Because the NFL heads into the ultimate stretch of the season, many gamers, coaches and executives are going through monumental stress.
Forward of Week 14, Yardbarker NFL writers establish these within the NFC who’ve probably the most at stake on every staff.
NFC East
DALLAS COWBOYS (5-7) | Proprietor Jerry Jones |
Per Forbes.com, the Cowboys are by far probably the most invaluable franchise within the NFL, however the staff’s play hasn’t finished a lot for its recognition. According to wfaa.com, tickets for the Thanksgiving recreation at AT&T Stadium went from $58 to $63 for upper-deck seats. Jalen Williams of the Detroit Free Press studies followers paid $243 for standing-room tickets to observe the Lions play at house on Thanksgiving, which should irk Jones, whose staff is 1-5 at house this season.
NEW YORK GIANTS (2-10) | GM Joe Schoen | The Giants are 17-28-1 since Schoen took over because the GM in 2022 and will end this season 2-15. Schoen let 2024 MVP candidate Saquon Barkley signal with Philadelphia to pay quarterback Daniel Jones (at the moment on Minnesota’s observe squad). That occasion performed out on HBO’s “Hard Knocks,” a transfer that might value him his job.
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (10-2) | RB Saquon Barkley | With a league-leading 1,499 dashing yards, a median of 124.9 yards per recreation, the previous Large is on pace to interrupt Eric Dickerson’s season dashing file of two,105 yards. With the second-best odds to win MVP, per ESPN Wager, Barkley has all the pieces to play for as Philadelphia appears to take the highest seed within the NFC playoffs from Detroit.
WASHINGTON COMMANDERS (8-5) | QB Jayden Daniels | With 1,135 yards passing, 300 yards dashing and 4 wins in his first 5 video games, Daniels appeared an apparent option to win Offensive Rookie of the Yr. However three wins, 9 landing passes and 1,112 yards passing from Broncos quarterback Bo Nix over his previous 5 video games have tightened that race. Per BetMGM, Daniels is the favourite, however Nix isn’t far behind, and in contrast to the Denver rookie, Daniels nonetheless should face Philadelphia’s top-ranked protection in Week 16. — Bruce Ewing
NFC West
ARIZONA CARDINALS (6-6) | Defensive again Budda Baker | Baker is the spine of the protection and one of many staff’s greatest leaders. He has a team-leading 114 tackles, two sacks, eight tackles for loss and three passes defensed. He’s additionally in a contract yr and trying to money in after this season. If he continues his nice season and helps the Cardinals make a shocking playoff look, he ought to money in with Arizona or one other staff.
LOS ANGELES RAMS (6-6) | WR Cooper Kupp | Kupp was the topic of commerce rumors main as much as the commerce deadline, however the Rams opted to maintain the veteran extensive receiver to make a run within the wide-open NFC West. Accidents and declining manufacturing over the previous few seasons may jeopardize his roster spot (whether or not by commerce or launch) after this season, as his impression (58 catches, 565 yards) continues to dwindle.
SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (5-7) | QB Brock Purdy | Purdy just isn’t enjoying for his job or a spot on the roster however for a brand new contract. He should present he’s a franchise quarterback worthy of the NFL’s subsequent big-money deal. Up to now this season, his manufacturing is underwhelming (2,707 yards passing, 13 TD passes and eight interceptions), maybe anticipated given the injury-plagued Niners.
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (7-5) | QB Geno Smith | Smith has yet another yr remaining on his contract with the Seahawks, so the staff may transfer on from him after this season and launch him ($38 million in useless salary-cap house if it did) for an opportunity to improve on the place. Smith has been wildly inconsistent this season, combating turnovers (12 interceptions) regardless of Seattle’s spot atop the division. — Adam Gretz
NFC North
CHICAGO BEARS (4-8) | Interim HC Thomas Brown | Following the firing of head coach Matt Eberflus, Brown was promoted from his function as offensive coordinator and has an opportunity to show he deserves to stay head coach. He’ll face powerful matchups throughout his five-game tenure — at San Francisco 49ers (5-7), at Minnesota Vikings (10-2), vs. Detroit Lions (11-1), vs. Seattle Seahawks (7-5) and at Inexperienced Bay Packers (9-3) — however ought to the Bears have a successful file over that stretch, Brown may hold the gig.
DETROIT LIONS (11-1) | Head coach Dan Campbell | There’s little question Campbell is likely one of the league’s greatest head coaches since turning into Detroit HC in 2021. Nonetheless, he has but to earn a Coach of the Yr award, which he may lock up if Detroit finishes 14-3 or higher.
GREEN BAY PACKERS (9-3) | DE Lukas Van Ness | A primary-round choose in 2023, Van Ness has solely been on the sector for 50% or extra of Inexperienced Bay’s defensive snaps in a recreation twice this season, per Next Gen Stats. Van Ness, 23, has simply three sacks, and the staff’s endurance for him to develop right into a starting-caliber pass-rusher is dwindling.
MINNESOTA VIKINGS (10-2) | QB Sam Darnold | It’s no secret that Darnold’s beginning function shall be in critical jeopardy this offseason, with the Vikings lately signing former New York Giants QB Daniel Jones and 2024 first-round choose QB J.J. McCarthy coming back from a season-ending harm. If Darnold stumbles over the ultimate stretch and fails to carry out within the playoffs, he seemingly received’t be re-signed by the Vikings. (Per ESPN.com, the Vikings have a 99 p.c probability of constructing the postseason.) — Josh Eaton
NFC South
ATLANTA FALCONS (6-6) | GM Terry Fontenot | Fontenot, in his fourth season as Falcons GM, is chargeable for the signing of QB Kirk Cousins, which hasn’t labored out nice, and Atlanta’s choice to draft 4 consecutive offensive gamers with top-10 draft picks. Atlanta is nineteenth in scoring offense (21.4 PPG) and tied with the Buccaneers for the division lead, making the Falcons’ subsequent 5 video games essential to Fontenot’s survival.
CAROLINA PANTHERS (3-9) | Defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero | Per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, Evero was a candidate for Carolina’s head-coaching job throughout the 2024 offseason as effectively for HC openings in Atlanta and Seattle. However with Carolina sporting the league’s worst protection (30.5 points allowed per game) this season, Evero could go from a scorching commodity to the recent seat in lower than a yr.
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (4-8) | QB Derek Carr | The Saints added Carr in 2023 underneath the misguided notion that he may return the franchise to the postseason for the primary time since 2020. New Orleans will owe Carr $30 million in 2025 if he’s on the roster on the third day of the league yr (h/t Spotrac), which may immediate the entrance workplace to chop ties midway via Carr’s four-year deal.
TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (6-6) | Head coach Todd Bowles |
Per ESPN’s NFL Football Power Index, the Bucs have the league’s third-easiest remaining schedule, with 4 video games in opposition to groups at the moment with shedding data, making them the favourite to win the NFC South. If Bowles falls wanting expectations and Tampa Bay misses the playoffs, the entrance workplace could be inclined to make a change. — Eric Smithling
