Key events
TOUCHDOWN! Bills 18-21 Bengals 9:20, 3rd quarter
Cometh the hour, cometh the big man! James Cook sets Buffalo up inside the 10-yard line with a long run and Allen finishes it off with a strike to tight end Dalton Kincaid. A five-yard fastball draws Buffalo within three points. This is getting spicy.
It’s GOOD! Vikings 17-0 Commanders 7:01, 3rd quarter
Minnesota boot a field goal but the bigger news is Jayden Daniels just took a massive hit. Marcus Mariota is warming up. Hopefully Daniels isn’t hurt too badly as he has just returned from a long layoff.
TOUCHDOWN! Jaguars 28-10 Colts 0:07, 2nd quarter
Trevor Lawrence finds Tim Patrick for an eight-yard score. The QB rolls out to his left beautifully to extend the play and throws a bullet to the big man.
TOUCHDOWN! Falcons 6-13 Seahawks 14:51, 3rd quarter
Hold on to your hats. Rashid Shaheed runs back a kickoff return for a stunning 100-YARD TOUCHDOWN. The speedster takes it the length of the field. He finds the hole in the hearts of the defense and strikes. Unbelievable
TOUCHDOWN! Ravens 9-17 Steelers 0:16, 2nd quarter
Lamar Jackson takes one in for his first rushing touchdown in eight starts. How has he not scored one on the ground since week one?! The Ravens won’t care as he moves them within one score with the six-yard dash. Shame about Tyler Loop missing the extra point. That could be decisive down the stretch.
With the Bills and Bengals in for a break, here is a look at Chase Brown’s grab for the Bengals’ third touchdown. He had a defender all over him and caught it so close to the ground but held on.
Half-time (ish)
-
Atlanta Falcons 6-6 Seattle Seahawks
-
Baltimore Ravens 3-17 Pittsburgh Steelers
-
Buffalo Bills 11-21 Cincinnati Bengals
-
Cleveland Browns 17-14 Tennessee Titans
-
Jacksonville Jaguars 21-10 Indianapolis Colts
-
Minnesota Vikings 14-0 Washington Commanders
-
New York Jets 7-24 Miami Dolphins
-
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 10-7 New Orleans Saints
We have a few still in play before the half but Minnesota and Washington are already out for the second half so this is how we stand. Tough return to action for Jayden Daniels so far with the Commanders. Last season’s wünderkind is 8/16 for 67 yards with no TDs and no picks.
TOUCHDOWN! Browns 17-14 Titans 2:47, 2nd quarter
Jerry Jeudy catches an absolute monster throw from Sanders for the 60-yard score. Cleveland take the lead.
Bills 11-21 Bengals, half-time
Boos are coming now as the Bills kneel on it for half-time. They might boo this too.
Bills 11-21 Bengals 0:23, 2nd quarter
On 3rd and forever Burrow directs traffic and throws it up high to Tee Higgins. The receiver has it but it slips off his fingertips. The snow is seriously coming down. The snow blowers will be out at half-time. Punt.
Bills 11-21 Bengals 0:33, 2nd quarter
SACK! Out of nowhere on the blindside Christian Benford drills Burrow for a nine-yard loss. Ouch.
Bills 11-21 Bengals 1:11, 2nd quarter
In all the drama in Baltimore I missed a turnover on downs after the Bills fail on 4th down. A throw from Burrow to Tanner Hudson moves the Bengals to midfield.
TOUCHDOWN! Ravens 3-17 Steelers 6:01, 2nd quarter
Oh, Baltimore. They convert a Pittsburgh field goal into a touchdown in one bone-headed play. The Ravens are done for unnecessary roughness on the boot and Kenny Gainwell runs it in on the very next play. Massive turn in the AFC North big one. The Ravens in a big hole.
Bills 21-11 Bengals 2:00, 2nd quarter
James Cooks smashes through the snow and puts the Bills on Cinci’s 45-yard line. Not too far to go for Josh Allen with more than enough clock to draw a little closer.
TOUCHDOWN! Bills 21-11 Bengals 3:21, 2nd quarter
Joe Burrow throws another miracle ball out to the right sideline and Chase Brown snags it low and falls just inside next to the pylon. They have to review it to see if Brown held on as he hit the snowy deck … and he does! Touchdown! Burrow has been absolutely perfect in the snow. He is 12/15 for 119 yards, two touchdowns and no picks.
It’s GOOD! Ravens 3-10 Steelers 10:31, 2nd quarter
Chris Boswell extends Pittsburgh’s lead with a 23-yard field goal.
TOUCHDOWN! Jaguars 21-7 Colts 12:51, 2nd quarter
With the game in the balance and a backup QB in for the Colts, Jonathan Taylor fumbles! They needed him to take the slack with Jones out of this one. Travis Etienne makes his opposite number pay with a venomous run that spits out to the right and into the end zone for a 28-yard score. Not sure the Colts can come back from this.
