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We look at the biggest climbers and relegators after Sunday of the 14th week. Plus: Upcoming fixtures, records to watch and tonight’s Simpsons game.

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📈 Trending 📉

Minnesota’s MVP chants stirred emotions for Sam Darnold, the Vikings’ presumptive bridge quarterback who has a one-year, $10 million contract.

“I couldn’t just sit there…I had to show a little emotion for the fans…that was a special moment for me,” the normally reserved QB explained after a game when he looked worthy of an MVP discussion.

His final numbers: 347 passing yards and five touchdowns, a completion percentage of nearly 80 and a 42-21 victory for the Vikings (now 11-2) over the visiting Falcons (6-7). It was Minnesota’s sixth straight win, putting them just one win away from securing a playoff spot.

Yesterday it looked like he earned $180 million more than Kirk Cousins ​​(more on that below), but an extension isn’t expected any time soon. As things stand, the 27-year-old could become a free agent.

Still, performances like yesterday’s are why Darnold – whose resurgence Mike Sando compared to that of Bryce Young – tops our Week 14 Rising Stars. Other:

📈 Watch the Rams (7-6). Their thrilling 44-42 victory over the Super Bowl-bound Bills was the game of the year so far. Matthew Stafford (320 yards and two TDs) and Puka Nacua (178 total yards and two TDs) made nearly impossible throws to deny Josh Allen. LA is now one game behind Seattle in the NFC West and has a 33 percent chance of making the playoffs. This Thursday they face the 49ers.

📈 Seahawks (8-5). A decisive 30-18 road win over the Cardinals (6-7) showcased a complete team as HC Mike Macdonald turned his defense into a top-10 unit while the offense – led by No. 2 RB Zach Charbonnet (134 yards and two). TDs) – gained 409 yards with no interceptions or sacks. Thanks to that four-game winning streak, Seattle’s playoff odds have risen from 5 percent a month ago to 61 percent today. Next up: Green Bay on Sunday night.

📈 Buccaneers (7-6). Their expected win over the Raiders (2-11) and the Falcons’ loss puts Tampa Bay in first place in the NFC South, which someone has to win. Without the tiebreaker (they are 0-2 against Atlanta), the Buccaneers have to finish with the better record. They visit the Chargers next week before winnable games against Dallas, Carolina and New Orleans.

📈 Dolphins (6-7). Their 32-26 overtime win over the Jets kept their playoff hopes alive (predictions here), but their Week 5 loss to the Colts (6-7) means they will have to finish with a better record than Indy – and have to catch up with the Broncos (8-5) – to secure the final AFC playoff spot. Next Sunday’s game in Houston (8-5, bye) is crucial.

📈 More records for Brock Bowers. The Raiders TE set the record for receptions by a rookie tight end (87), surpassing Sam LaPorta’s 86 from last season. But that’s an understatement. As a 21-year-old, Bowers leads all players at all positions in these statistics:

📈 Steelers (10-3). Without Pittsburgh’s No. 1 weapon – WR George Pickens was sidelined with a hamstring injury – Russell Wilson shook off a sluggish start (8 of 17 for 46 yards at halftime) and completed 7 of 9 passes for 158 yards and two touchdowns in the second half Win against Cleveland. He is now 6-1 as a starter, but the defense has recorded three sacks and two interceptions and is now allowing the NFL’s fifth-fewest points per game (18.3).

Pittsburgh holds a decisive two-game lead over the Ravens (8-5), but their upcoming schedule — Eagles, Ravens, Chiefs and Bengals — could change that.

📈 Bryce Young Impressed against a stifling defense and was one drop away from Xavier Legette upsetting the Eagles (11-2), losing 22-16. The Panthers fell to 3-10, but Joe Person details Young’s progress here.

📈 Saints (5-8). Interim coach Darren Rizzi’s third win in his first four games came against the Giants (2-10). The 14:11 game thankfully avoided overtime. Just don’t make Rizzi mad, punter.

📉 The Jets, 1-7 since firing Robert Saleh. At 3-10, they have officially been eliminated from the playoffs for the 14th consecutive season, the longest active streak in major American professional sports. As Jets fans know, everything that can go wrong will go wrong. Garrett Wilson is fed up.

