NFL Week 13: Biggest questions, takeaways for every game

NFL Nation, ESPNDec 3, 2024, 01:31 AM ET

Week 13 of the NFL season began Thanksgiving Day, as the Detroit Lions and Dallas Cowboys sent their fans home happy with victories before the Green Bay Packers joined them in the win column against the Miami Dolphins in the final game of the annual holiday showcases. The Lions took down the Chicago Bears thanks to some truly puzzling clock management by Chicago, while the Cowboys used their defense to outlast the struggling New York Giants.

On Black Friday, the Las Vegas Raiders nearly pulled off a stunning upset against the Kansas City Chiefs before a heartbreaking fumble.

On Sunday, quarterback Anthony Richardson lifted the Indianapolis Colts past the New England Patriots, and the Pittsburgh Steelers handled the Cincinnati Bengals. Later, the Philadelphia Eagles earned a big road win against the Baltimore Ravens and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers survived in overtime. Sunday night, the Buffalo Bills put on a show in the snow, defeating the San Francisco 49ers 35-10. The Denver Broncos capped things off on Monday night with a frenetic 41-32 victory over the Cleveland Browns.

Our NFL Nation reporters reacted to all the action, answering lingering questions coming out of each game and detailing everything else you need to know for every team. Let’s get to it.

Broncos

How much concern should the Broncos have after their defensive meltdown? In the end, Jameis Winston and Jerry Jeudy had ridiculous numbers — 497 passing yards and 235 receiving yards, respectively — and the Browns rolled up 552 yards overall. That will cause plenty of hand-wringing as the Broncos move into their bye week. Denver coach Sean Payton promised that he would have a critical eye on the defense, though he added that “in the end we did what we had to do”, as the defense also intercepted Winston three times, including two which they returned for touchdowns.

With cornerback Riley Moss expected to miss additional time with a knee injury, the Broncos might have to consider playing rookie Kris Abrams-Draine instead of Levi Wallace at Moss’ spot. They made that move late against the Browns, as Winston targeted Wallace successfully when he was matched up against Jeudy.

Describe the game in two words: Great escape. The Broncos had a spirited home crowd and a national audience to play in front of against a team out of playoff contention, but it almost resulted in the messiest of losses. The Broncos had a clunky first half on offense — they had two three-and-out drives in the first half — and the defense was gashed repeatedly. But they pulled out the win and are two games up on the field for the AFC’s final wild-card spot.

What we learned about the QB today: Rookie Bo Nix finished with his third two-interception game of the season — he threw two in each of the consecutive losses to open the season — but the Broncos got their first win in a game in which Nix threw a pick. He eventually finished with 294 passing yards, his second-highest total of the season, and a 93-yard touchdown to Marvin Mims Jr. — the Broncos’ first pass play of more than 50 yards this season. Nix showed more resilience than he did early in the season and rebounded more quickly from the turnovers than he had in previous games. “We’re a confident bunch,” Nix said. — Jeff Legwold

Next game: vs. Colts (Sunday, Dec. 15, 4:25 p.m. ET)

Browns

How will the Browns salvage another losing season? Cleveland’s heartbreaking loss to the Broncos gives the franchise its 22nd losing season out of 26 since returning to the city in 1999. And the defeat all but dashes the slim playoff chances the Browns had entering Week 13. Now, will Cleveland begin to evaluate more of its young players? “We got to go out there and start spoiling people’s dreams and start making people feel how we’re feeling right now,” defensive end Myles Garrett said.

Eye-popping stat: In his first game against his former team after being traded in the offseason, wide receiver Jerry Jeudy had a career-high 235 receiving yards, with 198 coming on open or wide-open targets. That represents the most such yardage in a single game since Next Gen Stats developed the metric in 2016.

Most surprising performance: Garrett, who entered Week 13 with 10 sacks, had one pressure on 26 pass rush snaps. The quiet night came without the Broncos diverting a ton of extra attention to the reigning Defensive Player of the Year. He was double teamed on three pass rush snaps, per Next Gen Stats. — Daniel Oyefusi

Next game: at Steelers (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)

Bills

What’s next for the Buffalo Bills after clinching the AFC East? Working to earn the No. 1 seed in the AFC. The Bills scored 30-plus points for a sixth straight game, the longest streak this season and tied for longest in franchise history, while limiting the 49ers to 10 points. The Bills have shown they can be dominant, and the sky is the limit as the postseason awaits.

Describe the game in two words: Snow ball. The Bills started the game with a three-and-out and then gave up a field goal. But after that, they controlled the game in all three phases — forcing three fumbles, not allowing a drive longer than six plays in the second half and getting an MVP-like performance from Josh Allen.

