13 weeks into the season and we are slowly getting an idea of who will be in and out of the playoffs.
The playoff race is getting close and some teams are pulling away for playoff spots and divisions. Week 14 has big implications for playoff positioning. This time around, we will be covering a quarterback making his return to a cold town and a battle out in the desert with huge playoff implications.
Just a quick heads up that the previews this week and next will be shorter than normal as I am in the last two weeks of the college semester.
Kirk Cousins makes his return to Minnesota in hopes of ending Falcons cold-streak
Mercedes-Benz Stadium. | Photo Credit / WRBL
Quarterback (QB) Kirk Cousins makes his return to Minnesota after leaving them this offseason to join the Falcons. So far, it looks like Cousins has made the wrong decision as the Vikings currently sit at 10-2 and NFC wild card frontrunners while the Falcons sit at 6-6 and tied for first in the NFC South and fighting for a playoff spot. Who will win the matchup in Cousins’ return?
The Falcons offense has been great all year, but recently it is clear Cousins may be holding them back. Wide Receivers Drake London and Darnell Mooney are both having strong seasons but their touchdown production has gone down in the past two games as Cousins has turned over the ball a lot (six interceptions in the past three games, with four coming in this most recent game against the Chargers). The running game has also been great with second-year running back (RB) Bijan Robinson leading the way coming off a 100-yard game. If the Falcons want to get past the Vikings though, it may be a struggle.
The Vikings defense is arguably one of the best in the league and that statement has stood true recently. They are one of the best rushing defenses in the league (the best actually) and have forced teams into 24 total turnovers. They are led by standout pass rushers Andrew Van Ginkel and Jonathan Greenard.
Expect a good game overall and in the end I have Cousins coming to Minnesota and earning a win. In the famous words of President Joe Biden, who is gonna lose this game? “MINNESOTA!”
Final Score: Falcons 33 – Vikings 27 OT
Seahawks head down to Arizona in hopes of pulling away in the NFC West
These teams are coming off two opposite outcomes for week 13. The Cardinals blew a two-score lead to the Vikings while the Seahawks came back while down two scores. How will things stand this week?
The Seahawks come into this game off a very strong defensive performance. Seahawks DT and former Jet Leonard Williams had a career game with two sacks and a 92-yard pick-six. Along with him and several other key Seahawks defenders, the Seahawks defense held on to finish the game versus the Jets. If the Seahawks want to win this football game, they will need a similar if not better performance against a strong Cardinals offense.
Now while yes, the Cardinals offense did throw two interceptions last week, this does not take away from their great season performance they have had. TE Trey McBride is having a career year so far and is coming off a 12 catch, 96 yard game. He has been a vital piece into the Cardinals passing attack success. On the flip side, RB James Conner is also having a great season and is somewhat underrated by the general media and fans. The Seahawks will need to find a way to shut down both stars again if they want a chance of sweeping the Cardinals.
After a back-and-forth game, I have the Seahawks completing the sweep over the Cardinals.
Final Score: Seahawks 23 – Cardinals 20
Remaining Games and Predictions:
TNF Packers at Lions: The Lions complete the sweep in a game that has everyone questioning if the Packers can hang with the elite teams. Final Score: Packers 23 – Lions 35
Browns at Steelers: The Steelers almost fall to the Browns again but barely get by in a game-winning field. Final Score: Browns 25 – Steelers 27
Saints at Giants: The Saints get by the Giants in keeping small playoff hopes alive. Final Score: Saints 27 – Giants 22
Jets at Dolphins: The Dolphins finish off the Jets in a game that puts the nail in the coffin for Rodgers’ career as a Jet. Final Score: Jets 17 – Dolphins 38
Jaguars at Titans: The Jaguars continue to push the tank in the 11th loss of the season. Final Score: Jaguars 14 – Titans 27
