Sunday’s highlight games and what to watch out for

Playoff positions are on the line as Week 14 of the 2024 NFL season unfolds.

There is a slightly reduced schedule with six teams – the Houston Texans, Denver Broncos, Indianapolis Colts, New England Patriots, Washington Commanders and Baltimore Ravens – all bye.

Week 14 began Thursday with the Detroit Lions clinching their playoff spot with their 11^th consecutive victory by beating the Green Bay Packers.

Here’s a look at three of Sunday’s notable matchups.

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Atlanta Falcons vs. Minnesota Vikings – 1 p.m. ET

Sunday’s clash at US Bank Stadium sees two teams going from different directions.

The Atlanta Falcons have lost three straight and sit at 6-6 while the Minnesota Vikings have strung together five bounce-back victories to improve to 10-2.

All eyes will be on Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins ​​​​on Sunday.

The 36-year-old will make his first appearance in Minneapolis since leaving the Vikings in the offseason and signing a big contract in Atlanta.

However, things haven’t gone well for Cousins ​​since his move to Georgia.

Not only did the team select a quarterback in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft – Atlanta selected Michael Penix Jr. with the No. 8 pick – but he is currently going through one of the worst stretches of his career as he returns to face his old team.

Cousins ​​has thrown no touchdowns and six interceptions during the Falcons’ three-game losing streak – four in the Week 13 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers – with the team scoring a total of 36 points over the course. of this sequence.

His mobility has never been his strong point, but suffering a torn Achilles last season seems to have really hampered his ability to avoid pressure, leading to more turnovers. Cousins ​​has 17 touchdown passes, 13 interceptions and 12 fumbles this season. His poor run saw him fall to 31st in the NFL.com rankings of 32 starting quarterbacks.

As a result, questions about whether head coach Raheem Morris might opt ​​to bench Cousins ​​in favor of Penix Jr. have grown in recent weeks and if Sunday’s outcome spirals out of control, a change in quarterback could be considered.

But Morris said Wednesday that he expects Cousins ​​to bounce back when he returns to Minnesota and that the scrutiny he faces is part of being in the NFL.

“I know this league is built on pressure. I know the pressure in this league, you better be ready to deal with it, and that’s all of us,” Morris told reporters. “We wouldn’t be in this business without the pressure. I would be a lawyer or something, without the pressure. You have to be ready to deal with pressure in this job. This is what we do.

On the other side, Cousin’s replacement for the Vikings, Sam Darnold, is having a great season with a team on track to make the playoffs.

After years of struggling to find his place in the league, Darnold thrived in Minnesota.

“It’s just an incredible place. I mean, most of the guys in this locker room are kind of what I meant by that, and then just the people here,” he told reporters Wednesday. “Obviously the people in the organization, but also the people who live in Minnesota, have been great. Everywhere I go, very genuine and very kind and cordial people. I really enjoy my time here.

Buffalo Bills vs. Los Angeles Rams – 4:25 p.m. ET

There’s a lot of potential on the line when the Buffalo Bills take the field at SoFi Stadium to take on the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday.

Although the Bills have already clinched a playoff spot with first place assured in the AFC East, they are still in the hunt for the AFC’s No. 1 seed, just one game behind. Kansas City Chiefs and with the advantage of the tie-break.

Buffalo, however, appears to be getting back into shape at the right time, with quarterback Josh Allen making a late-season push for the MVP award after stringing together some stellar performances.

For the Rams, they are currently on the outside of the playoffs with a 6-6 record and need a late season push if they are to have any hope of continuing their season.

The return of Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua has strengthened the team’s receiving core, but the Rams’ offense has been unusually top-heavy under head coach Sean McVay.

They’ve only actually scored the 30-point mark once all season and have struggled to put away teams despite their offensive talent – conversely, the Bills have scored at least 30 points in their last six games.

And McVay talked about the challenges of facing Allen and the Bills’ explosive offense ahead of their Week 14 matchup.

“They are a complete offense and they have the ability to do a lot of things. I think (Allen) does a great job getting all of his playmakers involved,” McVay told reporters Thursday. “They obviously do a great job of being able to run the football both from the gun and under center.

“I think he plays very well within the structure when the timing and rhythm presents itself. It involves a lot of guys like I mentioned. And then when things go wrong, that’s when you see what a special player he is. He can beat you with his mind. He can beat you with his arm and he can beat you with his legs. These are recipes for why he deserves all the accolades, praise and credit he receives.

The Rams currently have an 18% chance of reaching the playoffs, according to NFL.com. A victory on Sunday would improve those chances to 27%, while a defeat would decrease them to 13%.

Los Angeles Chargers vs. Kansas City Chiefs – 8:20 p.m. ET

Sunday’s action ends with a potential preview of an AFC playoff matchup.

The defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs host the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday Night Football at Arrowhead Stadium.

Both teams are coming off close wins in Week 13, with the Chiefs narrowly beating the Las Vegas Raiders on Black Friday and the Chargers needing a defensive masterclass to beat the Falcons.

Neither team was explosive on offense despite their star quarterbacks – Patrick Mahomes for Kansas City and Justin Herbert for Los Angeles – but both excelled on defense.

Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo’s group is one of the most feared groups of players in the league and has played a key role in the Chiefs’ successful 2024 campaign.

On the other side, the Chargers have come into play as of late with several players providing key moments as the season has unfolded.

The last to appear was their rookie cornerback Tarheeb Still who threw two interceptions, including one he returned for a 61-yard touchdown, in the Week 13 win over the Falcons, earning him the title AFC Defensive Player of the Week.

“I get the award, but I would say it’s a testament to how we are as a team because everyone played a part in this,” Still said. “My teammates and also the coaches do a good job preparing me. It was a great feeling.

It could be another low-scoring affair on Sunday, with both defenses leading the way, in what could be a huge clash as far as playoff seeding is concerned.

Despite struggling offensively this season, Mahomes still believes Kansas City has a chance to win its third straight Super Bowl title.

“Every team I’ve been on, I feel like I’ve been on a championship team. It’s been the case here or there — either we lost in overtime in the AFC championship game or we lost in the Super Bowl,” he told reporters Wednesday. “I feel like we have the talent, the coaching staff and the work ethic to go out on the field and win any football game.

“It’s about going out there and doing it on a weekly and daily basis. I feel like we have guys motivated enough to do this, but it’s not going to be easy, and it never is. You really have to play your best football at the perfect time to win a championship and that’s what I learned during my time in the NFL.

A win on Sunday would almost certainly guarantee the Chargers’ playoff spot, with NFL.com predicting a 99% chance of reaching the postseason with a win.

Complete Sunday schedule for week 14

Outside at home

New York Jets vs. Miami Dolphins – 1 p.m. ET

Atlanta Falcons vs. Minnesota Vikings – 1 p.m. ET

New Orleans Saints vs. New York Giants – 1 p.m. ET

Carolina Panthers vs. Philadelphia Eagles – 1 p.m. ET

Cleveland Browns vs. Pittsburgh Steelers – 1 p.m. ET

Las Vegas Raiders vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – 1 p.m. ET

Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Tennessee Titans – 1 p.m. ET

Seattle Seahawks vs. Arizona Cardinals – 4:05 p.m. ET

Buffalo Bills vs. Los Angeles Rams – 4:25 p.m. ET

Chicago Bears vs. San Francisco 49ers – 4:25 p.m. ET

Los Angeles Chargers vs. Kansas City Chiefs – 8:20 p.m. ET

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