NFL Week 13 Roundup

The NFL season remains intense as Week 13 comes to a close, culminating with a Monday Night Football showdown between the Cleveland Browns and Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High.

In the American Conference, the Buffalo Bills have already clinched the AFC East division with a 10-2 record. The Kansas City Chiefs currently lead the AFC West with an 11-1 record and have a guaranteed Wild Card berth. A tight race is underway in the AFC North, with the Pittsburgh Steelers (9-3) holding the top spot over the Baltimore Ravens (8-5). Meanwhile, the Houston Texans (8-5) lead the AFC South.

On the other hand, in the National Conference, no team has clinched a postseason berth yet. The Philadelphia Eagles (10-2) lead the NFC East, while the Seattle Seahawks (7-5) are ahead in the NFC West. The NFC North sees a close battle between the Detroit Lions and Minnesota Vikings, and there is a tie for first place in the NFC South between the Atlanta Falcons and Tampa Bay Buccaneers (both 6-6).

Unfortunately, three teams have already been eliminated from playoff contention this season: the Patriots (3-10) and Raiders (2-10) from the American Conference, and the Giants (2-10) from the National Conference.

Week 13 Games

NFL Week 13 Roundup: Lions vs. Bears

The Chicago Bears’ dismissal of head coach Matt Eberflus occurred Friday following a timeout blunder that resulted in their loss to the Detroit Lions.

The Bears had anticipated advancing in their division after struggling with a combined 10-24 record in the initial two seasons under Eberflus and Poles. Their efforts to revamp the offense included selecting Caleb Williams as the top overall pick and securing receiver Keenan Allen, a six-time Pro Bowl selection, from the Los Angeles Chargers.

However, instead of making progress, the Bears now find themselves at the bottom of their division. Several losses during this stretch were determined by last-minute plays.

Despite entering the bye week with three straight wins and a 4-2 record, then came five losses, and the Thanksgiving Day game triggered a clock mismanagement problem during the Bears’ last offensive series, extending their losing streak to six games. They had positioned themselves for a potential game-tying field goal or game-winning touchdown but came up short, which prematurely ended the game before they could attempt it.

Result: Lions (23) – (20) Bears

NFL Week 13 Roundup: Chiefs vs. Raiders

The Kansas City Chiefs secured a spot in the NFL Playoffs by defeating the resilient Las Vegas Raiders 19-17, securing a hard-fought victory that remained uncertain until late in the game.

Daniel Carlson received three stitches in his right leg and had a chance to put the Raiders ahead of the Chiefs, but his 58-yard attempt fell short when he kicked the turf before making contact with the ball.

Raiders quarterback Aidan O’Connell had a stellar performance, racking up 340 yards and two touchdowns by completing 23 of 35 passes. His counterpart, Patrick Mahomes, threw for 306 yards and a touchdown.

In a historic moment during the game, Mahomes became the Chiefs’ all-time leader in touchdown passes when he connected with Justin Watson in the end zone near the end of the first half. This marked the 238th touchdown pass for Mahomes, surpassing Hall of Famer Len Dawson for the franchise record.

The Chiefs extended their remarkable streak of winning 14 consecutive games decided by a single touchdown.

Result: Chiefs (19) – (17) Raiders

NFL Week 13 Roundup: Ravens vs. Eagles

The Philadelphia Eagles took a significant step forward in their NFL campaign by successfully containing Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry. Jalen Hurts led the Eagles to a 24-19 victory over the Baltimore Ravens, contributing both passing and rushing.

Despite a slow start, Philadelphia managed to stifle one of the league’s top offenses, improving their standing in the National Conference race. In a primarily defensive matchup, the Eagles were outgained by the Ravens in first downs (17 vs. 24) and total yards (252 vs. 372) but were able to capitalize on the score.

Hurts completed 11 of 19 passes for 118 yards and a touchdown,while also gaining 29 yards on nine carries, including a touchdown on the ground. Meanwhile, Saquon Barkley overcame early struggles to deliver a standout performance, rushing for 107 yards and a touchdown on 23 carries, along with two receptions for 10 yards.

The Ravens offense showed promise early on, with Lamar Jackson connecting on a 40-yard pass to Zay Flowers. Despite threatening plays, Baltimore had to settle for field goals, and their kicker, Tucker, missed key attempts. The Eagles finally found their rhythm in the game, scoring on their fifth possession via Hurts and Goedert’s connection, followed by a signature Hurts ground touchdown.

In the second half, Tucker’s missed field goals continued to hamper the Ravens, while Barkley’s explosive running extended the Eagles’ lead. Although Lamar Jackson managed to close the gap with a touchdown pass, time ran out before the Ravens could mount a comeback.

The Eagles secured the victory with a solid defensive display and well-executed touchdown plays, showing their potential as a contender in the NFL season.

Result: Ravens (19) – (24) Eagles