Week 14: Chaos, Comebacks and Cold-Blooded Upsets
By Trinity Barnette
Bengals vs. Bills—Buffalo Rallies Late to Win 39–34
Cincinnati came into snowy Orchard Park looking unexpectedly sharp, and the Bengals punched Buffalo in the mouth from the opening whistle. Joe Burrow marched down the field on a 14-play opening drive, converting five third downs before Chase Brown finished it off for a 7–0 lead. Burrow stayed hot on the next possession, finding Tee Higgins for a 21-yard touchdown to make it 14–3. By the time Samaje Perine added a rushing score, the Bengals were rolling and led 21–11 at halftime.
Buffalo stayed alive because Josh Allen kept making magic on fourth down. He bought time on 4th-and-4 and hit Khalil Shakir for a touchdown, then connected with Dawson Knox on the two-point attempt to keep things close. But for most of the first half, the Bills couldn’t get a stop, and Cincinnati looked completely in control.
Everything changed in the second half. Buffalo opened with a clean 75-yard scoring drive capped by a Dalton Kincaid touchdown, pulling within three. The Bills then nearly took the lead before James Cook fumbled at the goal line, giving Cincinnati a touchback and what should’ve been a massive momentum swing.
Instead, Buffalo flipped the game on its head.
After Burrow hit Mike Gesicki to push the Bengals’ lead to 28–18, Josh Allen answered immediately with a 40-yard touchdown run to make it 28–25. Cincinnati needed a stabilizing drive, and for a moment they had it… until Christian Benford jumped a screen intended for Ja’Marr Chase and took it 67 yards for a pick-six. Buffalo had its first lead of the day, 32–28.
Burrow’s next pass was tipped at the line and intercepted again, and the Bills didn’t waste it. Facing 4th-and-3, Allen found Jackson Hawes wide open in the end zone to make it 39–28 with just over three minutes to go.
Cincinnati wasn’t finished—Burrow fired a 25-yard touchdown to Tee Higgins in under a minute—but the failed two-point attempt left them down five, and Buffalo drained the remaining clock to seal the win.
The Bills move to 8–4 and strengthen their playoff position. Cincinnati, despite Burrow throwing four touchdowns, falls to 4–9 after letting a double-digit lead collapse in the snow.
Commanders vs. Vikings—Minnesota Blanks Washington 31–0
What was supposed to be Washington’s reset game turned into another nightmare. Jayden Daniels returned from a dislocated elbow hoping to stabilize an injury-riddled Commanders team, but by halftime it was clear Minnesota had control. The Vikings opened the game with a crisp seven-play touchdown drive, and J.J. McCarthy never looked back. He delivered his best outing as a pro—16 of 23 for 163 yards and three touchdowns—as Minnesota snapped its four-game skid in dominant fashion.
Washington’s offense, meanwhile, never found a rhythm. Daniels struggled behind an overwhelmed offensive line, and the Commanders’ early drives fizzled without any real momentum. The defense, which had shown improvement in recent weeks, unraveled immediately as Minnesota pushed the lead to 17–0 by halftime.
The game fully spiraled in the third quarter. Facing 4th-and-3 in Vikings territory, Daniels’ pass was batted into the air and intercepted by Andrew Van Ginkel, who returned it 41 yards. Daniels tried to chase him down, but he landed hard on his already injured elbow and stayed on the ground grimacing. Trainers removed the brace he’d worn all game and took him into the medical tent. He was ruled questionable but never returned.
Marcus Mariota came in cold and immediately threw an interception, which the Vikings turned into another touchdown to go up 24–0. Two plays later, things got even worse. Tight end Zach Ertz was crushed on a high hit while extending for a catch, grabbing his right leg before collapsing. He couldn’t put any weight on it and was carted off the field in tears—a brutal moment for the 35-year-old veteran on a one-year deal.
By that point, whatever fight Washington had left evaporated. The offense went flat, the sideline deflated, and the Vikings kept applying pressure until the game was completely out of reach. Minnesota added one more touchdown to close out a 31–0 shutout—the Commanders’ first since 2019 and their eighth straight loss.
