Cowboys demolish rivals Eagles and a dramatic OT walk-off punt return: Everything to know about Week 14’s Sunday NFL games
Dak Prescott drops back to pass against the Philadelphia Eagles. Cooper Neill/Getty Images CNN —
As the temperature drops and the daylight begins to fade, it means NFL games begin to matter just that little bit more.
And that was on display during Sunday’s slate of games, with dramatic finishes, emphatic scorelines and important results marking the occasion.
Here’s everything you need to know from Sunday’s games in Week 14.
Tennessee Titans wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins catches a pass during a Monday Night Football game against Miami on December 11. The Titans trailed 27-13 with 3:08 left in the fourth quarter, but they scored two touchdowns late to win 28-27 in regulation. Rich Storry/Getty Images
D.J. Moore of the Chicago Bears celebrates a touchdown during the first quarter of the Bears’ 28-13 upset win over the Detroit Lions on Sunday, November 10. Quinn Harris/Getty Images
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes looks to pass in the fourth quarter of a narrow 20-17 loss to the Buffalo Bills. Jamie Squire/Getty Images
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Desmond Ridder celebrates with teammates after scoring a touchdown. The Falcons lost 29-25 to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images
Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Tylan Wallace escapes multiple attempted tackles during a 76-yard punt return for a touchdown in overtime against the Los Angeles Rams. Wallace’s touchdown earned the Ravens a 37-31 victory. David Tulis/UPI/Shutterstock
San Francisco 49ers defensive end Nick Bosa celebrates after sacking Seattle Seahawks quarterback Drew Lock. Lock started for the Seahawks on Sunday after veteran Geno Smith was ruled inactive. The 49ers won 28-16. Godofredo A. Vásquez/AP
Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence reacts after suffering an injury during the Jaguars’ 34-31 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals on Monday, December 4. David Rosenblum/Icon Sportswire/Getty Images
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy looks to pass during the 49ers’ 42-19 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, December 3. Matt Slocum/AP
New York Jets quarterback Tim Boyle prepares to snap the ball during the Jets’ 13-8 loss to the Atlanta Falcons. Al Bello/Getty Images
Roger McCreary of the Tennessee Titans and Indianapolis Colts running back Trey Sermon attempt to catch the ball. The Colts beat the Titans 31-28 in overtime. Andy Lyons/Getty Images
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk a catches touchdown pass in the end zone. Eric Hartline/USA Today Network/Reuters
Denver Broncos wide receiver Courtland Sutton celebrates after catching a 45-yard touchdown pass. The Broncos lost to the Houston Texans 22-17. Eric Christian Smith/AP
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Brandin Cooks catches a pass for a first down as Seattle Seahawks safety Jamal Adams defends during the Cowboys’ 41-35 Thursday Night Football win on November 30. Roger Steinman/AP
Chicago Bears offensive lineman Lucas Patrick lifts placekicker Cairo Santos after Santos kicked the game winning field goal against the Minnesota Vikings on Monday, November 27. The Bears defeated the Vikings 12-10. Adam Bettcher/Getty Images
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts celebrates after scoring the game winning touchdown against the Buffalo Bills in overtime on Sunday, November 26. The Eagles won 37-34. Matt Slocum/AP
Cincinnati Bengals tight end Drew Sample dives into the end zone for a touchdown during the Bengals’ 16-10 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Ian Johnson/Icon Sportswire/Getty Images
Cleveland Browns quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson scrambles in the backfield. The Browns lost 29-12 to the Denver Broncos. Isaiah J. Downing/USA Today Network/Reuters
Desmond Ridder of the Atlanta Falcons hands the ball off to Tyler Allgeier during the Falcons’ 24-15 victory over the New Orleans Saints. Todd Kirkland/Getty Images
Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Olamide Zaccheaus catches a touchdown pass over Buffalo Bills safety Micah Hyde. Matt Slocum/AP
Miami Dolphins safety Jevon Holland runs the ball after intercepting New York Jets quarterback Tim Boyle’s Hail Mary pass on the 1-yard line on Friday, November 24. Holland ran it to the other end of the field, weaving through the scrambled defense, for an astonishing 99-yard interception touchdown. The Dolphins beat the Jets 34-13. Chris Pedota/USA Today Network
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott eats a turkey leg after the Cowboys’ 45-10 Thanksgiving Day victory over the Washington Commanders on November 23. Jerome Miron/USA Today Network/Reuters
