Week 13 of the NFL season is complete, so we’re casting an eye over every game, identifying the big takeaways and digging into the markets.
Around The NFL
It wasn’t always pretty, but the Detroit Lions continued on with their dominant run of form to beat the Chicago Bears 23-20. Although, it could have all been different had Chicago not found yet another new way to lose a game. It cost their coach his job in the end…
The Dallas Cowboys have enjoyed an uptick in form to beat the New York Giants 27-20. Micah Parsons was the standout as the Cowboys defence forced two turnovers and kept the Giants to just ten points after three quarters. The Green Bay Packers had all but won their game over the Miami Dolphins by halftime before securing the 30-17 win. It’s another loss in the cold for the Dolphins who are flattered by the final score.
Make no mistake the Packers bullied the Dolphins last night. Tucker Kraft and Dontayvion Wicks doin the dirt work. Tucker throws one out of the club and Wicks takes his guy to the cooler. #GoPackGo pic.twitter.com/qaFo2y3xPh
— Packerfan Total Access- Clayton (@packers_access) November 29, 2024
The Kansas City Chiefs just can’t seem to blow teams out. The could only sneak past the Las Vegas Raiders 19-17 on Black Friday. Nonetheless, they’re an NFL-best 11-1 heading into Week 14.
Jayden Daniels recaptured his hot hand for three touchdowns as the Washington Commanders smashed the Tennessee Titans 42-19. Will Levis Island remains populated after his 212 passing yards and two touchdowns.
A horror performance from Kirk Cousins saw the Los Angeles Chargers claim a 17-13 victory over the Atlanta Falcons. Cousins threw four picks as the Falcons slumped to their third consecutive loss. Meanwhile, Joe Burrow put on a clinic as the Cincinnati Bengals went down to the Pittsburgh Steelers 44-38. There isn’t much more Burrow can do for this team with 309 yards and three touchdowns in this one. Russell Wilson put on a clinic of his own, too.
Russell Wilson today:
29/38 (76%) CMP
413 YDS
3 TDs
126.3 Passer Rating5-1 Record as a Starter
THAT'S MY HOF QB ! KEEP SLEEPING pic.twitter.com/33nwgkQLEb
— 🌹 (@kawhihesi) December 1, 2024
C.J. Stroud is still struggling to replicate his Offensive Rookie of the Year season but the Houston Texans still found a way past the Jacksonville Jaguars 23-20. Trevor Lawrence failed to finish the game and might not feature again this NFL season.
Chaos continues in the NFC North as the Minnesota Vikings came back from 19-6 down late in the third quarter to beat the Arizona Cardinals 23-22. Remarkably, Sam Darnold and the Vikings are only one game behind the Lions.
The Indianapolis Colts will take any win they can get at the moment. They’ve kept their playoff hopes alive after beating the New England Patriots 25-24.
Despite pulling out to an early lead, the New York Jets crumbled to fall to the Seattle Seahawks 26-21. Aaron Rodgers threw two touchdowns in the first quarter but couldn’t keep the offence rolling, going scoreless for nearly three quarters. There might be something to this Carolina Panthers team, though. They impressed again while losing 26-23 to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in overtime.
The Los Angeles Rams are back at .500 following their 21-14 win over the New Orleans Saints. Meanwhile, the Philadelphia Eagles are well and truly back in the Super Bowl LIX conversation after their 24-19 win over the Baltimore Ravens. Notably, Justin Tucker missed another two field goals as he falls down the pecking order of kickers in the NFL.
Awful conditions and more injury issues played a significant part in the San Francisco 49ers 35-10 loss to the Buffalo Bills. Still, their hopes of getting back to the Super Bowl appear to be over.
3 Takeaways From Week 13
Bear, Oh Bear
The Chicago Bears are doing a remarkable job of finding new ways to lose.
There is a world where they’re in the the hunt for the playoffs this season had things gone differently. Instead, they’re 4-8 following a 23-20 loss to the Detroit Lions in Week 13.
Chicago did all of the hard work to come back from 16-0 behind before pulling to within three points, 45 seconds and 25 yards away from goal.
Remarkably, the Bears couldn’t get the field goal away to send the game to overtime.