Panthers at Eagles: The Eagles almost fall to the red-hot Panthers. Final Score: Panthers 23 – Eagles 29 OT
Raiders at Buccaneers: The Buccaneers win big in a game that puts them back over .500. Final Score: Raiders 16 – Buccaneers 31
Bears at 49ers: The Bears win the first game under Thomas Brown over at the bay. Final Score: Bears 27 – 49ers 21
Bills at Rams: The Bills continue dominating the league in their eighth straight win. Final Score: Bills 34 – Rams 13
SNF Chargers at Chiefs: The Chargers pull off an upset with America behind their backs. Final Score: Chargers 23 – Chiefs 21
MNF Bengals at Cowboys: The Bengals offense goes nuts again in a much-needed win. Final Score: Bengals 48 – Cowboys 30
Teams on Bye:
Ravens next at Giants | Broncos next versus Colts | Texans next versus Dolphins | Colts next at Broncos | Patriots next at Cardinals | Commanders next at Saints
Standings:
Guild
Y = clinched division | Z = clinched 1st round bye | X = clinched wild card | E = eliminated | ED = Eliminated from winning division
AFC East
Bills (Y) 10-2 3-0 | Dolphins (ED) 5-7 2-2 | Jets (ED) 3-9 1-2 | Patriots (E) 3-10 1-3
AFC West
Chiefs (X) 11-1 4-0 | Chargers 8-4 2-1 | Broncos 8-5 2-2 | Raiders (E) 2-10 0-5
AFC North
Steelers 9-3 2-1 | Ravens 8-5 2-2 | Bengals 4-8 1-3 | Browns 3-9 (ED) 2-1
AFC South
Texans 8-5 4-1 | Colts 6-7 1-3 | Titans 3-9 1-1 | Jaguars 2-10 (E) 1-2
NFC East
Eagles 10-2 3-0 | Commanders 8-5 2-2 | Cowboys 5-7 3-1 | Giants 2-10 (E) 0-5
NFC West
Seahawks 7-5 2-2 | Cardinals 6-6 2-1 | Rams 6-6 2-1 | 49ers 5-7 1-3
NFC North
Lions 11-1 3-0 | Vikings 10-2 2-1 | Packers 9-3 1-2 | Bears 4-8 (ED) 0-3
NFC South
Falcons 6-6 4-1 | Buccaneers 6-6 2-2 | Saints 4-8 2-3 | Panthers 3-9 1-3
Playoff Bracket:
AFC: Division Leaders
1 Chiefs 100% | 2 Bills 100% | 3 Steelers >99% | 4 Texans 95%
AFC: Wild Card Teams
5 Chargers 93% | 6 Ravens 95% | 7 Broncos 74%
AFC: In the Hunt (within two games or less out of the playoffs)
Six win team: 8 Colts 33%
AFC: Outside of the Hunt (within three games or more out of the playoffs)
Five win team: 9 Dolphins 9%
Four win team: 10 Bengals <1%
Three win teams: 11 Browns <1% | 12 Jets <1% | 13 Titans 1%
AFC: Eliminated teams (team is eliminated from the playoffs)
Three win team: 14 Patriots 0%
Two win teams: 15 Jaguars 0% | 16 Raiders 0%
NFC: Division Leaders
1 Lions >99% | 2 Eagles >99% | 3 Seahawks 37% | 4 Falcons 59%
NFC: Wild Card Teams
5 Vikings >99% | 6 Packers 98% | 7 Commanders 66%
NFC: In the Hunt
Six win teams: 8 Buccaneers 59% | 9 Cardinals 44% | 10 Rams 27%
NFC: Outside of the Hunt
Five win teams: 11 49ers 5% | 12 Cowboys 5%
Four win teams: 13 Saints 1% | 14 Bears <1%
Three win team: 15 Panthers <1%
NFC: Eliminated team
Two win team: 16 Giants 0%
Teams that could clinch a playoff spot this week:
Lions can clinch a playoff spot with…
- Lions win
- Falcons loss/tie + Rams loss/tie + Eagles win
- Falcons loss/tie + Cardinals tie
- Falcons loss/tie + Cardinals loss + Rams loss/tie
- Falcons loss/tie + Cardinals loss + Eagles win + Cowboys win + Bears win + Steelers win + Titans win
- Buccaneers loss/tie + Rams loss/tie + Eagles win
- Buccaneers lose/tie + Cardinals tie
- Buccaneers lose/tie + Cardinals loss + Rams loss/tie
Vikings can clinch a playoff spot with…
- Minnesota Vikings win + Cardinals tie
- Minnesota Vikings win + Cardinals loss + Rams loss/tie
- Minnesota Vikings tie + Buccaneers loss + Rams loss + Cardinals loss
- Minnesota Vikings tie + Buccaneers loss + Rams loss + Cardinals tie + Eagles win/tie
Eagles can clinch a playoff spot with…
- Eagles win + Falcons loss/tie + Cardinals loss + Rams loss/tie
- Eagles win + Falcons loss/tie + Cardinals loss + Lions win/tie
- Eagles win + Falcons loss/tie + Cardinals tie
- Eagles win + Buccaneers loss/tie + Cardinals loss + Rams loss/tie
- Eagles win + Buccaneers loss/tie + Cardinals loss + Lions win/tie
- Eagles win + Buccaneers loss/tie + Cardinals tie
- Eagles tie + Falcons loss + Cardinals loss + Rams loss/tie
- Eagles tie + Falcons loss + Cardinals tie
- Eagles tie + Buccaneers loss + Cardinals loss + Rams loss/tie
- Eagles tie + Buccaneers loss + Cardinals tie
Teams that could be eliminated from the playoffs this week:
Panthers can be eliminated with…
- Panthers loss + Vikings win
