What we realized in NFL Week 14: The Cowboys make an announcement, the Chiefs are annoyed and extra

It is perhaps time to begin taking the Dallas Cowboys severely as Super Bowl contenders.

Because they’ve by no means regarded higher within the Dak Prescott period, and their quarterback’s by no means performed higher.

The knock that’s trailed the Cowboys all through this season — their lack of a signature victory over a legit contender — was silenced fairly convincingly Sunday night time. Dallas whupped the Philadelphia Eagles 33-13 in a sport the Cowboys had been answerable for from the beginning.

That means there’s a three-team tie atop the NFC, with the 49ers, Cowboys and Eagles all 10-3. San Francisco owns tiebreakers over each attributable to head-to-head victories this season, and the Cowboys’ 4-1 division file provides them a slight edge over the Eagles, who’re 3-1 within the NFC East. But with 4 video games to play, a lot can change.

Dallas has received 15 straight at dwelling and owns a 171-point differential over opponents at AT&T Stadium this season. The greatest motive? Prescott. He furthered his MVP candidacy Sunday with a 271-yard, two-touchdown, no-pick efficiency, and the protection compelled Philly into three turnovers, by no means permitting Jalen Hurts and the Eagles’ offense to get in sync.

Prescott’s final seven video games: 22 touchdowns and simply two interceptions. And a 6-1 file.

In Kansas City earlier Sunday, a Kadarius Toney penalty — he lined up offsides earlier than a pivotal fourth-quarter snap — value the Chiefs the play of the 12 months, permitting the Bills to flee with a much-needed 20-17 win that retains their playoff hopes alive. Patrick Mahomes was irate after the loss, screaming and slamming his helmet on the sideline, then venting in his postgame news convention.

Suddenly, improbably, the defending Super Bowl champs have dropped three of 4, and Mahomes faces the doubtless prospect of taking part in the primary street playoff sport of his profession come January.

On a rain-soaked afternoon in Baltimore, Lamar Jackson thrilled the house crowd with a 13-play landing drive late, then Tylan Wallace — returning the primary punt of his regular-season profession — added the exclamation level in time beyond regulation, taking again a Rams’ punt for a 76-yard, walk-off rating.

With the 37-31 victory, the Ravens are the AFC’s first crew to 10 wins, although the Dolphins (9-3) can match them Monday night time, once they host the Titans. With Kansas City and Jacksonville shedding Sunday, it’s trying like the highest seed — and the coveted first-round bye — will come all the way down to Baltimore or Miami.

In Cleveland, Joe Flacco proved he’s right here to remain — at the very least for the remainder of the season, main the Browns to an upset of the Jaguars.

In Los Angeles, the Chargers’ fourth loss in 5 video games was additional dampened by the news that franchise quarterback Justin Herbert fractured his proper index finger. His season might be completed; the Chargers’ playoff hopes already are.

In Las Vegas, the Vikings managed only a measly area aim — and that was nonetheless sufficient to beat the Raiders, who misplaced their third straight. It was the NFL’s first 3-0 sport since 2007.

In San Francisco, Brock Purdy and the 49ers notched their second five-game successful streak of the season, beating the Seahawks for the second time in three weeks.

In Cincinnati, Jake Browning received his second begin in six days, main the resurgent Bengals to a 20-point win over the Colts.

In New York, Zach Wilson shook off a tumultuous week and performed his greatest sport of the season in a 30-6 rout of the Texans. The loss snapped the Jets’ three-game shedding streak, and for Houston, the concern rests with rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud, who left within the fourth quarter after slamming his head in opposition to the turf and is now within the concussion protocol.

Meanwhile, trigger for concern in Detroit? The Lions haven’t regarded proper in weeks, and suffered their second loss in three video games Sunday in Chicago, falling to the lowly Bears 28-13. At 9-4, Dan Campbell’s crew continues to be in entrance within the NFC North, however the Lions are usually not taking part in something near their greatest soccer.

Here’s what stood out from Sunday of  NFL Week 14:

Cowboys have their signature win

For Dallas, this one was about greater than the standings.

In numerous methods, the Cowboys wanted a win like this, one over a official Super Bowl contender, the very kind of victory that’s been lacking from their in any other case spectacular résumé all season.

They had been routed in San Francisco in Week 5, then got here up quick in Philadelphia in Week 9. In between, for probably the most half: blowout victories over struggling groups.

Beat up on pretenders all they need, typically by staggering margins, and the knock was going to hold round till they did one thing about it. Dallas didn’t have a signature win, not but at the very least, that instructed you the Cowboys had been able to do one thing completely different come January — and make a playoff run. Not since 1996 has Dallas superior to the NFC Championship Game.

Sunday night time’s 33-13 win spoke to a crew hitting its stride on the proper time. Dallas has received 5 straight and, together with the 49ers, is among the many most well-balanced groups in soccer on either side of the ball.

The Eagles, in the meantime, have dropped two straight by a mixed 43 factors after successful 9 of their first 10. Philly’s bid to earn the highest seed once more — and the first-round bye — simply obtained a complete lot more durable, and one thing about the way in which the Eagles have performed the final two weeks makes you are worried about their postseason probabilities. At this level, they don’t have the momentum they did a 12 months in the past presently. The subsequent month will likely be about rediscovering that.

The good news for the Eagles, although, is their closing stretch seems much less formidable than what the Cowboys will see. Philly closes with the Seahawks, Cardinals and Giants twice. Dallas will end with the Bills, Dolphins, Lions and Commanders.

