The Jameis Winston expertise reached heights by no means seen earlier than with the Cleveland Browns’ loss to the Denver Broncos on Monday evening. The Browns aren’t your typical 3-9 group, which the Pittsburgh Steelers already know nicely.
Ought to the first-place Steelers be on upset alert once more in Week 14? Our writers Mike Sando, Zak Keefer and Jeff Howe tackle the query in The Athletic’s roundtable previewing Week 14’s remaining slate.
Our writers additionally ponder if it’s too late within the season for a group amid a playoff push to throw a rookie quarterback within the hearth. It’s the speak in Atlanta because the Falcons and Kirk Cousins (at Vikings) proceed to fall with the rival Tampa Bay Buccaneers (vs. Raiders) rising.
Learn extra beneath for what else is on our writers’ minds this week.
As Monday evening confirmed, you by no means know what you’ll get out of the Jameis Winston expertise. Ought to Pittsburgh be on upset alert vs. the Browns on Sunday?
Keefer: Completely. For starters, they misplaced to this similar Browns group in Week 12, and it’s no secret throughout the league that Cleveland’s offense is far more potent with Winston beneath middle than Deshaun Watson. Perhaps Winston’s prayer to rid himself of the pick-sixes will work, as a result of with out these killer errors, he’s unlocked one thing within the Browns’ passing sport. For starters, have a look at what Jerry Jeudy’s doing (he’s eighth within the league in EPA per reception). Additionally, with Winston at QB, the Browns have had their three best days on offense this season.
Howe: The Steelers would want to have short-term amnesia in the event that they aren’t on upset alert as a result of the Browns beat them two weeks in the past in one of many funnest video games of the season. The Browns are taking part in significantly better on offense with Winston, just like the way in which the transfer to Joe Flacco sparked the offense in 2023. You possibly can inform the Browns are taking part in laborious for his or her coach and quarterback, they usually’d love nothing greater than to comb their rivals throughout an in any other case misplaced season. The Browns could not be capable to predict what they’ll get out of Winston every sport, however the outcomes had been way more predictable and a complete lot much less profitable earlier this season once they may foresee the outcomes.
Sando: Sure, as a result of it’s a divisional sport and Pittsburgh already misplaced to the Browns lately. The Mike Tomlin-era Steelers are 19-4 in opposition to the Browns when Cleveland had a dropping document getting into the sport. The document is 4-2 since 2019 and 0-1 this season.
The Jaguars meet the Titans with out Trevor Lawrence, who, whereas sliding, suffered a concussion on successful by Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair final week. There was some debate over whether or not Lawrence began his slide too late. Is there any benefit to that notion? Might you envision the league ever addressing “faux” QB slides sooner or later?
Keefer: I’m not shopping for that. Lawrence began to slip when he noticed the defender approaching, giving himself up on the play. Al-Shaair leveled the quarterback with a forearm to the higher a part of Lawrence’s shoulder pad and his neck. It was late. It was soiled. It was pointless. And it’s not the primary time this season Shaair’s been criticized for a late hit on a QB. I do assume, if quarterbacks begin faking slides to maintain the play alive, the league will step in. However this was not that.
Howe: Lawrence slid later than critics could have preferred in an effort to maximize his alternative to get a primary down, however that doesn’t include an open invitation for a defender to launch himself with a number one elbow to the pinnacle space. Later slides usually include some stage of contact from the protection, and the officers are inclined to do a good job of figuring out which of these hits are incidental and which others rise to the extent of a penalty. If quarterbacks begin an inclination of doing the faux slide, a la Kenny Pickett at Pitt, the league ought to completely put an finish to it. The closest factor we’ve seen to that, no less than when it comes to any semblance of regularity, could be the QBs who reap the benefits of a couple of further yards close to the boundary, however I’m undecided how that could possibly be objectively enforced.
Sando: The primary coach I spoke with relating to the Lawrence hit identified immediately that he thought Lawrence slid late. There’s benefit to the notion. Texans GM Nick Caserio talking out so forcefully in protection of Al-Shaair does elevate the chance some within the NFL may push for clarifications/modifications. However as a result of the league would somewhat have critics complaining about too many protections for quarterbacks than not sufficient protections for them, I believe it’ll take examples extra blatant than the one involving Lawrence for the league to deal with “faux” slides.
The Bears and 49ers meet on Sunday. Who could be the perfect match as the following Bears head coach? What ought to be on the prime of the 49ers’ offseason to-do checklist, ought to they miss the playoffs?
Keefer: Can they get Ben Johnson? If Kevin Warren is true — and that is the perfect job of the NFL’s impending hiring cycle — then this franchise must do every part it may possibly to lure the Lions’ offensive coordinator right down to Chicago. Nothing is extra paramount than Caleb Williams’ improvement, and the rookie’s proven sufficient promise this season, regardless of the latest chaos surrounding the group, that with the precise coach he can develop into a star on this league. The outdated Chicago regimes would get this improper. Perhaps this yr they really get it proper.
As for the 49ers, regardless of what some pundits are saying, I don’t assume a full-on rebuild is important. There’s an excessive amount of expertise. Brock Purdy is younger. Christian McCaffrey will likely be again subsequent season. This yr was tormented by a ridiculous stream of accidents, and doubtless the lingering results of final yr’s gutting Tremendous Bowl loss. The roster wants some tweaks, and desires some youth, however there are too many sound constructing blocks to maneuver on from.
