RADIO
We investigate the NFL playoff contenders as we head into Week 14 of the NFL season. Which teams improved their position and who fell following Week 13? What key games lay ahead as we look toward the postseason?
AFC Contender #1: New England Patriots
The Pats were able to get past a historical nemesis in the Giants on Monday night, and are now comfortably at 11-2 atop the conference. TreVeyon Henderson averaged over six yards per carry, Drake Maye was nearly perfect, and Marcus Jones made history with a 94-yard punt return touchdown.
The speedy Jones is now qualified with over 75 returns for the best average return figure in NFL history at 14.6 yards, which is nearly two more than the previous record-holder. The Pats now have a chance to crush the “easy schedule” naysayers with back-to-back games against the Bills and Ravens, but they will undoubtedly be playing playoff football in 2025.
AFC Contender #2: Denver Broncos
Denver flirted with a Week 13 loss several times on Sunday night, but wound up pulling off the 27-26 overtime win against Washington thanks to a clutch batted ball by star defender Nik Bonitto. The offense was unable to ice the game, which left things on the shoulders of a tired defense.
They’ll hope for a less dramatic affair against Las Vegas here before squaring off with four playoff-caliber teams in Green Bay, Jacksonville, Kansas City, and the L.A. Chargers. The strong record in hand should mean that even going .500 down that stretch keeps them in a comfortable position, but they’d love to drag opponents to the homefield advantage/altitude if possible!
AFC Contender #3: Jacksonville Jaguars
Jacksonville took care of business with a 25-3 victory over the 1-11 Titans, with Trevor Lawrence tossing a pair of TDs, including another one to new wideout Jakobi Meyers. There is still room for improvement here, as the ground game was quite underwhelming (45 yards on 20 combined carries from Travis Etienne Jr. and Bhayshul Tuten), and Brian Thomas Jr. only caught two balls for 28 yards in his return to action.
However, it’s all smiles thanks to an Indianapolis loss, which vaults the Jags into first place in the AFC South. Both head-to-head games between those two clubs still loom large, with the first coming in Jacksonville this week, and Houston (7-5) is waiting for both of them to slip.
AFC Contender #4: Baltimore Ravens
Baltimore’s offensive woes continued on Thanksgiving night, as Lamar Jackson only completed 17-of-32 passes and the team barely utilized Derrick Henry after a successful opening drive. The defense kept a Joe Burrow-led Bengals team under wraps early, but horrid turnovers would prove too much. Isaiah Likely fumbled just before crossing the goal line, which led to a touchback for Cincinnati and stood as the worst of five turnovers for Baltimore.
The Bengals didn’t even have Trey Hendrickson active, so there is little excuse available for the offense. Jackson now has zero touchdowns, three interceptions, and three fumbles in the last three games. With the division tight, Baltimore must win a home game against the Steelers, who also sit at 6-6 after an ugly showing of their own.
AFC Contender #5: Indianapolis Colts
The Colts were unable to overcome Houston’s stifling defense in a 20-16 loss, but there was some controversy around a Houston extra point that appeared to go wide over the upright. Alas, you can’t play poorly enough to be in that position in the first place! And it did not affect Indy trailing 10-6 at the half, or a hobbled Daniel Jones completing just 14 of his 27 pass attempts.
It’s an especially sour loss after the Colts let a win in Kansas City slip away in the fourth quarter. They fall to 8-4 and lose the division lead to Jacksonville on tiebreakers in the process, with this standing as their first home loss of the year. And now they’ll face said Jaguars on the road in a key showdown that could reverse the backslide.
AFC Contender #6: Buffalo Bills
Buffalo got back in the win column with a strong second half against Pittsburgh, which helps erase the ugly loss to Houston. However, the offense still looked stagnant for the majority of this game, which isn’t going to help assuage fears around the postseason potential. Holding an 8-4 record has them keeping pace with the other two AFC Wild Card teams, but they’d lose the tiebreak to 7-5 Houston, should it come to that.
While it’s nice to see Keon Coleman find the end zone after being a healthy scratch in back-to-back weeks, the lack of playmakers on offense is a definitive problem. Can they find the firepower to outwork the Bengals in Week 14 before a road date with the Patriots?
AFC Contender #7: Los Angeles Chargers
The Chargers ran away with a 31-14 win over the Raiders after the teams were knotted at 7-7 by halftime. Justin Herbert’s Week 14 status is up in the air after he required surgery for a fracture on his non-throwing hand. Luckily, Kimani Vidal was able to carry the mail with 126 yards and a score on 25 rushes, and Jaret Patterson stepped up for an 11-54-1 rushing line of his own.
