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NFL NationDec 1, 2025, 12:07 AM ET<\/p>\n
Close<\/a>NFL Nation is made up of 32 team-specific reporters who cover the NFL year-round across ESPN.com, ESPN television shows, ESPN Radio, ESPN+ and social media platforms. It was established ahead of the 2013 season.<\/p>\n Week 13<\/a> of the 2025 NFL season<\/a> began on Thanksgiving with wins by the Packers, Cowboys and Bengals. It marked the first time since the NFL added a third game to the holiday that all three underdogs won outright, per ESPN Research.<\/p>\n On Black Friday, the Bears extended their win streak to five games with a decisive win over the Eagles. Chicago running backs Kyle Monangai<\/a> and D’Andre Swift<\/a> each ran for over 100 yards in the victory.<\/p>\n In the early window Sunday, Carolina quarterback Bryce Young<\/a> threw two touchdown passes on fourth downs (from 33 and 43 yards) in a win over the Rams. The 49ers trimmed the Rams’ NFC West lead with a dominant victory over the Browns. Tampa Bay broke its three-game losing streak, the Dolphins won their third straight and the Texans won their fourth straight. The Jaguars secured an easy victory over the Titans, while the Jets defeated the Falcons on a field goal as time expired.<\/p>\n In the late window, the Seahawks shut out the Vikings in rookie quarterback Max Brosmer<\/a>‘s first NFL start. Brosmer threw four interceptions, including a pick-six in the second quarter. Meanwhile, the Bills ran all over the Steelers to pick up a comfortable win. The Chargers also breezed past the Raiders, who couldn’t get their offense going in their first game without offensive coordinator Chip Kelly.<\/p>\n On Sunday night, the Broncos beat the Commanders in an overtime thriller to match the Patriots’ 10-2 record atop the AFC.<\/p>\n Our NFL Nation reporters reacted to all the action, answering lingering questions coming out of each game and detailing everything you need to know for every team. Let’s get to it.<\/p>\n Jump to: Catch up on the action: Box score<\/a> | Recap<\/a><\/p>\n Can the Broncos keep living this way and grab the AFC’s top seed? The short answer is: Why not? It’s worked to the tune of 10-2 so far, but this was the Broncos’ eighth win by eight or fewer points. Big picture, they have moments when their offense is smooth, assertive and clips off the first downs (four drives of at least 10 plays Sunday), but at other times they look out of sorts and in search of their identity (three punts and an interception in the fourth quarter). Their defense, which had one of its most inconsistent tackling efforts of the season, still locked down in the red zone for much of the game, especially on the 2-point conversion attempt that linebacker Nik Bonitto<\/a> knocked away to end the game. The bottom line is nobody since September has been able to make the Broncos pay for their risky business.<\/p>\n Trend to watch: The Broncos entered the night with 49 sacks, on track for the league’s single-season record. They finished with two sacks, and Commanders quarterback Marcus Mariota<\/a>‘s first 19 completions went for 166 yards in one quick flip after another. Denver is still — just barely — on track to at least equal the record of 72 sacks at its current pace. Sunday night, however, might have been a preview of how difficult it will be if quarterbacks emulate the quick-hit pace the Commanders used and coordinators lean on personnel groupings to keep the Broncos in their base defense. — Jeff Legwold<\/p>\n Next game: at Raiders (Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET)<\/p>\n Can the Commanders play spoiler? After consecutive overtime defeats, the Commanders finally look like a competitive team again. They still have NFC East games left versus Dallas (at home) and two versus the Eagles. Washington is in better shape to finally spring an upset and perhaps impact the playoff race. In the two games since coach Dan Quinn took over defensive playcalling duties, the Commanders have allowed a combined 42 points. They have a healthier group of receivers with Terry McLaurin<\/a> back, and quarterback Jayden Daniels<\/a> should return soon. At 3-9, it’s a lost season, but their improved play could help decide the NFC East.<\/p>\n Most surprising performance: Washington’s offensive line. Denver entered the game with an NFL-high 46 sacks, but the Broncos couldn’t generate a consistent rush versus the Commanders, recording only two sacks. A quick pass game helped, but the Commanders’ O-line did well overall. And against the NFL’s top-rated run defense, Washington averaged 4.3 yards per carry. — John Keim<\/p>\n Next game: at Vikings (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)<\/p>\n Catch up on the action: Box score<\/a> | Recap<\/a><\/p>\n How will Justin Herbert<\/a>‘s injury change the Chargers’ offense? Herbert left the game in the first quarter because of an injury to his left hand after he was hit on a scramble by Raiders safety Jeremy Chinn<\/a>. When Herbert returned, he wore a thick glove on his left hand and didn’t take any snaps under center for the remainder of the game. If Herbert’s injury is significant, it could mean that the Chargers don’t operate from under center for the remainder of the season, limiting the playbook for offensive coordinator Greg Roman.<\/p>\n Key stat to know: Running back Kimani Vidal<\/a> had his third game with at least 100 yards, the most for a Chargers player in a season since Melvin Gordon in 2018. The Chargers’ 2024 sixth-round pick ran all over the Raiders, finishing with 126 yards on 25 carries and a career-long 59-yard score. Vidal, who was released before this season but then brought back to the practice squad, has proven he belongs in the NFL. — Kris Rhim<\/p>\n Next game: vs. Eagles (Monday, 8:15 p.m. ET)<\/p>\n Will the Raiders win another game this season? Las Vegas has a strong chance of finishing with its third two-win season in franchise history and its first since 2006. The Raiders’ inability to score due to struggles on the offensive line will make it difficult for Las Vegas to be competitive in the coming weeks. Three of the team’s final five games are against the Broncos, Texans and Chiefs — all of whom have solid defenses. The Raiders also have to face the reigning champions, the Eagles, on the road in Week 15. A glimmer of hope comes in Week 17 against the Giants, who are 2-10 before “Monday Night Football.”