NFL Week 14 Takeaways: Updated Playoff Standings, Biggest Storylines for Every Team
After the early window of Week 14 games, we have more questions than answers about division title races. The AFC South and NFC South have logjams at the top of the standings, and the NFC North may be open for a surging squad.
The Cincinnati Bengals lost quarterback Joe Burrow for the season, but they're still in the thick of the playoff hunt with Jake Browning, who's put together two solid performances over the past seven days.
The Houston Texans could run out of steam because of injuries on the offensive side of the ball. Quarterback C.J. Stroud left Sunday's game with head injury.
Are the Baltimore Ravens the best team in the AFC?
Bleacher Report analysts Brent Sobleski and Moe Moton delve into these topics and the main takeaways from all of Sunday's action.
AFC Playoff Picture
1 of 13
Current AFC Playoff Standings
1. Baltimore Ravens (10-3)
2. Miami Dolphins (9-4)
3. Kansas City Chiefs (8-5)
4. Jacksonville Jaguars (8-5)
5. Cleveland Browns (8-5)
6. Pittsburgh Steelers (7-6)
7. Indianapolis Colts (7-6)
In the Hunt
8. Houston Texans (7-6)
9. Denver Broncos (7-6)
10. Cincinnati Bengals (7-6)
Week 15 Matchups That Could Have Biggest Impact on Standings:
· Baltimore Ravens at Jacksonville Jaguars
· Pittsburgh Steelers at Indianapolis Colts
· Denver Broncos at Detroit Lions
· Minnesota Vikings at Cincinnati Bengals
Best Potential First-Round Matchup: Cleveland Browns vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
NFC Playoff Picture
2 of 13
Current NFC Playoff Standings
1. San Francisco 49ers (10-3)
2. Dallas Cowboys (10-3)
3. Detroit Lions (9-4)
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-7)
5. Philadelphia Eagles (10-3)
6. Minnesota Vikings (7-6)
7. Green Bay Packers (6-7)
In the Hunt
8. Los Angeles Rams (6-7)
9. Seattle Seahawks (6-7)
10. Atlanta Falcons (6-7)
Eliminated: Carolina Panthers (1-12)
Week 15 Matchups That Could Have Biggest Impact on Standings:
· Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Green Bay Packers
· Philadelphia Eagles at Seattle Seahawks
· Minnesota Vikings at Cincinnati Bengals
Best Potential First-Round Matchup: Green Bay Packers vs. Dallas Cowboys
Houston Texans at New York Jets
3 of 13
Zach Wilson Has Much-Needed Confidence Boost for Final Stretch
Over the past week, Robert Saleh addressed reports about Zach Wilson's reluctance to reassume starting duties.
Whether true or not, Wilson needed a solid performance to elevate his confidence. The Jets have benched him multiple times this season.
In a 30-6 win over the Houston Texans, Wilson threw for 301 yards and two touchdowns. He had his best performance of the season by far, and he did it against a defense that tied for the second-fewest passing touchdowns allowed through 13 weeks.
Wilson gains some momentum as Gang Green prepares to play three of its last four games on the road.
Texans Must Make a Stronger Commitment to Run Game or Hold Wide Receiver Tryouts
We must give credit to the Jets defense; it held the Texans to 135 total yards on Sunday.
With that said, Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud lost another wide receiver early in the game when Nico Collins exited because of a calf injury.
Remember, rookie third-round wideout Tank Dell suffered a season-ending ankle injury and underwent surgery. Late in Sunday's game, Stroud went into concussion protocol after he took a big hit.
Is Terrell Owens still in shape and working out in his driveway?
Perhaps Houston should make calls to Jarvis Landry, Kenny Golladay or Sammy Watkins in the upcoming week.
If the Texans don't bring in another wide receiver, they need to rely a little more on their ground attack. Houston ran the ball 19 times for 81 efficient yards against the Jets on Sunday.
.jpg?w=256 "Bills Steelers Football")
Los Angeles Rams at Baltimore Ravens
4 of 13
Baltimore Ravens Stake Claim As AFC's Best Squad
With the Kansas City Chiefs and Buffalo Bills playing below expectations and quarterback injuries found on the Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers, Cincinnati Bengals and Indianapolis Colts, the Baltimore Ravens sit next to the Miami Dolphins as the best the AFC has to offer.
