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2021 NFL season, Week 13: What we learned from Sunday's games

Published: Dec 05, 2021 at 05:06 PM

Around The NFL breaks down what you need to know from all of Lord's day's action in Week 13 of the 2021 NFL season. Grab upwards on each game's biggest takeaways using the links below:

• Kansas Urban center Chiefs 22, Denver Broncos 9
• Pittsburgh Steelers 20, Baltimore Ravens nineteen
• Los Angeles Rams 37, Jacksonville Jaguars 7
• Washington Football Team 17, Las Vegas Raiders 15
• Seattle Seahawks 30, San Francisco 49ers 23
• Arizona Cardinals 33, Chicago Bears 22
• Indianapolis Colts 31, Houston Texans 0
• Miami Dolphins 20, New York Giants nine
• Detroit Lions 29, Minnesota Vikings 27
• Philadelphia Eagles 33, New York Jets 18
• Los Angeles Chargers 41, Cincinnati Bengals 22
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers 30, Atlanta Falcons 17

22-nine

Grant Gordon'south takeaways:

1. Kansas City out-Ds Denver. The Broncos' calling carte has been and is their defense, which entered Dominicus's prime-time tilt as the No. nine overall defense in the NFL. However, after property the Cowboys' highly ranked crime to nine points in Calendar week 11, the Chiefs' 23rd-ranked defense turned in another stellar outing and proved to be the goad for a Kansas City victory. The oftentimes-maligned Daniel Sorensen'south pick-vi essentially wrapped up a blowout win as Kansas City held Denver to its 2nd-lowest point total of the twelvemonth. While Sorensen's INT -- ane of iii Chiefs takeaways -- volition garner the most highlight-reel play, linebacker Willie Gay Jr.'southward tackle for a loss on a fourth-and-2 play in the second quarter might well take loomed largest on the evening. It put to a close a twenty-play, 88-k march past the Broncos that produced no points. It was an emphatic stop and a play emblematic of the Chiefs defense force'southward ability to find a way to stand tall when needed well-nigh (in the instance of Sunday evening, it held the Broncos to 4 of 14 on third down). In its run of success over contempo seasons, Kansas City has been divers by offense and seemingly always looking to improve its defense. Yet, Steve Spagnuolo's defence force has played big in of import spots over the autumns, oftentimes getting better every bit the seasons become later on, and right now information technology is stacking up sensational showings.
2. Rookies stepping upward for Broncos, win or lose. This was a bad loss in a large game for the Broncos. If there is whatsoever silverish lining, though, information technology comes with the performances of some first-twelvemonth talents. With Melvin Gordon inactive, rookie second-rounder Javonte Williams got an opportunity to exist a bell-cow back and rung up some good numbers. He had the second 100-thousand rushing outing of his season and caught the Broncos' only touchdown as part of his 76 yards receiving. It was the showtime time a Broncos rookie has had 100-plus rushing yards and more than 75 receiving yards in a game, per NFL Research. Then there was rookie first-round corner Patrick Surtain Ii, who had his third interception in two games. Peculiarly for head coach Vic Fangio, the Broncos want to win now, but in the shadows of a disappointing showing, there were some bright lights of what may lie alee for Denver.
3. No passing TDs for Pat, no problem. The season-long storyline of what happened to the high-flying Chiefs offense carries on despite a few performances to the contrary (such as Week 6 and 10). For the first time in his already astounding career, Patrick Mahomes has gone sequent games without a touchdown pass (though he had i score with his legs) -- and both games saw the Chiefs win. Through his career as a starter, Mahomes is surprisingly v-1 in games he doesn't throw a touchdown. The negative points to the Chiefs needing to detect their manner on criminal offense, something that still seems a crazy notion in the Andy Reid-Mahomes authorities. The positive is the reality of the concluding results and the standings. The AFC West nonetheless runs through K.C. Despite all the concerns that take come up with this season's Chiefs, they are still on track for a 6th sequent AFC West title. In a beginning-identify battle with the Broncos, they won in a fashion that would seem to lend itself to favoring the Broncos' fortunes. Style points seem to matter a whole lot, but they actually don't mean squat in the cease. While Chiefs Kingdom, fantasy fans and merely fans of exciting football would rather see the Chiefs prevailing in prettier fashion, the bottom line is Kansas City is still winning – five in a row at present. This is a first-place team on a scroll, no matter how good, bad or ugly it's looked.

