Week 13 saw some interesting results. Here are my winners and losers:
Winners:
- New Orleans Saints: Running backs Alvin Kamara and Mark Ingram rushed for a combined for three touchdowns. Quarterback Drew Brees threw for 269 yards and a touchdown. The Saints defeated NFC South rival Carolina Panthers 31-21. For now, the Saints have control of the division.
- Minnesota Vikings: Quarterback Case Keenum threw for 227 yards and two touchdowns. Defensive stops helped the Vikings hold off the Atlanta Falcons 14-9.
- Baltimore Ravens: Quarterback Joe Flacco threw for 269 yards and two touchdowns. Running back Alex Collins rushed for two touchdowns. The defense caught two interceptions as the Ravens dominated the Detroit Lions 44-20. Don’t look now, but the Ravens are a quiet 7-5.
- Dallas Cowboys: Quarterback Dak Prescott threw for two touchdowns. Running back Alfred Morris rushed for 127 yards and a touchdown. Wide receiver Ryan Switzer had an 83-yard punt return for a touchdown. The defense caught two interceptions and had four sacks as the Cowboys defeated the Washington Redskins 38-14, keeping their playoff chances alive.
- San Francisco 49ers kicker Robbie Gould: He’s as good as Gould, in his first trip back to Chicago, he had five field goals including the game-winner with five seconds left as he single handily defeated the Chicago Bears 15-14.
- Seattle Seahawks: Quarterback Russell Wilson threw for 227 yards and three touchdowns. The defense also led the way as the Seahawks defeated the Philadelphia Eagles 24-10.
Losers:
- Kansas City Chiefs: Despite quarterback Alex Smith throwing for 366 yards and four touchdowns, ill-timed penalties and losing their cool, were the Chiefs’ undoing in their loss to the New York Jets 38-31.
- Atlanta Falcons: They were only 1 for 10 on third downs in their loss to Minnesota.
- Carolina Panthers: The Panthers weren’t able to overcome from drops and giving up too many big plays in their loss to New Orleans.
- Detroit Lions: Not able to put together enough scoring drives and losing quarterback Matt Stafford to a hand injury cost the Lions in their loss to Baltimore.
- Washington Redskins: Turnovers stalled drives in their loss to Dallas.
- Philadelphia Eagles: Though they had the edge in first downs, time of possession, and total yards, they didn’t turn them into points in their loss to Seattle.
Storylines Going Into Week 14:
Atlanta hosts New Orleans. Oakland battles Kansas City. Minnesota travels to Carolina. Washington meets the Los Angeles Chargers. Philadelphia plays the Los Angeles Rams.
An intriguing intra-conference matchup, Seattle goes cross-country to play Jacksonville. In the AFC North, Baltimore battles Pittsburgh.