NFL Week 13 takeaways: What We Learned from Sunday's 11 games

FULL BOX SCORE

• REWATCH: Rams-Panthers on NFL+ Premium

Kevin Patra's takeaways:

1. Panthers run over Rams in shootout win over NFC’s top team. Dave Canales unleashed a masterful plan, keeping L.A.’s defense off-balance and grinding down the NFC’s No. 1 seed. The Panthers executed a persistent run game, handing the ball repeatedly to Rico Dowdle and Chuba Hubbard . The duo combined for 35 rushes and 133 yards. There were a few big blasts, but the game plan kept the offense in excellent yardage situations, churned the clock, and kept Matthew Stafford on the sideline. The plan only works if Bryce Young executes on key downs. The QB answered the call. Young converted two second-half fourth downs into big-play touchdowns, the first to Jalen Coker and the second to Tetairoa McMillan, that spearheaded the victory. In addition to the two big fourth downs, Young was 6 of 8 for 86 yards and a TD on third downs. Canales showed faith in Young, allowing the QB to throw on third down to ice the game. After last week’s struggles, the Panthers needed this type of all-around performance from the offense and the QB. Canales called an excellent game, outmaneuvering Chris Shula.
2. Stafford’s turnovers burn Rams. The MVP frontrunner had his worst outing of the season. On the opening drive, Stafford set the NFL record with his 28th straight touchdown without throwing an interception. The streak ended quickly. Stafford threw a tipped INT in the end zone on the ensuing drive. On the next possession, the QB tossed a pick-six on a ball behind his target, which flipped the tenor of the contest. On a day in which the Rams racked up 246 first-half yards, the INTs told the story. It was TD or turnover early for L.A. Stafford & Co. answered in the second half and drove with a chance to tie or take the lead late. However, in field-goal range, Stafford was sacked on third down and fumbled, allowing Carolina to milk the rest of the clock. In the rainy weather, Stafford was uncharacteristically off the mark more than we’ve seen him all season, missing several balls high and wide. The cross-country early-window game got Sean McVay’s team once again, letting its grip on the No. 1 seed slip heading into December.
3. Brown leads big-play Panthers D. A quick PSA for those who might miss Panthers games: Derrick Brown is AN ABSOLUTE STUD. It’s understandable that a beefy interior player might go unnoticed nationally. It’s time that travesty ends. The Carolina defensive lineman is a beast, a ferocious game-changer who violently affects every contest. Please grant him your attention -- and don’t dare snub him for a Pro Bowl nod. Brown caused the first Stafford interception, leaping and getting his helmet on the pigskin to knock it into the air. Then, he forced the game-sealing fumble from Stafford, sacking and stripping the quarterback. Carolina’s defense gave up yards Sunday, but made the big plays late and forced Stafford to work – even a ridiculous one-handed catch by Puka Nacua was covered well. The victory was crucial for the Panthers, who kept pace with the Buccaneers for the division lead. After its Week 14 bye, Carolina ends with two of its final tilts against Tampa.  

Next Gen Stats Insight for Panthers-Rams (via NFL Pro): Both of Matthew Stafford’s interceptions came on quick pass attempts, marking his first game with multiple interceptions on passes under 2.5 seconds since 2018.

NFL Research: Sunday marked the second three touchdown and zero interception game for Bryce Young in 2025. He had one such game in his career entering this season. 

FULL BOX SCORE

• REWATCH: Niners-Browns on NFL+ Premium

Nick Shook's takeaways:

