NFL 2021: Five Key Statistics for Week 14

There are four teams that have won at least four games in a row. Two of them – the New England Patriots (7) and Miami Dolphins (5) – aren’t playing this week. Also off are the Indianapolis Colts and Philadelphia Eagles. And starting next week, there will be a full slate of 16 games for the remainder of the regular-season schedule. The AFC playoff picture remains tight, while three teams in the NFC can clinch postseason invitations in Week 14.

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It’s the final week for teams and their midseason vacations. And with 14 games this week, the NFL schedule has a bit of an unusual twist. There are seven games between divisional rivals. And the other seven contests are all of the interconference variety. Six of the latter are a second go-around from games earlier this year (teams are 9-1 in divisional rematches in 2021). And the AFC owns a slim two-game lead (32-30-1) in the interconference standings.

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The Cleveland Browns were off last week. They own a 6-6 record after 12 outings. They have also dropped their last six consecutive meetings with rival Baltimore, including a 16-10 Sunday night setback to John Harbaugh’s club the last time they took the field (Week 12). Now they play their second straight game vs. the Ravens and look to snap out of their offensive funk. The Browns have scored 17 or fewer points in six of their last seven outings.

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Ron Rivera’s club has won its last four games after a 2-6 start. Washington owns a 6-6 record and hosts the first-place Cowboys this Sunday. It’s the first of five straight games for the club to close out 2021. Washington’s only divisional contest this season to date was a 30-29 Thursday night win over the Giants. After this week’s clash with the Cowboys, the team travels to Philadelphia, heads to Dallas, hosts the Eagles and faces the Giants on the road.

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The Arizona Cardinals could also wrap up a playoff berth this week in numerous way. The team hasn’t been to the postseason since 2015 – the last time they won the NFC West. Kliff Kingsbury’s club has already swept the 49ers this season and beaten both the Rams (who they host Monday night) and Seahawks on the road. The Cards own a 4-0 divisional mark in ’21 – one more win over the NFC West rivals than the previous two years combined (3-9).

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The well-rested Green Bay Packers host the Chicago Bears on Sunday night looking to continue their dominance of not only this series but the NFC North as well. A loss by the Vikings on Thursday night combined with a Packers’ victory over the Bears on Sunday night at Lambeau Field will give the franchise a third straight divisional title. Green Bay has won the last five meetings in this storied series and can sweep Chicago for the third straight year.