Featured Image: Chicago Bears running back D’Andre Swift (4) punts away the football after he scored his first touchdown against his former team, the Philadelphia Eagles, at Lincoln Financial Field on Nov. 28, 2025. (Photo Credit / Bill Streicher/Imagn Images)

There is just five weeks left in the NFL regular season, and with playoff hopes on the line, will teams rise or fall under the pressure?

With how much is on the line for these remaining weeks, the rule I set for myself of not covering a team in back-to-back weeks will be ignored. In Week 14, the games covered include arguably the most important NFC North regular season showdown in the 21st century takes place at Lambeau Field and an AFC showdown on primetime in a must-win game for both sides. Instead of a uniform matchup this week, it will simply be a uniform spotlight for another NIKE NFL Rivalry uniform. 

The Black Friday champion Chicago Bears travel to a Thanksgiving-champion Green Bay Packers team for an important NFC North matchup

In a game where they were heavy underdogs, the Chicago Bears not only came out on top against the Philadelphia Eagles but completely manhandled them. Running backs D’Andre Swift and rookie Kyle Monangai rushed for a combined 255 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns on 40 carries. 

Not enough credit is given to general manager Ryan Poles and head coach Ben Johnson for their offensive line overhaul in the 2025-26 offseason; to be more exact, the interior offensive line. Through two trades and one free agent signing, the Bears offensive line went from arguably one of the worst to one of the best. 

The two trades included were for guards Joe Thuney and Jonah Jackson, while the free agent signing was center Drew Dalman.

Thuney was acquired from the Kansas City Chiefs in exchange for a 2026 fourth round pick and then extended with a two year, $35 million contract. He has been nothing short but elite as he has earned a 73.2 PFF (Pro Football Focus) grade–ninth among guards–and has allowed zero sacks, just 10 pressures and only one quarterback hit through 12 games on the season. He also ranks first among guards at a 85.9 pass blocking grade per PFF. 

Jackson was acquired from the Los Angeles Rams in exchange for a 2025 sixth round pick and added another year to his contract, which keeps him on the Bears through the 2027 season. He did struggle to start this season at a low 31 PFF grade in Week 1 versus the Minnesota Vikings but has since turned his grade around and now ranks as the fifth best right guard in football per PFF. Jackson’s speciality this season has been his amazing run blocking skills noted in the Bears wins over the New Orleans Saints in Week 7, the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 9 and most recently the Eagles in Week 13. 

Dalman left the Atlanta Falcons to join the Bears in the 2025-26 free agency period and signed a three year, $42 million contract. He, like Jackson, struggled early on but has since found a nice connection with second-year quarterback Caleb Williams. Dalman has earned the second best PFF grade among centers this season at 82.1. 

On the home side of things, the Green Bay Packers offense also provide a tough challenge. While the offensive line has not been what they have been in recent years or what the Bears have been this season, quarterback Jordan Love’s play has not taken a hit, and one could argue it has even gotten better. 

In what has been an okay stretch of recent games for Love, he took off in the most recent matchup against the Detroit Lions on Thanksgiving in Week 13. Love passed for 234 yards and four touchdowns–two of which landed in the hands of wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks. 

What was also impressive–and has been all season–is how the Packers shut down the Lions rushing attack. Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs rushed for 219 yards on 15 carries in Week 12; he hit just 68 on five more carries against the Packers. The narrative of superstar defensive end Micah Parsons struggling against the run has been disproven, and he has taken that much-needed next step. The Packers’ linebacker core has also played a great factor in that with great seasons from Edgerrin Cooper and Isaiah McDuffie. 

In what could be a final shot at the one seed in the NFC for the Packers, the Bears earn their first back-to-back wins at Lambeau Field since 2007. 

Final Score: Bears 25, Packers 21

‘Sunday Night Football’: Red-hot Houston Texans travel to Missouri on primetime to face off against the sliding Kansas City Chiefs

After a rough 0-3 start, the Houston Texans are 7-5 and just one game out of the AFC playoff picture and the AFC South division. The clear picture here is how dominant their defense has been. 

In the front seven, the two big names are defensive ends Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter. Anderson in just about any other year would arguably be the league’s defensive player of the year, but of course Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett exists. 

