The NFL Sunday Review: Week 14

Week 14 has come and gone and it really does feel like we’re in the “Witching Hour” of this season now. Playoff Berths are beginning to be clinched, and soon hats and t-shirts with “Division Winners” branding on them will be being flourished across our screens. All that’s to say there is A LOT to talk about, despite 6 teams being on a Bye week ridiculously late in the season. We had a miraculous Thursday night comeback, and a statement victory for one of the league’s perennial underachievers, but we start at So-Fi, for Sunday Night’s big Chargers vs Dolphins matchup.

Hollywood Herbert Outshines Tua

Sunday Night Football was a marquee matchup between the Number 5 and Number 6 picks from the 2020 NFL Draft. Joe Burrow went Number 1 overall, and led the Bengals to the SuperBowl in his 2nd season. Now, Tua Tagovailoa and Justin Herbert are attempting to follow in his footsteps, and maybe even go one step further and win the whole thing. But after the battle on Sunday night, one team has all the momentum in the world, whilst the other is headed back to the drawing board on their flight home. 

The scoreline (23-17) suggests this game was close, but in reality the Chargers had control throughout, and the Dolphins were only able to stay within touching distance due to a couple of freak plays and a solid defensive effort. Justin Herbert was magnificent, and benefited from finally having his top two receivers back on the field together. Keenan Allen and Mike Williams were yet to finish a game together this season until Sunday’s game. Both have been sidelined with lengthy injury absences, which would hurt any team, but considering how the Chargers are built it’s not a surprise that Herbert’s performance level has dropped without two truly elite receivers to get the ball to with regularity.

Allen’s return a couple of weeks ago made a noticeable difference, but it’s Williams’ reappearance that really changes things. Herbert now has his big-bodied deep threat to look for, which completely alters how teams are able to game plan to defend the Chargers. Brandon Staley called a good game, rolling the dice when necessary but keeping the Dolphins defense on their heels with a mix of targets in their largely pass-first approach. They benefited from a couple of calls – especially the nonsensical roughing the passer against Jaelan Phillips – but the Chargers were worthy winners, and are my pick to secure the 7th and final AFC Playoff spot, ahead of both the Jets and Patriots.

Where to start with the Dolphins? Miami went west at 8-3, having soundly battered the Texans coming off their bye, with two eminently winnable but tough games to play in California. They even stayed out West between the two fixtures for some team bonding. Against the Niners and the Chargers, the Dolphins regressed significantly, and produced two offensive performances that have thrown into question the seeming certainty of Miami’s playoff status.

Tagovailoa has picked two bad weeks to have his worst games of the season back to back. In all honesty, on Sunday night, the Dolphins had two plays of note in the entire game, and one of those was a fumble recovery. It’s no surprise that both of those aforementioned plays revolved around Tyreek Hill, who continues to put together a near MVP calibre season. Hill is the catalyst that has sparked this Miami team to their new heights this year, and all Dolphins fans will be stressed this week hoping his ankle injury is just a minor thing. Miami now face the Bills – who are out for revenge after Miami’s week 3 upset victory – then the Packers on Xmas Day, before closing out the Regular Season with the Jets and Patriots. It’s a bit of a gauntlet to finish their year out. Mike McDaniel needs to right the ship as soon as humanly possible, to have some positive momentum going into the Playoffs.

Lions Humble Vikings

AP Photo/Duane Burleson

Detroit… you have a SERIOUS football team. The Lions put the Minnesota Vikings to the sword in extremely satisfying fashion for people – like me – who have professed the Vikings to be extremely lucky to have the record they do. Minnesota have won a huge number of close, one-score games, in a fashion that doesn’t feel viable and has left many using the term “fraudulent” to describe the Vikings. Perhaps that’s a little harsh, but it’s very fun to say it. I can’t praise the Lions enough. Having been 1-6, they’ve won 5 out of 6 and, if not for Josh Allen and Stefon Diggs being incredible, it might even have been 6 wins in a row including one over the Bills.

Detroit had things firing on all cylinders on Sunday, as Jared Goff reminded everyone why he was once upon a time the #1 overall pick in the NFL Draft. It was great to see Jameson Williams’ first NFL catch go for a long TD, as the speedy Alabama product has the talent to electrify this league as long as he remains healthy. Amon-Ra St. Brown, DJ Chark and Josh Reynolds also had big days, with each having at least 5 catches and either a TD or 68+ yards. When the Lions needed some razzle dazzle, Dan Campbell wasn’t afraid to call for it, and the players weren’t afraid to execute. The fake punt right before half time was surpassed ONLY by calling a pass play to OT Penei Sewell to salt the game away late in the 4th quarter. I love everything about this Lions team, and would LOVE to see them sneak into the final NFC Wildcard spot. They’d certainly be significantly more entertaining than the Commanders or Giants…

For the “fraudulent” Vikings… There’s one player who absolutely definitely can’t be branded with that term, and that’s Justin Jefferson, who himself could realistically make a claim for the MVP as a WR, alongside the aforementioned Hill. Jefferson surpassed 200 yards receiving on a day where not a lot went right for Minnesota, as Detroit swarmed them, limiting Dalvin Cook to just 23yds rushing, and meaning Kirk Cousins had to surpass 40 pass attempts and 400 yards passing in order to keep them alive in this game. And, despite that, the Vikings were thoroughly outplayed, out-thought, and out-fought by Dan Campbell’s men. Minnesota will look to rebound against the Colts next Saturday. Yes, we’re into Saturday football szn! Hooray!

