Week 14 turned out to be Rivalry Weekend around the NFL, with Eagles-Cowboys, Bills-Chiefs, and Seahawks-49ers all carrying massive playoff implications, and by the end of Sunday, perhaps an MVP favorite separated himself.
Here are the biggest takeaways from one of the biggest NFL Sundays of the season:
First Down: Eagles-Cowboys Exposes Hard Truths
The Dallas Cowboys had this game circled since being embarrassed in the fourth quarter in Philadelphia, back in Week 9, and used the Sunday Night stage to prove they can be just as dominant against elite competition as they are feasting on middling teams.
Dallas outclassed the Eagles in all phases; forcing three turnovers, sacking Jalen Hurts once, while holding the NFL's fifth-leading scoring offense out of the end zone.
The Cowboys sought legitimacy, after blowing out the Commanders on Thanksgiving, surviving late against the Seahawks, but lacking a win over a team currently in the playoffs.
Sunday night, Dallas got exactly that.
Now in a virtual tie with the Eagles for the NFC East lead, at 10-3, the division still might come down to the third tiebreaker, conference record, where Philadelphia holds an edge.
But, big picture, for as much confidence as the Cowboys have after picking up a 15th consecutive home win and throttling a division rival, the Eagles have equal reason for concern.
After losing consecutive games against the 49ers and Cowboys — their top competition for the No. 1 seed in the NFC, the Eagles are staring down at some hard truths; despite their reputation, Philadelphia just isn't good enough along either line of scrimmage against other elite competition.
Sunday night, the Cowboys logged one sack and three quarterback hits but held Eagles running backs to just 4.43 yards per play. Meanwhile, Dallas' offensive line paved the way to multiple sustained drives en-route to gaining a time of possession edge of 36:36 to 22:16.
Now the hunted, the Eagles' margin for error the rest of the way has gone out the window.
Meanwhile, there might not be an offense — outside of San Francisco (and more on them later) more prolific than Dak Prescott's Cowboys.
Sunday night was no different, the sixth game in the past seven that the Cowboys scored more than 30 points, Prescott passed for 271 yards with two touchdowns.
Prescott's MVP case, and the Cowboys' chances of hosting multiple playoff games both grew significantly stronger Sunday night.
Second Down: 49ers Look Unstoppable
Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images
What let down?
Yes, Sunday's victim of the 49ers' ongoing Wrecking Ball Tour of the NFL was Geno Smith-less Seattle Seahawks, led by plucky backup Drew Lock, but San Francisco did not lift their foot one inch off the gas pedal after throttling Philadelphia last week.
The Niners' latest victory, a 28-16 drubbing, never felt in doubt from early in the second quarter onward.
It is becoming obvious that this is the most prolific collection of weapons in the league. Sunday, it was obvious that Brock Purdy makes the likes of Deebo Samuel, Christian McCaffrey, and George Kittle even more productive.
Purdy was stellar, as he has been all season, completing 19-of-27 passes for 368 yards with two touchdowns and one interception, including a 54-yard bomb to Samuel for one score and a 44-yard strike to Kittle for the other.
"I don't get why people say [Purdy] is a system quarterback," 49ers All-Pro left tackle Trent Williams told reporters. "No system quarterback makes the tight window throws before they're there, throwing people open, putting the ball into a window and trusting his receiver to get there.
"Layering balls over linebackers, still getting the ball over their head, getting it to the playmakers. He's so accurate, the accuracy gives those guys the chance to run after the catch. I don't think he gets enough credit for that."
Amid Purdy's air-raid, Christian McCaffrey was his typically explosive self, rushing for 145 yards while averaging 9.1 yards per carry.
"They have great talent with a higher purpose," Brian Baldinger, who was on the radio call of Sunday's contest told FanBuzz. "There's a deep team commitment there."
.@49ers @brockpurdy13 has now 7 straight games completing 70% or more of his passes. The last player to do it in 8 straight games was Joe Montana. #BaldysBreakdowns pic.twitter.com/XSXvagoQJ6
— Brian Baldinger (@BaldyNFL) December 11, 2023
San Francisco has positioned itself as a favorite to emerge as the NFC's top seed by winning five straight games, including sweeping the season series against the division-rival Seahawks, clobbering the Eagles, and knocking off the Jacksonville Jaguars, who are in the AFC South driver's seat over that span.
Purdy has played his way into the forefront of the NFL MVP conversation and the 49ers to the top of the NFC hierarchy in the process. At this rate, the 49ers both look like the team to beat and like that might be the most daunting task to actually pull off this season.
Third Down: Sean McDermott Wins Some Vindication
The Bills needed that. Sean McDermott really needed that.
McDermott found himself in a maelstrom of controversy in the aftermath of Ty Dunne's thoroughly reported, and well-sourced critique of McDermott's tenure with the Bills, that included McDermott's unfortunate and distasteful use of the 9/11 hijackers as an example of great teamwork, an his undervaluing Josh Allen, among other scathing anecdotes.
Any belief that the story, and the Bills losing three-of-four entering Sunday that McDermott risked losing his locker room was pierced by the cathartic jubilation on the sideline after the Bills survived against the Chiefs, 20-17, in Arrowhead.
We got your back, Coach! ?#BUFvsKC | #BillsMafia pic.twitter.com/3PhgjtsLXl
— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) December 11, 2023
In a season of attrition that has seen the Bills lose defensive stars Matt Milano, Tre'Davious White, Kaiir Elam, and DaQuan Jones, surviving the week that was — and flying back to Western New York with a rivalry victory just might be what galvanizes the Bills and could save the season.
Buffalo still has a long way to go, compared to the past three seasons being squarely in the mix for the No. 1 seed and home field.
