Tue Dec 2 6:37pm ET
Field Level Media
There is a playoff atmosphere around Detroit as the Lions prepare to play the Dallas Cowboys at Ford Field on Thursday night.
It's a mixture of excitement and doom surrounding the second consecutive weekday game for teams on the periphery of the NFL playoff picture when kickoff time arrives.
"You can't worry about the other teams that are out there, the other teams that are in front of you or what it looks like in the NFC. Just can't," Lions coach Dan Campbell said. "And it doesn't matter. And shoot you win out, you might not get in. You don't know. Maybe it only takes 11 (wins) to get in. I don't know. But I know this: we've got to win this one."
Must-win is the scenario for Dallas, too, even after three straight wins to get to 6-5-1. The Cowboys beat the Chiefs on Thanksgiving Day, following up wins over the Philadelphia Eagles and Las Vegas Raiders.
"It's a lot of good momentum, but it don't mean nothing if we don't go out and handle business," said defensive lineman Kenny Clark of the Cowboys' second-half push. "We gotta wash all that away, what we did. It's week-to-week, and we got to just keep on proving ourselves, and getting ourselves out of the hole."
Detroit (7-5) is in this predicament after losing three of its last five, including a key 31-24 home defeat to NFC North rival Green Bay on Thanksgiving Day. One factor working in the Lions' favor is that they haven't suffered back-to-back defeats since October 2022.
The status of top wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown may not be determined until pre-game warmups. Brown suffered an ankle sprain during the first quarter against the Packers when an offensive lineman rolled up on his leg. Brown has a team-leading 75 receptions, 884 yards and nine touchdowns this season.
"I know this, if he can play, he'll play," Campbell said.
Considering the Cowboys' explosive passing attack, Brown's availability could be crucial. Packers quarterback Jordan Love threw four touchdown passes against Detroit's banged-up secondary. Making things worse for the Lions is that cornerback Terrion Arnold was placed on injured reserve and ballhawking safety Kerby Joseph (knee) remains sidelined.
"We need all three units to step up for us and play big," Campbell said. "They're hot right now, they're playing really good football, they've got a lot of confidence."
Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott is on a proverbial heater, throwing eight touchdown passes and averaging 314 passing yards during the team's current three-game winning streak. The pick your poison combination of receivers CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens is presenting major headaches for defensive coordinators.
They combined for 13 receptions, 200 yards and a touchdown in Dallas' 31-28 Thanksgiving Day win over Kansas City. And no team is giving quarterbacks more time to throw than the Lions (2.99 seconds), according to Next Gen Stats.
Defensive end Aidan Hutchinson has been double- and triple-teamed of late, leaving Detroit defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard to mix up his pass-rush plans.
"When your name is called, if you draw a one-on-one, you have to win in this league if you want to be around," Sheppard said. "And it's just simple as that."
In the past two games, opposing quarterbacks have seven touchdown passes and 600 total passing yards.
"I don't think we've affected the quarterback to play any style," Sheppard said.
The Lions embarrassed the Cowboys, 47-9, on Dallas' home field last season, adding another element to Thursday's contest. Lamb had 13 receptions for 227 yards and a touchdown against the Lions in 2023.
"We got the better of them and they got the best end of us last year, and that was not a pretty game," Prescott said of the recent rivalry. "I'm definitely looking forward to just getting back out there, going to Detroit, having the group that we have and having to communicate in such a tough environment. But understanding we got to play physical. It's going to be a four-quarter fight."
With some upgrades at the trade deadline, the Cowboys defense has also shown improvement during the streak. Dallas still has plenty of work to do to stay in the postseason race, but sees only one team -- the Los Angeles Chargers (8-4) -- with a winning record the rest of the regular season.
"It's going to be physical, it's going to be long, it's going to be hard," Lamb said. "It's a playoff game essentially. You've got the atmosphere, we're playing away, I don't think it gets any better especially with everyone in the whole world understanding the situation as far as us all wanting to be in the playoffs. It's going to be fun. It's going to be a good one."
