Thu Nov 27 10:33am ET
Field Level Media
Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen understands the reality at hand.
Buffalo (7-4) faces a tough test against the host Pittsburgh Steelers (6-5) on Sunday afternoon. The game carries significant implications for both teams as they try to boost their playoff hopes.
Some players might deflect the importance of the matchup. Allen isn't one of them.
"Extremely high sense of urgency," Allen said with the Bills three back of the Patriots in the AFC East. "We understand where we're at. We have full confidence in ourselves, but ultimately it comes down to executing on game days."
Buffalo is coming off a 23-19 loss against the Houston Texans in a primetime Thursday night contest. It was the fourth loss in the past seven games for the Bills, who still have aspirations of competing for a championship but first must secure a postseason berth.
Allen has tried to do his part. The reigning NFL MVP has completed 69.7% of his passes for 2,709 yards, 18 touchdowns and nine interceptions in 11 starts, and he has posted a passer rating of 101.6.
Dealing with a right elbow injury that landed him on the injury report to begin the week, Allen was sacked eight times by the Texans. The 29-year-old signal-caller said he and the Bills have plenty of reasons to stay positive.
"We've had some good, had some bad, throughout the year," Allen said. "I think there'd be a lot of teams that are wishing that they were 7-4 in a spot that we are. So it's also about that opportunity in front of us of hey, let's go out, let's play as hard as we can, let's put our best foot forward and try to get a victory on Sunday. That's ultimately what it comes down to."
The Steelers will try to spoil Allen's hopes.
Pittsburgh has alternated wins and losses throughout the past four weeks. The Steelers beat the Cincinnati Bengals 34-12 on Nov. 16 but are coming off a 31-28 loss on the road against the Chicago Bears last week.
Aaron Rodgers will start at quarterback against the Bills, the team confirmed Friday. Rodgers sat out last week because of a wrist injury, and Mason Rudolph completed 24 of 31 passes for 171 yards with one touchdown and one interception in his absence.
"He was a full participant today with no designation for the game," Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said about Rodgers on Friday. "So, it's all systems go."
Rodgers has led the Steelers to victories in six of his 10 starts this season.
Jaylen Warren leads the Steelers with 604 rushing yards, and DK Metcalf is tops in the passing game with 573 receiving yards and five touchdowns on 42 catches.
James Cook has rushed for 1,084 yards and eight touchdowns for the Bills, and Khalil Shakir has caught 54 passes for 564 yards and three scores.
Wideout Brandin Cooks joined the Bills this week as a free-agent signing.
"Bringing a guy like him in, being a veteran presence for our room, he's come in here and he's already basically learned our playbook," Allen said. "The way that he carries himself, the way that he is in meetings, already it's very apparent that he is a true professional. ...
"We appreciate him coming here and, hopefully, helping us out."
Buffalo will be without several key starters Sunday. Left tackle Dion Dawkins (concussion), right tackle Spencer Brown (shoulder), linebacker Terrel Bernard (elbow) and receiver Curtis Samuel (elbow/knee) have been ruled out. Receiver Josh Palmer (ankle) and tight end Dalton Kinkaid (hamstring) are listed as questionable. Offensive lineman Tylan Grable, out with a concussion since August, was activated from injured reserve on Saturday.
For Pittsburgh, offensive tackle Broderick Jones (neck) and defensive tackle Derrick Harmon (knee) have been ruled out. The Steelers placed Jones, who was hurt against the Bears, on injured reserve on Saturday, with Andrus Peat expected to start in his place at left tackle. The team also elevated cornerback Asante Samuel Jr., who was signed on Nov. 12, from the practice squad for Sunday's game.
Value Picks: Week 13
Minnesota Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson led the team in receiving by catching all six targets for 59 yards in a 26-0 loss Sunday in Seattle. The veteran tight end was one of the very few bright spots for Minnesota, which turned over the ball five times and gained 162 total yards with undrafted rookie Max Brosmer starting at quarterback. Minnesota has now lost four straight games during which it has scored only 42 total points. The Vikings could see another change at quarterback if starter J.J. McCarthy (concussion) is deemed fit to play, but it's becoming increasingly difficult to trust anything about this offense ahead of a Week 14 game against Washington.
From RotoBaller
Las Vegas Raiders rookie wide receiver Dont'e Thornton Jr. (concussion) has been ruled out for the rest of Sunday's game against the Los Angeles Chargers. Thornton was forced to make an exit in the fourth quarter due to a head injury. The Raiders have ruled out Thornton for the rest of the game due to a possible concussion. Before exiting, Thornton hauled in one of his two targets for 11 yards. His absence should mean more snaps for Jack Bech and Alex Bachman down the final stretch of this game.
