An upset-filled Week 12 slate provided insight into whether several of the NFL’s winning teams are contenders or pretenders.
Amidst the chaos, the Washington Commanders suffered a shocking loss to the Dallas Cowboys, which in turn helped Denver Broncos QB Bo Nix gain ground in the Offensive Rookie of the Year race. Meanwhile, the Houston Texans and Pittsburgh Steelers were also defeated by teams well below their weight class, raising doubts about their status as Super Bowl contenders.
With that in mind, there have been plenty of changes to our power rankings. Here’s a look at where each team stands entering Week 13. (All Week 13 matchups are on Sunday unless otherwise noted.)
Week 12: W 24-6 (at Indianapolis) | Last week: 1
Detroit has won nine games in a row after bruising its way to a commanding road victory over the Colts, marking the first time in franchise history the team has posted consecutive 10-win seasons. The Lions haven’t allowed a touchdown over their last 10 quarters and aim to continue their defensive success in their Thanksgiving Day matchup against a Bears team that has turned a corner offensively.
Week 13: vs. Chicago (Thursday at 12:30 p.m. ET | CBS)
Week 12: W 30-21 Bye | Last week: 2
The Bills look to extend their six-game winning streak in their post-bye bout with the depleted 49ers, who could be without QB Brock Purdy (shoulder). While San Francisco is dealing with several key injuries, reinforcements could be on the way for Buffalo, with WR Keon Coleman, TE Dalton Kincaid and LB Matt Milano all nearing their respective returns.
Week 13: vs. San Francisco (8:20 p.m. ET | NBC)
Week 12: W 30-27 (at Carolina) | Last week: 3
The Chiefs avoided a scare from the Panthers to clinch their fifth walk-off victory of the season behind QB Patrick Mahomes’ game-sealing 33-yard scramble. 10-1 is 10-1, but Kansas City should be concerned about its +52 point differential, the second-lowest among teams that have won 10 of their first 11 games.
Week 13: vs. Las Vegas (Friday at 3 p.m. ET | Amazon Prime Video)
Week 12: W 37-20 (at Rams) | Last week: 4
Nov 24, 2024; Inglewood, California, USA; Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley (26) runs past Los Angeles Rams safety Quentin Lake (right) during the second half at SoFi Stadium.
Alex Gallardo-Imagn Images
After shredding the Rams defense for a franchise-record 255 rushing yards and two touchdowns, each of which were runs of at least 70 yards, RB Saquon Barkley has officially entered the MVP conversation. Even so, the Eagles defense took a significant hit in Los Angeles, with edge-rusher Brandon Graham suffering a season-ending triceps injury, putting added pressure on rookie Jalyx Hunt to contribute.
Week 13: at Baltimore (4:25 p.m. ET | CBS)
Week 12: W 30-23 (at Chargers) | Last week: 6
Baltimore won the Harbaugh Bowl on Monday, rushing for 212 yards, the most yards the Chargers have allowed on the ground in a single game this season, and two touchdowns. Fifth-year linebacker Malik Harrison filled in admirably for the injured Roquan Smith (hamstring), racking up a team-high 13 total tackles, more than double the next-closest Raven.
Week 13: vs. Philadelphia (4:25 p.m. ET | CBS)
Week 12: W 38-10 (vs. San Francisco) | Last week: 7
Green Bay dismantled the hobbled 49ers thanks largely to RB Josh Jacobs’ 106-yard, three-touchdown performance. Barkley isn’t the only former New York Giant thriving with his new team, as safety Xavier McKinney collected his league-leading seventh interception against San Francisco to strengthen his Defensive Player of the Year candidacy.
Week 13: vs. Miami (Thursday at 8:20 p.m. ET | NBC)
Week 12: W 30-27 (at Chicago) | Last week: 8
Superstar wideout Justin Jefferson was kept quiet for most of this past Sunday’s NFC North showdown, but Chicago was torched by WR Jordan Addison and TE T.J. Hockenson, who combined for 276 yards and one touchdown on 15 receptions. While their victory over Chicago wasn’t easy by any means, as long as QB Sam Darnold continues to keep his turnovers to a minimum, the Vikings will have a realistic chance to win every matchup going forward.
