The Legion of Boom made an appearance Monday night as Seattle solidified a wild card spot.
Week 14 was another wild week on NFL football. Many of the top teams in the AFC fell and the teams at the bottom of the standings gave their teams something to cheer about for once. There is also a new No. 1 this week after the previous top dog got dominated on prime time. Here is where everyone stands through 14 weeks of NFL action:
1. New Orleans Saints (11-2; won 28-14 vs TB) (+1 Up one spot from last week)
There were a few scary moments, but the Saints avoided getting swept by the Bucs this season and retook their place atop the NFC this week. Drew Brees had another down day but it was the defense, Alvin Kamara and Mark Ingram that carried the load.
2. Kansas City Chiefs (11-2; won 27-24 vs BAL) (+1)
The Chiefs were another top team that survived a late scare. An unbelievable Patrick Mahomes pass late in the fourth quarter kept the team in the game as they trailed by a touchdown with a minute to play. The offense had trouble dealing with the Ravens brutal pass rush but in the end they did just enough to survive to upset scare at Arrowhead.
3. Los Angeles Rams (11-2; lost 15-6 vs CHI) (-2)
Los Angeles’ offensive train was derailed this week. They ran into the mighty Chicago Bears and they were left helpless. Jared Goff played his worst game since 2016. Todd Gurley was non existent. It was a horrible night for a team with Super Bowl aspirations, but they still are set for a first-round bye in the NFC.
5. Chicago Bears (9-4; won 15-6 vs LAR) (+4)
The Chicago Bears defense channeled inner-spirits of the team from 1985 at Soldier Field Sunday night. They put together one of the greatest defensive performances of all time as they dominated a Rams team that looked unstoppable. They intercepted Jared Goff four times and held Los Angeles to six points. Their offense was horrendous, but this defense looks good enough to win despite all that.
4. Los Angeles Chargers (10-3; won 26-21 vs CIN) (-)
The Chargers’ usually great offense was also help in check this week. Philip Rivers struggled down the stretch against the Bengals and the run game could not get going. The defense held of a late Bengals rally, though, and got another tally in the win column for Los Angeles.
6. New England Patriots (9-4; lost 34-33) (-2)
The Patriots were seconds away from leaving Miami with a shootout victory. They lost late in the season to the Dolphins once again, though, and may have taken themselves out of the race to host the AFC Playoffs. Their defense was horrid and failed to stop a banged up Miami offense.
7. Seattle Seahawks (8-5; won 21-7 vs MIN) (+3)
Is the Legion of Boom back? The Seahawks put together one of their famous winter defensive performances as they laid a beating on the Minnesota Vikings in a game that may lock up their spot in the playoffs. Bobby Wagner was somehow everywhere on the field at once. Shaquill Griffin shut down the Vikings pass attack. It was a game that reminded fans of the early 2010s team that feels like the distant past.
8. Houston Texans (9-4; lost 24-21 vs IND) (-2)
The Texans nine-game win streak was finally snapped as the Colts denied them a chance to slide into a first-round bye place. The offense played well but the defense had no answer for Indianapolis’ dynamic pass attack. They will still probably win the division but still need the Patriots to have another slip up if Houston wants a first-round bye.
9. Dallas Cowboys (8-5; won 29-23 vs PHI) (-)
Amari Cooper may be the most successful mid-season trade in recent NFL history. The receiver had over 200 yards and three touchdowns as he led the Cowboys to victory over the Eagles. Both Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliott had huge days as well as Dallas put a stranglehold on the NFC East.
10. Indianapolis Colts (7-6; won 24-21 vs HOU) (+4)
Indianapolis put their offensive woes from last week quickly into the rear view mirror this week. Andrew Luck was a yard short of 400 passing and T.Y. Hilton was one short of 200 receiving. Darius Leonard had another huge day as well, as the entire team begins to shape up for a playoff run.
11. Baltimore Ravens (7-6; lost 27-24 vs KC) (+1)
Lamar Jackson suffered his first loss as an NFL starter in an incredible game at Arrowhead Stadium. The Ravens pass rush bothered Mahomes and the Chiefs all day and Jackson did enough on both the ground and through the air to give the Ravens a chance at the upset. The secondary could not contain the Chiefs, though, and they lost a thriller in overtime. Baltimore may have lost but they still looked great, and a Steelers loss still puts them in prime position to steal the AFC North.
12. Pittsburgh Steelers (7-5-1; lost 24-21 vs OAK) (-5)
This team is right back to being a trainwreck. Antonio Brown was silent and the running game could not get going with out James Conner in the lineup. They lost to a terrible Raiders team and now have lost three straight. A team that looked like AFC contenders is now in danger of missing the playoffs as tough games against the Saints and Patriots loom.
13. Minnesota Vikings (6-6-1; lost 21-7 vs SEA) (-2)
Minnesota’s offense was blanked for a majority of Monday night’s matchup against the Seahawks. Other than a garbage-time scoring drive, they only got near the end zone once. They could barely move the ball and Kirk Cousins played the worst game of his career. The Vikings are starting to lose their groove at the wrong time and their recent failings have opened up the NFC wild card picture,
14. Tennessee Titans (7-6; won 30-9 vs JAX) (+3)
Derrick Henry had a career day as the Titans ran all over the Jaguars. The running back had 238 yards and four scores. On defense they did not allow the Jaguars to respond at all. This team is going back to their roots and it has them back in the playoff conversation.