Granted, John Harbaugh's squad needed a walk-off punt return in overtime from backup returner Tylan Wallace to eke past the Los Angeles Rams Sunday by the score of 37-31. It doesn't matter, because the Rams are playing well and the Ravens are finding ways to win.
In fact, Baltimore has claimed victories in six of its past seven games. The latest victory showed continued growth, particularly on offense.
Over the past two games, running back Keaton Mitchell garnered nine carries in both contests. His speed and big-play ability creates a different dynamic, which is why his role should continue to grow. In fact, Mitchell has been featured more than Gus Edwards during the aforementioned stretch.
Veteran wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. is finding some of the old magic as well. Since the calendar turned to November, OBJ has 17 receptions for 343 yards and three scores. He provided 97 yards and a touchdown against the Rams.
Tight end Isaiah Likely is becoming more of a weapon as well. Likely had nine receptions for 131 over the past two games, including a 54-yard score Sunday.
Chunk plays from these individuals make Lamar Jackson more difficult to defend, which will be absolutely vital to knock off the Dolphins and their explosive offense.
Rookie TE Davis Allen Developing Into New Target for Los Angeles Rams
Despite having a three-game winning streak snapped, the Rams should be excited about one development during Sunday's loss: Davis Allen's emergence as a legitimate threat.
The fifth-round rookie from Clemson caught four passes for 50 yards and a score.
Allen's playing time this season has been limited. But the Rams' starting tight end, Tyler Higbee, was inactive Sunday because of a lingering neck stinger. Allen stepped up and proved capable of being a legitimate target that quarterback Matthew Stafford can trust.
In a season all about finding new stars, Allen may be the next.
Rookie wide receiver Puka Nacua really stole the show early in the season (and continues to do so). Running back Kyren Williams emerged as a workhorse back the Rams can use as the focal point of the offense. With Allen now in the mix, a transition is occurring on the fly.
The Rams are finding out who they can build around while remaining competitive. At 6-7, Los Angeles isn't completely out of the mix. If it makes a playoff push, it'll need everything it can get from Nacua, Williams and Allen.
Carolina Panthers at New Orleans Saints
5 of 13
Saints Defense Needs to Carry Them to Stay Alive in NFC South Title Race
The New Orleans Saints dominated the one-win Carolina Panthers in a 28-6 home victory, but they lost the total-yards battle 303-207.
The Saints have a banged-up offense. Wide receiver Michael Thomas (knee) is on injured reserve. Wideout Rashid Shaheed (thigh) and tight end Taysom Hill (foot and hand) didn't suit up. Quarterback Derek Carr played through a rib injury.
On Sunday, rookie sixth-round wide receiver A.T. Perry led the Saints in receiving yards (44). Running back Alvin Kamara recorded a team-leading 56 scrimmage yards.
Going forward, the Saints will either need more from their offense, or their defense has to replicate its Sunday performance for the final four weeks of the season. If not, New Orleans will fall behind the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Atlanta Falcons in the race for the NFC South title.
Panthers GM Scott Fitterer Shouldn't Retain His Position in 2024
Two weeks ago, the Carolina Panthers fired then-head coach Frank Reich, and they're probably not done cleaning house.
Going into Week 15, the Panthers will have the league's worst record. They're the only NFC team mathematically eliminated from playoff contention.
While critics can easily lay the blame on Reich's shoulders, general manager Scott Fitterer assembled this heavily flawed roster.
The Panthers signed running back Miles Sanders to a four-year, $25.4 million deal, and he's taken a backseat to Chuba Hubbard, averaging a career-low 3.5 yards per carry if you include Sunday's 10-attempt, 74-yard rushing performance.
Because Carolina included wideout DJ Moore in a pre-draft trade to move up to the No. 1 spot, 33-year-old Adam Thielen is rookie quarterback Bryce Young's top receiver. In the two games before Sunday's outing, he caught four passes for 27 yards.
Fitterer, who's 13-34 as the Panthers general manager, deserves a lot of blame for the mess in Carolina and should be held accountable.
Indianapolis Colts at Cincinnati Bengals
6 of 13
Cincinnati Bengals' Playoff Hopes Hinge on Jake Browning's Health
Fear tends to be a great motivator. Cincinnati Bengals' backup-turned-starting quarterback Jake Browning dreaded becoming a one-hit wonder, which helped propel him during Sunday's 34-14 victory over the Indianapolis Colts.
Browning took over for the injured Joe Burrow for last week's Monday Night Football contest. The former undrafted free agent threw for 354 yards and provided two touchdowns during an overtime win over the Jacksonville Jaguars.