Week 13: vs. Arizona (1 p.m. ET | Fox)
Week 12: L 24-19 (at Cleveland) | Last week: 5
Nov 21, 2024; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Justin Fields (2) throws a pass during the second half against the Cleveland Browns at Huntington Bank Field.
Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
Pittsburgh’s offensive woes persisted in its surprising road loss to the Browns, and the team now ranks 30th in red zone scoring percentage (44.74%). Seeing as though the Steelers have experimented with backup QB Justin Fields in short-yardage situations, they should consider using the dual threat more often in the red zone to help resolve their issues.
Week 13: at Cincinnati (1 p.m. ET | CBS)
Week 12: W 29-19 (at Las Vegas) | Last week: 13
Nix and WR Courtland Sutton connected for two touchdowns to propel Denver to its first road win over the Raiders since 2015. Following yet another stellar outing, Nix now holds the Broncos quarterback rookie records for completions (259), passing yards (2,548), passing touchdowns (16) and wins (seven).
Week 13: vs. Cleveland (Monday at 8:15 p.m. ET | ESPN)
Week 12: L 30-23 (vs. Baltimore) | Last week: 11
The Chargers offense struggled mightily after RB J.K. Dobbins suffered a second-quarter knee injury during Monday’s contest, and the team saw its four-game winning streak snapped as a result. While Gus Edwards wasn’t productive against Baltimore, rushing for 11 yards and one touchdown on nine carries, his previous success in OC Greg Roman’s scheme provides optimism that he can anchor the backfield if Dobbins misses extended time.
Week 13: at Atlanta (1 p.m. ET | CBS)
Week 12: W 16-6 (vs. Arizona) | Last week: 19
The Seahawks followed up a thrilling Week 11 road victory against San Francisco with a complete team effort in their win over Arizona. Seattle’s defense has allowed the third-fewest points (11.5) and fourth-fewest yards per game (287.5) since its bye, and the unit should continue improving now that edge-rusher Uchenna Nwosu (thigh) is returning to practice this week.
Week 13: at Jets (1 p.m. ET | Fox)
12. Washington Commanders (7-5)
Week 12: L 34-26 (vs. Dallas) | Last week: 9
Nov 24, 2024; Landover, Maryland, USA; Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels (5) scores a two-point conversion during the fourth quarter against the Dallas Cowboys at Northwest Stadium.
Peter Casey-Imagn Images
Washington nearly pulled off a miraculous win against Dallas, with QB Jayden Daniels finding WR Terry McLaurin for an 86-yard touchdown to make it 27-26 game with 21 seconds remaining in regulation. However, Austin Seibert missed the potential game-tying extra point, giving the Commanders their third straight loss in a divisional affair that has exposed them as pretenders.
Week 13: vs. Tennessee (1 p.m. ET | CBS)
Week 12: L 32-27 (vs. Tennessee) | Last week: 12
The Texans made costly mistakes in every facet of the game against Tennessee en route to losing for the fourth time in their last six contests. Houston must get back on track quickly to avoid an epic collapse and will need QB C.J. Stroud, who has posted the second-lowest passer rating among starters since Week 7 (74.7), to start playing well again to do so
Week 13: at Jacksonville (1 p.m. ET | CBS)
Week 12: L 16-6 (at Seattle) | Last week: 10
TE Trey McBride was the only player to shine offensively for Arizona in its road loss to Seattle, setting career highs in targets (15), receptions (12), yards (133) and YAC (76). The loss isn’t detrimental to Arizona’s season outlook since the NFC West is so tightly contested, though with three divisional games remaining, the team has little room for error.
Week 13: at Minnesota (1 p.m. ET | Fox)
Week 12: Bye | Last week: 14
The bye week game came at a much-needed time for Atlanta, losers of its last two games, as it attempts to hang onto its lead in the NFC South. The Falcons pass rush will be an intriguing unit to monitor down the stretch, as it desperately needs to improve on its league-worst sack total (10).
Week 13: vs. Chargers (1 p.m. ET | CBS)
Week 12: W 30-7 (at Giants) | Last week: 16
Nov 24, 2024; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Bucky Irving (7) runs for a first down against the New York Giants during the first half at MetLife Stadium.