📉 Raiders quarterbacks. Remember when head coach Antonio Pierce said he didn’t want a band-aid solution at quarterback? He is at appendage No.3 after injuries to Gardner Minshew (broken collarbone) and Aidan O’Connell (knee injury) meant Desmond Ridder ended yesterday’s defeat. But hey! At least nine losses in a row have left Vegas in second place.

📉 Bills (10-3). Josh Allen became the first player since Otto Graham in 1954 to complete three passing and three rushing touchdowns in the same game, but numerous errors – most notably an ill-advised timeout after a botched QB sneak – cost Buffalo the game. These are the things you wouldn’t expect from the Chiefs, who now hold a two-game lead over the No. 1 seed in the AFC.

Buffalo Bills coach Sean McDermott on the timeout called: pic.twitter.com/Dbj40yLW7M

— Katherine Fitzgerald (@kfitz134) December 9, 2024

📉 49ers (6-7). They looked like Super Bowl contenders against the Bears (4-9), allowing just four yards of offense in the first half and then winning 38-13. But wins for the Rams and Seahawks, as well as another injured running back (Isaac Guerendo had 128 yards and two touchdowns before exiting with a foot injury) dampen the mood. They only have three days to recover before a crucial game against the Rams on Thursday.

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What Dianna hears: Belichick decision coming soon

As you probably know by now, Bill Belichick has had several conversations with the University of North Carolina about the coaching vacancy. What you may not know: This isn’t just for show – Belichick’s interest in the college job is real. A source familiar with the six-time Super Bowl winning head coach’s thinking believes that if UNC offers the job, Belichick will take it. This decision could come as early as this week.

Why should Belichick go back to school? On the one hand, he was put off by the experiences of the last year in the coaching cycle and the lack of action he received. Whether in the pros or the ACC, Belichick wants to run a no-interference program, and when you look at expected openings in the NFL, there aren’t many organizations that fit that mold.

Back to you, Jacob.

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Bank Kirk Cousins? Is it time for Michael Penix Jr.?

Yes, the Falcons quarterback is struggling with eight interceptions and no touchdowns in four straight losses. But as beat reporter Josh Kendall explains, it’s wrong to blame Cousins ​​solely for his team’s woes: “The Falcons have a bad football problem.” Three big problems plague Atlanta:

• Pass defense. Their pressure rating (28.2 percent) is the second-worst rate in the league, they have the lowest rate in the league with 19 sacks and opposing quarterbacks complete a league-best 72 percent of passes.

• Sales. Two interceptions brought Cousins’ total to a league-high 15, while another fumble brought the turnover margin to minus-9, the fifth-worst mark in the NFL.

• Efficiency in the red zone. Despite nearly 500 yards of offense, they only scored 21 points. Blame it on the No. 26 offense in the red zone, which only converted two of five attempts.

Still, it’s clear that their $180 million quarterback is a significant part of the problem. Two examples of what Atlanta should do next:

Ted Nguyen 💬: Bank cousins. “He can’t move and turns the ball over – six interceptions in the last two games. There is no other place to go with him. The hope was that he could keep the Falcons competitive as they developed Michael Penix Jr. into the quarterback of the future, but their offense looked terrible.”

Dan Pompei 💬: Keep cousins. “It’s probably a stretch to think that a player who threw five passes in the NFL can get into a playoff race and lead his team to a point that a veteran like Cousins ​​can’t reach.” Cousins ​​​​Doesn’t play well, but he’s always been a powerful player who can get on your nerves at any time. His experience should be an asset in the final weeks of the season. The only way to promote Penix is ​​if the Falcons players believe he gives them a better chance to win.”

Which side are you on? Vote here.

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Tonight: Bengals at Cowboys

At 8:15 p.m. ET, the Bengals (4-8, 5.5-point favorites) face the Cowboys (5-7) in a game with playoff implications. Instead, we have to make do with the alternative Simpsons-themed show. The full preview can be found here.

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(Photo: Stephen Maturen / Getty Images)