NFL Week 13 Takeaways: Defence steps up as Broncos dodge upset vs. Commanders

Week 13 has been outlined by upsets, so it was solely becoming that Sunday’s slate ought to very almost finish with one other. And had it not been for the outstretched arms of Nik Bonitto because the linebacker blocked Commanders quarterback Marcus Mariota’s cross on a two-point try that might’ve earned Washington the unlikeliest of time beyond regulation victories, we might be speaking about one more upset on Sunday night time. 

Instead, we’re speaking a few ninth straight win for the never-say-die Broncos, a staff that’s gifted sufficient to be simply the second squad this season to hit double-digit wins, but has a behavior of ready till the final potential second to assert nearly each single certainly one of them. 

Sunday night time’s 27-26 time beyond regulation victory in opposition to the Commanders actually examined the bounds of that. It was their first journey to time beyond regulation this season, and contemplating how they preserve elevating the stakes, it most likely gained’t be their final. The Broncos have now gained 9 straight video games, and of their 10 whole wins this season, eight have come right down to one-score video games.

Sunday night time introduced the slugfest few anticipated from a matchup between two golf equipment in such drastically totally different positions within the standings. But it was a enjoyable and becoming approach to shut out a wild Week 13. 

Here’s a group of our prime takeaways from Sunday’s matchups.

Bills run throughout Steelers to maintain tempo in wild-card race

The Buffalo Bills arrived in Pittsburgh with out two beginning tackles, with out two prime offensive weapons, and with out a lot momentum to shut out a really up-and-down month of November. None of that mattered in opposition to the Steelers on Sunday, although, as a result of James Cook got here to play. On a windy night time that known as for speeding performs early and sometimes, Buffalo’s essential 26-7 victory had Cook’s fingerprints — or reasonably, his footprints — throughout it. Cook ran for 144 yards on 32 carries in a monster outing that additionally noticed him lead his teammates in receiving, with a trio of catches for 33 yards. 

Cook’s efforts, mixed with robust speeding outings for Ray Davis (9 carries for 62 yards) and Josh Allen (eight carries for 38 yards and a landing), noticed the Bills put up season-high speeding numbers — and historic ones, too — in Pittsburgh.

Allen made some particular person historical past, too, his speeding TD marking the 76^th of his profession and surpassing Cam Newton’s report for such scores by a QB. 

The Bills’ victory couldn’t have come at a greater time. Their eighth win of the season has them sitting simply contained in the playoff image because the seventh seed to shut out Week 13 and the month of November. And the best way through which they gained provides them lots to construct on on the good time, contemplating fellow AFC hopefuls just like the Chargers, Jaguars, and Texans all gained on Sunday, too. As the climate will get colder and the playoff race heats up, an identification as a run-heavy membership will serve them nicely down the stretch. 

While the Bills’ victory went a good distance in solidifying their identification, the Steelers’ loss threw their very own into query. Pittsburgh had no solutions on both aspect of the ball Sunday in opposition to Buffalo — a jarring sight for the house squad that has a long-standing custom of strong defence and speeding assaults.

The Steelers’ sluggish run sport had the Bills’ porous run defence resembling a brick wall. Their staunch pass-rush, boasting among the greatest within the league at pressuring opposing QBs, seemed mild-mannered in opposition to a Bills’ O-line that includes a pair of backups. 

At 6-6 on the season, Pittsburgh fell out of the highest spot within the AFC North with Sunday’s loss, but hasn’t misplaced a lot floor within the race for what stays a really winnable division. But they do look misplaced, and that’s what’s so troubling about this staff.

This is a franchise that appears and sounds prefer it’s in want of a contemporary begin at a number of positions. How they proceed down the stretch will inform us so much about whether or not the gamers agree. It’s changing into more and more clear that one other season at or above .500 gained’t minimize it. 