Christian Watson of the Green Bay Packers makes a catch for a touchdown during a game against the Detroit Lions. The Packers beat the Lions 29-22. Lauren Leigh Bacho/Getty Images
Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling drops a pass late in the fourth quarter during the Chiefs’ Monday Night Football game against the Philadelphia Eagles on November 20. The Eagles beat the Chiefs 21-17 in the Super Bowl rematch. David Eulitt/Getty Images
Seattle Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon sacks Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford. The Seahawks beat the Rams 17-16. Mark J. Terrill/AP
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow holds his wrist after a throw during the Bengals’ 34-20 Thursday Night Football loss to the Baltimore Ravens on November 16. He tore a ligament in his right wrist. Aaron M. Sprecher/AP
Indianapolis Colts safety Julian Blackmon celebrates with teammates after intercepting the ball during the Colts’ 10-6 victory over the New England Patriots in Frankfurt, Germany, on November 12. Nathan Ray Seebeck/USA Today Network/Reuters
Green Bay Packers wide receiver Jayden Reed stiff arms Joey Porter Jr. of the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Steelers beat the Packers 23-19. Joe Sargent/Getty Images
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray runs the ball during the Cardinals’ 25-23 victory over the Atlanta Falcons. It was Murray’s first game back in action after being injured late last season. Mike Christy/Getty Images
Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive tackle Tristan Wirfs recovers a fumble. Chris O’Meara/AP
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb celebrates after scoring a touchdown. The Cowboys beat the New York Giants 49-17. Cooper Neill/Getty Images
New England Patriots wide receiver Demario Douglas evades Indianapolis Colts cornerback Kenny Moore II. Steve Luciano/AP
Los Angeles Chargers running back Austin Ekeler, second from bottom, is tackled by Detroit’s Aidan Hutchinson and Derrick Barnes, top, during the Chargers’ 41-38 loss to the Lions. Detroit linebacker Jack Campbell is on the bottom. Harry How/Getty Images
Noah Sewell, right, and Jaquan Brisker of the Chicago Bears celebrate during the Bears’ 16-13 Thursday Night Football win over the Carolina Panthers on November 9. Quinn Harris/Getty Images
Kansas City Chiefs players warm up prior to a game against the Miami Dolphins in Frankfurt, Germany, on November 5. The Chiefs beat the Dolphins 21-14. Kirill Kudryavtsev/AFP/Getty Images
Minnesota Vikings backup quarterback Joshua Dobbs reaches for the pylon during the Vikings’ 31-28 victory over the Atlanta Falcons. Dobbs, who was acquired by the Vikings in a trade last week, threw for 158 yards with two touchdowns in the air and one on the ground. Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images
C.J. Stroud of the Houston Texans drops back to pass during the first half against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Stroud threw for 470 yards in the Texans’ narrow 39-37 victory. Cooper Neill/Getty Images
New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones grimaces after being sacked during the Giants’ 30-6 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders. John Locher/AP
Chicago Bears tight end Cole Kmet catches a touchdown pass while defended by Tyrann Mathieu of the New Orleans Saints. The Saints beat the Bears 24-17. Wesley Hitt/Getty Images
Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jaylen Warren evades Tre Avery of the Tennessee Titans on November 2. The Steelers beat the Titans 20-16. Michael Owens/Getty Images
Detroit Lions fans cheer on a third down play during the Lions’ 26-14 Monday Night Football victory over the Las Vegas Raiders on October 30. Joe Robbins/AP
Denver Broncos cornerback Ja’Quan McMillian celebrates a second quarter interception in Denver on October 29. The Broncos beat the Kansas City Chiefs 24-9. Justin Edmonds/Getty Images
Tennessee Titans quarterback Will Levis throws a pass during the Titans’ 28-23 victory over the Atlanta Falcons. Levis threw four touchdowns during the game, his NFL debut. George Walker IV/AP
Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown makes a one-handed catch to score a touchdown against Washington Commanders cornerback Benjamin St-Juste. The Eagles beat the Commanders 38-31. Alex Brandon/AP
Indianapolis Colts running back Zack Moss reaches for a one-yard touchdown run during the Colts’ 38-27 loss to the New Orleans Saints. Michael Conroy/AP
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes walks off the field after the Chiefs’ loss to the Denver Broncos. Mahomes, who was set to make history with a win, threw two interceptions and no touchdowns. Jack Dempsey/AP
Cincinnati Bengals tight end Irv Smith Jr. runs past San Francisco 49ers safety Talanoa Hufanga. The Bengals beat the 49ers 31-17. Josie Lepe/AP