Adjacent Gen stat of the game: Broncos quarterback Teddy Bridgewater was half dozen of 13 for 74 yards and an interception when under pressure.

NFL Enquiry: Patrick Mahomes threw his 12th interception of the season on Sunday (matching his career high, from 2018). Co-ordinate to Pro Football game Focus, five of those interceptions accept come off dropped passes (most for any quarterback this season) and three -- including Dominicus nighttime's -- were dropped by Tyreek Hill (most of whatever receiver).

twenty-19

Chase Goodbread'due south takeaways:

1. A funny affair happened in this one. Late in the second half with the game on the line, a Steelers running game that's been nigh useless at times this season showed some life confronting the NFL's second-ranked rush defense. It wasn't fancy -- handoffs upward the middle, and none bankrupt complimentary for a big one -- but information technology was an effective element to the Steelers' game-winning drive. Najee Harris had runs of xiii and eight yards on the drive, and Benny Snell then entered for runs of 8 and 5 yards. It was an integral part of a must-have touchdown march to help continue the Steelers in the playoff picture, equally Harris finished with 71 yards for the fifth-highest full of his rookie yr. If the Steelers are going to brand more of a playoff button, some long-awaited consistency in the running game could practise wonders for their offensive identity.
2. T.J. Watt put on an absolute testify. The Steelers' star pass rusher showed why he'south worth his new contract, amassing 12 pressures (an NFL single-game high this season, per Next Gen Stats), six quarterback hits and iii.5 sacks. Watt at present has an center-popping 16 sacks on the season, and made like shooting fish in a barrel work of Ravens correct tackle Tyre Phillips, who had to replace an injured Patrick Mekari. As a group, the Pittsburgh pass rush harassed Lamar Jackson to the tune of vii sacks for 34 yards in losses. Jackson's elusiveness frustrated Pittsburgh for several rushing outset downs, simply more importantly, he didn't have time to throw. Watt willed this win in big measure.
3. The Ravens defense force was a tale of 2 halves. Baltimore dominated the first one-half in an old-schoolhouse mode befitting a Steelers-Ravens game, scoring only seven points but winning repeatedly on third downs, on both sides of the ball, for a ridiculous 23:30 - 6:30 edge in fourth dimension of possession entering the intermission. The Steelers converted just four first downs in the first one-half and were 0 for 4 on third down, while compiling simply 93 total yards. Fifty-fifty uglier, Pittsburgh had run just 10 offensive plays past the time information technology took over a possession with under two minutes left in the one-half. It was a tendency the Steelers had to intermission in the second half, else their defense would not accept had the stamina to agree up. QB Ben Roethlisberger helped turn things with a pair of touchdown passes to Diontae Johnson, one of which was set up by a 40-m completion to Chase Claypool. The aforementioned running game helped a fleck as well, but Roethlisberger (21 of 31, 236 yards) was the divergence maker.

Side by side Gen stat of the game: Ravens motorcoach John Harbaugh's conclusion to go for two points with 12 seconds remaining, rather than kicking a PAT for a tie and a likely overtime menses, reduced Baltimore'south win probability by vii.six percent.

NFL Inquiry: Ben Roethlisberger led his 10th game-winning drive against the Ravens, the most against the Ravens of any quarterback, and the 51st of his career overall.

37-7

Nick Shook'due south takeaways:

1. The Jaguars came to L.A. at just the right fourth dimension. Los Angeles had lost three straight entering Sun, but welcomed the NFL'south second-worst squad (and arguably the worst when not because overall record) and capitalized. A sluggish first half concluded upwardly not mattering much by the time the dust settled thanks to some much-needed halftime adjustments that saw Matthew Stafford throw three second-half touchdown passes. And perhaps most encouraging was the performance of Sony Michel, who broke 70 rushing yards for the first time in his nonetheless-young career in Los Angeles, finishing with 121 yards and one touchdown on 24 attempts. If Michel can make this a weekly occurrence, the Rams will terminate upwards climbing out of their struggles in time to catch fire as we near the new year's day.
2. The Rams' Robert Woods replacement might just wear No. 12. Van Jefferson again helped fill the void created by Wood' season-ending injury, communicable six passes for 41 yards and a touchdown. It'll go along to be a grouping effort to supercede the contributions provided by Woods, but the second-year wideout is proving he can be counted on to produce. And so did Odell Beckham, who shied away from contact and cost the Rams a probable touchdown pass, but made upwards for that try later by winning a jump brawl in the terminate zone for his second touchdown as a Ram. The contributions of the two -- which marked the sixth straight game in which Jefferson broke 40 receiving yards -- should help provide some balance for the Rams law-breaking, which put up 37 points but still isn't quite firing on all cylinders.
3. Not much to say about the Jaguars other than they're one week closer to the offseason. Jacksonville mounted ane drive of significance all afternoon -- a 13-play, 61-1000 touchdown drive -- then proceeded to go three-and-out on four direct possessions. The most yards Jacksonville gained on an individual drive from at that place was 38, and that possession ended with a turnover on downs at the Rams' 37. Without much help from the criminal offence, an overmatched Jaguars defense spent the rest of the game attempting and ultimately failing to go along the Rams from building a lead. What resulted was a 30-bespeak loss without much to use to maintain whatsoever remaining positive morale. Five weeks to go, Duval.

