Week 13 was a reminder that life changes in the NFL quickly. The weekend started with the Dallas Cowboys winning a shoot-out in Texas against the Seattle Seahawks 41-35. At the start of the season, the Cowboys’ defense was the backbone of their success, but in this game, they need Dak and the offense to continue his recent elite playmaking to bring them over the line. Is the defense suddenly suspect against good teams with the Eagles, Bills, Dolphins, and Lions on the horizon? A month ago, all four AFC North teams were threatening to take the playoff spots, but after Week 13, the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cleveland Browns both have struggling offenses and excellent defenses now cracking under pressure to restrict the opposition. The Cincinnati Bengals kept their season alive with an important win against the Jaguars and remain in the thick of the wild card race after losing star quarterback Joe Burrow. It means the Ravens are the only lock at this point to make the playoffs. Yes, the league is wild and unpredictable, and with a month left, who knows what will happen next on the rollercoaster? In this article, we discuss the three biggest questions after a fascinating week 13 of the NFL season.
1. Are the 49ers the best team in the NFL?
The obvious answer to this question is Yes! I believe the 49ers had the most talented roster heading into the season, and they are proving it now. The team went through a dark period between Oct 15 and 29 when they lost three consecutive games that brought criticism and condemnation of their title credentials. However, critics overlooked the absence of Trent Williams and Deebo Samuels during that period. Those two players were the key to the demolition of the Philadelphia Eagles. Deebo was the best player on the field, with seven touches in the running and passing game for 138 yards and three touchdowns to clinch the victory. Trent Williams was a monster on the left side of the offensive line, and Christian McCaffery noticeably ran in his direction in providing big holes to dissect the Eagles’ defense. After regrouping in the bye week, this team has destroyed four playoff-contending teams including the Jaguars, Seahawks, Buccaneers, and Eagles, outscoring them 134-49. It’s impressive because three of the games were on the road and in some of the most hostile stadiums in the league.
2. Are the Eagles and Chiefs in danger of losing the number one seed?
The Eagles and Chiefs met two weeks ago, and for many, it foreshadowed another Super Bowl rematch. The Chiefs lost the game because their wide receivers dropped passes at crucial moments. After erasing a 14-0 deficit by outscoring the Raiders 31-3, it felt like the offense was back on track. However, in week 13, the Chiefs continued to look sloppy on offense in a loss to the Green Bay Packers. Patrick Mahomes and the Wide Receivers appear to be struggling to synchronize their timing and rhythm in the passing game. Defenses continue to force Mahomes to look for players other than Travis Kelce by doubling teaming the Tight End. Sunday’s loss will sting because it drops them behind the Ravens, Jaguars, and Dolphins in the race for the top seed. The schedule still favors the Chiefs because after facing a tough Bills team, they will close the season facing the Patriots, Raiders, Bengals, and Chargers, but the offense has to play better.
The Eagles, on the other hand, still hold a slender 1-game lead in the conference even after their disastrous loss. Philadelphia fans could point to fatigue after playing one of the most difficult stretches in the league after facing the Dolphins, Cowboys, Chiefs, and Bills in 4 of the past five weeks. However, what will concern the Eagles is how they lost the game. After forcing the 49ers to 2 three and out possession, the defense gave up six straight touchdown drives. The 49ers imposed themselves physically, and the defense seemed worn out in the second half. The loss puts into context the importance of next week’s matchup in Dallas because a loss would mean a tie for the division lead. Also, a loss would place their number-one seed status in jeopardy since the 49ers have the head-to-head advantage. If they can somehow win, they face a difficult trip to Seattle, but then should beat the Giants twice and the Cardinals. Yes, Sunday was a tough pill to swallow, but there is hope for this team to achieve their goal if they win next week.
3. Who is leading the race for MVP?
In line with the theme of this article, life changes quickly in the MVP race. At one point this season, Brock Purdy and Dak Prescott were struggling but their recent play has catapulted them to co-favorites in a tie with Jalen Hurts. However, I don’t think any quarterback this season has elevated themselves above the field vying for the award. Also, there has been some clamoring for defensive players like Myles Garrett and T.J. Watt to win the award. Statistically, Garrett has 13 sacks, while Watt has 14 sacks and a pick-six interception this season and are the backbone for the success of their teams. The counterargument for their candidacy is that their teams look like they will struggle to make the playoffs due to poor offenses, which negates their ability to influence wins. Therefore, after week 13, my MVP is Dolphins’ star Wide Receiver-Tyreek Hill. Hill has grabbed 93 catches for 1,481 yards, and 12 touchdowns. It means he leads the league in receiving yards by nearly 300 yards over CeeDee Lamb, second behind Keenan Allen in catches, and third in touchdowns behind Christian McCaffrey. After 12 games, Tyreek is on pace to tally nearly 2,100 yards which would make him the first Wide Receiver to pass two thousand yards, although he has the advantage of a 17-game season. The Dolphins will likely win the AFC East, possibly home-field advantage, and if Tyreek hits that yardage mark, he should win. It would make him the first Wide Receiver to win the award and the first non-quarterback since Adrian Peterson in 2012.