Day 13 of the NFL season is in complete swing following 4 video games on Thanksgiving and Dark Friday.
The Detroit Lions survived an exciting second-half rate via the Bears to win 23-20 and toughen to 11-1, a duel that proved to be the terminating for Chicago tutor Matt Eberflus, who used to be fired Friday. The Dallas Cowboys crowned the Pristine York Giants 27-20 to thread in combination their first two-game win streak in additional than a occasion. The Inexperienced Bay Packers rolled to a 30-17 win over the Miami Dolphins to complete Thursday night time. And on Friday, the Kansas Town Chiefs survived (once more) to overcome the Las Vegas Raiders 19-17 and likewise toughen to 11-1.
Sunday’s slate options seven video games within the early while slot, 3 within the past due afternoon and a nightcap between the San Francisco 49ers and Buffalo Expenses. The Cleveland Browns and Denver Broncos cap all of it off Monday night time.
Right here’s a take a look at 5 of probably the most compelling storylines from the remains of this weekend’s video games. (To find the whole Day 13 time table right here.)
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1. Pittsburgh Steelers’ reaction to loss
Russell Wilson’s absolute best mark as Steelers establishing quarterback ended terminating era because the Browns passed their AFC North competitors their first loss since Day 5, snapping Pittsburgh’s five-game win streak. Now 8-3, the Steelers dangle to a thin category top over the Baltimore Ravens (8-4). A victory Sunday over the host Cincinnati Bengals would move far towards serving to the Steelers stay in keep an eye on of the category.
Wilson and the Steelers struggled on a snowy night time to capitalize on alternatives towards Cleveland. They transformed simply one in all 3 fourth-down makes an attempt and ignored a grassland function. The offense ventured into the crimson zone simply two times and got here away with just one landing. The nineteen issues scored additionally represented the second-lowest output of Wilson’s stead as starter. This era, the quarterback and his unit want to determine how one can regain their explosiveness. Nearest averaging 30 issues in line with duel in Wilson’s first 3 begins, the Steelers scored simply 18 and 19 issues towards Baltimore and Cleveland, respectively. Will the Bengals, whose porous protection has give up 26.9 issues in line with duel, be the get-right opponent for Pittsburgh?
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That problematic protection is without doubt one of the largest causes Cincinnati, coming off its bye this era, is 4-7 and looks prone to pass over the playoffs. Joe Burrow and the offense definitely can rating with the most efficient of them (averaging 27 issues in line with duel) regardless of accidents at large receiver. However an incapability to get stops on 3rd unwell and to generate handovers has proved expensive.
Nearest Sunday, Pittsburgh (1-1 within the category) has a rematch with Cleveland and video games towards contenders Philadelphia, Baltimore and Kansas Town earlier than a season finale towards the Bengals. A loss Sunday may come again to hang-out the Steelers. (Steelers at Bengals, 1 p.m. ET Sunday.)
2. Scorching NFC West race
Arizona and Seattle — the leaders of the ever-intriguing NFC West — to find themselves in high-pressure statuses as they jockey for place on this ultimate stretch of the usual season. Each 6-5, the Seahawks and Cardinals have negligible margin for error. The Seahawks glance to increase their win streak to 3 video games Sunday as they tug at the hapless Pristine York Jets at MetLife Stadium. In the meantime, the Cardinals struggle to rebound from terminating era’s loss to Seattle as they move at the street to stand a difficult Minnesota Vikings staff.
Seattle seems to have shaken off a midseason droop, incomes hard-fought wins over San Francisco and Arizona within the terminating two weeks. A prior to now suffering protection held the 49ers and Cardinals to a mixed 23 issues day additionally proving stingy on 3rd downs. Can Mike Macdonald’s staff proceed to assemble momentum, or is dealing with the Jets the easiest entice duel?
Arizona wishes a powerful rebound from Kyler Murray and an offense that had averaged 26.3 issues in line with duel all over a four-game win streak, solely to muster six issues towards Seattle. The Cardinals transformed solely 3 of 12 3rd downs and went 0 of two within the crimson zone towards the Seahawks. Heading off Minnesota’s competitive cross rushers will rank lofty at the Cardinals’ record of priorities, however that’s disagree simple process, particularly for a staff that has overwhelmed just one opponent with a document over .500 this season. A win over 9-2 Minnesota may grant much-needed momentum for Arizona. A loss may put the Cardinals in an non-essesntial place coming into later era’s an important rematch with Seattle. (Seahawks at Jets, Cardinals at Vikings, each at 1 p.m. ET Sunday.)