Next Gen stat of the game: Matthew Stafford completed xi of 16 passes for 184 yards and ii touchdowns confronting the blitz.

NFL Enquiry: Sunday was Matthew Stafford'due south starting time game without a giveaway since Week 8. The Rams are v-0 in games in which Stafford goes without an interception.

17-xv

Nick Shook's takeaways:

1. Washington is a ane-score-winning team. The Football Squad has now won four in a row, including two straight victories by the same exact score: 17-xv. Different final calendar week's prime-fourth dimension win over Seattle, Washington needed a belatedly field goal to take the two-point lead on Sunday. But much similar that game, Washington needed its defence to step up to preserve its narrow lead. This week, it arrived by keeping the Raiders from reaching field goal range. And similar final calendar week, Washington only reached such a position of importance by taking chunks of time off the game clock in the second half. Instead of grinding downwardly over eight minutes with one possession, Washington did it with two drives, taking off 10:32 between a possession that started in the third quarter and ended in a touchdown, and a drive that began with ten:57 and ended with six:49. Washington won't light information technology up, but its grind-it-out way has proven to be successful by slim margins. Add in some Taylor Heinicke excitement and yous have a team worth watching -- peculiarly because their standing in the wild carte race at six-vi.
2. The Raiders need to invest in a bulk order of coffee. Las Vegas again constitute itself facing a second-half deficit considering of a tedious get-go, which was once an occasional occurrence but is now officially a trend for this squad. It wasn't without endeavor: Las Vegas mounted two long drives of ten plays each, just was forced to punt at the cease of the beginning and was only able to manage a field goal out of the 2nd. Oddly enough, Las Vegas' only touchdown bulldoze of the afternoon came on a v-play sprint. A belatedly field goal gave the Raiders their starting time lead, only they weren't able to hang on. Perhaps they'd take improved to 7-5 if they'd just turned one of their earlier possessions into something more than that lone field goal -- or if they'd have been able to get off the field quicker than they did on two six-plus-infinitesimal Washington possessions. More than energy, Raiders!
3. Washington deserves a medal for its play in clutch moments. The Football game Squad finished 7 of 13 on third downwards, watched its recently signed kicker Brian Johnson drill a 48-yarder on the road to accept the lead with 0:37 left, and and then held on in the game's final seconds, breaking upwardly a deep shot to Zay Jones and keeping everything in front of its defense until the final whistle, breaking upwards a Derek Carr Hail Mary effort as fourth dimension expired to escape with a win. Sometimes, the difference between playoff teams and those spending January at home is the ability to come up through in these key moments. Washington has been subjected to quite the nerve-wracking educational activity in the final calendar month and continues to testify information technology has the mettle to make information technology out on the winning side of things.

Side by side Gen stat of the game: Taylor Heinicke completed eighteen of 20 passes of fewer than x air yards for 108 yards and a touchdown.

NFL Inquiry: Taylor Heinicke has completed 70-plus percent of his passes in four directly games, the longest active streak in the NFL (entering MNF). Washington is four-0 in those games, giving it the longest active winning streak in the NFC.