But, the Bills' flickering playoff hopes lived for another day, now 7-6, two of four games remaining against playoff caliber opponents; the Cowboys and Dolphins.
Fourth Down: Parity Shaping AFC Playoff Chase
Photo by Lauren Leigh Bacho/Getty Images
The expectation prior to the season was that the AFC would be a gauntlet because of so many elite teams being in the mix for the No. 1 seed, that whichever team won homefield advantage would have earned it.
That's not exactly how things have shaped up.
Yes, with four games remaining, the Baltimore Ravens (10-3) and Miami Dolphins (9-3) seem to have separated themselves from the pack. But, thanks to myriad injuries befalling star quarterbacks Joe Burrow, Aaron Rodgers, Deshaun Watson, rookies Anthony Richardson and now C.J. Stroud, it has been the wild card battle that holds the highest drama.
Here's how the race currently looks, along with the remaining strength of schedule for each team in the mix for the final three playoff spots in the AFC:
Cleveland Browns (8-5): No. 21 ranked remaining strength of schedule, opponents have a .462 winning percentage
Joe Flacco just might be the answer to keeping the Browns afloat, after a stellar performance against the Jags.
Pittsburgh Steelers (7-6): No. 9 ranked remaining strength of schedule, opponents have a .577 winning percentage
The Steelers are fading fast, and it's apparent that at bare minimum a complete offensive overhaul necessary this offseason.
Indianapolis Colts (7-6): No. 17 ranked remaining strength of schedule, opponents have a .481 winning percentage
Indianapolis had previously won four straight, but the offense came off the rails as the Bengals defense dominated.
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Denver Broncos (7-6): No. 26 ranked remaining strength of schedule, opponents have a .423 winning percentage
Sean Payton has the Broncos believing. Denver bounced back after a disappointing loss to the Texans with a division win.
Houston Texans (7-6): No. 22 ranked remaining strength of schedule, opponents have a .460 winning percentage
A crushing loss to the Jets, and potentially losing C.J. Stroud is a tough dose of reality for the upstart Texans.
Cincinnati Bengals (7-6): No. 10 ranked remaining strength of schedule, opponents have a .577 winning percentage
Jake Browning has been a revelation, and if the Bengals' defense plays the way it does Sunday, Cincy may steal a Wild Card.
Buffalo Bills (7-6): No. 12 ranked remaining strength of schedule, opponents have a .520 winning percentage
After beating Kansas City, hope remains alive in Buffalo.
The Browns play the Bengals and Texans down the stretch, which each have the potential to be massive swing-games in the wild card race. So, too do the Steelers' games against Baltimore, Cincinnati, and Houston.
Even before Santa takes flight, the playoffs have already begun in the bottom of the AFC.
MVP of Week 14: Brock Purdy, QB, San Francisco 49ers
Purdy authored the strongest performance of Week 14, and emboldened his chances of winning the NFL MVP award in the process.
Against the Seahawks, Purdy once again unlocked the explosive potential of the stars around him. So far this season, San Francisco has a 15.4 percent explosive play percentage, the best in the NFL.
There are a lot of things that make the 49ers so tough to beat, but Purdy is becoming one of the biggest reasons, as he showed against Seattle with a career-high 368 passing yards with two touchdowns, one interception, and a 122.1 passer rating.
If this is the Purdy that the 49ers get the rest of the way, there's a real chance the road to the Super Bowl winds up going through Santa Clara.
Week 14 Team of The Week: New York Jets
Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images
It might have been a momentary reprieve from what has been a frustratingly disastrous season for the Jets that began with unmatched promise, but the Jets went out and made a statement against the Houston Texans.
Despite the continuous deluge of a soaking December rain, Jets quarterback Zach Wilson played Sunday's game like he set out to settle some scores. Against a Texans defense that's in the throes of the playoff race, Wilson passed for 301 yards and two touchdowns.
Meanwhile, the Jets' defense, that has to be buckling at the pressure of keeping New York in games without a semblance of offensive consistency, handed the Houston its most embarrassing loss of the season.
Will McDonald, Solomon Thomas, Bryce Huff, and Quinnen Williams all logged sacks, and the Jets strangled out the previously electrifying Texans offense, holding Houston to a meager 2.6 yards per play. Adding injury to insult, Texans rookie sensation C.J. Stroud was knocked from the game with a possible concussion.
How much the Jets can build on this game from here remains to be seen, but Wilson has to have picked up some confidence after maybe his best game as a pro. But, at 5-8, New York is just two games back of the final wild card spot in the AFC, and if the Jets can pull off a remarkable upset of the Dolphins in Miami next Sunday just might have a real decision to make when it comes to Aaron Rodgers playing meaningful games to close it out. Who would have thunk it.
Week 14 Breakout Star: Jake Browning, QB, Cincinnati Bengals
Jake Browning might just make those who wrote off the Bengals' playoff chances when Joe Burrow was lost for the season look foolish.
Sunday afternoon despite conditions deteriorating as the game went along, Browning carved up the previously surging Indianapolis Colts for 275 yards with two touchdowns with one interception. While both of Browning's touchdowns came on short passes, the first a screen that Chase Brown turned up field for 54 yards and the second an 11-yard strike to tight end Tanner Hudson, he also tossed deep completions of 54, 46, and 45 yards.
Browning's performance gave the Bengals' postseason aspirations new life, with Cincinnati now one of six 7-6 teams vying for the AFC's three Wild Card spots. But, beyond improving Cincinnati's outlook this season, it's games like Sunday's that could make the 27-year-old a hot commodity on the trade market as teams are always searching for the young quarterback they can build around.