Robert Deutsch-Imagn Images
Tampa Bay finally got its chance to punish one of the NFL’s bottom dwellers after dropping four straight games against playoff teams and cruised to a blowout road victory over the Giants. Fourth-round rookie Bucky Irving has emerged as an integral piece to the Bucs offense and ranks second among first-year running backs in rushing yards (579) despite playing in a crowded backfield.
Week 13: at Carolina (4:05 p.m. ET | Fox)
Week 12: W 34-15 (vs. New England) | Last week: 17
The suddenly red-hot Dolphins secured their third consecutive win this past Sunday, pulling within 1.5 games of the Broncos for the AFC’s No. 7 seed. If the Dolphins are going to reach the postseason, they’ll first have to change the narrative that they can’t win in chilly conditions, given that they’ve lost 11 straight games when the temperature is below 40 degrees Fahrenheit.
Week 13: at Green Bay (Thursday at 8:20 p.m. ET | NBC)
Week 12: L 37-20 (vs. Philadelphia) | Last week: 18
Los Angeles became the first team to go 0-8 or worse on third down in a game this season during its humbling loss to Philadelphia, a matchup that proved it isn’t a legitimate Super Bowl contender. Still, with the Rams owning the tiebreaker over the Seahawks, they should remain firmly in the playoff picture until at least their Week 18 rematch.
Week 13: at New Orleans (4:05 p.m. ET | Fox)
Week 12: L 38-10 (at Green Bay) | Last week: 15
Backup QB Brandon Allen had a nightmarish start in Purdy’s absence, completing just 17 of his 29 passes for 199 yards, one touchdown and an interception in addition to losing a fumble. We keep waiting for the 49ers to look more like the dominant team they’ve been in years past, but it’s becoming increasingly apparent that they aren’t close to capturing any type of spark.
Week 13: at Buffalo (8:20 p.m. ET | NBC)
Week 12: Bye | Last week: 20
Nov 17, 2024; Inglewood, CA, USA; Cincinnati Bengals wide receivers Tee Higgins (5) and Ja’Marr Chase (1) celebrate a Higgins touchdown in the third quarter of the against the Los Angeles Chargers at SoFi Stadium.
Sam Greene/USA TODAY Network via Imagn Images
Cincinnati is 1-3 across its last four games despite averaging the fifth-most points in the NFL during that span (29.8), and the team’s playoff hopes are dangling by a thread. A meeting with Pittsburgh, which has scored just two touchdowns over its last two games, is the perfect opportunity for the Bengals defense to finally show signs of improvement.
Week 13: vs. Pittsburgh (1 p.m. ET | CBS)
Week 12: L 24-6 (vs. Detroit) | Last week: 21
Anthony Richardson finished 11-of-28 passing for 172 yards against Detroit but played better than the stats suggest, considering his supporting cast dropped multiple passes and committed eight penalties, four of which cost the signal-caller 79 yards. According to NFL.com’s projections, Indianapolis only has a 21% chance to make the playoffs, though with four games remaining against sub-.500 teams, perhaps it can mount an improbable run.
Week 13: at New England (1 p.m. ET | CBS)
Week 12: L 30-27 (vs. Minnesota) | Last week: 22
Chicago scored 11 points in the final 22 seconds of regulation to force overtime against Minnesota, only for its offense to fizzle out once the team got there. Even though the Bears are on the verge of their sixth consecutive loss, they can at least be encouraged by the strides Caleb Williams has made under interim OC Thomas Brown.
Week 13: at Detroit (Thursday at 12:30 p.m. ET | CBS)
Week 12: Bye | Last week: 23
Interim HC Darren Rizzi’s Saints took a two-game winning streak into their Week 12 bye and figure to be a factor in the NFC South race since they boast the NFL’s seventh-easiest remaining schedule. QB Derek Carr posted his two best passing outputs this season over his last two contests and should take advantage of a vulnerable Rams defense that has allowed the eighth-most passing yards per game (239.36).
Week 12: W 34-26 (at Washington) | Last week: 26
Nov 24, 2024; Landover, Maryland, USA; Dallas Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy looks on from the sideline during the second quarter of the game against the Washington Commanders at Northwest Stadium.
Peter Casey-Imagn Images
The undermanned Cowboys bent but didn’t break against the Commanders, surviving a chaotic fourth quarter where a combined 41 points were scored. Although it was a welcome sight to snap a five-game skid, was the win really worth it if HC Mike McCarthy receives a contract extension, a potential move that owner Jerry Jones hasn’t ruled out?
