The Jameis Winston expertise reached heights by no means seen earlier than with the Cleveland Browns’ loss to the Denver Broncos on Monday night time. The Browns aren’t your typical 3-9 group, which the Pittsburgh Steelers already know properly.
Ought to the first-place Steelers be on upset alert once more in Week 14? Our writers Mike Sando, Zak Keefer and Jeff Howe handle 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 discuss 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 night time 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 identical Browns group in Week 12, and it’s no secret throughout the league that Cleveland’s offense is rather more potent with Winston beneath heart than Deshaun Watson. Possibly 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 most efficient 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 a lot better on offense with Winston, just like the best way the transfer to Joe Flacco sparked the offense in 2023. You possibly can inform the Browns are taking part in arduous for his or her coach and quarterback, they usually’d love nothing greater than to brush their rivals throughout an in any other case misplaced season. The Browns could not be capable of predict what they’ll get out of Winston every sport, however the outcomes had been way more predictable and an entire lot much less profitable earlier this season after they may foresee the outcomes.
Sando: Sure, as a result of it’s a divisional sport and Pittsburgh already misplaced to the Browns not too long ago. The Mike Tomlin-era Steelers are 19-4 in opposition to the Browns when Cleveland had a dropping file coming into the sport. The file 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 advantage to that notion? Might you envision the league ever addressing “pretend” 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 favored with a purpose 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 top space. Later slides usually include some stage of contact from the protection, and the officers are inclined to do an honest 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 pretend 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, at the very least by way of 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 unsure how that could possibly be objectively enforced.
Sando: The primary coach I spoke with relating to the Lawrence hit identified straight away that he thought Lawrence slid late. There may be advantage 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 fairly 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 handle “pretend” slides.
The Bears and 49ers meet on Sunday. Who is likely to be the most effective match as the subsequent Bears head coach? What needs to be on the high of the 49ers’ offseason to-do record, ought to they miss the playoffs?
Keefer: Can they get Ben Johnson? If Kevin Warren is true — and that is the most effective job of the NFL’s impending hiring cycle — then this franchise must do every part it could actually to lure the Lions’ offensive coordinator all the way down to Chicago. Nothing is extra paramount than Caleb Williams’ improvement, and the rookie’s proven sufficient promise this season, regardless of the current chaos surrounding the group, that with the suitable coach he can change into a star on this league. The previous Chicago regimes would get this fallacious. Possibly this 12 months 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 probably be again subsequent season. This 12 months was tormented by a ridiculous stream of accidents, and possibly the lingering results of final 12 months’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 needs 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 must also 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 damage danger concerned that’s been coming to a head. Identical with the Trey Lance choose. Positive, they finally figured it out at quarterback, however they’d be in a a lot better spot proper now in the event that they hit on the trio of first-round picks that it price to draft Lance. This might 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 probabilities to remain? Commerce for a coach? Bears mailbag, plus Week 14 picks
Sando: How enjoyable wouldn’t it be if the Bears made a run at Deion Sanders? I’m considering exterior the field with a watch towards the opposite coaches on this division. Dan Campbell is considered one of a sort, an outsized persona. 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 keen to grant, Sanders won’t. 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 possibly must win their respective divisions to make the playoffs. Which group needs to be feeling most assured proper now?
Keefer: I like Tampa Bay’s probabilities 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, received’t see a group with a profitable file the remainder of the common season.
Howe: If the Bucs deal with 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 robust to tear off a profitable streak like that, however their schedule is probably 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 received’t win the division, so that you would possibly as properly print their championship T-shirts now.
Sando: Tampa Bay is the group for me as properly. 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 probabilities 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 high 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 hearth in opposition to a Brian Flores protection appears ill-advised. However ought to the Falcons take into account beginning Michael Penix Jr. over Kirk Cousins sooner or later this season if issues worsen?
Keefer: Sure. If Cousins continues to battle — his third interception Sunday in opposition to the Chargers was one of many worst ones I’ve seen a starter throw all 12 months — the Falcons want to contemplate giving Penix an opportunity. The division continues to be inside attain, and in the event you keep on with 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 most effective likelihood to win on Sundays. Penix performed lots of video games in faculty; it’s solely potential he may step in and provides this offense a spark.
Howe: I’ve been advised Penix has been lighting it up in apply, so a swap could be justified in the event that they felt like making the transfer. Not at all 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 determination wouldn’t be made in a vacuum. If the Falcons go along with Penix whereas they’re nonetheless in competition and he performs decently sufficient, I don’t see how they may hold Cousins in 2025. And it’s honest to imagine Cousins will probably be higher subsequent season as soon as he’s absolutely healed from the torn Achilles. But when the Falcons swap to Penix as soon as they’re out of competition and he performs OK, even when it’s just for the regular-season finale, Cousins received’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 probabilities to start out in Week 1 subsequent season, such an aggressive transfer could be the right 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 comply with their sport at Minnesota with a Monday night time 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 damage additionally has worth.
(Photograph: Brooke Sutton / Getty Photographs)