<\/p>\n Biggest hole in the game plan: The Raiders tried to establish the run game. However, rookie running back Ashton Jeanty<\/a> totaled 31 yards on 15 carries (2.1 yards per carry). He was stopped for a loss or no gain on five attempts. — Ryan McFadden<\/p>\n Next game: vs. Broncos (Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET)<\/p>\n Catch up on the action: Box score<\/a> | Recap<\/a><\/p>\n How can the Bills get off to faster starts on offense? Avoiding miscues and calling plays that are less predictable would help the Bills avoid sluggish starts. After scoring three points in the first half, the Bills’ offense found a rhythm. Buffalo scored 20 points in the second half for the fourth time this season, tied with the Ravens and Bengals for most in the NFL. The Bills’ 249 rushing yards were the most by any visiting team at Pittsburgh since the Bills in 1975.<\/p>\n Turning point: The Steelers got the ball to start the second half, but they turned it over on their first play from scrimmage. Defensive end Joey Bosa<\/a> strip-sacked Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers<\/a>, and cornerback Christian Benford<\/a> scooped the ball up for a 17-yard touchdown. Benford had an interception on the following Steelers drive and became the fourth Bills player in franchise history to have a fumble return touchdown and an interception in the same game. — Alaina Getzenberg<\/p>\n Next game: vs. Bengals (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)<\/p>\n 0:31<\/p>\n Ladd McConkey makes the catch for a Chargers TD<\/p>\n Justin Herbert finds Ladd McConkey in the end zone for a Chargers touchdown vs. the Raiders.<\/p>\n Should Aaron Rodgers have played against the Bills? It’s fair to wonder if starting Rodgers put the Steelers in the best position as they attempted to keep their AFC North lead. Not only did he complete just 54% of his attempts in his previous six quarters before the wrist injury, but the fracture also limited the Steelers’ offense Sunday by removing plays under center from the game plan. At the same time, Mason Rudolph<\/a> came in and threw an interception to end the brief series he spent on the field. Two days away from turning 42, Rodgers had flashes of his old form, but his inconsistencies and the offensive ineptitude led to a restless crowd and numerous “Fire Tomlin” chants. The only other quarterbacks on the roster are rookie Will Howard<\/a>, who missed most of the preseason with a fracture in his pinky finger, and Skylar Thompson<\/a>, who remains on IR. This is the bed they made when they committed to Rodgers months before he agreed to commit to them.<\/p>\n Biggest hole in the game plan: Inability to stop the run. The Steelers spent this week preaching the importance of stopping the run, then they gave up a season-high in rushing yards before the end of the third quarter to an offense missing both of its starting tackles. Through the third quarter, the Bills recorded eight rushes of at least 10 yards, their most in any game this season. The Bills also picked up 16 rushing first downs, the most the Steelers have allowed in a game this century, according to ESPN research. The Steelers were hampered by injuries, with Derrick Harmon<\/a> inactive and Patrick Queen<\/a> exiting in the first half, but it was still a dismal performance. — Brooke Pryor<\/p>\n Next game: at Ravens (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)<\/p>\n Catch up on the action: Box score<\/a> | Recap<\/a><\/p>\n Is this Seattle’s best defensive front in team history? The Seahawks got big plays out of all three levels of their seventh-ranked defense with five takeaways and the team’s first shutout since 2015, but that unit continues to be led by its front. Defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence<\/a> was the star Sunday, with a sack, a forced fumble and a pressure that resulted in linebacker Ernest Jones IV<\/a>‘s pick-six. Defensive tackles Byron Murphy II<\/a> and Leonard Williams<\/a> also had sacks. With four Sunday, the Seahawks are on pace for well over 50 sacks. Their 2013 and ’14 Super Bowl teams recorded 44 and 37 sacks, respectively, in 16-game seasons. And those defenses didn’t have a pair of game-wreckers in the interior, such as Williams and Murphy.<\/p>\n What to make of the QB performance: Sam Darnold<\/a> was sacked only 11 times over the first 11 games, a big reason he had the NFL’s sixth-best Total QBR. But Seattle couldn’t handle Minnesota’s blitz-heavy defense Sunday. Darnold was sacked four times, one resulting in a fumble that Minnesota recovered. He completed 14 of 26 passes for only 128 yards. — Brady Henderson<\/p>\n Next game: at Falcons (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)<\/p>\n 0:48<\/p>\n Joey Bosa\u2019s strip sack leads to a Bills TD<\/p>\n Joey Bosa forces Aaron Rodgers to turn the ball over and Christian Benford recovers for a Bills touchdown.<\/p>\n What happened to the Vikings’ offense? After some shaky moments early this season, the offense has collapsed. In their past six quarters, the Vikings have totaled zero points, 13 first downs and 162 total yards. Sunday snapped their 305-game streak (including playoffs) of avoiding shutouts, the third-longest active streak in the NFL, dating back to 2007. Why? Rookie quarterback Max Brosmer<\/a> was no better than J.J. McCarthy<\/a> has been in his worst moments. Brosmer’s wild underhand throw on fourth-and-1 from the Seahawks’ 4-yard line was one of the worst decisions in the NFL this season, and that was before Jones intercepted it and ran 85 yards for a touchdown. The miscue turned a potential Vikings lead in the second quarter into a 10-0 deficit.