Week 14 of the NFL season delivered plenty of drama and raised pressing questions about some of the league’s most intriguing teams. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers made a statement win, sparking debates about their potential as a serious contender in the NFC and how dangerous they might be come playoff time. Meanwhile, the Dallas Cowboys continue to find baffling ways to lose, highlighted by an unbelievable sequence involving a blocked punt turned fumble that defies logic and perhaps signals a team cursed by misfortune. On the other end of the spectrum, the New York Giants' struggles remain unmatched, leaving many to wonder if the #1 overall pick in next year’s draft is already locked up. Let’s break it all down in this week’s recap.
Are the Dallas Cowboys cursed?
The Dallas Cowboys’ playoff hopes are all but extinguished, and once again, a baffling moment has fans questioning if the franchise is cursed. Since their last Super Bowl win in 1996, the Cowboys have found countless ways to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory, and this season’s debacle against the Bengals might be the most egregious yet. With slim playoff chances on the line, the special teams unit initially delivered, blocking a Cincinnati punt that seemed destined to set Dallas up with excellent field position to win the game. However, a Cowboys player inexplicably tried to recover the ball instead of letting it roll dead, leading to a Bengals recovery and a stunning turn of events. Cincinnati capitalized, driving for the game-winning touchdown, effectively ending Dallas’ postseason hopes. It’s another chapter in the Cowboys’ long history of heartbreak and self-inflicted wounds.
Should the NFC be scared of Tampa Bay?
The NFC should be on high alert if the Tampa Bay Buccaneers secure a playoff spot, as their offense has the firepower to drop 30-40 points on any given day. Baker Mayfield is playing at an elite level, looking like a top-10—maybe even top-5—quarterback with his confident throws and clutch performances. With weapons like Mike Evans, Bucky Irving, Jalen McMillan thriving, Tampa Bay’s offense is a nightmare for opposing defenses. The only concern for the Buccaneers lies on the defensive side of the ball, particularly with the recent injury to star safety Antoine Winfield Jr., whose absence could expose vulnerabilities in their secondary. If the defense can hold up, the Bucs are a dangerous team that no one in the NFC will want to face in January.
Who gets the 1st pick? Raiders or Giants?
The battle for the #1 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft has boiled down to two of the league’s worst teams: the New York Giants and the Las Vegas Raiders. Both franchises have struggled mightily this season, with fans already looking ahead to the chance to draft Colorado’s star quarterback, Shedeur Sanders. The Giants narrowly avoided disaster this week, losing 14-11 to the Saints in a game that could have derailed their path to securing the top pick. Meanwhile, the Raiders have a daunting matchup against the Jaguars in a few weeks—a game that could knock them out of the top three if they pull off an upset. With tougher schedules ahead and razor-thin margins, the race for the league’s worst record may come down to the final weeks, as both teams eye a transformational talent to turn their fortunes around.
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