Baker Mayfield Ain't Done Yet

Baker freakin’ Mayfield. We ain’t done with you yet. What an incredible performance. Baker understandably rubs some people the wrong way, but I don’t understand how you could watch Thursday night’s game and not be A). impressed, and B). happy for the guy (unless you’re a Raiders fan). Less than 72hrs after receiving his release from the Panthers, 

The game-winning drive had some fortunate moments – a couple of… interesting refereeing decisions – but Mayfield went 98 yards (the longest drive of his career) and found Van Jefferson with the throw of the night to win the game for the Rams. Sean McVay has allegedly been a fan of Baker for a long time, and nothing he saw on Thursday night will dull that enthusiasm. Obviously, nobody can suggest that bringing in Mayfield is going to solve all the problems the defending SuperBowl Champs have had this year. Cooper Kupp & Allen Robinson are still done for the year, Aaron Donald is still on IR… but it’s undeniable watching the post-game celebrations from Thursday that this was one of the happiest nights of the Rams’ season.

The biggest question hanging over this franchise is without a doubt at the QB position, and Matthew Stafford’s long term health will also affect how this Baker Mayfield experiment concludes. If Stafford is forced to retire – as is being rumoured – then maybe McVay can help rebuild Baker into the starting QB who took the Browns to the playoffs and beat the Steelers in their own backyard. The Rams need cheap and efficient QB play to continue to pay all their stars around them, and Mayfield would certainly fit that bill, especially if he performs like he did on Thursday.

Raiders… yikes. You fought SO hard to scratch and claw your way back to the cusp of playoff contention, and then blew a 13pt lead in the 4th quarter to a guy who had less than 48hrs with his playbook. Insane. Josh McDaniels appears to be safe in his role, but the Raiders are making history with how many games they’ve managed to lose from two-score leading positions. That’s not a good thing. McDaniels is going to need patience and support if he’s going to start to build a program like the one he came from in New England, but perhaps attempting to imitate the Patriots is the worst thing anyone can do in this league.

Las Vegas have so many top tier talents, that you have to believe they’ll be vastly improved in 2023. Derek Carr is either going to have to step up or step aside, as dud performances like this will continue to be this team’s achilles heel until they’re eradicated.

Quick Hits

Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images
  • The Dallas Cowboys tried absolutely everything to lose against the Houston Texans, and yet still managed to escape with a win. Lovie Smith’s secret weapon was interchanging between Jeff Driskel & Davis Mills at QB, which is a sentence none of us ever thought we’d read or write. Dallas escaped despite a down day from their defense, who were unusually profligate, but still managed to make the eventual game-changing play with a stop on 4th and Goal that allowed Dak to mastermind the game-winning drive. With Zeke & Pollard running the way they are, the Cowboys are a threat in the postseason. 
  • Sam Darnold and the Carolina Panthers are a team reborn under interim Head Coach Steve Wilks. They’re playing tough football, and beat a good Seahawks team after being up 17-0 almost before anyone could blink.  Believe it or not, but if the Panthers win against the Steelers next week, and the Buccaneers lose to the Bengals… Carolina will be in 1st place in the Division. What in the…
  • And that opportunity falls into the Panthers lap because the Buccaneers got absolutely obliterated by the Brock Purdy-led San Francisco 49ers. I’m still not sure how an offense with Chris Godwin, Mike Evans, Leonard Fournette & Tom Brady can look so inept at times. Baffling. The Niners defense is strong, but the Bucs are a shadow of their SuperBowl winning selves from two years back. Purdy beating Brady in his first career start is mightily impressive, but I still can’t believe this story has a happy ending for San Fran. It’s too fragile.
  • Was that a little bit of fight we just saw from the Denver Broncos!? It’s been missing all season, but Jerry Jeudy’s hat trick of TDs helped suggest Nathaniel Hackett may actually be able to run an offense with Russell Wilson after all! That said, they still lost, and would be picking 2nd in this year’s draft… if they didn’t owe that pick to Seattle from the Wilson trade. Yikes. Mahomes had an iffy day, doing things that defied belief positively – his one handed shovel flip to Jerick McKinnon for the big TD down the sideline – and also badly – throwing 3 INTs, which almost cost KC this game. Mahomes is now no longer the odds on favourite for MVP because…
  • Jalen Hurts is playing out of his freaking mind. The Eagles smacked the Giants around with relative ease, running all over them, and hitting shots to DeVonta Smith and AJ Brown almost at will. This Giants team was 6-1, and is now 7-5-1. Finally regressing to the mean. But Philly are doing the opposite, having now clinched a playoff spot, they’ll look to secure the NFC’s #1 seed as early as possible. 
  • Josh Allen and the Bills got a little revenge over the Jets and avenged their loss earlier in the year. It wasn’t pretty at all, as the 20-12 scoreline might suggest, but Buffalo got the job done, thanks to Dawson Knox’s somersault, and Josh Allen’s nose for the endzone on the ground. Mike White gave an all-time effort in the face of a barrage of hits from the Bills Defense, but it wasn’t quite enough for New York. I like what Saleh’s building, but it does feel like this is a team that will fall just short of the Playoffs this season.
  • Where on earth did that come from!? Trevor Lawrence and the Jaguars put the Tennessee Titans to the sword, and vaulted themselves just about back into a very slim chance of usurping the Titans atop the AFC South. Derrick Henry had almost a hundred yards rushing in the 1st quarter, but then was held relatively in check throughout the 2nd half as game script and execution favoured the Jags. Special mention to TE Evan Engram for 11 rec, 162yds, 2TDs… what a day.
  • He-Who-Should-Not-Be-Playing continues to flounder, and the Browns playoff dreams are dead. That’s because the hottest team in football right now are the Cincinnati Bengals. 5 wins on the bounce, and looking JUST A BIT like the team who made a run last season having turned their heat up at just the right moment. Joe Burrow got them boys buzzing.
  • The Steelers played the Ravens in a game that ended with Mitch Trubisky quarterbacking against Anthony Brown. Yup, in 2022. The Ravens had 104 passing yards and won the game. Sometimes the AFC North is the absolute worst.