<\/p>\n Trend to watch: Amid an increasingly lost season, second-year linebacker Dallas Turner<\/a> is beginning to show signs of being the playmaker they thought he could be as a first-round pick in 2024. He recorded five sacks in the past four games, although one was nullified because of a penalty. Sunday, he sacked Darnold twice, forced two fumbles and batted down a pass. — Kevin Seifert<\/p>\n Next game: vs. Commanders (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)<\/p>\n Catch up on the action: Box score<\/a> | Recap<\/a><\/p>\n Should it matter that the Jets probably cost themselves a shot at the No. 1 pick? With the win, the Jets’ chances of landing the No. 1 pick dropped from 15% to 5%, per ESPN Analytics. If they had lost, it would’ve jumped to 22%. So basically, they kissed it goodbye — and that’s OK. Winning games is important for an organization that has suffered through 10 straight losing seasons. It’s especially important for coach Aaron Glenn, whose first season has been difficult. A come-from-behind win, with all three phases contributing, is what mattered most for the Jets, who have won three of their past five.<\/p>\n What to make of the QB performance: Tyrod Taylor<\/a>, now 1-2 as the starter, delivered two highlights: A 10-yard scoring run and a 52-yard touchdown pass to Adonai Mitchell<\/a>, who played his best game as a Jet. Taylor (19-for-33, 172 yards) was far from perfect, making it difficult to sustain drives, but he maintained his poise during a frantic comeback win. — Rich Cimini<\/p>\n Next game: vs. Dolphins (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)<\/p>\n 0:39<\/p>\n Max Brosmer throws disastrous pick-six<\/p>\n Max Brosmer gets a throw off, but it’s picked off by Ernest Jones IV, who goes over 80 yards the other way for a touchdown.<\/p>\n How much has special teams derailed the Falcons’ season? The Falcons might be a playoff-bound team if they had a competent special teams unit. But Atlanta is on its third kicker of the season, Zane Gonzalez<\/a>, who missed a 50-yard field goal that would have given the team a lead in the third quarter. The Falcons’ kick coverage has been awful, allowing an NFL-high 29.8 yards per kickoff return. They gave up an 83-yard return to the Jets’ Isaiah Williams<\/a>. New York’s first score came right after a muffed punt by Jamal Agnew<\/a>.<\/p>\n What to make of the QB performance: For the second straight week, Kirk Cousins<\/a> played well enough to keep the Falcons in it. Cousins was 21-for-33 for 234 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions. There were questions about the 37-year-old coming into this season, but he appears to still have something left. — Marc Raimondi<\/p>\n Next game: vs. Seahawks (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)<\/p>\n Catch up on the action: Box score<\/a> | Recap<\/a><\/p>\n Are the Dolphins a run-first team now? Miami’s strength has been its backfield since wide receiver Tyreek Hill<\/a>‘s season-ending injury<\/a> in Week 4, and it has really leaned into its run game over the past month. The Dolphins have won four of their past five games, averaging 167 rushing yards per game. Third-year running back De’Von Achane<\/a> also hit a career milestone, reaching 1,000 rushing yards for the first time in his career. With five games remaining, he should end the season with a single-season rushing performance among the top three in franchise history.<\/p>\n What to make of the QB performance: Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa<\/a> extended his reign as the league’s interception leader with a head-scratching throw into double coverage on the Dolphins’ first play following a takeaway. His game was a mixed bag, including a few impressive throws and a seemingly hesitant demeanor in the pocket. The Saints sacked him four times and he threw for fewer than 200 yards for the seventh time this season — something he’d done only seven times in his previous three seasons combined. — Marcel Louis-Jacques<\/p>\n Next game: at Jets (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)<\/p>\n 0:16<\/p>\n Nick Folk gives Jets the win on a 56-yard FG<\/p>\n The Jets walk it off against the Falcons on a Nick Folk 56-yard field goal.<\/p>\n Have the Saints found their kicker of the future? The Saints moved on from Blake Grupe<\/a> this week after he struggled this season — and their franchise kicker might have been on the roster this whole time. Charlie Smyth<\/a>, who came to the Saints from Northern Ireland last year, was learning how to kick an American football for the first time in 2023. On Sunday, he easily made his first kick — a 56-yarder in the rain.<\/p>\n Stat to know: Defensive end Cameron Jordan<\/a>, 36, earned an extra $600,000 after getting two sacks. Jordan needed five sacks sacks this season to unlock $300,000 in incentives, and another $300,000 when he got his sixth sack. His 6.5 sacks this season lead the team. — Katherine Terrell<\/p>\n Next game: at Buccaneers (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)<\/p>\n Catch up on the action: Box score<\/a> | Recap<\/a><\/p>\n How short-handed could the Jaguars be next week? This victory could have been costly for the Jaguars because of injuries to left tackle Walker Little<\/a> (concussion), wide receiver Parker Washington<\/a> (hip) and long snapper Ross Matiscik<\/a> (back). They add to a list that includes defensive end Travon Walker<\/a> (who hasn’t practiced the past two weeks with a knee injury), right guard Patrick Mekari<\/a> (concussion) and defensive tackle Arik Armstead<\/a> (who was a late scratch Sunday with a hand injury). That means the Jaguars could potentially be without five starters in Week 14 vs. the Colts with first place in the AFC South on the line. Indianapolis hasn’t won in Jacksonville since 2014.