They should get Omarion Hampton back from the injured reserve for a home game against the suddenly vulnerable Eagles, which would surely help if Herbert is limited (or out). Though 8-4 is a strong record, it is only enough for the bare minimum to qualify for a Wild Card slot at this time.
This Raiders game was the final “easy” game remaining, as now they’ll face the Eagles, Chiefs, Cowboys, Texans, and Broncos. Perhaps Week 17’s tilt with Houston will decide the final playoff slot in the end!
AFC Contender #8: Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh’s defense did a great job at limiting Josh Allen at first, which led to a 7-3 Steelers lead at halftime. However, the start of the third quarter brought a strip sack of Aaron Rodgers by Joey Bosa, which led to a quick score for the Bills. Then, the dam would break, and the offense could barely move the ball, with the eventual 26-7 loss looking quite tilted.
Dropping consecutive games to playoff contenders is a bad signal, but Baltimore also had an embarrassing loss, which leaves the division wide open. Both teams sit at 6-6 and will square off in Baltimore for the first of their head-to-head series. Who will claim the momentum?
AFC Contender #9: Houston Texans
Houston’s defense once again led the team to victory over a strong opponent, this time by holding the Colts to 16 points. The return of C.J. Stroud came just in time, as the signal-caller threw for 276 yards thanks to a familiar rapport with Nico Collins, to help hand Indianapolis its first home loss of the season.
They’ll take their four-game win streak into Arrowhead Stadium for a matchup with the defending AFC champion Chiefs, who are reeling from a Thanksgiving loss to the Cowboys. The Texans will then face winnable games against the Cardinals and Raiders at home before closing the year with the Chargers on the road and hosting the Colts, possibly for the division title. While they have a loss to Jacksonville on their ledger, wins over Buffalo and Indy could prove massive.
AFC Contender #10: Kansas City Chiefs
The Chiefs’ struggles away from home continued on Thanksgiving, as they lost 31-28 in Dallas after failing to contain the offense. Now 6-6, the Chiefs will be fortunate to punch their way into a Wild Card slot, let alone host any playoff games. There is no doubting that Patrick Mahomes, who threw for a quartet of TDs in the loss, is always good for a magical run, but time is running out.
Not only that, but Kansas City still has to overcome the Texans, Chargers, and Broncos down the stretch. Even if they handle business against the Titans and Raiders, one imagines that 10-7 is the threshold to meet.
NFC Contender #1: Chicago Bears
The Bears ran all over the Eagles on Friday afternoon, with both Kyle Monangai and D’Andre Swift eclipsing the 125-yard mark and finding paydirt. The play designs were stellar, but the run blocking against a dependable Philadelphia front took center stage. No Bear topped 36 receiving yards, but it didn’t matter with that RB duo clearing the way.
Controlling via the ground game also allowed Chicago to control the clock with nearly 40 minutes of possession. The defense held strong, allowing some big plays for 317 total yards, but only 14 first downs. It’s incredible to see a +6 point differential next to a 9-3 record, but the resilience and recent surge in chemistry are undeniable. Can Ben Johnson continue to find his stride with a divisional gauntlet ahead? They’ll face the Packers, Browns, Packers again, 49ers, and Lions to close out the year.
NFC Contender #2: Los Angeles Rams
The Rams lost a six-game win streak to the Panthers on Sunday, losing 31-28 after a late fumble by Matthew Stafford sealed their fate. The offense made key mistakes that resulted in three turnovers, but still played relatively well. And they only had five penalty yards to Carolina’s 70. But the reliable defense didn’t show up when it mattered, allowing a perfect 3-for-3 conversion rate, including two TDs.
It wasn’t their day, but the Rams are still a leading contender across the league. They’ll look to reassert that notion when they travel to Arizona to face the Cardinals in Week 13. This loss gives them the same record as Seattle, which means the Week 16 faceoff between the two may decide the NFC West, though 9-4 San Francisco isn’t far behind!
NFC Contender #3: Philadelphia Eagles
After sitting in the driver’s seat at 8-2, Philadelphia has lost two in a row, and Dallas is on a three-game win streak. The Eagles’ defense remains a reliable piece of the puzzle, but the offense is simply underwhelming across many facets of the ball.
The playcalling itself is dry, with several hoping that Kevin Patullo gets ousted, but Saquon Barkley’s poor numbers stick out like a sore thumb. Although A.J. Brown has put up star receiving numbers lately, the Eagles now have a slim margin for error and find themselves on a clear downward trend.