Toney prices the Chiefs; Bills’ playoff hopes nonetheless alive

While the Chiefs had been furious after the loss — notably coach Andy Reid and Mahomes — that the referees didn’t warn Toney he was offsides earlier than the sport’s greatest snap, the decision was the right one. It erased a wild play that noticed Travis Kelce snare a 25-yard cross from Mahomes, then lateral it to Toney, who ran the ultimate 24 yards for a landing that will’ve put the Chiefs in entrance 23-20 with 1:25 left.

No matter. Toney was at the very least a full yard offsides. The flag was thrown. Mahomes threw three straight incompletions afterward and the Bills sealed the 20-17 win.

The Chiefs’ frustrations appear to be effervescent over — at their very own inconsistent play of late, plus some awful officiating. Mahomes was beside himself on the sideline as the sport ended, slamming his helmet, shouting on the officers. He then vented in a manner he hardly ever does in his postgame news convention.

“Another game we’re talking about the refs,” Mahomes stated. “It’s not what we want for the NFL. It’s not what we want for football. Let us play the game. Then whatever happens happens.”

“It’s a bit embarrassing for the National Football League for that to take place,” added Reid, who famous that the officers often warn him when certainly one of his receivers has lined up within the impartial zone.

Kansas City now has dropped three of its final 4 and misplaced two straight for the primary time since early within the 2021 season. At 8-4, the Chiefs are only a sport in entrance of the surging Broncos, who began the season 1-5 however have received six of seven since.

For the Bills, this win may’ve saved their season. Buffalo is now 7-6 and really a lot within the thick of a crowded AFC wild-card race.

“We got your back!” gamers shouted in a victorious postgame locker room at coach Sean McDermott, a nod to a chaotic week in Buffalo that noticed McDermott deal with a report about feedback he made in reference to the 9/11 terrorists throughout a 2019 crew assembly.

All instructed, six AFC groups are 7-6 in the intervening time: Pittsburgh, Indianapolis, Houston, Denver, Cincinnati and Buffalo.

Flacco provides the Browns new hope

It’s one factor to maintain a season afloat with a backup quarterback.

It’s one thing else solely to do it while you’re in your fourth QB by mid-December.

Give Kevin Stefanski credit score: It’s been a turbulent season in Cleveland — 4 quarterbacks have now began at the very least two video games for the Browns — and but his crew is 8-5 and main the AFC wild-card race.

While Houston’s DeMeco Ryans and Detroit’s Campbell have garnered loads of Coach of the Year consideration — rightfully so — Stefanski has quietly completed a terrific job in Cleveland, holding the Browns aggressive regardless of fixed turnover on the sport’s most important place.

It’s 38-year-old Flacco, signed off the road simply three weeks in the past, who has revived the crew’s hopes with a month left within the common season. “I know I can still play,” the previous Raven, Bronco and Jet stated final month. On Sunday he proved it, throwing for 311 yards and three touchdowns in a 31-27 win over the Jaguars, his second begin for the Browns.

“Coming up with words on how this feels? I’m not gonna do a good job of that,” Flacco stated. “There are so many different things that are running through my head. It’s unbelievable to (still) be out there … I’m going to remember these things forever.”

After the sport, Stefanski introduced Flacco could be the crew’s starter the remainder of the way in which. From Deshaun Watson (out for the 12 months with a fracture in his throwing shoulder) to P.J. Walker (who’s since been launched) to Dorian Thompson-Robinson (who stays the backup), the Browns hold discovering a manner, typically successful the shut ones. So far, they’re 5-2 in one-score video games.

Flacco’s arrival, and steadying veteran presence, has been a much-needed addition for a crew already boasting an elite protection. The Browns turned the Jaguars over 4 occasions in Sunday’s win and rank first in yards allowed this season.

Bucs bounce in entrance in NFC South

By definition, somebody has to win the NFC South — whether or not that crew is above .500 or not.

With 4 weeks to go it’s a three-team race, and every is now 6-7: the Falcons, Saints and Bucs.

One of them will host a playoff sport come January.

Tampa Bay’s hopes for a 3rd straight division crown, the final two coming with Tom Brady at quarterback, obtained a giant increase Sunday after Baker Mayfield led a 12-play, 70-yard drive late within the fourth to ship a 29-25 win over the Falcons. Mayfield lofted a great thing about a throw with 34 seconds left that tight finish Cade Otton hauled in for the 11-yard, game-winning rating.

Technically, the Bucs personal the tiebreaker in the intervening time. They are 3-1 in division video games — similar because the Falcons — however are 4-2 in opposition to frequent opponents, whereas Atlanta is 3-3 (the 2 groups break up their head-to-head conferences this season). Meanwhile, the Saints climbed to 2-2 within the division with a 28-6 win over the Panthers Sunday, who’re a league-worst 1-12.

An 0-3 day for the AFC South

It was a dreadful Sunday for AFC South groups: the division-leading Jaguars fell in Cleveland with quarterback Trevor Lawrence gutting by way of an ankle damage, the Colts had been routed in Cincinnati and the Texans had been pummeled by the Jets.

Jacksonville stays out entrance at 8-5 with a 4-1 division file. Both Indianapolis and Houston at the moment are 7-6, with the Colts at the moment holding the tiebreaker over the Texans by advantage of their head-to-head victory in Week 2. They will meet once more in Week 18 in Indianapolis.

But the chief concern for the Texans in the intervening time is the standing of Stroud, who left Sunday’s loss within the fourth quarter after his helmet slammed the turf at MetLife Stadium following a success from Jets defensive lineman Quinnen Williams. Stroud is at the moment in concussion protocol; the Texans are in Tennessee on Sunday.

(Top photograph: Kevin Sabitus / Getty Images)

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