<\/p>\n What to make of the QB performance: Trevor Lawrence<\/a> had arguably his best game of the season, and it went largely unnoticed because of the injuries and the defense’s performance. He threw for 229 yards (there was one drop by receiver Austin Trammell<\/a>) and two touchdowns and didn’t throw an interception for the first time since the Jags’ Oct. 19 loss to the Rams. He finished with a 111.5 passer rating, the first time he has posted a rating better than 100 since Week 8 in 2024.<\/p>\n Best quote from the locker room: “We’re giving ourselves an opportunity to play meaningful games in November and December and that’s ultimately all you can ask for in this league,” coach Liam Coen said ahead of next week’s showdown. “And the rest of the way you’ve got competitive, meaningful football games and I think that that’s just an important thing for us to go through as a team in year one. To have the opportunity to do those things and to earn that I think is important for us.” — Mike DiRocco<\/p>\n Next game: vs. Colts (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)<\/p>\n 0:21<\/p>\n De’Von Achane scampers for a 29-yard TD<\/p>\n De\u2019Von Achane gets to the edge and turns upfield for a 29-yard touchdown to give the Dolphins 7-0 lead.<\/p>\n Can Cam Ward<\/a> continue to survive all of the sacks this season? Ward now has 10 games this season in which he has been sacked at least three times, trailing only Warren Moon, who set the record with 11 games in 1984. The Titans have allowed a league-leading 48 sacks this season. Raiders quarterback Geno Smith<\/a> (41) is the only other quarterback who has been sacked at least 40 times this season. Despite all of the sacks, Ward’s confidence hasn’t waned, and he continues to fight each week. Things could get really ugly against the Browns and Myles Garrett<\/a>, who is chasing the single-season sack record.<\/p>\n Turning point: After falling behind 7-3 in the final seconds of the first quarter, wide receiver Chimere Dike<\/a> fumbled the ensuing kickoff. That gave the Jaguars the ball at Tennessee’s 35-yard line, and Lawrence found tight end Brenton Strange<\/a> for a 24-yard touchdown a few plays later. Neither side of the ball recovered for the Titans, especially the offense, which opened the game with an 11-play, 70-yard drive that ended with a field goal by Joey Slye<\/a>. The Titans didn’t score again.<\/p>\n Best quote from the locker room: Ward acknowledged the sacks piling up, but it’s not hurting his confidence. “I like to live my life one day at a time. It really doesn’t bother me,” Ward said. “Someone in the world has it a lot worse than I have so that’s just how I put it in perspective. God has blessed me with the ability to do what I love for a living. Not a lot of people get the chance to say that. So every time when I’m hurt, sore, and when I’m healthy, I just try to go play through it.” — Turron Davenport<\/p>\n Next game: at Browns (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)<\/p>\n Catch up on the action: Box score<\/a> | Recap<\/a><\/p>\n How did quarterback C.J. Stroud<\/a> look in his first game since Nov. 2? At times, he looked rusty. There was a play when Stroud ran beyond the line of scrimmage and threw a pass, which drew a penalty. He also airmailed a throw to wide receiver Xavier Hutchinson<\/a> that turned into an interception. But Stroud was money on third downs, going 6-of-7 for 79 yards with a passer rating of 113.7. Those conversions played a big part in Houston’s second-half touchdown, which was enough to give them the win. Overall, Stroud was 22-of-35 for 276 yards and a pick for a 75.4 passer rating.<\/p>\n Turning point: Stroud threw a pass to Hutchinson that fell incomplete in the fourth quarter, but a flag kept the drive alive. A few plays later, wide receiver Nico Collins<\/a> had a 7-yard rushing touchdown to put Houston up 20-13 with 5:13 remaining in the game. — DJ Bien-Aime<\/p>\n Next game: at Chiefs (Sunday, 8:20 p.m. ET)<\/p>\n 0:32<\/p>\n Jakobi Meyers sets the Jaguars up nicely with a 50-yard catch<\/p>\n Trevor Lawrence throws to Jakobi Meyers, who gets to the 6-yard line for a 50-yard catch.<\/p>\n Are the Colts in trouble after a tough November? In a span of a month, the Colts have gone from having a multiple-game lead in the AFC South to fighting for their playoff lives. Sunday’s loss drops them into a tie with the Jaguars for the division lead and sets up an absolutely massive game between the teams next Sunday. The Colts have now lost three of their past four after posting the best record in the NFL through the first eight weeks. And things are only getting tougher for Indy: Quarterback Daniel Jones<\/a> (fibula) is playing hurt, cornerback Sauce Gardner<\/a> might have sustained a serious calf injury<\/a> and the schedule is about to intensify.<\/p>\n What to make of the QB performance: Jones had an underwhelming statistical performance, going 14-of-27 for 201 yards with two touchdowns. But considering his injury and severely limited mobility — and the fierce pressure he was under because of the offensive line’s uneven play — Jones probably did as much as could be expected. The reality is that the Colts probably can’t expect too much more until he overcomes his injury. — Stephen Holder<\/p>\n Next game: at Jaguars (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)<\/p>\n Catch up on the action: Box score<\/a> | Recap<\/a><\/p>\n Is the arrow pointing up again for the Bucs after a three-game slide? Their victory preserves a half-game lead in the NFC South over the Panthers. And the Bucs own the league’s second-easiest remaining schedule, according to ESPN’s Football Power Index. Running back Bucky Irving<\/a> returned; Chris Godwin Jr<\/a>. is looking more like himself. Mike Evans<\/a> and Jalen McMillan<\/a> are on the cusp of starting their 21-day practice windows to return. But the explosive plays surrendered by the defense — they gave up 386 total yards — remain a problem.