Baltimore helped its playoff chances with Lamar Jackson's third straight win at quarterback, the Bears dropped a game to the Giants, Arizona shocked Green Bay, Indianapolis couldn't find the scoreboard and Carolina continued its slide. In the later slate, Seattle cruised past San Francisco, while Tennessee knocked off the Jets late.
All that and more in Week 13's biggest takeaways from NFL Nation.
Jump to a matchup:
LAC-PIT | BAL-ATL | LAR-DET | ARI-GB | CHI-NYG
CAR-TB | CLE-HOU | IND-JAX | DEN-CIN
BUF-MIA | KC-OAK | NYJ-TEN | MIN-NE
SF-SEA | NO-DAL
Los Angeles Chargers 33, Pittsburgh Steelers 30
In a nationally televised game, the Chargers announced to the rest of the league that they are AFC postseason contenders with a late-game win over the Steelers. At 9-3 and winners of eight of their past nine games, the Chargers are just a game back of the Kansas City Chiefs (10-2) in the AFC West. Like most good teams, the Chargers are finding ways to win, the latest being a comeback from 16 points down on the road in a hostile environment at Heinz Field. -- Eric D. Williams
Clumsy play in back-to-back losses leaves the Steelers on shaky ground during a crucial upcoming stretch that features New England and New Orleans. The Steelers are struggling to finish games with authority, and the offense can't go stagnant for three straight second-half drives against a top-shelf quarterback such as Philip Rivers. Cornerback Joe Haden remains unfazed. "It's just two losses. We good," Haden said. "We're still on the path of what we need to do." -- Jeremy Fowler
Baltimore Ravens 26, Atlanta Falcons 16
Lamar Jackson staked his claim to the starting quarterback job for the rest of the season, becoming the fifth rookie QB to win his first three NFL starts. It's not always pretty or smooth, but Jackson brings a run-first offensive identity that has turned Baltimore into a serious playoff contender. The Ravens (7-5) hold a one-game lead for the No. 6 playoff spot in the AFC, thanks primarily to Jackson's running ability. There is a chance Joe Flacco could be cleared to play in next Sunday's game against the Chiefs, but it would be difficult to take the job away from Jackson at this point. -- Jamison Hensley
The Falcons needed to count on their offense if they had any chance of salvaging the season. Instead, the offense failed once again in a fourth consecutive loss. Managing 131 total yards against the Ravens -- Atlanta's lowest since totaling 105 in a 1999 loss to the 49ers -- seems inexcusable for a team that has a one-time MVP in Matt Ryan and five-time Pro Bowler Julio Jones. But, as Ryan said, the Falcons didn't execute the plays, and some of the playcalls were questionable. Now the 4-8 Falcons have to figure out how to move forward at Green Bay. -- Vaughn McClure
Los Angeles Rams 30, Detroit Lions 16
The Rams overcame a slow start on offense Sunday to clinch their second consecutive NFC West title. Aaron Donald had a strip-sack at a crucial point in the fourth quarter that Todd Gurley converted into a touchdown to put the game out of reach. The Rams (11-1) are in first place in the NFC and in control of home-field advantage in the playoffs. That alone should provide motivation next Sunday in Chicago. -- Lindsey Thiry
Philip Rivers speaks with Michele Steele on the comeback win, what was said at halftime and who is the real MVP, his wife or Desmond King.
Sunday's loss to the Rams ensures Detroit will not have three consecutive winning seasons for the first time since the mid-1990s. It also means the Lions will go 25 years (and counting) without a division title. How the Lions lost -- mistakes in the fourth quarter that crushed them -- is emblematic of the team's problems, no matter the coach, quarterback or general manager, over the past quarter-century. And it leaves the Lions with little to play for over the last month of the season. -- Michael Rothstein
Arizona Cardinals 20, Green Bay Packers 17
The Cardinals' shot at the No. 1 overall NFL draft pick took a hit Sunday. As Arizona improved to 3-9, quarterback Josh Rosen's resolve was on display yet again. He showed bad plays don't bother him after he shook off a near-interception to throw a game-saving, 32-yard pass to Larry Fitzgerald on third down, which eventually led to the winning field goal by Zane Gonzalez. They get another team looking for a high pick in the Lions next Sunday. -- Josh Weinfuss
The Packers' shocking loss to the two-win Cardinals on Sunday night was so bad it served as the final straw to Mike McCarthy's coaching tenure. Not long after, McCarthy was fired with four games to go. "This was a game that we have won in the past, expected to win," Aaron Rodgers said. "Teams that want any shot of having some postseason success have got to win these games. Dome team, [34] degrees, snow, wind -- it's playing right into our hands, and we just came out flat." The loss, when they were a two-touchdown favorite, all but wiped out any chance for the playoffs and led to another offseason of change in Green Bay. -- Rob Demovsky
New York Giants 30, Chicago Bears 27
After blowing a 16-point lead last week to the Eagles, the Giants (4-8) allowed a 10-point edge to disappear in the final two minutes of regulation against the Bears. They escaped with an OT win and avoided being officially eliminated from playoff contention for at least another week (they have Washington next week). Coach Pat Shurmur wants "tough, resilient people." That's why he believes this team is growing with a new culture and learning how to win. -- Jordan Raanan
