NFL Week 13 reaction: Notes and observations
It’s time for some NFL Week 13 reaction, and it starts with the AFC playoff picture continuing to shift drastically.
– We start with the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers. What has been a classic rivalry for the past 20 years once again provided a classic. Pittsburgh won 20-19, beating the Ravens and keeping its season alive. The Steelers aren’t the story, though, as Baltimore fell to 8-4 and into a wild four-way tie atop the AFC. However, the bigger issue is losing corner Marlon Humphrey to what is believed to be a torn pec. Without the All-Pro, it’s hard to see Baltimore hanging around with that pass defense.
Want $250 to bet on Monday Night Football?
– The Detroit Lions finally won a game on Sunday, beating the Minnesota Vikings on the final play of the game, 29-27. Detroit is 1-10-1 and still the odds-on favorite to have the worst record in the NFL, but the Lions don’t have to worry about having a second winless season this century. Kudos to rookie head coach Dan Campbell, who has been fighting and sticking by his players, and finally sees a victory through.
– Don’t look now, but the Washington Football Team is starting to roll. Washington had been hideous for much of the season on the defensive side, but suddenly things have turned. The unit has been stifling lately, holding both the Seattle Seahawks and Las Vegas Raiders to under 20 points each. The final five games are winnable for Washington, which has the Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys twice apiece, with a road date against the New York Giants as well. Huge opportunity.
Read: NFL Week 13 Reaction – Top 5 Storylines
– The best game of the week is still to be played. It’s the Buffalo Bills playing host to the New England Patriots, who are currently leading the AFC East by a half-game following a six-game winning streak. If the Patriots win, they move to 9-4 and have the AFC’s best record with a 1.5-game lead in the division. Meanwhile, should the Bills win, they become part of the four-way tie at 8-4 and the Patriots drop into the fifth seed in the playoff picture.
– The San Francisco 49ers have to be sick. Seattle couldn’t score a point for much of the last two months and then notched 30 against San Francisco, including a 73-yard run for Travis Homer on a fake punt. The 49ers are still in the playoff picture at 6-6, but should they not get into the postseason, that’s a crushing defeat for Kyle Shanahan’s group.