Starting offensive tackles Taylor Decker and Penei Sewell, who are dealing with shoulder injuries, were among the Lions who didn't practice on Tuesday. Offensive tackle Tyler Guyton (ankle) and defensive end Jadeveon Clowney (hamstring) missed the Cowboys' practice on Tuesday. Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer said Clowney's gameday status will come down to whether he can fully stretch out without discomfort in pregame Thursday. He had two sacks against Kansas City.
Dallas is 3-4-1 in conference games and the Lions are 4-4, making Thursday even more important because of the tiebreaker rules. A head-to-head tiebreaker could become a factor in determining wild-card entries in the NFC. Dallas already lost to the Panthers (7-6) and Bears (9-3), while Detroit beat the Buccaneers (7-5) and lost to the Eagles and split two games against Green Bay.
The Lions have alternated wins and losses since Week 5. Detroit still has regular-season games against Chicago and the Los Angeles Rams (9-3), the teams currently vying for the top seed in the NFC.
Starts, Sits, Sleepers: Week 14
Green Bay Packers wide receiver Jayden Reed (shoulder, foot) is listed as questionable for Sunday's divisional matchup against the Chicago Bears, according to the team's official website. Reed was a limited participant every day in practice for the second consecutive week, and it's still unclear if the 25-year-old wideout will be able to return from Injured Reserve on Sunday. The 2023 second-rounder suffered a fractured collarbone in Week 2 versus the Washington Commanders while also dealing with a Jones fracture in his foot that he entered the season managing. Upon returning, Reed will deal with plenty of target competition with Romeo Doubs and Christian Watson both having strong seasons, and he'll likely be on a pitch count in his first game back. He should be viewed as a touchdown-dependent, low-end WR3/flex in the Packers' passing attack if he is able to return in Week 14.
From RotoBaller
Cincinnati Bengals edge rusher Trey Hendrickson (hip, pelvis) has officially been ruled out for Sunday's matchup against the Buffalo Bills, according to the team's official website. The Bengals' best defensive player hasn't played since suffering a hip injury during Cincinnati's Week 8 loss to the New York Jets. Cincinnati's defense has been the worst in the NFL this season, allowing a league-high 31.2 points and 410 total yards per game. The 31-year-old Hendrickson was productive during the seven games he played, totaling four sacks and eight QB hits. He'll look to get back on the field for a big Week 15 game against the division-rival Baltimore Ravens as the Bengals look to make a late-season push in a weak AFC North. However, the possibility looms that Hendrickson will have season-ending surgery. The Bengals need another win this weekend in Buffalo to convince Hendrickson to postpone surgery until the offseason.
From RotoBaller
Washington Commanders linebacker Bobby Wagner (knee) is officially listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Minnesota Vikings, according to Nicki Jhabvala of The Athletic. Head coach Dan Quinn spoke favorably about the veteran's chances to suit up in Week 14. "Coming back from an injury, there's literally nobody tougher... He's definitely built differently, so I'm encouraged for him," Quinn said. Wagner returned to practice on Friday in a limited capacity after missing Wednesday and Thursday, but Quinn seems optimistic that he won't need to miss any additional time. The 35-year-old hasn't been as effective this season and has gotten picked on in coverage at times, but he is still solid defending the run and leads the team by a wide margin with 115 tackles in 12 games this season.
From RotoBaller
Green Bay Packers kicker Brandon McManus has been a hit-or-miss fantasy option this season, but he'll look to put his best foot forward as the Packers host the Chicago Bears in a Week 14 divisional showdown. McManus has made all of his kicks in the past two weeks, booting home all four field goal attempts and kicking all six of his extra points successfully. However, he's been just a fringe option for fantasy managers, finishing as a top-10 kicker in two of his nine games this season. The Packers should get plenty of opportunities to score, but the weather for their game looks to be very cold, with flurries also in the forecast. McManus is a low-end fantasy play this week against Chicago.
