Gaffney's 2025 NFL Week 14 Team of the Week

Week 14 will ultimately be remembered as the week where it all fell apart for the Colts, thanks to a horrifically timed Achilles injury for Daniel Jones, the Chiefs, thanks to Travis Kelce being washed and inept, and the Ealges on a week where they brough in a positivity rabbit into the locker room, but there were a ton of other big stories throughout the league this week as well; ranging from a career day from Shedeur Sanders, to the Rams offense going nuclear in Arizona to avenge their loss a week prior in Carolina, to even Josh Allen turning into Superman in the snow. Here were my top performers of Week 14 with that in mind.

Gaffney's 2025 NFL Week 14 Team of the Week (First-Team)

Offense: Josh Allen (QB, BUF), Alaric Jackson (OL, LAR), Blake Corum (RB, LAR), Puka Nacua (Pass Catcher, LAR)

With their chances of staying in the AFC East fight hanging in the balance, the Buffalo Bills absolutely needed Josh Allen at his best vs. the Bengals, who've been a major thorn in their side the last several years, and boy did they get it. He put up weekly highs among QBs in passer rating, EPA, EPA per play, and only trailed Joe Burrow, who he beat head-to-head, for touchdowns. As good as he was down the stretch vs. Baltimore back in Week 1, this was his signature win of the year, and he had the moment to back it up with a 40-yard rushing score.

Out west in State Farm Stadium, the Arizona Cardinals were unfortunately caught in the middle of a rampage, if you will [crowd boos LOUDLY off-screen]. Both Blake Corum and Kyren Williams combined for 212 yards on the ground (Corum with 128 of those, plus two scores), and Puka Nacua had one of his best outings of the year with 167 yards and a pair of scores himself, but the offensive line of the Rams was on one. Left tackle Alaric Jackson was big in springing a number of big runs and was picture-perfect in pass pro. Total team win on that side of the ball for Sean McVay's squad.

Defense: Jeffrey Simmons (IDL, TEN), Al-Quadin Muhammad (EDGE, DET), Jack Campbell (LB, DET), Jalen Pitre (DB, HOU)

Titans all-world IDL Jeffrey Simmons has been spectacular just about all season, and that was especially true in Cleveland on Sunday. His 11 pressures led all defenders league-wide outright, and also picked up a sack and a half, plus a couple of TFLs on an afternoon where the Titans allowed next to nothing on the ground. Still a few weeks to go, but I'd like to think Simmons has a pretty good case to make First-Team All-Pro for the first time in his career.

In an offensive shootout, like we had last Thursday in Detroit, you're always going to need a few key plays from some impact defenders, and two guys who answered the bell for the Lions were pass rush specialist Al-Quadin Muhammad and linebacker Jack Campbell. More than just a few plays, Muhammad racked up a week-high three sacks, two of which came in the fourth quarter, and Campbell, as usual, was absolutely all over the place defensively. His forced fumble on Jake Ferguson was a huge get in the second quarter that directly led to a four-play touchdown drive, and he was inches shy of picking up a sack for a safety as well, on a night with 12 tackles total. Detroit is going to need those two guys, especially so, moving forward now that they'll be without Brian Branch the rest of the way.

There's something pure and beautiful about watching a defensive back playing with violence in their soul, and there haven't been many better examples of that this year than Jalen Pitre running Rashee Rice straight off the train tracks.

Not only this, but Pitre's tip to himself for an interception was as interesting a play as I've seen all year, and his advanced coverage metrics have stood out over these last three weeks. This was his third straight game with a coverage EPA of at least -2.7, a CROE of at least -13, and his 18.1 passer rating allowed is his lowest of the year. Another guy who may be getting some All-Pro love down the line.

Rookies: Shedeur Sanders (QB, CLE) and Nick Emmanwori (SAF, SEA)

I don't think anyone is going to go back five years from now and say this was an all-time performance, but Shedeur Sanders certainly had his best game as a starter so far against the Titans. Loved that he didn't bail out of the pocket when he had a rushing lane to his right, and things were beginning to break down on the left side on the Jerry Jeudy touchdown, but there was also this throw where he delivers a rainbow to Harold Fannin in a collapsing pocket that caught my eye.

No fault of Sanders that the Browns ended up losing here, but I'm glad they're at least giving him a real shot, and he showed some nice poise on Sunday. Believe it or not, he was one of the better performers against the blitz this week as well, going 6-for-10, 94 yards, and two scores.

Elsewhere, big shoutout to Nick Emmanwori of Gaffney Scouting Fame, who racked up a field goal block (his second of the year), a sack, and a half dozen tackles in the Seahawks' rout of the Atlanta Falcons. Ever since Seattle's loss to Tampa back in Week 5, he's become a notably bigger part of their defense, and Mike McDonald can and has absolutely been able to use him for anything he wants. Freakish athlete who was dealing with a high ankle sprain earlier in the year, too, for the record.

Gaffney's 2025 NFL Week 14 Team of the Week (First-Team)

Offense: Matt Stafford (QB, LAR), Warren McClendon (OL, LAR), Jahmyr Gibbs (RB, DET), DK Metcalf (Pass Catcher, PIT)

Defense: Zach Sieler (IDL, MIA), Nik Bonitto (EDGE, DEN), Devin White (LB, LV), Christian Benford (DB, BUF)

Rookies: Harold Fannin (TE, CLE) and Carson Schwesinger (LB, CLE)

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