"I would like to reiterate that it was one good game," Browning told reporters on Wednesday. "So let's stack some of those back to back and not just be the guy who had a good Monday night game and then just kind of fell off. I'm very paranoid about that."
The postseason remains a real possibility for the Bengals after winning their past two games. At 7-6, Cincinnati finds itself in a logjam for a wild-card berth with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Houston Texans and Indianapolis Colts owning the same record.
To complicate matters, Browning suffered cramps in his hand during Sunday's contest. He left the game but did return. He threw for 275 more yards and added three scores.
Browning's return also shows the precarious nature of the Bengals' current situation. They are fortunate to have a quality backup who can help lead the team to victory, because the coaching staff didn't need to change up the offense.
"We have really called upon every resource we have on offense," head coach Zac Taylor said after the game.
Indianapolis Colts WR Michael Pittman Jr. Is Next in Line for Huge Payday
The Indianapolis Colts have been competitive all season despite numerous setbacks. But the Bengals snapped the Colts' four-game winning streak Sunday.
Head coach Shane Steichen acknowledged the Indianapolis' latest loss was its worst effort so far.
While the Colts remain in the postseason conversation, they're not a serious team. At least, they're not a serious threat as currently constructed. They could be starting next year with quarterback Anthony Richardson, running back Jonathan Taylor and tight end Jelani Woods backup in the lineup.
But the value of Michael Pittman Jr. grows with each passing week.
The fourth-year wide receiver is the Colts' biggest offensive threat. He caught eight passes for 95 yards against the Bengals. He posted eight or more catches in six straight games. Over the past three contests, Pittman grabbed 29 passes for 307 yards, including the game-winning touchdown in overtime against the rival Tennessee Titans.
His production is important, because the performance shows he's a legitimate WR1. As the Colts develop a young quarterback, Pittman's presence will be vital. However, he's a free agent after this season. The Colts should jump at any opportunity to extend their top target sooner rather than later.
With four games left to play, a healthy Pittman will easily surpass 100 receptions and 1,000 receiving yards. He'll almost certainly be the next wide receiver to garner $20 million or more annually, whether it's in Indianapolis or elsewhere.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Atlanta Falcons
7 of 13
Buccaneers' Balanced Offense Will Pay Dividends in Final Four Season Games
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have won back-to-back games, and you can see one common thread in both victories. They've developed their ground attack.
Over each of the past three weeks, the Buccaneers have racked up at least 125 total rushing yards. Though they lost 27-20 to the Indianapolis Colts in Week 12, their run game started to build momentum in that outing.
Running back Rachaad White has recorded two of his three 100-yard rushing performances in the past three weeks. He's going to play a major role in Tampa Bay's game plan when it goes against the Green Bay Packers, New Orleans Saints and Carolina Panthers in the final four weeks of the regular season. All three of those teams ranked 24th or worse against the run through Week 14.
Falcons' Pass Defense Raises Major Concerns
Yes, quarterback Desmond Ridder had a costly interception deep in his own territory and took a safety, but he moved the ball through the air fairly well, throwing for 347 yards, a touchdown and an interception.
Against Tampa Bay, Atlanta took the lead 25-22 with three minutes and 23 seconds left in regulation, and its defense failed to get a crucial stop and allowed Baker Mayfield to march the Buccaneers offense down the field for a game-winning touchdown.
In three of their past five outings, the Falcons have allowed at least 25 points, in games against the Minnesota Vikings, Arizona Cardinals (Kyler Murray's season debut game) and the Buccaneers. Defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen has to button up his unit down the stretch.
Jacksonville Jaguars at Cleveland Browns
8 of 13
Veteran Joe Flacco Provides Exactly What the Cleveland Browns Needed All Along
Who could have guessed that the solution to the Cleveland Browns' quarterback problems sat on the New York Jets' bench last season?
With the Deshaun Watson acquisition being an utter disaster through his first two seasons since joining the Browns organization, the team was forced to turn to the likes of P.J. Walker and rookie Dorian Thompson-Robinson. But injuries and poor play spurred the organization to sign the 38-year-oldJoe Flacco.
The 16-year veteran has been a godsend despite sitting at home until three weeks ago.
