Week 14 of the 2025 NFL season began with an offensive shootout between the Cowboys and the Lions. Detroit ended Thursday night on top, led by three touchdowns from running back Jahmyr Gibbs.
In the early window Sunday, the Vikings shut out the Commanders in quarterback J.J. McCarthy‘s return from a concussion. Washington quarterback Jayden Daniels was also making a return from injury (dislocated elbow), but he exited the game in the third quarter. Down in Atlanta, the Seahawks kept the Falcons out of the end zone in a dominant win. The Dolphins easily handled the Jets with a 21-0 lead in the first quarter, the Saints stunned the Bucs and the Jaguars took sole possession of the AFC South lead by defeating the Colts. Indianapolis quarterback Daniel Jones left the team’s loss in the first quarter with an Achilles injury.
Our NFL Nation reporters reacted to all the action, answering lingering questions coming out of each game and detailing everything you need to know for every team. Let’s get to it.
Jump to:
NO-TB | IND-JAX | MIA-NYJ
SEA-ATL | WSH-MIN | DAL-DET
Catch up on the action: Box score | Recap
Saints
What does quarterback Tyler Shough need to do to secure the starting job? The rookie is making his case to keep the Saints from drafting a quarterback in 2026. Shough (13-for-20 passing for 144 yards and seven rushes for 55 yards) made two impressive plays with his feet, scoring his first career rushing touchdowns of 34 and 13 yards, with the latter coming after he scrambled out of a sack. There were rookie mistakes, as Shough was sacked several times and had an interception after a miscommunication with receiver Chris Olave. But with his second win as a starter, he’s also giving the Saints some hope.
Trend to watch: Protection issues have been a constant factor for the past three games — a combination of a rookie quarterback and an offensive line that is missing right tackle Taliese Fuaga and center Erik McCoy. The Saints have now allowed 12 sacks in the past three games and gave up three sacks against Tampa Bay. — Katherine Terrell
Next game: vs. Panthers (Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET)
Buccaneers
How does this loss impact the Bucs’ footing in the NFC South? Tampa Bay’s loss and Carolina’s bye means the Bucs have now lost their half-game lead in the NFC South, and both teams are tied at 7-6. Their chances of winning the division dropped from 80% to 68% after the loss, according to ESPN Analytics. Still, the Bucs have two games remaining against the Panthers, so this division is very much up for grabs. They’ll certainly get a boost when wide receiver Mike Evans returns from injury — but with the explosive plays this defense has surrendered and the inability to close out this game, the arrow is pointing down.
Turning point: The Bucs went for it on fourth-and-2 from New Orleans’ 46-yard line with the game tied 17-17 with 12:56 to go. Quarterback Baker Mayfield found wide receiver Chris Godwin Jr. on an out route, but officials ruled he was out of bounds, resulting in a turnover on downs. Nine plays later, Logan Hall dove and missed Shough, who found the end zone on a 13-yard scramble to grab a 24-17 lead with 8:34 to go. — Jenna Laine
Next game: vs. Falcons (Sunday, 8:15 p.m. ET)
Catch up on the action: Box score | Recap
Jaguars
Should Liam Coen be in consideration for Coach of the Year? The Jaguars clinched a winning record and took sole possession of first place in the AFC South by beating the Colts. With games against the Jets and Titans on the horizon, reaching 11 victories is realistic — a surprise considering the Jaguars had lost 18 of their past 23 games before this season. New England’s Mike Vrabel is the heavy favorite to win Coach of the Year, but if the Jaguars continue to win like they did Sunday — and have a chance to host a playoff game — that should at least get the rookie head coach in the conversation.
Most surprising performance: Wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. had issues with drops early in the season (and an ankle injury), but he has been solid since he returned two weeks ago. Against the Colts, he had three catches for 87 yards, with Lawrence taking downfield shots when Thomas had one-on-one coverage. The Jaguars needed Thomas to step up with Parker Washington inactive (hip), and he did, notching his first game with multiple 30-plus-yard catches. — Mike DiRocco
Next game: vs. Jets (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)
0:25
Trevor Lawrence evades pressure, throws TD pass to Tim Patrick
Trevor Lawrence finds Tim Patrick for a touchdown to extend the Jaguars’ lead vs. the Colts.
Colts
How does quarterback Daniel Jones‘ injury impact the Colts in the short and long term? Jones’ Achilles injury puts Indianapolis in serious jeopardy of missing the playoffs, given their remaining schedule and the fact that they are now trailing Jacksonville for the division lead. Rookie quarterback Riley Leonard will likely be called upon to start for the foreseeable future, putting the offense at a disadvantage. In the long term, the Colts were on track to try to retain Jones in the offseason, when he is scheduled to become a free agent. But if he is in line for a lengthy absence, it clouds their future decisions.