From RotoBaller
Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs (knee) is off the injury report following a full practice session on Friday, and he'll be good to go for the Packers' Week 14 matchup with the Chicago Bears. Jacobs has been an awesome fantasy option this season, but last week was one of his least-productive fantasy outings with just 10.1 fantasy points. Week 13 marks just the second game in which Jacobs played the full game and didn't get in the end zone. That's how seemingly automatic Jacobs has been this season, and as the engine of the Packers' offense, Jacobs should be in a good position to do well against a middle-of-the-road Bears' run defense. Jacobs is a locked-in RB1 fantasy option in Week 14.
From RotoBaller
Green Bay Packers wide receiver Romeo Doubs has been in a bit of a funk in terms of fantasy production over the last few weeks, but he'll look to get back on track in the Packers' Week 14 showdown with the Chicago Bears. Doubs had an excellent stretch of fantasy viability with three games among the top-25 wide receivers from Week 4 to Week 9. From Week 10 on, Doubs has disappointed fantasy managers with lackluster production. Doubs has averaged just 6.8 fantasy points per game in the four-game stretch starting in Week 10, and is averaging just three receptions for 25 yards per game. He's also taken a backseat to not just the running game, but also Christian Watson, who has exceeded Doubs' production in recent weeks. Against the Chicago Bears in Week 14, Doubs is still a low-end flex option, but one that's much harder to trust than in the middle of the season.
From RotoBaller
Indianapolis Colts cornerback Sauce Gardner (calf) has officially been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, according to Kevin Bowen of 107.5 The Fan. Gardner did not practice this week after suffering a calf injury in the Colts' Week 13 loss to the Houston Texans. Head coach Shane Steichen said earlier this week that the star cornerback was going to "miss some time," but he is expected to avoid being placed on Injured Reserve. It's unfortunate news for the Colts after acquiring Gardner for two future first-round picks and wide receiver Adonai Mitchell at the trade deadline, but he at least seems to have avoided a season-ending injury. Indy's secondary will be a little more vulnerable this weekend in a battle for first place in the AFC South versus the Jags.
From RotoBaller
Green Bay Packers wide receiver Christian Watson has been far and away the best Packers' pass-catcher for the last few weeks and will look to put forth another strong effort in Week 14's divisional showdown against the Chicago Bears. Watson has been fantasy's WR10 since Week 11, with 16.3 fantasy points per game. Additionally, he's seen first-read target percentages above 30% in each of the last three weeks, leading the team all three weeks. Watson has an excellent matchup this week against the Bears, as they've allowed the 10th-most fantasy points to opposing wide receivers. Combining the solid matchup with Watson's recent utilization, he's a solid fantasy WR2 option this week against the Bears.
From RotoBaller
Green Bay Packers wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks (ankle) is off the injury report with three limited practices and looks to keep his run going after his best game of the season in Week 13 as the Packers host the Chicago Bears. Wicks is fresh off his Thanksgiving game against the Detroit Lions, where he was the overall WR3 for fantasy, notching 94 yards on six receptions while bringing in two touchdowns. While Wicks has been on the field much more in recent weeks, with at least 69% routes per dropback in the past three weeks, he's a bit behind in the pecking order for Green Bay's offensive production. Those in deep fantasy leagues may find Wicks useful as a flex option in the Packers' Week 14 game against Chicago, but typical 12-team formats may have more consistent fantasy options than Wicks this week.
From RotoBaller
Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson (Achilles) has been ruled out for Week 14's game against the Tennessee Titans, Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN reports. The Browns opened up Watson's 21-day practice window earlier this week, but the 30-year-old signal-caller is not expected to play this year. Watson tore his Achilles tendon in Week 7 last season and then underwent surgery shortly after to repair it. He subsequently re-ruptured his Achilles during his recovery and was forced to undergo a second surgery on Jan. 9. Watson is expected to remain on Cleveland's roster next season unless the Browns want to take on a dead salary of over $80 million in 2026, and no team would be willing to trade for him at this point. Rookie Shedeur Sanders will start at quarterback again for the Browns in Week 14 against the Titans and has a chance to remain the starter for the rest of the season if he plays well enough.