The Bears need quarterback Mitchell Trubisky (right shoulder) to start next week. Backup Chase Daniel did an admirable job the past two weeks, but Chicago's offense looked out of sync during most of Sunday's overtime loss to the Giants. Trubisky threw on the field prior to the game and is still officially listed as "day to day" by coach Matt Nagy, but it's difficult to envision the Bears knocking off the Rams next Sunday night without Trubisky under center. -- Jeff Dickerson
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 24, Carolina Panthers 17
For the second consecutive week, Jameis Winston played turnover-free football, throwing for 259 yards and two touchdowns, and the defense got four sacks and four takeaways despite finishing the game without a single starting defensive back. Safety Andrew Adams, who had one career interception heading into Sunday's game, recorded three picks. After the game, Winston said, "We can't stop playing like we're playing right now. I love the way we're playing, I love winning. It just feels good." -- Jenna Laine
Cam Newton threw four interceptions for the first time since his rookie season, and it came only a few days after he said he was playing the best football of his career. And now tight end Greg Olsen appears lost for the season with a ruptured plantar fascia. Coach Ron Rivera, who became more involved in the playcalling against the Bucs, is being asked about his job security with rumblings that owner David Tepper is growing restless. The Panthers have gone from looking like one of the best teams in the NFC at 6-2 to being 6-6 and in total disarray with a trip to Cleveland next week. -- David Newton
Houston Texans 29, Cleveland Browns 13
The Texans have won nine consecutive games, and this victory came after the defense dominated Cleveland in the first half, allowing 74 yards and zero points. Houston will attempt to continue their winning streak -- now the longest in the NFL -- when they host the Colts in Week 14. After Indianapolis lost to the Jaguars on Sunday, the Texans have a three-game lead in the AFC South and have a chance to clinch the division next Sunday. -- Sarah Barshop
The 350 yards produced by Baker Mayfield in the second half were offset by his three first-half interceptions. The Browns saw their brief two-game winning streak end because they fell behind, which led to a step back for a team that chirped pretty good after a win in Cincinnati. Now they host the Panthers, who have lost four consecutive games. -- Pat McManamon
Jacksonville Jaguars 6, Indianapolis Colts 0
The Jaguars' offense wasn't any better with Cody Kessler at quarterback, but the defense certainly raised its level of play Sunday. The Jaguars held the Colts scoreless, forced two turnovers, sacked Andrew Luck three times and stopped the Colts three times on fourth down. The Colts were averaging 34.6 points per game during their five-game win streak, and Luck had tossed at least three TD passes in eight consecutive games. But the Jaguars resurrected the Sacksonville defense that was one of the league's best last season. If it sticks around the rest of the season, the Jaguars have a legitimate chance of getting back to .500, starting with Tennessee on Thursday. -- Mike DiRocco
The Colts' five-game winning streak and playoff hopes took a major hit when Luck was shut out for the first time in his NFL career. The Colts (6-6) trail Baltimore (7-5) by a game while also having the same record as Denver and Miami. Said receiver T.Y. Hilton: "11-5 gets you in. 10-6 gets you in, but 9-7 does not get you in. We can't lose anymore. Have to go out there and play." Indianapolis faces a must-win next week at Houston. -- Mike Wells
Denver Broncos 24, Cincinnati Bengals 10
The Broncos have a three-game winning streak after a victory over the Bengals on Sunday to climb back to 6-6 and keep themselves in the playoff race. They believe a highly difficult schedule over the season's first 10 weeks -- six games combined against the Chiefs, Rams, Seahawks, Chargers and Texans -- has left them battled-tested and ready make something of the season. It all means they still have a chance to secure a wild-card spot starting next week in San Francisco. -- Jeff Legwold
The Bengals' season is essentially over, and it's time to begin questioning where they go from here. They are playing out the string after falling to 5-7, and it looks like they're going to have to do it without A.J. Green, who was re-injured on Sunday. Do the Bengals keep coach Marvin Lewis for the second year of the two-year deal he signed last year? Or do they clean house and start fresh? The Bengals need to do something to inject life into a team that has become stale. -- Katherine Terrell
Miami Dolphins 21, Buffalo Bills 17
Xavien Howard is a star. The Dolphins somehow found a way to stay alive in the AFC playoff race with a win over the Bills despite just 175 yards of total offense and allowing Josh Allen to gain 135 rushing yards, but Howard loudly made his presence known with two interceptions. He has an NFL-leading seven interceptions and declared himself "the best cornerback in the league." His teammates agree, and he should receive Pro Bowl or All-Pro honors soon to validate his strong season, with his next opportunity for splash plays coming next Sunday at home against New England. -- Cameron Wolfe