1. Purdy rebounds. Six days after enduring an ugly performance in a win over Carolina, Purdy looked much more like his usual self. The statistics -- 16 of 29, 168 yards, one touchdown pass -- don't quite suggest it, but Purdy made a number of key throws by navigating the pocket and rolling away from pressure, preventing Cleveland's ferocious pass rush from making a significant difference. Even more impressive was that Purdy completed many of these passes on a windy late-November day along the shore of Lake Erie that included gusts of 20 miles per hour. Unlike previous weeks, Purdy's passes were delivered with more zip, were largely accurate and represented a much-needed improvement from where he started when he returned from injury. That's good news for a 49ers team that will need its quarterback at his best going forward.
2. Giveaways doom Browns. As has been the case for much of the 2025 season, Cleveland's defense kept the Browns within striking distance of the 49ers for a significant portion of Sunday's game. It forced four punts on San Francisco's first six possessions, and while the Browns didn't record a takeaway, the final score is once again not indicative of how Jim Schwartz's unit performed. The other areas of the game, however, are where the Browns faltered. Facing fourth-and-1 on his 33 midway through the third quarter in a 10-8 game, Kevin Stefanski dialed up a direct snap to rookie tight end Harold Fannin Jr. , his first such usage in his career. Fannin fumbled the snap, resulting in a significant giveaway at the Browns' 32. Undrafted rookie Gage Larvadain muffed two punts and lost the second, giving the 49ers possession at Cleveland's 18 and all but surrendering any hope of a comeback in a 17-8 game early in the fourth. Both turnovers led to touchdowns, taking a two-point game and turning it into a 15-point deficit, an insurmountable difference for the Browns' low-ceiling offense. Add in a questionably aggressive decision to go for it on San Francisco's 20 early in the contest, and it's easy to see how Cleveland -- a team with little margin for error -- ended up on the losing end of a lopsided defeat.
3. Niners pass rush makes a surprise appearance. Since losing Nick Bosa and Mykel Williams to injury, San Francisco's pass rush has all but disappeared in recent weeks. That wasn't the case Sunday. Clelin Ferrell notched two sacks as part of a team-best nine tackle day while Keion White logged another as part of a defensive effort that saw the 49ers register a pressure rate of 36.7%. On third down especially, San Francisco's pass rush made for a hectic experience for rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders in only his second NFL start, undercutting a Browns offense that still managed to gain 253 total yards but produced just eight points. It's not a guarantee this pass rush will suddenly become a frequent contributor, but for one Sunday, it was nice to see the Niners get after the quarterback more than usual.

Next Gen Stats insight from 49ers-Browns (via NFL Pro): Shedeur Sanders averaged a 3.37-second time to throw in his second start, the longest time to throw by a Browns quarterback over the last three seasons. As a result, the 49ers pass rush was able to generate a 36.7% pressure rate, their second-highest of the season (and highest without Nick Bosa), while logging three sacks, despite blitzing just one time.

NFL Research: Christian McCaffrey cleared 800 rushing yards and 800 receiving yards in a season for the third time in his career, joining Marshall Faulk as the only two players to accomplish this feat.

FULL BOX SCORE

• REWATCH: Texans-Colts on NFL+ Premium

Nick Shook's takeaways:

1. Houston's defense stands tall. Entering Sunday, the matchup presented NFL fans with great intrigue: The league's No. 1 scoring offense facing the top scoring defense in a divisional game that could have a significant impact on the AFC South playoff race. For most of the afternoon, it was all about both defenses. Houston was unsurprisingly effective, forcing three punts and a turnover on downs on the Colts' first four possessions, while Indianapolis bent but didn't break, limiting promising Texans drives to field goals. When the rivals entered crunch time, though, Houston's strength proved most important, overcoming penalties to stop the Colts in their tracks by limiting them to a field goal and forcing a turnover on downs on Indianapolis' final drive, preserving the four-point win. The Texans have hung their hats on defense all season and were able to lean on it again in arguably the biggest moment of their season to date, moving within one game of the division leader in an AFC South race that is suddenly very tight.
2. Colts lose second straight one-possession game. Indianapolis crumbled in Kansas City in Week 12, giving away an 11-point fourth quarter lead before losing to the Chiefs in overtime. A week later, the Colts once again encountered significant struggles against an even better defense, scoring a season-low 16 points in a winnable game that might prove costly by the end of the season. Once considered the NFL's most complete offense, the Colts have seen their running game largely bottled up over the last month; Jonathan Taylor finished below 100 yards for the third time in the last four games while Indianapolis landed short of 300 total yards for a second consecutive week. Shane Steichen has been lauded for his work with Daniel Jones in 2025, but the offensive mind will need to find new ways to return this offense to the productive unit that saw the Colts bludgeon teams earlier in 2025. Their playoff aspirations might depend upon it.
3. Stroud gets back on the horse. After missing three weeks due to a concussion, the Texans' franchise quarterback, C.J. Stroud, returned for the key divisional showdown and returned to form, completing 22 of 35 passes for 276 yards and an interception. The pick was the product of a sailed pass but otherwise, Stroud was sharp, completing 16 of 19 short passes for 162 yards, pacing a Texans offense that needed to win the time of possession battle on the road and did so by a margin of nearly 10 minutes. This unit isn't remarkably explosive, but if it can limit mistakes and win the ball control game despite lacking a powerful rushing threat, it can lean on the defense and grind out wins like Sunday. Stroud will play a key part in that effort.