Baker Mayfield and the Bucs are looking to book hour within the NFC South. (Vincent Carchietta / Imagn Pictures)
3. Can Bucs get again on playoff monitor?
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ three-year streak as NFC South champions is at risk of finishing. Nearest a powerful begin to the season, accidents impacted the Buccaneers in past due October and early November. A four-game shedding streak dropped the Bucs underneath .500 and in the back of 6-5 Atlanta within the category standings. The wholesome go back of large receiver Mike Evans and a blowout win over the Pristine York Giants terminating era helped Tampa Bay finish the skid, and now it’s looking to mount a rate that can book its postseason hopes alive.
The Bucs advance to Charlotte on Sunday, the place they face the enhanced Carolina Panthers . 2d-year quarterback Bryce Younger and his teammates got here akin to frightening Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs terminating era however now search their 3rd win in 4 video games. Can Younger proceed to ascend, or can Todd Bowles’ protection and Baker Mayfield, who had a short lived stint with the Panthers in 2022, do business in their category foes every other setback? A victory would toughen Tampa Bay’s document to 6-6 and 2-2 within the category. Ahead of their kickoff, on the other hand, the Bucs will root for the Chargers, who can aid Tampa Bay’s reason via beating Atlanta in a duel that starts at 1 p.m. ET. (Buccaneers at Panthers, 4:05 p.m. ET Sunday.)
4. Megastar RBs Barkley, Henry on show
In a possible Tremendous Bowl preview, the Eagles advance to Baltimore to tug at the Ravens. There are lots of similarities between those groups. Twin-threat quarterbacks Lamar Jackson and Jalen Hurts direct well-rounded devices that boast big-play talent, and workhorse backs Derrick Henry and Saquon Barkley are having notable seasons. Philadelphia’s Barkley and Baltimore’s Henry have led the NFL in speeding for all the season. Utmost era, Barkley charged forward of Henry in his quest for the speeding identify. Barkley has on a tight schedule for 1,392 yards (first playground) day Henry trails narrowly with 1,325. Henry, on the other hand, nonetheless leads the NFL with 13 speeding touchdowns day Barkley trails with 10. To not be outdone, Hurts is fasten for moment within the NFL with 11 speeding touchdowns.
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Defensively, Baltimore and Philadelphia each continued offseason trade with pristine coordinator hires and the departures of avid gamers. The Eagles seem to have rounded into mode, keeping their terminating 3 warring parties to twenty issues or fewer. The Ravens, in the meantime, have had their dazzling spots however nonetheless search consistency.
Philadelphia is on a scorching streak, profitable its terminating seven video games to cement itself because the NFC East’s chief and one of the crucial easiest groups within the convention. Baltimore, in the meantime, rest one of the crucial supremacy groups within the AFC however has paintings to do to overhaul Pittsburgh for the category top. (Eagles at Ravens, 4:25 p.m. ET Sunday.)
5. 49ers’ Tremendous Bowl go back in jeopardy
Getting into the season, Sunday night time’s showdown between Buffalo and San Francisco seemed like a imaginable Tremendous Bowl preview. However the 49ers have encountered calamity of each and every type this season, and their quest to go back to the Tremendous Bowl is in admirable jeopardy. Again-to-back losses (as opposed to Seattle, at Inexperienced Bay) have the 5-6 49ers in a determined place as they advance to Buffalo.
The wounds that experience plagued the 49ers for far of the season reached quarterback Brock Purdy terminating era. He’s on target to start out Sunday next a shoulder factor pressured him to pass over terminating era’s loss to the Packers however clearly received’t be one hundred pc. That can assemble it tricky to check blows with Josh Allen and the Expenses, winners of six immediately and new off their bye, particularly with 49ers left take on Trent Williams out once more with a bone bruise in his heel. Left cover Aaron Banks didn’t apply at this era and rest within the concussion protocol. Defensive finish Nick Bosa and cornerback Deommodore Lenoir received’t play games, both. And there is also snow to deal with as effectively.
A loss Sunday may necessarily blast San Francisco’s hopes of a late-season surge and deep playoff march. All 4 NFC West groups stay separated via just a duel, however a San Francisco loss and wins via Seattle and/or Arizona may book each simply past the Niners, who’re terminating within the category. (49ers at Expenses, 8:20 p.m. ET Sunday.)
(Govern photograph of Derrick Henry: Ronald Martinez / Getty Pictures)