From RotoBaller
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Max Brosmer had a forgettable first NFL start, throwing four interceptions in a disastrous 26-0 loss at Seattle. The undrafted rookie on the road against one of the NFL's top defenses went as expected, as Brosmer finished 19-for-30 passing for 126 yards and threw an awful pick-six in the first half that gave Seattle a double-digit lead it held for the rest of the day. From a fantasy perspective, playing Brosmer was a huge risk that came up totally empty. Star receiver Justin Jefferson finished with two catches and four yards receiving, while the offense gained only 162 total yards. Whether Brosmer plays again will be determined by starter J.J. McCarthy (concussion), who would need to clear protocol to return for a Week 14 game against Washington.
From RotoBaller
Carolina Panthers running back Chuba Hubbard hasn't given fantasy managers much value outside of the first few weeks of the season. That changed this weekend as Hubbard posted a strong performance against the Los Angeles Rams. Hubbard took a screen pass for a 35-yard touchdown in the first quarter. The 26-year-old continued having success throughout the game as tied his season-high with 17 rushing attempts. Hubbard rushed for a season-high 83 yards on those 17 attempts, while hauling in two receptions for 41 yards and one score in the win. This was a nice performance from Hubbard, but he continues to split up the backfield duties with Rico Dowdle who saw 18 carries on Sunday. We'll see where Hubbard is placed on the depth chart after the team comes out of their bye week in Week 15.
From RotoBaller
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Jacoby Brissett posted another strong performance during Sunday's game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Brissett continues to look impressive under center with his third straight game with over 300 passing yards. The 32-year-old completed 29-of-40 passing attempts for 301 yards with two touchdowns and one interception in the loss. Brissett had a chance to take his team down the field for a game-tying score, but was unable to succeed. It seems highly unlikely that Kyler Murray (foot) is going to be back next week. Given his success, Brissett should be under center once again versus the Los Angeles Rams next weekend.
From RotoBaller
Playing alongside an undrafted rookie at quarterback, Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson caught just two of six targets for four yards in a 26-0 loss on Sunday at Seattle. Jefferson had negative receiving yardage until late in the fourth quarter as Minnesota looked woeful yet again, this time behind first-time starting quarterback Max Brosmer. The rookie tossed four interceptions, including one for a touchdown, as Minnesota gained only 162 total yards on the day. The Vikings have scored just 42 total points the past four weeks, making the prospect of starting any player on this offense -- even one as good as Jefferson -- a tough sell at the moment. Minnesota will return home to play Washington in Week 14.
From RotoBaller
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Davante Adams somehow was able to almost match his epic two-touchdown performance from last week. The 32-year-old continued his dominance by hauling in a four-yard touchdown in the first quarter. It didn't take him long as he scored his second touchdown of the game with a seven-yard score in the second quarter. This is now back-to-back two-touchdown games for Adams, who leads the league with 14 touchdowns this season. He finished this game with four receptions for 58 yards and two scores in the loss to the Carolina Panthers. Adams will look to extend his six-game touchdown streak against the Arizona Cardinals in Week 14.
From RotoBaller
Minnesota Vikings running back Aaron Jones Sr. (shoulder) is currently listed as questionable to return to Sunday's game against the Seattle Seahawks. Jones landed awkwardly on his shoulder during a three-yard catch in the third quarter. This is not good news, considering Jones was on the injury report with a shoulder issue. Given the box score, Jones is unlikely to return with this game being a blowout. Jordan Mason would see increased chances if Jones is unable to play. If he doesn't return, Jones will finish with six rushing attempts for three yards, while hauling in four passes for 22 additional yards through the air.
From RotoBaller
New York Jets quarterback Tyrod Taylor made his second straight start versus the Atlanta Falcons in Week 13. Taylor was held in check during the first half with less than 40 passing yards at half. The 36-year-old was able to turn it around in the second half, which included a 52-yard touchdown to Adonai Mitchell. Taylor led his team down the field and scored a game-tying touchdown with under a minute remaining. After that, Taylor was able to get the Jets offense in position for a field goal to win the game. He completed 19-of-33 passing attempts for 172 yards with one touchdown. Taylor also rushed the ball eight times for 44 yards and an additional touchdown on the ground. Given his success, Taylor figures to remain the starter for next week's matchup against the Miami Dolphins.
From RotoBaller
Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Jakobi Meyers continued his recent success with another solid performance during Sunday's game against the Tennessee Titans. It was unclear if Meyers' role in the offense could be reduced with Brian Thomas Jr. back in the mix this weekend. Clearly not, Meyers hauled in all six of his targets for 90 yards and scored a touchdown in the win. Over the last three games, Meyers has finished with 50 receiving yards or more and scored two touchdowns. He'll remain fantasy relevant for next week's matchup against the Indianapolis Colts.