The previous sentence may come across as hyperbolic. But the way the position played prior to Flacco's arrival and how the new starter has performed since is startling. Cleveland had been winning in spite of its quarterbacks. In two starts, Flacco became one of five quarterbacks in the Super Bowl era to throw for 5 or more touchdowns in his first two games with a new team, per ESPN Stats & Info (h/t Jake Trotter).
During Sunday's 31-27 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars, Flacco threw for 311 yards and three touchdowns. Coincidentally, the last time the 2008 first-round pick threw for at least 300 yards and three scores came a last season during a spot start for the New York Jets against...yes, you guessed it...the Browns.
The current setup isn't perfect. Flacco has missed some throws. He limits Kevin Stefanski's offense to a degree because boot action isn't as effective. The quarterback is still getting on the same page with his teammates and continues to learn the offense.
Again, the Browns defense and their offensive weapons are so good that much isn't needed from the position, hence why Cleveland is now one of seven teams since 1950 to win games with four different starting quarterbacks.
But Flacco's inclusion to the lineup makes this season about more than just getting into the postseason. Legitimate expectations are being built, with Stefanski openly naming Flacco the team's starting quarterback through the end of the season.
The excuse that Cleveland doesn't have even marginal quarterback play no longer applies.
Other Injuries Affect Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars Performance
Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence has played in every game since the start of his high school career. He kept that streak alive by playing through a high-ankle sprain Sunday.
The results were mixed. The Jaguars still asked Lawrence to throw 50 times, and he provided three touchdown tosses. But he also produced multiple poor throws, head-scratching decisions and three interceptions.
The quarterback conversation always sucks the air out of the room, especially when a franchise-caliber signal-caller is injured. However, the Jaguars' other injuries may have been more important to Sunday's loss.
Top receiving target Christian Kirk went on injured reserve earlier in the week with a core muscle issue. Tight end Evan Engram picked up the slack against the Browns with 11 receptions for 95 yards. But anytime a trusted top receiver isn't in a lineup, the offense suffers.
The Jaguars are also on their third starting left tackle, since Cam Robinson is also on injured reserve and Walker Little is dealing with a pulled hamstring. Thus, former backup left guard Ezra Cleveland bumped out to serve as Lawrence's blindside protector. The Browns sacked Jacksonville's quarterback four times and hit him on 12 different occasions.
Cornerbacks Tyson Campbell and Tre Herndon were also out of the lineup. So, it shouldn't come as a surprise that the Browns managed over 300 passing yards, even with Flacco in the lineup.
Lawrence's toughness is admirable. But the Jaguars are battling so much more than just the quarterback's injury.
Detroit Lions at Chicago Bears
9 of 13
Justin Fields Continues to Raise His Trade Value, Help Bears Draw Suitors in 2024
The Chicago Bears have the Carolina Panthers' first-round pick in 2024, which means they have the luxury of winning games while still holding the No. 1 draft selection.
Consequently, quarterback Justin Fields can't play the Bears out of the quarterback discussion. General manager Ryan Poles may not pass up on a signal-caller in back-to-back drafts with the top pick, especially if USC's Caleb Williams declares for the 2024 draft.
On Sunday against the Detroit Lions, Fields put together another solid performance, throwing for 223 yards and a touchdown and rushing for 58 yards and a score.
When healthy, Fields can be a dynamic starter, but the Bears' draft placement will likely influence Poles to trade him while the team makes room for a star collegiate quarterback prospect.
Lions Have Fallen Out of the Super Bowl Bubble
The Lions will likely make the playoffs, but they're not a team that will make a deep postseason run. Since their Week 9 bye, they've gone into a bit of a funk.
Over the past month, the Lions defense has deteriorated, allowing sub-.500 teams to keep the score close or pull off upsets. In its last three outings, Detroit has lost 29-22 to the Green Bay Packers at home, nearly squandered a 21-point first-quarter lead to the New Orleans Saints and lost 28-13 to the Chicago Bears.
At 9-4, the Lions aren't even a lock to win the NFC North with games against the Minnesota Vikings (two), Denver Broncos and Dallas Cowboys left on the schedule.
Denver Broncos at Los Angeles Chargers
10 of 13
Denver's Defense Propels Broncos Into Playoff Picture
A 1-5 start with a historically bad defense feels like ages ago for the Denver Broncos.
With Sunday's dominant 24-7 victory over the rival Los Angeles Chargers, the Broncos are now 7-6 and right in the mix with five other AFC teams that own the same record.
Basically, five teams in the conference have managed eight or more wins so far. That leaves two postseason openings. The Broncos need to treat the next four weeks like a high-profile horse race. A strong finish will determine exactly who reaches the end line.
