Three Biggest Storylines after the Football Festivities in Week 13

After week 13, the only teams mathematically eliminated from playoff contentions are the New York Giants, Las Vegas Raiders, and New England Patriots. In an extraordinary competitive season, the NFC North race has emerged as one of the best divisions in league history. The Detroit Lions are 11-1 for the first time since 1995, and yet breathing down their necks are the Minnesota Vikings (10-2) and Green Bay Packers (9-3). In the AFC, the Kansas City Chiefs escaped with a 19-17 win after the Raiders had a wild snap on the final drive while marching toward a game-winning field goal. In the process, the Chiefs won its 14th consecutive one-score game, a new NFL record. On the other hand, Buffalo has been dominant in their victories, which include a 35-10 win over the San Francisco 49ers. Josh Allen impressed by becoming the first quarterback ever to rush, throw, and catch a touchdown pass in the same game. Do you want more? In this article, we will discuss the three biggest headlines after a wild Week 13.

1. Eagles’ statement win in the battle of the birds.

The biggest head-to-head matchup of the weekend featured a battle between Baltimore and Philadelphia. The headline heading into the matchup was a battle between Derrick Henry and Saquon Barkley, the two leading rushers in the league. Both rushers were relatively held in check, with Barkley ending with 107 yards speeding including a 25-yard touchdown with 7:56 remaining in the fourth quarter. Henry produced 82 yards on the ground and three catches for 29 yards through the air. However, the biggest contributor to an Eagles win was their defense. Philadelphia’s number-one-ranked defense proved they were a better unit against the best offense in the league. The Eagles limited Jackson to 237 yards, and two touchdowns but critically 2 of 5 in the red zone. It meant that the Eagles forced the Ravens to kick field goals. Ravens’ kicker Justin Tucker let his team down with a nightmarish performance, missing kicks of 47 and 53 yards while trailing 14-12. Baltimore will have to do some inflection about the efficiency of their offense in high-profile matchups as they prepare for the playoffs, and the performance of their Hall of Fame kicker will be a concern. The Eagles have won 8 consecutive games with a 2.5-game lead in the NFC East and show they are Super Bowl contenders.

2. The Seahawks storm from behind to grab the NFC West lead

Seattle is synonymous with a lot of rain and storms which compelled the WNBA team to have the moniker. We witnessed a storm from their NFL franchise in week 13. The New York Jets had a minuscule chance of making the playoffs entering week 13 if they won their last six games of the season. Things started well for the home team in the Big Apple with Aaron Rodgers throwing two first-half touchdowns to take a 14-0 lead. After a Seahawks touchdown, Jets’ kick returner Kene Nwangwu answered with a 99-yard kick return touchdown to grab a 21-7 lead. After, a Seahawks fumble, the Jets were in position to capitalize with another touchdown drive. However, former Jets defensive end, Leonard Williams had the momentum-turning play of the game by intercepting Aaron Rodgers and returning it 92 yards for a touchdown. The Jets did not score a single point after that play, and the Seahawks’ defense dominated the Jets. According to the NFL, Williams became the first player since 1982 with multiple sacks (two), an interception-return TD, and a blocked kick in a game. Williams’ interception return for a score was the longest in NFL history by a defensive lineman. It was also a good homecoming for Geno Smith, who was drafted by the Jets 11 years ago but ultimately gave up on the West Virginia product. After a Rams win and the Cardinals lost, the Seahawks now have a 1-game lead in the NFC West and two games over the 49ers.

3. The Bengals’ historically bad defense leads to a lost season.

Many critics felt the Pittsburgh Steelers were not real contenders because there are questions about the productivity of their offense. Russell Wilson sent a message to the league throwing for a season-high 414 yards and three touchdowns in a 44-38 win on Sunday over the Bengals. The Bengals’ defense wasted another impressive MVP-caliber performance from Joe Burrow, who completed 28 of 38 passes for 309 yards and three more touchdowns. The Bengals have allowed 36.4 points per game in seven games against teams currently in the playoff picture. The Bengals are 0-7 in those games, despite averaging 30.3 points. The defense has several key injuries, but there is no excuse for their paltry performances. It has cost the franchise a shot at the playoffs and Burrow’s chances of being in the MVP conversation. It remains to be seen how this team will be reshaped for another shot at contention in 2025.