Eye-popping stat: Helped by a wild scoring play on a lateral from Amari Cooper, Allen — who on Sunday passed Jim Kelly for the most touchdowns in Bills history — is the fifth player and the only quarterback since 1970 to score a passing, rushing and receiving touchdown in the same game. He joins Christian McCaffrey, LaDainian Tomlinson, David Patten and Walter Payton. Allen is also the first player in NFL history with multiple games with two passing touchdowns and a receiving touchdown. — Alaina Getzenberg

Next game: at Rams (Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET)

49ers

Is it time to put the 49ers’ playoff hopes to rest? Yes. Although the 5-7 Niners are mathematically in it, there’s no reason to believe this tired, battered team has any sort of final surge in it. Realistically, the 49ers would probably need to win all of their remaining five games to get in, with a lesser chance that nine victories could steal the middling NFC West division title. But San Francisco is now two games behind Seattle while trailing the other two teams in the division by a game. Even if some of the Niners’ injured stars return, it’s difficult to imagine a scenario in which the team can go 4-1 or 5-0 against the Bears, Rams, Dolphins, Lions and Cardinals. For the first time since 2020, the Niners look as if they’ll miss the postseason.

Biggest hole in the game plan: Run defense has been an issue all season for the Niners, but it has been particularly bad the past two weeks. After a promising couple of drives Sunday night, the 49ers allowed the Bills to gash them for 220 rushing yards (5.8 yards per carry) on 38 attempts. It’s the second week in a row they’ve allowed more than 150 yards on the ground, the first time that has happened since 2021.

Describe the game in two words: Massive mismatch. Even if they were healthy, this was, perhaps, the toughest game on the 49ers’ schedule. But they are nowhere near full strength, and when you add the Bills coming off a bye week, the Niners on their second consecutive long trip and the winter weather, this had the makings of a Buffalo blowout, and it delivered. — Nick Wagoner

Next game: vs. Bears (Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET)

Buccaneers

Did the Bucs just save their season? For most of the game, the Panthers limited quarterback Baker Mayfield’s escape lanes and the Bucs’ receiving corps struggled outside of Mike Evans. It wasn’t until the fourth quarter that things — and Bucky Irving — started to click. It was far from pretty, but they’ll take this one and the 6-6 record. The Bucs were gifted a 17-13 Falcons loss to the Chargers, which dropped Atlanta to 6-6 as well. The Falcons still hold the head-to-head advantage.

Biggest hole in the game plan: Defensively, the Bucs couldn’t pressure or contain quarterback Bryce Young. Young went 6-of-11 for 83 yards, which is his second-most passing yards on play-action this season, according to ESPN Research. But the defense’s inability to close didn’t doom Tampa Bay, as Anthony Nelson forced a Chuba Hubbard fumble that Yaya Diaby recovered in overtime.

Most surprising performance: Irving’s 152 rushing yards is the most by a rookie in a game this season. His 97 rush yards in the fourth quarter alone was the fourth most by any running back this season. He has 1,017 scrimmage yards through 12 games, the second most for a rookie in Buccaneers history. — Jenna Laine

Next game: vs. Raiders (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)

Panthers

Was this a breakout game for Bryce Young? Heck yeah. Since the run game wasn’t working, he had to carry the offense. He had his second career rushing touchdown and a go-ahead touchdown pass with 30 seconds left in regulation. His 298 passing yards was the second most in his career. Had Carolina (3-9) found a way to win in overtime, with a favorable schedule and Young playing well, it had a chance to be a factor in the weak NFC South.

Eye-popping stat: Young came into Sunday averaging 177.9 yards passing per game in 23 career starts. Just today, he had 186 yards in the first half, the most of any half in his career.

Biggest hole in the game plan: Finishing in the red zone. The Panthers were 1-for-4 in scoring touchdowns inside the 20-yard line a week after going 2-for-6. One of coach Dave Canales’ signature comments is “finishing,” and the inability to do that Sunday made this game closer than it needed to be. — David Newton

Next game: at Eagles (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)

Eagles

Can the Eagles run the table? The Ravens game was their most difficult test on paper, and they aced it for their eighth consecutive win. They have a couple of formidable opponents remaining on the regular-season schedule in the Steelers and Commanders, but there is a chance they’ll be favored in every game the rest of the way — especially considering four of their next five contests are at home.

Most surprising performance: Edge rusher Nolan Smith Jr. The second-year player stepped up in the team’s first game without Brandon Graham (triceps), posting a sack, eight tackles and a tackle for loss. The Eagles applied steady pressure on quarterback Lamar Jackson and limited the top-ranked Ravens offense to 19 points.

Biggest hole in the game plan: The Eagles opened the game by mixing in targets to depth receivers and backs before homing in on running back Saquon Barkley and wide receiver A.J. Brown. That played a part in why they got off to yet another slow start offensively. Philadelphia was blanked by the Ravens in the first quarter and has the fewest points leaguewide in the opening frame this season (17). — Tim McManus

Next game: vs. Panthers (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)

Saquon Barkley scores huge 25-yard TD for the Eagles

Saquon Barkley maneuvers his way for a 25-yard touchdown to extend the Eagles’ lead in the fourth quarter.

