There's an eagerness too just to continue to press on."

However, Davenport isn't so sure that there aren't real issues in Philadelphia.

"At the risk of being blunt, the Eagles defense stinks, at least of late," he said. "Philly is 28th in the league against the pass and 30th in red-zone defense. The secondary is a liability. The linebackers are average on a good day. The team's vaunted pass rush is middle of the pack in sacks. And the Eagles have now allowed at least 33 points in three straight games. Philly's easy schedule the rest of the way will likely net them 13-14 wins and the NFC East title. But the way the defense is playing, this team isn't going back to the Super Bowl."

Last Week: 3

Week 14 Result: Won vs. Los Angeles Rams 37-31 (OT)

Granted, not many expected the Baltimore Ravens to need a punt return touchdown in overtime to get past the Los Angeles Rams at home Sunday. But in the NFL, there are no "gimme" wins, and sometimes the difference between Super Bowl runs and so-so seasons is finding a way to win games just like this.

That was Baltimore head coach John Harbaugh's message to reporters after a back-and-forth affair in which Lamar Jackson threw for 316 yards and ran for 70 more.

"It was mountains and valleys. It was peaks and there was lows in that game," Harbaugh said. "National Football League in December against a very, very good opponent. Our guys just weather all those storms, figuratively and literally out there."

With the Kansas City Chiefs and Jacksonville Jaguars on two-game skids, pulling this game out is suddenly highly important to the Ravens. Baltimore and Miami are the only three-loss teams remaining in the AFC, and with a Week 17 showdown between the two teams at M&T Bank Stadium looming on the schedule, the No. 1 seed in the AFC remains very much in play.

Of course, a trip to San Francisco face the 10-3 49ers the week before won't be a walk in the park, either.

Last Week: 4

Week 14 Result: Won vs. Philadelphia 33-13

As the Dallas Cowboys keep stacking wins and Dak Prescott keeps piling up stats, MVP buzz is growing around the veteran quarterback. After the Cowboys thumped the NFC East-leading Eagles on Sunday night, team owner Jerry Jones told reporters that Prescott has his vote.

"First of all, as far as what it represents, which would be his importance to the team, he doesn't have to win that award for me to know how important he is to our aspirations this year, where we are and where we've got a chance to go," Jones said. "He's got that kind of appreciation from I think everybody in this organization."

For the record, Jones doesn't have a vote. And after Prescott's strip-sack resulted in Philly's only touchdown of the game, Prescott made it clear he thinks he could have played that much better Sunday night.

"I hold myself to super-high standards," Prescott said, "and, yeah, if I play my best game, we're putting up 50 out there. So that's not going to change, and I'm going to keep pushing for that. That's the work that I put into this thing, the preparation that I do."

Right now, the Cowboys are as hot as any team in the league. But the schedule moving forward is daunting—Dallas is at Buffalo in Week 15, at Miami the week after that and then hosts the 9-4 Lions in Week 17.

Last Week: 1

Week 14 Result: Won vs. Seattle 28-16

In a week where more than one of the top-10 teams in the Bleacher Report NFL Power Rankings faltered, the San Francisco 49ers kept right on rolling. And it's not a stretch to say that the Niners are playing like the best team in the league right now.

Second-year quarterback Brock Purdy had the best yardage game of his young career Sunday, throwing for 368 yards and two touchdowns. While talking to reporters, Purdy was quick to credit the talent around him for his success.

"I'm part of a special group," Purdy said. "Any one of our guys, any one of our eligibles, you get the ball in their hands and then they go do the rest."

In head coach Kyle Shanahan's opinion, it's a team effort—a team that just so happens to be loaded with skill-position talent.

"We have so many guys who can get such big plays on little plays," Shanahan said. "We have a lot of explosive guys. When you're not just one-dimensional in that way, it is a matter of time until it plays out."

"Christian McCaffrey. Brandon Aiyuk. Deebo Samuel (who scored twice against Seattle). George Kittle. The Niners have an embarrassment of riches," Davenport said, "and a top-10 quarterback (that's right, I said it) in Brock 'Anything But Irrelevant' Purdy. Add in a defense that's nearly as loaded as the offense, and you have the best roster in the league—and the Super Bowl front-runner."