As the USFFL heads into its final stretch, Week 14 delivered excitement, upsets, and exceptional individual efforts. With playoff implications at every turn, here’s a deep dive into the key storylines from this week’s action.
Division Leaders and Streaks
In the AFC, the Jacksonville Jaguars (11-2) and Miami Dolphins (10-3) continued their dominance. Jacksonville extended their winning streak to four games, maintaining a perfect 5-0 record within their division. Meanwhile, Miami secured their fifth consecutive win, fueled by Tua Tagovailoa’s exceptional performance in their 34-21 victory over Tennessee.
The Dallas Cowboys (12-1) and Seattle Seahawks (12-1) are the standout leaders in the NFC. Dallas extended their league-leading eight-game win streak with a commanding 41-27 win against Philadelphia, powered by Dak Prescott’s 425-yard aerial showcase. Seattle emerged victorious in a nail-biter, defeating San Francisco 30-27, showcasing their resilience with eight lead changes before securing the win.
Close Games
Several matches featured thrilling conclusions:
- New York AFC Jets 23, Houston Texans 20: Zach Wilson led a remarkable fourth-quarter comeback, with Greg Zuerlein’s 29-yard field goal as time expired sealing the victory.
- Green Bay Packers 20, New York NFC Giants 20: A battle of attrition ended in a tie, with Saquon Barkley and Jordan Love leading their respective teams.
- Indianapolis Colts 14, Cincinnati Bengals 17: Joe Mixon’s all-around effort helped Cincinnati secure a narrow win, despite a late Colts rally.
Game of the Week
J E T S JETS JETS JETS The Jets win their 3rd game of the season with a come from behind win vs the Texans from Houston. After being down 17-3 and only a 14% chance to win, the Jets score early in the 4th Qtr on an 8 yard catch by Gipson to get within 17-10 to make it a game. Zuerlein hits his second FG of the day with a 53 yarder to make it 17-13 with 6:18 left. The Jets then get a Stroud INT to set up the go ahead score. Hall runs it in on a 5 yard run to put the Jets on top 20-17 with only 3:18 left. The Texans then had a drive but was stalled at the Jets 14 to force a FG of 31 yards with 45 seconds left to play to tie it at 20. Looked like another Overtime game for the Jets but after a 5 yard reception by Hall , ZW hits Gipson with a 54 yarder to the Texans 12. Jets let the clock tic to 1 then Zuerlein hits the game winner to win 23-20 . The Texans rushed for 148 yards the Jets on had 78. The Player of the Game was Surprisingly Zach Wilson who was Red Hot especially in the 2nd half. ZW went 25-33 282 yards and a TD pass.
Week 14 Division-by-Division Breakdown
AFC East
The Miami Dolphins (10-3) continued their impressive form, winning their fifth consecutive game with a 34-21 victory over the Tennessee Titans. Tua Tagovailoa was electric, passing for 294 yards and four touchdowns, two of which went to Tyreek Hill, who tallied 127 receiving yards. Miami remains undefeated within the division (4-0) and is in firm control of the AFC East.
The Buffalo Bills (8-5) kept pace with Miami, securing their third consecutive win with a 31-23 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs. Josh Allen threw for 220 yards and three touchdowns, while James Cook added 113 rushing yards. The Bills’ defense stifled Kansas City’s passing attack, holding Patrick Mahomes to 161 yards.
The New England Patriots (8-5) suffered a setback, losing 31-13 to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Despite the loss, New England remains competitive in the division, thanks to their earlier performances. Meanwhile, the New York Jets (3-10) snapped a losing streak with a dramatic 23-20 victory over the Houston Texans, highlighted by Zach Wilson’s 282-yard passing performance and Greg Zuerlein’s game-winning field goal.
AFC North
The Baltimore Ravens (8-5) extended their winning streak to four games by defeating the Los Angeles NFC Rams 27-15. Lamar Jackson threw for 193 yards and a touchdown, while the Ravens’ defense held the Rams to 92 passing yards.
The Cincinnati Bengals (6-7) edged out the Indianapolis Colts 17-14 in a close contest. Joe Mixon played a pivotal role, rushing for 100 yards and adding a receiving touchdown. The Cleveland Browns (7-6) stumbled in a 23-15 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars, with their offense struggling to find consistency despite a strong defensive effort.
The Pittsburgh Steelers (5-8) showed signs of life with a convincing win over the Patriots. Kenny Pickett’s 242-yard, two-touchdown performance highlighted a balanced offensive attack, giving Pittsburgh fans hope for a late-season surge.
