NFL Week 14: Key Insights and Questions for Each Matchup

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. And the Dolphins easily handled the Jets with a 21-0 lead in the first quarter.

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:
MIA-NYJ | SEA-ATL
WSH-MIN | DAL-DET

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 explosive ability 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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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 best in the NFL? 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 of 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 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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Falcons

Are there any silver linings for the Falcons during this miserable season? Not 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 was a disaster. Zane Gonzalez had a field-goal attempt blocked, and Seahawks’ Rashid Shaheed returned the second-half kickoff for a touchdown when the game was still tied at 6-6. 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)

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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)

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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)