Howe: They need to prioritize offensive consistency for Williams, so there ought to be apprehension over a defensive-minded coach who may lose his offensive coordinator each couple years. Thomas Brown will deserve a critical look if the Bears play higher down the stretch, and the Bears also needs to usher in Ben Johnson, Zac Robinson and Liam Coen for interviews. With the Niners, it’s been a couple of years operating now the place rival executives marvel on the top-end expertise however stay cautious over their depth, which is why they run into these points when their stars go down. They aren’t giving out unhealthy contracts to their stars, however there’s an harm danger concerned that’s been coming to a head. Identical with the Trey Lance decide. Positive, they finally figured it out at quarterback, however they’d be in a significantly better spot proper now in the event that they hit on the trio of first-round picks that it price to draft Lance. This could be a logical time to maneuver on from veterans who’re on the again 9 and reinforce depth by way of the draft.
GO DEEPER
Thomas Brown’s possibilities to remain? Commerce for a coach? Bears mailbag, plus Week 14 picks
Sando: How enjoyable would it not be if the Bears made a run at Deion Sanders? I’m pondering exterior the field with an eye fixed towards the opposite coaches on this division. Dan Campbell is one in all a form, an outsized character. Kevin O’Connell and Matt LaFleur are extra standard and each are flourishing. Coach Prime would immediately make the Bears related. And whereas most high-profile coaches would need extra personnel/organizational management than Chicago seems prepared to grant, Sanders may not. He may usher in some veteran NFL coaches and shake up the division. Is anybody with me?
Would Colorado Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders be a match for the Chicago Bears? (Ron Chenoy / Imagn Photographs)
The Bucs (vs. Raiders), Cardinals (vs. Seahawks) and Rams (vs. Payments) are all 6-6 and doubtless must win their respective divisions to make the playoffs. Which group ought to be feeling most assured proper now?
Keefer: I like Tampa Bay’s possibilities within the NFC South just because the Falcons really feel like frauds. Atlanta’s been so wildly inconsistent this season, and Kirk Cousins is amid one of many worst slumps of his profession. The Bucs, in the meantime, gained’t see a group with a profitable document the remainder of the common season.
Howe: If the Bucs care for enterprise, they need to win 4 of their final 5 video games and take the NFC South. Their defensive inconsistencies are regarding as a result of it’s powerful to tear off a profitable streak like that, however their schedule is essentially the most accommodating in comparison with the Seahawks and Cardinals. The NFC West is totally unpredictable and has been just about all season. The one factor I really feel assured about is the Niners gained’t win the division, so that you may as nicely print their championship T-shirts now.
Sando: Tampa Bay is the group for me as nicely. It’s wonderful to me the Bucs misplaced twice to the Falcons, however they did, and that’s why they’re on this place. The Athletic’s mannequin places the Bucs’ playoff possibilities at 54 p.c, in comparison with 35 p.c for Arizona and 26 p.c for the Rams. That feels about proper to me.
Our writers belief Baker Mayfield and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to finish up on prime within the NFC South with the Atlanta Falcons struggling. (Elsa / Getty Photographs)
The Falcons are on the street vs. the Vikings. Throwing a rookie QB into the fireplace in opposition to a Brian Flores protection appears ill-advised. However ought to the Falcons contemplate beginning Michael Penix Jr. over Kirk Cousins in some unspecified time in the future this season if issues worsen?
Keefer: Sure. If Cousins continues to wrestle — his third interception Sunday in opposition to the Chargers was one of many worst ones I’ve seen a starter throw all yr — the Falcons want to contemplate giving Penix an opportunity. The division remains to be inside attain, and when you stick to a starter who’s killing drives and costing the group video games, you’re doing a disservice to the locker room. Gamers know. Gamers concentrate. They merely need the man who’ll give them the perfect probability to win on Sundays. Penix performed numerous video games in school; it’s fully potential he may step in and provides this offense a spark.
Howe: I’ve been instructed Penix has been lighting it up in observe, so a change could be justified in the event that they felt like making the transfer. On no account would I begin Penix in opposition to the Vikings, however the remaining video games in opposition to the Raiders, Giants, Commanders and Panthers could be interesting. However this choice wouldn’t be made in a vacuum. If the Falcons go along with Penix whereas they’re nonetheless in rivalry and he performs decently sufficient, I don’t see how they might hold Cousins in 2025. And it’s honest to imagine Cousins will likely be higher subsequent season as soon as he’s totally healed from the torn Achilles. But when the Falcons change to Penix as soon as they’re out of rivalry and he performs OK, even when it’s just for the regular-season finale, Cousins gained’t have any room for error with the fan base in 2025. The safer play is to stay with Cousins. But when the Falcons imagine shifting to Penix would spark the locker room and speed up his possibilities to start out in Week 1 subsequent season, such an aggressive transfer could be the proper play.
Sando: The Falcons ought to play Penix for the ultimate 4 video games if Cousins performs poorly and/or the group loses at Minnesota. They’ll have an additional day to get Penix prepared as a result of they observe their sport at Minnesota with a Monday evening go to to Las Vegas in Week 15. Atlanta then finishes with the Giants, Commanders and Panthers. Getting some expertise for Penix within the absence of nice expectations looks like a good suggestion. Getting Cousins to the offseason with out one other harm additionally has worth.
(Photograph: Brooke Sutton / Getty Photographs)