More importantly, the Kansas City Chiefs' loss to the Buffalo Bills now places Denver one game back in the AFC West.
All the horsepower Denver needs can be found on the defensive side of the ball. Coordinator Vance Joseph leaned on a more aggressive approach, and it's worked greatly in the team's favor.
During Sunday's matchup, the Broncos accumulated six sacks. According to CBS New Colorado's Romi Bean, the 68 yards lost courtesy of sacks are the most created in Denver franchise history. Nine more quarterback hits can be thrown into the mix. The Chargers combined to go one-for-18 on third and fourth downs.
Denver won the yardage, turnover and time of possession battles.
"Certainly it's a game driven by quarterback play," head coach Sean Payton told reporters after the contest, "but it's also driven by defense and running the football."
While the defense is certainly driving this current stretch of play, the Broncos did outgain the Chargers on the ground, as they've done to each of their opponents in the past three games.
Payton and Co. found the recipe to success, albeit later than they would have liked. Still, the postseason and a division crown are well within reach.
Justin Herbert's Season Likely Over After Suffering Fracture in Throwing Hand
If it wasn't already obvious, the Chargers should be looking toward the 2024 offseason.
Sunday's outcome wasn't even the biggest loss of the day for those in powder blue and yellow. According to head coach Brandon Staley, franchise quarterback Justin Herbert suffered what could very likely be a season-ending fractured right index finger during Los Angeles' meeting with the Broncos.
Prior to the injury, Herbert didn't play particularly well. He completed nine of 17 passes for 96 yards and an interception.
At 5-8 with four games left to play, the Chargers are in the midst of another disappointing season despite all of the talent found on the roster.
Clearly, Herbert won't be going anywhere. But that may not be true for others, particularly Staley. Since Staley took over as head coach, the Chargers own a mediocre 24-23 record. One playoff appearance with a quick departure in the first round definitely didn't earn much goodwill.
Maybe a roster renovation is forthcoming, too. Running back Austin Ekeler, tight end Gerald Everett, linebacker Kenneth Murray, cornerback Michael Davis and safety Alohi Gilman are counted among next year's free agents.
Even before Herbert's injury, the Chargers never looked like the team many believed they could be. It's an indictment of how the team is built and who is leading the way.
Buffalo Bills at Kansas City Chiefs
11 of 13
Buffalo Bills Find a Way to Keep Playoff Hopes Alive
The Buffalo Bills may not where they want to be, but they're still in a position to achieve what they believe they can.
The Bills claimed a 20-17 victory over the Chiefs in Kansas City.
The Chiefs have recently served as a measuring stick for the Bills' season, since the two organizations have been considered the AFC's best for multiple years. But both have struggled this season. Buffalo reached a crossroads, with a victory jumpstarting what could turn into a playoff run.
During a week when Season McDermott's inexplicable usage of the 9/11 hijackings as a motivational tool during the Bills' 2019 training camp became public knowledge, the team could have allowed the situation to create further divide and let the season spiral out of control.
"You can question a lot of things about coaching style," Buffalo quarterback Josh Allen told reporters afterward. "You can question a lot of things about my decision-making. You can question a lot of things about this team but to question his character... he's one of the better humans on this planet."
While no one should ever condone or excuse the usage of such a tragic event in any way, shape or form, McDermott is clearly someone who cares about his team and its players.
From an internal standpoint, the entire situation, which has been known among the members of the team for years, helped galvanize a squad that has been listless at times and lacked consistency throughout the season.
This wakeup call for everyone within the walls of the Bills' facilities needs to last over the next four weeks. Two of Buffalo's final regular-season games are extremely difficult, as they face the Dallas Cowboys next and the Miami Dolphins in Week 18.
Even though the New England Patriots and Los Angeles Chargers are sandwiched between those two contests, a 2-2 finish may not be good enough to reach the postseason—not with so many teams vying for those last spots.
Silver Lining Develops During Kansas City Chiefs Downturn
The Kansas City Chiefs have lost three of their past four games. They're not playing crisp football. Frustrations are starting to bubble over. And Taylor Swift isn't any kind of good-luck charm drawing more attention to an already great team.
Instead, the Chiefs are making critical mistakes. Kadarius Toney lining up offside on what would have being the game-winning play serves as a prime example. Toney's play has been pinpointed as part of the problem, as has the Patrick Mahomes' surrounding cast.
