The NFL scoreboard week 14 just finished melting everyone's brains. Seriously. If you had the Saints beating the Bucs on your bingo card, you're either a liar or a time traveler. We’re sitting here in mid-January 2026, looking back at a slate of games that basically turned the playoff picture into a Jackson Pollock painting.
Chaos. Pure, unadulterated chaos.
The biggest story wasn't even a win; it was the collapse of the "locks." We saw the Chiefs—yes, those Chiefs—practically wave goodbye to their postseason dreams at the hands of the Texans. Meanwhile, the NFC North is a bloodbath. If you missed the scores, or you're just trying to make sense of how your parlay died, let’s get into the weeds of what actually happened.
The Games That Shifted the Earth
Sunday was a fever dream. The Houston Texans went into Arrowhead and smacked the Kansas City Chiefs 20-10. Patrick Mahomes looked human, and the Texans' defense played like they were possessed. It’s wild to think the Chiefs are sitting at 6-7 and essentially out of the hunt. Nobody saw that coming three months ago.
Then you have the Pittsburgh Steelers 27, Baltimore Ravens 22.
This wasn't just a game; it was a physical altercation. Mike Tomlin somehow keeps this team upright. The Ravens had a late touchdown to Isaiah Likely reversed, which is going to be talked about in Baltimore bars for the next decade. Pittsburgh now leads the AFC North at 7-6. It feels wrong, but the scoreboard doesn't lie.
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Over in the snowy tundra of Orchard Park, the Buffalo Bills edged out the Cincinnati Bengals 39-34.
Josh Allen did his best Superman impression with a 40-yard TD run. Joe Burrow threw a pick-six to Christian Benford that felt like a dagger to the heart of Cincy's season. The Bengals are basically on life support at 4-9 now.
Scoreboard Rundown: Week 14 Highlights
- Detroit Lions 44, Dallas Cowboys 30: Jahmyr Gibbs is a cheat code. He had three touchdowns. Detroit looks like the team no one wants to see in January.
- Seattle Seahawks 37, Atlanta Falcons 9: A 31-point second-half explosion. Rashid Shaheed returned a kickoff 100 yards because Atlanta forgot how to tackle.
- Tennessee Titans 3 Tennessee Titans 31, Cleveland Browns 29: Tony Pollard went for 161 yards. This was the "Snow Bowl" and it lived up to the hype.
- Jacksonville Jaguars 36, Indianapolis Colts 19: Trevor Lawrence and the Jags took sole possession of the AFC South. The Colts? They lost Daniel Jones for the season to an injury. Brutal.
- Minnesota Vikings 31, Washington Commanders 0: A literal shutout. Washington is officially eliminated.
- Miami Dolphins 34, New York Jets 10: Miami stayed alive in the hunt. The Jets... well, they’re the Jets.
- New Orleans Saints 24, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 20: Rookie Tyler Shough scrambled for a 13-yard game-winner in the rain. This was the upset of the week.
- Denver Broncos 24, Las Vegas Raiders 17: Bo Nix is playing like a 10-year vet. Denver moved to 11-2 and took the AFC's #1 seed.
- Green Bay Packers 28, Chicago Bears 21: This was for the division lead. Jordan Love outplayed Caleb Williams, and a late interception by Keisean Nixon sealed it.
- Los Angeles Rams 45, Arizona Cardinals 17: Matthew Stafford threw for 281 yards before they pulled him to let Jimmy G finish the blowout.
- Los Angeles Chargers 22, Philadelphia Eagles 19 (OT): A Monday night disasterpiece. Eight turnovers total. Jalen Hurts threw four picks. Cameron Dicker hit a 54-yarder in OT to win it.
Why the NFL Scoreboard Week 14 Still Matters
Look, at first glance, some of these games seem like just another Sunday. But the ripple effects are massive. The Philadelphia Eagles are in a freefall. Losing three straight—including that overtime heartbreaker to the Chargers—has people in Philly calling for everyone's head. They still lead the NFC East at 8-5, but they look vulnerable.
And the NFC South? It’s a comedy of errors. The Bucs lost, but they’re still tied with the idle Panthers at 7-6. One of those teams is getting a home playoff game despite playing some of the ugliest football we’ve seen all year. It’s sort of beautiful in its own messy way.
The Playoff Picture Is a Mess
If the season ended today, the Denver Broncos (11-2) and Los Angeles Rams (10-3) would have the first-round byes.
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Denver’s rise is the story of the year. Coach Sean Payton has Bo Nix operating with surgical precision. They moved past the Patriots (who were on a bye) because of the conference-record tiebreaker. It’s a thin margin, but it’s the difference between playing in the cold of Foxborough or the altitude of Mile High.
In the NFC, the Rams are terrifying. They put up 500 yards on Arizona. Puka Nacua is basically uncoverable at this point. The Seahawks are right there with them at 10-3, but because the Rams hold the head-to-head, Seattle is currently the #5 seed. That’s a tough pill to swallow for a ten-win team.
The Casualty List: Who’s Out?
Week 14 was the executioner for several franchises. If you're a fan of these teams, start looking at mock drafts.
- Washington Commanders: Shut out by the Vikings. Season over.
- Atlanta Falcons: Blown out by Seattle. Mathematically eliminated.
- Arizona Cardinals: Lost 10 of their last 11. It's over.
- New Orleans Saints: Even with the win over Tampa, they’re out.
- Cleveland Browns: The loss to Tennessee was the final nail.
The most shocking name in the "barely breathing" category is the Kansas City Chiefs. At 6-7, they need a miracle. They have to win out and hope the Chargers or Texans collapse. Watching Mahomes walk off the field after that Texans loss was surreal. It felt like the end of an era.
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What Most People Get Wrong About This Week
People keep saying the Chicago Bears "choked" against the Packers. Honestly, I don't see it that way. Caleb Williams played a decent game, but he’s a rookie in Lambeau. That’s a tough ask. The Packers' defense just made one more play. The real story is that the Bears went from the #1 seed to the #7 seed in a single week. That is a brutal swing.
Also, don't sleep on the Jacksonville Jaguars. Everyone talks about the Bills or the Texans, but Jacksonville has won four in a row. They handled the Colts with ease. If Trevor Lawrence stays hot, they are a sneaky Super Bowl contender. They have a "light" schedule coming up with the Jets and Titans, so they could easily walk into a 12-win season.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans
If you're following the race after the madness of the week 14 scoreboard, here is what you need to track:
- Watch the Injury Reports: The Colts losing Daniel Jones is huge. Keep an eye on the Commanders' Jayden Daniels too; his elbow injury might keep him out of the final weeks even if they are playing for pride.
- Check the Tiebreakers: If you're a Seahawks fan, you need to root against the Rams every single week. The head-to-head loss is a massive anchor for Seattle's seeding.
- Focus on Week 18 Rematches: The Packers and Bears play again in the final week. Given how close the Week 14 game was, that will likely be for the NFC North crown.
The NFL is at its best when it’s unpredictable. This week gave us everything: snow games, overtime drama, and the fall of giants. The road to Super Bowl LX in Santa Clara just got a whole lot more interesting.
Grab your playoff calculators. You're going to need them.
Next Steps:
- Review the remaining strength of schedule for the 6-7 bubble teams (Chiefs, Ravens, Dolphins).
- Compare the NFC West tiebreaker scenarios between the Rams and Seahawks.
- Track the betting line shifts for the Packers vs. Broncos matchup in Week 15.