NFL Week 14 Winners and Losers: Chiefs Face Harsh Reality as Playoff Picture Shifts
NFL Week 14 delivered major twists as the Chiefs faced a harsh reality after a costly loss, Daniel Jones suffered a season-ending injury, and several teams surged with statement wins. Here’s a full breakdown of the biggest winners and losers shaping the playoff picture.
Action-packed NFL Week 14 matchups reshaped the playoff race, with stunning upsets, key injuries, and standout performances across the league.
Week 14 delivered chaos across the NFL, with brutal winter weather, major injuries, and season-defining performances reshaping the playoff landscape. From snow-soaked games to shocking collapses, several teams and players stepped up — while others took devastating hits to their postseason hopes.
Here are the top winners and losers from Sunday’s action.
NFL Week 14 Winners
Mike Tomlin and the Pittsburgh Steelers
After a week filled with speculation about his future, Mike Tomlin let his team’s performance do all the talking. The Steelers earned a gritty 27–22 win over the Baltimore Ravens, highlighted by a last-second sack from Alex Highsmith on Lamar Jackson.
Aaron Rodgers delivered one of his sharpest performances in years, hitting three throws of over 20 air yards. While the offense sputtered late with four straight three-and-outs, the win sent a message — punctuated by Tomlin blowing a kiss to the CBS cameras.
Green Bay Packers
Green Bay reclaimed control of the NFC North with a 28–21 victory over the Chicago Bears, reasserting their dominance in the division.
With their full receiving corps healthy for the first time this year, Jordan Love connected twice with Christian Watson, showcasing the offense’s potential.
The difference-maker, however, remained the Packers’ disruptive defense, which rattled Caleb Williams throughout the afternoon.
Buffalo Bills’ Late-Game Explosion
A snowy battle with the Bengals turned into a dramatic finish as the Bills scored 21 points in under five minutes to steal a 39–34 win.
Josh Allen again carried the offense, while Buffalo capitalized on two rare Joe Burrow interceptions. Inconsistent as they may be, the Bills showed why they remain one of the AFC’s most dangerous wild-card contenders.
Shedeur Sanders
In a matchup unlikely to matter beyond draft positioning, Shedeur Sanders showed promising development in Cleveland’s narrow loss to Tennessee.
Despite a costly interception and a disastrous final two-point attempt, Sanders displayed poise and potential in just his third career start. His ability to extend plays — sometimes to a fault — continues to give the Browns’ offense life during a difficult stretch.
Tyler Shough
The Saints’ rookie quarterback delivered another spark, powering New Orleans to a 24–20 upset win over the Buccaneers.
His two rushing touchdowns — a 34-yard designed run and a 13-yard scramble — kept the Saints competitive despite the absence of Alvin Kamara.
Shough remains inconsistent, but his flashes of playmaking ability may force the Saints to rethink their quarterback plans for 2026.
J.J. McCarthy
The Vikings finally saw signs of progress from their young quarterback during a dominant 31–0 shutout of Washington.
McCarthy posted a season-high three passing touchdowns and released the ball faster than he has all year, allowing the Vikings to incorporate tight ends T.J. Hockenson and Josh Oliver — both of whom scored.
The road ahead remains tough, but Week 14 offered a glimpse of hope for Minnesota’s stalled offense.
NFL Week 14 Losers
Kansas City Chiefs
If Kansas City misses the playoffs for the first time since 2014, Sunday’s 20–10 loss to the Texans will stand as the defining symbol of their decline.
Houston didn’t rely on trickery — their elite defense simply overpowered the Chiefs at every level. Missing three starting offensive linemen, Patrick Mahomes was again forced to carry a broken offense, only to be let down by drops, including a late Travis Kelce bobble that became a game-clinching interception.
Mahomes finished with the worst completion percentage and passer rating of his career, along with three interceptions.
Kansas City now faces a bleak playoff path, losing tiebreakers to multiple AFC contenders. A major offseason overhaul — from the run game to the pass rush to the receiving corps — may finally be unavoidable.
Daniel Jones and the Indianapolis Colts
The Colts’ season spiraled further after Daniel Jones suffered a likely season-ending Achilles tear in a 36–19 loss to the Jaguars.
With four losses in their last five games and rookie Riley Leonard now expected to start, Indianapolis faces long odds of securing a wild-card spot.
The offseason outlook is equally uncertain: Jones was set for a massive contract, but his injury raises questions about the Colts’ long-term commitment — especially after trading away future first-round picks.
Baltimore Ravens
A week after the division chaos, it appears the wrong AFC North team hit the panic button.
The Ravens fell behind Pittsburgh in the division standings following another sluggish outing, marked by red-zone failures and defensive lapses — including a glaring breakdown on a Jaylen Warren screen pass for a touchdown.
Baltimore still has a path to reclaim the division, but right now, they look far from playoff-ready.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Despite a favorable late-season schedule, the Buccaneers continue to disappoint.
Their 24–20 loss to the Saints dropped them to 7–6 and into a tie with Carolina atop the NFC South.
Baker Mayfield struggled again, and Tampa Bay has now lost five of its last seven. A fifth straight division title is anything but guaranteed.
Washington Commanders
Eliminated from playoff contention and shut out 31–0, the Commanders hit a new low in a lost season.
Jayden Daniels returned from injury but left again after an elbow aggravation, and Washington managed just 206 total yards. With eight straight losses, the Commanders may soon need to reconsider risking further injury to their young quarterback.