Ravens

How will kicker Justin Tucker’s struggles impact a championship run for the Ravens? Tucker has gone from the most accurate kicker in NFL history to one of the team’s biggest question marks. He continued his seasonlong struggles by missing two field goals (from 47 and 53 yards) and an extra point. His two failed field goals came in the third quarter, when Baltimore trailed 14-12. This was the first time he has missed three kicks in a game, and he put a major dent in the Ravens’ opportunity to win the AFC North.

What we learned about the QB today: Lamar Jackson is not infallible against the NFC. Jackson, who entered Sunday with the best interconference record by a quarterback since the 1970 merger (23-1), lost for the second time in 25 games against the NFC. He finished with a solid stat line — 237 passing yards and 79 rushing yards — but he was held to his second-fewest points vs. an NFC team.

Eye-popping stat: On the Ravens’ first touchdown of the game, Jackson had 5.51 seconds from snap to his 14-yard pass to tight end Mark Andrews in the end zone, according to NFL Next Gen Stats. This was Jackson’s fifth touchdown pass this season with at least five seconds to throw, which is the most in the league. — Jamison Hensley

Next game: at Giants (Dec. 15, 1 p.m. ET)

Rams

Will slow starts prevent the Rams from winning the NFC West? Los Angeles has struggled with slow starts this season — it has scored just two touchdowns in first quarters — but Sunday was its worst of the season. The Rams were shut out in the first half for the first time in the regular season under coach Sean McVay, according to ESPN Research. The only other time that happened was their Super Bowl LIII loss to the Patriots. The Rams overcame the scoreless first half with 21 points after halftime, but that won’t be good enough against better teams, including the Bills next week.

Most surprising performance: The Rams went 3-for-3 in the red zone, tied for their best in a game with Matthew Stafford at quarterback. This has been an area of weakness this season, as they entered the game tied for 25th in red zone percentage (50%). It’s the second time they’ve done that this season.

Eye-popping stat: Rams rookie wide receiver Jordan Whittington had 100 kickoff return yards. According to ESPN Research, that’s the most in a game by a Rams player since Pharoh Cooper had 110 in Week 12 of 2017. The sixth-round pick entered the game with 69 kickoff return yards on three attempts. — Sarah Barshop

Next game: vs. Bills (Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET)

Saints

Is the Darren Rizzi magic over? Rizzi seemed to have the Saints back on track, going 2-0 after taking over for fired coach Dennis Allen. But the New Orleans offense struggled for three quarters out of its bye week, and the Saints allowed Los Angeles to pull away. The question now is whether Rizzi can regroup enough to make a stretch run to end the season on a high note.

Most surprising performance: Defensive tackle Bryan Bresee. He led the team with three pressures and had a key sack, putting him at a career-best 6.5 in his second season. The 2023 first-round pick has 11 career sacks.

Describe the game in two words: Slow start. While the defense pitched a first-half shoutout, the offense didn’t take advantage and put up only six points. That proved costly in the end when the Saints failed to tie the score with close to two minutes left. — Katherine Terrell

Next game: at Giants (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)

Texans

Can the Texans’ offense build on its second-half performance? After mustering two field goals in the first half, the offense scored two touchdowns in the second half, the most it has netted since Week 6 against the Patriots. Coming into the game, Houston was averaging nine points in second halves and the Jacksonville defense was allowing 28 points per game. The Texans’ offense won the battle, and it could be a building block heading into the team’s bye week.

Eye-popping stat: Quarterback C.J. Stroud was pressured on only 21.1% of his dropbacks and held the ball for roughly three seconds on average. That was a season low for Stroud, who was under pressure on 41% of his dropbacks coming into Week 13.

Most surprising performance: Tight end Dalton Schultz. He had five catches for 61 yards and a touchdown, his second-highest receiving yards this season and his first touchdown on the year. Without Stefon Diggs, Stroud needs Schultz as another reliable option in the passing game. — DJ Bien-Aime

Next game: vs. Dolphins (Dec. 15, 1 p.m. ET)

Joe Mixon ices the game with 1st down for Texans

Joe Mixon gets the first down to seal the Texans’ win vs. the Jaguars.

Jaguars

Have we seen the last of Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence this season? Lawrence was already dealing with a sprained left AC joint and had missed the team’s previous two games, so the concussion he suffered on the late hit by Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair complicates things further. It’s also uncertain at this point whether the hit aggravated the earlier injury. At 2-10, the Jaguars’ season is over, and the team has to decide whether it’s worth the risk to run the battered franchise quarterback out there again.

Biggest hole in the game plan: There were two bad coverage busts that resulted in wide-open Texans receivers. The first didn’t hurt because Jags cornerback Ronald Darby made up ground on Texans wide receiver Tank Dell to force an incompletion. The second did, though: Tight end Dalton Schultz had nobody within 15 yards of him and walked in for a 22-yard touchdown.

