Sports blog information from USA TODAY.
The Denver Broncos put on a defensive clinic against the Los Angeles Chargers for their seventh win of the season. These players stood out.
The Denver Broncos bounced back in a big way after a tough loss last week to the Houston Texans with their best all-around effort of the year against the Los Angeles Chargers, beating their AFC West rivals 24-7 on Sunday.
We look at the studs and duds of the big divisional win.
Updated NFC South standings: Bucs, Falcons, Saints in 3-way tie for first place following Week 14
The NFC South is about to get ugly as all four teams have at least seven losses with four games left in the season. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers took out the Atlanta Falcons in Week 14, while the New Orleans Saints defeated the Carolina Panthers.
There’s now a three-way tie atop the division between the Buccaneers, Falcons and Saints, with Tampa Bay currently holding the tie-breaker. The Panthers are out of playoff contention, but the top three teams will likely battle it out until the bitter end in Week 18.
Check out the updated NFC South standings following Sunday’s slate of games below.
| W | L | T | Pct. | PF | PA | Home | Away | |
| Bucs | 6 | 7 | .462 | 262 | 270 | 3-3 | 3-4 | |
| Falcons | 6 | 7 | .462 | 251 | 269 | 4-3 | 2-4 | |
| Saints | 6 | 7 | .462 | 285 | 261 | 3-3 | 3-4 | |
| Panthers | 1 | 12 | .077 | 197 | 341 | 1-4 | 0-8 |
Atlanta and Carolina face off in Week 15, but the Panthers are already out of playoff contention. New Orleans takes on the New York Giants and the Buccaneers play the red-hot Green Bay Packers next weekend.
Falcons Twitter trashes Ridder, Smith after loss
10 takeaways from Sunday’s loss to Bucs
Here are our 18 favorite photos from the Broncos’ win over the Chargers in Week 14.
The Denver Broncos defeated the Los Angeles Chargers 24-7 on Sunday, putting them squarely in the mix to reach the playoffs in the AFC. Here are our 18 favorite photos from Sunday’s victory.
Following their big win over the Eagles on ‘Sunday Night Football,’ the Cowboys are ranked No. 2 in NFL power rankings this week.
The Dallas Cowboys (10-3) made a statement with their 33-13 win over the Philadelphia Eagles (10-3) on Sunday Night Football in Week 14.
That victory gave the Cowboys a boost in our NFL power rankings this week, but the San Francisco 49ers (10-3) remain ranked No. 1 for at least one more week.
Elsewhere in the NFC, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-7), Atlanta Falcons (6-7) and New Orleans Saints (6-7) are in a tight race in the NFC South. The Bucs hold the tiebreaker at the moment.
Over in the AFC, the Denver Broncos (7-6) are now just one game behind the Kansas City Chiefs (8-5) in the AFC West, and the Houston Texans (7-6) and Indianapolis Colts (7-6) are keeping things close with the Jacksonville Jaguars (8-5) in the AFC South.
Note that these rankings are being published before the Monday Night Football games featuring the Miami Dolphins (9-3) vs. Tennessee Titans (4-8) and Green Bay Packers (6-6) vs. New York Giants (4-8) in Week 14. The Dolphins and Packers would both make significant drops in the rankings if they are upset on Monday.
So, with two games left to play, here are our NFL power rankings after (most of) Week 14 has wrapped up.
It’s a real shame that the NFC South winner gets a playoff spot this year.
As I write this, the current leader of the NFC South is the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
They are 6-7 and only lead the division by virtue of a narrow tiebreaker over the rival Atlanta Falcons and New Orleans Saints. Only New Orleans possesses a positive point differential among the trio. We are nearly in mid-December, and a division leader doesn’t even have a winning record, nor are we clear on who the favorite should be. It’s almost fair to wonder whether we are watching one of the worst squads of teams (you were not forgotten or spared, Carolina Panthers) in any NFL regular season ever.
What the heck happened here? And which unfortunate non-division-winning playoff team will be the biggest victim of the NFC South champion’s automatic playoff spot? Ugh, that hurts to read.
And people want to get rid of the NFC South pic.twitter.com/xhYVaPQIXM
— Sickos Committee (@SickosCommittee) December 10, 2023
For one, even when we include the Panthers (especially?), there is zero starting-caliber quarterback play in the entire division.
Bryce Young looks like an unmitigated bust who is the clear victim of an unfortunate first-year mix of chaos. The next time Desmond Ridder avoids a backbreaking red-zone turnover might be the first. Baker Mayfield is a glorified caretaker with a definitive ceiling of “OK, sure.” Derek Carr is Schrodinger’s Quarterback — a player who seemingly has the talent to be a superstar but is almost always curiously lost. What do any of these guys do well? What can they hang their hat on? Someone, please enlighten me if you have any ideas.
None of these South teams have much stability at head coach, either. Frank Reich was relieved of his duties midseason. It took Arthur Smith over two months to realize it’s wise to give more touches to your three top-10 draft picks on offense. Dennis Allen is a defensive guru in over his head with a team that struggles to score points. And Todd Bowles, bless his heart, has a definitive ceiling on his coaching, just like Mayfield. If you really think about it, they’re a match made in heaven.
There are more extenuating factors, of course.
None of these four teams are exceptionally talented or rife with young difference-makers. They are all mediocre underachievers who are woefully underprepared for the rigors of 2023 NFL football. But when we boil this down, the entire NFC South has the worst mix of quarterback and coaching with each participating team of anyone in the league. Bar none. That is the reason why this division will push forward a squad almost certainly not worthy of the playoffs in January. That is the reason why the football this group provides is usually of an atrocious, unwatchable quality that puts people to sleep.
