Week 14 of the 2024 NFL season has featured several intriguing matchups, down-to-the-wire contests, and must-win games for teams looking to improve their playoff odds.
Let’s examine how the Week 14 results affected the NFL standings and playoff picture while also recapping the top games of the week.
Week 14 NFL Standings and Playoff Picture
AFC Playoff Picture
1. Kansas City Chiefs, 12-1 (beat Chargers on Sunday night)
2. Buffalo Bills, 10-3 (lost at Rams on Sunday)
3. Pittsburgh Steelers, 10-3 (beat Browns on Sunday)
4. Houston Texans, 8-5 (bye week)
5. Baltimore Ravens, 8-5 (bye week)
6. Los Angeles Chargers, 8-5 (lost to Chiefs on Sunday night)
7. Denver Broncos, 8-5 (bye week)
In the Hunt
8. Indianapolis Colts, 6-7 (bye week)
9. Miami Dolphins, 6-7 (beat Jets in OT on Sunday)
10. Cincinnati Bengals, 5-8 (beat Cowboys on Monday night)
11. Cleveland Browns, 3-10 (lost to Steelers on Sunday)
12. Jacksonville Jaguars, 3-10 (beat Titans on Sunday)
13. New York Jets, 3-10 (lost to Dolphins in OT on Sunday)
14. Tennessee Titans, 3-10 (lost to Jaguars on Sunday)
15. New England Patriots, 3-10 (bye week)
16. Las Vegas Raiders, 2-11 (lost to Buccaneers on Sunday)
NFC Playoff Picture
1. Detroit Lions, 12-1 (beat Packers on Thursday)
2. Philadelphia Eagles, 11-2 (beat Panthers on Sunday)
3. Seattle Seahawks, 8-5 (beat Cardinals on Sunday)
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 7-6 (beat Raiders on Sunday)
5. Minnesota Vikings, 11-2 (beat Falcons on Sunday)
6. Green Bay Packers, 9-4 (lost to Lions on Thursday)
7. Washington Commanders, 8-5 (bye week)
In the Hunt
8. Los Angeles Rams, 7-6 (beat Bills on Sunday)
9. Atlanta Falcons, 6-7 (lost to Vikings on Sunday)
10. Arizona Cardinals, 6-7 (lost to Seahawks on Sunday)
11. San Francisco 49ers, 6-7 (beat Bears on Sunday)
12. New Orleans Saints, 5-8 (beat Giants on Sunday)
13. Dallas Cowboys, 5-8 (lost to Bengals on Monday night)
14. Chicago Bears, 4-9 (lost to Niners on Thursday)
15. Carolina Panthers, 3-10 (lost to Eagles on Sunday)
16. New York Giants, 2-11 (lost to Saints on Sunday)
Week 14 Recap
Chiefs Keep Magic Going, Clinch Ninth Straight AFC West
Death, taxes, and the Chiefs winning close games. With the doink that landed in, the Chiefs move to 10-0 in one-score games this season and have won 15 straight one-score games overall. With the win, the Chiefs clinch their ninth consecutive AFC West title, the second-longest such streak since 1970, trailing only the 2009-19 New England Patriots (11 consecutive AFC East division titles).
Kansas City now leads Buffalo by two games for the AFC No. 1 seed and home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs. PFN’s Playoff Predictor gives the Chiefs a 77.9% chance to get the one seed.
The Chargers, who led multiple times in the fourth quarter before losing at the gun, fall to 8-5 and into a tie with the Ravens and Broncos for the three AFC Wild Card spots. The Chargers currently hold the No. 6 seed and have a 76.5% chance to make the postseason — a Wild Card berth now their only path in.
Seahawks Sweep Cardinals, Keep NFC West Lead
Zach Charbonnet, starting in place of the injured Kenneth Walker III, ran for a career-high 134 yards and two TDs as the Seattle Seahawks completed a season sweep of the Cardinals to stay atop the NFC West.
The Rams upsetting the Bills and the Niners getting back on the winning track made the road win even more important as Seattle leads the Rams by a game (and the Niners and Cardinals by two). PFN’s Playoff Predictor gives the Seahawks a 48.3% to win the West.