Ravens 3-7 Steelers 13:15, 2nd quarter
DK Metcalf makes another huge catch to put the Steelers on Baltimore’s 35-yard line. A 28-yard grab this time. Next the Ravens give up a face mask penalty to put Pittsburgh in the red zone.
TOUCHDOWN! Browns 10-14 Titans 14:25, 2nd quarter
Shedeur Sanders throws a TD to David Njoku on the goal line to give Cleveland some life.
Jaguars 14-7 Colts 14:01, 2nd quarter
Really tough news for Colts fans as Daniel Jones goes down injured without being touched. He slams his helmet down and looks done for this game. Riley Leonard will take over at QB now after a Jags punt. Huge advantage for Jacksonville now in the battle of the AFC South.
TOUCHDOWN! Jets 7-21 Dolphins 0:51, 1st quarter
The Jets special teams take over where the offense is failing and return a punt for a touchdown. Isaiah Williams with the scorching 65-yard run back.
TOUCHDOWN! Bills 11-14 Bengals 7:27, 2nd quarter
Josh Allen says “hold my beer” to Joe Burrown. Cinci bring up the 4th down again. Allen is scrambling around in the snow with no one open looking like he is going to take a sack at any moment. Out of nowhere he just unleashes a dart through four or five defenders and just finds Khalil Shakir. How he saw him through the snow is anyone’s guess. Shakir gets the 11-yard score and Dawson Knox converts the two-yard try. Game on!!!
TOUCHDOWN! Vikings 14-0 Commanders 12:01, 2nd quarter
Jordan Mason rushes in for the eight-yard score.
Bills 3-14 Bengals 10:01, 2nd quarter
Josh Allen keeps the Bills cooking as he just escapes a sack on 4th down. As he scampers from the tackler he leads Gabe Davis out to the sideline who hangs on for a 17-yard catch and crucial new set of downs.
TOUCHDOWN! Jets 0-21 Dolphins 3:39, 1st quarter
Yikes. Jaylen Wright runs in a two-yard score to deepen the nightmare for the Jets. There are still three quarters left in this one …
TOUCHDOWN! Browns 3-14 Titans 1:21, 1st quarter
Tony Pollard hits a 65-yard home run. What a run. Advantage Tennessee.
TOUCHDOWN! Jaguars 14-7 Colts 2:21, 1st quarter
Trevor Lawrence shoots a short pass to Jakobi Meyers who houses it for the 14-yard score. Meyers has been an absolute revelation since joining the Jags. His third touchdown in three games.
TOUCHDOWN! Bills 3-14 Bengals 13:33, 2nd quarter
Joe Burrow is thriving in the snow. He slings a 21-yard dime to the corner of the end zone and Tee Higgins holds on tight. He just gets his feet in bounds. The Bengals are throwing caution to the blizzard and it is paying off big!
Ravens 3-7 Steelers 5:51, 1st quarter
The Ravens are rocked on 3rd down! The Steelers defense get to Lamar Jackson. Brandin Echols can add a sack to batting away a touchdown earlier in the game. Baltimore punt.
Bills 3-7 Bengals 15:00, 2nd quarter
The snow blowers are out dusting off the lines, what a sight. The first quarter closes with Chase Brown being knocked back three yards. The Bengals resume on 3rd & 10 at the Bills’ 43-yard line.
TOUCHDOWN! Jets 0-14 Dolphins 8:41, 1st quarter
De’Von Achane rumbles in for a 13-yard score. Looking bleak already for the Jets.
TOUCHDOWN! Jaguars 7-7 Colts 4:312, 1st quarter
Jonathan Taylor hits back with a goal line run.
TOUCHDOWN! Ravens 3-7 Steelers 7:13, 1st quarter
Aaron Rodgers! He fakes the pass and scampers out to the left and in for the one-yard touchdown! That play was set up by a beautiful throw and catch to DK Metcalf on a 52-yard bomb.
It’s GOOD! Bills 3-7 Bengals 1:55, 1st quarter
Cinci get the stop as Josh Allen is shut down on a keeper at 3rd & Goal. Matt Prater kicks the 26-yard chip shot.
What could have been had Ty Johnson not slipped on a snowdrift.
Bills 0-7 Bengals 3:55, 1st quarter
Buffalo miss out on a touchdown as Ty Johnson stumbles in the snow! He was home free. Handily the runner still put the Bills in the red zone poised to strike.
TOUCHDOWN! Buccaneers 7-7 Saints 7:57, 1st quarter
The Saints are pegged back quickly with a sharp seven-play drive capped by a short pass that Bucky Irving takes to the house for the 24-yard score. Fire the cannons!
It’s GOOD! Ravens 3-0 Steelers 10:58, 1st quarter
Tyler Loop boots one from 36 yards to give the Ravens an early lead in the battle for the AFC North.
