2025 NFL Week 13 Winners and Losers and Top Takeaways

This year's Thanksgiving Day NFL schedule was one of the best we've ever had.

During Friday's action, the Philadelphia Eagles might as well have stayed home and enjoyed some reheated leftovers, because they didn't show up against the Chicago Bears.

Sunday's slate was primed for the favorites to return to power, but saw the mighty Los Angeles Rams upset. In the process, the No. 1 seed in the NFC is now in the hands of one of the most surprising teams of the entire season.

Following days of exciting finishes and unexpected results, Week 13 ended with a Monday night blowout.

Bleacher Report's team of NFL analysts—Brad Gagnon, Brent Sobleski, Gary Davenport, Kris Knox and Moe Moton—spent Week 13 tracking all of the action to highlight each contest's biggest takeaways, as well as the latest winners and losers.

New York Giants vs. New England Patriots

AP Photo/Charles Krupa

Patriots QB Drake Maye

Score: Patriots 33, Giants 15

Patriots Takeaway: New England Isn't Going to Give Away the No. 1 Seed

If another team hopes to supplant the New England Patriots as the No. 1 seed in the AFC, it's going to have to hope for help from one of New England's remaining opponents.

The Patriots are too well-coached, too talented, and too driven to slip up and beat themselves over their final four games.

Monday night's contest had all the makings of a potential trap game. It was in prime time against a New York Giants team with nothing to lose, a week after losing starting left tackle Will Campbell, a week before New England's bye, and two weeks before a rivalry matchup with the Buffalo Bills.

The Patriots came out and dominated in all three phases, looking like a team that won't overlook anyone the rest of the way.

Winner: QB Drake Maye, New England Patriots

Drake Maye didn't have to do much after halftime, but he still finished with a solid 282-yard, two-touchdown performance. He made things look easy, and while he did it against a bad Giants team, he also did it a day after Matthew Stafford laid an egg against the Carolina Panthers.

Stafford and Maye have been jockeying for position in the MVP race. The past two days have probably moved Maye into the pole position for the final month.

Giants Takeaway: The End of the Season Can't Get Here Quickly Enough

The Giants were eliminated from playoff contention before Week 13, and they have little to play for over the final five weeks of the season. Getting rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart some experience will be the top goal, obviously, but New York also needs to get Dart to next season healthy.

Dart, who missed two games with a concussion, returned to face the Patriots. He made it through the game healthy, but the Giants weren't so fortunate. Running back Tyron Tracy Jr. suffered a leg injury and was taken to the locker room on a cart.

The Giants have already lost Malik Nabers and Kam Skattebo for the season, which has significantly impacted Dart's supporting cast. New York should be eager to turn the page to 2026, get its young stars healthy, find a new head coach, and hope that the reset brings better results.

Loser: Head Coach Mike Kafka, New York Giants

To be fair, the Giants were clearly overmatched in this game. Still, New York never really made things feel competitive, and one could argue that they never really tried.

Down 27-7 just before halftime, interim coach Mike Kafka opted to punt on 4th-and-1 from the New York 40-yard line. New England, of course, put another field goal on the board before intermission.

It was a strange decision by a team with nothing at stake, and it should cement Kafka's status as a non-candidate for the permanent coaching job.

Denver Broncos vs. Washington Commanders

AP Photo/Nick Wass

Denver Broncos outside linebacker Nik Bonitto

Score: Broncos 27, Commanders 26 (OT)

Broncos Takeaway: Denver Is Playing Like a Team Destined for Deep Playoff Run

You can call it luck, clutch play or a combination of both, but the Broncos know how to win tight games. They're 8-2 in one-score contests this season and pulled out an overtime victory with a pass deflection on Washington's two-point conversion attempt.

Unlike last year, when the Broncos were learning to win games with then-rookie quarterback Bo Nix, this team is poised in the most critical moments and battle-tested for playoff football, which is a journey that may begin on its home field.

Winner: Edge Nik Bonitto, Denver Broncos

Bonitto batted down the pass to win the game. In the game-defining sequence, the Pro Bowl edge-rusher showed why he deserves that four-year, $106 million extension that he signed in September. 

With another double-digit sack season on his resume, Bonitto is becoming a household name and a league star.

Commanders Takeaway: Washington Will Be NFL's Best Spoiler Team When Jayden Daniels Returns

The Commanders nearly pulled off an upset win over the Broncos. With head coach Dan Quinn calling the defensive plays, they field a much-improved unit compared to the first half of the season. In Week 13, wide receiver Terry McLaurin returned from another quad injury and caught seven passes for 96 yards and a touchdown.

Last week, Daniels logged three limited practices, suggesting he may be close to a return. If he's back in action for the Commanders' final five games, the Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys will be on upset alert in matchups that could have playoff implications.