Can they rebound against a Chargers team that may be missing its starting QB in Justin Herbert (hand)? The good news is that after this, they face the Raiders, the Commanders twice, and only face one other playoff-bound team in Week 17 (Buffalo). They should be a playoff team, but are they a serious contender right now?
NFC Contender #4: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Bucs gutted out a 20-17 win over the Cardinals thanks to Baker Mayfield pushing through his left shoulder sprain and Bucky Irving’s return to the field. It hasn’t always been pretty, hence the worst point differential for a division leader (-22), but Tampa stays a half-game ahead of Carolina for now.
Given how well other divisions are faring, the NFC South is surely only sending one team through to the playoffs. Every week seems to make it more and more clear that this will come down to the two games between Tampa and Carolina in Weeks 16 and 18. Perhaps Mike Evans will be able to return before that first showdown?
NFC Contender #5: Seattle Seahawks
The Seahawks capitalized on a weak opponent, blanking the Vikings 26-0, with Max Brosmer throwing four interceptions. It’s fortunate for the offense, which failed to make a statement and settled for four field goals before turning in a late rushing score in the fourth. Most likely, they felt the advantage and didn’t want to take risks to provide Minnesota with a short field.
You’d still like to see more out of Sam Darnold and the offense, but the 9-3 record stands at the end of the day. This is tied with the Rams, though L.A. holds the tiebreak thanks to the Week 12 win over Seattle. They’ll now face off with the Falcons and Colts before a critical rematch with the Rams.
NFC Contender #6: Green Bay Packers
Fueled by four Jordan Love touchdowns, Green Bay held on for a 31-24 win over Detroit to stay on Chicago’s heels. They’re now sitting with a perfect 3-0 divisional record, which they’ll put on the line against the Bears at Lambeau Field. A win would flip the division and give Green Bay control, while a loss would likely make the rematch in Chicago a must-win if the Packers want the NFC North.
They have a tricky road date in Denver sandwiched in between those games, and then they finish against the Ravens and Vikings. Nothing is settled yet!
NFC Contender #7: San Francisco 49ers
The 49ers battled a tough Cleveland front and the weather to earn a 26-8 win, with Brock Purdy showing improved decision-making on his throws after a turnover-laden Week 12 effort. Christian McCaffrey had another 24 touches as his odometer ticks up, but that’s what it takes to get this offense going.
He and the team will get a much-needed rest on the late bye, and they’ll hope that the Rams and/or Seahawks drop a game to fall to 9-4 with them. Regardless, the Niners finish out against the Titans, Colts, Bears, and Seahawks, which leaves three playoff-caliber matchups before a likely playoff game!
NFC Contender #8: Carolina Panthers
Bryce Young and the Panthers continue to run hot and cold, as they followed a nasty loss to San Francisco with an upset win over the top-flight Rams. The stunning win helps them keep pace with the NFC South-leading Buccaneers, who remain within a half-game in the standings.
Now, Carolina will rest up during a bye and hope that New Orleans can deal a similar upset to the Bucs in the meantime. Then, Carolina faces the Saints themselves before a run against the Bucs, Seahawks, and Bucs again.
Seattle is a particularly difficult assignment, but the Panthers just proved that they can hang with the best. But can they bring their best consistently enough to claim the division from Tampa?
NFC Contender #9: Detroit Lions
A week after eking by the Giants in overtime, Detroit fell to Green Bay on Thanksgiving and now has a perilous journey to the postseason ahead. There’s no doubting that an early ankle injury to Amon-Ra St. Brown threw an offense already missing Sam LaPorta off, but true contenders make it work.
At 7-5, they’ll need to win key games and get some help in a top-heavy NFC. They’ll first face a resurgent Dallas team that can keep up with Detroit’s high scoring before traveling to the Rams for their toughest test yet. The road is getting thinner here, and they’ll hope that Chicago’s arduous end-of-season schedule can make their Week 18 matchup one for a playoff spot.
NFC Contender #10: Dallas Cowboys
If you defeat the reigning AFC and NFC champions in back-to-back weeks, on a short holiday week no less, then surely you are a true playoff contender? The Cowboys sit at 6-5-1 and watched the Eagles fall to 8-4, with Philly’s stranglehold on the division suddenly looking weak.
Though the Eagles still enjoy a soft schedule down the road, the Cowboys can clearly beat anyone and keep the pressure on. The remaining games against the hamstrung Lions, Vikings, Chargers, Commanders, and Giants are doable, but San Francisco is 9-4 in the No. 7 seed. Even if they run the table at 11-5-1, can they punch a ticket?
