Now that we are in Week 14 of the NFL season, every game has some type of impact on the playoff picture.
All of the division titles are still up for grabs, as well as every playoff spot but one (Philadelphia Eagles clinched).
So this is the point in the season where teams should be playing their best ball.
Unfortunately for a few contenders, that was not the case on Sunday.
Here are two NFL contenders that had crushing losses in Week 14.
1. Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings entered Sunday with the second-best record in football, and a chance to clinch the NFC North.
Facing a Detroit Lions team that entered the game winning four of their last five, the Vikings were dominated.
Minnesota was unable to do anything on the ground in the game.
Running back Dalvin Cook rushed for only 23 yards and the Vikings averaged 1.3 yards per carry as a team.
Plus, the Minnesota defense has been abysmal over the past few weeks.
The Minnesota Vikings have allowed 464 total yards today vs the Detroit Lions
This is the 5th straight game the Vikings Defense have allowed at least 400 yards in a game, their longest streak in Franchise History pic.twitter.com/lVRhNGzjqs
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) December 11, 2022
Detroit looked like the better team, and there was a reason they entered the game as favorites despite having only five wins.
Lions quarterback Jared Goff threw the ball very well.
As he found nine different receivers with passes in this game.
For a Vikings team that was trying to keep pace with the Eagles for the number one seed, this was a major setback.
2. Tennessee Titans
Another team leading their division with a setback on Sunday was the Tennessee Titans.
The four-win Jacksonville Jaguars went into Tennessee and exposed the Titans on both sides of the ball.
Jags quarterback Trevor Lawrence had one of his best games of the season.
He threw for 368 yards and three touchdowns with zero turnovers.
The Jags are HANDLING the Titans in Tennessee. Trevor to Engram again! 😅
(🎥: @NFL)pic.twitter.com/XmYkzEQGs3
— theScore (@theScore) December 11, 2022
The Jaguars kept their slim playoff hopes alive with this win.
They now only sit two games behind the Titans for the division lead with four games to play.
Looking at the Titans’ play the last few weeks, it shouldn’t shock anyone if they blow the division lead.
Tennessee has lost three in a row and still has a few tough matchups on the mend (@Chargers, vs Cowboys).
But the season might come down to the Week 18 matchup when the Jaguars and Titans meet in the season finale.