Loser: QB Marcus Mariota, Washington Commanders 

The Broncos-Commanders matchup featured big plays in clutch moments, which made for an exciting finish. Mariota had a hand in digging an early hole for the Commanders, though.

In the second quarter, Mariota threw an ill-advised jump pass that resulted in an interception inside the Broncos' 20-yard line. Off that turnover, Denver kicked a field goal. Though the veteran signal-caller made pinpoint throws to keep the Commanders in the game, his one turnover played a factor in the loss.

Las Vegas Raiders vs. Los Angeles Chargers

AP Photo/Jae C. Hong

Los Angeles Chargers running back Kimani Vidal

Score: Chargers 31, Raiders 14

Chargers Takeaway: OC Greg Roman Needs His Offense to Play More Bully Ball

Because of injuries at offensive tackle, the Chargers have had to shuffle their offensive line multiple times. They're at their best when the offense plays downhill with a power run game. Rookie running back Omarion Hampton's imminent return from an ankle injury will allow them to do that again. 

In Los Angeles' previous outing, quarterback Justin Herbert played with a glove on his non-throwing hand because of a hand injury, and he will undergo a procedure. If Herbert continues to play, the Chargers need to protect him with at least 30 rush attempts per game. With Trey Lance under center, Los Angeles must lean on a run-first attack.

Winner: Los Angeles Chargers Backup Running Backs

In the win over Las Vegas, Kimani Vidal and Jaret Patterson rushed for 180 yards and two touchdowns combined. They both averaged about five yards per carry. Vidal gashed the Raiders defense on a 59-yard run for a touchdown. Patterson also broke off a 22-yard gain on the ground.

Raiders Takeaway: Pete Carroll Will Be Coaching to Save His Job 

According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, head coach Pete Carroll's job security is in question.

After a fallout with former offensive coordinator Chip Kelly and some finger-pointing over Las Vegas' issues on that side of the ball, Carroll must clean up some dysfunction within the team.

The Raiders have fired two coordinators, and Carroll could be next if the club doesn't win a few games down the stretch.

Loser: RB Ashton Jeanty, Las Vegas Raiders

Jeanty has shown flashes, but he has no room to run the ball. In the loss to Los Angeles, Las Vegas started three backup offensive linemen. Left tackle Stone Forsythe struggled to clear lanes on the back side of the formation. Backup guard Alex Cappa played center for consecutive weeks. Rookie third-rounder Caleb Rogers made his first career start at right guard and rotated with third-year pro Atonio Mafi.

The Raiders have the league's worst offensive line. As a result, they won't be able to optimize Jeanty's talent.

Buffalo Bills vs. Pittsburgh Steelers

AP Photo/Matt Durisko

Buffalo Bills QB Josh Allen

Score: Bills 26, Steelers 7

Bills Takeaway: Trusting the Ground Game May Be Buffalo's Key to Playoff Success

The Buffalo Bills have had a couple of glaring issues. Injuries and inconsistent play have created a suspect defense, while Josh Allen has often erred while trying to do too much to carry the offense.

Against the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Bills leaned heavily into their running game, which might have been a necessary strategy due to offensive tackles Dion Dawkins (concussion) and Spencer Brown (shoulder) being injured.

The Bills gave it to James Cook 32 times while also involving Ray Davis, Ty Johnson, and Josh Allen in the running game. The result was more rushing yards than any visiting team has ever compiled at Acrisure Stadium (249), a lopsided win, and a step closer to a playoff berth.

Winner: QB Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills

Allen didn't have the greatest day passing the ball, but he put his scrambling skills on full display while earning a place in history during a decisive road victory.

Allen repeatedly burned the Steelers with his legs, extending drives and putting points on the board. He logged his 76th rushing touchdown on Sunday, surpassing Cam Newton for the most all-time by a quarterback.

Steelers Takeaway: With or Without a Healthy Aaron Rodgers, Pittsburgh Isn't a Contender

Aaron Rodgers deserves credit for playing through a fractured wrist, taking a beating from the Bills' defense, and returning from a nose injury to try keeping Pittsburgh atop the AFC North.

Unfortunately, Rodgers' toughness wasn't enough to keep Pittsburgh competitive in this game. With a lack of reliable pass-catchers and an under-performing defense, the Steelers looked no better than they did with Mason Rudolph behind center a week ago.

Things might have unfolded differently if Rodgers were 100 percent healthy, but Pittsburgh can't blame the loss on his injury. The Steelers have lost three of their last four and have too many holes to be considered a legitimate threat in the AFC.

Loser: Defensive Coordinator Teryl Austin, Pittsburgh Steelers

The Steelers' defense is loaded with quality starters but has struggled to play like a top-tier unit all season. Naturally, that has reflected poorly on defensive coordinator Teryl Austin.

