🐺 Wolf Sports Weekly

Playoff chances for the Chiefs, Cowboys and Bengals took a major hit after the first full week of December football delivered plenty of entertainment. Also, this is not a drill: Just when we thought the season couldn’t get any crazier, 44-year-old Philip Rivers might come out of retirement to join the Colts, and he’s working out for the team today to see about a potential fit.

🍿 Week 14’s big winners

Let’s start with what’s arguably been the story of the season to this point: The 6-7 Chiefs are more than on the ropes—they’re on the mat with a seven count after losing at home to the Texans on Sunday Night Football. Kansas City showed a serious burst of energy to begin the second half down 10-0, but the tide turned back in the fourth after not converting on a questionable fourth down attempt with the game tied. Ultimately, Houston’s offense took care of the ball while the defense racked up three INTs of Patrick Mahomes and a struggling KC offense, a formula for a fifth straight win in the tight AFC. The AFC West will now have a new champion for the first time since 2015.

Things were not looking good for the Bills, with Joe Burrow and the Bengals lighting it up to front run until the fourth quarter. But Josh Allen went into that team-carrying mode we’ve seen so much over the years to keep the Bills in it and to eventually seal the win—sandwiching two massive back-to-back fourth-quarter INTs by the defense started by a 67-yard pick-six by CB Christian Benford jumping a quick slant. Allen totaled four TDs with no turnovers and converted a third-and-15 with his legs to not give the ball back to Cincy and a QB Allen called one of the best of all-time after the game.

The Packers held on against the Bears to take first place in the NFC North, getting an INT on a fourth-and-one attempt by Chicago looking to tie the 28-21 game late. Big plays were back-breakers for the Bears defense, with Packers receivers winning on heavy blitzes—including two TDs by WR Christian Watson versus single coverage. Caleb Williams made plenty of dazzling plays to keep his team in the game, and the Week 16 rematch on Saturday, December 20 should be fun for a rivalry with not much love.

In the AFC North, the Steelers took first place with an upset road win over the Ravens in a game with a couple of controversial calls. First, a potential turnover was ruled as Aaron Rodgers being down with possession of the ball; then, Baltimore thought TE Isaiah Likely had possession long enough in the end zone for a TD but it was ruled incomplete. Overall, Pittsburgh was aggressive in the passing game from start to finish and got a big outing from WR DK Metcalf (7/148), who also wanted to play gunner on the punt team late in the game and then stayed overnight in Baltimore for precautionary reasons.

To kick off Week 14, the Lions took down the Cowboys in a 44-30 TNF shootout. For Detroit in a game where QB Jared Goff played very well, the stars stepped up: RB Jahmyr Gibbs scored three TDs, WR Amon-Ra St. Brown played through his ankle injury to go for 92 yards, WR Jameson Williams put up 103 total yards, and RB David Montgomery broke a 35-yard TD run. On the other side, WR CeeDee Lamb was roasting the Lions secondary but unfortunately left with a concussion, and WR George Pickens was basically taken out of the game.

On MNF, the Chargers won a very sloppy game against the Eagles in overtime. QB Jalen Hurts probably had the worst game of his career, including two turnovers on one play and a game-ending INT in OT. The teams combined for eight turnovers, but the Chargers improved to 5-0 in primetime while the defending champs have dropped three straight.

Other Week 14 results:

• Jaguars 36, Colts 19: The Colts sadly lost QB Daniel Jones to a torn Achilles, helping the Jaguars run away with the AFC South battle behind two TD runs by Travis Etienne Jr. and two TD tosses by Trevor Lawrence.

• Saints 24, Buccaneers 20: Rookie QB Tyler Shough ran for two TDs including the game-winner to stun the Bucs in a game where the Tampa Bay offense was again out of its groove.

• Broncos 24, Raiders 17: The Raiders recovered a late onside kick and ended the game on a FG to make the final score look a lot closer than this felt, with Denver in total control and 39 minutes time of possession—while also getting a PR TD from Marvin Mims Jr.—in an efficient offensive outing.

• Titans 31, Browns 29: Shedeur Sanders totaled four TD (three passing, one rushing) and earned the starting QB job for the rest of the season, but the Cleveland defense was run all over by RB Tony Pollard (161 yards, two TD) while going 0/2 on two-point conversion attempts held the Browns back.

• Rams 45, Cardinals 17: RBs Blake Corum and Kyren Williams combined for 214 rushing yards and three rushing TDs while Puka Nacua went off with a 7/167/2 explosion that included spectacular catches for LA.