Dalton Kincaid of the Buffalo Bills celebrates after scoring a touchdown during the Bills’ 24-18 Thursday Night Football victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on October 26. Rich Barnes/Getty Images
New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick, right, embraces Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott after the Patriots beat the Bills 29-25 on October 22. It was Belichick’s 300th regular-season victory. Michael Dwyer/AP
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Davante Adams drops a pass in the end zone. The Raiders lost 30-12 to the Chicago Bears. Jamie Sabau/USA Today Network/Reuters
Atlanta Falcons placekicker Younghoe Koo celebrates with teammates after making a game-winning field goal on the final play of the Falcons’ 16-13 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images
Denver Broncos running back Javonte Williams evades Green Bay Packers safety Darnell Savage, bottom. The Broncos beat the Packers 19-17. Jack Dempsey/AP
Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor runs the ball during the Colts’ 39-38 loss to the Cleveland Browns. Trevor Ruszkowski/USA Today Network/Reuters
Teammates run to Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling as he celebrates his touchdown during the game against the Los Angeles Chargers. The Chiefs won 31-17. Charlie Riedel/AP
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy scrambles away from Cleveland Browns linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah during the second half of the 49ers’ 19-17 loss on October 15. Sue Ogrocki/AP
Miami Dolphins running back Raheem Mostert jumps over Carolina Panthers cornerback CJ Henderson. Mostert had two touchdowns during the Dolphins’ 42-21 victory. Lynne Sladky/AP
Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields warms up wearing a #51 patch honoring the late Dick Butkus before the Bears’ game against the Minnesota Vikings at Soldier Field in Chicago. Butkus, a hard-hitting Pro Football Hall of Fame linebacker who played nine seasons for the Bears, died October 5. Todd Rosenberg/Getty Images
Los Angeles Rams linebacker Christian Rozeboom celebrates his interception during the Rams’ 26-9 victory over the Arizona Cardinals. Tony Ding/Icon Sportswire/Getty Images
Quincy Williams of the New York Jets tackles Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith. The Eagles are 5-1 for the season after their 20-14 loss to the Jets. Kathryn Riley/Getty Images
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes calls a play during the Chiefs’ 19-8 Thursday Night Football win over the Denver Broncos on October 12. Jamie Squire/Getty Images
Green Bay Packers wide receiver Jayden Reed sits on the sideline as Las Vegas Raiders’ Robert Spillane is congratulated after his interception on October 9. The Raiders beat the Packers 17-13. David Becker/AP
Haason Reddick of the Philadelphia Eagles celebrates after sacking Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford. The Eagles beat the Rams 23-14. Harry How/Getty Images
Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta tries in vain to pull in a pass reception in Detroit on October 8. The Lions beat the Carolina Panthers 42-24. Paul Sancya/AP
New York Jets running back Breece Hall carries the ball during a game against the Denver Broncos. The Jets won 31-21. Dustin Bradford/Icon Sportswire/Getty Images
KaVontae Turpin of the Dallas Cowboys catches a touchdown pass during the second quarter of the Cowboys’ 42-10 loss the San Francisco 49ers at Levi’s Stadium. Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images
Indianapolis Colts running back Zack Moss runs the ball for a touchdown during the first quarter against the Tennessee Titans at Lucas Oil Stadium. The Colts beat the Titans 23-16. Andy Lyons/Getty Images North America/Getty Images
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens celebrates after catching a 41-yard touchdown pass during the Steelers’ 17-10 win over the Baltimore Ravens. Matt Durisko/AP
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase runs past Arizona Cardinals cornerback Marco Wilson after making a catch during the Bengals’ 34-20 victory over the Cardinals. Chase scored three touchdowns during the game. Joe Camporeale/USA Today Network/Reuters
Los Angeles Chargers linebacker Khalil Mack sacks Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Aidan O’Connell during the Chargers’ 24-17 victory on October 1. Mack recorded six sacks, becoming the fifth player in NFL history to do so in a single game. Ashley Landis/AP
Jacksonville Jaguars fans wave flags ahead of a game against the Atlanta Falcons at Wembley Stadium in London. It was the first of five international games the NFL has scheduled this season as part of its ever-expanding International Series. The Jaguars won 23-7. Justin Setterfield/Getty Images