Daniels stood on the sideline without his helmet, visibly frustrated, at one point throwing it to the ground as he watched Washington’s season continue to unravel. This is the fourth time he’s been knocked out of a game this year, and Washington has now lost 22 players to a combined 99 games because of injuries—most of them starters.
Minnesota improves to 5–8 and gets a much-needed confidence boost. Washington falls to 3–10, officially eliminated from playoff contention, and leaves Washington with even more questions about Daniels’ health and Ertz’s future.
Colts vs. Jaguars—Jacksonville Rolls 36–19 as Indy Loses Daniel Jones Early
Indianapolis entered Week 14 tied with Jacksonville atop the AFC South, but any hope of a statement win evaporated almost immediately. Daniel Jones, already playing through a fractured fibula, went down late in the first quarter with a non-contact right Achilles injury. He slammed his helmet into the turf in frustration, and the Colts ruled him out almost instantly. Rookie Riley Leonard took over, with Anthony Richardson still sidelined by that freak facial fracture from earlier this season.
Before Jones exited, the game had already swung against Indianapolis. His first pass attempt was picked off by Devin Lloyd, and Jacksonville capitalized quickly. Trevor Lawrence hit Brian Thomas Jr. for 18 yards, Travis Etienne finished the drive on a 3-yard plunge, and the Jags jumped ahead 7–0.
Indy answered with an impressive 11-play drive capped by a Jonathan Taylor goal-line score—one of the few bright spots of their afternoon—but Jacksonville punched right back. Lawrence threw a gorgeous third-down shot to Thomas, then found Jakobi Meyers to make it 14–7. By the end of the quarter, Lawrence was 7-for-9 for 107 yards and a touchdown, and the Jaguars’ offense was fully in rhythm.
Early in the second quarter, momentum cratered for the Colts. Taylor was stripped by Eric Murray, freshly activated off IR, and Jarrian Jones scooped it up. One play later, Etienne broke loose for another touchdown, stretching the lead to 21–7. Leonard steadied things with a long field-goal drive, but Jacksonville tightened again, stopping Taylor on 4th-and-1 and then hitting Indy with a backbreaker: a 37-yard dime from Lawrence to Tim Patrick, followed by another Patrick touchdown before halftime. Jacksonville led 28–10, and honestly, it didn’t even feel that close.
Indy opened the second half with a field goal to cut it to 28–13, but nothing came easy. After a brief exchange of three-and-outs, Jacksonville bled nearly seven minutes off the clock thanks to a fourth-down sneak by Lawrence and another sideline strike to Thomas. The drive stalled, but Cam Little stayed perfect since the bye, hitting a 35-yarder for a 31–13 lead.
Things unraveled further for the Colts when Leonard’s pass to Michael Pittman Jr. was intercepted by Greg Newsome. Lawrence followed with one of his best throws of the season—rolling left and launching a dart to Tim Patrick—but Etienne was stopped on 4th-and-1, denying points. It didn’t matter. On the very next snap, Josh Hines-Allen wrapped Leonard in the endzone for a safety, pushing the lead to 33–13.
Little drilled another field goal from 48 yards, and even though Leonard put together a late touchdown drive, it was meaningless. Jacksonville kneeled out a dominant 36–19 win to move to 9–4 and take sole control of the AFC South.
The Colts, now 8–5, leave with their playoff positioning shaken—and with serious concern about Daniel Jones’ right Achilles after returning too soon from multiple injuries. Their season, once 7–1, is suddenly spiraling.
Ravens vs. Steelers—Pittsburgh Steals a 27–22 Win in Baltimore
Baltimore opened the game with a steady first drive, moving 55 yards behind short gains from Isaiah Likely, Derrick Henry and a 31-yard strike to Zay Flowers. But once they hit the red zone, the drive stalled—something that became a theme. Tyler Loop knocked through the opening field goal to give the Ravens a 3–0 lead.
Pittsburgh answered immediately. Aaron Rodgers leaned on DK Metcalf early, Jaylen Warren churned through tough yards, and the Steelers punched in a touchdown to go up 7–3. After that, the game tightened into classic Ravens–Steelers football—punts, third-and-long battles and defensive body blows on both sides.