Most surprising performance: The Jaguars needed wide receiver Parker Washington to step up with Christian Kirk (collarbone) out for the year, and the second-year slot receiver finally did. He tied his career high with six catches and had the first 100-yard game of his career (103). He also had a touchdown and a 2-point conversion. Before Sunday, Washington had just nine catches in the three games since Kirk’s Week 8 injury. — Mike DiRocco

Next game: at Titans (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)

Commanders

What helped the offense bounce back? The Commanders had struggled in the previous two weeks — in losses to Philadelphia and Dallas. A big issue was the run game. In three straight losses, Washington’s running backs averaged 3.3 yards per carry with only three runs for more than 10 yards. On Sunday, the Commanders’ backs rushed for 229 yards with Brian Robinson Jr. recording 16 carries for 103 yards and a touchdown. Washington’s backs had six carries for 10 or more yards. It added up to tying a season high in points.

Describe the game in two words: Desperately needed. After three consecutive losses, Washington was 2½ games behind the Eagles in the NFC East race — and its lead in the wild-card race was down to half a game. The Commanders, on a bye next week, have winnable games against New Orleans, Atlanta and Dallas coming up.

What we learned about the QB today: Washington’s offense is better when Jayden Daniels can use his legs. He finished with 34 yards rushing; Washington is 8-2 when Daniels rushes for 33 or more yards. It also helped that he involved receiver Terry McLaurin early in the game — they connected for two touchdown passes in the first quarter. — John Keim

Next game: at Saints (Dec. 15, 1 p.m. ET)

Titans

What happened to the Titans’ run defense? Defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons boldly proclaimed “Nobody runs on the Titans” in September. That statement couldn’t have been further from the truth Sunday when the Commanders gained 267 yards and three touchdowns on the ground. Tennessee’s run defense was averaging 106 rushing yards allowed per game entering this week, but its defensive front continually allowed holes to open for Washington’s running backs. Poor pursuit angles didn’t help on the back end, either. Jacksonville is among the bottom 10 rushing teams in the league, so next week is a good opportunity to bounce back.

Describe the game in two words: Slow start. The Titans’ longest play in the first quarter was 6 yards. The Commanders had 10 plays go for more yards than that. Washington scored touchdowns on its first four drives of the game. Tennessee allowed 21 points in the first quarter, which is the most it had allowed in the first quarter of a game since 2012 against the Bears (28).

Eye-popping stat: The Titans were penalized 11 times in the first half and fell into a 28-0 hole before finally getting on the board in the second quarter. That’s the most since 2011, when the 49ers had 11 accepted penalties in the first half against the Lions. The Titans were penalized a total of 12 times for 93 yards. — Turron Davenport

Next game: vs. Jaguars (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)

Seahawks

What changes could be coming to Seattle’s special teams? The Seahawks won despite a nightmarish first half from their special teams, which lost two fumbles on kickoffs, allowed a 99-yard kickoff return for a touchdown and had a PAT blocked. The Jets scored a touchdown after cornerback Dee Williams coughed the ball up, yet another miscue on top of his two muffed punts earlier this season. It’s a mystery as to why special teams coach Jay Harbaugh hasn’t benched Williams given that the undrafted rookie isn’t providing nearly enough in the return game to make up for his gaffes. The good from Seattle’s special teams was two long field goals by Jason Myers and a blocked PAT.

Early prediction for next week: Defensive tackle Byron Murphy II will be used as a fullback. They’ve got to do something different in short-yardage situations, a season-long issue that hurt them again versus the Jets. They came away empty-handed despite running five plays from the 1-yard-line in the third quarter. Murphy, the rookie first-round pick, played some fullback in college.

Eye-popping stat: Leonard Williams’ 92-yard pick-six was the longest by a defensive lineman in NFL history, per ESPN Research. That topped Grant Wistrom’s 91-yard score in 1999, when the former Seahawk was still with the Rams. Williams also had two sacks, three tackles for loss and blocked a PAT. — Brady Henderson

Next game: at Cardinals (Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET)

Leonard Williams intercepts Aaron Rodgers, goes for 92-yard pick-six

Leonard Williams intercepts Aaron Rodgers’ pass and takes it the distance for a 92-yard pick-six for the Seahawks.

Jets

How did quarterback Aaron Rodgers fare in his first ‘healthy’ game since September? Not well. Rodgers, not listed on the injury report for the first time since Week 4, didn’t silence those who believe he’s washed up. He was dreadful for much of the game, failing for the fifth time to pull out a potential win on the final possession. His worst sequence came in the second quarter when he missed a wide-open Garrett Wilson in the end zone and threw a pick-six on the next play. Rodgers has gone three straight games with under 200 passing yards and 34 straight under 300 yards. He turns 41 on Monday, and he’s playing like it.

Biggest hole in the game plan: A total lack of discipline. The Jets gave away the game in the fourth quarter, committing eight of their 12 penalties — their most in a fourth quarter since 2013. It was a total meltdown, continuing a season-long trend. Players such as Rodgers, Wilson, Davante Adams and Quinnen Williams — some of their best players — were among the guilty parties.