From RotoBaller
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Tutu Atwell (hamstring) will not be activated off Injured Reserve for Sunday's game against the Arizona Cardinals, according to Nate Atkinsof The Athletic. The 26-year-old wideout has been sidelined since suffering a hamstring injury during the Rams' Week 7 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars in London. The Rams opened Atwell's 21-day practice window last week, and while he's been a full participant for every practice, his return will wait at least another week. Teammates Jordan Whittington, Xavier Smith, and Konata Mumpfield will continue to split reps behind the Rams' star wide receiver duo of Davante Adams and Puka Nacua. Atwell's next chance to return to the field will be for a Week 15 showdown against the Detroit Lions in L.A.
From RotoBaller
Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love is coming off one of his better games of the season in Week 13 and looks to continue that momentum when the Packers host the Bears in a divisional showdown in Week 14. Love was QB2 overall last week in the Packers' win over the Lions, throwing for 234 yards and four touchdowns. Even with Chicago returning Jaylon Johnson and Kyler Gordon to their secondary, it's a secondary that can be thrown on. Add the weapons that the Packers may get back with Jayden Reed and Matthew Golden, who are both questionable for Week 14, and the Packers have a wealth of options for Love to throw to. Consider Love a fringe QB1 fantasy option when the Packers host the Bears in Week 14.
From RotoBaller
Cleveland Browns tight end David Njoku (knee) has been cleared from the injury report and is good to go for Sunday's matchup against the Tennessee Titans, according to Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN. Njoku was listed as a limited participant on Wednesday and Thursday but will play in Week 14 despite managing a knee injury. The 29-year-old tight end hasn't had much production in recent weeks, recording just five receptions (six targets) for 32 yards and one touchdown over the past four games. The veteran has played behind impressive rookie Harold Fannin Jr. and isn't a trustworthy fantasy option with his current role in the Browns' low-scoring offense. Fantasy managers are better off looking elsewhere for a potential streaming option in Week 14.
From RotoBaller
Los Angeles Chargers rookie running back Omarion Hampton (ankle) practiced without a non-contact jersey on Friday, a positive sign for his chances to play on Monday night against the Philadelphia Eagles, Kris Rihm of ESPN reports. Hampton said on Thursday that he feels great and is ready to get back on the field, but the decision is ultimately up to the doctors. The rookie first-rounder has been sidelined since Week 5 when he suffered a fractured ankle, and it's a great sign to see the rookie first-rounder shed the non-contact jersey in practice. Hampton is trending toward being activated off Injured Reserve and playing in Week 14 against the visiting Philadelphia Eagles, though he's likely to operate in a timeshare with Kimani Vidal in his first game back. He projects as RB3/FLEX option if he is active on Monday night.
From RotoBaller
Running back Jordan Mason of the Minnesota Vikings enters a Week 14 game with some lineup appeal as an RB3/flex candidate with the Washington Commanders coming to U.S. Bank Stadium. The Vikings have struggled immensely in recent weeks, but could see a reprieve in the form of a lowly ranked Commanders defense. Through 13 weeks, Washington is allowing scoring drives on nearly 49% of opposing possessions -- the worst rate in the NFL -- and ranks 29th overall against half-PPR running backs. That could line up well for Mason, who may see more work if Aaron Jones Sr. (shoulder) sees any issues with his lingering injury, though it bears mentioning that Jones does not carry an injury designation despite leaving last week's loss at Seattle. Minnesota will see the return of starting quarterback J.J. McCarthy (concussion) and likely will lean on the running game to aid the struggling passing attack. Relying on any Viking at the moment comes with risk, but the setting is good enough to consider playing Mason in Week 14.