30-23

Adam Maya's takeaways:

1. Russell Wilson is dorsum. Mired in the worst slump of his career, Wilson finally looked recovered from the finger injury that sabotaged much of Seattle's season. There might non exist enough fourth dimension to relieve it -- the Seahawks remain 15th in the conference -- but their star quarterback playing like the Pro Bowler he is at least gives them a take a chance. For the past iii weeks, Wilson was conservative, inaccurate and indecisive. Information technology was baroque, if not unprecedented. At home against the 49ers, a squad he's torched for the ameliorate part of a decade, Wilson was savvy and efficient while controlling the clock. The biggest sign of progress was his chemistry with DK Metcalf, which had been lacking since Wilson'south return. Two Seattle turnovers inside the Niners' 5-one thousand line (neither of which were on Wilson) kept this game much closer than it could have been.
2. Jimmy Garoppolo goes as his run game goes. The 49ers' polarizing quarterback had been on somewhat of a hot streak of late, his passer rating eclipsing 100 over the previous v games. He's had similar stretches in the past. They just don't last long. While health has often been cited as the X factor for Jimmy G, his best play typically coincides with when the Niners can run the ball. They couldn't versus the Seahawks without dynamo Deebo Samuel, and their QB suffered for it. Garoppolo's two interceptions were both thrown directly at Seattle defenders and provided prime scoring opportunities. His solitary deep attempt was a 24-g touchdown pass. After beingness shut down for about the unabridged 2d one-half, the veteran starter led an impressive final drive through the air to the Seahawks' three-yard line. But his terminal two throws fell incomplete, including a batted pass by Carlos Dunlap on fourth-and-goal as Trent Sherfield stood open up. San Francisco gained just 71 yards on the ground (and ii.8 yards per comport) in dropping its commencement game in iv weeks. The team had been averaging more than 100 rushing yards during Jimmy G's ringlet. The erstwhile is the cause, the latter is the correlation.
3. The West is notwithstanding wild. This was supposed to be the all-time and nearly competitive partitioning in football, with possibly four teams making the playoffs. The Seahawks' win over the 49ers could ultimately leave the NFC Due west with only two, though both the Cardinals and Rams are Super Bowl contenders. Afterward two-thirds of the flavor, information technology's still not clear what San Francisco and Seattle are. The Niners have at present been swept past both the Cardinals and Seahawks and have beaten just i team with a winning tape. Fifty-fifty had they rallied in Seattle, their formula wouldn't accept been conducive to winning in January (10 penalties, three turnovers, special teams TD and safety allowed). This looks like a wild-card team, at best. The Seahawks probably aren't fifty-fifty that, given their three multi-game losing streaks. But a favorable schedule for both teams downward the stretch -- Seattle still plays the Texans, Bears and Lions while the Niners, who currently own the seventh seed, also get the Texans as well as the Falcons -- ways neither team can be counted out just withal.

Next Gen stat of the game: Russell Wilson went nineteen of 20 for 145 yards and a TD on quick passes. His 95.0 completion per centum on such passes is tied for tertiary-best in the NGS era (min. xx attempts).

NFL Inquiry: Adrian Peterson scored his 126th career touchdown on a 1-thousand blitz in the second quarter, tying HOFer Jim Brown for 10th-about in NFL history. Peterson also became the quaternary player to rush for 120 TDs.

33-22

Jeremy Bergman'south takeaways:

1. Cardinals defence force in complete control. On an afternoon when Arizona'due south offense was getting its body of water (desert?) legs back, information technology was the Cardinals defense that led the way with certain, advantageous football. Arizona turned four Andy Dalton interceptions into 23 points, including 2 for 14 in the offset quarter to fix the tone early on in Chicagoland. David Montgomery had his way with the Arizona front seven, but the Cardinals brought a strong pass blitz on Chicago'south passing downs, led past Jordan Hicks (13 tackles, two sacks), Chandler Jones (.five sacks) and Zach Allen (INT), to strength errant Dalton attempts; the QB was pressured on a quarter of his 44 dropbacks, per Side by side Gen Stats. In the secondary, Byron Murphy (INT), Jalen Thompson (INT), who exited with an injury, and Budda Bakery (INT) played with their hair on fire, bending but not breaking against the Bears' laborious operation. Arizona didn't take a shorthanded Chicago side lightly coming out of the bye and withstood all advances in what could have been a trap game. That's a practiced omen 1 calendar week out from the Cardinals' well-nigh disquisitional clash of the 2nd half, a potential NFC Due west decease-knell game against the rival Rams.
2. Nuk and Kyler come up dorsum with a vengeance. Arizona's aeriform assault saw its dynamic duo return to action and tested early Sunday. Afterward missing four weeks of work with a hamstring injury, DeAndre Hopkins looked healthy stretching out in a way only he could on a first-quarter, 4th-down touchdown grab down the near sideline. Hobbled for a month by a bum talocrural joint, Kyler Murray moved with ease on his improvised TD scamper on Arizona'south ensuing drive and a second-half score; he had a season-high 59 rushing yards. The pair's product dried upward in the second half -- Murray didn't throw much, though he finished with four full TDs, and Hopkins saw but ii targets total in 37 snaps -- but their electric entrance was more than than enough. Arizona needed only 14 offset downs and xv pass attempts (to 35 rushes) to shrug off Chicago.
3. Bears unwatchable without Montgomery. What is in that location to larn about a Bears offense piloted by a veteran backup and molded by a probable lame duck autobus in a bleak December blowout? Not a whole lot. All that tin be said nigh Chicago'due south attack, which was without Justin Fields and Allen Robinson once more, is that David Montgomery gives it a adventure every time he has the ball. When Dalton wasn't throwing field-flipping, game-changing picks, as he did on Chicago'southward starting time two drives and four times overall, Montgomery was the Bears' entire offense, their leading rusher and pass catcher on the twenty-four hours. Seemingly built for soggy Soldier Field Sundays like this 1, Montgomery motored his style to a game-high 141 total yards and a score in his most consummate performance of the season.