Most surprising performance: Running back Kene Nwangwu went from the practice squad to the end zone in a 24-hour span. Elevated on Saturday, the former Minnesota Vikings draft pick scored on a 99-yard kickoff return, which was the Jets’ first since 2021. He also became the first player since 2019 with a kick-return touchdown and a forced fumble in the same game. — Rich Cimini

Next game: at Dolphins (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)

Steelers

Did the Steelers fix their offensive woes? After weeks of a boom-or-bust offense quarterbacked by Russell Wilson, offensive coordinator Arthur Smith opted for a safer, more efficient scheme predicated on establishing the run and a quick passing game. And it worked. With well-executed screens and early Najee Harris touches — plus a handful of Wilson’s moon balls — the Steelers found an offensive balance that had long escaped them. But will it stick? Next week’s rematch with the Browns — who held the Steelers to 19 points in Week 12 — will be a crucial measuring stick.

What we learned about the QB today: Wilson can adjust to the game plan. He wants to air it out, but he averaged 3.2 air yards per attempt in the first half. Of his 257 first-half passing yards, 191 were picked up by receivers after the catch. Part of Wilson’s undoing in Denver was deviating from the game plan, but he showed Sunday that he can stay on schedule.

Describe the game in two words: All gas. Not only did the offense move the ball at will, but the Steelers defense forced three turnovers, including a fourth-quarter scoop-and-score by rookie Payton Wilson. — Brooke Pryor

Next game: vs. Browns (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)

Bengals

Is it time to shift to developmental mode? Fire up those mock drafts! At 4-8, the Bengals’ playoff hopes are at 4.9%, according to ESPN’s FPI. And after quarterback Joe Burrow said he didn’t want to consider the outlook for 2025 and beyond until later in the season, that might be the best use of the team’s time for the remaining five games of the regular season. Sunday’s loss punctuates a disappointing year for a team that started the season with Super Bowl aspirations.

Biggest hole in the game plan: Zone defense. The Bengals had no answer for Russell Wilson, which is not something that has been said often this season. At one point, Wilson was 22-of-25 passing for 312 yards and three touchdowns against zone coverage. There will be a lot of soul searching for Cincinnati’s defense the rest of the way.

What we learned about the QB today: As things currently stand, the Bengals aren’t constructed well enough around Burrow, who has had the best season of his career. The offense just couldn’t keep pace with a defense that was torched too often, which has been the case throughout the year. Cincinnati has to take a hard look at its roster, at minimum, if it wants to maximize Burrow’s championship window. — Ben Baby

Next game: at Cowboys (Monday, Dec. 9, 8:15 p.m. ET)

Vikings

What happened to the Vikings’ offense? Minnesota didn’t have 100 yards of offense until late in the third quarter and finished with 272, its second-lowest total of the season. But quarterback Sam Darnold caught fire in the fourth quarter, and he threw the first go-ahead touchdown pass in the final two minutes of a game in his career. All told, the Vikings scored 17 points in the final 16:17 of the game.

Describe the game in two words: Stepped up. That’s what the Vikings’ defense did after appearing to be worn down by the methodical Cardinals offense. Despite being on the field for a whopping 76 plays Sunday, the Vikes held Arizona without a net yard or a first down on its final possession.

Most surprising performance: Running back Aaron Jones fumbled twice, losing one, and also dropped a sure touchdown pass in the fourth quarter before catching the go-ahead score with 1:13 remaining. Usually reliable, Jones has now tied his career record for most fumbles (five) and most fumbles lost (three) in a full season. — Kevin Seifert

Next game: vs. Falcons (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)

Aaron Jones’ TD proves to be winner as INT clinches win

After Aaron Jones’ touchdown puts the Vikings up late, Shaq Griffin gets the interception to clinch the win.

Cardinals

What cost the Cardinals after giving up a 13-point lead? Sunday would’ve been a proverbial walk in the park for the Cardinals had they been able to score a touchdown on any of their three trips to the red zone in the first half. Arizona kicked field goals from the 13-yard line twice and from the 6 once. Its three-point halftime lead could have been seven or more had it converted one or two of those trips into touchdowns.

Early prediction for next week: Wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. will parlay his 60-yard, one-touchdown afternoon this Sunday into his third 100-yard game of the season. He is due for another one and showed again versus the Vikings that he can make the big plays, securing his seventh touchdown catch of his career.

Most surprising performance: Tight end Trey McBride. He caught all 12 of his targets for 96 yards, tying for his third-best yardage output of the season. He continued to prove he is an elite playmaker for Arizona, with seven of his catches going for first downs. — Josh Weinfuss

Next game: vs. Seahawks (Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET)

Colts

What does coach Shane Steichen’s 2-point decision say about the season? Steichen’s decision to go for two points following what could have been a game-tying extra point suggests he knows the Colts have no margin for error as they chase a postseason berth. Indianapolis entered the game with a 25% shot at making the playoffs, per ESPN Analytics, and risking a loss in overtime — with a defense that struggled all day — could have been risky. Steichen is an aggressive coach, but this might have been the most aggressive call he has made in two seasons. The Colts’ playoff hopes improved to 31% with the win.