AFC South
The Jacksonville Jaguars (11-2) solidified their dominance in the AFC South with a 23-15 win over Cleveland. Trevor Lawrence passed for 263 yards and two touchdowns, while the team converted 9 of 14 third downs. Jacksonville’s defense held Cleveland’s rushing attack in check, maintaining their perfect division record (5-0).
The Houston Texans (8-5) fell short in a heartbreaker against the Jets. C.J. Stroud threw for 212 yards and two touchdowns but couldn’t prevent a fourth-quarter collapse. Meanwhile, the Tennessee Titans (5-8) couldn’t keep up with Miami despite Derrick Henry’s remarkable 225-yard rushing performance. The Indianapolis Colts (3-10) remained at the bottom of the division after a narrow loss to Cincinnati.
AFC West
The Kansas City Chiefs (7-6) lost their second straight game, falling to Buffalo. Isiah Pacheco provided a bright spot with 144 rushing yards, but the Chiefs’ struggles in the passing game continue to raise concerns.
The Los Angeles AFC Chargers (7-6) rebounded with a thrilling 44-34 win over Denver. Justin Herbert passed for 362 yards and three touchdowns, while Joshua Kelley contributed two rushing touchdowns. The Denver Broncos (7-6) have now lost three consecutive games, despite a four-touchdown performance from Russell Wilson.
The Las Vegas Raiders (3-10) snapped their losing streak with a dominant 34-13 victory over Minnesota. Aidan O’Connell passed for 284 yards and three touchdowns, while Maxx Crosby recorded three sacks to lead the defense.
NFC East
The Dallas Cowboys (12-1) continued their dominant season, defeating the Philadelphia Eagles 41-27. Dak Prescott shredded Philadelphia’s secondary with 425 passing yards and two touchdowns. Brandin Cooks and CeeDee Lamb combined for nearly 300 receiving yards, and the Cowboys extended their winning streak to eight games.
The Washington Commanders (3-10) lost their second straight game, while the New York Giants (2-10-1) tied with Green Bay in a 20-20 stalemate. Saquon Barkley rushed for 144 yards and a touchdown, but the Giants’ offense struggled late to secure the win.
NFC North
The Detroit Lions (9-4) defeated Chicago 31-16 in a game dominated by David Montgomery. The running back tallied 156 rushing yards and three touchdowns, including a 56-yard score. Detroit’s defense limited the Bears’ offense to 98 rushing yards, sealing their place atop the NFC North.
The Green Bay Packers (7-5-1) tied with the Giants but maintained their second-place standing. Jordan Love threw for 335 yards but couldn’t find the end zone late in the game. The Minnesota Vikings (4-9) and Chicago Bears (3-10) both suffered defeats, with Minnesota falling to Las Vegas.
NFC South
The New Orleans Saints (9-4) fell to Carolina 25-18, snapping their win streak. Carolina’s Eddy Pineiro booted four field goals, and Chuba Hubbard rushed for 110 yards, lifting the Panthers to a much-needed victory. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-7) edged out Atlanta 24-20, led by Rachaad White’s 142 rushing yards and two touchdowns. Atlanta’s Bijan Robinson rushed for 110 yards but couldn’t overcome Tampa Bay’s defensive stand.
NFC West
The Seattle Seahawks (12-1) pulled off a thrilling 30-27 victory over the San Francisco 49ers. Geno Smith passed for 281 yards, while Kenneth Walker III scored the game-winning touchdown in the fourth quarter. San Francisco’s Brock Purdy threw for 285 yards and three touchdowns but was unable to secure the win.
The Los Angeles NFC Rams (6-7) lost to Baltimore, and the Arizona Cardinals (3-10) notched a rare victory, defeating an opponent in a low-profile matchup.
Key Performances
- Passing Leaders: Dak Prescott (Dallas) led the league with 425 passing yards, followed by Justin Herbert (362) and Jordan Love (335).
- Rushing Leaders: Derrick Henry (225 yards) and David Montgomery (156 yards) dominated on the ground.
- Receiving Leaders: CeeDee Lamb (160 yards) and Tyreek Hill (127 yards) had standout games, contributing to key wins for their teams.
- Defensive Highlights: Maxx Crosby (3 sacks) spearheaded Las Vegas’ defensive resurgence, while Marcus Williams (Baltimore) recorded two interceptions.