<\/p>\n What to make of the QB performance: Any concerns about quarterback Baker Mayfield<\/a>‘s sprained AC joint<\/a> in his non-throwing shoulder were minimized. He threw for only 194 passing yards and a touchdown, but he made plays with his legs (31 rushing yards, including a 21-yard scramble up the middle), didn’t turn the ball over and was particularly effective throwing on the move. — Jenna Laine<\/p>\n Next game: vs. Saints (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)<\/p>\n 0:19<\/p>\n Nico Collins runs in a go-ahead TD for Texans<\/p>\n Nico Collins gets the ball and finds the end zone for a 7-yard touchdown.<\/p>\n Why do the Cardinals continue to lose despite outgaining opponents? Arizona can’t seem to find the end zone despite consistently moving the ball. The Cardinals have outgained their opponents in five of their nine losses and have lost four of those by four points or less. So, the offense is working — to a point. Whether it’s a penalty or a sack or a turnover, Arizona has figured out all the ways to push themselves out of scoring situations. Sunday was another example: The Cardinals outgained the Bucs by 107 yards and lost by three.<\/p>\n Most surprising performance: After catching 25 passes for 303 yards in the past two games, wide receiver Michael Wilson<\/a> finished with just 36 yards on three catches. He was relegated to WR2 with Marvin Harrison Jr<\/a>. returning from appendicitis surgery and wasn’t fed the ball as much as he had been in the past two games. — Josh Weinfuss<\/p>\n Next game: vs. Rams (Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET)<\/p>\n Catch up on the action: Box score<\/a> | Recap<\/a><\/p>\n At 9-4, how well are the 49ers positioned for a playoff push? Sunday’s win was a pivotal one for San Francisco, which needed to go undefeated during a three-game span against Arizona, Carolina and Cleveland to put itself in prime playoff position — and that’s exactly what the 49ers did. With a much-needed week off coming up and a home game against one-win Tennessee, the 49ers have a strong chance to get to 10 wins before Christmas. That is usually enough to make the postseason, but one more win in a difficult stretch (at Indianapolis, at home against Chicago and Seattle) would almost certainly seal it. It’s still difficult to imagine the 49ers (considering their injury situation) being a real threat to win the NFC, but some late-season rest will give them a chance to regroup and potentially make noise in January.<\/p>\n What to make of the QB performance: Coming off a three-interception performance<\/a> on Monday night, it was fair to wonder how quarterback Brock Purdy<\/a> would respond in difficult weather conditions against a tough Browns defense. As has often been the case in his career, he bounced back with the type of gritty outing required to get the win. Purdy finished 16-of-29 for 168 yards with a touchdown and a rushing score. Most importantly, he took care of the ball as the Niners had zero giveaways for just the third time this season (all wins).<\/p>\n Best quote from the locker room: Tight end George Kittle<\/a> didn’t mince words when talking about San Francisco managing to be 9-4 despite all the injuries. “Looking from the outside in, if people would’ve said, ‘Hey you guys are gonna be 9-4 going into the bye and you’re not going to have Fred Warner<\/a> and Nick Bosa<\/a> and Kittle is going to miss the first five weeks and Brock [Purdy]’s going to miss six, seven games, I think a lot of people would’ve laughed,” Kittle said. “Kudos to our coaching staff, coach Shanahan, [general manager John] Lynch for bringing in the right guys to fill in those spots, developing players to take advantage of those situations. … I think we’re set up really well.” — Nick Wagoner<\/p>\n Next game: vs. Titans (Dec. 14, 4:25 p.m. ET)<\/p>\n 0:22<\/p>\n Bucs get tricky with TD pass to lineman Tristan Wirfs<\/p>\n Baker Mayfield finds a wide-open Tristan Wirfs in the end zone for a Buccaneers touchdown.<\/p>\n With another losing season, should coaching changes be considered in Cleveland? The Browns clinched their fourth losing season in six years under coach Kevin Stefanski. Since leading Cleveland to the playoffs in the 2023 season, Stefanski has a 6-23 record. Owner Jimmy Haslam has preached patience with a young roster, but Cleveland has wasted an elite defense this season (see: Myles Garrett<\/a> and his 19 sacks) with recurring gaffes on special teams and an ineffective offense, latter of which has come under the watch of the offensive-minded Stefanski.<\/p>\n Turning point: Trailing 10-8 with seven minutes remaining in the third quarter, the Browns went for it on fourth-and-1 from their own 33-yard line, but rookie tight end Harold Fannin Jr<\/a>. fumbled the center exchange on an attempted sneak. Purdy scored nine plays later to give San Francisco a two-score lead that the Niners would never relinquish.<\/p>\n Best quote from the locker room: Shedeur Sanders<\/a>, who made his home debut as the Browns starting quarterback Sunday, said some patience will be needed. “This team is not going to be a microwave thing. We’re going to have sparks here and there, but it’s going to take time to be able to develop that chemistry with everybody, to be on the same page with [wide receiver] Jerry [Jeudy],” he said. — Daniel Oyefusi<\/p>\n Next game: vs. Titans (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)<\/p>\n Catch up on the action: Box score<\/a> | Recap<\/a><\/p>\n What does the win mean for Carolina’s playoff push? This was a major statement. The banged-up Panthers are keeping pace with the Bucs in the NFC South with an improbable win against the Rams, who entered Week 13 with the NFC’s best record. With four games left after next week’s bye (including two against the Bucs), the Panthers showed they aren’t going away. That’s especially true if quarterback Bryce Young<\/a>, who had arguably his best game as a pro, proves to be consistent.