Week 12: Bye | Last week: 25
The Jets, who have lost seven of their last eight games, are set to host the surging Seahawks following their eventful bye week, during which they fired GM Joe Douglas. New York may need a victory to avoid another major shake-up, with The Athletic’s Dianna Russini recently reporting that QB Aaron Rodgers could be benched in the coming weeks.
Week 13: vs. Seattle (1 p.m. ET | Fox)
Week 12: L 30-27 (vs. Kansas City) | Last week: 27
While the box score doesn’t reflect it, QB Bryce Young enjoyed the best start of his career against Kansas City, throwing for 263 yards and one touchdown in the hard-fought loss. Young has looked much more composed following a five-game stint on the bench and could be playing his way toward securing Carolina’s 2025 starting quarterback job.
Week 13: vs. Tampa Bay (4:05 p.m. ET | Fox)
Week 12: W 24-19 (vs. Pittsburgh) | Last week: 28
Despite turning the ball over three times during last Thursday’s snowy divisional clash against Pittsburgh, Cleveland converted all four of its fourth-down attempts to propel it to a 24-19 victory. Even though the season hasn’t gone the way the Browns would’ve hoped, this win should put any speculation about HC Kevin Stefanski being on the hot seat to rest.
Week 13: at Denver (Monday at 8:15 p.m. ET | ESPN)
Week 12: W 32-27 (at Houston) | Last week: 29
Nov 24, 2024; Houston, Texas, USA; Tennessee Titans quarterback Will Levis (8) attempts a pass as Houston Texans defensive end Danielle Hunter (55) applies defensive pressure during the fourth quarter at NRG Stadium.
Troy Taormina-Imagn Images
As NFL writer Scott Kacsmar pointed out, Will Levis became the first quarterback to win a game despite being sacked at least eight times and throwing a pick-six since Mark Brunell (2001) during Tennessee’s stunning road victory over Houston. Once thought to be on borrowed time, Levis has an opportunity to salvage his career with the Titans, particularly if he can get the team out of range for one of the top 2025 quarterback prospects.
Week 13: at Washington (1 p.m. ET | CBS)
Week 12: L 34-15 (at Miami) | Last week: 24
Bill Belichick might be gone, but Hard Rock Stadium remains a house of horrors for the Patriots, who allowed Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa to toss four touchdown passes against them. To make matters worse, some Patriots players were reportedly laughing in the locker room after the game, another sign that HC Jerod Mayo may not be fit to lead an NFL team.
Week 13: vs. Indianapolis (1 p.m. ET | CBS)
Week 12: L 29-19 (vs. Denver) | Last week: 31
The Raiders led at halftime for just the second time this season but couldn’t overcome Denver’s 20-point second-half scoring outburst in a game where QB Gardner Minshew II suffered a season-ending collarbone injury. After already being eliminated from the Daniel Jones sweepstakes, it’ll be up to Aidan O’Connell (455 passing yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions in four games this season) to save HC Antonio Pierce’s job.
Week 13: at Kansas City (Friday at 3 p.m. ET | Amazon Prime Video)
Week 12: L 30-7 (vs. Tampa Bay) | Last week: 30
Apparently, Jones was far from the biggest problem in New York, as the Giants played uninspired football in their first game since the former starting quarterback’s release, allowing a season-high 450 yards to Tampa Bay. Owner John Mara previously stated he doesn’t envision making personnel changes after the season, though if his team continues to look like a circus — especially with Barkley excelling — he may have no choice but to do so.
Week 13: at Dallas (Thursday at 4:30 p.m. ET | Fox)
Week 12: Bye | Last week: 32
Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence (16) walks on the sideline during the fourth quarter of an NFL football matchup Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024 at Everbank Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla. The Vikings defeated the Jaguars 12-7. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]
Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Surprisingly, the Jaguars didn’t fire HC Doug Pederson in the wake of their 52-6 Week 11 road loss to Detroit, though the 56-year-old told reporters on Monday that the team is making “in-house” changes. With QB Trevor Lawrence likely returning from a shoulder injury that has sidelined him for the last two games, it’ll be fascinating to see whether Jacksonville can finish the season on a high note.
Week 13: vs. Houston (1 p.m. ET | CBS)
