NFL Week 13 Takeaways: Defence steps up as Broncos dodge upset vs. Commanders

Week 13 has been defined by upsets, so it was only fitting that Sunday’s slate should very nearly end with another. And had it not been for the outstretched arms of Nik Bonitto as the linebacker blocked Commanders quarterback Marcus Mariota’s pass on a two-point attempt that would’ve earned Washington the unlikeliest of overtime victories, we would be talking about yet another upset on Sunday night. 

Instead, we’re talking about a ninth straight win for the never-say-die Broncos, a team that is talented enough to be just the second squad this season to hit double-digit wins, yet has a habit of waiting until the last possible moment to claim almost every single one of them. 

Sunday night’s 27-26 overtime victory against the Commanders really tested the limits of that. 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 total wins this season, eight have come down to one-score games.

Sunday night brought the slugfest few expected from a matchup between two clubs in such drastically different positions in the standings. But it was a fun and fitting way to close out a wild Week 13. 

Here’s a collection of our top takeaways from Sunday’s matchups.

Bills run all over Steelers to keep pace in wild-card race

The Buffalo Bills arrived in Pittsburgh without two starting tackles, without two top offensive weapons, and without much momentum to close out a very up-and-down month of November. None of that mattered against the Steelers on Sunday, though, because James Cook came to play. On a windy night that called for rushing plays early and often, Buffalo’s crucial 26-7 victory had Cook’s fingerprints — or rather, his footprints — all over it. Cook ran for 144 yards on 32 carries in a monster outing that also saw him lead his teammates in receiving, with a trio of catches for 33 yards. 

Cook’s efforts, combined 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 Bills put up season-high rushing numbers — and historic ones, too — in Pittsburgh.

Allen made some individual history, too, his rushing TD marking the 76^th of his career and surpassing Cam Newton’s record for such scores by a QB. 

The Bills’ victory couldn’t 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 in which they won gives them plenty to build on at the perfect time, considering fellow AFC hopefuls like the Chargers, Jaguars, and Texans all won on Sunday, too. As the weather gets colder and the playoff race heats up, an identity as a run-heavy club will serve them well down the stretch. 

Steelers look lost

While the Bills’ victory went a long way in solidifying their identity, the Steelers’ loss threw their own into question. Pittsburgh had no answers on either side of the ball Sunday against Buffalo — a jarring sight for the home squad that has a long-standing tradition of solid defence and rushing attacks.

The Steelers’ sluggish run game had the Bills’ porous run defence resembling a brick wall. Their staunch pass-rush, boasting some of the best in the league at pressuring opposing QBs, looked mild-mannered against a Bills’ O-line featuring 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 very winnable division. But they do look lost, and that’s what is so troubling about this team.

This is a franchise that looks and sounds like it’s in need of a fresh start at multiple positions. How they proceed down the stretch will tell us a lot about whether the players agree. It’s becoming increasingly clear that another season at or above .500 won’t cut it. 

Rams miss opportunity at the top, Panthers appear ready for a playoff push

The football world just spent a week talking up Matthew Stafford’s MVP case and the Los Angeles Rams’ status as the consensus top team in the NFL. 

So, naturally, they just lost to the Carolina Panthers. Not only did the Panthers top the Rams 31-28, but they did so with some statement-making, streak-ending plays: After throwing just two interceptions all season so far, Stafford gave up two in the first quarter to the Panthers. The timing of the first one was actually kind of funny — right after Stafford set a new record for consecutive touchdown passes without an interception (28), he threw his first pick of the game. 

L.A. could’ve created a little space for itself atop the NFC, following Philadelphia’s loss to Chicago on Black Friday. Instead, they remain just slightly ahead of their NFC West neighbours in a pressure-packed, grid-locked division. (The Seahawks’ blanking of Minnesota and the 49ers’ win over Cleveland means all three have nine wins.)

But let’s talk about Carolina. Because what the Panthers did was pretty remarkable, on both sides of the ball. Defensively, Carolina was relentless with their pressuring of Stafford, and came up huge late with a strip-sack by Derrick Brown — who was also pivotal in Stafford’s first interception earlier in the game — to ice the victory instead of allowing a Rams field goal attempt that would’ve tied the game.   

Offensively, Bryce Young looked unflappable as he led the Panthers downfield drive after drive. The rushing duo of Chuba Hubbard and Rico Dowdle collaborated to make the NFL’s top run defence look beatable. It was a complete team effort that has the Panthers on the brink of contention. (Had the Tampa Bay Buccaneers not bounced back from their three-game skid with a win over Arizona, we’d be looking at an NFC South with the Panthers at the top.)

In a season that has plenty of surprises — um, have you seen the Bears sitting atop the NFC?! — the Panthers’ surge is yet another great story to watch down the stretch. After beating the best, they look capable of contending.

Seahawks’ defence puts up special performance

“Special” feels like an understatement when we’re talking about a unit that just posted a shutout, complete with four sacks and four interceptions and just 162 total yards of offence allowed. (If you’re a fantasy football GM who just happened to match up against an opponent with Seattle’s D in their lineup, you might be reaching for other words right now.)

In a game that featured Sam Darnold facing his former team as the biggest headline at kickoff, it was Seattle’s defence that told the story of this 26-0 win. Sure, Minnesota’s offence wasn’t exactly set up for success considering undrafted rookie Max Brosmer was at the helm in his NFL debut. But as we enter the stretch run of a season that’s seen the Seahawks’ offensive output at times overshadow its excellent defence, games like this really focus the microscope on both. 

The NFC West crown is going to come down to the wire, and at this rate, the Seahawks appear ready for a run. 

AFC South race picks up its pace

What do you get when you combine back-to-back losses for the Indianapolis Colts, three straight wins for the Jacksonville Jaguars, and a four-game win streak for a Houston Texans team celebrating the return of their QB1?

You get a red-hot playoff race in the AFC South that promises a dramatic December. The Jaguars cruised to a 25-3 victory over the Titans to jump into the division lead, 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 down Indy with another defensive masterclass on Sunday, they might just be the most dangerous team of the bunch right now, considering the return of C.J. Stroud following nearly a month in concussion protocol. That Houston stayed afloat without him is a testament to just how dominant their defence is. 

As pivotal as Week 13 was for this divisional race, next weekend raises the stakes even higher. Jacksonville can do itself a massive favour with a win over Indy next Sunday, while the Texans take on the Chiefs in what is a must-win for both AFC wild-card clubs. 

December is going to be fun. 

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