Next Gen stat of the game: Arizona had seven players with at least two QB pressures: Chandler Jones, Hashemite kingdom of jordan Phillips, Hashemite kingdom of jordan Hicks, Zach Allen, Isaiah Simmons, Corey Peters, Dennis Gardeck.

NFL Inquiry: Kyler Murray became the first Cardinals QB with at least 2 passing TDs and ii rushing TDs in a game since Josh McCown in Week xv, 2004.

31-0

Jelani Scott's takeaways:

1. Colts D pitches shutout. Facing a two-9 team offers little in the fashion of potential drama, simply the Colts fabricated sure it didn't result in a driblet off. From the moment Kenny Moore Two made an impressive interception on the game's first play, Indy'southward defense seized command of the game and refused to allow go. Moments after the offense capitalized on the TO with a TD, Moore followed his display of toe-drag swag with a forced fumble that the Colts recovered. Moore'southward performance headlined a standout day for a secondary that didn't surrender a reception to a receiver until the three:17 mark of the 3rd quarter. Add together in another smothering showing by a defensive line led by Al-Quadin Muhammad and Kemoko Turay'southward four sacks and it's no wonder this game felt over earlier it began.
2. Texans add to their lowlight reel. When a bad team decides to bench its starting QB down 21-0, said team might every bit well beginning making plans for the offseason. Tyrod Taylor'south benching late in the third quarter amidst a 5-of-13, 45-chiliad day served as a microcosm for but how trying of a campaign 2021 has been for Houston. Dejected Texans fans were treated to another helping of rookie Davis Mills in his identify; his 6-for-14, 49-chiliad output did cipher merely worsen his already poor numbers. From finding themselves well backside the sticks on multiple occasions to getting outgained 389 to 141, the Texans look no closer to finding any answers on either side of the ball.
3. The JT experience rolls on. At the charge per unit Jonathan Taylor has been playing, it's hard to imagine a world where his stellar play is no longer heady. His endeavour on Sunday was the latest submission for what has been an MVP-quotient flavor for the 22-twelvemonth-old stud. For the fourth time in v weeks, Taylor eclipsed 100 yards rushing, turning in 143 yards on 32 carries against a defense that had no business organization even being on the field with him. Taylor added two more tuddies to his resume, tying him with Lenny Moore for the franchise tape for most rushing scores in a season (16, 1964). Not a bad mode to build on his ascending condition as the game's top RB (not named Derrick Henry) heading into the good day week.

Next Gen stat of the game: Kemoko Turay had six QB pressures and ii sacks on eleven laissez passer rushes (54.v pressure percent).

NFL Research: The Colts' 59-signal differential in their two meetings with the Texans this flavor (31-3 win in Week 4) is their highest indicate differential vs. HOU in franchise history. It is too the highest by IND vs. whatever opponent in a season over the terminal l seasons.

xx-nine

Nick Shook's takeaways:

1. Tua Tagovailoa is starting to come into form. Tagovailoa was sharp for much of Sunday's game, completing 30 of 41 passes for 244 yards and ii touchdowns. He did so by once over again turning to rookie Jaylen Waddle, who caught nine passes for xc yards and might have broken double-digits in receptions and 100 yards in receiving if not for a rare drop on the rookie's part. Tagovailoa'southward pass catchers did him some favors, with Mike Gesicki making an acrobatic grab on 3rd downward to maintain possession late, but overall, it was some other potent performance from the second-year quarterback who has had to boxing rumors of his expendability and health bug. He's overcome such arduousness and is playing his best football right at present, which should earn him the opportunity to continue every bit Miami'southward starter in 2022. Winning five straight certainly doesn't injure.
2. It's about the trivial things for the Giants. New York found itself in a winnable game all afternoon, just the minor details ended up beingness the difference. In a decision to punt instead of go for it on fourth downward, New York failed to properly track downwardly a punt that landed inside Miami's v-one thousand line, instead going into the end zone for a touchback and wiping out a chance to win a field-position boxing. Fill-in Mike Glennon missed a couple of throws (to Evan Engram and John Ross) that could have changed the complexion of the game. After, the Giants entered meltdown mode when Glennon took consecutive sacks and followed information technology with a delay of game penalty, which combined to wipe out a take chances to accept the lead in a 10-half-dozen game. Miami responded with a seven-play, 61-yard touchdown bulldoze from which the Giants failed to recover. In a tight contest betwixt two somewhat similar teams, one proved to be amend at paying attention to detail, and it wasn't Joe Judge'southward team.
3. Don't await now, only the Dolphins might take themselves a defense. Miami recorded its 5th straight win past post-obit a like formula: Hold an opponent to ten points or less (they've washed so in four of their five wins), and capitalize when possible. The Dolphins sacked Glennon three times, intercepted him once and held the Giants to 6 of 16 on 3rd downward. A narrow time of possession battle concluded up swinging in Miami's favor thanks to stout defense played in the fourth, which limited New York to 3 points in the final quarter and gave the Dolphins' offense opportunities to chew more than than viii minutes of clock. It wasn't an offensive explosion, simply it didn't demand to be for the Dolphins thank you to their defence, which has helped Miami turn around a in one case-dreadful 2021 season.

Side by side Gen stat of the game: Miami pressured Mike Glennon on xvi dropbacks Sunday, with Glennon completing only 5 of thirteen pass attempts under pressure level for 52 yards and a passer rating of l.8.

NFL Research: Tua Tagovailoa has posted a 100-plus passer rating in each of his last 4 games. The simply actor in Dolphins history with a longer such streak within a season was Hall of Famer Dan Marino, who did then in 6 straight games during his 1984 MVP season.

29-27

Chase Goodbread'due south takeaways:

1. Jared Goff got it done. In a wild game that saw the Lions dominate the kickoff half simply to completely give their reward abroad in the 2d, the Detroit quarterback directed a 75-yard touchdown drive with one:fifty on the clock and no timeouts to pull out the Lions' kickoff win of the season. The Vikings defense was generous in the way it covered the middle of the field all 24-hour interval, allowing Goff (25 of 41, 296 yards, three TDs) to connect frequently with targets between the numbers, and soft coverage burned Minnesota at the finish on the game-winner to Amon-Ra St. Brown. It was a day the Lions won't forget, and one Minnesota wants to. At 5-vii, the Vikings' playoff chances are now near-hopelessly mathematical. Along with the late defensive plummet, Minnesota as well coughed up a turnover on downs with :32 left in the first one-half, setting upwardly 3 more Lions points that likely could've been avoided with a punt.
2. Upset wins need unlikely heroes, and Lions LB Charles Harris was i. Harris, playing for the injured Jalen Reeves-Maybin, came up with a pair of beginning-half sacks to pb Detroit's defensive effort. Harris led an unexpected amount of heat on Vikings QB Kirk Cousins, whose pass protection entered having allowed the fewest sacks in the NFL. It was supposed to take been a mismatch, as the Lions defense ranks 31st in the NFL in sacks, and peradventure that's why Minnesota felt comfortable blocking Harris with TE Tyler Conklin. It shouldn't take. Harris stripped Cousins on his second sack, causing a turnover that set up up a crucial touchdown. He notched four hits on Cousins, half of the Lions' viii on the day.
3. Vikings WR Justin Jefferson was uncoverable on Lord's day. There's been no sophomore slump for the second-twelvemonth star, and he tormented the Detroit secondary mercilessly on Sun. Minnesota WR Adam Thielen was knocked out of the game with an ankle injury early in the first quarter, and from that point on, double-teaming Jefferson would've been a adept thought for the Lions. Instead, Cousins went on to derive more than one-half his passing yards from Jefferson. The receiver created all kinds of separation in getting open up both short and deep, finishing with eleven catches on 14 targets for 182 yards. In a late, clutch moment, he shell single coverage for a touchdown that would've been the game-winner had it not been for Goff'southward heroics.