Midway through the second quarter, Pittsburgh put together a 12-play, 75-yard drive capped by a field goal to make it 10–3. Baltimore’s next possession fell apart when Lamar Jackson’s throw sailed and was intercepted. Rodgers capitalized with a short-field touchdown to stretch the lead to 17–3.
Baltimore clawed back before halftime. A 13-play, 60-yard drive ended with a Derrick Henry touchdown, trimming the deficit to 17–9 after the failed two-point attempt.
The Steelers opened the third quarter with another long, grinding drive and a field goal—20–9—before Baltimore finally produced a spark. Lamar led a 71-yard march, hitting Likely for a chunk gain and finishing the drive himself on a scramble touchdown to make it 20–16.
But Pittsburgh swung right back. Rodgers connected with Metcalf on a 52-yard bomb, Warren ripped off a big catch-and-run, and the Steelers extended the lead to 27–16.
Baltimore moved the ball efficiently on the next drive but stalled again inside the red zone. Tyler Loop drilled his second field goal of the day—27–19. The defense held, Lamar drove again, and Loop connected from long range to pull Baltimore within five at 27–22.
But they never found the touchdown they needed. After Pittsburgh punted twice, Baltimore mounted a final 12-play, 70-yard drive, only to turn it over on downs at the Steelers’ 22-yard line. Rodgers kneeled out the clock from there.
Pittsburgh escapes 27–22, improving to 7–6. Baltimore falls to 6–7 despite 124 yards from Zay Flowers, Henry’s 94 rushing yards, and a strong offensive push late.
Another Ravens–Steelers matchup decided by one score—because of course it was.
Saints vs. Buccaneers—New Orleans Upsets Tampa Bay 24–20
Tampa Bay came into this game 7–5 and fighting for the NFC South lead. New Orleans came in 2–10 with a roster held together by tape and prayer. Naturally, the Saints walked into Tampa and punched the Bucs in the mouth.
The Saints opened the game with an easy six-play, 45-yard march capped by a Devin Neal touchdown run to go up 7–0. Tampa answered immediately—Baker Mayfield dumped off a screen to Bucky Irving, and Irving housed it from 24 yards out to tie things 7–7. The Bucs looked ready to take control, but a failed 4th-and-1 attempt near midfield stalled their momentum, and the Saints closed the quarter with the ball.
The second quarter was a comedy of missed opportunities. New Orleans opened with a field-goal attempt and flat-out missed it, keeping the game tied. Tampa reached midfield before punting, and the Saints gave the ball right back after Tyler Shough launched a deep ball to nobody—Zyon McCollum camped under it for an easy interception. Tampa couldn’t cash in for a touchdown, but they kicked a field goal to go up 10–7.
Chris Braswell blew up the next Saints drive with a huge sack, forcing a punt. But Tampa’s decision-making went off a cliff—they went for it on 4th-and-1 again and failed again. New Orleans got great field position at the two-minute warning but failed on their own fourth-down try, giving the Bucs one last chance before halftime. They tried two Hail Marys, neither came close, and they went into the break up 10–7.
Everything unraveled in the third quarter. Tampa opened with the ball, and Baker Mayfield immediately threw a pick. The Saints turned it into points fast—Tyler Shough ripped off a 34-yard touchdown run to take a 14–10 lead. The Bucs responded with a tough two-yard goal-line run from Sean Tucker to retake the lead at 17–14. But New Orleans answered with a long drive of their own, ultimately settling for a field goal to tie the game at 17–17 as the third quarter expired.
The Bucs entered the fourth quarter doing what they apparently love most today—failing on fourth down. Their third failed attempt gave the Saints a short field yet again, and Shough made them pay. The rookie scrambled 13 yards into the end zone for his second rushing touchdown of the day, putting New Orleans up 24–17 with 8:30 left.
Tampa reached the red zone but stalled at the 19, settling for a field goal to cut the deficit to 24–20. The Saints then used a clock-killing drive to drain precious minutes before punting with 1:54 left. The Bucs got the ball with a shot to save themselves, but they failed on fourth down for the fourth time. New Orleans kneeled it out and walked off with their most shocking win of the season.
The Saints improve to 3–10. The Buccaneers drop to 7–6 after losing to a team they were supposed to bury.