Allen had a 71.7 passer rating, but it might have been the most encouraging 71.7 rating you'll ever see. Allen showed pinpoint accuracy on two touchdown passes, made countless plays outside the pocket and put the Bills in position to win. Allen's last-minute heave, after spinning several times to elude pressure on fourth-and-11 from the Dolphins' 30-yard line, should have been caught by tight end Charles Clay. He is also emerging as one of the NFL's top rushing threats at quarterback, having gained 234 yards over the past two games. According to the Elias Sports Bureau data, that is the most rushing yards by a quarterback in a two-game span since Green Bay's Tobin Rote had 281 in 1951. -- Mike Rodak
Kansas City Chiefs 40, Oakland Raiders 33
The Chiefs can survive without Kareem Hunt, who was cut Friday after the release of a video in which he shoved and kicked a woman. The Chiefs won't always rush for 174 yards, as they did against the Raiders, but their running game operated well without Hunt in their first try. That's something that will serve them well in next week's game against the Ravens, who have one of the league's best defenses. -- Adam Teicher
The Raiders are having fun again, even if they lost their 10th game of the season Sunday. This one was a highly entertaining defeat at the hands of the high-powered Chiefs, leaving them tied with the 49ers for the worst record in the NFL. As quarterback Derek Carr put it, they should have this same attitude every week, win, lose or tie. And with the Steelers coming to Oakland next, that mantra will again be put to the test. -- Paul Gutierrez
Tennessee Titans 26, New York Jets 22
The Titans kept their slim playoff hopes alive with their win over the Jets. The defense kept the game close, and Marcus Mariota led the Titans to a fourth-quarter comeback for the 11th time since 2015. The vertical threat that wide receiver Taywan Taylor displayed with receptions of 44 and 55 yards on Sunday will need to resurface in Thursday's game against the Jaguars. The Titans have to string together consecutive wins if they plan on playing in the postseason. -- Turron Davenport
The clock is ticking on the Todd Bowles era. The Jets have lost six in a row, this time with an 11-penalty meltdown against the Titans. The players blamed themselves, not the coach, but we know how this movie will end. It's only a matter of when, not if, Bowles will be fired. -- Rich Cimini
New England Patriots 24, Minnesota Vikings 10
The Patriots' defense showed it can take away an opponent's strength, as the NFL's leading receiver, Adam Thielen, had a quiet day. Thielen had terrorized foes, but the Patriots were determined to not let him do that to them. That's good news for a unit that is building confidence heading down the homestretch, and the Patriots need it because their offense is still finding its groove. -- Mike Reiss
Minnesota is now 1-2 in a critical, four-game stretch that could decide its playoff fate and where it would be seeded in January. The Vikings had a big opportunity to gain some ground in the postseason race with losses by Chicago, Green Bay and Carolina in Week 12. Instead, a loss to the Patriots is how they'll head into Monday Night Football next week against Seattle. -- Courtney Cronin
Seattle Seahawks 43, San Francisco 49ers 16
What the Seahawks hope will be another late-season run got off to a good start with their win over Richard Sherman and the 49ers. Last season notwithstanding, they've been excellent finishers under Pete Carroll. Sunday's win makes them 22-8 in regular-season games played in December and January since Carroll arrived in 2010. The Seahawks are still in excellent position for a wild-card berth, and it'll help that three of their final four games are at home. -- Brady Henderson
The 49ers are not only in the driver's seat for the No. 1 overall pick, but they're playing like a team deserving of it. All of the injuries and turnover issues that have been prevalent all season have come together at once. The Niners have lost their past two games by a combined 45 points. With four games to go, it's hard to see wins on the horizon and easy to see San Francisco as the team picking first come April. -- Nick Wagoner
Dallas Cowboys 13, New Orleans Saints 10
The Cowboys enter December in first place in the NFC East. A four-game winning streak has them at 7-5 and believing in their direction as the most important month of the season begins. "One thing about playing a team of this caliber is that every tackle and everything means so much," owner and general manager Jerry Jones said. "You get to see what your best is made of." It would be even bigger for the Cowboys if they can beat the world champion Eagles next Sunday at home. -- Todd Archer
The Saints and Drew Brees went overboard in proving they're human with a total offensive flop in Dallas that dropped them to 10-2. Of course, they will bounce back, since they were one of the best offenses in NFL history through their first 11 games, but even if they don't lose again this season, they still might not be able to catch the 11-1 Rams for the top seed in the NFC. The Saints will try to get back on track next week at Tampa Bay. -- Mike Triplett