What we realized in NFL Month 13: Eagles accumulation streak alive, Expenses seem like AFC’s easiest

Do the Falcons have a Kirk Cousins condition? Do the Ravens have a Justin Tucker condition?

And do now we have a pristine front-runner within the MVP race?

For the primary occasion in NFL historical past, a quarterback ran, stuck and threw a landing in one duel — the fresh testomony to the brilliance of Josh Allen, who powered the Expenses to a 35-10 victory over the 49ers on a snowy Sunday night time in Orchard Soil.

Construct it 5 directly AFC East titles for Buffalo, now the primary group in 2024 to clinch a section identify. Buffalo has crushed either one of extreme yr’s Tremendous Bowl groups, the Chiefs and 49ers, in consecutive video games, and hasn’t misplaced to someone since Oct. 6. It begins with Allen, who’s by no means performed higher, and who assists in keeping piling up one spotlight play games then some other in vital moments.

As for groups at the alternative aspect Sunday, Atlanta has all at once dropped 3 directly. In that span, Cousins — the Falcons’ $45 million improve at quarterback within the offseason — has tossed six interceptions, together with at the ultimate two drives in their 17-13 loss to the Chargers.

And Tucker, the Ravens’ six-time Professional Bowl kicker, by some means leads the league in ignored kicks (10) then 3 extra in Sunday’s loss to the Eagles (two garden objectives and an difference level). It’s been a stunningly destitute season for Tucker, who entered the yr as essentially the most correct participant at his place in league historical past. You need to miracle if this may increasingly value Baltimore indisposed the stretch — or within the playoffs.

In Cincinnati, Russell Wilson threw for greater than 400 yards for the primary occasion in 5 years because the Steelers beat the Bengals 44-38. Pittsburgh is now 9-3 and, coupled with Baltimore’s loss, up two video games within the AFC North. Sunday’s win additionally clinches Mike Tomlin’s 18th directly season with out a shedding report. All informed, it’s the twenty first directly season in Pittsburgh with out a sub-.500 report, tying the Tom Landry-era Cowboys for the longest such streak in NFL historical past.

In Minnesota, the Vikings stormed again from a 13-point third-quarter shortage to overcome the Cardinals 23-22. Minnesota now has two sovereign five-game profitable streaks this season and, at 10-2, remainder only a duel again of the Lions within the NFC North.

In Jacksonville, the Texans survived a overdue rate from the Jaguars to leaving with a 23-20 win. The Jags rallied with Mac Jones at quarterback — and now not Trevor Lawrence — then Lawrence was once knocked out of the sport in the second one quarter following an unpleasant, unlawful clash from Azeez Al-Shaair. The play games earned Al-Shaair an ejection and may just earn him a abeyance, as neatly.

In Washington, the Commanders discovered the get-right duel they’ve been searching for, routing the Titans 42-19. Jayden Daniels and the offense scored touchdowns on their first 3 possessions, and this one was once by no means all that related. The win snaps the Commanders’ three-game shedding streak and strikes them to 8-5, recently excellent plethora for the 7th and ultimate NFC playoff spot.

Somewhere else, Geno Smith exacted slightly of revenge towards the group that drafted him, main the Seahawks to a comeback win over the Jets, 26-21. Unused York has now misplaced six of 7 since proprietor Woody Johnson fired schoolteacher Robert Saleh in early October. The Jets are 3-9, attach for the third-worst report within the AFC.

“This is as frustrating as it comes,” quarterback Aaron Rodgers mentioned. How irritating? Nearest the sport, period in-between schoolteacher Jeff Ulbrich was once requested if he’s bearing in mind benching Rodgers. “Not as of today,” Ulbrich mentioned. It no doubt turns out like a question of occasion till the Rodgers experiment in Unused York involves a merciful finish.

The Seahawks (7-5), in the meantime, have received 3 directly and are again in entrance within the NFC West. Each the Cardinals and Rams — who beat the Saints 21-14 Sunday in Unused Orleans — are a duel again at 6-6.