Sunday's performance represented a new low, given the historical significance of Buffalo's rushing effort. Expect Austin to face plenty of heat from fans and a few uncomfortable questions from the media in the coming days.

Minnesota Vikings vs. Seattle Seahawks

AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson

Seattle Seahawks LB Ernest Jones IV intercepts the ball.

Score: Seahawks 26, Vikings 0

Seahawks Takeaway: A Championship-Caliber Defense Could Carry Seattle Deep

To be fair, the Seattle Seahawks were at home against a middling Minnesota Vikings team and an undrafted rookie quarterback. Still, Seattle's defense dominated and helped make up for an offense that struggled to play efficiently.

The Seahawks defense, which came in ranked seventh overall and second in points allowed, kept Seattle far away from a potential trap-game upset. The performance looms large in a week that saw both the Philadelphia Eagles and Los Angeles Rams suffer upset losses.

Seattle's defense will smother inferior opponents and will keep the Seahawks in games against contenders—their three losses have been by nine combined points. That's a strength that will make Seattle formidable in the postseason.

Winner: LB Ernest Jones IV, Seattle Seahawks

The Seahawks acquired linebacker Ernest Jones IV in a 2024 trade and signed him to a three-year extension this past offseason. Sunday's performance showed exactly why Seattle was eager to keep the 26-year-old in the fold.

Jones picked off Max Brosmer twice, returning one of them for an electric 85-yard touchdown. Expect Jones to be a strong candidate for this week's NFC Player of the Week award.

Vikings Takeaway: Minnesota Should Have Hung Onto Sam Darnold

We didn't need to see the Vikings play former quarterback Sam Darnold to know that, in retrospect, letting him walk in free agency was a mistake. The 28-year-old has maintained a Pro Bowl-level of play in Seattle, while J.J. McCarthy has struggled to establish himself as a reliable starter for Minnesota.

However, Sunday's game served as a stark reminder that things could have been a lot different this season in Minnesota.

While Darnold didn't have a great game, he didn't make any game-altering mistakes either. Minnesota saw Brosmer make plenty of those while filling in for an injured McCarthy (concussion).

The Vikings probably wouldn't know what they have in McCarthy if they had re-signed Darnold, but that would be a much better problem to have than the current problem they have at quarterback.

Loser: QB Max Brosmer, Minnesota Vikings

McCarthy has played so poorly in his first season as a starter that some fans may have been eager to see Brosmer get a shot.

According to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler (h/t Joe Nelson of SI.com), even the Vikings believed they'd be "more mentally prepared" with Brosmer behind center than they've been with McCarthy.

Brosmer took four sacks, threw four interceptions, and failed to lead a single scoring drive in a performance that should have McCarthy right back in the starting lineup as soon as he clears the concussion protocol.

New Orleans Saints vs. Miami Dolphins

AP Photo/Lynne Sladky

Dolphins RB De'Von Achane

Score: Dolphins 21, Saints 17

Dolphins Takeaway: Dolphins Head CoachMike McDaniel is Saving His Job

Not that long ago, it didn't appear that Miami head coach Mike McDaniel was going to last the season. The Dolphins had just been drilled 31-6 in Cleveland by a bad Browns team. General manager Chris Grier was shown the door. Surely McDaniel was going to follow soon thereafter.

But after surviving Sunday's matchup with the New Orleans Saints, the Dolphins have now peeled off four wins in five games to get back to at least the fringes of playoff contention in the AFC.

With trips to Pittsburgh and New England still on the slate along with a home date with the NFC South-leading Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the postseason isn't happening in 2025. And McDaniel's return in Miami is by no means guaranteed.

But with each victory, odds grow that the Dolphins will give McDaniel one more shot to get Miami back to the playoffs in 2026.

Winner: RB De'Von Achane, Miami Dolphins

With Tyreek Hill out for the season and the Miami passing game struggling to move the ball consistently, Achane has become the focal point of the Miami offense—and he has taken that role and ran with it.

Achane had another huge game on the ground against the Saints—22 carries, 134 yards and a touchdown. At this point, the Miami offense will go as far Achane carries it.

Saints Takeaway: The Saints May Have Something in Tyler Shough

The 2025 season has mostly been a disaster in New Orleans—at 2-10 the Saints are barreling toward a top-three pick in next April's draft. Many folks already expect the Saints to use that pick on a quarterback.

But first-year quarterback Tyler Shough is at least trying to give the Saints reason to reconsider.

Shough has put together a couple of decent outings in recent weeks, including 239 yards and two scores on 26-of-38 passing against the Dolphins.

If nothing else, Shough has shown that he can be a more-than-capable QB2.

Loser: Saints Run Game

Shough is going to have to sling the ball around the rest of the way it appears. The team was struggling to run the ball before Alvin Kamara got hurt. Now, with Kamara out with a knee injury things have only gotten worse.