That said, Anderson has still had a DPOY level season. Anderson has recorded 10.5 sacks this season–just one off his career high–and ranks second among defense ends with a 92.1 PFF grade. If the PFF is not enough for you, look at his high pressure numbers of 19.4% pressure rate overall (second) and an impressive 28.3% pressure rate on third and fourth down. 

Hunter, on the flip side of Anderson, has been what the Texans have paid for: a great veteran defensive end. Hunter has recorded 11 sacks on the season and ranks sixth among defensive ends in pressures forced (58). 

The Chiefs have been covered once, twice and a number of times throughout the 2025-26 season. The story has remained the same every time. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes has turned back the clock and been every bit of an elite quarterback this year–especially since the return of wide receiver Rashee Rice. 

Even with that play though, the Chiefs are 6-6. Most recently, Mahomes threw four touchdowns against the Dallas Cowboys on Thanksgiving in Week 13, yet the team lost 31-28. So where is the issue? 

The same issues have risen every game, and as such, a deep dive is not needed again and again. Offensively, head coach Andy Reid has failed to adapt and change the modern part of the game and has made Mahomes and the offense work more than required. The offensive line injuries certainly have not helped, but that does not excuse the laziness in it. 

Defensively, the team has zero pass rush, and thus defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo has had to send more blitzes to create his own pressure. In turn, that opens up more passing angles for opposing offenses and leaves defenders in more one-on-one coverage assignments. 

The Chiefs are a mess, and that will not change this game as the Texans defense comes to play. 

Final Score: Texans 27, Chiefs 20

UMOTW: The New York Jets embrace their inner darkness with ‘Gotham City’ uniforms 

After the New York Jets debut their NIKE NFL Rivalry uniforms, there will be just two left to be played: the Seattle Seahawks in Week 16 on ‘Thursday Night Football’ and the San Francisco 49ers in Week 18. 

Moving back to the Jets, the uniforms are certainly interesting to say the least. Though, I do not think they are good by any means. Credit is deserved though for the attempt by the NIKE team that designed them. They attempt to add that “gloomy” feeling and the New York manholes.

It just does not work though. The ‘Gotham City’ uniforms feature a base color of dark empire green–at least that is what they call it–with accents of black and gray. The best part about the uniforms is the gothic font used for the numbering and lettering. The helmet and side of the jerseys feature a manhole pattern. The inside of the jersey on the color says Gotham City Football.

Again, credit is due for the field design for this game, which includes the background of the city in the endzones and that weird green and gray for the hashmarks, logos and numbering on the field.

All in all, I think these jerseys should honestly be burnt to a crisp, and the Jets are punished as such for their Week 14 matchup against the Miami Dolphins.

Final Score: Dolphins 28, Jets 18

Remaining Games:

‘Thursday Night Football’ | Cowboys at Lions: The Cowboys continue to stay hot and pick up their fourth straight win. Final Score: Cowboys 30, Lions 27

Tennessee Titans at Cleveland Browns: Myles Garrett breaks the sack record with another five sack game. Final Score: Titans 6, Browns 20

Seattle Seahawks at Atlanta Falcons: The Falcons playoff drought continues for the eighth straight season after a blowout loss. Final Score: Seahawks 34, Falcons 20

Indianapolis Colts at Jacksonville Jaguars: In what could be a battle for the AFC South crown, the Jaguars win big and in throwback style. Final Score: Colts 19, Jaguars 31

Washington Commanders at Minnesota Vikings: In the battle of ‘mid’, the Vikings come out on top and keep their slim playoff hopes alive. Final Score: Commanders 17, Vikings 27

Cincinnati Bengals at Buffalo Bills: In a shocking turn of events, the Bengals once again come out swinging and pull off another upset on the road. Final Score: Bengals 23, Bills 20

New Orleans Saints at Tampa Bay Buccaneers: The Buccaneers continue to pick up nice and easy wins before the final stretch. Final Score: Saints 14, Buccaneers 27

Pittsburgh Steelers at Baltimore Ravens: Somehow, someway, the Steelers manage to go into Baltimore and upset the Ravens in a weird score game. Final Score: Steelers 15, Ravens 13

