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Week 13 is defined by the opposition, so it was only fitting that Sunday’s slate should end with a very close second. And if it weren’t for Nico Bonito’s outstretched hands as the linebacker blocked a commanding quarterback Marcus Mariota’s pass on a two-point attempt that would have given Washington an improbable overtime victory, we’d be talking about another upset on Sunday night.
Instead, we’re talking about a ninth straight win for the never-say-die Broncos, a team talented enough to be only the second squad this season to reach double-digit wins, yet has a habit of waiting until the last possible moment to claim nearly every one of them.
Sunday night’s 27-26 overtime victory against the Commanders really tested the limits. It was their first trip to overtime this season, and considering how they keep raising the stakes, it probably won’t be their last. The Broncos have now won nine straight games, and of their 10 overall wins this season, eight have come in one-score games.
Sunday night’s matchup between the two clubs is expected to be in such starkly different positions in the standings. But it was a fun and fitting way to close out a wild Week 13.
Here’s a roundup of our top takeaways from Sunday’s matchup.
The Bills race over the Steelers to keep pace in the wild card race
The Buffalo Bills arrived in Pittsburgh without two starting tackles, without two major offensive weapons, and without any speed to cap off a very up-and-down month of November. That doesn’t matter against the Steelers on Sunday, though, because James Cook came to play. On a windy night that called for plays early and often, Buffalo’s key 26-7 victory had Cook’s fingerprints — or rather, his footprints – All on it. Cook rushed for 144 yards on 32 carries in a monster outing that saw him lead his teammates in receiving, with three catches for 33 yards.
Cook’s efforts, along with strong rushing outings for Ray Davis (nine carries for 62 yards) and Josh Allen (eight carries for 38 yards and a touchdown), saw the Bulls post season-high rushing numbers — and historic numbers, too — in Pittsburgh.
Allen made some individual history, too, notching his 76th rushing TDth Passed his career and Cam Newton’s record for most points scored by a KB.
Bill’s victory could not have come at a better time. Their eighth win of the season has them sitting just inside the playoff picture as the seventh seed to close out Week 13 and the month of November. And the way they won gives them plenty to build on at full time, considering fellow AFC hopefuls like the Chargers, Jaguars and Texans all won on Sunday as well. As the weather cools and the playing field heats up, an identity as a run-heavy club will serve them well.
While the Bills’ win went a long way in solidifying their identity, the Steelers’ loss threw themselves into question. Pittsburgh had no answer on either side of the ball Sunday against Buffalo — a shocking sight for a home squad with a long tradition of stout defense and quick attacks.
The Steelers’ slow run game had the Bulls’ porous run defense, which was like a brick wall. Their strong pass rush, boasting some of the best in the league at pressuring opposing QBs, looks meek against a Bills O-line that includes a pair of backups.
At 6-6 on the season, Pittsburgh fell out of the top spot in the AFC North with Sunday’s loss, yet hasn’t lost much ground in the race for what remains a winnable division. But they do to look Lost, and that’s what worries this team the most.
This is a franchise that looks and sounds like it needs fresh starts at multiple positions. How they progress will tell us a lot about whether the players agree. It’s becoming clear that another season at or above .500 won’t happen.
Rams lose chance at top, Panthers ready for a playoff push
The football world just spent a week considering Matthew Stafford’s MVP case and the Los Angeles Rams’ status as the consensus team in the NFL.
So, naturally, they just lost to the Carolina Panthers. Not only did the Panthers outshoot the Rams 31-28, but they did so with a somewhat telling, streak-ending game: After throwing just two interceptions all season, Stafford gave the Panthers two in the first quarter. The timing of the first was actually kind of weird — right after Stafford set a new record for consecutive touchdown passes without an interception (28), he threw the first pick of the game.
LA could carve out a little space for itself atop the NFC, following Philadelphia’s loss to Chicago on Black Friday. Instead, they’re a bit ahead of their NFC West neighbors in a pressure-packed, gridlocked division. (Minnesota’s sweep of the Seahawks and the 49ers’ win over Cleveland means all three have 9 wins.)
But let’s talk about Carolina. Because what the Panthers did, on both sides of the ball, was remarkable. Defensively, Carolina was uncomfortable with their pressure on Stafford, and came up big late with a sack of Derrick Brown – who was also instrumental in Stafford’s first interception of the game – to ice the victory instead of allowing a Rams field goal attempt that would have tied the game.
Offensively, Bryce Young looked unstoppable as he led the Panthers downfield drive after drive. The rushing duo of Chuba Hubbard and Rico Dowdle contributed to making the NFL’s top run defense look beatable. It was a complete team effort that has the Panthers on the brink of contention. (If the Tampa Bay Buccaneers hadn’t bounced back from their three-game skid with a win over Arizona, we’d be looking at an NFC South tie with the Panthers.)
In a season that has plenty of surprises – um, did you see the Bears sitting atop the NFC?! – The addition of the Panthers is yet another great story to be told going forward. After beating the best, they seem to be able to compete.
The Seahawks’ defense has a special performance
“Special” feels like an understatement when we’re talking about a unit that posted just one shutout, complete with four sacks and four interceptions and allowed just 162 total yards of offense. (If you’re a fantasy football GM who just faced an opponent with a Seattle GD in their lineup, you’re probably reaching for other words right now.)
In a game in which Sam Darnold faced his former team as the biggest headline at kickoff, it was Seattle’s defense that told the story in this 26-0 victory. Of course, Minnesota’s offense wasn’t exactly set up for success with undrafted rookie Max Brosmer on the heels of his NFL debut. But as we enter a stretch run of a season that has seen the Seahawks’ offensive production sometimes overshadow its stellar defense, games like this really put the microscope on both.
The NFC West crown is going to come down to the wire, and at this rate, the Seahawks look ready to make a run.
The AFC South race accelerates its pace
What do you get when you combine back-to-back losses to the Indianapolis Colts, three straight wins for the Jacksonville Jaguars, and a four-game winning streak for a Houston Texans team celebrating the return of its QB1?
You’ve got a red-hot playoff race in the AFC South that promises a dramatic December. The Jaguars jumped into the division lead with a 25-3 win over the Titans, taking full advantage of the Colts’ Week 13 loss to Houston, which came on the heels of last week’s loss to Kansas City. While the Texans remain on the outside looking in, even after taking on Indy with another defensive masterclass on Sunday, they may be the most dangerous team of the group right now, considering the return of C.J. Stroud in nearly a month of concussion protocol. That Houston held up without him is a testament to how dominant their defense is.
As important as Week 13 was for this divisional race, the stakes rise even higher next weekend. Jacksonville could do itself a big favor with a win over Indy next Sunday, when the Texans take on the Chiefs, a must-win for both AFC Wild Card clubs.
It’s going to be December fun.
