A Purdy pummeling, more Mahomes magic and a debut worthy of the Goonies makes for a great NFL Week 14 Recap.
2022 NFL Week 14 Recap
1/13
New England Patriots linebacker Raekwon McMillan (50) celebrates after recovering a fumble to score a touchdown against the Arizona Cardinals during the second half of an NFL football game, Monday, Dec. 12, 2022, in Glendale, Ariz.
(AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Patriots 27
Cardinals 13
In the Monday nighter no one asked for, New England’s predictable offense was bailed out by a Patriots defense facing Colt “Why Is He Still On An NFL Roster” McCoy instead of Kyler Murray.
Here’s two fearless predictions: The Pats make the playoffs and get the brakes beat off them by the Bills in the wild card round and the Cardinals will be the NFL’s worst team in 2023 with Murray sidelined with a near-certain ACL tear.
2/13
INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA – DECEMBER 11: Justin Herbert #10 of the Los Angeles Chargers passes during a game against the Miami Dolphins at SoFi Stadium on December 11, 2022 in Inglewood, California.
(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Dolphins 17
Chargers 23
Now it’s ok to hype up Justin Herbert.
Throwing for 367 yards to carry the injury-depleted Chargers to victory over the red-hot Dolphins is the stuff that lifts a team to the playoffs. And this win puts L.A. in position to do exactly that.
3/13
Carolina Panthers quarterback Sam Darnold (14) runs down field against the Seattle Seahawks during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 11, 2022, in Seattle.
(AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
Panthers 30
Seahawks 24
Am I the only one who feels like this result hurts Washington as much as it helps? Seattle’s loss pushed the Commanders into control of the 6-seed in the NFC but the Burgundy and Gold historically do their best work with their backs against the wall. Does this change the mojo moving forward?
4/13
SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA – DECEMBER 11: Brock Purdy #13 of the San Francisco 49ers scores a touchdown during the second quarter of the game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Levi’s Stadium on December 11, 2022 in Santa Clara, California.
(Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)
Bucs 7
49ers 35
For all the talk of Tom Brady’s return home to the Bay Area, Brock Purdy stole the show by outplaying the GOAT to become the first QB to beat Brady in his NFL start. It’s always sad to see a sports legend who just doesn’t know when to quit.
5/13
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) throws a touchdown pass to running back Jerick McKinnon during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 11, 2022, in Denver.
(AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
Chiefs 34
Broncos 28
Patrick Mahomes is just filthy.
https://twitter.com/NFL/status/1602056800911491072?s=20&t=-wpJ5fQ-TQ-6blmASeaqIA
And so is Kansas City: Eight straight seasons with double-digit wins. A whopping 15 straight wins over Denver, who is now mired in a third straight 10-loss season to be eliminated from playoff contention. It’s as good to be the Chiefs as much as it sucks to be the Broncos — a team that still can’t win even when Russell Wilson actually looked like Russell Wilson for the first time all year.
6/13
Baltimore Ravens quarterback Anthony Brown (12) hands off to running back Gus Edwards (35) during an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 11, 2022, in Pittsburgh, PA.
(AP Photo/Matt Durisko)
Ravens 16
Steelers 14
Baltimore snapped the string of four straight losses to the hated Steelers, but the win in Pittsburgh comes at a cost. I trust Tyler Huntley to keep the Ravens flying straight while Lamar Jackson is sidelined, but I have no such confidence in undrafted rookie Anthony Brown. Baltimore might have to run a triple option offense and stay stout on defense (the Ravens have held four of their last five opponents to 14 points or fewer) to win in Cleveland on Saturday.
7/13
EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY – DECEMBER 11: Jalen Hurts #1 of the Philadelphia Eagles runs the ball for a touchdown during the third quarter against the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium on December 11, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
(Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
Eagles 48
Giants 22
Philly clinched its fifth playoff berth in six years thanks to A.J. Brown becoming the Eagles’ first 1,000-yard receiver since 2014 and Haason Reddick being the ultimate journeyman pass rusher … but Jalen Hurts needs to get more love.
Hurts has 32 total touchdowns to only five turnovers and is the first QB to have back-to-back seasons with double-digit rushing touchdowns. This man isn’t high enough in the MVP conversation.
8/13
Buffalo Bills defensive tackle DaQuan Jones (92) tackles New York Jets quarterback Mike White (5) after he threw the ball in an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 11, 2022, in Orchard Park, NY. Bills won 20-12.
(AP Photo/Jeff Lewis)
Jets 12
Bills 20
I know Robert Saleh was trying to speak truth to power by saying his Jets will see the Bills again … but given Mike White nearly died in this one, maybe be careful what you wish for?
they killed Mike White
pic.twitter.com/Re0nMypwWQ— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) December 11, 2022
9/13
CINCINNATI, OHIO – DECEMBER 11: A group of Cincinnati Bengals combine to sack Deshaun Watson #4 of the Cleveland Browns in the third quarter at Paycor Stadium on December 11, 2022 in Cincinnati, Ohio.
(Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
Browns 10
Bengals 23
For what Cleveland gave up for Deshaun Watson — including, but not limited to, its collective soul — it’s damning that the Browns have to top 150 rushing yards to win (they are 5-3 this season when they do, 0-5 when they don’t). More Chubb, less Watson. This is the way.
10/13
ARLINGTON, TEXAS – DECEMBER 11: Tony Pollard #20 of the Dallas Cowboys celebrates with Dalton Schultz #86 of the Dallas Cowboys after scoring a touchdown in the second quarter of a game against the Houston Texans at AT&T Stadium on December 11, 2022 in Arlington, Texas.
(Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
Texans 23
Cowboys 27
Hey, Dallas fans … ease up on the celebration. The Cowboys were nearly on the wrong end of the biggest upset of the season despite hosting a team that now has its third straight 11-loss season and 11th straight loss to the NFC East. Mike McCarthy should be fired on the spot if he treats this game as anything more than a loss.
11/13
Detroit Lions’ Justin Jackson runs past Minnesota Vikings’ Cameron Dantzler Sr. for a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 11, 2022, in Detroit.
(AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Vikings 23
Lions 34
Now you see why Detroit was a surprise favorite.
While Minnesota is making some undesirable history, the Lions have won five of their last six after a 1-6 start to the season. And a bad Dan Campbell decision probably would have won them the first meeting between these two teams. Don’t sleep on Detroit down the stretch.
12/13
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – DECEMBER 11: Trevor Lawrence #16 of the Jacksonville Jaguars scrambles with the ball during the third quarter of the game against the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on December 11, 2022 in Nashville, Tennessee.
(Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
Jaguars 36
Titans 22
I know I keep saying this … but Tennessee ain’t for real. The Titans committed four turnovers (that led to 20 Jacksonville points) against a team that hadn’t won in their building since 2013 — their first loss to a sub-.500 team this season. With Trevor Lawrence catching fire (10 TDs and no picks in his last five games), don’t be surprised if the Jaguars end up making this division more interesting down the stretch.
13/13
INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA – DECEMBER 08: Baker Mayfield #17 of the Los Angeles Rams attempts a pass against the Las Vegas Raiders during the third quarter at SoFi Stadium on December 08, 2022 in Inglewood, California.
(Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
Raiders 16
Rams 17
Even though Baker Mayfield has more in common with Sloth than Peyton Manning, he led LA to a most improbable comeback victory to stun the Raiders in their old stomping grounds.
Well, maybe not stunned … seven of Vegas’s eight losses were by one possession and were denied their fourth straight win by becoming the fourth team to lose four games in a season after leading by 13 or more points. This is who the Raiders are — and Josh McDaniels should be held accountable.
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