From RotoBaller
Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence did a much better job of securing the football during Sunday's game against the Tennessee Titans. Last week, Lawrence threw three interceptions in what ended up being a win over the Arizona Cardinals. Lawrence avoided the same mistakes this weekend as he completed 16-of-27 passing attempts for 229 yards with three touchdowns and zero interceptions in the win. This marked the first time since Week 7 that Lawrence has gotten through a game without an interception. He has five touchdowns over his last two games and will look to keep the good times rolling in a tough divisional matchup against the Indianapolis Colts next week.
From RotoBaller
New York Jets wide receiver Adonai Mitchell posted the best game of his young career in Week 13 against the Atlanta Falcons, totaling eight receptions for 102 yards and a touchdown on 12 targets. The second-year wideout recorded a career high in targets, receptions, and yards, and scored his first career touchdown in his third game with the Jets since being acquired at this year's trade deadline. The 2024 second-rounder has flashed the ability and upside at times in his young career, but was buried behind multiple good players in Indianapolis and had some frustrating moments, which ultimately led to him being traded away. The 23-year-old broke out on Sunday against the Falcons and looks like a strong addition to a Jets offense that desperately needs playmakers alongside star wideout Garrett Wilson, who is on injured reserve with a knee injury. Mitchell will be a hot waiver add this week, and he has the upside to be an impactful player down the stretch.
From RotoBaller
Houston Texans WR Christian Kirk was not targeted in a Week 13 win over the Indianapolis Colts.
Fantasy Spin: It's been a down season for Kirk, who has played in just eight games due to injury and hasn't been able to find a connection with either Houston quarterback.
From TheHuddle
Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young led his team to a big upset win over the Los Angeles Rams in Week 13, completing 15 of 20 passes for 206 yards and three touchdowns to go with five carries for 23 yards. Young bounced back after a disappointing game last Monday night against the San Francisco 49ers, consistently showing up in the biggest moments of the game. His first touchdown came on a swing pass to Chuba Hubbard on third down that Hubbard turned into a 35-yard score, while both of his other touchdowns came on pivotal fourth downs on beautiful throws. The Panthers leaned into the run more with 35 total running back carries after just nine last week in San Francisco to help put Young in more favorable situations. The third-year signal caller hasn't been consistent game to game, but he's delivered in some big spots and helped lead the Panthers to a massive upset win over arguably the best team in football in the Rams. Young and the Panthers will ride this momentum into their Week 14 bye before three big divisional games in the final four weeks.
From RotoBaller
Houston Texans RB Nick Chubb ran nine times for 34 yards and a touchdown in a Week 13 win over the Indianapolis Colts.
Fantasy Spin: Chubb, who scored on a 4-yard run in the second quarter, continues to lose carries to Woody Marks each week. The 34 yards was his fewest sine 16 at Seattle on Oct. 20. He's only worth rostering as a deep back-up in case of multiple injuries.
From TheHuddle
Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson went off on Sunday against the New York Jets despite the 27-24 loss, recording 23 carries for 142 yards and a touchdown along with five receptions (seven targets) for 51 yards as a receiver. Robinson was excellent once again and was the engine of Atlanta's offense in this game, accounting for 191 of 389 total yards of offense for the Falcons. It marks the second-most total yards in a game this season for the superstar running back, only trailing his 238-yard performance back in Week 6 against the Buffalo Bills. The 23-year-old is one of the best receiving backs in football and has six games this season with at least five receptions, with Sunday being his first since Week 9 against the Patriots. Robinson remains one of the top running backs in fantasy, but faces a tough matchup in Week 14 against the Seattle Seahawks.
From RotoBaller
Cleveland Browns TE David Njoku caught two passes for four yards against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 13. He was targeted two times during the game.
Fantasy Spin: Njoku has become smaller part of the passing game as the season has gone on and has only 11 receiving yards in the last three games. He can be avoided in fantasy leagues unless Harold Fannin Jr. suffers an injury at some point.
From TheHuddle
New Orleans Saints TE/QB Taysom Hill had just a single 2-yard rush and a 5-yard reception on his lone target in Week 13 against the Miami Dolphins.
From TheHuddle
Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell referred to tight end Brock Wright's injury as a "trachea" and said that it could be a long-term issue, according to Dave Birkett of Detroit Free Press. Campbell said that the team is still sending out scans for other opinions, but it's not good news for the 27-year-old tight end. Wright suffered what was initially described as a neck injury during Detroit's Week 12 overtime win over the New York Giants and missed their Week 13 game against the Green Bay Packers on Thanksgiving. Wright hasn't been a big receiving threat with just 14 receptions (22 targets) for 108 yards and two touchdowns this season, but he was the team's top tight end after Sam LaPorta (back) was placed on Injured Reserve. Ross Dwelley and Anthony Firsker are next up on the depth chart for Detroit's options at tight end moving forward.
From RotoBaller
Indianapolis Colts LB Zaire Franklin made 13 tackles - five solo - in a Week 13 loss to the Houston Texans.
From TheHuddle