From RotoBaller
Running back Aaron Jones Sr. (shoulder) of the Minnesota Vikings does not have an injury designation when the Vikings play host to the Washington Commanders in Week 14, but he should be considered a risky flex option for fantasy lineups. The veteran has drawn more playing time than backfield mate Jordan Mason, but departed last week's loss at Seattle and did not return after re-aggravating his previous AC joint ailment that also knocked him out of Week 9's game at Detroit. The Vikings surely will want to lean on the running game against a Commanders defense that ranks 29th against half-PPR running backs to help their floundering passing offense, which could present opportunities for both backs. While the matchup is excellent, managers will have to consider that the shoulder is a lingering issue Jones will have to deal with, and the Vikings haven't exactly inspired much confidence in recent weeks.
From RotoBaller
Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy (concussion) is back in the lineup and facing one of the NFL's worst defenses in the Washington Commanders, but should be considered a volatile QB2 option for fantasy lineups. The second-year quarterback picked up two huge NFC North road wins earlier this season, but has once again missed significant time due to injuries and mostly struggled when available. McCarthy has 10 interceptions and a 54.1% completion percentage in his six starts, though Washington's defense has had its own issues. The Commanders have allowed scoring drives at the highest rate in the NFL and rank in the bottom five against fantasy quarterbacks, and McCarthy has shown flashes of mobility with 120 rushing yards and a pair of touchdowns on 23 carries. Managers approaching the fantasy playoffs in Superflex formats will have to evaluate McCarthy against their other options, but there is some hope that a talented Minnesota offense can finally turn a corner against a bad defense at home.
From RotoBaller
After the Minnesota Vikings' offensive struggles reached a new low in Week 13, wide receiver Jalen Nailor should be considered a high-risk option when the Vikings play host to the Washington Commanders in Week 14. The Commanders' defense has been hugely ineffective this season, and it enters this week having allowed the highest percentage of scoring drives in the league. In the past month, however, Minnesota has been even worse. The offense's turnover rate has ballooned to over 17% of their possessions, and they've scored 42 points in their past 16 quarters. Nailor had a career-best day with quarterback J.J. McCarthy in Week 10, but caught just one pass on three targets combined during the next three games. The matchup this week is great, but starting Nailor should be considered a desperation play, given his low volume in what has been a bad offense.
From RotoBaller
The Minnesota Vikings will take on the struggling defense of the Washington Commanders in Week 14, which brings both potential and risk for wide receiver Jordan Addison. Washington is allowing opposing offenses to score on nearly 49% of possessions, which is the worst mark in the league, but the Vikings have been the most hapless offense in the NFL over the past month. Minnesota scored 42 points in its past four games, including the franchise's first shutout loss in 18 years last week at Seattle. Despite playing more than 90% of the team's offensive snaps in every one of those four games, Addison has just 10 total catches to show for it. Addison is a talented receiver with a great matchup, but the Vikings have been so awful on offense recently that even their best players have disappointed in fantasy lineups. The setting is good enough this week to consider Addison for a flex spot, but he's a wild card due to Minnesota's volatility.
From RotoBaller
Fantasy managers who roster Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson ahead of the Week 14 game against Washington will be asking themselves what will happen when a very movable object meets an even more stoppable force. The Commanders' defense ranks a lowly 28th against half-PPR receivers, but calling the Vikings "inept" recently doesn't even begin to describe it. Minnesota is now turning over the ball on more than 17% of its possessions, scoring on fewer than one-third of them, and is coming off the franchise's first shutout defeat in 18 years last week at Seattle. Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy (concussion) is slated to return after Max Brosmer's four-interception debacle last week, which could slightly help the superstar receiver, who is on track for career-low rates of catches, yards, and touchdowns. The Vikings have been so volatile that Jefferson should be considered a WR2, but he ultimately remains an All-Pro receiver facing a bad defense this week, giving some hope for a bounce-back game.
From RotoBaller