SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Another NFL week is over. The San Francisco 49ers (10-3) have clinched a playoff spot in the NFC. The Baltimore Ravens (10-3) lead the AFC North and have the top spot in the AFC playoff picture followed by the Miami Dolphins (9-4) and the Kansas City Chiefs (8-5).
Led by four playoff contenders in the ultra-tough AFC North, the AFC has 11 teams with a winning record through 14 weeks. That's the most ever at this point of the season, topping the previous mark of 10 last reached by the AFC in 2021.
The NFC is on the other side of the equation thanks in part to the lackluster South division, which is in danger of going a second straight season without a winning team. In all, 11 of the 16 teams in the NFC have losing records, topping the previous high entering Week 15 of nine last done by the NFC in 2020.
Here's how some of the Sacramento-area standouts did during Week 14:
- Brandon Aiyuk, 49ers WR (Sierra College): 6 receptions for 126 yards
- Arik Armstead, 49ers DE (Pleasant Grove HS): no tackles vs Seahawks but his defense kept Seattle to 16 points
- DaRon Bland, Cowboys RB (Modesto Central Catholic): 5 tackles vs Eagles
- Jake Browning, Bengals QB (Folsom HS): 275 yards passing, 2 passing TD, 1 interception, 1 rushing TD vs Colts
- Brandin Cooks, Cowboys WR (Lincoln HS, Stockton): 2 receptions for 37 yards vs Eagles
- Carl Granderson, Saints DE (Grant Union HS): 1 sack, 4 tackles vs Panthers
- Nathaniel Hackett, Jets OC (UC Davis): 347 yards of total offense vs Texans
- Taron Johnson, Bills CB (Sheldon HS): 6 tackles, 5 solo, 1 pass deflection vs Chiefs
- Shane Steichen, Colts HC (Oak Ridge HS): Lost to Bengals, 34-14
- Ahkello Witherspoon, Rams CB (Christian Brothers HS): 1 interception, 4 tackles vs Ravens
GET MORE FOOTBALL FROM LOCKED ON NFL: We look at if the Dallas Cowboys are the true best team in the NFC, if there is trouble brewing with the Kansas City Chiefs, and what to make of the NFC South after the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ Week 14 win. We talk with Landon McCool of Locked On Cowboys, Chris Clark of Locked On Chiefs, and James Yarcho of Locked On Buccaneers.'