TOUCHDOWN! Jaguars 7-0 Colts 10:39, 1st quarter
Travis Etienne shoots up the middle for a three-yard touchdown.
TOUCHDOWN! Bills 0-7 Bengals 6:44, 1st quarter
As the TDs are raining down elsewhere, the Bengals are still grinding upfield on the Bills and convert one of their own! Over eight minutes and on 3rd and 1 they run it up the gut with Perine to get the 1st & Goal. They give it to Chase Brown on the next carry who bundles home from five yards with a lot of help from his friends on the offensive line. 14 plays where they expertly exploited the tough, snowy conditions.
TOUCHDOWN! Browns 0-7 Titans 9:51, 1st quarter
Cam Ward hits Elic Ayomanor for a 14-yard touchdown.
TOUCHDOWN! Vikings 7-0 Commanders 11:03, 1st quarter
JJ McCarthy gets off to a flier (what a relief!) with an 18-yard strike to Josh Oliver.
TOUCHDOWN! Jets 0-7 Dolphins 12:51, 1st quarter
Miami take the lead thanks to a short pass from Tua Tagovailoa to Jaylen Waddle from three yards out.
TOUCHDOWN! Buccaneers 0-7 Saints 12:23, 1st quarter
Devin Neal scores with a three-yard rush to give New Orleans the lead.
Bills 0-0 Bengals 12:30, 1st quarter
The Bills force a 3rd down on the opening set and Joe Burrow makes his first attempt in the swirling snow. Tee Higgins moves the chains with a 10-yard catch then does so again with another grab in the middle of the field for a 12-yard gain.
Snowball fight, anyone? Joe’s up for it. 6pm strikes, here we go!
For the quarterback minded among you there is an aerial aestheticist’s dream between Buffalo and Cincinnati on the way. The reigning MVP v the Heisman winner. The cannon v the laser. Josh Allen v Joe Burrow. If shootouts were grown in a lab … this would be the test-tube lovechild of the O.K. Coral and Independence Day. I think. Bills v Bengals, sod the playoffs, is happening … now!
And it’s a snow game, what more could you ask for?
The drama doesn’t stop in Maryland. Over in the AFC South there is another battle for top spot popping off between the Jaguars and Colts. Both are 8-4 so a loss is a touch less damaging to the loser’s wildcard dreams than for their brothers in the north though maybe best to keep rolling and take hold of home-field advantage today.
Jacksonville have been a minor revelation after some mid-season wobbles with four wins from their past five while Indianapolis, the NFL’s early season darlings, are struggling with two wins from their past five.
The oddsmakers have the Colts still favoured to win. Maybe they have been watching the Floridian weather forecast. Rain is predicted so having a superior running back, aka Indy’s Jonathan Taylor, could decide this one.
Preamble
Here we go football universe, it is week 14 and things are officially getting rather lively in the playoff race. The AFC North is already hosting what is close to a title decider between the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers. They share top spot in the division on 6-6. A losing record this late is just not form worthy of earning a wildcard so as De La Soul once said the Stakes Is High … much like in most of the other seven matchups (sorry Minnesota) starting at 2pm CST/1pm EST/6pm GMT (home teams listed first):
-
(4-8) Atlanta Falcons v Seattle Seahawks (9-3)
-
(6-6) Baltimore Ravens v Pittsburgh Steelers (6-6)
-
(8-4) Buffalo Bills v Cincinnati Bengals (4-8)
-
(3-9) Cleveland Browns v Tennessee Titans (1-11)
-
(8-4) Jacksonville Jaguars v Indianapolis Colts (8-4)
-
(4-8) Minnesota Vikings v Washington Commanders (3-9)
-
(3-9) New York Jets v Miami Dolphins (5-7)
-
(7-5) Tampa Bay Buccaneers v New Orleans Saints (2-10)
So how devastating is a loss for either Baltimore or Pittsburgh? The nerds at NFL.com have the Ravens soaring to an 81% chance of making the postseason with a win and 36% with a loss. The Steelers build to 61% with victory while clunking to 16% if they lose. The message is clear for both: beat the old enemy and take control of your destiny.
The form book certainly gives Baltimore the edge despite their five-game winning streak coming to a crashing halt last week. Pittsburgh are in much deeper trouble with only two wins in their past seven games. What should give the Steelers hope is that a five-game run that featured wins over the moribund Dolphins, Vikings, Browns and Jets ended when Lamar Jackson and company met a true test from Joe Burrow. If the Steelers defense can get close to matching the five sacks and three interceptions that stunned Indianapolis in week nine then the Ravens will likely crumble. If!
What is easier to prognosticate is that with these rivals out of form in parts, struggling with injuries (there are 20 total players on the report) or just bad in the case of Aaron Rodgers’ offense then this dustup is not going to be pretty. Exactly as it should be in December. What are the hive minds thoughts, feel free to send me a prediction if you’d be so kind, I am going for Ravens 24-17 Steelers.