<\/p>\n Most surprising performance: Running back Chuba Hubbard<\/a>. Coach Dave Canales said he needed to get Hubbard more involved this week. He did — and then some. Hubbard had 17 carries for 83 yards, plus two catches for 41 yards and a touchdown. He made a case to wrestle back the starting job he lost midseason to Rico Dowdle<\/a>. — David Newton<\/p>\n Next game: at Saints (Dec. 14, 4:25 p.m. ET)<\/p>\n 0:23<\/p>\n Brock Purdy connects with Jauan Jennings for a TD<\/p>\n Brock Purdy fires a pass to Jauan Jennings to give the 49ers a 23-8 lead over the Browns.<\/p>\n What does the loss mean for the Rams’ potential playoff seeding? They entered the game with the NFC’s best record, but this loss drops them behind Chicago, who currently hold the tiebreaker with the better conference record. The Bears have a tough schedule in their final five games of the season, playing the Lions, 49ers and Packers (twice). The Rams lost in tough playoff environments on the road the past two seasons, so they know the importance of playing at home throughout the playoffs. The Rams are still a game up on the 8-4 Eagles, who hold the head-to-head tiebreaker over Los Angeles.<\/p>\n Trend to watch: When the Rams are in the low red zone, keep an eye on wide receiver Davante Adams<\/a>. He had two receiving touchdowns, one from the 4-yard line and one from the 7. This season, 11 of Adams’ 14 receiving touchdowns have been caught within the 10-yard line, according to ESPN Research. Adams leads the league with those 11 touchdowns, with five more than the next-closest receiver (Lions’ Amon-Ra St. Brown<\/a>). — Sarah Barshop<\/p>\n Next game: at Cardinals (Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET)<\/p>\n Catch up on the action: Box score<\/a> | Recap<\/a><\/p>\n How does this win legitimize the 2025 Bears? This was the most important win for the franchise in years and quiets any doubts about the legitimacy of the Bears’ 9-3 record. Chicago went on the road and beat the reigning Super Bowl champions thanks to a dominant rushing attack and defensive performance that forced Philadelphia into uncharacteristic mistakes, such as Jalen Hurts<\/a>‘ interception and fumble on the tush push. It’s time to start thinking playoffs in Chicago.<\/p>\n Most surprising performance: Chicago ran for 281 yards (second most this season) and was dominant on the ground early on. When the Bears got away from that formula with a series of incompletions by Caleb Williams<\/a> during a two-minute drive to end the first half, it felt like that began the offense’s sputter. Williams had eight off-target passes in the first half (tied for the most of his career in either half) and finished 17-of-36 for 154 yards with 1 touchdown and 1 interception. It was a tough game for Williams in the efficiency department. His completion percentage (47%) was the second lowest in a game in his career. — Courtney Cronin<\/p>\n Next game: at Packers (Sunday, Dec. 7, 4:25 p.m. ET)<\/p>\n Breaking news from Adam Schefter<\/p>\n Download the ESPN app and enable Adam Schefter’s news alerts<\/a> to receive push notifications for the latest updates first. Opt in by tapping the alerts bell in the top right corner. For more information, click here<\/a>.<\/p>\n Are the Eagles in trouble? It feels like the Eagles have reached the most important moment in their season. A collapse against the Cowboys was followed by a discouraging home loss to the Bears on Friday, when their offense was familiarly listless for most of the game and their defense looked suddenly vulnerable. At 8-4, they’re still the favorites to win the NFC East, and they have a rather friendly closing schedule, with two games against the Commanders and a matchup with the Raiders. But things have felt a little shaky around this team for much of the season. Now is the time for the defending champs to show the ’25 squad has what it takes to make another run.<\/p>\n Biggest hole in the game plan: The Eagles’ defense had a very difficult time against misdirection runs. Running backs Kyle Monangai<\/a> and D’Andre Swift<\/a> routinely found cutback lanes that led to chunk gains. This is the first time the Bears have had multiple 100-yard rushers in the same game since November 1985 (Walter Payton and Matt Suhey), per ESPN Research. — Tim McManus<\/p>\n Next game: at Chargers (Monday, Dec. 8, 8:15 p.m. ET)<\/p>\n Catch up on the action: Box score<\/a> | Recap<\/a><\/p>\n Does Joe Burrow<\/a> coming back change anything for the Bengals? It seems tantalizing to think about. But the Bengals have absolutely no margin for error. They are 4-8 through 12 games for the second straight season. Last year, the Bengals ripped off five straight wins to close the season with a 9-8 record. That will be tougher this season with games against Buffalo and Baltimore still looming. Cincinnati will need help from the Ravens and Steelers, and they also can’t make any mistakes.<\/p>\n Key stat to know: So much for easing back into things. Burrow became the first player this season to have 40 or more passing attempts through three quarters, per ESPN Research. In fact, his 42 attempts before the final quarter were the most by any QB since … Burrow in 2023, when he had 42 in Week 3 against the Rams. That was his first game after aggravating a strained calf he suffered in the preseason. — Ben Baby<\/p>\n Next game: at Bills (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)<\/p>\n 0:26<\/p>\n Bryce Young, Jalen Coker link up for 33-yard TD<\/p>\n Bryce Young launches a pass to Jalen Coker, who finds the end zone for his first touchdown of the season.