The Cardinals dropped their third straight to fall to 6-7 and fell to a 15.1% chance to win the division and 20.4% to make the postseason.
In Week 15, the Seahawks host the Packers Sunday night in a game with big playoff implications, and the Cardinals host the Patriots.
Rams Outlast Bills 44-42, Stay in NFC West Race
The Rams put up 457 yards of offense to end the Bills’ seven-game winning streak and stay one game behind the Seahawks in the NFC West race. Matthew Stafford threw for 320 yards and two scores, and RB Kyren Williams added two more on the ground as the Rams improved to 7-6.
With the win, the Rams now have a 28.8% chance to win the NFC West and 42.3% chance to make the postseason. They play at San Francisco on Thursday night in Week 15.
The Bills lose for the first time since Oct. 6 and fell two games 2 games behind the Chiefs in the race for the No. 1 seed. Josh Allen had six total TDs, three passing and three running. He’s the first player in NFL regular-season history with three passing and three rushing TDs. PFN’s model gives the Bills a 13.9% chance to get the No. 1 seed.
Sam Darnold, Vikings Ruin Kirk Cousins Reunion, Keep Pace With Lions
Sam Darnold threw for a career-high five TDs as the Vikings pulled away from the fading Falcons in the second half to improve to 11-2 on the season. Darnold, who completed 22 of 28 passes for 347 yards, is the first Vikings QB with five passing touchdowns in a game since Daunte Culpepper in 2004.
Three of them went to Jordan Addison, who had eight receptions for 133 yards. The other two touchdowns went to Justin Jefferson, who became the third-fastest WR in NFL history to record 7,000 receiving yards (73 career games).
With the win, Minnesota remains one game behind the Lions in the NFC North battle and lead the Packers by two games for the top Wild Card spot. The Vikings are 98.5% to make playoffs and still have a 27.2% chance to take the NFC North, per PFN’s Playoff Predictor.
The Falcons, meanwhile, fall for the fourth straight game and fall a game behind the victorious Buccaneers in the NFC South race. Kirk Cousins didn’t have a TD for the fourth straight game but did pass for over 300 yards in his return to Minnesota. The Falcons’ playoff hopes fall to 27.0%.
In Week 15, the Vikings will host the Bears on Monday Night Football. The Falcons also play on Monday Night Football, on the road at Las Vegas.
Bucs Take Over NFC South With Win Over Raiders
The Bucs were staring up at the Falcons in the NFC South for most of the season due to losing both games to Atlanta, but now they have a one-game lead with four weeks left after defeating the Raiders, 28-13.
Baker Mayfield threw for 295 yards and 3 TDs, including two to Jalen McMillan, who had his first career multi-TD game. The Bucs are getting hot at the right time and boast the NFL’s easiest remaining schedule.
With the win and Atlanta loss, PFN’s model gives Tampa Bay a 73.5% chance to win the NFC South race, with a 77.0% chance of making the playoffs.
Next Sunday, the Bucs host the Chargers. Meanwhile, the Raiders will try ending their nine-game skid, hosting the Falcons on MNF.
Eagles Stop Panthers Late, Clinch Playoff Spot With Cardinals Loss
The Eagles stopped Carolina on fourth down with under a minute to go and hung on for a 22-16 win over the upstart Panthers. After a slow start, Jalen Hurts tossed for two TDs and ran for another, while Saquon Barkley added another good game to his MVP résumé, running for 124 yards and setting the Eagles’ single-season rushing record.
Philly (11-2) won its ninth straight game and is one game behind the NFC-leading Lions for the top seed. Per PFN’s model, the Eagles have a 21.8% chance of catching Detroit for the No. 1 spot. They clinched a playoff spot later in the day when the Cardinals lost.
The Eagles will be looking for their 10th straight win next week when they host the 10-3 Steelers in a battle of Pennsylvania. The Panthers, who have not yet been eliminated from the postseason, will host the Cowboys in Week 15.