Bills Storm Back Into Playoff Contention After Road Win Over Chiefs
Week 14 in the NFL might have delivered the best and worst games of the year.
A few hours after the Ravens and Rams gave us an overtime thriller, the Vikings and Raiders were stuck on zero points with less than two minutes left in regulation. The Vikings, however, managed a late field goal to scrape out a 3–0 win and remain in the playoff picture.
The Rams put up a lot more points than the Vikings, but they fell, 37–31, in Baltimore and are currently on the outside looking in.
As for the Ravens, they might be the best team in the AFC, but it won’t be easy for them to make the Super Bowl—especially if the Bills find a way in following their thrilling 20–17 win in Kansas City.
Here’s what we learned during a chaotic Sunday in the NFL.
Josh Allen threw for 233 yards with two total touchdowns in Sunday’s 20–17 win over the Chiefs.
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Bills back in the mix, Chiefs in danger of losing AFC West
Once again, the Chiefs lost a game because of a killer mistake from a wide receiver.
Kansas City nearly had the go-ahead touchdown against the Bills after Travis Kelce threw a beautiful backward pass to wide receiver Kadarius Toney. But the touchdown was nullified because Toney was flagged for lining up offsides. Two plays after Toney was caught with his toe over the line of scrimmage, the Chiefs turned the ball over on downs to seal the Buffalo’s victory.
The Bills (7–6) recorded a much-needed win after a heartbreaking loss to the Eagles in Week 12 before the bye and a tumultuous past few days that made many wonder whether Sean McDermott had lost the locker room. The Bills are now part of a six-way with the Steelers, Colts, Texans, Broncos and Bengals for the final two wild-card spots, which currently belong to Pittsburgh and Indianapolis because of tiebreakers.
The Broncos, who beat the Chargers Sunday, are suddenly one game behind the Chiefs (8–5) for first place in the AFC West. Kansas City is still in a good spot to win the division, with upcoming games against the Patriots, Raiders, Bengals and Chargers. But these Chiefs no longer appear mighty because of their persistent offensive issues, and it could cost them come the postseason. Rookie wide receiver Rashee Rice also had a costly fumble.
Ravens, Rams answer many questions in overtime game
The Ravens appear to be the best team in the AFC after answering many questions about their passing attack during the thrilling 37–31 overtime win against the Rams. Lamar Jackson delivered an MVP-like performance, with nearly 400 total yards (316 passing, 70 rushing) and three touchdown passes.
For most of the season, Baltimore (10–3) has leaned on a stout defense and a productive rushing attack. But the passing attack, with wide receivers Odell Beckham Jr. and rookie Zay Flowers, stepped up to bail out a defense that had its hands full against Matthew Stafford & Co. Jackson had a 21-yard touchdown pass to Flowers for the go-ahead touchdown with 1:16 left in regulation. But Baltimore’s special teams won it in overtime with Tylan Wallace’s 76-yard punt return touchdown to end the game. For the Ravens’ offense to drop 31 points and 449 total yards without tight end Mark Andrews on an off day for the defense, that should send a strong message to the rest of the AFC a month before the postseason.
Jackson and the Ravens have won seven of their last eight, with the quarterback averaging over 285 total yards per game during that stretch.
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As for the rising Rams (6–7), they have nothing to be ashamed about in the losing effort. They put the league on notice about their prolific offense, with a trio of former fifth-round picks Kyren Williams, Puka Nacua and Davis Allen. The latter two are from the 2023 draft class that has quickly helped the Rams rebuild after a 5–12 season in ‘22. Two years after winning the Super Bowl, Los Angeles is back in the playoff mix and could be a dangerous out if they find a way in. The Rams were the first team to register at least 400 yards against the Ravens’ defense this season. They were also the first team to enter the fourth quarter with a lead against the Ravens.
Vikings, Raiders nearly go scoreless for four quarters
Somehow, the Vikings and Raiders matched the stinker between the Chargers and Patriots last week for the worst game of the 2023 regular season.
Minnesota kicker Greg Joseph scored the game’s only points after making a 36-yard field goal with 1:57 left in regulation. The Vikings had six consecutive drives end with punts before Joseph’s go-ahead field goal. (In total, the teams combined for 17 punts, and the Raiders had three turnovers.)
Raiders rookie quarterback Aidan O’Connell threw a costly interception on the following drive to seal the ugly win for Minnesota, which benched Joshua Dobbs for Nick Mullens. The Vikings (7–6) continue to hold the sixth seed in the NFC, but they have a laundry list of issues, including the loss of Justin Jefferson, who sustained a chest injury early in the game. Jefferson exited in the second quarter in his first game back since a hamstring injury sidelined him the prior seven games.
The Vikings and Raiders were less than two minutes away from being involved in the first scoreless game ever that went into overtime. The last 0–0 tie in the NFL occurred in 1943 during a matchup between the Giants and Lions.
Struggling Lions might be a one-and-done playoff team
For weeks, the Lions appeared to be the fourth best team in the NFC, behind the 49ers, Eagles and Cowboys. Now they might not be as good as the NFC wild-card hopefuls because of a struggling defense that continues to get worse. The Bears carved up the Lions during Sunday’s 28–13 victory.
The Lions’ defense recorded three sacks, but they couldn’t contain Justin Fields through the air or on the ground. Fields ran for 58 yards and a touchdown and threw for 223 yards and another score—a 38-yard strike to DJ Moore on a critical fourth down late in the third quarter. The Lions went 1-for-5 on fourth down and had one of their worst offensive performances of the season. Jared Goff, who tends to struggle in outdoor venues, only averaged 4.6 yards per attempt and threw two interceptions.
The Lions have lost two of their last three games and have given up an average of 29.8 points per game since Week 10.
Jamie Sabau/USA TODAY Sports
Luckily for the Lions (9–4), their final four games of the regular season are indoors. But the schedule gets tougher, with games against the Broncos, Cowboys and Vikings twice. If the Lions don’t improve defensively, they might lose to the Packers, Rams, Vikings or Seahawks in the wild-card round. They’re also not a lock to win the NFC North, with the Vikings and Packers, who play Monday vs. the Giants, not too far behind in the standings.
Browns could be dangerous with Joe Flacco
The Browns have created separation from the pack of 7–6 playoff hopefuls vying for one of three AFC wild-card spots. Cleveland (8–5) currently has the fifth seed and might not relinquish it because of how well Joe Flacco has played since taking over as the starter two games ago. Flacco went 26-of-45 for 311 yards and three touchdowns during the 31–27 victory against the Jaguars on Sunday.
Flacco, 38, might throw a head-scratching interception in most games, which he’s done in both starts the past two weeks. But he’s played better than any quarterback the Browns have started this season, including Deshaun Watson. That’s why Browns coach Kevin Stefanski named Flacco the starter for the final four games of the regular season (vs. Bears, at Texans, vs. Jets, at Bengals).
Flacco started off hot vs. the Jaguars, throwing two first-half touchdowns to tight end David Njoku, who ended with six catches for 91 yards. Flacco also displayed chemistry with Amari Cooper, who had seven catches for 77 yards. The Browns’ offense is surging, but the defense has had issues the past two weeks. After allowing nearly 400 yards to the Rams, the Browns’ defense struggled to put away the Jaguars in the second half.
As for the Jaguars (8–5), they caught a break with the Colts and Texans losing Sunday. Jacksonville is now riding a two-game losing streak, but at least Trevor Lawrence managed to play after spraining his ankle six days earlier in the loss to the Bengals. Lawrence threw three touchdowns and three interceptions.