Amon-Ra St. Brown of the Detroit Lions celebrates with fans during his team’s 34-20 victory over the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field on September 28. Cooper Neill/Getty Images
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Deven Thompkins makes a catch for a touchdown in the second half of the Buccaneers’ win 26-9 against the New Orleans Saints. Butch Dill/AP
Cincinnati Bengals’ Evan McPherson kicks a field goal during a game against the Tennesee Titans. McPherson was Cincinnati’s only player to put points on the board during their 27-3 loss. George Walker IV/AP
Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin shouts while warming up ahead of the Bills game against the Miami Dolphins. Hamlin participated in the opening kickoff, his first regular season appearance after surviving a cardiac arrest on the field nearly nine months ago. The Bills beat the Dolphins 48-20. Adrian Kraus/AP
Brian Robinson Jr. of the Washington Commanders makes a pass reception during the second quarter of the Commanders’ 34-31 overtime loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. Mitchell Leff/Getty Images
Kareem Jackson of the Denver Broncos celebrates intercepting a pass thrown by Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields. The Broncos won 31-28. Michael Reaves/Getty Images
Miami Dolphins running back Raheem Mostert celebrates with teammates Braxton Berrios and Christian Wilkins after scoring one of his four touchdowns during the Dolphins’ landslide victory over the Broncos on September 24. Rebecca Blackwell/AP
San Francisco 49ers running back Elijah Mitchell is tackled by New York Giants linebacker Micah McFadden in the second quarter at Levi’s Stadium. The 49ers remain undefeated after their 30-12 Thursday Night Football win on September 21. Cary Edmondson/USA Today Network/Reuters
Grammy Award-winning singer Taylor Swift cheers on the Kansas City Chiefs from the family suite of Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce. Swift’s show of support comes after weeks of speculation — by various NFL broadcasters and the vast majority of Swifties — that she and Kelce are dating. Swift had plenty to cheer about as the Chiefs beat the Chicago Bears 41-10. David Eulitt/Getty Images
Cleveland Browns wide receiver Amari Cooper pulls in a catch for a touchdown during the Browns’ 27-3 victory over the Tennessee Titans at Cleveland Browns Stadium. Andrew Nelles/USA Today Network/Reuters
Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen leaps into the endzone for a touchdown during his team’s 37-3 win over the Washington Commanders. Evan Vucci/AP
Indianapolis Colts tight end Mo Alie-Cox and Baltimore Ravens linebacker Tavius Robinson go after a fumble in the endzone. The Colts beat the Ravens 22-19. Brent Skeen/USA Today Network/Reuters
Green Bay Packers wide receiver Romeo Doubs fends off New Orleans Saints cornerback Isaac Yiadom during the first half at Lambeau Field. The Packers edged out a 18-17 win. Dan Powers/USA Today Network/Reuters
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Desmond Ridder is sacked by Detroit Lions linebacker Derrick Barnes in the first half at Ford Field in Detroit. The Falcons lost 20-6. Rick Osentoski/AP
Cleveland Browns running back Nick Chubb grimaces after suffering a knee injury in a Monday Night Football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers on September 18. He was carted off the field in the second quarter. Before leaving the game, the star running back had 10 carries for 64 yards. Matt Durisko/AP
Dallas Cowboys tight end Jake Ferguson scores in the first half of a 30-10 win over the New York Jets at AT&T Stadium on September 17. It was the Jets’ first game without quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who suffered an ankle injury during his debut with the team in Week 1. Michael Ainsworth/AP
Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence throws a pass during the first quarter against the Kansas City Chiefs at TIAA Bank Field. Lawrence threw for 216 yards during Jacksonville’s 17-9 loss to Kansas City. Sam Greenwood/Getty Images
Chicago Bears running back Khalil Herbert looks for space to run the ball as he evades Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Lavonte David at Raymond James Stadium. The Bears would lose 27-17. Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Desmond Ridder is tackled by linebacker Preston Smith during the second half of a 25-24 win over the Green Bay Packers at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Michael Wilson makes a catch over New York Giants safety Jason Pinnock at State Farm Stadium. The Cardinals narrowly lost 31-28. Matt York/AP
Kansas City Chiefs tight end Noah Gray receives a pass. The Chiefs beat the Jacksonville Jaguars 17-9. Nathan Ray Seebeck/USA Today Network/Reuters
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Davante Adams celebrates after scoring the team’s only touchdown during their 38-10 loss to the Buffalo Bills at Highmark Stadium. Adrian Kraus/AP