Biggest hole in the game plan: The Colts needed to be more aggressive on defense. Patriots rookie quarterback Drake Maye showed the discipline required to take the quick, short passes against the Colts’ zone coverage. New England did not punt until 5:43 remained in the game, and the Colts also made infrequent use of blitzes, which creates other questions.

What we learned about the QB today: Anthony Richardson has shown in two of his past three games that he can show up big in the fourth quarter. He has now led game-winning drives against the Jets and Patriots. And in both of those games, his powerful running was a factor — a game-winning TD run against New York and a 2-point conversion run against New England. — Stephen Holder

Next game: at Broncos (Dec. 15, 4:25 p.m. ET)

Patriots

Did the Patriots squander their best chance to win a game the rest of the season? This is a heartbreaking result for the Patriots, who had a chance to match last season’s win total (four) and instead couldn’t stop the Colts on a 19-play drive that resulted in a game-winning touchdown and 2-point conversion with 12 seconds remaining. Now they go into their bye before road games against the Cardinals and Bills. Then, they have home games against the Chargers and Bills. So yes, this was absolutely their most winnable game the rest of the way.

Biggest hole in the game plan: Red zone offense. The Patriots scored just two touchdowns in six trips inside the 20-yard line, which included an interception when a tight-window goal-line throw bounced off of veteran tight end Hunter Henry. Joey Slye also missed a 25-yard field goal.

Eye-popping stat: Drake Maye’s 41-yard run in the first quarter is the second longest by a Patriots quarterback over the past 25 seasons, trailing only Cam Newton’s 49-yard run against the Jets in Week 17 of 2021. He reached a speed of 19.4 mph, per NFL Next Gen Stats, which is his second-fastest scramble this season. — Mike Reiss

Next game: at Cardinals (Dec. 15, 4:25 p.m. ET)

Chargers

Should the Chargers be concerned about their offensive line? Entering Sunday, Atlanta’s 10 sacks were seven fewer than the next-closest team’s (the Panthers). But against the Chargers, the Falcons dominated the Chargers’ offensive line, sacking quarterback Justin Herbert five times. That’s the second-most sacks he’s taken in a game this season. Herbert has been sacked nine times over the past two games, which is a point of concern for Los Angeles as it tries to make a push for the AFC playoffs.

Biggest hole in the game plan: Rushing offense. With running back J.K. Dobbins (MCL sprain) on injured reserve, the Chargers’ rushing offense stalled and was ineffective Sunday. Running backs Gus Edwards and Kimani Vidal combined for just 52 yards, and Hassan Haskins fumbled on his only carry of the game.

Most surprising performance: Cornerback Tarheeb Still. The fifth-round rookie finished with two interceptions, including one he returned for a 61-yard touchdown. Still became the first Chargers rookie with multiple interceptions in a game since cornerback John Hendy, who did it in 1985. He has three interceptions in total. — Kris Rhim

Next game: at Chiefs (Sunday, 8:20 p.m. ET)

Falcons

Can quarterback Kirk Cousins rebound from three straight poor performances to lead the Falcons to the playoffs? Atlanta went into its bye worried about a defense that gave up 38 points to the Broncos in Week 11. Now, the big concern is at quarterback. Cousins had four interceptions Sunday — his most in 10 years — and has not thrown a touchdown pass since Week 9. The NFC South title that once seemed like a lock could slip away. Cousins and the Falcons’ coaching staff need to figure out what’s going wrong before it’s too late.

Most surprising performance: The Falcons’ pass rush, the worst in the NFL, came to play Sunday. Atlanta had five sacks, its most since Week 16 of 2023. It came into the game with a league-worst 10 sacks and had a combined five in the past six games. Linebacker Arnold Ebiketie had a breakout game with a pair of sacks.

Biggest hole in the game plan: It was a main point during the bye week that the Falcons become more efficient in the red zone. That did not come to fruition. Atlanta was 1-of-4 inside the 20, including a missed field goal by Younghoe Koo and a costly fourth-quarter interception by Cousins. Koo is now 50% on field goals since Week 7. — Marc Raimondi

Next game: at Vikings (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)

Kirk Cousins’ fourth INT doom Falcons to third straight loss

Derwin James Jr. picks Kirk Cousins on a pass over the middle, the QB’s fourth interception of the game to seal a Falcons loss.

Chiefs

Should the Chiefs be concerned about their inability to finish off the Raiders and (last week) the Panthers? In a word, yes. It’s one thing to have to go deep into the fourth quarter to outlast two of the NFL’s worst teams. But the Chiefs had sizable leads on both. They led the Raiders by 13 points late in the third quarter, this after holding a 14-point edge against the Panthers in the first half. This doesn’t bode well for the playoffs, when the competition gets much tougher.