Next Gen Stats Insight from Texans-Colts (via NFL Pro): Derek Stingley Jr. did not allow a reception on his only target across 28 coverage snaps against the Colts. This marks Stingley's fifth game of the season allowing fewer than 10 yards in coverage. Stingley matched up against Michael Pittman Jr. nine times and Alec Pierce eight times in the contest, with his lone target coming on the Colts' final drive in the fourth quarter.

NFL Research: The Texans are now 13-4 (.765 win pct) in divisional games since 2023 (best in NFL) under coach DeMeco Ryans, who owns the best win-loss record in divisional games in NFL history (minimum 15 games).

FULL BOX SCORE

• REWATCH: Saints-Dolphins on NFL+ Premium
• READ: Saints eliminated from playoff contention

Michael Baca's takeaways:

1. Minkah scores defensive two-pointer to fend of Saints. The Dolphins found themselves in a sticky situation late in the fourth quarter after the Saints scored a touchdown with under two minutes to play and were a two-point conversion short of knotting the game. A false start penalty backed up that attempt to the 7-yard line, and Tyler Shough's throw was then snagged by Minkah Fitzpatrick, who returned it 100 yards to the end zone to make it a four-point lead. It seemed like a game-ending play, but the Saints had another idea, calling for an onside quick that grazed a Dolphins player before landing in the arms of Devaughn Vele. The wild play gave New Orleans life, but the Dolphins defense prevented any miracle from happening. Following two straight incompletions and faced with a fourth-and-1 from Miami's 36-yard line, Shough's QB sneak was stuffed and the game was over. Fitzpatrick's two-pointer was the cherry on top of a great performance. The Dolphins safety strip-sacked Shough earlier in the second quarter — aiding Miami's shutout in the first half — and finished with seven tackles (one for loss). Chop Robinson , who was credited with the tackle on Shough's final QB sneak, also had a good game with 1.5 sacks and three QB hits. 
2. Saints' wake-up call wasn't enough. The Saints doubled their yardage total with a 10-play, 70-yard touchdown drive to begin the third quarter, instantly correcting a scoreless effort in the first half that saw four three-and-outs and two turnovers in six possessions. New Orleans focused on a rushing attack it had neglected on that possession, feeding rookie Devin Neal on the way toward a Chris Olave TD reception and subsequent two-point conversion to make it a one-score game. A threat of a rushing attack allowed Tyler Shough to excel in short and intermediate passes in the second half and as the Dolphins continued to settle for field goals, the Saints kept at it. Devaughn Vele was Shough's favorite target, and the wideout doubled his season totals with eight receptions for 93 yards and a 15-yard TD which set up the potential tie late in the fourth quarter. Shough overcame a rough pick and sack fumble in the first half to keep the Saints alive, finishing 26-of-38 passing for 239 yards with two TDs and a 91.9 passer rating. Perhaps the biggest silver lining from New Orleans' third straight defeat was that Irish kicker Charlie Smyth might have secured a job in his NFL debut after nailing a 56-yard field goal (his only attempt) and putting great English on his successful onside kick. 
3. Achane continues to power Miami's offense. Winners of four of their last five games and riding a three-game win streak; the Dolphins are suddenly alive within a chaotic AFC playoff picture after another great performance from De'Von Achane, who carried the offense with 134 rushing yards. Achane was simply masterful with the ball in his hands, sifting through the line of scrimmage with great patience and utilizing his speed for sizeable gains in an instant. That burst was best exemplified on his 29-yard touchdown run to end Miami's opening drive, and his diligence turned a sure loss in the backfield into a 9-yard rumble in the second quarter, which helped extend another scoring possession. In a game where the Dolphins struggled to find consistency through the air — Tua Tagovailoa totaled 157 yards passing (12 of 23) with no TDs and an interception — Achane was relied on for chunk plays, finishing with a 6.1-yard average per carry. It's a wonder why Achane wasn't on the field for a failed fourth-and-1 play late in the fourth quarter, which prompted New Orleans' comeback attempt. He also had a sure TD in the first half if not for a Tagovailoa misfire near the goal line. Nonetheless, the Dolphins are rolling into December thanks to another Achane performance. They face the Jets in New York next week.

