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NFL fans, rejoice.
As we enter the final month of the regular season, some key playoff races are heating up.
There isn’t as much contention as the AFC Wild Card race, with the three teams currently in position to earn that spot tied for 8-5: the Baltimore Ravens, Los Angeles Chargers, and Denver Broncos.
The biggest concern in the NFC is the 8-5 Washington Commanders, who received a bye in Week 14. The Los Angeles Rams (7-6) trail by one game and just won a big game against the AFC’s No. 2 seed, the Buffalo Bills.
All of this points to a wild and thrilling end to the 2024 season.
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Here are the winners and losers for NFL Week 14 Sunday.
winner
The Rams are inconsistent. But when they play well…
They can compete with anyone. Los Angeles defeated the AFC’s No. 2 seed, 44-42, and moved into the No. 8 seed, one game behind the Commanders (8-5), who are in the final wild-card spot.
Matthew Stafford and Puka Nacua had great days, with Nacua completing 12 of 14 targets for 162 yards and one score. Cooper Kupp also played a key role, gaining 92 yards and scoring a touchdown. Both players helped the Rams convert nearly three-quarters of their third downs (11 of 15, 73%). LA’s defense chose not to spy Josh Allen and allowed him an 82-yard free run. Allen also had 342 RBIs and three runs scored. The difference is that the Rams provide more balance, while the Bills often require Allen to take on an unsustainable amount of responsibility. Either way, the Rams’ season may end with a game against the Seattle Seahawks, who currently lead the NFC West.
The Niners snatched a much-needed victory, but it still came at a cost.
It feels like the 49ers can’t catch a break due to injuries. San Francisco snapped a three-game losing streak and dominated the Chicago Bears, leading by as many as 24 points and winning 38-13. Running backs Christian McCaffrey and Jordan Mason were absent for this game, but Isaac Gerendo showed his potential.
Gerendo had 17 touches for 128 yards from scrimmage and two touchdowns before being forced to leave the game against Chicago. Coach Kyle Shanahan said after the game that he thought it was a sprained foot. San Francisco (6-7) sits as the No. 11 seed in the NFC and needs a lot of help to make the playoffs. Edge rusher Nick Bosa and left tackle Trent Williams remained sidelined. Frankly, the Niners need some luck down the stretch and have to win the rest of the way.
Dolphins saved season, but serious flaws need to be fixed
Miami, whose season was about to open, fought back in the final stages to force the New York Jets into overtime, scoring a touchdown on their first drive and gaining the upper hand, winning 32-26. However, the Dolphins have a serious flaw that jeopardizes their late progress.
The rushing game was anemic. Over the last three games, he has allowed just 49.3 yards per game. Against the Jets, Devon Ashen ran it 14 times for just 24 yards. The next closest rusher was rookie Jalen Wright (2 carries, 7 yards). The short-yardage offense was completely ineffective overall. And the defense has been in tatters over the last month. The Dolphins (6-7) remain the No. 9 seed in the AFC, two games behind the No. 7 Broncos. Complicating matters for Miami, however, is a 6-7 tiebreaker loss to the Colts in Week 7. There is no margin for error.
Bucks ride new identity to the top of NFC South
Tampa Bay (7-6) has won three straight to take the lead in the NFC South, but it’s the rushing attack that controls the games. Indeed, the teams the Bucs beat during this period, the Raiders, Panthers, and Giants, are three of the worst teams in the NFL with a combined record of 7-32 (.179). But Tampa Bay is outscoring each of those teams by an average of 100 yards per game.
This allowed the Bucs to control the clock, set advantageous distance on third down, and extend drives. Tampa Bay entered the day ranked second in third-down efficiency. The Bucks have had some notable wins this year against the Lions (the only team to beat Detroit this season) and the Eagles, but a new challenge looms next week against the Chargers.
loser
Fringe Teams and Pretenders in the AFC Wild Card Race
The Chargers’ loss to the Chiefs on Sunday night leaves them in a crowded spot at the bottom of the AFC playoffs. Four teams, including the AFC South leader Texans, are tied with eight wins and five losses. This puts the Colts (6-7), Dolphins (6-7), and Bengals (4-8), who are currently in playoff contention despite being off the field, in a very difficult position. You will be killed.
It also puts teams like the Ravens (8-5), who are rich in talent but have big holes, and the Broncos (8-5), who still have the Chiefs (12-1) and Chargers (8-5), It also means the team. Given the rest of the schedule, there’s no way they’ll stumble in the final month of the season. Even the Steelers (10-3), who are in a tough division with the Chiefs, Eagles (11-2) and Ravens on their schedule, should be wary.
The real winners here are the fans, and they’re sure to enjoy a wild ride to determine the wildcard.
Falcons’ November nightmare continues into December
It’s time to sound the alarm in Atlanta. The Falcons (6-7), who have lost four straight, are falling apart. A month ago, after a Week 9 win over the Cowboys, the Falcons were 6-3 with a two-game lead in the NFC South and the No. 3 seed in the NFC.
Now, Atlanta (as the No. 9 seed) is completely out of the playoff picture, ceding the division lead and quarterback Kirk Cousins struggling. During Atlanta’s four-game losing streak, Cousins’ touchdown-to-interception ratio was 0:8. Atlanta is also 4-of-13 (30.8%) on red zone conversions in the last four games. Despite recording nine sacks over the past two weeks, the defense continues to cover the secondary and generate big plays. This is not winning football.
Cardinals lose season series to Seahawks, leaving big hole
In the space of three weeks, the Cardinals (6-7) lost to the Seahawks twice, putting their path to the playoffs in jeopardy. Arizona was in first place heading into a Week 12 showdown with Seattle. The Cardinals are currently in third place in the NFC West, two games behind the division-leading Seahawks, thanks to the Rams’ win over the Bills.
Quarterback Kyler Murray had just 25 combined yards rushing in both games against Seattle. In both games against the Seahawks, Arizona was a combined 7 of 24 on third down (29.2%) and 1 of 5 in the red zone (20%). The next two games are good, but the Cardinals had close games against the Rams (7-6) and 49ers (6-7).