In Charlotte, Bryce Younger just about led the Panthers to their 0.33 win in 4 weeks. However a overdue rally from the Bucs, together with a game-tying 51-yard Chase McLaughlin garden objective on the finish of legislation, was once simply plethora in a 26-23 time beyond regulation victory for Tampa Bay.

Right here’s what we realized around the NFL in Month 13:

Eagles’ win streak hits 8

The streak began unceremoniously, with extra focal point at the schoolteacher’s postgame antics — Nick Sirianni was once stuck shouting at his personal enthusiasts — than the much-needed Month 5 victory. The Eagles edged the Browns, 20-16, to climb to 3-2 and keep away from the scrutiny that might’ve adopted an unpleasant house loss to a awful Cleveland group.

That was once Oct. 13. Philly hasn’t misplaced since.

And the Eagles appear to getting higher. The win streak clash 8 on Sunday, and the 24-19 beatdown of the Ravens in Baltimore was once essentially the most remarkable struggle but. Nearest origination gradual — slightly of an Eagles trademark this season — they proved as soon as once more they’re a number of the league’s easiest closers, ripping off a 24-3 run to possess the second one half of prior to the Ravens scored a meaningless landing overdue.

Nearest the sport, Sirianni was once requested about similar the Ravens’ physicality. He grew to become the query round. “They had to match ours,” he mentioned. “That was our message going in — that they had to match our physicality.”

Baltimore couldn’t. MVP candidate Saquon Barkley punctuated the Eagles’ second-half dominance with a 25-yard landing run to seal it, and Vic Fangio’s protection stifled Lamar Jackson and the Ravens all duel lengthy.

Saquon Barkley pressed for time for 107 yards on 23 carries in his 8th 100-yard duel of the season. (Tommy Gilligan / Imagn Pictures)

The Eagles have had only one MVP within the franchise’s 92-year historical past, Norm Van Brocklin in 1960. The way in which Barkley’s enjoying — he now has 8 100-yard dashing video games this season — this could be the yr they upload a moment. Howie Roseman’s advance so as to add Barkley on a three-year word utility $37.7 million continues to seem like the offseason’s shrewdest advance.

Sirianni, in the meantime, is now 44-19 in 4 seasons in Philadelphia. Nearest the grievance he gained following extreme yr’s late-season faint and this yr’s asymmetric get started, he’s accomplished a noteceable process of steadying the send. The Eagles are actually 10-2, glance playoff-ready and stay Detroit’s largest challenger within the NFC.

Expenses seem like the AFC’s easiest

The Chiefs have the convention’s easiest report at 11-1, however refuse AFC group is enjoying higher than the Expenses.

Buffalo is now 10-2 and enjoying a few of its easiest soccer of the Josh Allen period in part since the offense now not wishes him to be Superman each sequence — even if Allen can still slip on his cape from time to time.

James Prepare dinner — a weapon all yr for the Expenses’ offense — bolted during the snow for a 65-yard landing run within the first half of. Rookie Ray Davis added some other. Upload in Allen’s second-half theatrics and this one was once by no means related.

Within the race for the AFC’s supremacy seed and the lone playoff bye, the Chiefs are nonetheless a duel forward however have appeared shaky in fresh weeks in spite of two directly victories. Kansas Town squeaked by means of three-win Carolina, 30-27, prior to surviving the two-win Raiders on Friday because of Las Vegas’ late-game gaffe. Once in a while, it’s important to miracle what number of extra related video games the Chiefs can scrape out.

For the Expenses, a large showdown looms in Month 15 towards the NFC-leading Lions. Alternative than that, in their 4 extra video games, none is towards a group with a profitable report on the time (the Rams, Patriots and Jets). The Chiefs will see 4 groups recently projected to put together the playoffs: the Chargers, Texans, Steelers and Broncos. Merit: Buffalo. And take note, the Expenses personal the tiebreaker over Kansas Town by means of importance in their Month 11 head-to-head win.

The Chiefs proved extreme yr it doesn’t subject the place the video games whip park — come the playoffs, they may be able to win any place. However the AFC working thru Buffalo remainder the Expenses’ easiest probability to in spite of everything fracture thru and exit to a Tremendous Bowl for the primary occasion since 1993. The more severe the situations, it sort of feels, the simpler the Expenses play games.

