Week 13 was something else. Close games, fantastic finishes, cheap shots, brawls, blizzards. A lot of the fun stuff we watch football for, although a few of the negatives (injuries, most notably) too. A lot to cover this week.
Chargers at Falcons: Football is a team game, but I think it's fair to say this loss goes on Kirk Cousins (4 interceptions). One was a ridiculous floater in the end zone that a couple of different defenders had a better chance at than his receiver. One was a Pick Six. The last was a fourth-down force, maybe he didn't have much choice, but just a rough, rough game. Huge for both conference playoff pictures. Big game for Ladd McConkey. who accounted for 117 of the just 147 yards that Justin Herbert threw for, but he left with a knee injury; I haven't seen an update. Chargers running game did nothing; Hassan Haskins lost a fumble on his only carry, so maybe we can now consider Kimani Vidal the No. 2. Drake London productive on a lot of targets, but a late maybe drop that was significant. Falcons should have won this game.
Steelers at Bengals: Like most Bengals games a shootout, and like most Bengals games a narrow loss that should stick a fork in them for good. Enough passing in this one that both Tee Higgins and Mike Gesicki paid off, not that anyone was starting both. Russell Wilson, Najee Harris, Pickens-Austin-Freiermuth....good game to start most Steelers. Bengals a nice team to put players up against. Good day for most Bengals anyone starting too, with some of it coming when the game seemed out of reach.
Texans at Jaguars: I assume most of the talk from this one is the hit on Trevor Lawrence and the ensuing melee. Pretty bad, unnecessary obviously. Unfortunate, it probably had an effect on the outcome, which was a narrow Texans win. But one of Mac Jones' better games, with both Brian Thomas and Parker Washington (who I dropped recently, sigh) having good games. C.J. Stroud disappointed despite the choice matchup, Joe Mixon did not. Nico Collins very good, Tank Dell not so much.
Cardinals at Vikings: Lots of drama in this one, with the Cardinals setting for a few too many field goals and losing by a point with Sam Darnold leading a clutch last-minute drive down the field. Justin Jefferson quiet early but stepped up late, neither ground game did a lot but James Conner was OK and Aaron Jones caught the winning TD. Huge game for Trey McBride, disappointing for T.J. Hockenson (couple of near misses, not that that helps anyone).
Colts at Patriots: Speaking of drama. Seemed like the Patriots had won this game, with big offensive and defensive plays to go up 7 late. But Anthony Richardson led a clutch scoring drive and fourth-down touchdown, and the Colts wisely went for 2 and Richardson barrelled in. I've been dissing the Colts all year and I don't think they're very good, but they're 6-7 and still in the playoff mix (especially if the Jaguars had pulled out the win over Houston). Despite the loss, good game for Drake Maye, also both Patriots tight ends. Rhamondre Stevenson had an early touchdown erased by a holding penalty, Antonio Gibson scored late. Kind of a tough loss for the Patriots and I still think the Colts are bad, but hey they won.
Seahawks at Jets: Speaking of drama, again. Jets had a pair of 2-TD leads in this one, with, an impressive Davante Adams touchdown and a kick return touchdown by Kene Nwangnu, who we always liked with Minnesota. But Geno Smith kept bringing Seattle back, the defense got some pressure (and a 92-yard Pick Six by a big guy, Leonard Williams, off Aaron Rodgers) and the Seahawks pulled it out. Between Arizona's narrow loss and Seattle's narrow win, a big day for the NFC West. Those teams play again next week, too. Kenneth Walker got stuffed at the goal line at one point, frustrating for those who had him. Later Zach Charbonnet scored the game-winning touchdown, on a drive which required a replay reversal of a Geno fumble, and a tackling penalty which wiped out a fourth-and-1 Charbonnet stuff. Painful season continues for Jets fans, but they'll get a better draft pick.
Titans at Commanders: A note on Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, who caught 2 TDs. What can you say. All he does is catch touchdowns, almost literally. I can't imagine I'll ever recommend starting a guy catching 1-2 passes most weeks, but it's nice when they count seven points. As for the game, Washington jumped out to an early 28-0 lead (Brian Robinson sure looks good when healthy, big game for Terry McLaurin too) and mostly coasted. Tennessee made things a little interesting late, but not really in doubt. Big game for Jayden Daniels, too.
Bucs at Panthers: In the Weekly last week there was some damning with faint praise of Bryce Young. I'd pretty much assumed he was done in Carolina the moment he was benched for Andy Dalton. But Young since getting back into the lineup has progressed, and yesterday -- albeit in a loss -- he had maybe his best game as a pro. Sure the Bucs are pretty bad defending the pass, he had open receivers and throws most NFL starters will or should make. But he was moving around well and handling pressure, got robbed of a touchdown pass to Adam Thielen by a questionable bit of officiating (wish I'd been higher on him), and then marched the Panthers down the field for a potential game-winning touchdowns (only to have Baker Mayfield, another written off No. 1 overall pick, bring Tampa Bay back). Great game, especially for those who have believed in Young. Bucky Irving was great, Mike Evans had an awesome one-handed touchdown catch, Thielen still has game. Chuba Hubbard lost an overtime fumble, leading to some speculation that we'll see more of Jonathon Brooks next week. First, Brooks was playing a little more in this game already, they're bringing him along. Second, I think Hubbard has earned a little more rope than that.
Rams at Saints: This was mostly Saints early, mostly Rams late. Couple big grabs and a touchdown by Puka Nacua, gritty play by Matthew Stafford, TD for Kyren Williams (a few more early carries for Blake Corum, looked pretty good I thought). Taysom Hill suffered a reportedly season-ending knee injury, Marquez Valdes-Scantling caught another touchdown. That's probably it for the Saints in the NFC South, while the Rams are very much in the mix in the wild NFC West.
Eagles at Ravens: Another game, another impressive defensive showing by the Eagles. Going into Baltimore and holding the Ravens offense down to basically 12 points (the final touchdown was meaningless) is pretty remarkable, and why it's hard to believe in the Ravens come playoff time when opposing defenses are strong and Baltimore seems to struggle to put up their regular-season numbers. Eagles offense wasn't great either but did enough, with Saquon Barkley scoring an impressive late tackle-breaking touchdown to further make his MVP case. I'm sold. Some discussion must be made of Justin Tucker. Missed from 47 and 53, and clanged an extra point off the upright. Meaningful misses. I don't think Baltimore has any choice but to continue as is, but there seem to be some confidence issues here.
49ers at Bills: Where to start with this one. OK, first, the idea of "Don't bench your studs" is certainly strengthened by Josh Allen somehow having a hand in 4 touchdowns while attempting only 17 passes in a roaring blizzard. (I'm going to have to look elsewhere than weather.com going forward, because it was not emphatic enough in describing the conditions the last couple of days). I benched Allen for Bo Nix tonight, I won anyway, but clearly I shall not be benching Allen again. The weather definitely worked against passing but it helped the running backs, and a running quarterback. Other big story from this game is Christian McCaffrey suffering what's apparently a season-ending knee injury. McCaffrey looked pretty good running it before that in this game, ironically enough. San Francisco will not be going to playoffs, that's pretty clear. Buffalo needs to have Kansas City lose one of these games it keeps managing to win, because a playoffs going through Buffalo looks tougher this year than last.
Monday, Monday: Should be a comfortable win for the Broncos, if they show up focused and playing their best ball. Strange things happen all the time in the NFL, though, as the Browns showed by beating Pittsburgh and a few teams showed yesterday in upsets or near-upsets. But in general I'm betting on Denver's defense and the Bo Nix and Courtland Sutton tandem. Broncos 24, Browns 16.