Eric Williams
NFL reporter
The Buffalo Bills and Kansas City Chiefs have secured playoff spots with 5 weeks left within the season and can now battle for the No. 1 seed within the AFC. And in a battle between two different prime groups, the visiting Philadelphia Eagles outlasted the Baltimore Ravens, successful their eighth straight recreation.
As these groups push for the Super Bowl, one participant in final yr’s large recreation seems destined for a reset. The San Francisco 49ers had been throttled for the second consecutive week, this time within the snow by the Bills. To make issues worse, the 49ers have probably misplaced star working again Christian McCaffrey for the rest of the season as a result of a PCL knee damage.
Week 13 additionally gave us our closest video games of the season. According to FOX Sports Research, 12 of the 14 video games had been determined by one rating, which ties the league report for a single week.
The New England Patriots had been eradicated from the postseason, the primary time the storied franchise had been eradicated so early since 2000.
Let’s take a more in-depth take a look at who’s scorching and who’s chilly from week 13.
WHO IS HOT
Russell WilsonQB, Steelers
The Steelers continued their successful methods with a 44-38 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals, pushing their report to 5-1 with Wilson because the group’s starter.
On Sunday, the 36-year-old QB performed like a youthful model of himself for the Seattle Seahawks. His 414 passing yards had been essentially the most because the Legion of Boom and the second-most in his NFL profession. Wilson additionally threw three landing passes, tying essentially the most he is had in a recreation in three years.
According to FOX Sports Research, Wilson is the primary Pittsburgh quarterback with no less than 400 passing yards in a recreation since Ben Roethlisberger in 2018.
Leonardo WilliamsFROM, Seahawks
The USC product makes his second consecutive look within the Heat Index after one other dominant efficiency. Playing towards the Jets, his former group, Williams had two sacks, a blocked kick and a 92-yard interception for a rating.
His second sack of 40-year-old New York quarterback Aaron Rodgers sealed the 26-21 victory for Seattle. The Seahawks achieved their third consecutive victory, transferring to 7-5 and in sole possession of first place within the NFC West. Seattle wanted Williams’ heroics to win as a result of the Seahawks had two fumbles recovered by the Jets on kickoffs, a 99-yard kickoff return for a rating by Kene Nwangwu and a blocked additional level.
Seahawks’ Leonard Williams on his dominant efficiency within the win over the Jets
Tarheeb AgainCB, Charger
A fifth-round choice by the Bolts on this yr’s draft out of Maryland, Still completed with two interceptions in a win over the Atlanta Falcons, together with one returned 61 yards for a rating.
He is the second rookie in franchise historical past to throw a number of interceptions and return one for a landing in a recreation, becoming a member of defensive finish John Hendy, who achieved the feat in 1985 towards the Bills.
He nonetheless has three interceptions this yr and the Chargers have 13 on the season, fourth-most within the NFL.
DeMarvion exaggeratedPOUNDS, Cowboys
The second-year linebacker completed with 9 mixed tackles, a fumble restoration and an interception returned 23 yards for a rating in Dallas’ Thanksgiving Day win over the New York Giants.
According to Next Gen Stats, Overshown has generated 21 pressures on 74 cross rushes this season (28.4%), tied for third-most within the league by an off-ball linebacker. At 5-7, the Cowboys nonetheless have a glimmer of hope to get again into the playoff hunt. Dallas hosts the Bengals in Week 14.
James CookRB, Invoices
The Georgia product totaled 107 dashing yards and a rating in Buffalo’s large residence win over San Francisco. Cooks now has 11 dashing touchdowns this season.
Most of Cook’s manufacturing got here on a 65-yard landing run within the first half. According to Next Gen Stats, Cook reached a prime velocity of 21.85 mph, the seventh-fastest velocity reached by a ball provider on a play this season and the quickest of Cook’s profession. And, oh sure, he was working within the snow.
WHO IS COLD
Kirk CousinsQB, Hawks
Atlanta’s beginning quarterback threw 4 interceptions and posted a 40.0 passer score, placing the Falcons under .500 for the primary time since Week 4.
According to Next Gen Stats, since Week 10, Cousins has posted three consecutive video games with a damaging EPA. Cousins’ minus-24.6 EPA over that span ranks third-lowest amongst quarterbacks. His struggles could lead on Atlanta to think about a commerce for rookie QB Michael Penix Jr.
Azeez Al-ShaairPOUNDS, Texans
With Jacksonville’s Trevor Lawrence sliding for cover, the Houston linebacker delivered a forearm blow to the quarterback’s head that left him sprawling on the sector, triggering a melee between the 2 groups.
Lawrence left the course in a golf cart and was dominated out for the rest of the match. Al-Shaair was despatched off for the vicious and unlawful strike, which can possible warrant a suspension. He later issued an apology for the late shot through X.
Chuba HubbardRB, Panthers
With Carolina in subject purpose place at Tampa Bay’s 30-yard line for a possible game-winner in extra time, Hubbard was stripped of the ball by Buccaneers linebacker Anthony Nelson, with the unfastened ball recovered by YaYa Diaby. Carolina kicker Eddy Pineiro additionally missed subject objectives of 38 and 45 yards that would have received the sport in regulation for the Panthers.
Tampa Bay’s offense moved the ball into place for the successful rating, a 30-yard subject purpose by Chase McLaughlin. Hubbard’s mistake derailed one other robust efficiency from Carolina quarterback Bryce Young and veteran receiver Adam Thielen.
Antonio Pierce, head coach, Marauders
Las Vegas had an opportunity to defeat the back-to-back champion Chiefs, however Pierce’s curious selections within the remaining moments of the sport contributed to the Raiders’ eighth straight loss.
With the ball at Kansas City’s 32-yard line – in place to kick a game-winning subject purpose – Pierce as an alternative selected to snap the ball as soon as once more to take seconds off the clock to disclaim a possible Patrick Mahomes comeback . But quarterback Aidan O’Connell fumbled the shotgun snap and Chiefs linebacker Nick Bolton recovered to seal the win for Kansas City.
Pierce, who referred to as his group the worst in soccer, nonetheless has 5 video games to show he needs to be the precise particular person to teach the Raiders past this season.
Eric D. Williams has reported on the NFL for greater than a decade, masking the Los Angeles Rams for Sports Illustrated, the Los Angeles Chargers for ESPN e Seattle Seahawks for the Tacoma News Tribune. Follow him on Twitter at @eric_d_williams.
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