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Week 13 in the NFL saw some wild endings and almost upset. The Raiders needed a touchdown pass to Henry Ruggs III in the final seconds to avoid losing to the winless Jets, while the Vikings were forced to work overtime with a win against the Jaguars before scoring a game-winning field goal. The Lions crossed a 10-point deficit in the fourth quarter to beat the Bears, and the Saints survived a late Hawks advance to secure a spot in the playoffs. And the Browns scored 38 points in the first half to defeat the Titans, despite a second half with four TDs from Tennessee.
All of that and more in Week 13 of the NFL Nation’s Greatest Takeaways.
Jump to a matchup:
NO-ATL | CLE-TEN | IND-HOU
JAX-MIN | CIN-MIA | DET-CHI
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Outstanding Artist: Saints QB Taysom Hill, 232 yards, 2 TDs (and 83 rushing yards)
The Saints are 3-0 against Taysom Hill at the quarterback (although at the beginning of the fourth quarter of Sunday’s win he temporarily lost his best-ever performance with an expensive fumble). And the defense had a huge stop in the red zone late in the game to seal the Saints’ ninth straight win and secure a spot in the playoffs. The Saints (10-2) should get Drew Brees back at some point, but even without him they keep showing that they can handle adversity and win in various ways. That should be a good sign in the playoffs. – Mike Triplet
Next game: at Eagles (4:25 p.m. ET, Sunday)
The hawks still have no identity. After a promising week of defense against the Raiders, it seemed this might be their strong point, but they followed up with a poor performance against the Saints. With an offensive still struggling, Atlanta is looking for any kind of positive constancy on either side of the ball at this point. – Harry Lyles Jr.
Next game: for chargers (4:25 p.m. ET, Sunday)
Outstanding Artist: Brown’s QB Baker Mayfield, 334 yards, 4 TDs
The Browns are finally having a successful season. After a first-half performance unprecedented in franchise history, Cleveland defeated Tennessee 9-3, setting its first win record in 13 years. The Browns also took another giant step in overcoming the league’s longest post-season drought. Cleveland, led by quarterback Baker Mayfield, scored 38 points in the first half, breaking a franchise record in the first half. Mayfield himself had a record half, becoming the first Browns quarterback since Otto Graham in 1951 to complete four touchdowns in a first half. If Mayfield continues like this, the Browns could pose more than just a threat to the playoffs for the first time since 2002. There they could actually cause damage. – Jake Trotter
Next game: Ravens (8:15 p.m. ET, Monday, December 14)
The Titans came out with little life against the Browns, giving up 38 points in the first half. The ugly defensive performances on third relegation resurfaced this week, with Tennessee giving up 10 conversions on 16 third relegation opportunities. Thanks to a 3-1 record in the division, Tennessee is still number one in the AFC South. – Turron Davenport
Next game: at Jaguars (1 p.m. ET, Sunday)
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When the Browns beat the Titans, Baker Mayfield made franchise history as the first quarterback to score four touchdown passes in the first half of the game since Hall of Famer Otto Graham.
Outstanding Artist: Colts WR TY Hilton, 110 Reception Areas, 1 TD
The Colts can’t sit back and relax too much after defeating Houston to finish first with Tennessee on the AFC South (though the Titans hold the tiebreaker). In week 14 they will be on their way again to face a team from Las Vegas that is breathing its neck for the final playoff spot in the AFC. A loss to the Raiders (7-5) would reduce the Colts’ chances of making the playoffs if they fail to win the AFC South. – Mike Wells
Next game: at Raiders (4:05 p.m. ET, Sunday)
The Texans’ slim chance in a run at AFC South ended with a mistake on the 2-yard line in Sunday’s loss, but Houston could have found a pair of playmakers with a future for the franchise. After Kenny Stills was released and Will Fuller V was suspended, the Texans had a need for the position and recipients Keke Coutee (eight catches for 141 yards) and Chad Hansen (five catches for 101 yards) took advantage of their options. – Sarah Barshop
Next game: at Bears (1 p.m. ET, Sunday)
Outstanding Artist: Viking RB Dalvin Cook, 120 express gardens (and 59 reception areas)
Sure, a win is a win, but the Vikings overtime win over the Jaguars was ugly and the team knows it. “We have to play better than what we play,” said coach Mike Zimmer before realizing the Vikings surrendering three touchdowns on sales in consecutive weeks and fumbling on the 1-yard line against the Jaguars for the chance take advantage of a 10-point lead at the end of the fourth quarter. “We can’t do these things and keep winning football games. It is in your hearts that you win games by making mistakes like this, to be honest.” If the Vikings are to improve their résumé for the playoffs, they must get a convincing win against a team with more than one win. You have the best opportunity to do this in Tampa Bay next Sunday. – Courtney Cronin