Early prediction for next week: Newly signed D.J. Humphries will start at left tackle next week against the Chargers. Wanya Morris, who started against the Raiders, played so poorly that he was benched. Rookie Kingsley Suamataia, who began the season as the starting left tackle, isn’t an option. He, too, was benched earlier in the season.

Eye-popping stat: Patrick Mahomes’ second-quarter touchdown pass to Justin Watson had a completion probability of 26.6%, according to Next Gen Stats. That’s his lowest completion probability on a touchdown pass since 2021, a fourth-quarter TD to Darrel Williams in Week 10 against the Raiders (22%). — Adam Teicher

Next game: vs. Chargers (Sunday, 8:20 p.m. ET)

Raiders

Are the Raiders the worst team in football? Not after the scare they threw into the two-time defending Super Bowl champs. Raiders coach Antonio Pierce got tongues wagging when he acknowledged the narrative that the Black Friday game was “the best team in football against the worst team in football.” And yes, the Raiders, having lost their eighth straight game, are tied with the Giants for the worst record in the NFL at 2-10. And if you are what your record says you are, well, that should settle the debate, right? Yet, few staffs could win with the Raiders’ injury-plagued roster and QB struggles. Las Vegas, heading to Tampa Bay, is playing for more than pride with elite talents in defensive end Maxx Crosby, tight end Brock Bowers and punter AJ Cole.

Describe the game in two words: Not enough. The Chiefs were simply too deep and too good for the weary and injured Raiders, who were game but just did not have enough to pull off a second consecutive holiday week upset in Kansas City.

What we learned about the QB today: Aidan O’Connell is who we thought he was. Making his first appearance since breaking the thumb on his right (passing) hand Oct. 20, O’Connell was comfortable in the pocket and throwing deep but also displayed his trademark lack of mobility. He passed for 340 yards, completing 23 of 35 passes, but took 3 sacks, including one that knocked the Raiders out of field goal range. He outplayed Mahomes, though, on this day. — Paul Gutierrez

Next game: at Buccaneers (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)

Packers

Exactly how good are the Packers? We’re about to find out when they go to Detroit to face the NFC North-leading Lions on Thursday night, but the last time the two teams met it was a major mismatch, with the Lions jumping out to a 24-3 lead and never really looking back. Even if the Packers can’t catch Detroit or the Vikings — they still have to go to Minnesota in Week 17 — they look like a dangerous team. This much we know: The NFC North now has three teams with at least nine wins: Detroit (11-1), Minnesota (9-2) and Green Bay (9-3). It’s the first division to have three nine-win teams through Week 13 since the AFC East in 1985.

Describe the game in two words: Jacobs again. A week after Josh Jacobs dominated the 49ers on the ground, the running back showed he can do it as a receiver out of the backfield, too. While he was held to 43 yards rushing on 19 carries (with a 1-yard touchdown), he caught four passes for 74 yards — including a 49-yard catch-and-run on a dump-off pass that wound up as the longest reception of his career. The Packers might keep riding Jacobs as far as he can take them.

What we learned about the QB today: Maybe Jordan Love has fixed his interception issues. It was his second straight game without a pick after throwing at least one in his first eight games of the season, and unlike the previous game against the 49ers when he was nearly picked off several times, this time Love did not put the ball in harm’s way. He finished 21-of-28 for 274 yards and two touchdowns. — Rob Demovsky

Next game: at Lions (Thursday, 8:15 p.m. ET)

Dolphins

What does this loss do to the Dolphins’ playoff chances? It certainly doesn’t help, but they’re not mathematically out of the running just yet. The goal after a 2-6 start should have been to return to a .500 record as quickly as possible; Miami could still do so with wins against the New York Jets and Houston Texans over the next two weeks. The Dolphins will likely have to win their final three games of the season against the San Francisco 49ers, Cleveland Browns and Jets — none of whom is playing well. Playoffs are still possible, but this season is on life support.

Describe the game in two words: Wake up. The Dolphins sleepwalked through the first half and were thoroughly beaten down by a Packers team that came ready to play. Miami outscored Green Bay 14-6 in the second half, but it was far too little, far too late.

Eye-popping stat: According to NFL Next Gen Stats, the Dolphins missed 20 tackles, directly leading to 132 additional yards for Green Bay — which finished with 388 yards of offense. Miami appeared unwilling to tackle a physical Packers team for most of the game, and it showed on the stat sheet. — Marcel Louis-Jacques

Next game: vs. Jets (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)

Cowboys

Has the Cowboys’ defense taken a turn for the better? After a slow start in Mike Zimmer’s first year as defensive coordinator, the unit has put together some of its best work recently. The Giants are not exactly the best of measuring sticks, starting their third quarterback of the year, Drew Lock, on Thursday, but there are positive signs. The Cowboys had two more takeaways, including a pick-six by DeMarvion Overshown. After New York gained 70 yards on its first drive, it got just 33 yards on its next 21 plays in the first half. The true test for the defense, however, comes Dec. 9 against the Cincinnati Bengals with Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins.

