NFL Week 14 Notes: Kingsbury Drawing Interest, Cowboys Back Pickens, Eagles Shift Focus
As the NFL regular season barrels toward its final stretch, coaching buzz is starting to build-and one familiar name is already surfacing. Meanwhile, in Dallas and Philly, two NFC contenders are navigating very different challenges: one defending a young wideout under scrutiny, the other trying to stop the bleeding after a third straight loss.
Let’s break it all down.
Kliff Kingsbury Drawing Coaching Buzz Again
Kliff Kingsbury’s name is starting to heat up in coaching circles. Currently serving as the offensive coordinator for the Washington Commanders, Kingsbury is reportedly being eyed as a serious candidate in the upcoming coaching cycle.
While his head coaching stint in Arizona had its ups and downs, Kingsbury’s offensive acumen has never been in question. With Washington, he’s been tasked with developing a young quarterback and modernizing the offense-and it appears league decision-makers are taking notice. As teams start preparing for offseason changes, Kingsbury could be back in the head coach conversation sooner rather than later.
Cowboys Stand Behind George Pickens After Tough Outing
George Pickens had a rough go in Week 14. The Cowboys’ wide receiver finished with just five catches on nine targets for 37 yards in a loss to the Lions, and questions quickly surfaced about his effort on certain routes.
But inside the building, there’s no panic. Offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer addressed the situation head-on, noting that Pickens took ownership of his performance.
“In his words, he goes, ‘Hey, Schotty, I didn’t play my best game,’” Schottenheimer said. “Unfortunately, none of us played our best game.
That’s real. But I don’t worry about George and his love for football and playing this game.”
That message was echoed-loud and clear-by Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, who came out firmly in support of Pickens. Jones emphasized the wideout’s competitive fire and passion for the game, brushing aside any lingering doubts about his effort.
“When it comes to competing and when it comes to loving the game… I give him A-pluses,” Jones said. “I like what George Pickens has done all year.”
Jones didn’t stop there, calling Pickens “a big-time competitor” and praising his ability to make plays when it matters. He acknowledged the criticism but made it clear that Pickens brings more than enough to the table to outweigh any concerns.
“Pickens brings everything to the table,” Jones added. “He brings enough pluses to the table to frankly live with what’s going on… The criticism in my mind is, is he a competitor?
And when he gets out there, can he come down with the ball? A-triple-plus.”
The Cowboys clearly believe in their young receiver. Now it’s on Pickens to bounce back-and with the postseason approaching, they’ll need him to.
On a separate note, Cowboys safety Markquese Bell was fined $11,593 for a facemask penalty.
Eagles Try to Right the Ship After Third Straight Loss
Things are getting tense in Philadelphia. After their third straight loss, the Eagles have slipped to 8-5, and head coach Nick Sirianni is making it clear: he’s taking a more hands-on role with the offense.
“I’m the head coach, so my attention goes to places that I feel like it needs to go,” Sirianni said. “This week was with the offense, and I’ll continue to go in there with those guys and grind it out through the weeds.”
Quarterback Jalen Hurts confirmed Sirianni’s increased involvement in Week 14, saying the head coach helped provide structure and organization on the offensive side of the ball.
“Nick stepped in, and I think he played a very good role this week,” Hurts said. “He provided some structure… Obviously, we still have ways and room for improvement, but I look at myself first… and say how can I respond to all those things?”
That accountability is a hallmark of Hurts’ leadership, but the Eagles need more than just mindset-they need execution. Sirianni pointed to missed opportunities and turnovers as key reasons the offense couldn’t finish drives in their latest loss.
“I thought we moved the ball and did a lot of good things today, but we didn’t finish drives for multiple reasons and had some turnovers for multiple reasons,” Sirianni said. “You always look to improve the process, and we’ll get back to work and grind through it again.”
There’s no panic in Philly, but the urgency is real. With the playoffs looming, the Eagles are searching for answers-and Sirianni is putting himself right in the thick of it to find them.
Bottom Line: As the league heads into the final weeks of the regular season, the storylines are stacking up. Kliff Kingsbury could be on the move again.
The Cowboys are circling the wagons around George Pickens. And in Philly, the Eagles are trying to rediscover their identity before it’s too late.
December football? It doesn’t get much better than this.