Against a Dolphins run defense that entered Sunday's contest 29th in the NFL, the Saints managed just 81 yards on 27 carries as a team. Shough had 18 of those yards.

Who's up for some Taysom Hill wildcat?

Atlanta Falcons vs. New York Jets

AP Photo/Adam Hunger

Jets WR Adonai Mitchell

Score: Jets 27, Falcons 24

Jets Takeaway: Aaron Glenn is Earning a Second Season as Jets Head Coach

For much of the season, Jets head coach Aaron Glenn appeared headed for a one-and-done tenure. The Jets lost their first seven games. The offense was offensive. And the Jets were the last team in the league to log a victory.

But since that 0-7 start, a funny thing happened: The Jets have sort of turned things around.

Granted, victories over the Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns and now Atlanta Falcons aren't especially impressive—the three teams have 11 wins combined. But a Jets team starting a backup quarterback and short its No. 1 wide receiver has now won three of five.

The Jets are playing hard. Getting better. And that should be enough to earn Glenn a second season at the helm.

Winner: WR Adonai Mitchell, New York Jets

Mitchell was essentially a throw-in as part of the trade that sent cornerback Sauce Gardner to the Indianapolis Colts. But with Garrett Wilson sidelined by injury, the second-year pro has been thrust into the role of New York's No. 1 receiver.

Sunday against the Falcons, Mitchell stepped up—eight catches on 12 targets for 102 yards and a touchdown.

Falcons Takeaway: Big Changes are Coming in Atlanta

Things have not gone at all according to plan in Atlanta this year—after falling to the Jets Sunday the Falcons are 4-8 and playing out the string. Injuries have played a part in those struggles—the Falcons faced the Jets without starting quarterback Michael Penix Jr. and No. 1 wide receiver Drake London.

But this was a team that expected to contend in the NFC South this year. And with Atlanta barreling toward an eighth straight losing season, there are likely some big changes coming—again.

Head coach Raheem Morris will probably be fired. Given how Penix played pre-injury, it's fair to wonder whether he's the long-term answer under center. And a number of young offensive centerpieces in Atlanta are going to leave the Falcons front office with some contract decisions to make.

The Falcons didn't expect to be looking at another rebuild in 2026.

But that's exactly where these Falcons are headed.

Loser: RB Bijan Robinson, Atlanta Falcons

Robinson is one of those young centerpieces who will soon be up for a second contract, and given his performance against the Jets, it seems an easy decision—Robinson gouged the Jets for a whopping 193 yards and a touchdown on 28 touches.

But the NFL's No. 8 rusher entering Sunday's action is absorbing a lot of punishment on a bad team. And given the short shelf life for many running backs, scaling back Robinson's touches in a lost season may not be a bad idea.

Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Tennessee Titans

AP Photo/John Amis

Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Jakobi Meyers

Score: Jaguars 25, Titans 3

Jaguars Takeaway: New Kings of the AFC South

The Jacksonville Jaguars now sit atop the AFC South standings. 

At 8-4, the Jaguars and Indianapolis Colts own the same record. However, the Jags own the current tie-breaker. 

More importantly, Jacksonville will determine its own fate. Next week, Liam Coen's squad hosts the Colts, who haven't won in Jacksonville since the 2014 campaign. (Yes, you read that correctly.) 

Another home win by the Jaguars against their divisional rival will place the team in a strong position to claim its first AFC South crown since 2022. 

Winner: WR Jakobi Meyers, Jacksonville Jaguars

Meyers has led the Jaguars in receiving yards twice in the last three games. He hasn't even been with the team for a month since being acquired from the Las Vegas Raiders. 

The veteran target propelled Jacksonville's first scoring drive with a 50-yard grab and the eventual touchdown reception. 

Meyers has been a wonderful addition, particularly with Travis Hunter's season-ending injury. The 29-year-old target immediately built a rapport with quarterback Trevor Lawrence and benefitted Jacksonville's offense. 

Titans Takeaway: Season Officially Enters Lost Territory

Tennessee already held the NFL's worst record entering Sunday's meeting with the rival Jaguars. But the Titans still had some life with a spark of competitiveness. 

The team's latest loss appears to have been the breaking point. Tennessee played undisciplined football and interim head coach Mike McCoy was forced to answer questions whether the roster remains invested after such a poor effort. 

Now officially eliminated from playoff contention, the Titans need to do everything they can to help in Cam Ward's development, while looking toward the future. 

Loser: QB Cam Ward, Tennessee Titans

As everything unravels around this year's No. 1 overall pick, those outside of the Titans organization must wonder if he's being properly developed and prepared for the coming seasons. 

Ward had shown incremental, albeit slight, growth over the last few weeks. He had nowhere to hide Sunday and averaged a measly 3.7 yards per attempt. 