Rams miss alternative on the prime, Panthers seem prepared for a playoff push

The soccer world simply spent every week speaking up Matthew Stafford’s MVP case and the Los Angeles Rams’ standing because the consensus prime staff within the NFL. 

So, naturally, they only misplaced to the Carolina Panthers. Not solely did the Panthers prime the Rams 31-28, however they did so with some statement-making, streak-ending performs: After throwing simply two interceptions all season thus far, Stafford gave up two within the first quarter to the Panthers. The timing of the primary one was really sort of humorous — proper after Stafford set a brand new report for consecutive landing passes with out an interception (28), he threw his first choose of the sport. 

L.A. might’ve created a bit of house for itself atop the NFC, following Philadelphia’s loss to Chicago on Black Friday. Instead, they continue to be simply barely forward of their NFC West neighbours in a pressure-packed, grid-locked division. (The Seahawks’ blanking of Minnesota and the 49ers’ win over Cleveland means all three have 9 wins.)

But let’s speak about Carolina. Because what the Panthers did was fairly outstanding, on either side of the ball. Defensively, Carolina was relentless with their pressuring of Stafford, and got here up enormous late with a strip-sack by Derrick Brown — who was additionally pivotal in Stafford’s first interception earlier within the sport — to ice the victory as an alternative of permitting a Rams subject objective try that might’ve tied the sport.   

Offensively, Bryce Young seemed unflappable as he led the Panthers downfield drive after drive. The speeding duo of Chuba Hubbard and Rico Dowdle collaborated to make the NFL’s prime run defence look beatable. It was a whole staff effort that has the Panthers on the point of rivalry. (Had the Tampa Bay Buccaneers not bounced again from their three-game skid with a win over Arizona, we’d be an NFC South with the Panthers on the prime.)

In a season that has loads of surprises — um, have you ever seen the Bears sitting atop the NFC?! — the Panthers’ surge is one more nice story to observe down the stretch. After beating one of the best, they appear able to contending.

Seahawks’ defence places up particular efficiency

“Special” appears like an understatement after we’re speaking a few unit that simply posted a shutout, full with 4 sacks and 4 interceptions and simply 162 whole yards of offence allowed. (If you’re a fantasy soccer GM who simply occurred to match up in opposition to an opponent with Seattle’s D of their lineup, you is perhaps reaching for different phrases proper now.)

In a sport that featured Sam Darnold dealing with his former staff as the largest headline at kickoff, it was Seattle’s defence that instructed the story of this 26-0 win. Sure, Minnesota’s offence wasn’t precisely arrange for fulfillment contemplating undrafted rookie Max Brosmer was on the helm in his NFL debut. But as we enter the stretch run of a season that’s seen the Seahawks’ offensive output at instances overshadow its wonderful defence, video games like this actually focus the microscope on each. 

The NFC West crown goes to come back right down to the wire, and at this charge, the Seahawks seem prepared for a run. 

AFC South race picks up its tempo

What do you get whenever you mix back-to-back losses for the Indianapolis Colts, three straight wins for the Jacksonville Jaguars, and a four-game win streak for a Houston Texans staff celebrating the return of their QB1?

You get a red-hot playoff race within the AFC South that guarantees a dramatic December. The Jaguars cruised to a 25-3 victory over the Titans to leap into the division lead, taking full benefit of the Colts’ Week 13 loss to Houston, which got here on the heels of final week’s loss to Kansas City. While the Texans stay on the surface wanting in, even after taking down Indy with one other defensive masterclass on Sunday, they could simply be probably the most harmful staff of the bunch proper now, contemplating the return of C.J. Stroud following almost a month in concussion protocol. That Houston stayed afloat with out him is a testomony to only how dominant their defence is. 

As pivotal as Week 13 was for this divisional race, subsequent weekend raises the stakes even increased. Jacksonville can do itself an enormous favour with a win over Indy subsequent Sunday, whereas the Texans tackle the Chiefs in what’s a must-win for each AFC wild-card golf equipment. 

December goes to be enjoyable.