<\/p>\n What is wrong with Lamar Jackson<\/a>? Even though Jackson refuses to acknowledge it, he has not played the same since dealing with a growing list of injuries this month and was a major reason the Ravens’ five-game winning streak ended. On Thursday night, Jackson continued the worst slump of his career, turning the ball over three times for the first time in four years. This marked only the fifth time he has turned the ball over three or more times in his eight-year career. Jackson fumbled twice — giving the ball to the Bengals twice inside the Baltimore 20-yard line — and was intercepted on a pass batted at the line. The two-time NFL Most Valuable Player hasn’t looked like himself since dealing with three different injuries (knee, ankle and toe) over the past three weeks, which has forced him to miss one practice each week. Jackson has not thrown a touchdown pass in three straight games — a career worst — and he couldn’t manage one against a Bengals defense that had allowed an NFL-worst 32.7 points.<\/p>\n Key stat to know: The Ravens allowed over 20 points for the first time since Oct. 5. In its previous six games, Baltimore had been the strength of the team, allowing an average of 14 points. The bigger issue is the health of top cornerback Nate Wiggins<\/a>, who didn’t play the second half after sustaining a foot injury. This could be a major problem considering Baltimore finishes out the season playing such quarterbacks as Burrow again, Aaron Rodgers<\/a> (twice), Drake Maye<\/a> and Jordan Love<\/a>. — Jamison Hensley<\/p>\n Next game: vs. Steelers (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)<\/p>\n Catch up on the action: Box score<\/a> | Recap<\/a><\/p>\n Is it time to take the Cowboys seriously? The Cowboys have beaten the 2024 Super Bowl participants — Chiefs and Eagles — in a span of five days. They have won three straight games, their longest streak since 2023. They are above .500 (6-5-1) for the first time since Week 5 last year. Not many expected the Cowboys would win their first two games of their gauntlet against the Eagles, Chiefs and Detroit Lions<\/a> (Dec. 4), but here they are with a chance to firmly put themselves in the playoff picture. For the third straight week, the defense held the opposing offense to 21 points or fewer. The offense rode big plays to score at least 30 points at home for the fourth time this season.<\/p>\n What to make of the QB performance: Dak Prescott<\/a> vs. Patrick Mahomes<\/a> became a game of anything you can do I can do better. In the fourth quarter, Mahomes threw a go-ahead TD pass on fourth down, but Prescott answered with an eight-play, 68-yard drive to go ahead that had him improvising like Mahomes. Stepping up in the pocket to evade the rush, Prescott flipped a pass to Javonte Williams<\/a> for the touchdown and then on the 2-point conversion, he spun away to his left and rifled a pass to George Pickens<\/a> to give the Cowboys a seven-point lead. After a first possession interception, Prescott rebounded with two touchdown passes and mixed the ball to seven different pass catchers. He also threw for more than 300 yards for the fourth time on Thanksgiving to tie Tony Romo and Matthew Stafford<\/a> for the most in NFL history. — Todd Archer<\/p>\n Next game: at Lions (Thursday, Dec. 4, 8:15 p.m. ET)<\/p>\n 2:01<\/p>\n Why Stephen A. was annoyed with Zac Taylor after Bengals’ win<\/p>\n Stephen A. Smith rips Zac Taylor for not elevating the Bengals during Joe Burrow’s absence.<\/p>\n Do the Chiefs have any margin for error? No. Here’s the mission, should the Chiefs choose to accept it: Win the final five games of the regular season. That is likely what’s required for them to reach the postseason, perhaps as the seventh and final seed. All five games will be against AFC opponents, too, so every game from this point is essentially a play-in game for coach Andy Reid and Mahomes. In his first NFL start in AT&T Stadium, a little more than 100 miles from his hometown of Tyler, Texas, Mahomes threw four touchdown passes and used his legs to escape the pocket. The issue is that the Chiefs’ defense never sacked Prescott and couldn’t effectively cover his two best receivers, CeeDee Lamb<\/a> and Pickens.<\/p>\n Trend to watch: Following Thursday’s game, the Chiefs get nine days to rest and recover for their final push. But one troubling trend is that Mahomes finished the game without three of his starting linemen — right guard Trey Smith<\/a> (right ankle), right tackle Jawaan Taylor<\/a> (elbow) and rookie left tackle Josh Simmons<\/a> (left wrist). If the Chiefs want any chance to make the playoffs, Mahomes will likely need his best linemen to return sooner rather than later.<\/p>\n Best quote from the locker room: “You’ve got to win every game now — and hope that’s enough. We’re going to play a lot of good teams coming up. If we’re going to make the playoffs, we’re going to have to win them all. That’s got to be the mindset when we step into the [training facility] when we get back,” Mahomes said. — Nate Taylor<\/p>\n Next game: vs. Texans (Sunday, 8:20 p.m. ET)<\/p>\n Catch up on the action: Box score<\/a> | Recap<\/a><\/p>\n Are the Packers now the favorites to win the NFC North? Green Bay’s two games against Chicago — the first one will be on Dec. 7 at Lambeau Field — will go a long way toward deciding it, but Thursday’s win put the Packers in an advantageous position. According to ESPN Analytics, the Packers had a 66% chance to win the division after beating the Lions on Thursday.<\/p>\n A loss would have dropped that number to 27%. Those numbers will change before the weekend is out in part based on Friday’s Bears-Eagles game. But the Packers (8-3-1) put the Lions (7-5) in their rearview mirror by sweeping the season series. After winning just one NFC North game last season, they’re 3-0 so far.<\/p>\n What to make of the QB performance: This was just the kind of game Jordan Love<\/a> needed. After throwing just two touchdown passes in the previous four games combined, Love was dialed in against the Lions. He threw four touchdown passes, including two for 15-plus air yards. One of those was a 51-yard bomb to Christian Watson<\/a> in the third quarter. It was just his third career game with multiple touchdowns on passes for 15-plus air yards. He also had two touchdowns on fourth downs, his first career game with multiple fourth-down touchdown passes. He finished 18-of-30 for 234 yards without an interception.