MNF Recap: (Season Predictions Record: 10-7)

Getty Images

No Monday Night Prediction this weekend, as snow in London curtailed my chances of getting home on time to write this before release time on Monday. So instead, a few words on the Patriots Cardinals game from last night:

A brutal night on the injury front, with Kyler Murray going down on only the 3rd snap of the game, which will probably end the Cardinals’ slim chances of making a late push for a Playoff berth. The Cardinals have been BY FAR the most injury-cursed team in the league this season, and losing the Franchise QB only compounds that. Let’s hope it’s not a serious injury for Murray, but when it’s a non-contact knee injury… It’s rarely good news.

The Patriots also suffered injuries themselves, and lost Devante Parker to what looked like a concussion, and Rhamondre Stevenson was unable to shake off an ankle concern. Arizona controlled most of the 1st half, with Colt McCoy stepping in well, and James Conner impressive running the football, giving the Cards a 13-10 HT lead. But it was a crazy 3rd Quarter that turned the tide for Bill Belichick’s men, as a Deandre Hopkins fumble was returned for a TD, before a big play to Hunter Henry allowed Pierre Strong to rush for another, giving the Patriots a 14pt lead with 14 minutes to play. The Cardinals never managed to get back within striking distance.

Matthew Judon added to his pile of sacks, as the swarms of Patriot defenders did enough to close any faint hopes of a Cardinals comeback, or a playoff berth. New England ended the night (somehow) as the 7 seed in the AFC, and we must now ask if being on Hard Knocks: In-Season is a curse. Colts last year, Cardinals this…

Week 15 Preview

We’re in the EndGame now folks. Fantasy Football Playoffs begin next week, and the NFL starts to take over our entire weekend as we head into the festive period, and Week 15. On Thursday, it’s Niners @ Seahawks, as Brock Purdy’s reward for defeating Tom Brady is now facing a pissed off Geno Smith.

Then, it’s Triple-Header Saturday, with Colts @ Vikings, Ravens @ Browns, and Dolphins @ Bills to keep us entertained. Sunday’s best games appear to be Jets-Lions (if you can believe that!), Jaguars-Cowboys, Bucs-Bengals, & Titans-Chargers, before we all snooze with Commanders vs Giants on Sunday Night Football. Then, Monday Night, Aaron Rodgers’ last chance saloon runs directly into the buzzsaw that is Baker Mayfield’s Los Angeles Rams at Lambeau Field. Quite an intriguing one for a number of reasons there. Hope you all enjoy the games!

As always, thanks for taking the time to read this article. I’m @CallumJDSquires on Twitter & Instagram. Come say hey. Hope you all have a great week. Cheers.

Callum Squires

NFL/CFB Analyst

CALLUM IS FROM LONDON, BUT PLAYED COLLEGE SOCCER AT TRINITY UNIVERSITY IN SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS. CALLUM IS A LONG-SUFFERING DOLPHINS FAN WHO BELIEVES THE TUA HYPE. NOW BACK STATESIDE, HIT HIM UP ON TWITTER @CALLUMJDSQUIRES!

5/5