Quarterback Aaron Rodgers, making his debut with the New York Jets, is sacked by Buffalo Bills defensive end Leonard Floyd. Rodgers suffered an ankle injury and was carted off the field after the play, which occurred during the team’s first drive in the first quarter. Before being traded in the offseason, Rodgers had spent the first 18 seasons of his NFL career with the Green Bay Packers. Elsa/Getty Images
San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey looks for space to run the ball in the second half of a 30-7 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers at Acrisure Stadium on September 10 in Pennsylvania. Justin K. Aller/Getty Images
Carolina Panthers tight end Hayden Hurst tries to stiff arm Atlanta Falcons safety Richie Grant in the first half at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. It was all for naught as the Falcons won the game 24-10. Dale Zanine/USA Today Network/Reuters
Las Vegas Raiders WR Jakobi Meyers pulls in a touchdown past Denver Broncos CB Damarri Mathis in the first quarter at Empower Field at Mile High. The score would be important as the Raiders edged the home side, 17-16. Ron Chenoy/USA Today Network/Reuters
It was a rough day for Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals as they got trounced by the Cleveland Browns 24-3. The highest paid quarterback in the league had a tough start to the season, throwing 14-for-31 for 82 yards and being crushed here by Browns safety Grant Delpit. Sue Ogrocki/AP
Tampa Bay Buccaneers WR Deven Thompkins runs with the ball during the fourth quarter of a 20-17 win against the Minnesota Vikings at US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. Nick Wosika/Icon Sportswire/Getty Images
Los Angeles Chargers kicker JK Scott punts the ball against the Miami Dolphins in the second half at SoFi Stadium. The Chargers would lose 36-34 to the Dolphins. Kirby Lee/USA Today Network/Reuters
Baltimore Ravens wide receiver/punt returner Zay Flowers catches a deep pass in the first quarter during the Houston Texans. Baltimore fans had plenty of action to cheer as their team thoroughly handled the Texans 25-9. Randy Litzinger/Icon Sportswire/Getty Images
Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker TJ Watt sacks San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy. It was to be one of the only highlights for the home fans as the Niners won 30-7. Matt Freed/AP
It was a rough start to the year for the Kansas City Chiefs and superstar quarterback Patrick Mahomes as they were shocked by the Detroit Lions 21-20 in Missouri. Still, many are predicting the Chiefs will repeat this year. Jay Biggerstaff/USA Today Network/Reuters The best photos from the 2023 NFL season Prev Next Cowboys show Super Bowl credentials
The Dallas Cowboys have risen to be the cream of the crop as the season has progressed.
While the defense has been on point all year, the offense – spearheaded by quarterback Dak Prescott – is firing on all cylinders now.
The latest example of their Super Bowl credentials came on Sunday when ‘America’s Team’ completely demolished its NFC East rivals, the Philadelphia Eagles, 33-13, avenging its Week 9 loss to Philly.
It’s quite the dramatic turnaround for Dallas, which endured a worrying stretch of the season where it looked like its title aspirations might be falling away.
But the Cowboys’ ship has been righted in an emphatic way, with their victory over the Eagles being another display of why this year might be a bit different.
Like he has in previous weeks, Prescott led the way for Dallas, helping his team score three touchdowns on its first four drives with two touchdown throws to take a 24-6 lead at halftime.
The second half wasn’t quite as explosive offensively, but it didn’t need to be as the defense picked up the slack to stifle a usually dynamic Philly offense.
In their late season surge, the Cowboys have now won five games straight, scoring 30 points in each. According to NFL Research, they became the first team in NFL history to score 30 or more points in each of their first seven home games in a season.
Prescott throws a pass during the first quarter against the Eagles. Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images
Afterwards, Prescott was quick to stress the importance of the “big” win over their division rivals.
“We needed it. Let’s not sugarcoat that. We needed that. Obviously, I’ve talked about it before, and (Dallas head coach) Mike (McCarthy) talked about grabbing a huge chunk of confidence and moving forward,” the 30-year-old quarterback told reporters afterwards.
“Being able to do that against a team like that here at home, a place that we’ve had a lot of success at over the last two years, puts us tied for the front of the division. Yeah, but with a couple games left with both teams and understanding, as I’ve talked about, it’s about us running our own race and checking it out there at the end. This was huge.
