Week 14 saw teams, try to position to make a playoff push, some did and others failed, here are my winners and losers:
Winners:
- Kansas City Chiefs: Wide receiver Tyreek Hill had a 36-yard touchdown catch and a 78-yard punt return for a touchdown. The Chiefs also overcame turnovers in their win over the Oakland Raiders 21-13. The two are now tied atop the AFC West.
- Steelers RB Le’Veon Bell: Bell rushed for a franchise record 236 yards and three touchdowns helping the Steelers defeat the Buffalo Bills 27-20. If you had Bell starting on your fantasy team (especially if you’re in the playoffs), you were a very happy camper.
- Green Bay Packers: Quarterback Aaron Rodgers threw for 246 yards and three touchdowns. The defense caught five interceptions as they defeated the Seattle Seahawks easily 38-10. Packers are getting better and better.
- Washington Redskins: Running back Chris Thompson’s go-ahead 28-yard rushing touchdown with less than 2 minutes left and late defensive stops helped the Redskins hold off the Philadelphia Eagles 27-22.
- Tennessee Titans: It wasn’t pretty, and quarterback Marcus Mariota only threw for 88 yards, but the Titans did just enough to defeat the Denver Broncos 13-10, keeping pace in the AFC South.
- New York Jets: Despite quarterback Bryce Petty being sacked six times, running back Bilal Powell rushed for 145 yards and two touchdowns including the game-winner in overtime as the Jets showed some fight and defeated the San Francisco 49ers 23-17.
- New York Giants: Quarterback Eli Manning’s go-ahead 61-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. and key stops on defense helped the Giants defeat the Dallas Cowboys 10-7, sweeping their season series. Also keeping the Giants’ playoff hopes alive.
Losers:
- Oakland Raiders: Penalties, being only 5 for 18 on third downs and perhaps the cold weather were the Raiders’ undoing in their loss to Kansas City.
- Seattle Seahawks: They just couldn’t get their offense moving (thanks to quarterback Russell Wilson’s five interceptions) in their loss to Green Bay.
- Denver Broncos: They only had 18 (yes, 18) rushing yards in their loss to Tennessee. The defending Super Bowl champs are in serious danger of missing the playoffs.
- Indianapolis Colts: Turnovers and drops cost the Colts in their loss to the Houston Texans 22-17.
- Los Angeles Rams: They were steamrolled by the Atlanta Falcons 42-14, and head coach Jeff Fisher broke a dubious record tying the NFL record for most losses by a head coach. He has since been fired, just a few days after getting an extension. Some wonder do the Rams even know what direction they’re going at this point.
- Dallas Cowboys: Interceptions and being 1 for 15 on third downs stalled drives in their loss to the Giants, snapping an 11-game win streak.
Storylines Going Into Week 15:
Can Cleveland get their first win at Buffalo? A pair of intriguing intra-divisional match-ups has Tennessee facing Kansas City and Detroit battling the New York Giants. Denver hosts New England to keep their playoff hopes alive. Can Tampa Bay upset Dallas?