• Seahawks 37, Falcons 9: While the Falcons hung around in the first half, Rashid Shaheed started the second half with a KR TD in what was a 31-3 final 30 minutes.

• Dolphins 34, Jets 10: Another week, another long run by Dolphins star De’Von Achane, who left with a rib injury but sounds like he’ll have a shot to play for the 6-7 Dolphins this Monday night at Pittsburgh.

• Vikings 31, Commanders 0: The Vikings dominated all-around on both sides of the ball, including Andrew Van Ginkel picking off QB Jayden Daniels on fourth down—and Daniels unfortunately landing on his left elbow while trying to make a play in his return to the lineup.

🤕 Brutal injury news

We mentioned Daniel Jones suffering a torn Achilles early in the loss to the Jaguars, and you’ve got to admire the toughness the veteran QB has shown throughout his career. Remember, he was playing through a fractured fibula. Jones also refused a cart and walked to the locker room on his own, and he sat in the rain and watched his teammates getting blown out. DJ had a one-year deal with Indy, and while this injury complicates things, the Colts and other teams should certainly be interested in him this offseason.

The hits keep coming for the Lions, with standout DB Brian Branch tearing his Achilles in the TNF win against the Cowboys.

Another really tough injury to watch was to Commanders TE Zach Ertz, who took a low hit to his knee and suffered a torn ACL. The 35-year-old now faces a lengthy rehab process, but he was still very productive at TE for Washington and has a sustainable playing style if he wants to continue his career.

Other injury news from around the league:

• Browns C Ethan Pocic (Achilles), Chiefs OT Wanya Morris (knee), Raiders CB Kyu Blu Kelly (knee), Texans DT Tim Settle Jr. (foot) all out for the year.

• Bengals WR Tee Higgins and Colts CB Chavarius Ward Sr. both suffered another concussion.

• Bengals DE Trey Hendrickson is undergoing core muscle surgery, officially ending his season.

📰 More NFL news and notes

The Cowboys’ win over the Chiefs on Thanksgiving was the most-watched NFL regular season game in history (57.2 million average viewers).

Flex! Patriots-Ravens in Week 16 is moving to Sunday Night Football, kicking out Bengals-Dolphins.

The Ravens signed TE Mark Andrews to a three-year, $39.3 million extension—quite the turnaround from when it was anticipated that Baltimore was going to part ways with the veteran during this past offseason. Other player transactions include:

• The Bills claiming CB Darius Slay Jr. off waivers from the Steelers, only for Slay to not report to Buffalo and say he’s unsure if he wants to continue playing (many suspect he wanted to go back to the Eagles).

• Veteran WR Adam Thielen was claimed by Pittsburgh.

• The Bucs brought back former DE Jason Pierre-Paul.

• The Broncos signed WR Elijah Moore to the practice squad.

• The Lions are adding S Damontae Kazee after losing Branch.

The Bengals waived 2024 third-round WR Jermaine Burton after suspending him for Week 14.

The Browns plan to have QB Deshaun Watson on their roster in 2026. This might sound shocking, but this dead cap hit of over $100 million if they move on certainly plays a role.

Ravens OL Ben Cleveland has been suspended three games for his February DUI.

Legendary HC Bill Belichick and Patriots owner Robert Kraft are among finalists for the 2026 Pro Football Hall of Fame.

The finalists for the 2025 Walter Payton Man of the Year were revealed, with the winner announced at NFL Honors on Thursday, February 5.

Other Sports Updates

🏈 The final College Football Playoff rankings were revealed on Saturday with a controversial 12-team field that had Alabama and Miami in, while Notre Dame was left out and has declined to participate in a bowl game. Over the weekend, Indiana defeating Ohio State in a Big Ten battle of unbeatens and Georgia winning the SEC over Alabama headlined conference title games.

🦁 Former Iowa State HC Matt Campbell took the same job at Penn State to highlight the latest coaching carousel news.

⚽️ The 2026 FIFA World Cup draw included what’s said to be a favorable Group D for the United States.

🏆 Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami CF won the 2025 MLS championship.

🐺 Found on wolfsports.com

• Week 15 Fantasy Football Rankings (🔒)

• Week 15 Waiver Wire Rankings (🔒)

• Week 15 Rest-of-Season Rankings (🔒)

• Week 14 Fantasy Football Awards

• Heisman Watch: Final Rankings