Jameis Winston's experience reached unprecedented heights with the Cleveland Browns' loss to the Denver Broncos on Monday night. The Browns are not the typical 3-9 team that the Pittsburgh Steelers are already familiar with.
Should the first-place Steelers be on guard again in Week 14? Our writers Mike Sand, Zach Kiefer, and Jeff Howe answer this question. The AthleticA roundtable previewing the rest of the Week 14 slate.
We also think it's too late in the season for a team aiming to make the playoffs to throw a rookie quarterback into the fire. This has been a hot topic in Atlanta as the Falcons and Kirk Cousins (Vikings) continue to slump and their rival Tampa Bay Buccaneers (vs. Raiders) are on the rise.
See below for what else our writers are thinking about this week.
As Monday night showed, you never know what you'll get out of Jameis Winston's experience. Should Pittsburgh be wary of an upset Sunday against the Browns?
Kiefer: absolutely. First of all, they lost to the same Browns team in Week 12, but it's no secret across the league that Cleveland's offense is much more powerful with Winston under center than with Deshaun Watson. . Perhaps Winston's prayers to eliminate pick-sixes will work. Because, barring those devastating mistakes, he unlocked something in the Browns' passing game. First, let's look at how Jerry Jeudy is doing (he's 8th in the league in EPA per reception). Also, with Winston at QB, the Browns had their most productive three days offensively this season.
Howe: The Steelers would have to have short-term amnesia if they weren't on upset alert two weeks ago, when the Browns beat them in one of the most entertaining games of the season. The Browns are playing better offensively with the addition of Winston, just as Joe Flacco's departure in 2023 ignited the offense. I can see the Browns playing hard for their coach and quarterback. And they want nothing more than to sweep. Rivals during a losing season. The Browns may not be able to predict what they're going to get from Winston in each game, but the outcome is much more predictable, and they weren't as successful earlier this season when they could predict the outcome.
sand: Yes, because it's a divisional game and Pittsburgh has already lost to the Browns recently. The Mike Tomlin-era Steelers were 19-4 against the Browns when Cleveland entered the game with a losing record. Their record is 4 wins and 2 losses since 2019, and 0 wins and 1 loss this season.
The Jaguars will play the Titans without Trevor Lawrence, who suffered a concussion last week when he was hit by Texans linebacker Azeez Al Shaair while sliding. There is some debate as to whether Lawrence started his slide too late. Is there any merit to that idea? Can you imagine the league dealing with a “fake” QB slide in the future?
Kiefer: I won't buy anything like that. When Lawrence saw the defender approaching, he began sliding and gave up on the play. Al Shair leveled the quarterback with a forearm to the top of Lawrence's shoulder pads and neck. It was late. It was dirty. It was unnecessary. And it's not the first time this season that Scheil has been criticized for hitting QBs late. I think the league would step in if quarterbacks started faking slides to keep plays alive. But this was not the case.
Howe: Lawrence slid slower than critics would have liked to maximize his chances of getting a first down, but it doesn't openly invite defenders to drive lead elbows into the head area. Subsequent slides usually involve some degree of contact from the defense, and referees do a good job of determining which of those hits are accidental and which others rise to the level of a penalty. There is a tendency. Once the trend of quarterbacks making fake slides, like Pitt's Kenny Pickett, starts, the league absolutely has to put an end to it. The closest thing to this, at least from a regularity standpoint, would be the QB taking advantage of a few extra yards of space near the perimeter. But I don't see how that can be objectively enforced.
sand: The first coach I talked to about Lawrence's hitting was quick to point out that Lawrence might have been sliding late. There is some truth to this idea. With Texans GM Nick Caserio speaking out so forcefully in defense of Al Sha'air, it's becoming more likely that some in the NFL will seek clarification or change. But the league would rather its critics complain about too much quarterback protection than not enough quarterback protection, so it cited a more blatant example than the one involving Lawrence. The league will have to deal with “fake” slides.
The Bears and 49ers will play on Sunday. Who is the best choice to be the Bears' next head coach? What should be at the top of the 49ers' offseason to-do list? Should we miss the playoffs?
Kiefer: Could they get Ben Johnson? If Kevin Warren is right, and this is the best job in the NFL's impending hiring cycle, this franchise needs to do everything in its power to lure the Lions' offensive coordinator to Chicago. Nothing is more important than Caleb Williams' development, and despite the recent turmoil surrounding the organization, the rookie has shown enough promise this season that he can be a star in this league with the right coach. The old regime in Chicago will get this wrong. Maybe that's true this year.
As for the 49ers, despite what some experts say, I don't think they need a complete rebuild. Too talented. Brock Purdy is young. Christian McCaffrey will return next season. This year, he has been plagued by a series of ridiculous injuries, probably due to the effects of last year's disappointing loss in the Super Bowl. The roster needs some adjustments and some youth, but there are too many healthy pieces to go from there.