It’s a shame, to be sure. Because when we have this sort of “dud” division, it makes you wonder whether anyone even wants to win the NFC South. Though, I guess that’s likened more to confirmation bias after watching any of the Buccaneers, Falcons, Saints, or Panthers attempt to play football.
Elsewhere in this week’s NFL Awards at For The Win, the Jets, Texans, Vikings, and Raiders all seemed deadset on setting back offensive football in their own unique ways. Meanwhile, a Ravens’ punt returner provided one of the best, most dramatic moments of the entire season. Let’s hop in, dearest readers.
Users on Twitter had some feelings about the #Chiefs’ brutal loss to the #Bills in Week 14.
The Kansas City Chiefs lost to the Buffalo Bills in heartbreaking fashion on Sunday after a late touchdown was nullified by a rarely-called offensive offside penalty on wide receiver Kadarius Toney.
While the controversial call by the referees was a huge part of Chiefs Kingdom’s angst after the game, Kansas City’s performance against Buffalo was frustrating to watch in its entirety. Without Isiah Pacheco in the backfield, the Chiefs offense looked listless, and an early interception thrown by Patrick Mahomes gave the Bills momentum as early as the first quarter.
Fans posted about Kansas City’s disconcerting showing on social media after the game and made their feelings about the loss clear. Some used humor to cope with the Chiefs’ defeat, while others were a bit more direct with their anger about Kansas City’s latest collapse.
Check out some of Twitter’s best reactions to the brutal Week 14 game against Buffalo below:
10 Takeaways from the Falcons’ 29-25 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Atlanta Falcons nearly pulled off another fourth-quarter miracle against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday, but they came up just short and suffered their seventh loss of the season to their NFC South rivals.
The Buccaneers took a 29-25 lead with 31 seconds left, and despite a valiant effort to get within scoring range, Falcons wide receiver Drake London was tackled three yards shy of the end zone on the final play of the game
Here are 10 takeaways from Atlanta’s Week 14 loss to Tampa Bay.
The Broncos aren’t going away! The playoffs are within reach following Sunday’s big win.
The Denver Broncos defeated the Los Angeles Chargers 24-7 on the road in Week 14. Here’s a sampling of how fans and pundits reacted on Twitter/X.
Following a 24-7 win over the Chargers, the Broncos are 7-6 and still alive in the playoff hunt!
The Denver Broncos (7-6) kept their playoff hopes alive with a 24-7 win over the Los Angeles Chargers (5-8) on the road in Week 14.
Following a Chargers punt on the opening drive of the game, a Russell Wilson pass to wide receiver Marvin Mims was intercepted by Los Angeles defensive back Michael Davis at Denver’s 13-yard line.
The Chargers failed to capitalize on that short field position as they went on to fail to convert a 4th-and-3 at the Broncos’ 6-yard line. After getting the ball back deep in their own territory, Denver punted.
On L.A.’s ensuing drive, Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert had a pass tipped by pass rusher Baron Browning and then intercepted by Jonathon Cooper, who returned it four yards to the 3-yard line. Broncos running back Javonte Williams punched it in on the next play to take a 7-0 lead.
Los Angeles later faced a 4th-and-2 within field goal range in the second quarter and the Chargers failed to convert again, giving Denver the ball back at its own 30-yard line with 3:11 remaining in the first half. The Broncos then went three-and-out.
Los Angeles replaced an injured Herbert (finger) with backup quarterback Easton Stick on their final drive before halftime. Stick promptly went three-and-out and Denver then drove 65 yards before settling for a 23-yard Wil Lutz field goal to take a 10-0 lead into halftime.
In the second half, the Chargers went for it on 4th-and-1 at the Broncos’ 40-yard line and failed to convert, marking their third turnover on downs of the game. Four players later, Wilson threw a 46-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Courtland Sutton to extend the lead to 17-0.
In the fourth quarter, Los Angeles finally converted a fourth-down attempt, only to turn the ball over on downs later that drive. The Chargers finished the game 0-of-12 on third down and 1-of-6 on fourth down.
After a Denver punt, Los Angeles running back Austin Ekeler scored on a three-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter to make it 17-7. The Broncos matched that score when Wilson threw a 10-yard touchdown pass to tight end Adam Trautman to make it 24-7. That ended up being the final score.
On the injury front, Denver outside linebackers Nik Bonitto (knee) left in the first quarter, but that did not slow down the pass rush — the Broncos’ defense finished the game with six sacks and a forced fumble. Denver guard Quinn Meinerz (illness) was also ruled out at halftime.
Up next for the Broncos is a road game against the Detroit Lions (9-4).
[lawrence-auto-related count=5 category=482983128]
@Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes hit rookie Rashee Rice for a touchdown against the #Bills in Week 14.
The Kansas City Chiefs have pulled within three points of the Buffalo Bills in Week 14 after quarterback Patrick Mahomes found rookie receiver Rashee Rice for a touchdown in the third quarter of the highly anticipated AFC showdown.
After the Chiefs’ defense held Buffalo to a field goal on the opening drive of the second half, Mahomes drove Kansas City’s offense downfield on their first possession of the third quarter. He found Rice in the back of the end zone to get back within one score of the lead.
Would you like a side of Rice with that? 🍚 pic.twitter.com/WScsuPJuas
— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) December 10, 2023
While the Chiefs need to score more points to take their first lead of the game, this play marked something of a turning point for Kansas City, which seemed to gain momentum after the touchdown effort.
Expect Mahomes to continue targeting Rice in key situations as the Chiefs look to earn their ninth win of the season in comeback fashion against the upstart Bills.