The 23-year-old has plenty of room for improvement, though he'd benefit greatly by having actual weapons around him and better blocking. Right now, the Titans lack both. 

San Francisco 49ers vs. Cleveland Browns

AP Photo/David Richard

Browns edge Myles Garrett

Score: 49ers 26, Browns 8

49ers Takeaway: Resilient 49ers Keep Finding Ways to Win

It has been quite the season for the San Francisco 49ers. They have been without many important offensive contributors for chunks of the year. The team's two best defenders (edge-rusher Nick Bosa and linebacker Fred Warner) are out for the season.

But somehow, the 49ers keep finding ways to win and keep pace in the NFC West.

Granted, beating the Cleveland Browns isn't the most difficult task in the world, especially on a day when they made a litany of mistakes. But the 49ers took advantage of those mistakes, and despite barely clearing 250 yards of total offense, the Niners are 9-4 and just a game back of first place in the loss column.

After a badly-needed off week, the 49ers face the one-win Tennessee Titans in a winnable matchup. But after that comes a gauntlet to close the season—at Indianapolis and home dates with the Chicago Bears and Seattle Seahawks.

Winner: Edge Clelin Ferrell, San Francisco 49ers

With Bosa on the shelf, the 49ers have struggled rushing the passer—no team had fewer sacks entering Week 13.

But seventh-year veteran Clelin Ferrell did his part against Cleveland. Not only did the former first-round pick notch two sacks Sunday, but his nine total tackles also led the team.

Browns Takeaway: Browns Gotta Brown

The Cleveland Browns are a bad football team. This is not news. They certainly can't afford to make lots of mistakes and hope to win games.

You name it, Cleveland did it. Turnovers. Multiple special teams gaffes. The length of San Francisco's three touchdown drives were 66 yards—combined.

The Browns actually outgained San Francisco. Shedeur Sanders was decent under center. Running back Quinshon Judkins topped 100 total yards. But Cleveland has zero chance of winning games against good teams when it can't get out of its own way.

Loser: Edge Myles Garrett, Cleveland Browns

Garrett is in the midst of what could be the best season a pass-rusher has ever had. After another sack against the 49ers, he has 19 for the season. He has five games to log four more and break the single-season record of 22.5 held by Michael Strahan of the New York Giants and T.J. Watt of the Pittsburgh Steelers.

It's a shame that historic season is being wasted on a terrible team.

Houston Texans vs. Indianapolis Colts

AP Photo/AJ Mast

Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud

Score: Texans 20, Colts 16

Texans Takeaway: Houston's Defense Taking Over AFC South

The Houston Texans have won four straight games, and they've done so because of the NFL's top-ranked defense. 

The Indianapolis Colts' offense set records earlier this season. Running back Jonathan Taylor found himself smack dab in the middle of the MVP conversation.

The Colts' offensive line was putting in work and dominating the line of scrimmage. Granted, the group hasn't been nearly as good as of late. Still, Houston's defense made everything difficult during Sunday's meeting. 

The Colts scored fewer than 20 points for the first time this season. Daniel Jones and Co. fell short of 300 yards despite being the NFL's second-best offense entering the contest. Indianapolis converted only three third downs on 10 tries and failed on both of its fourth-down attempts. 

With C.J. Stroud back and the team's defense playing so well, a game behind in the AFC South means nothing. Houston could easily win the division. 

Winner: QB C.J. Stroud, Houston Texans

Stroud returned to Houston's starting lineup after missing the last three weeks due to a concussion. Davis Mills did a fantastic job in Stroud's stead.

However, the Texans need Stroud to play complementary football and possibly elevate Houston's offense for the team's upcoming postseason push. 

The third-year quarterback did throw a poor interception. Otherwise, he stood tall in the pocket and delivered throughout the contest, with his second-best passing performance of the season (278 yards). 

Colts Takeaway: A Promising Season is Fading

Indianapolis is no longer counted among the AFC's elite after losing three of its last four games. The Colts were efficient and didn't make many errors during their 7-1 start. Now, they're having trouble overcoming mistakes. 

Officiating will be the big talking point in Indianapolis after a phantom pass interference call, a missed facemask penalty and a possibly wide extra-point attempt. 

At the same time, the Colts can't perform so poorly on money downs, miss an extra point of their own, drop a key pass during the team's final drive and fumble inside the 10-yard line. 

The AFC South can still be won, but Indianapolis must clean up its recent issues. 

Loser: CB Sauce Gardner, Indianapolis Colts

General manager Chris Ballard chose to go all in prior to this year's trade deadline and acquire cornerback Sauce Gardner. 

Gardner had been rock solid during his first two games with the Colts. Unfortunately, he left Sunday's contest after two snaps because of a calf strain and didn't return. 