Kansas City's wide receiver corps have been ridiculed all season. The pass game runs through tight end Travis Kelce, as it always has. He hasn't received much help, though.
Second-round rookie Rashee Rice is starting to make a difference. Over the past three weeks, this year's 55th overall pick accumulated 23 catches for 243 yards and two touchdown receptions.
Mahomes doesn't need a Tyreek Hill-like presence for the Chiefs offense to operate at a high level. After all, the franchise won a Super Bowl without him last season. Even so, someone must serve as a threat at wide receiver. Rice is becoming that guy.
"I feel like we're making progress, we're going to continue to make progress," the rookie said. "The more we make progress, the more we will be able to not have anyone else in control of the game besides us."
Minnesota Vikings at Las Vegas Raiders
12 of 13
Vikings Have a QB Controversy
After three quarters of a 0-0 stalemate against the Las Vegas Raiders, the Minnesota Vikings pulled quarterback Joshua Dobbs for Nick Mullens, who did enough to get his team into field-goal range for the game-winning kick.
Going forward, the Vikings may continue to roll with Mullens to replace Dobbs, who's struggled over the past three games, throwing for two touchdowns and five interceptions in that stretch.
As the Vikings fight to stay in the playoff picture with a chance to win the NFC North, they must make quarterback decisions on a weekly basis. At this point, Mullens gives them the best shot to win, though that doesn't mean he should be the starter for the remainder of the season.
Antonio Pierce Looks Like a Longshot to Retain Raiders' Head-Coaching Job
Coming out of a bye week, the Raiders failed to score any points in a 3-0 loss to the Vikings.
Even though Raiders interim head coach Antonio Pierce has a background as a defensive coordinator at Arizona State and a linebackers coach in Las Vegas, he has to bear some of the blame for the team's inept offense, particularly in Sunday's contest.
Unlike the Vikings, the Raiders decided to ride the game out with their initial starter, Aidan O'Connell, who mostly struggled against Minnesota's eighth-ranked scoring defense. Perhaps a more experienced quarterback—Jimmy Garoppolo—could've helped the Raiders get into field-goal range.
On the first play of Las Vegas' penultimate offensive drive, O'Connell threw an interception.
The Raiders haven't scored more than 17 points in a game since Week 9 against the New York Giants. Offensive coordinator Bo Hardegree's stale play-calling has contributed to the lack of scoring, but Pierce likely has input on executive offensive decisions.
With the Raiders' playoff hopes still alive following a bye week, he chose not to step in and shake up the offense in an effort to provide a spark, which isn't going to look good on his resume for the full-time job.
Seattle Seahawks at San Francisco 49ers
13 of 13
Brock Purdy's MVP Buzz Continues to Gain Steam
While some pundits give San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan and the team's skill players most of the credit for the club's prolific offense, quarterback Brock Purdy has made a strong case for league MVP.
In a 28-16 win over the Seattle Seahawks, Purdy threw for a career-high 368 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. Since Week 10, he's thrown for 13 touchdowns and just two interceptions.
Yes, Purdy has a bevy of quality playmakers with Christian McCaffrey, Brandon Aiyuk, Deebo Samuel and George Kittle on the field, but he executes at a high level with shrewd decision-making and accurate throws from the pocket.
Purdy is the maestro of a top-seven scoring offense on one of the league's best teams. He's a legitimate MVP candidate.
Seahawks Can Flush Their Playoff Hopes Down the Toilet
Seattle has lost four consecutive games, and quarterback Geno Smith missed Sunday's contest with San Francisco because of a groin injury.
At 6-7, the Seahawks are a long shot to make the postseason, and they're going up against the Philadelphia Eagles in a Monday Night Football matchup for Week 15. Even if Smith returns to action, Seattle will be home underdogs against a team that's in contention for the NFC's No. 1 seed.
Under spirited head coach Pete Carroll, the Seahawks will remain competitive, but they could unravel with a banged-up starting quarterback while on an extended losing skid. Keep in mind that the Los Angeles Rams (6-7) hold the tiebreaker over Seattle with a season series sweep.
.jpg?w=480 "Bills Steelers Football")
.jpg?w=480 "NFL Draft Football")
.png?w=600 "NBA Fans Rip Pistons After Magic Go Up 3-1")
.jpg?w=600 "Ranking Best FAs Still Available")
.png?w=600 "2027 NFL Mock Draft 🔮")