<\/p>\n Best quote from the locker room: Micah Parsons<\/a>, who had 2\u00bd sacks and four quarterback hits on Jared Goff<\/a>, reminded the Packers are focused on what’s ahead, saying, “This was a big win for where we want to go, win the division, playoffs. That was a playoff game. We just have to stack these up.” — Rob Demovsky<\/p>\n Next game: vs. Bears (Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET)<\/p>\n Should the Lions be concerned about Dan Campbell’s playcalling? The head coach took over playcalling duties entering Week 10, at which point Detroit was averaging 29.9 points per game, but the Lions have now lost two of their past three games and have looked questionable at times with their predictability — notably on the ground. Detroit has struggled on fourth downs but continues to take risks. With two failed conversions against Green Bay, Detroit is 0-for-7 on fourth down since Week 11, which is tied for the most fourth-down attempts in the league, and by far the most attempts without a conversion, per ESPN Research.<\/p>\n Most surprising performance: The short-handed Lions needed a much-needed boost with injuries to Amon-Ra St. Brown, Sam LaPorta<\/a>, Brock Wright<\/a>, Kalif Raymond<\/a> and Graham Glasgow<\/a> on offense. Enter Tom Kennedy<\/a>, a practice squad veteran, who stepped up to make plays on offense and special teams in their absence Thursday. Kennedy was signed to Detroit’s active roster from the practice squad Wednesday evening and finished with four catches for 36 yards.<\/p>\n Best quote from the locker room: After his Lions dropped to 7-5, Campbell said he told his players, “It’s frustrating, I know. We’ve got a lot to be thankful for even after a loss.” Campbell then expanded on Detroit’s standing as it looks toward Week 14: “We’ve dug ourselves a little bit of a hole, that’s the bottom line. We are in a little bit of a hole, but that’s just what it is. There’s nothing more than that. So, all we’ve got to do is worry about cleaning up this and then getting to the next game and finding a way to win the next one in front of us.” — Eric Woodyard<\/p>\n Next game: vs. Cowboys (Sunday, 8:15 p.m. ET)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"NFL NationDec 1, 2025, 12:07 AM ET CloseNFL Nation is made up of 32 team-specific reporters who cover…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":319635,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[436],"tags":[49,48,514,82],"class_list":{"0":"post-319634","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-nfl","8":"tag-ca","9":"tag-canada","10":"tag-nfl","11":"tag-sports"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/319634","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=319634"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/319634\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/319635"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=319634"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=319634"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=319634"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
DEN-WAS<\/a> | LV-LAC<\/a> | BUF-PIT<\/a>
MIN-SEA<\/a> | ATL-NYJ<\/a> | NO-MIA<\/a>
JAX-TEN<\/a> | HOU-IND<\/a> | ARI-TB<\/a>
SF-CLE<\/a> | LAR-CAR<\/a> | CHI-PHI<\/a>
CIN-BAL<\/a> | KC-DAL<\/a> | GB-DET<\/a><\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/_end_rule.png\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/den.png\")
Broncos<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/wsh.png\")
Commanders<\/p>\n<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/lac.png\")
Chargers<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/lv.png\")
Raiders<\/p>\n<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/buf.png\")
Bills<\/p>\nplay<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/pit.png\")
Steelers<\/p>\n<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/sea.png\")
Seahawks<\/p>\nplay<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/min.png\")
Vikings<\/p>\n<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/nyj.png\")
Jets<\/p>\nplay<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/atl.png\")
Falcons<\/p>\n<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/mia.png\")
Dolphins<\/p>\nplay<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/no.png\")
Saints<\/p>\n<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/jax.png\")
Jaguars<\/p>\nplay<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/ten.png\")
Titans<\/p>\n<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/hou.png\")
Texans<\/p>\nplay<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/ind.png\")
Colts<\/p>\n<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/tb.png\")
Buccaneers<\/p>\nplay<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/ari.png\")
Cardinals<\/p>\n<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/sf.png\")
49ers<\/p>\nplay<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/cle.png\")
Browns<\/p>\n<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/car.png\")
Panthers<\/p>\nplay<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/lar.png\")
Rams<\/p>\n<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/chi.png\")
Bears<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/schefter_adam.png\")
<\/a><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/phi.png\")
Eagles<\/p>\n<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/cin.png\")
Bengals<\/p>\nplay<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/bal.png\")
Ravens<\/p>\n<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/dal.png\")
Cowboys<\/p>\nplay<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/kc.png\")
Chiefs<\/p>\n<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/gb.png\")
Packers<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/det.png\")
Lions<\/p>\n