Denver Broncos at Las Vegas Raiders: Thanks to the Texans and a win here, the Broncos clinch their first AFC West title since 2015. Final Score: Broncos 24, Raiders 10

Los Angelas Rams at Arizona Cardinals: Matthew Stafford and Jaccoby Brissett get into a shootout where they combine for eight touchdown passes and over 800 yards of offense. Final Score: Rams 41, Cardinals 37

‘Monday Night Football’ | Eagles at Los Angeles Chargers: With how injured the Chargers are, the Eagles take advantage and pick up a nice confidence booster win. Final Score: Eagles 24, Chargers 14

Teams on bye:

New York Giants | next host the Commanders

Carolina Panthers | next visit the Saints

New England Patriots | next host the Bills

San Fransisco 49ers | next host the Titans

Standings after Week 13: Conference | Overall | Divisional | Playoff Position

Key for Playoff Position:

• E = eliminated
• X = playoff spot clinched
• Y = division clinched
• Z = first round bye clinched

AFC East

1 Patriots 11-2 | 3-0

7 Bills 8-4 | 2-2

11 Dolphins 5-7 | 2-2

13 Jets 3-9 | 0-3

AFC West

2 Broncos 10-2 | 2-1

5 Chargers 8-4 | 4-0

10 Chiefs 6-6 | 1-2

15 Raiders 2-10 | 0-4 | E

AFC South

3 Jaguars 8-4 | 2-1

6 Colts 8-4 | 2-1

8 Texans 7-5 | 4-1

16 Titans 1-11 | 0-5 | E

AFC North

4 Ravens 6-6 | 2-1

9 Steelers 6-6 | 2-1

12 Bengals 4-8 | 3-1

14 Browns 3-9 | 0-4

NFC North

1 Bears 9-3 | 1-2

6 Packers 8-3-1 | 3-0

8 Lions 7-5 | 1-3

12 Vikings 4-8 | 2-2

NFC West

2 Rams 9-3 | 2-1

5 Seahawks 9-3 | 2-2

7 49ers 9-4 | 4-1

13 Cardinals 3-9 | 0-4 | E

NFC East

3 Eagles 8-4 | 2-2

9 Cowboys 6-5-1 | 3-1

14 Commanders 3-9 | 1-1

16 Giants 2-11 | 1-3 | E

NFC South

4 Buccaneers 7-5 | 2-0

10 Panthers 7-6 | 2-1

11 Falcons 4-8 | 1-3

15 Saints 2-10 | 1-2 | E

Teams that face playoff elimination in Week 14

Vikings face playoff elimination this week through the following scenarios:

1. Vikings loss
2. Vikings tie + Packers win/tie

Commanders face playoff elimination this week through the following scenarios:

1. Commanders loss/tie
2. Eagles win/tie

Falcons face playoff elimination this week through the following scenarios:

1. Falcons loss
2. Falcons tie + Buccaneers win/tie + Packers win/tie

Jets face playoff elimination this week through the following scenarios:

1. Jets loss/tie
2. Texans win + Bills win/tie
3. Texans win + Colts-Jaguars matchup ends in a tie
4. Bills win/tie + Jaguars win/tie

Browns face playoff elimination this week through the following scenarios:

1. Browns loss

Power Rankings after Week 13:

1. Patriots | +1 9. Bills | N/C 17. Chiefs | -4 25. Falcons | -3
2. Broncos | +3 10. Colts | -6 18. Dolphins | +2 26. Giants | -3
3. Rams | -2 11. Eagles | -5 19. Ravens | -7 27. Commanders | +2
4. Seahawks | -1 12. Jaguars | +2 20. Buccaneers | +1 28. Browns | -2
5. Bears | +2 13. Cowboys | +3 21. Steelers | -4 29. Vikings | -4
6. 49ers | +5 14. Chargers | +3 22. Bengals | +5 30. Saints | +1
7. Packers | +8 15. Panthers | +4 23. Jets | +5 31. Raiders | +1
8. Texans | +2 16. Lions | -8 24. Cardinals | N/C 32. Titans | -2

N/C: No Change

Biggest risers: Packers 15 → 8 | Bengals 27 → 22 | Jets 28 → 23

Biggest fallers: Lions 8 → 16 | Ravens 12 → 19 | Colts 4 → 10