Week 14 of the NFL season delivered high drama, stunning comebacks, and pivotal injuries that could reshape the playoff picture. The action was headlined by the Buffalo Bills mounting a miraculous fourth-quarter rally and the Pittsburgh Steelers grabbing a controversial victory to take control of their division.
Bills Stage Unforgettable Snowy Comeback
In one of the games of the season, the Buffalo Bills (9-4) produced a breathtaking turnaround to defeat the Cincinnati Bengals (4-9) 39-34. Trailing by 10 points in the final quarter, the Bills' offence and defence exploded into life during a snowy afternoon in Buffalo.
Quarterback Josh Allen was instrumental, throwing for three touchdowns and rushing for another. His 40-yard touchdown run set a new franchise record for the longest rushing score by a Bills quarterback. However, the game truly flipped on two consecutive defensive plays. Cornerback Christian Benford and defensive end AJ Epenesa intercepted Bengals QB Joe Burrow on back-to-back snaps. Benford returned his pick 63 yards for the go-ahead touchdown.
This defensive masterclass fuelled an incredible sequence where Buffalo scored three touchdowns in just 4 minutes and 20 seconds late in the fourth quarter, snatching victory from the jaws of defeat.
Steelers Benefit from Controversial Replay in AFC North Battle
The race for the AFC North took a dramatic turn as the Pittsburgh Steelers (7-6) moved into sole possession of first place with a 27-22 win over the Baltimore Ravens (6-7). The game ended in high controversy with a pivotal replay review.
With 2:43 remaining, Ravens tight end Isaiah Likely appeared to catch a Lamar Jackson pass in the end zone for a touchdown. The play was initially ruled a score, but upon review, officials determined the ball was knocked loose by Steelers cornerback Joey Porter Jr. before Likely could complete the catch process, overturning it to an incomplete pass. Baltimore subsequently turned the ball over on downs, sealing the win for Pittsburgh.
Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers delivered perhaps his best performance since joining the team, throwing for 284 yards and a touchdown and adding another score on the ground.
Other Key Results and Major Injury Blow
The Jacksonville Jaguars (9-4) strengthened their grip on the AFC South with a commanding 36-19 victory over the Indianapolis Colts (8-5). The win was overshadowed by a severe injury for the Colts, who lost starting quarterback Daniel Jones to an achilles injury late in the first quarter. Rookie backup Riley Leonard struggled to consistently finish drives in his place.
In a significant NFC South upset, the lowly New Orleans Saints (3-10), who were 8.5-point underdogs, defeated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-6) 24-20. The loss dropped the four-time defending division champions into a first-place tie with the Carolina Panthers.
Elsewhere, the Seattle Seahawks (10-3) demolished the Atlanta Falcons (4-9) 37-9, officially eliminating Atlanta from playoff contention. The Tennessee Titans (2-11) snapped a seven-game skid by beating the Cleveland Browns 31-29, while the Minnesota Vikings shut out the Washington Commanders 31-0. In the AFC East, the Miami Dolphins (6-7) continued their dominance over the New York Jets (3-10), with quarterback Tua Tagovailoa improving to a perfect 7-0 as a starter against them.
