Top 9 Takeaways from Week 14 of the 2023 NFL Season: Crybabies in KC, Browning rolls on, Bills are Back, Eagles overrated and much more

Week 14 Takeaways

1) Jake Browning is not a Backup Quarterback

Most thought the Bengals season was over once Joe Burrow was out, not so fast! Jake Browning has stepped in and played out of his mind for the last two weeks. The Bengals are now tied for the final wildcard spot and look to be a dangerous out for anybody come playoff time. It helps that the play calling has been much better the last two weeks; the Bengals are looking to establish the run now instead of the constant flow of screen passes to wide receivers behind the line of scrimmage. Rookie Chase Brown is a perfect compliment to Joe Mixon in the backfield.

2) The Buffalo Bills are back

Let me start by saying the injuries on defense keep piling up, but Josh Allen is making plays to keep this team in games. The Bills have a long way to go, and they will still have a hard time getting in, but if they do like the Bengals, they are a dangerous team.

3) The Broncos defense gives them a shot

If the Broncos can keep their current pace if they keep playing like they did against the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday. Since losing 19-8 at Kansas City in Week 6, Denver (7-6 after Sunday’s win) has won six out of eight games with 18 takeaways and only 12 touchdowns allowed since. Vance Joseph has ramped up aggressive pass rush play – six different players recorded six sacks on Los Angeles on Sunday as their total yards was limited to 171 through three quarters — Coach Payton is now firmly in the coach of the year conversation.

4) Patrick Mahomes gets pissed because he wasn’t given the win

The Chiefs lost on Sunday because a wide receiver lined up offsides, and he did line up offsides. Now Mahomes and Head Coach Andy Reid are mad that the call was made. The Chiefs are so used to being given every call that they cry like spoiled brats when they are not. All Toney had to do was look at the official who would have told him to move back, but he did not do that. But the Chiefs, the golden child of the NFL, think that the rules don’t apply to them; it’s sad that Mahomes and Reid acted this way. The truth is they got outplayed by Buffalo on Sunday; the other truth is, this is what Toney does. He screws up constantly, and that’s why the Giants let him get away. Kermit and the Fat Man need to grow up.

5) The Eagles are highly overrated

The Cowboys dominated the Eagles in every facet on Sunday night. The Eagles have no running game, and last season looks like more of an anomaly for Jalen Hurts than anything else. Sure, the Eagles still might win the division, but they will not win a Super Bowl this season. The offensive play calling is suspect, and Dak Prescott and Brock Purdy are both better than Jalen Hurts. The NFC Super Bowl representative will be the 49ers or the Cowboys.

6) The Detroit Lions are still the Detroit Lions

The Lions have struggled the last few weeks, and that all came to a head on Sunday in a horrible loss to the Chicago Bears. The Lions are falling apart, which is the Detroit Lions’ history. Sure, they will make the playoffs, but they are no threat to end up in the Super Bowl.

7) Nick Mullens will now be the starter in Minnesota

During Sunday’s game, it’s hard to envision any other outcome than what occurred. Nick Mullens opened as Kirk Cousins’ backup quarterback before suffering his back injury, and Joshua Dobbs’ unexpected success derailed any plans of ascendance – but as seen during Sunday’s fourth-quarter relief effort, he proved why. Mullens threw for more yards (83 total) during that period than Dobbs did during an entire game (63). The Vikings, at 7-6, have a real shot at making the playoffs, and their best shot is with Mullens at the helm.

8) Brock Purdy for MVP

Purdy’s case for MVP keeps building. After four passing touchdowns against Philadelphia last week, Purdy cemented himself as one of the leading candidates for the award. Although Sunday wasn’t as seamless, Purdy still completed 18-of-26 passes for 368 yards, including two touchdown passes and an interception against Seattle to complete an unbeaten three-game stretch and cement the Niners’ No. 1 seed in the NFC race. Purdy will have another opportunity to showcase his skills against the Baltimore Ravens on Christmas Night.

9) Can Joe Flacco lead the Browns to the playoffs

Flacco expressed his confidence before his first game with the Browns that he could still play, and over two weeks, he has shown exactly that. On Sunday, Flacco became the first Browns quarterback since Brian Sipe in 1980 to throw three touchdown passes of 30 yards or more in one game – something Cleveland was lacking before Flacco joined their ranks. If his impressive play continues, this could help propel them towards reaching postseason play for the first time since 2020. The issue for the Browns has been an inability to win on the road.