The Week 14 NFL action was filled with overtime thrillers, huge divisional wins and even setbacks for a few specific teams. One thing that's certain is that the playoff outlook became at least a bit more clear following a busy day of games. For those teams who improved their overall outlook, many walked away as big winners in the power rankings, while others find themselves trending in the wrong direction.
The week started with a huge Thursday Night Football victory for the Tennessee Titans behind a career day from Derrick Henry. They find themselves among the teams who saved their playoff hopes for at least one week. In turn, the Titans and a few others have a chance to be among the big winners in the latest edition of the power rankings.
For every team such as the Titans who picked up a big win, there was one such as the Philadelphia Eagles who watched a big situation fall by the wayside. The Eagles are still very much in the playoff mix after their loss to the Dallas Cowboys, but they have work to do and a tough schedule ahead.
Before we get there, let's take a look at a few interesting storylines from the action this week, starting with those teams who picked up key wins.
Dolphins Save Season With 'Miami Miracle,' Colts & Titans Join
There may be no play of the 2018 NFL season that's nearly as memorable as the final one of the Miami Dolphins' game against the New England Patriots. It took a 69-yard touchdown as time expired, complete with a hook-and-ladder for the Dolphins to win this game. Regardless, they got it done, and if you missed it then sit back and enjoy.
It's already being dubbed as the 'Miami Miracle' and understandably so, as it saved their playoff chances. The Dolphins (7-6) weren't the only ones who picked up a big Week 14 win, though, as the Indianapolis Colts and aforementioned Titans both won, moving to 7-6 in the process.
It's a logjam for the No. 6 seed in the AFC, and it's likely going to take the final three weeks to sort it out. There may be no more interesting race in the NFL currently than the push for that last playoff spot.
Cowboys Distance Themselves in NFC East
The Dallas Cowboys are an intriguing name to monitor in the power rankings, as they picked up their fifth-straight win Sunday, and it was arguably as big as last weeks. After knocking off the red-hot New Orleans Saints in Week 13, they welcomed the rival Philadelphia Eagles, who were just one game behind them in the division.
Week 14 brought a handful of big matchups, but the one pitting the Eagles against the Cowboys was one of the most important. Jerry's World was rocking for the matchup, and when all was said and done it didn't disappoint.
Dallas got the job done to move to 8-5 on the year and created a full two-game lead over the rest of the NFC East with three games left. Let's dive in and see where the Cowboys, among other teams, sit compared to the rest of the league currently. Click the next arrow to see this week's NFL power rankings heading into Week 15.
No. 1 New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints were able to right the ship after their Thursday Night Football loss to the Cowboys. Although that Week 13 loss was one of the worst we've seen from them in a very long time, they bounced back with a big win. Even beyond that, the Los Angeles Rams came up short against a strong Chicago Bears team.
Realistically, an argument could be made for either the Saints or Rams to hold this top spot. But with the Saints bouncing back by picking up a road win against a division rival who was playing to keep playoff hopes alive, they get a tip of the cap. Drew Brees and company are going to be scary when the playoffs roll around, and the loss to Dallas will only help them get better.
Arguably the scariest part of the Saints at this moment is the emergence of their defense. Over the past five games, they've allowed no more than 17 points while facing some talented offensive units. If that trend continues into the postseason, New Orleans will be a tough out for any opponent.
Moving forward, the Saints will need to hold off the Rams down the stretch to earn the No. 1 seed in the NFC. They do hold the tiebreaker due to their Week 9 win, but have a tough final stretch. New Orleans draws a Carolina Panthers team desperately in need of wins for their playoff chances in Weeks 15 and 17, with a home game against the Pittsburgh Steelers in the middle. All three games are key for the two opponents.
No. 2 Los Angeles Rams
I can't really dock the Los Angeles Rams for falling to the Chicago Bears in a primetime game in Soldier Field. This isn't the same Bears team of years past where they're trending towards a high draft pick. Traveling across the country to take on a team who's playing exceptional football in a primetime game is a tall task, as we saw on Sunday Night Football.
The Rams still have one of the NFL's best offenses, their defense has the potential to change games and they have a top MVP candidate in running back Todd Gurley. Although Gurley likely won't win the award this year, the young Rams offense took shape around Sean McVay and it won't be long before a Super Bowl is heading back to Los Angeles.
Following Week 14, the Rams sit at 11-2 on the year, leaving them tied for the best record in the NFL. Let's also not forget that the two losses came against another 11-win team and a Bears group sitting atop the NFC North. In turn, there's a lot of reason to praise Goff, Gurley, McVay, and the rest of the Rams roster.
Although the loss to the Bears didn't derail their playoff outlook in terms of the top seed, the Rams do need a Saints loss and their own win to jump into that No. 1 spot in the NFC. It will also be interesting to see how the two top teams in the NFC approach the final stretch of the year, as health of players heading into the postseason is by far the most important topic.
The Rams wrap up the year with a home game against a Philadelphia Eagles team who face a crucial home stretch for their own playoff chances in Week 15. From there, it's a date wiith the Arizona Cardinals followed by the San Francisco 49ers.