Indianapolis planned to rely heavily on Gardner during a potential postseason run. Now, the team's top corner may be out for some time, thus changing the Colts' defensive approach. 

Los Angeles Rams vs. Carolina Panthers

AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman

Carolina Panthers running back Chuba Hubbard

Score: Panthers 31, Rams 28

Panthers Takeaway: HC Dave Canales Must Embrace Physical Offensive Identity with Two-Man Backfield 

Bryce Young put together an efficient outing in the victory over the Rams, throwing for 206 yards and three touchdowns. Carolina's ground game set the tone, racking up 164 yards, with Chuba Hubbard and Rico Dowdle leading the charge.

Hubbard ran for a season-high 83 yards and looked like the player who led the Panthers' backfield last season. Along with Dowdle, he can give the team a hard-nosed offensive identity for the final quarter of their season.

Winner: Carolina Panthers Defense

Without starting cornerback Jaycee Horn, who's in concussion protocol, and safety Tre'von Moehrig, who's serving a one-game suspension, the Panthers forced three turnovers. Mike Jackson and Nick Scott logged interceptions, and Derrick Brown forced a fumble on the Rams' final offensive drive.

The Panthers won this game with a balanced effort, but without two key defensive starters against arguably the NFL's hottest team entering Week 13, they cooled the steam on Matthew Stafford's MVP buzz.

Rams Takeaway: Matthew Stafford's Rough Day Is No Reason to Panic

Entering Week 13, Stafford had two interceptions and lost two fumbles. He nearly matched his turnover total in Sunday's game. The Rams played in rainy conditions, which is no excuse, because the Panthers didn't turn the ball over once. That said, Stafford's poor outing seems like a blip rather than the start of a trend. 

Los Angeles is no longer the No. 1 team in the NFC, but this squad should bounce back on the road in Arizona next week.

Loser: QB Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams

In the loss to Carolina, Stafford threw two interceptions in the first quarter, but he made a couple of crucial errors that hurt his team in the fourth quarter. 

On the Rams' final drive, Stafford took a delay-of-game penalty, which pushed the offense back from 3rd-and-5 to 3rd-and-10. On the following play, Brown stripped him of the ball, which allowed the Panthers to close out the game on offense. 

Up to this point, Stafford has limited his turnovers. On Sunday, his turnovers hurt the Rams. He gave up possession twice deep in Panthers territory.

Arizona Cardinals vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

AP Photo/Chris O'Meara

Tampa Bay Buccaneers RB Bucky Irving

Score: Buccaneers 20, Cardinals 17

Buccaneers Takeaway: Tampa Maintains a Tenuous Grip on NFC South

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers did what they needed to do to survive the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday. That keeps the Bucs a half-game ahead of the Carolina Panthers in the NFC South.

However, the Bucs feel very vulnerable right now, and not simply because we just saw Carolina knock off the NFC-leading Los Angeles Rams. Baker Mayfield is playing at less than 100 percent, and Tampa's defense didn't look good against the Cardinals, aside from a pair of takeaways.

The Buccaneers ended their three-game losing streak, but they feel nothing like the clear-cut divisional favorites they appeared to be early in the season.

Winner: RB Bucky Irving, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Injuries have been a significant problem for the Bucs in 2025, but Tampa did get one key player back on Sunday. Bucky Irving made his return after missing seven games with shoulder and foot injuries.

While Irving averaged just 3.6 yards per carry, he logged 19 touches, tallied 81 scrimmage yards, and found the end zone against Arizona. His presence could potentially play a huge role in Tampa getting back into early-season form.

Cardinals Takeaway: Jonathan Gannon Should Be Coaching for His Job

A little over a week ago, a source told CBS Sports' Jonathan Jones that the Cardinals may not be inclined to fire Jonathan Gannon after this season "unless it's really bad."

It's getting bad.

Yes, the Cardinals were only a couple of plays away from winning in Tampa. If Jacoby Brissett hadn't tried to force a first-quarter pass over the middle only to see it tipped and picked in the red zone, Arizona might have gotten win No. 4.

That's not how things unfolded, though, and the Cardinals lost their seventh one-score game of the season. They've struggled to win close games, regardless of who's been at quarterback, which is a reflection of Gannon's inability to build a winner.

Loser: Offensive Coordinator Drew Petzing, Arizona Cardinals

There's plenty of blame to go around for this loss. Brissett threw a pick, Zonovan Knight fumbled, and Chad Ryland missed a 43-yard field goal. However, offensive coordinator Drew Petzing twice dialed up plays on 4th-and-short that simply didn't work during the fourth quarter.

Arizona's offense, which came in ranked 18th in scoring, has been inconsistent all season, but it did get a lift when Brissett replaced Kyler Murray at quarterback. Too often, though, we've seen Petzing call predictable plays in critical situations, which is part of the reason why winning close games has been a challenge.