15. Miami Dolphins (7-6; won 34-33 vs NE) (+4)
IT'S A MIAMI MIRACLE! #FinsUp#NEvsMIA pic.twitter.com/qvzsiI9a5g
— NFL (@NFL) December 9, 2018
That’s all.
16. Philadelphia Eagles (6-7; lost 29-23 vs DAL) (-1)
Carson Wentz tried to drag the Eagles to victory after the offense was stagnant all day, but he just could not do enough. The quarterback had 228 yards and three touchdowns through the air, but the team eventually fell to the Cowboys in overtime. The NFC East is probably out of the picture but their wild card chances are still very real.
17. Green Bay Packers (5-7-1; won 34-20 vs ATL) (+4)
The Packers looked great in their first game under interim head coach Joe Philbin. Aaron Rodgers threw for a pair of touchdowns and Aaron Jones added one on the ground. The defense played well too, as the Falcons got a bulk of their points in garbage time.
18. Denver Broncos (6-7; lost 20-14 vs SF) (-5)
After going toe to toe with the Steelers, Chargers and Texans is recent weeks, it looked like the Broncos were ready to make a playoff run. They came out flat against a bad 49ers team, and lost a game they should have won handily. Both Royce Freeman and Phillip Lindsay were held in check, and Denver does not have the passing offense necessary to make up for the loss of their run game. They still have a good chance at an AFC wild card spot but Week 14 will be a huge blow for them.
19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-8; lost 28-14 vs NO) (-1)
The Bucs defense played a great game and managed to hold the Saints offense in check for the first half, as Tampa Bay raced out to a 14-3 lead early on. The offense could not match their defense’s performance, though, and once the Saints started to heat up it was all but over. Jameis Winston started again and had 213 yards and two scores. The quarterback also led the team in rushing with 47 yards.
20. Cleveland Browns (5-7-1; won 26-20 vs CAR) (+2)
Rookie quarterback Baker Mayfield had 238 yards and a touchdown as the Browns knocked off the Panthers to reach five wins on the season. Cleveland’s young players looked great once again and it feels like something is building in the Sixth City. Someone who is very optimistic will point out that they are only a game and a half out of the playoffs in an AFC that has a lot of inconsistent teams.
21. New York Giants (5-8; won 40-16 vs WAS) (+6)
The Giants offense is finally starting to look like the unit we dreamed it could be. New York took a 40-0 lead against Washington in a game that seemed over as soon as it started. Saquon Barkley had 170 yards on the ground. The defense played their best game of the season, as well. The Giants looked like a great team this week and they did it all without star wideout Odell Beckham Jr.
22. Detroit Lions (5-8; won 17-3 vs ARI) (+2)
It was not the prettiest of games but the Lions got out of Arizona with a victory. It was a must-win game for the team’s playoff hopes, and now they will have a chance to build on it against Buffalo next week.
23. Carolina Panthers (6-7; lost 26-20 vs CLE) (-7)
A Panthers team that looked destined to go to the playoffs has now lost five straight. It seems to be a different problem every week for this team. This week, it was the receivers’ inability to catch and the defense’s failure to contain a rookie quarterback. They are mathematically only a half game out of the playoffs so anything can happen, but this team looks lost.
24. Cincinnati Bengals (5-8; lost 26-21 vs LAC) (-1)
Jeff Driskel is the starting quarterback so the Bengals season is all but lost. Their defense played well, but the offense just could not do enough to steal away a victory.
25. Washington (6-7; lost 40-16 vs NYG) (-5)
They went down 40-0 and then benched starting quarterback Mark Sanchez for a guy from the Alliance of American Football.
26. Atlanta Falcons (4-9; lost 34-20 vs GB) (-1)
The Falcons got run over. Matt Ryan and the offense could not move the ball against the Packers until late and quickly fell in a huge hole they could not dig themselves out of. The defense could not stop the Packers at all. While injuries always made it a longshot for them, any hope Atlanta had to make the playoffs this year is dead.
27. New York Jets (4-9; won 27-23 vs BUF) (+3)
Sam Darnold was back in action this week and outplayed fellow rookie quarterback Josh Allen as the Jets won their fourth game of the season. It definitely was not a great performance for Darnold, but he did fine against a great defense. New York has not had much to play for in a while so their quarterback showing some signs of development is as good as it gets for them.
28. Jacksonville Jaguars (4-9; lost 30-9 vs TEN) (-2)
This team has just quit.
29. Buffalo Bills (4-9; lost 27-23 vs NYJ) (-1)
Josh Allen had another great day on the ground, notching 101 yards, but had trouble through the air. The quarterback has struggled all year, and this game against the Jets was not much different, and the team eventually fell to their division rival.
30. Oakland Raiders (3-10; won 24-21 vs PIT) (+1)
Derek Carr looked like his 2016 self again as the Raiders upset the Steelers. The quarterback had 322 yards and two touchdowns. Tight end Jared Cook broke the 100-yard receiving mark. It took a few fortunate bounces of the ball, but the Raiders got a signature win in one of their final games in Oakland.
31. San Francisco 49ers (3-10; won 20-14 vs DEN) (+1)
George Kittle had a magical day. The tight end had 210 first-half yards and led an offensive charge that got the 49ers into an early lead they would never lose. Nick Mullens played well, too. The defense stepped up and shut down the Broncos rushing attack, and the 49ers got to play spoiler this week.
32. Arizona Cardinals (3-10; lost 17-3 vs DET) (-3)
This team was lifeless on Sunday. The offense never found any sort of rhythm and the defense barely looked like they were trying. Arizona will probably fire their staff and change much of their roster this spring and hope to put this dreadful year behind them.
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