Crowe: The 2023 Season Week #14 - Mac Got ZAPPED
John Crowe, Sports Contributor
Crowe: The 2023 Season Week #14 - Mac Got ZAPPED
But let’s look at the big picture since for most weeks, it’s been negative in New England. With their third win and three Bailey Zappe touchdown passes, it’s clear we’ve seen the last of Mac Jones as the starter for the rest of the season. Zappe’s making his case for his future in Foxboro. His first-half energy, decisiveness, mobility, and most importantly, zero turnovers, are exactly what Bill Belichick was looking for. They even scored on their first drive for the first time all season.
Tight end Hunter Henry, an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season, celebrated his birthday by catching two of those Zappe (19-28, 240 yards) touchdowns. There’s clearly a connection there as the Pats racked up 21 points, eight more than the previous three games combined.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST“I think the win was the most important thing, said Henry after the game, according to the team’s website. “Gosh, feels good, man. It's been a hard stretch, a hard year. Not been what we've wanted at all, but this is a great step in the right direction.”
The defense continues to look top-notch, including a stop in the final two minutes to seal the victory. They held Pittsburgh to just 264 total yards of offense.
So, is this a one-game mirage compared to what we’ve seen over the previous 14 weeks, or a level of play New England is capable of maintaining? We’ll find out in week 15 as they welcome the defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs to town. After that, it’s at Denver, at Buffalo, and then home to the Jets to close out the regular season.
Remember, the Patriots still hold the #2 pick heading into play Sunday. A victory is nice, but getting more talent on this team is vital. Ultimately, this might be a win-win case for everyone in New England by getting some early answers for 2024 right now.
NFL Week 14 Power Rankings
10. Indianapolis Colts (7-5, Last week not ranked)
No Jonathan Taylor (thumb injury), no problem for Indy. All backup quarterback Gardner Minshew did was bring the Colts past the Titans in Nashville in overtime and now find themselves just one game behind the Jaguars in the crowded AFC South.
9. Houston Texans (7-5, Last week ranked not ranked)
The Texans have seen three games lost in the final seconds and were looking at a fourth Sunday against the Broncos until a Jimmie Ward interception in the end zone sealed their victory. Houston is ahead of schedule and could be a tough out in the AFC playoffs should they make it. They’ll have to do it without rookie wide receiver sensation who broke his fibula on a goal-line block.
8. Jacksonville Jaguars (8-4, Last week ranked 6th)
Monday night, things went from bad to worse for the Jaguars. Not only did they lose to the Bengals at home in overtime, they saw quarterback Trevor Lawrence suffer a high-ankle sprain that could see him miss some playing time. Jacksonville has a slime one-game lead over the Colts and the Texans as they face their final five games: at Browns, vs. Ravens, at Buccaneers, vs. Panthers, and at Titans
7. Kansas City Chiefs (8-4, Last week ranked 3rd)
The Chiefs are in unfamiliar territory looking up at two teams above them in the AFC while being tied with the Jaguars for third after KC lost to the Packers Sunday night. Buffalo comes into Arrowhead Stadium after a week 13 bye to make things even tougher on Patrick Mahomes and crew.
6. Detroit Lions (9-3, Last week ranked 8th)
The Lions have a firm grasp on the NFC North, but don’t look now, the Green Bay Packers are lurking after back-to-back upsets of the Lions and Chiefs. Detroit beat up the Saints before holding on in New Orleans in week 13.
5. Dallas Cowboys (9-3, Last week ranked 7th)
Will last week’s fourth-quarter rally over Seattle give the Cowboys confidence heading into this Sunday night’s huge home game with Philadelphia? First place in the NFC East is on the line, as is the top spot in the NFC playoff chase. Dallas has won 14 straight at home and is 4-0, winning every game by 30+ points since losing to Philly last month.
4. Miami Dolphins (9-3, Last week ranked 5th)
Ho hum. Tua to Tyreke twice on two long touchdown scores. Tagovailoa and Hill are cruising along, and the Dolphins have the luxury of having four of their last five games at home: vs. Titans, vs. Jets, vs. Cowboys, at Ravens, and vs. Bills. Hill is only 519 yards away from making history as the first player to amass 2,000 yards receiving.
3. Baltimore Ravens (9-3, Last week ranked 4th)
Baltimore had week 13 to rest up before welcoming the LA Rams to town this Sunday. The Ravens start the week tied with the Dolphins for first place in the AFC standings. Baltimore still has to face both Jacksonville and Miami as well as a Christmas Day game at San Francisco.
2. Philadelphia Eagles (10-2, Last week ranked 1st)
Suddenly, things aren’t that sunny in Philadelphia. After easing their way atop the NFC through 13 weeks, Philly got wrecked by the Niners in week 13 in a game that saw the quarterback get checked for a concussion. Now, it’s a trip to Dallas, where a second loss in two weeks could see them bounced out of first place in the NFC East.
1. San Francisco 49ers (9-3, Last week ranked 2nd)
San Francisco has taken down Dallas and Philadelphia, two of its top rivals in the NFC and neither game was really that close, especially the Niners' 42-19 victory in Philly in week 13. This week, the 49ers can seal their reign in the NFC West by sweeping Seattle for the second time in three weeks.
Five games to watch in week 14
Jaguars at Browns (Sunday 1 pm on CBS)
Colts at Bengals (Sunday 1 pm on CBS)
Seahawks at 49ers (Sunday 4:05 pm on FOX)
Bills at Chiefs (Sunday 4:25 pm on CBS)
Eagles at Cowboys (Sunday 8:20 pm on NBC)