If Gannon is back in 2026, don't be surprised if he returns with a new coordinator in tow.

Chicago Bears vs. Philadelphia Eagles

AP Photo/Matt Slocum

Chicago Bears running back Kyle Monangai

Score: Bears 24, Eagles 15

Bears Takeaway: Chicago Stakes Claim as Elite NFC Contender

The Chicago Bears and Philadelphia entered Friday's contest with the same record, but the two teams didn't look to be on the same level. Instead, Chicago ran the Eagles off their own field and became the second NFC team to win nine games.

Philadelphia has experienced its share of issues, particularly on offense. Even so, the reigning Super Bowl champions know how to win, usually through a combination of offensive physicality and defensive intensity. The Bears beat them at their own game.

Plus, the Bears showed they're not entirely at the behest of Caleb Williams' play. Chicago's run game and defense are both good enough to dictate what happens during a contest.

Winner: Bears' Offensive Line

A team's front five often works in anonymity unless something negative occurs. The Bears' offensive line deserves significant praise for how the unit controlled the line of scrimmage against a deep and talented Eagles front seven.

Left tackle Ozzy Trapilo, left guard Joe Thuney, center Drew Dalman, right guard Jonah Jackson and right tackle Darnell Wright physically dominated throughout Friday's contest.

As a result, D'Andre Swift and rookie Kyle Monangai both ran for over 100 yards. They became the first Bears duo to do so since Walter Payton and Matt Suhey during the legendary 1985 campaign

Eagles Takeaway: Offense Remains Stuck in Neutral

Philadelphia fans are always ready to sing "Fly, Eagles, Fly." Now, they turn into boo birds each and every time the team's offense fails to generate anything positive, which happens often.

Philadelphia's post-Thanksgiving hangover included four three-and-outs, a four-for-12 effort on third down and Saquon Barkley's fourth-straight outing with fewer than 90 rushing yards. Last season's NFL Offensive Player of the Year eclipsed the mark once all year after doing so 12 times during the 2024 regular season.

At this point, fingers must point toward Kevin Patullo, who's in his first season as an offensive coordinator at any level. He hasn't been able to get into any kind of play-calling rhythm, and the team's approach hasn't been the most innovative. Unsurprisingly, the Eagles offense continues to struggle, which will remain the primary talking point in Philadelphia.

Loser: Eagles Run Defense

Philadelphia's offense may be under continual scrutiny after weeks of poor performance, but the Bears humiliated the Eagles' run defense.

In total, Chicago ran for 281 yards. Swift and Monangai contributed 130 and 125 yards, respectively. The duo averaged 6.4 yards per carry. As NBC Sports Philadelphia's John Clark noted, the Bears' total output was the most surrendered by the Eagles over the last decade.

This season, Philadelphia has been forced to lean heavily on its defense. The Eagles won't be able to do so if other teams attack them in the same manner.

Green Bay Packers at Detroit Lions

AP Photo/Ryan Sun

Micah Parsons

Score: Packers 31, Lions 24

Packers Takeaway: This is the Team the Packers are Supposed to be

It hasn't been a direct path, but practically everything clicked for this Green Bay core on Thursday.

On the road against an extremely talented and desperate opponent on very short rest, Jordan Love made basically every throw that mattered, Micah Parsons delivered with 2.5 sacks, Dontayvion Wicks stepped up with a stellar performance, and Josh Jacobs provided just enough balance as Green Bay controlled the game pretty much throughout.

The Packers quite simply looked like the clear-cut superior team, which says a lot considering the Lions squad is one of the best in football.

Winner: Dontayvion Wicks

Out of nowhere, Wicks finally helped fill Tucker Kraft's shoes in support of Love, catching six of the seven passes thrown his way and scoring twice.

The Packers gambled on fourth down three times and succeeded on all three occasions, the last of which was a critical 16-yard hookup between Love and Wicks to put the game away on 4th-and-3.

Lions Takeaway: The Detroit defense doesn't have the necessary amount of bite

Zero takeaways, zero sacks. That gives them just two takeaways in their last five games, and only four sacks in their last four. They can't keep opposing offenses off the field, nor can they make plays on a regular basis.

Loser: Aidan Hutchinson, Detroit Lions

Love consistently had far too much time to work, and Hutchinson had only a few pressures. The elite pass-rusher hasn't had a multi-sack game since September.

A lack of support on the edge is a factor for a team that continues to disregard the rush beyond its star, but the team simply needs more from the league's second-highest-paid defensive player.

Kansas City Chiefs at Dallas Cowboys

AP Photo/Matt Patterson

Dak Prescott and George Pickens

Score: Cowboys 31, Chiefs 28

Cowboys Takeaway: Dallas Has a New Set of Triplets

Behind the momentum established primarily by Dak Prescott, George Pickens and CeeDee Lamb, the Cowboys just might be peaking at the right time in the NFC playoff race.