Gurley and company hold the No. 2 spot currently, but they have a heavy push for multiple teams behind them in the power rankings.
No. 3 Kansas City Chiefs
There was a serious debate about bumping up the Kansas City Chiefs. If Andy Reid's team had rolled past the Baltimore Ravens, it would have been an easy call. But it took a wild overtime game for them to pick up that win, and while the Ravens are a good team, it wasn't quite enough to push them up.
The Patrick Mahomes-Tyreek Hill connection only continues to get better, and the electrifying receiver even played through a foot injury as well. One key play stood for the Chiefs involving these two in the Week 14 win, and it came on a 4th and 9 that saved their chance of a comeback. Hill spoke about that crucial play to ESPN's Adam Teicher.
"I kind of feel like we've been practicing that sometimes," said Hill, who made the catch despite a noticeable limp because of a foot injury he played through for most of the second half. "Coach [Andy] Reid, he puts us in these same moments in training camp against our own defense. It gets us ready."
Kansas City just continues to find ways to win, even when they don't play their best game. That's an impressive trait for any team, but even more impressive against a defense like Baltimore's.
The Chiefs have locked up a playoff berth, but have a bit more work to do when it comes to the No. 1 seed. They have a two-game edge on the New England Patriots (who hold the head-to-head tiebreaker) and Houston Texans. Even beyond that, Mahomes and company still have to hold off the Los Angeles Chargers for the AFC West crown.
No. 4Â Los Angeles Chargers
Speaking of the Los Angeles Chargers, they are primed to potentially catch a huge break in Week 15 on a short week. As they prepare to head to Kansas City for a chance to tie the Chiefs atop the AFC West, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport provided a positive outlook on running back Melvin Gordon.
Although the team's top running back missed the last two games with an MCL sprain, Rapoport reported Gordon could return for the Thursday Night Football matchup just days away. Considering that backup Austin Ekeler aggravated his neck injury (per ESPN), Gordon's return for a game with massive playoff implications could be key.
Regardless, it's hard to ignore what the Chargers have done as of late, winning nine of their last 10 games. Although they manage to find themselves in tight finishes a fair amount, Philip Rivers and company continue to gut out key wins.
And speaking of Rivers, the veteran has been exceptional this season while throwing for 3,638 yards and 29 touchdowns. arguably the most impressive part is that he's not turning the ball over, having thrown just six interceptions to this point.
Even following the Week 15 date against the Chiefs, it's a tough two-week stretch to wrap the year for the Chargers. They play a Saturday night game against Lamar Jackson and a Baltimore Ravens team pushing to hold their playoff spot, and then the Denver Broncos who are also still in the mix.
No. 5 Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys took control of the NFC East in one of the most impressive ways possible. In previous years, the Cowboys would have slipped in a moment like this. Entering Week 14 they sat at 7-5 and welcomed the rival Philadelphia Eagles, who sat at 6-6 and were looking to take the NFC East throne.
Dallas wasn't having it, as they consistently fought off the Eagles in a 29-23 overtime win which featured a dominant performance from midseason acquisition Amari Cooper. The 24-year-old wideout racked up 10 catches for 217 yards and three touchdowns. The most impressive aspect of all was the fact that two of his scores came after Philly had tied the score in the fourth quarter, with the third being a game-winner.
Dak Prescott also had an eye-opening day from an efficiency standpoint, as he completed 77.8 percent of his passes while connecting on 42-of-54 pass attempts for 455 yards. The attempts, completions and yardage all rank as career-bests for the 25-year-old signal caller, and couldn't have come at a better time.
There's an argument to be made that the Cowboys could be a bit lower, or even a bit higher than this, depending on how you view them. But regardless of how you look at it, they've now won five-straight games, hold a two-game lead in the NFC East and boast a defense that looks exceptional.
Behind the improved defense, emergence of their newest weapon in Cooper and a well-rounded offense, Dallas has to be a team to watch in postseason play.
No. 6Â New England Patriots
The whole 'Miami Miracle' thing was a fun topic for Dolphins fans and everyone around the NFL. Everyone except the New England Patriots. Bill Belichick's group was, of course, the team on the wrong side of that, as we all witnessed Rob Gronkowski attempt to dive at Kenyan Drake as he finished off the play.
It was a tough loss for the Patriots, and a drop down to No. 6 is somewhat tough. Realistically, I think there's an argument to be made they could be No. 5. The reasoning behind placing the Cowboys ahead of the Patriots is that I believe Dallas wins a game between these two if they were to meet next week.
The Patriots are still an exceptionally talented team, and when thinking about facing this offense and their plethora of weapons in the playoffs, it's fairly daunting. Considering the fact that Josh Gordon continues to improve and show flashes of major upside, and there's still plenty for New England to be excited about.
It is worth noting that the Patriots have lost two of their last four, both against teams who may very well be on the outside looking in come playoff time. As for the two wins, one came against the New York Jets and the other was at home against the hit-or-miss Minnesota Vikings.