“It was a great team win and a much-needed win. But we’ve got to turn the page quick, especially in this league, and especially with where we’ve placed ourselves. I can’t sit here and celebrate on this. This was our expectation of tonight and we played to our standards, so now it’s doing that again next week.”
Conversely, it was another alarming week for the Eagles who have suffered two damaging defeats in a row now following a thorough Week 13 home loss to the San Francisco 49ers.
Its usually formidable defense has looked out of sorts for weeks now and the typically multi-faceted offense isn’t going on the scoring outbursts fans are used to.
Quarterback Jalen Hurts threw for just 197 yards in the losing effort and the defense had no answers for what the Cowboys threw at it. It’s the first time the Eagles haven’t scored an offensive touchdown in a game since 2019.
Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni talked about his role in turning the ship around if his team wants to make a deep playoff push.
“Just the same way as it is if you win five in the row or win two in a row: play the next play. Move on. Learn from your mistakes,” Sirianni told reporters when asked what this moment demands of an NFL head coach. “Get the guys ready to play physically. Get the guys ready to play mentally. Have the right message for the week based off of what’s going on. Manage the game well.
Dallas safety Donovan Wilson forces a fumble by Hurts. Michael Ainsworth/AP
“[The] role’s the same as it’s always been, and now we’re going through some adversity. And so adversity can do a couple of things to you. It can break you or it can make you way better. And I know that everybody that’s in that locker room has been through sh*t in their lives and has made it to this point. They’ve made it to this point because of the sh*t they’ve been through.
“And so that adversity has made a lot of us in that locker room where we are today, and we’ve got to remember that. We’ve got to internalize that, and we’ve got to make sure that they have adversity that we’re facing right now we’re able to get through and make sure we get better from it.”
The Eagles would’ve clinched a playoff berth with a win over the Cowboys, but now the Cowboys have moved atop the NFC East – although both have a 10-3 record – and are in pole position to win the division.
The most dramatic ending possible
The Baltimore Ravens and the Los Angeles Rams had played out a thriller. The teams were so evenly matched that they couldn’t be separated in regulation time, so it went to overtime.
The Ravens got the ball first in overtime but couldn’t do anything with it, so they punted. Then it was the Rams’ turn and they also couldn’t do anything with it so they also punted.
Thus stepped forward Tylan Wallace.
The 24-year-old safely gathered the ball, ran to his right, spun away from a Rams defender before splitting other defenders perfectly to race down the sideline.
Just as he was reaching the end zone, it looked like Wallace might have tripped up, but he was able to maintain his balance right at the last moment and sprint to the end zone to win the game in the most dramatic of fashion.
Wallace starts to celebrates as he returns a punt for a game-winning touchdown against the Rams. Nick Wass/AP
Wallace’s 76-yard walk-off return – which caused mass scenes of celebration with even Baltimore quarterback Lamar Jackson involved in the scrum that followed – won the game for Baltimore, 37-31, over the Rams.
The moment was made even more special due to the fact that Wallace was only fielding punts because the Ravens’ regular punt returner, Devin Duvernay, suffered an injury in the first half.
“Moments like this don’t …” Wallace said, trailing off. “You could say it’s a once-in-a-lifetime moment to be able to sit down and soak that all in while catching my breath at the same time.”
Per the NFL, Wallace’s overtime punt return was just the fourth in the sport’s long history. The last time it happened actually came this season when Xavier Gipson’s 65-yard return sealed the victory for the New York Jets over the Buffalo Bills in Week 1.
Prior to this season, the only players with an overtime punt return touchdown were Patrick Peterson in 2011 and the Kansas City Chiefs’ Tamarick Vanover in 1995 against the San Diego Chargers.
Wallace celebrates with teammates after his game-winning punt return against the Rams. Nick Wass/AP
It came after a thrilling encounter at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, where both teams showed why they are likely to be in the playoffs come the end of the season.
The Rams were in position to win the game with just a few minutes remaining, largely in part due to the brilliance of quarterback Matthew Stafford and second-year running back Kyren Williams.
Stafford finished with 294 passing yards and three touchdowns – one apiece to Cooper Kupp, Davis Allen and Demarcus Robinson – and Williams finished with 114 yards on the ground.
Los Angeles led 28-23 with 4:41 left in the fourth quarter before Jackson masterminded a brilliant touchdown drive capped off with a two-point conversion to take the lead again – the Rams would score a late field goal to take the game to overtime.
