NFL winners losers Saturday Bengals make big move Vikings Steelers stumble

Backup QBs lead teams to victory in rare Saturday tripleheader; Bengals, Lions, Colts win, AFC playoff picture shifts, big injuries.

The rare Saturday NFL tripleheader featured a number of quarterbacks who aren't necessarily big names, but the stakes were high for the teams involved. The Cincinnati Bengals, Detroit Lions, and Indianapolis Colts emerged as the obvious winners, but there were several other prominent beneficiaries beyond those three clubs. Backup quarterbacks played a significant role in the games, with players like Jake Browning and Gardner Minshew II making significant contributions to their teams' playoff pushes. Jared Goff also had a standout performance, throwing five touchdown passes for the Lions.

The Buffalo Bills, AFC playoff hopefuls, also had a successful outing, increasing their odds of making it to the postseason despite an uneven start to the season. Premier pass rushers like T.J. Watt, Danielle Hunter, and Trey Hendrickson also had big games, contributing to their teams' victories.

On the flip side, several teams and players faced setbacks. The Pittsburgh Steelers and Denver Broncos both suffered convincing losses, causing them to fall in the AFC standings. Injuries also took a toll on players like Ja'Marr Chase, Michael Pittman, and Zack Moss, affecting their teams' performances.

The games, which were broadcast on NFL Network and its streaming offshoot, NFL+, likely attracted a wide audience, with many viewers tuning in to watch the action. Overall, the Saturday NFL tripleheader had far-reaching implications for the teams involved, setting the stage for an exciting conclusion to the 2023 regular season.