Week 14 of the National Football League kicked off on December 14th with the Raiders blowing out the Chargers 63-21. These final weeks will determine who makes it to the playoffs– and who will be left looking forward to the 2024 draft.
This season has been very eventful, mainly in regards to starting quarterbacks. The much-anticipated debut of Aaron Rogers as the quarterback of the New York Jets was quickly botched by an achilles tear on the first drive of the game. Kirk Cousins of the Minnesota Vikings is also out with an achilles tear, and Joe Burrow of the Cincinnati Bengals is out for the season with a wrist injury. Deshaun Watson (Cleveland Browns), Justin Herbert (Los Angeles Chargers), Daniel Jones (New York Giants), and Anthony Richardson (Indianapolis Colts) are the other quarterbacks who have been ruled out for the season with various injuries.
While an injured quarterback is normally a franchise’s worst fear, this season has provided plenty of opportunities for previously unknown backup quarterbacks to shine. Tommy DeVito, an undrafted rookie from New Jersey, has made a promising start with the New York Giants and currently has a 3-game winning streak. Gardner Minshew of the Colts has also saved a promising season, completing 239 passes so far. Joe Flacco, a former Super Bowl champion with the Ravens, has taken control of the Browns despite concerns over his age (he is currently 38). Other backup quarterbacks, such as Will Levis, Jake Browning, and Aidan O’Connell, are also making their mark and hoping that their status as NFL starting quarterback will not be short-lived.
As we enter the final stretch of the regular season, certain teams are standing out. The Detroit Lions have surpassed expectations and are currently serious contenders for a playoff position– in fact, they lead the NFC North and defeated the Kansas City Chiefs in the NFL season opener. Russell Wilson has also brought the Broncos back to life and they could have a shot at a wild card position. The Texans, previously 3-13-1 in the 2022-2023 season, are currently 7-6 and could also work their way into a wild card spot. The Chiefs have had a rougher season than expected, losing to the Packers in a game rampant with questionable officiating calls, and losing to the Bills after a magnificent touchdown play was reversed because Kadarius Toney lined up past the line of scrimmage. The Bills’ win over the Chiefs was a much-needed morale booster after the normally explosive offense had been stagnant this season.
The current division leaders of the AFC are the Dolphins, Chiefs, Ravens, and Jaguars, and the leaders of the NFC are the Cowboys, 49ers, Lions, and Buccaneers. If the regular season were to end right now, the Ravens and the 49ers would have the first-round bye.
As we look towards the remainder of the 2023 regular season, we can look forward to following the performance of the backup quarterbacks along with seeing who clinches the wild card positions– and who will be left on the outside looking in.
Disclaimer: This article has been updated as of December 15th; therefore, the current standings do not contain the results of the Sunday Night Football or Monday Night Football games of Week 14.