What we learned about the QB today: Four days after an efficient performance against Washington, Cooper Rush was more erratic, especially in the second quarter, when he completed just 5 of 14 passes for 52 yards. He rebounded with a third-quarter touchdown pass, but a lost fumble was overturned because of replay and he had a botched handoff with Rico Dowdle that he was able to recover. But Rush did not give the ball away for a second straight game, which is what matters most to Mike McCarthy.

Most surprising performance: It has been trending in this direction recently, but the Cowboys had their first running back go for more than 100 yards since Week 3 last year as Rico Dowdle picked up 112 yards, a career high, on 22 carries. He also scored his first rushing touchdown of the season and had a season-long 22-yard run in the first half. The last time a Cowboys running back went for more than 100 yards was Tony Pollard against Arizona in 2023. The 26-game span was the longest 100-yard game drought in franchise history. — Todd Archer

Next game: vs. Bengals (Monday, Dec. 9, 8:15 p.m. ET)

Giants

How hot is the seat getting for Brian Daboll after seven straight losses and a second straight blowout? Scorching. It doesn’t matter if owner John Mara gave him vote of confidence last month. The Giants haven’t won since. And they aren’t just losing (seven straight now), they’re getting embarrassed, this time on national TV. Daboll is running out of excuses. It’s no longer Daniel Jones’ fault. The results were similar — or worse — with Tommy DeVito, and then with Drew Lock in this one. Daboll and the Giants are 8-21 since the start of last season.

What we learned about the QB today: It’s not Lock’s fault. He made some mistakes, but he also never really stood a chance. Lock took 13 quarterback hits and six sacks while throwing for 172 yards with an interception and a fumble, to go along with 57 rush yards and a touchdown on the ground. The results with Lock looked similar to those with Jones and DeVito. The Giants’ problems go well beyond just the quarterback.

Eye-popping stat: 0 INTs in 11 games. The defense’s 11 games without a pick sets an NFL record. Its only interception this season came by rookie linebacker Darius Muasau on a tipped ball in Week 1. It’s almost hard to imagine that a ball hasn’t clanked off a receiver and fallen accidentally into a defensive back’s arms this season. — Jordan Raanan

Next game: vs. Saints (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)

Lions

Will the Lions target tight end Sam LaPorta more going forward? It depends on the matchup and situation. With so many offensive weapons in Detroit, it’s almost pick your poison. LaPorta didn’t reach his second receiving touchdown this season until Week 8 versus the Tennessee Titans. However, he connected with Goff for two touchdowns versus the Bears. LaPorta has 15 receiving touchdowns over the past two seasons. That’s the most by any tight end over that span, per ESPN Research.

Most surprising performance: The Lions’ running game. Thursday was first time this season Detroit failed to score a rushing touchdown. The Lions had scored one in 25 straight games — including the playoffs — which is the longest streak in NFL history. Running backs Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery combined for 175 rushing yards against Chicago.

Early prediction for next week: Lions kicker Jake Bates won’t miss a field goal. Against the Bears, Bates missed a 45-yarder in the fourth quarter. The Lions had been the only team in the NFL to not miss a field goal this season, as Bates was 19-for-19 to start his career, including game winners at Week 7 in Minnesota and Week 10 at Houston. — Eric Woodyard

Next game: vs. Packers (Thursday, 8:15 p.m. ET)

Bears

Can Bears coach Matt Eberflus survive this loss? Eberflus defended the Bears’ disastrous clock management that led to their sixth straight loss and solidified his 5-19 record in one-score games, which is the worst by any coach with at least 20 such games in NFL history. Whether it’s a tipped Hail Mary, blocked game-winning field goal attempt, losing on a field goal in overtime or letting a timeout go to waste in Detroit, the Bears continue to find confounding ways to get beaten. Late-game decisions continue to squander quarterback Caleb Williams’ efforts to put his team in position to win, which ultimately falls on the head coach. (Note: Eberflus was fired Friday, with offensive coordinator Thomas Brown elevated to interim head coach).

Describe the game in two words: Furious comeback. The Bears turned a first-half shutout and 16-point deficit into a three-point game that they were in position to tie or win outright in the final 36 seconds. Williams led the Bears on three touchdown drives in the second half as the Chicago defense held the Lions to one touchdown after allowing nearly 6 yards per play in the first half.

What we learned about the QB today: In the second half, Williams converted in nearly every category he struggled with in the first half. He was 8-for-11 on passes outside of the numbers (0-for-7 in first half), 4-for-7 on passes with at least 15 air yards (0-for-6 in first half), 5-for-8 on third down (0-for-6) and 3-for-5 on throws when pressured (0-for-3). The quarterback set a single-season rookie franchise record at 15 touchdown passes. — Courtney Cronin

Next game: at 49ers (Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET)