Week 14 will be the defining second of the 2025 common season. Wherever you regarded, it appeared as if playoff jockeying was on the road, and now the NFL panorama is remarkably totally different from what it was coming into Sunday.
Most notably, the AFC South has been turned on its head with the Jacksonville Jaguars sustaining their standing atop the division with a win over the Indianapolis Colts. In the meantime, Indy has far higher issues than the results of Sunday’s matchup, as Daniel Jones suffered an Achilles harm.
Exterior of that matchup, Buffalo dealt with the Bengals in a key AFC contest, whereas the Steelers took again management of the AFC North with a win over Baltimore. There have been additionally numerous upsets, specifically the Titans notching their second win of the 12 months on the highway in Cleveland and the Saints heading into Tampa and defeating the Bucs.
It was your customary mayhem that unfolded within the NFL on Sunday, and naturally, there will probably be loads of takeaways from the slate. However that are concrete and that are baseless? Beneath, we’ll decide simply that by analyzing among the prime storylines from Week 14 and determine which we have to take significantly and which we will forged apart as overreactions.
Colts season is over after Daniel Jones’ Achilles harm
Overreactions or actuality: Actuality
The Colts are in a nasty means. They’re now 8-5 on the season, falling additional behind the Jaguars within the division after a 36-19 loss in Jacksonville.
Past shedding floor within the AFC South, Indy now might have to go the remainder of the season with out Daniel Jones. The veteran quarterback suffered an Achilles harm in the course of the contest, and it would not look promising as he was in noticeable ache following the non-contact harm. If he is executed for the 12 months, the harm may convey the Colts down with it.
Indianapolis had rookie Riley Leonard because the backup quarterback on Sunday, and it might be a tall job to ask him to win out down the stretch in opposition to groups just like the Seahawks (Week 15), 49ers (Week 16), Jaguars (Week 17), and Texans (Week 18). The Colts at the moment are at professional threat of falling out of the playoffs solely. Even when they squeak in, they will not make a lot noise.
Overreactions or actuality: Overreaction
McCarthy was lights out in Sunday’s 31-0 win over the Commanders. The second-year quarterback accomplished 16 of his 23 throws for 163 yards and three touchdowns.
Naturally, some will take a look at this as McCarthy planting his flag in opposition to anybody who feared he will not be Minnesota’s franchise quarterback. Whereas it was an encouraging step for McCarthy, we’re not able to go as far as to say he is totally reestablished himself because the Vikings’ cornerstone beneath middle.
Washington’s protection is among the many worst within the NFL, so McCarthy wasn’t going through the hardest resistance when he dropped again to cross. If he begins to stack outings like this collectively over the ultimate 4 video games, it will calm the nerves of many across the franchise.
Bengals’ fourth-quarter collapse dashes playoff hopes
Overreactions or actuality: Actuality
After falling to the Payments on Sunday, Cincinnati is 4-9 on the season and really a lot on the surface wanting in on the playoffs.
This defeat was a heartbreaker for the Bengals, who held a 28-18 lead within the fourth quarter. Nonetheless, back-to-back interceptions by Joe Burrow (together with a pick-six) gave Buffalo the lead and paved the best way to a win.
This loss now places the Bengals three video games behind the Steelers for first place within the AFC North, and they’re even additional behind within the wild-card race. Shedding to Buffalo additionally provides the Payments the head-to-head tiebreaker, so whereas Cincinnati shouldn’t be formally eradicated from the playoffs at this second, they might as properly be.
Saints ought to construct round Tyler Shough going ahead
Overreactions or actuality: Overreaction
Tyler Shough led the Saints to one of many greatest upsets of the season after New Orleans went into Raymond James Stadium and took down the Buccaneers, 24-20.
The rookie quarterback accomplished 13 of his 20 passes for 144 yards and an interception, however did the majority of his harm on the bottom. Shough rushed seven instances for 55 yards and two touchdowns within the win.
That is yet one more sturdy displaying from Shough, who’s attempting to play properly sufficient that the Saints resolve to construct round him going ahead as a substitute of dipping their toes again into the NFL Draft this spring.
Whereas Shough is doing his finest to vary that, I do not suppose we’re there but. The Saints ought to proceed to judge their younger quarterback over this remaining stretch, but additionally go away the door open to take a quarterback within the first spherical of the 2026 NFL Draft if one falls to them.
Ravens are going to overlook the playoffs
Overreactions or actuality: Actuality
Baltimore was unable to carry serve at dwelling in opposition to the Steelers, falling to its division rival 27-22. The loss now places Pittsburgh again atop the AFC North and drops the Ravens out of the playoff image solely.
Whereas these two groups nonetheless have another matchup in Week 18, Baltimore is at actual threat of lacking the postseason regardless of their earlier surge again into the dialog. The membership has now misplaced two in a row and has a frightening remaining 4 video games: at Bengals (Week 15), vs. Patriots (Week 16), at Packers (Week 17), and at Steelers (Week 18).
That is a lot harder than Pittsburgh’s remaining slate, so this division may very well be wrapped up earlier than we get to that regular-season finale. Exterior of the division race, the Ravens are on the incorrect facet of a number of key head-to-head tiebreakers (Buffalo, Houston, and Chiefs), in order that avenue to the playoffs as a wild card entry is arguably much more tough.
Packers are going to run away with the NFC North
Overreactions or actuality: Overreaction
Sure, Inexperienced Bay is again atop the division after Sunday’s win over Chicago, however it nonetheless seems like there’s a lot to be decided within the NFC North. There may be nonetheless another sport between the Packers and the Bears in Week 16, so this was merely Half 1 of this division rivalry. Earlier than that sport, the Packers must journey to Denver to face the Broncos in Week 15, whereas the Bears will face the Browns at dwelling. If Inexperienced Bay have been to lose subsequent week and the Bears beat Cleveland, we’re taking a look at one other high-stakes matchup, solely this time at Soldier Discipline. In the meantime, the Detroit Lions are nonetheless an element at 8-5, so there may be nonetheless a lot that must be sorted out earlier than we begin handing out NFC North champion T-shirts and hats.