Side by side Gen stat of the game: Lions WR Amon-Ra St. Brown averaged iii.9 yards of separation on his xiv targets.

NFL Research: Kirk Cousins lost his first game as a Viking against the Lions. The Minnesota QB had been 7-0 confronting Detroit.

33-18

Nick Shook'due south takeaways:

1. The Eagles' move for Gardner Minshew paid off Sun. Minshew was precipitous Lord's day, completing 80% of his passes for 242 yards, two touchdowns and a 133.7 passer rating that looked much like information technology appeared in the stat canvas. Minshew didn't throw an incompletion until 1:25 was left in the one-half, connecting on his commencement 11 attempts of the game. His get-go three possessions in his commencement game as the Eagles' temporary starter resulted in touchdowns. Information technology wasn't until the final possession of a game that was in manus that Philadelphia didn't produce points from an offensive possession. Much of the credit for that is due to Minshew and Miles Sanders, who was consistently productive on the basis (24 carries, 120 yards) earlier exiting with an ankle injury. Jalen Hurts is yet the guy in Philadelphia, just it certain is nice to accept an experienced backup capable of filling in when needed.
2. There are positives to have from this loss for the Jets. Zach Wilson finally plant the end zone again with his arm, throwing two touchdown passes Dominicus and scoring some other on a goal line sneak. Elijah Moore caught half of his 12 targets for 77 yards and a touchdown, and in a 4th-and-goal situation, Wilson was able to evidence Robert Saleh's aggression to be worthwhile when he connected with Ryan Griffin for a touchdown. New York went toe to toe with Philadelphia for a half, matching the Eagles with touchdown drives and trailing only because its newest kicker couldn't make a point-after try. The Jets lost because they couldn't get a end defensively, giving upwardly 418 yards of offense, and at times couldn't become out of their ain manner, committing half-dozen penalties. Information technology's typical of a squad even so figuring out how to win, but it's much better than some of the results the Jets take produced this flavor. It's just going to take some time -- to both larn how to win and for Saleh to cool off afterwards he was seen shouting at officials in a fit of rage near the end of a game that included some questionable calls.
3. Dallas Goedert is making Howie Roseman look proficient. The Eagles parted means with longtime tight stop Zach Ertz in a move most everyone had seen coming for some time, shifting pressure on the shoulders of Goedert to embrace and fulfill the expectations that come with existence Philadelphia's superlative tight end. He'southward answered the phone call and fifty-fifty proved to be a trusty target for a backup quarterback Sunday, twice chirapsia the Jets for explosive touchdown receptions. Goedert finished with half dozen catches for 105 yards and two touchdowns, putting together another game in which he proved he tin can be a go-to target for Philadelphia regardless of who is throwing him the ball. That four-year, $57 million extension is looking skilful right at present.

Next Gen stat of the game: Gardner Minshew completed 4 of half-dozen passes of x-plus air yards for 111 yards and two touchdowns, and finished 13 for 14 for 160 yards and a touchdown on passes down the seams.

NFL Inquiry: Eagles-Jets was the beginning game since 1978 in which the two teams combined to score an offensive touchdown on each of the first six drives of the game.

41-22

Chase Goodbread'due south takeaways:

1. Chargers pass rush came through in a big way. With their best quarterback hunter, Joey Bosa, missing more three quarters of the game due to a concussion, the Chargers nonetheless managed to generate a great deal of pressure on Bengals QB Joe Burrow. They sacked him half a dozen times, including a pair past Uchenna Nwosu, who crush left tackle Jonah Williams for i of them, causing and recovering a fumble on the play. Bosa's replacement, Chris Rumph II, notched a sack of his own. The Chargers pass blitz totaled eleven hits on Burrow and pressured him on 37% of his dropbacks -- three Chargers had at least five pressures, led by Nwosu's seven. Missing on the Bengals offensive line was RT Riley Reiff, who was designated inactive with an injury. His absenteeism was felt. Between the Chargers' pass blitz and a kickoff-quarter pinky finger dislocation on Burrow'south throwing hand, it was a rough day for the Bengals' signal-caller.
2. Burrow, Chase miss long over again. The deep-ball connexion between Couch and Ja'Marr Chase that lit up the league in the start half of the flavor has completely disappeared. The ii haven't connected on a deep pass since Calendar week 8, per Next Gen Stats, and when they tried information technology again on Sunday, disaster resulted. Chase non simply dropped a perfectly thrown pass down the right sideline, he tipped it upwardly in the air for an easy interception by the Chargers' Michael Davis. 5 plays later on, Los Angeles cashed in the error for half dozen points on a TD pass from Justin Herbert to Keenan Allen. Chase had a respectable v catches for 52 yards, simply this offense needs him to accept the top off of defenses, and, of late, the opposition hasn't allowed it. The driblet was his 8th of the flavor.
3. Turnovers plagued both teams, but only 1 served as the turning bespeak. Cincinnati RB Joe Mixon lost the handle on a second-half handoff from Burrow, and CB Tevaughn Campbell scooped it for a 61-g touchdown return to put the Chargers ahead, 31-22. It marked an emphatic end to a furious improvement of 22 unanswered points past the Bengals to close the gap to 24-22. From there, all the air left the Bengals' sails as the Chargers extended their lead. Neither crime protected the ball -- the Bengals gave away iv turnovers and the Chargers gave away three -- but Mixon's fumble hurt more than whatever of them.