Next game: at Buccaneers (1 p.m. ET, Sunday)
For the second straight time – and for the third time in their last four games – the Jaguars were on the verge of ending their losing streak and claiming their second win, despite losing four of their top five cornerbacks and their best pass rusher on sixth To be the kicker of the season. This is an indication that this shouldn’t be a long makeover for the new GM. Take the quarterback with his top pick, hit the other three picks they had over the first two rounds, and spend them wisely in the free hand. The Jaguars could be a vastly improved team in 2021. – Mike DiRocco
Next game: Titans (1 p.m. ET, Sunday)
Outstanding Artist: Dolphins LB Kyle Van Noy, 8 tackles, 3 sacks, 5 tackles for loss, 1 pass separation
In his first game since losing to poor play and an injury to his left thumb, quarterback Tua Tagovailoa made a strong recovery. He showed he could prevail in the first half as the offensive rust subsided at half time, making way for a big third quarter. Tagovailoa pitched for a career high of 294 yards, a touchdown and no turnovers as the Dolphins’ swift offense and continued dominance on defense gave cause for optimism as they resumed a playoff push. – Cameron Wolfe
Next game: Chiefs (1 p.m. ET, Sunday)
Last season, Cincinnati’s loss to the Dolphins in extra time sealed the right to draft quarterback Joe Burrow and showed signs of struggle under new coach Zac Taylor. On Sunday, hope and optimism were the last things to be found in Miami. The defeat was arguably the low point for the Bengals in Taylor’s two seasons as coach. The Bengals skipped a lead at halftime, were utterly dominated in the second half and exhibited an astonishing lack of discipline that has not been seen since Taylor was hired in 2019. For a Bengals team it was like struggling to find ways to win. Cincinnati fell 5-1 at halftime and 9-1 at halftime, keeping Taylor on four wins in two seasons. “It’s frustrating when you don’t get those games out at the end,” said Taylor. – Ben baby
Next game: Cowboys (1 p.m. ET, Sunday)
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Mike Gesicki makes the 20-yard catch with one hand before being wedged between two Bengali defenders.
Outstanding Artist: Lions QB Matthew Stafford, 402 yards, 3 TDs
He’d been in the locker room, got a ball from quarterback Matthew Stafford, and had time to cool off after the Lions came from behind on Sunday to stun the bears. But even then, interim coach Darrell Bevell – in his first game as NFL head coach – couldn’t contain his excitement. “My feelings right now,” said Bevell. “I can’t even think clearly.” It is understandable. Bevell brought a different level of energy to Detroit’s first game since Matt Patrick’s firing, and it showed. The Lions played with confidence, and the move at the top brought something positive for the Lions in a season so far lost. – Michael Rothstein
Next game: Packers (4:25 p.m. ET, Sunday)
Blow everything up in the air. The bears (5-7) are done. Finished. About. Chicago did the impossible on Sunday after losing defeat to a Lions team that just fired its head coach and general manager. The Bears have now lost six games in a row and appear to be in serious danger of having to make major off-season changes. The defeat is particularly annoying because Detroit achieved what the rest of the league didn’t do on Sunday: The Lions made the 31st-place bears offensive look mostly good. And the bears still found a way to lose. The incessant calls to fire head coach Matt Nagy, general manager Ryan Pace – and now everyone in the building – are on the verge of reaching a fever level. It’s going to be a torturous final in four weeks in Chicago. – Jeff Dickerson
Next game: versus Texans (1 p.m. ET, Sunday)
Outstanding Artist: Raiders TE Darren Waller, 200 reception yards, 2 TDs
Among the many mottos that Al Davis has anchored in the Raiders’ DNA was this: It doesn’t matter how ugly it looks, as long as you win. Yes, a twist on his more iconic slogan “Just win, baby”. But against a winning and rudderless team like the Jets, it was more than appropriate. After a record day against Darren Waller and a miracle of a 46-yard touchdown pass from Derek Carr to Henry Ruggs III with five seconds of play, the Raiders ended a two-game loss and improved to 7-5 and remain solidly at the AFC Playoff race. Now the Raiders play three home games in a row, including two against teams with whom they fight for a place in the playoffs (Colts and Dolphins). – Paul Gutierrez
Next game: Colts (4:05 p.m. ET, Sunday)
The Jets fell devastatingly to 0-12 when defensive coordinator Gregg Williams inexplicably called an all-out blitz with 13 seconds left and Ruggs knocked rookie cornerback Lamar Jackson for a 46-yard touchdown. It was a terrible call that was criticized by Security Marcus Maye. Let the pointer begin. The jets are an embarrassment. – Rich Cimini
Next game: at Seahawks (4:05 p.m. ET, Sunday)
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