Howe: They should prioritize the stability of Williams' offense, so there should be concern for a defensive-minded coach who could lose an offensive coordinator every few years. If the Bears play well down the stretch, Thomas Brown deserves serious attention, and the Bears should also bring in Ben Johnson, Zach Robinson, and Liam Cohen for interviews. As for the Niners, there have been years of rival executives marveling at their top talent but wary of their depth, which is why they face these problems when their star falls. is. They're not giving their star players bad contracts, but the injury risk that comes with them is a headache. Same goes for the Trey Lance pick. Sure, they finally figured it out at quarterback, but they'd be in a much better position now if they could land the trio of first-round picks that would cost Lance the draft. It would be a logical time to move on from the veterans on the back nine and add depth through the draft.
even deeper
What are the chances of Thomas Brown staying? Would you trade with a coach? Bears Mailbag and Week 14 Picks
sand: How fun would it be for the Bears to run with Deion Sanders?I'm looking at other coaches in this division and thinking outside the box. Dan Campbell is a one-of-a-kind, extraordinary personality. Kevin O'Connell and Matt LaFleur are more traditional, and both are thriving. Coach Prime will immediately make the Bears relevant. And while most high-profile coaches would like to have more control over personnel and organization than Chicago wants, Sanders may not think so. He could bring in some veteran NFL coaches and shake up the division. Is anyone with you?
Is Colorado Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders a good fit for the Chicago Bears? (Ron Chenoy/Imagine Images)
The Bucks (vs. Raiders), Cardinals (vs. Seahawks), and Rams (vs. Bills) are all 6-6 and likely need wins in their respective divisions to make the playoffs. Which team do you have the most confidence in right now?
Kiefer: I like Tampa Bay's chances in the NFC South simply because the Falcons feel like cheaters. Atlanta has been very unstable this season, with Kirk Cousins in the worst slump of his career. Meanwhile, the Bucks will not play a team with a winning record for the remainder of the regular season.
Howe: If the Bucks put in the work, they should win four of their last five games and clinch the NFC South. It's difficult to break a winning streak like this, so defensive instability is a concern, but compared to the Seahawks and Cardinals, the schedule is the most accommodating. The NFC West is completely unpredictable and has been for most of the season. The only thing I can be sure of is that the Niners won't win this division. So you better get your championship t-shirt printed for them now.
sand: Tampa Bay is the same team for me. It's amazing to me that the Bucks lost to the Falcons twice, but they did, and that's why they're in this position. The Athleticmodel gives the Bucks a 54 percent chance of making the playoffs, compared to 35 percent for Arizona and 26 percent for the Rams. It feels right to me.
Our writers believe Baker Mayfield and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will finish first in the NFC South while the Atlanta Falcons struggle. (Elsa/Getty Images)
The Falcons are playing the Vikings on the road. It seems unwise to throw a rookie QB into the fire against a Brian Flores defense. But if the situation worsens, should the Falcons consider starting Michael Penix Jr. over Kirk Cousins at some point this season?
Kiefer: yes. If Cousins continues to struggle — his third interception against the Chargers on Sunday was one of the worst I've seen from a starting pitcher all year — the Falcons should give Penix a chance. need to be considered. Divisionalization is still within reach, and holding on to a starter who kills drives and hurts the team's game will reflect badly on the locker room. The players know. The players pay attention. They just want a player who will give them the best chance to win on Sunday. Penix played a lot of games during his college days. There's a good chance he steps in and ignites this attack.
Howe: I've heard Penix is actually stepping it up, so if they feel like moving on, a switch would be justified. I wouldn't start Penix against the Vikings under any circumstances, but the remaining games against the Raiders, Giants, Commanders and Panthers would be fascinating. But this decision is not made in isolation. If the Falcons acquire Penix while they're still in contention for a championship and he plays decent enough, I don't see how they can keep Cousins around until 2025. And it's reasonable to believe that Cousins will be even better next season if he fully heals from the tear. Achilles. But if the Falcons switch to Penix after they are no longer competitive and he plays well, even if it's just the final game of the regular season, Cousins will make a mistake to the fan base in 2025. There will be no room left. Here's a safer play: Stick with Cousins. But if the Falcons believe moving Penix will revitalize their locker room and accelerate his chances of starting in Week 1 next season, then such an aggressive move could be the right move. .
sand: If Cousins plays poorly or the team loses to Minnesota, the Falcons should face Penix in their final four games. After the game in Minnesota, Penix will have an extra day to prepare for a Week 15 trip to Las Vegas on Monday night. Atlanta then plays the Giants, Commanders, and Panthers. Gaining experience with Penix seems like a good idea without high expectations. There's also value in having Cousins in the offseason injury-free.
(Photo: Brooke Sutton/Getty Images)