Next Gen stat of the game: Chargers WR Mike Williams, targeted twice on deep passes, defenseless them both for a full of 88 yards.

NFL Research: The Bengals' Trey Hendrickson picked up a second-half sack to extend the NFL's longest active sack streak. Hendrickson has a sack in eight consecutive games.

Adam Maya's takeaways:

1. The Buccaneers don't need A.B. Tampa Bay is unbeaten in the v games Antonio Brown has played and lost three of the first four games he missed. That probably wasn't a coincidence, equally Brown produced in line with his stellar career norms. But with his favorite early-flavour target sidelined almost 2 months now past an ankle injury -- and the next two games because of suspension -- Tom Brady has adapted. He shredded the Falcons defence force with a litany of short and intermediate throws to atomic number 82 Tampa Bay to its third straight win. Fifteen of his 38 completions went to Chris Godwin, the most for any receiver this season. Rob Gronkowski, whose extended absence largely overlapped with Brown's, caught ii touchdowns and Mike Evans and Leonard Fournette had seven receptions apiece. This offense is nevertheless loaded at receiver, and its passing game is the near productive in the league. The Bucs tin can end here with Brownish.
2. Matt Ryan deserves improve. Reports of his reject were premature. Despite being without future Hall of Famer Julio Jones all year and Pro Bowler Calvin Ridley for most of it, Ryan has proven he tin can notwithstanding play. He had his best game in a calendar month, completing 30 of 41 passes for 297 yards with a express receiving corps. The Falcons, of course, aren't close to contending, even in what remains a wide open NFC. Ideally, the two sides could part ways a la the Chargers and Philip Rivers a couple years ago, and then that the 36-year-former Ryan could provide what'southward left of his production to a playoff team. His $48.6 1000000 cap hit for 2022 but makes that really complicated. Non unlike Rivers, Ryan needs a lot of protection to be effective. Only he remains sharp and accurate, and his arm is live. That makes him an upgrade over at least a dozen starters across the league, some of whom are playing for teams who are a QB away from making the postseason.
3. Are cracks forming in the Bucs' vaunted defensive front? No defense has been amend against the run. Some opposing teams don't even bother trying to be two-dimensional. Peradventure they should. Last week, the Colts found immediate success upon turning to Jonathan Taylor in the second half. While that could exist written off as the NFL's summit rusher playing to course, Atlanta surprisingly ran at will with gadget back Cordarrelle Patterson in the first half of Sunday's divisional battle. Tampa Bay came in allowing 81 rushing yards per game, and Atlanta topped that before halftime. Interestingly, its middling pass rush was relentless, sacking Ryan five times one week after harassing Carson Wentz all day. Vi different Bucs generated at least two pressures on Ryan. Maybe the Bucs have adjusted their coverages to exist more well-rounded. Next week'southward showdown with the Bills will provide a adept litmus test.

Next Gen stat of the game: Tom Brady gear up a new NGS era single-season record for short pass touchdowns in a flavor (22). His 125.v passer rating on short passes this season would also be an NGS era single-flavour tape for a qualified passer.

NFL Research: Tom Brady threw his 90th TD pass to Rob Gronkowski, surpassing Philip Rivers and Antonio Gates (89) for the second-most regular season touchdown connections in NFL history.

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Source: https://www.nfl.com/news/2021-nfl-season-week-13-what-we-learned-from-sunday-s-games

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