NFL Week 14: Biggest Winners and Losers from a Pivotal Sunday
Week 14 in the NFL didn’t just shake up the standings-it sent shockwaves through the playoff picture. With first place on the line in three divisions and several teams either solidifying their postseason credentials or watching them slip away, this was the kind of Sunday that defines a season. Let’s break down the biggest winners and losers from a dramatic slate of games.
Winners
Josh Allen, QB, Buffalo Bills
When the snow starts falling in Buffalo, that’s usually when Josh Allen turns into a different kind of monster-and Sunday was no exception.
Allen was nearly flawless, completing 22-of-28 passes for 251 yards and three touchdowns, with zero interceptions. He added another 78 yards on the ground, including a 40-yard touchdown run that looked like something out of a video game.
This is why Buffalo still has a puncher’s chance in the AFC. They’ve got flaws, sure, but they also have Josh Allen-and nobody else does.
That kind of dual-threat dominance is MVP-caliber stuff, and it’s the reason the Bills are sitting at 9-4 and very much in the thick of the playoff race.
Mike Tomlin, Head Coach, Pittsburgh Steelers
A week ago, the chants in Pittsburgh were calling for change.
On Sunday, the Steelers responded-and so did their head coach. Tomlin’s squad pulled out a gritty 27-22 win over the Baltimore Ravens to reclaim first place in the AFC North.
What stood out more than the win was the way his players rallied around him. From locker room leaders to voices across the league, including Aaron Rodgers, the message was clear: Tomlin still commands respect.
Maybe things have felt stale at times, but the belief inside that building hasn’t wavered. That’s the kind of leadership that doesn’t show up in the box score but defines franchises.
J.J. McCarthy, QB, Minnesota Vikings
It’s been a tough go early in McCarthy’s NFL career-injuries, inconsistency, and questions about whether he could be the guy. But Sunday?
Sunday was a glimpse of what the Vikings hoped for when they drafted him. McCarthy went 16-of-23 with three touchdowns in a 31-0 rout of Washington, showing poise, accuracy, and command of the offense.
It wasn’t just the numbers-it was how he looked doing it. Confident, decisive, and in control.
If this is the version of McCarthy Minnesota can count on, the future just got a whole lot brighter in the Twin Cities.
Blake Corum, RB, Los Angeles Rams
The Rams’ offense has been humming lately, and while Matthew Stafford and Puka Nacua have been the usual headline-grabbers, Sunday belonged to rookie Blake Corum.
The former Michigan standout exploded for 128 yards and two touchdowns on just 12 carries in a 45-17 dismantling of Arizona.
He showed burst, vision, and toughness-everything you want in a young back.
With Corum emerging alongside Stafford and Nacua, the Rams might be building something dangerous down the stretch.
Keisean Nixon, DB, Green Bay Packers
The Packers are quietly climbing the NFC North, and Sunday’s 28-21 win over the Bears was another step forward.
While Jordan Love and the offense did their part, it was Keisean Nixon who sealed the deal with a clutch interception in the closing seconds.
That kind of play-when the pressure is highest-is what separates playoff teams from the rest.
Green Bay is finding ways to win, and Nixon’s timely pick might be the moment that keeps them in the driver’s seat.
Losers
Indianapolis Colts’ Playoff Hopes
Things were already trending in the wrong direction for the Colts, but the loss of quarterback Daniel Jones to a season-ending Achilles injury might be the final blow.
With a tough schedule ahead and no clear answer under center, it’s hard to see how Indianapolis claws its way back into the playoff picture.
They’re now a full game behind the Jaguars and don’t hold the tiebreaker.
That’s a tough hill to climb, and it’s starting to feel like this season may slip away entirely.
Baltimore Ravens
For weeks, the Ravens danced through close calls and kept stacking wins.
But now the cracks are starting to show. Sunday’s loss to Pittsburgh was their second straight defeat, and the team hasn’t looked sharp in a while.
The good news? The AFC North is still wide open thanks to the inconsistency around them.
But make no mistake-the Ravens are trending in the wrong direction at the worst possible time.
New York Jets’ Playoff Drought
It’s now 15 years and counting.
The Jets own the longest active playoff drought in the NFL, and Sunday’s loss just added another chapter to a frustrating saga.
At this point, the only franchise in North American men’s pro sports with a comparable drought is the NHL’s Buffalo Sabres.
For a team that came into the year with so much hope, it’s been another season of what-ifs and missed opportunities.
Cincinnati Bengals’ Defense
Joe Burrow is back.
The offense is back. The points are back.
And yet, somehow, the Bengals are still losing games. Sunday was another head-scratcher-Cincinnati scored more than 33 points and still came up short.
That falls squarely on the defense, which has been leaking yards and points at an alarming rate. With the offense finally clicking again, the defense can’t afford to keep holding this team back.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The NFC South is wide open, and the Bucs had a golden opportunity to take control.
Instead, they stumbled against one of the league’s worst teams, falling to Tyler Shough and the Saints.
Baker Mayfield passed for just 122 yards, and the offense never found a rhythm.
If Tampa Bay misses the playoffs by a game, this is the one they’ll look back on and wonder how they let it slip away.
Bottom Line:
Week 14 didn’t just shift standings-it reshaped narratives.
Quarterbacks like Josh Allen and J.J. McCarthy made statements.
Coaches like Mike Tomlin reminded us why they’ve lasted. And teams on the fringe either took a step forward-or watched the window close a little more.
With just a few weeks left, the margin for error is gone. Every game counts.
Every play matters. And the drama?
It’s just getting started.