Prescott hit Lamb and Pickens a combined 13 times for 200 yards on Thursday as Dallas outplayed and outscored the desperate Chiefs. It was a third consecutive triple-digited-rated performance in a third straight victory for the Cowboys, who moved to 6-5-1 with a soft schedule coming home.

Winner: Jadeveon Clowney, Dallas Cowboys

It would be easy to give this to Prescott or those two receivers, who have a combined 631 yards and four touchdowns during the three-game win streak, but Clowney deserves a shoutout as a 32-year-old leader of a defense that has really turned it around.

That unit was in rough shape in the first half of the season as it recovered from the preseason Micah Parsons trade, but it didn't give up a single point in the final 41 minutes of a Week 12 comeback victory over Philadelphia, and it held Kansas City scoreless in four second/third-quarter drives after giving up two first-quarter touchdowns on Thanksgiving.

Clowney led the team with six tackles and sacked Patrick Mahomes twice in the season-altering win.

Chiefs Takeaway: Defense has Become a Major Problem

Double-digit penalties (five of which were defensive holding or pass interference), no sacks and no turnovers. That's not a recipe for success. The Chiefs went the entire month of November without forcing a turnover on defense, and they now have just two sacks in their last three games.

They got their hands on Prescott no more than a handful of times in Thursday's loss.

No wonder they struggled to get off the field on third down, wasting a strong performance from Mahomes and a stellar start from an offense that converted all three of its red-zone opportunities.

The offense has been inconsistent and mistake-prone, too, but it's a lot easier to envision Mahomes carrying that unit to contention than it is to envision a fading Chris Jones or anyone else getting this D back on track.

Loser: Chris Jones, Chiefs

The six-time Pro Bowler might be having the worst season of his career. He made some plays in Dallas, but he didn't impact Prescott at all. The defense needs him to step up, but the 31-year-old has just three sacks in 12 games.

Not ideal for one of the 10 highest-paid defensive players in the sport.

This defense may need a makeover in a few months.

Cincinnati Bengals at Baltimore Ravens

AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough

Joe Burrow and teammates

Score: Bengals 29, Ravens 14

Bengals Takeaway: Cincinnati Can Win This Division

Despite being 4-8, this is the type of win—on short rest on the road against a division rival—that can galvanize a team. 

The Bengals have their franchise quarterback back, the formerly awful defense has shown major signs of improvement, and the the schedule is soft the rest of the way for a team that finds itself alive in a wide-open division. 

The Bengals are 3-1 in divisional games now, and they get to host this mess of a Ravens team in two weeks' time. Beyond that, they should be favored to close the season against Miami, Arizona and Cleveland. 

The Ravens and Steelers still have to face each other twice, and limping Baltimore still has New England and Green Bay and its schedule. The Steelers are 2-4 in their last six games and still have to deal with Buffalo and Detroit. 

There's absolutely a path for the revitalized Bengals to steal the AFC North with eight or nine wins. 

Winner: Chase Brown, Cincinnati Bengals

Of course Joe Burrow was a star in his return from injury, but that's not a huge surprise. Instead, kudos to Brown, who helped take some heat off of the QB and gave the Bengals some much-needed balance with 103 total yards on 22 touches. 

Keep in mind this is a guy who averaged just 2.7 yards per carry in Cincinnati's first six games but has averaged 5.8 yards per rush in the six games since. 

This isn't just about the return of Burrow. Brown has rescued the running game, and thanks to guys like Joseph Ossai, Jordan Battle and DJ Turner II, the defense is no longer a punchline either. 

Ravens Takeaway: Lamar Jackson Has to be Injured, Right?

The two-time MVP has obviously been dinged up all year. He's dealt with hamstring, knee, ankle and toe injuries, with the hammy costing him multiple games in the first half of the season.

We just watched him choke in a critical prime-time home game against a weak and tired defense, committing three turnovers in the process. He hasn't thrown a touchdown pass since Week 10 and a disjointed offense hasn't scored more than 28 points in any of the five games since he returned to the lineup. 

You have to believe Jackson is hurting more than the weekly injury report would suggest. If not, the Ravens might have bigger problems on their hands. 

Loser: Derrick Henry, Baltimore Ravens

Not because of his performance, but because he received just 10 carries and one target despite averaging 6.0 yards per attempt—and 9.5 yards per touch—while a less-than-100-percent Jackson was often left to fend for himself against an inspired defensive front. 

That's an indictment of the offensive approach, which speaks to the idea that the coaching staff as a whole has become a potential problem in Baltimore. Might it soon be time for wholesale changes and a new philosophy in general for a team that may require a mental reset? Because this just isn't working.