As for San Francisco, the season-long slide continues, and Kyle Shanahan’s group could be too banged as much as rally. That’s now 3 directly losses, and making issues worse, megastar working again Christian McCaffrey left Sunday’s duel within the first half of with a knee shock and didn’t go back.

Steichen’s gamble assists in keeping Colts alive

Once Alec Pierce hauled in a 3-yard landing with 12 seconds left, Shane Steichen knew what the decision was once.

He held up two arms. Translation: We’re right here to win.

“Put it in (No.) 5’s hands to go get it,” the Colts’ second-year schoolteacher mentioned nearest.

Negative. 5 occurs to be Anthony Richardson, the 22-year-old quarterback whom Steichen benched midseason and reinserted into the origination lineup 3 weeks in the past. Up to now, the gamble’s operating: The Colts are 2-1 since Richardson’s go back, and Sunday’s 25-24 win over the Patriots assists in keeping them alive within the AFC wild-card race.

Indy trailed by means of some degree then Pierce’s fourth-quarter rating, which got here on fourth indisposed. Kick the difference level and attach it up, after whip your shot in time beyond regulation? Negative probability. Steichen immediately signaled that the Colts have been going for 2 and the win. The decision was once a zone learn. Richardson had the way to accumulation it himself or hand off to working again Jonathan Taylor. However because of an incredible hurry restrain from secure Quenton Nelson, the selection was once simple.

“Once I looked in the middle, I just decided I was gonna take it,” Richardson mentioned. He treated the extra.

Indianapolis (6-7) remainder two video games again of the Texans within the AFC South and is recently 8th within the AFC. The Colts path the Broncos, who’re 7-5 heading right into a Monday night time duel as opposed to the Browns, for the overall wild-card spot. However the extreme 4 video games at the Colts’ time table — Indy has a bye then weekend — all glance winnable, origination with a decisive Month 15 assembly with the Broncos in Denver and completing with the Titans, Giants and Jaguars, 3 of the league’s worst groups.

Nearest going through the Browns and Colts, the Broncos will see the Chargers, Bengals and Chiefs.

Falcons fading

A presen in the past, the Falcons have been 6-3, two video games forward of everybody else within the NFC South. Atlanta’s fat offseason advance — signing Cousins to that four-year, $180 million word — was once paying off. A group with ability in every single place however the quarterback spot had apparently addressed its maximum obtrusive want.

All indicators pointed towards a section identify and a playoff spot. Rather: a three-game shedding streak.

First got here a three-point loss to the lowly Saints, Unused Orleans’ first win in two months. Nearest that, the Falcons have been remorseful 38-6 by means of the Broncos. Upcoming on Sunday, following a bye, got here a 17-13 loss to a Chargers group enjoying on a scale down day.

It begins with the quarterback, who’s been abysmal of overdue. Throughout his extreme 3 begins, Cousins hasn’t thrown for a unmarried landing. What he has accomplished is toss six interceptions and fumble 4 instances.

“I have to play better,” he mentioned in a while. “You take responsibility and go back and watch it with a really critical eye and say, ‘OK, how can I make sure this never happens again?’ Felt like that was a game we had a chance to win if I had played at the standard I expect to play.”

Nearest the loss, Raheem Morris was once requested if he’s bearing in mind a transformation at quarterback — take note, the Falcons drafted Michael Penix Jr. within the first spherical in April — however the Falcons’ first-year schoolteacher shot indisposed that hypothesis temporarily.

It units up a delectable duel then day: Cousins will face his former group in Minnesota, the place the Vikings haven’t ignored a beat and are 10-2 with Sam Darnold main the way in which.

The excellent news for Atlanta? The Falcons stay atop the NFC South with 5 video games to move. They’re recently attach with the Bucs at 6-6 however personal the tiebreaker then sweeping the season sequence with Tampa Bay.

(Picture of James Prepare dinner: Bryan M. Bennett / Getty Pictures)