2017 NFL MVP Jackson showed why he’s in the running again for that award, finishing with 316 passing yards, three touchdowns through the air and 70 rushing yards.
Afterward, Ravens head coach John Harbaugh was full of praise for his quarterback after the dramatic victory.
“Lamar deserves so much credit. You forget Lamar sometimes. All these other things are happening, and we’re not going to talk about Lamar Jackson who drove the offense,” Harbaugh told reporters.
“[He] runs around, scrambles [and] finds guys downfield. He’s a very unique player, and, most of the time, it works out really great just like any player. He’s one of a kind. There’s nobody like Lamar Jackson.”
The Ravens returned to the top of the AFC with the victory as they improved to 10-3 on the season, while the Rams slip to 6-7, just outside the NFC playoff picture.
Jackson throws against the Rams during the first half. Nick Wass/AP A low-scoring affair in Las Vegas
Often, it is the high scores and touchdowns which grab the headlines. But in Las Vegas, fans were treated to one of the most bizarre games we’ve seen in a while.
The Minnesota Vikings beat the Las Vegas Raiders 3-0 at Allegiant Stadium in a scoreline more reminiscent of a soccer or baseball game than an NFL match-up.
It’s the eighth time since 1950 that an NFL game has finished with that scoreline and the first since the Pittsburgh Steelers beat the Miami Dolphins 3-0 in a rainy affair in 2007.
It wasn’t an offensive masterclass by anyone’s definition, with both teams combining for a total of 433 yards and 17 punts.
The Vikings were hampered when star wide receiver Justin Jefferson was ruled out with a chest injury in the second quarter after only just returning from the injury list having missed the last seven games with a hamstring problem.
Minnesota also chose to switch quarterbacks midway through the game to give its offense a spark, benching Josh Dobbs in favor of Nick Mullens.
Greg Joseph proved the game-winner in the fourth quarter though, his 36-yard field goal being the only score of the game. Joseph had earlier missed a 49-yard field goal in the first half.
Joseph kicks a field goal during the second half of the game against the Raiders. Steve Marcus/Getty Images
But it was the defense that was the real game changer, holding Las Vegas scoreless with a combination of excellent defensive plays and offensive miscues by the Raiders.
Rookie linebacker Ivan Pace Jr. intercepted Raiders quarterback Aidan O’Connell near the end of the fourth quarter to help clinch the victory as the Vikings held their opponent to a shutout for the first time since a 2017 clash against the Green Bay Packers.
Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell – who became the fastest head coach in franchise history to secure 20 wins, reaching the milestone in 30 games – praised his team’s defense for making up for the offensive shortcomings his side was showing.
“Individual players thriving in their roles, but it’s the collective effort of those guys over there. We’re playing a lot of guys, different personnel groupings,” O’Connell told reporters.
“[Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores] and his staff continue to do a great job, not worrying at all about anything else than going out there and doing their job and what that looks like as we tried to overcome some health adversity on offense, and then just didn’t have a very good day of execution, either pitching, catching or sustaining a drive.
“We really leaned on them, and I thought they were huge and just gave us a chance. We talked about it, we’re going to win the turnover battle today. It was a non-starter for us and maybe affected the way we did things at times, but to win the turnover battle just teaches you a lesson. It’s not always going to be pretty, there’s going to be a lot of things that are tough to deal with and execution that we’ve got to clean up.
“Certainly, we all can do better on offense, but if you win the turnover battle and your defense plays the way they did, you’ve got a chance to win a football game in this in this league.”
Joseph celebrates his game-winning field goal against the Raiders. John Locher/AP Full Week 14 Sunday scores
Away vs. home
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 29-25 Atlanta Falcons
Los Angeles Rams 31-37 Baltimore Ravens (OT)
Detroit Lions 13-28 Chicago Bears
Indianapolis Colts 14-34 Cincinnati Bengals
Jacksonville Jaguars 27-31 Cleveland Browns
Carolina Panthers 6-28 New Orleans Saints
Houston Texans 6-30 New York Jets
Minnesota Vikings 3-0 Las Vegas Raiders
Seattle Seahawks 16-28 San Francisco 49ers
Buffalo Bills 20-17 Kansas City Chiefs
Denver Broncos 24-7 Los Angeles Chargers
Philadelphia Eagles 13-33 Dallas Cowboys