Trend to watch: The Colts have now lost 11 straight road games to the Jaguars, a streak dating back to 2015, when Matt Hasselbeck was starting at quarterback in place of Andrew Luck. The Colts have lost in every possible way in Jacksonville (and one “road” game in London), including a 6-0 loss in 2018 and a 51-16 defeat in 2015 that started the streak. — Stephen Holder
Next game: at Seahawks (Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET)
Catch up on the action: Box score | Recap
Dolphins
What will Dolphins do if running back De’Von Achane misses time after exiting with a rib injury? While the Dolphins’ offensive line has played well over the past month, Achane has been the centerpiece of Miami’s offense for the better part of two seasons. With 1,500 total yards and nearly 250 touches, he has roughly 800 more yards and 200 more touches than the next-closest Dolphins player. However, second-year back Jaylen Wright performed well in Achane’s stead, rushing for 107 yards and a touchdown on 24 carries. He doesn’t offer the same explosiveness as Achane, though Wright ran a 4.38-second 40 at the combine. These new smashmouth Dolphins are equipped to run the ball without Achane, but replacing him in the passing game is a different story.
Trend to watch: For a career-high fourth straight game, Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa finished with less than 200 passing yards. Granted, he didn’t need to do much through the air after Miami opened a 21-0 lead in the first quarter, but as opposing defenses key in on the run, the Dolphins need to be able to throw the ball effectively. Wright and Tagovailoa will have to spend time getting on the same page in the passing game after failing to connect against the Jets. — Marcel Louis-Jacques
Next game: at Steelers (Monday, 8:15 p.m. ET)
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Jaylen Wright finds the end zone for the Dolphins
Jaylen Wright powers up the middle for a touchdown to extend the Dolphins’ lead.
Jets
How does the Jets’ dire QB situation impact their draft strategy? The Jets had to play the final three-plus quarters with rookie third-stringer Brady Cook, which speaks volumes about the state of the team. Journeyman Tyrod Taylor, in his third start for the demoted (and injured) Justin Fields, lasted only two series due to a groin injury. The No. 1 priority for the 2026 draft was and remains finding a quarterback. Fernando Mendoza, anyone? The Jets, who clinched their 15th straight non-playoff season, could have a total reset at quarterback in 2026. Not surprisingly, Cook was overmatched in his NFL debut, though he was hurt by a few drops.
Biggest hole in the game plan: The Jets, who started three rookies on defense, were completely fooled by the Dolphins’ pre-snap motion and misdirection. Result: Gaping holes in the defense and wide-open receivers. The Jets allowed touchdowns on the first three series, surrendering 153 rushing yards in the first half. This was a big step backward for a unit that displayed modest signs of improvement in recent weeks. — Rich Cimini
Next game: at Jaguars (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)
Catch up on the action: Box score | Recap
Seahawks
Can Seattle’s defense become the NFL’s best? The Seahawks entered Week 14 allowing the third-fewest points on defense (17.0), having weathered a rash of injuries on that side of the ball. On Sunday, they showed how dominant they can be at full strength, forcing three turnovers and holding the Falcons to three field goals. Only one of Seattle’s 10 wins have come versus a quarterback who entered the game ranked in the top 20 in Total QBR, and they’ll have another favorable matchup next Sunday assuming the Colts’ Daniel Jones (Achilles) is out. The true test will come in Week 16 against Matthew Stafford and the Rams.
What to make of the QB performance: Sam Darnold was much better against the blitz on Sunday than he was last week, when he delivered his worst performance of the season by Total QBR while facing a barrage of pressure from Minnesota’s defense. All three of his touchdown passes in Atlanta came against the blitz, with Darnold completing 8 of 10 attempts for 101 yards on such plays. He finished 20-of-30 for 249 yards and one interception, which came on an aggressive throw he made on the run. — Brady Henderson
Next game: vs. Colts (Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET)
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Rashid Shaheed returns kickoff 100 yards for TD
Rashid Shaheed avoids several tackles and takes it 100 yards for a Seahawks touchdown.
Falcons
Are there any silver linings for the Falcons during this miserable season? There aren’t many. Owner Arthur Blank said in training camp that he believed the organization had the right people in place to become a winner. Yet the Falcons will again miss the playoffs and finish with a losing record. Atlanta has not made the postseason since 2017, the second-longest active drought in the NFL. If there is one positive, rookie James Pearce Jr. has a sack in each of his past five games, the first time a rookie has done that since Micah Parsons in 2021.