The absolute WORST clock management I’ve EVER seen in football. Absolutely idiotic..#Bears #Lions
pic.twitter.com/PTsp7Jiumm— Cory Wargo CFB (@CFBUpdate_) November 28, 2024
“Our hope was that we’d re-rack that play at 18 seconds, throw it inbounds, get it into field goal range and then call the timeout. That’s where it was and that was our decision-making process on that.” – Bears coach, Matt Eberflus
The decision making process of the Bears front office landed on firing Eberflus following the embarrassing defeat. It’s the first time Chicago has made an in-season coaching change in franchise history.
Caleb Williams is also at fault. For all of his physical gifts, the smarts and composure have been left wanting in his rookie NFL season. But you can only blame the rookie quarterback for failing in late-game situations so many times. This team needs to be coached and managed at some point.
Cold Weather Narrative Wins
Plenty didn’t want to believe in the Miami Dolphins in cold weather narrative, but it won out again in Week 13.
“Man, them guys (Miami) looked like they was cold out there, so we was ready to get to it.” – Josh Jacobs
Tua Tagovailoa’s numbers suggest he busted the narrative on a personal note. He threw for 325 yards and two touchdowns at a 25-degree Lambeau Field. They will be referenced in the next game where he’s presented with cold conditions. However, Tagovailoa didn’t play well. He missed key throws early which cost the Dolphins points as the Green Bay Packers built a 24-3 halftime lead.
While Miami closed the gap, the result was never in doubt.
It isn’t all on Tagovailoa, though. The Dolphins defence struggled in the weather to miss 20 tackles which directly led to 132 additional yards according to NFL Next Gen Stats.
“I thought we were soft. Simple as that, I thought we were soft today. I don’t know if guys was too cold. … I don’t know what it was. I feel like the elements played a part in how we played as a group, and that was the result that we got.” – Jordyn Brooks
They’d previously dominated the run. Miami went five straight games without allowing an opponent to rush for 100 yards but gave up 108 yards in Week 13 – in the first half…
Narratives in the NFL can be overplayed and exaggerated, but until the Dolphins show us something in cold weather against a good team, this one sticks.
Josh Allen, on the other hand, is weatherproof.
WHAT THE?!?!?!?!
📺: #SFvsBUF on NBC/Peacock
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/tO1I6KTQRM— NFL (@NFL) December 2, 2024
Barkley beats Henry
The Ravens led 9-0 after the first quarter before the Eagles’ offense warmed up with two second-quarter touchdowns
Baltimore kicker Justin Tucker’s struggles continued — he missed two field goals and an extra-point attempt. It was the second game this year and sixth of his career in which Tucker missed two field goals.
But Barkley is the story of the day, as he has been for most of the NFL season.
Barkley’s 25-yard touchdown run with 7:56 left put the Eagles up 21-12 and in command of the game. For the day, Barkley rushed for 107 yards, while Henry tallied 82 yards on the ground.
Most Rush Yards in the NFL:
1. Saquon Barkley – 1,499
2. Derrick Henry – 1,407
3. Josh Jacobs – 987
4. Saquon Barkley *just in the 2nd half* – 982
5. Jahmyr Gibbs – 973 pic.twitter.com/19z97Jezvg— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) December 2, 2024
NFL Odds & Futures
The Detroit Lions have kept their place as Super Bowl LIX favourites at $3.75 despite going close with the Chicago Bears. Meanwhile, the Kansas City Chiefs and Buffalo Bills occupy the second line of betting at $5.50.
The Philadelphia Eagles continue to come in. Out at $8.50 after Week 11, they’re into $6 and on their own on the third line of betting. In contast, the Baltimore Ravens have blown out to $9 following their Week 13 defeat.
The Pittcburgh Steelers are one of the most interesting teams in the NFL but remain out of contention at $20 with the Los Angeles Chargers ($26) and Houston Texans ($31) also not in the picture as it stands.
| TEAM | CURRENT PRICE | LAST WEEK’S PRICE |
|---|---|---|
| Detroit Lions | $3.75 | $4.33 |
| Kansas City Chiefs | $5.50 | $5.00 |
| Buffalo Bills | $5.50 | $7.50 |
| Philadelphia Eagles | $6.00 | $7.00 |
| Baltimore Ravens | $9.00 | $7.00 |
| Green Bay Packers | $12.00 | $14.00 |
| Minnesota Vikings | $17.00 | $20.00 |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | $20.00 | $20.00 |
| Los Angeles Chargers | $26.00 | $23.00 |
| Houston Texans | $31.00 | $26.00 |