Tom Brady and company will get a big test in Week 15 on the road against the Pittsburgh Steelers. They have work to do in a push to potentially catch the Chiefs for the No. 1 seed in the AFC, but also have to fend off the Houston Texans, who also hold a 9-4 record.
No. 7 Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are a legitimately strong team this season. So legit that I feel bad putting them at No. 7 and think they deserve to be higher, but the entire group from No. 4-8 is just one big headache to sort out.
Regardless, the Bears topped the Rams on Sunday Night Football thanks to some superb defense, holding one of the NFL's most elite offenses to just six points. That alone deserves high praise, and there's something to be said about taking advantage of playing on your home field and using that advantage to defeat top teams.
Again, the Bears do deserve to be higher than No. 7, and if they get revenge from a Week 1 loss to the Green Bay Packers next Sunday, this team is going to skyrocket. They're the favorite to win the division and have consistently picked up big wins while sitting at 3-1 in divisional play.
Bears quarterback Mitchell Trubisky may not have fully reached his potential yet either, and that should terrify the rest of the league even more. Although there's been ups and downs, Trubisky has taken steps forward this year, completing 64.4 percent of his passes with 24 total touchdowns and 12 interceptions in 11 games.
Thanks to the addition of Khalil Mack and multiple other pieces stepping up and thriving, their defense is elite as well. The Bears may be 9-4 currently, but they boast a point differential (+112) that's on par with the 11-win teams.
No. 8 Houston Texans
The Houston Texans fans have a right to feel a bit disrespected here after a Week 14 loss to the Indianapolis Colts. After all, they had won nine-straight games prior to that game, and the Colts were playing for their playoff lives.
Unfortunately, the teams above them are playing football that's on such a different level right now. I attempted to convince myself to bump the Texans up, but among their nine wins, only one (home vs. Cowboys) came against a clear-cut playoff team. The other victories featured some teams looking at high draft picks and they weren't overly impressive wins.
There's no knock on Houston from that standpoint, as any win the NFL is never easy to get, whether at home or on the road. This group has a lot of talent and will only continue to get better down the stretch, setting them up to be a fun postseason team to watch.
The Texans also have one of the scariest quarterback-wide receiver duos in the NFL in Deshaun Watson and DeAndre Hopkins. Although the two couldn't get things going on Sunday, whoever they draw in the postseason will have a tall task. Add on a defense that's proven they can dominate in key moments, and Houston has the upside to be much higher than No. 8.
With a final stretch against two of the bottom teams in the NFL in the Jets and Jaguars, as well as a tough date with the Eagles, the Texans should finish with double-digit wins.
No. 9 Baltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens were a three-point overtime loss to one of the NFL's top teams away from jumping up the rankings. They'd be rivaling the Cowboys, Patriots and Bears at this point, but they were unable to hold off a late regulation push from Patrick Mahomes and company in the 27-24 loss.
With that said, a close loss to a legitimate favorite to win the Super Bowl in Arrowhead Stadium shows just how good this Ravens team can be. Specifically, rookie quarterback Lamar Jackson has shown flashes of major upside, and we saw glimpses of that again on Sunday.
The Ravens' young quarterback has struggled with accuracy, completing 57.1 percent of his passes or less in three of four starts. He's also totaled five touchdowns (all in the last three games) against just two interceptions while rushing for 346 yards in that span.
For what it's worth, Ravens defender Terrell Suggs had the type of approach that shows the mentality of this group following the loss, as ESPN revealed.
"We didn't come here for no moral victory," Ravens pass rusher Terrell Suggs said. "We didn't come here to `do well' against a 10-2 team, now 11-2. No, we came to win."
The loss hurt Baltimore a bit in the playoff race, as they had a chance to grab a strong hold on the No. 6 seed in the AFC. Unfortunately, the Ravens now sit at 7-6 and have three other seven-win teams on their trail and the Denver Broncos (6-7) just behind that.
No. 10 Seattle Seahawks
The Seattle Seahawks wrapped up Week 14 with a crucial Monday Night Football win over the Minnesota Vikings. The Seahawks sit moved to 8-5 with and strongly improved their playoff chances while distancing themselves from the rest of the pack. They currently sit in the No. 5 spot in the NFC while the Vikings, who were just behind them, dropped to 6-6-1 to create a logjam for the final playoff spot.
Seattle helped their playoff outlook in a big way with the home win, and it was safe to say Pete Carroll's team had to be happy they had the 12th man behind them on Monday night.
The Vikings had a chance to overtake Seattle for this No. 10 spot in the power rankings with a win, but Seattle held off Kirk Cousins and company. Although the Seahawks haven't finished the deal just yet, there was good news, as the three teams with six wins behind them – Carolina Panthers, Philadelphia Eagles and Washington Redskins, all stumbled this week.
The Seahawks are in prime spots to make the postseason if they can play well moving forward, and Seattle's run of four-straight wins helped out in a big way. Not only did they pick up those victories, but two of them came against potential contenders for a playoff spot in the Panthers and Green Bay Packers.
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