Trend to watch: For the second straight week, the special teams play was a disaster. Zane Gonzalez had a field goal attempt blocked, and the Seahawks’ Rashid Shaheed returned the kickoff to open the second half for a touchdown, breaking a 6-6 tie. Last week, it was a long return and a muffed punt that led to scores for the Jets in a three-point loss. — Marc Raimondi
Next game: at Buccaneers (Sunday, 8:15 p.m. ET)
Catch up on the action: Box score | Recap
Vikings
How good was this win, really? On the one hand, this was one of most convincing victories in Vikings history, representing their biggest margin of victory in a shutout since 1980 and the fifth-largest margin of victory in any game. It came in front of a subdued home crowd that seemed more surprised than thrilled, and snapped a four-game losing streak. Perhaps most importantly, the Vikings moved past an ugly sequence of 22 possessions without scoring a touchdown, They also got quarterback J.J. McCarthy a “get right” game following a difficult start to his NFL career. On the other hand, the Vikings entered the game with less than a 1% chance of making the playoffs. A loss would have eliminated them entirely. As distasteful as it might sound to many fans, every future win does nothing but lower their standing in the 2026 draft.
What to make of the QB performance: This was by far the best game of McCarthy’s career. He returned from a one-game absence due to a concussion to complete 16 of 23 passes for 163 yards and a career-high three touchdowns, all of which went to tight ends. McCarthy was accurate, played with poise and benefited from a Commanders defense that largely declined to blitz him. On plays in which the Commanders sent a standard four-man pass rush, McCarthy was 11-of-14 for 106 yards and two touchdowns. — Kevin Seifert
Next game: at Cowboys (Sunday, 8:20 p.m. ET)
0:19
J.J. McCarthy hits a wide-open Josh Oliver for 2nd TD connection of game
J.J. McCarthy scans the field and finds a wide-open Josh Oliver to give the Vikings a 24-0 lead.
Commanders
What now for quarterback Jayden Daniels? It has been a lost season for Daniels, who has been knocked out during each of his past three appearances because of injuries. The severity of Sunday’s injury is unknown, but it has been a struggle for him to stay healthy. Washington wanted him to play to help his development — and the development of the offense as a whole. But at some point, the Commanders have to consider simply shutting him down, especially if he reinjured his left elbow. Daniels must prove he can stay durable if the Commanders want to regain the momentum they had after the 2024 season.
Biggest hole in the game plan: The Commanders’ pass coverage was horrendous and allowed McCarthy to gain momentum early. The Vikings quarterback has had more issues versus man coverage but faced heavy zone from the Commanders — mostly out of necessity without enough good man corners. That allowed for a lot of open targets, especially since Washington’s pass rush couldn’t threaten him. They allowed three touchdown passes to McCarthy and a 98-yard touchdown drive. — John Keim
Next game: at Giants (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)
Catch up on the action: Box score | Recap
Lions
How can the Lions end the regular season strong? Once again, the Lions took care of business after their Thanksgiving loss to Green Bay. Detroit has now won 15 consecutive games following a loss, but Dallas did get within three points in the fourth quarter before Detroit pulled away with its strong rushing attack. Running backs David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs combined for four rushing touchdowns, and success on the ground could prove to be a major key entering this final stretch.
Stat to know: Gibbs has scored 47 career touchdowns, tying Hall of Famer Barry Sanders for the most touchdowns in a player’s first three NFL seasons. Gibbs delivered a hat trick against Dallas. He now has three games this season with three touchdowns, the most by a Lions player since Cloyce Box in 1952, per ESPN Research. — Eric Woodyard
Next game: at Rams (Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET)
Cowboys
Did the defense revert back to pre-bye-week form? Giving up four rushing touchdowns wasn’t a good start, but 54 of the Lions’ 109 rushing yards came on two plays. They sacked Jared Goff only once after having eight sacks in the three-game winning streak. In that winning streak, they also gave up just two rushes of 10 yards or more; the Lions equaled that. They also allowed nine pass plays of 20 yards or more; the Lions had five. “We gave up too many explosives,” coach Brian Schottenheimer said. What might help the Cowboys in the next game is seeing a challenged Minnesota offense.
Stat to know: The Lions mustered just four sacks in their four previous games, but they took down Dak Prescott five times. He was pressured 20 times, including 10 in the fourth quarter. It was the third-most pressures Prescott has faced in his career and the second time he has been pressured at least 20 times this season (21 versus the Giants in Week 2). — Todd Archer
Next game: vs. Vikings (Sunday, 8:20 p.m. ET)