Next Gen Stats Insight from Saints-Dolphins (via NFL Pro): De'Von Achane ran for 134 yards and a touchdown on 22 carries in Week 13 against the Saints. He posted a 59.1% rushing success rate, tied for the fifth-highest of any running back this season (minimum 20 carries) and his season high. Achane broke off three explosive runs of 10+ yards during the contest. He now has 32 explosive runs this season, fewer than only Jonathan Taylor (33) league wide this season.

NFL Research: De'Von Achane is the first Dolphins running back with 120-plus rushing yards in three straight games since Ricky Williams (2002), which is a franchise record.

FULL BOX SCORE

• REWATCH: Falcons-Jets on NFL+ Premium

Eric Edholm's takeaways:

1. Jets’ effort showed in gritty win over Falcons. We’re past the point of grading style points for the Jets, who will have a losing record one way or another this season. But we should give Aaron Glenn credit for keeping his Jets focused and competitive, which was on display in a 27-24 victory over Atlanta thanks to Nick Folk's 56-yard game-winning kick at the buzzer. Tyrod Taylor led four second-half scoring drives, including two in the final nine minutes of the game to erase a deficit and finish off the Jets’ third win of the season. Folk’s 55-yard try was no good late in the third quarter, and Atlanta took the lead with back-to-back scoring drives. The Jets punted with just over a minute left, but they got a second life after a quick three-and-out, with Taylor doing just enough on the final drive (with two Jets false starts) to get Folk back into range for the game winner. The Jets’ execution remains a problem that likely will linger into 2026, but their effort was strong, as it has been since the London game. That reflects well on Glenn, even with the Jets’ record being what it is.
2. Falcons lost another ugly game in lost season. The Falcons entered Sunday with very long playoff odds, and they shrunk to infinitesimal in another bad loss Sunday – their sixth in seven games since z rousing win over the Bills that now feels like it happened last season. On paper, it looked like things went pretty well against the Jets. Kirk Cousins threw for 234 yards and a TD in a solid showing. Bijan Robinson had 193 yards from scrimmage and a score. The Falcons had only one penalty, and they held the Jets to 269 yards of offense. But Jamal Agnew's muffed punt deep in Jets territory led to a gift TD in a scoreless game, and the Falcons punted on their first four possessions despite moving the ball on each of them. After dominating the middle-eight minutes, scoring touchdowns on either end of halftime, the Falcons looked to take control but couldn’t. They even had the ball at their own 33 with over a minute left, needing maybe 25-30 yards to try a game-winning kick. But David Sills and Darnell Mooney each dropped on-target passes from Cousins, and the defense allowed the Jets to instead set up for their game-winner. It has been that kind of season for Raheem Morris’ team, and the Rams own Atlanta’s increasingly more valuable first-round pick in 2026.
3. Mitchell stepped up for the Jets. Considered a throw-in in the Quinnen Williams trade, Adonai Mitchell had struggled to make a positive impact in his first two games with the Jets, catching three passes on 13 targets. But Sunday was Mitchell’s breakout game and one of his better performances since entering the NFL. He set career highs in receptions (eight) and receiving yards (102), also hauling in his first NFL touchdown in the win. Mitchell carved up Falcons cornerback Mike Hughes on Sunday, beating him deep for a 52-yard score to tie the game at 14-all in the third quarter. On a day when John Metchie III had three drops, including one in the red zone that could have been a TD, the Jets needed every one of Mitchell’s grabs, six of which came in the second half. His final grab set up Folk’s game-winning kick. The jury remains out on what kind of receiver Mitchell can be, but he appeared to raise the bar somewhat with a strong outing Sunday. 

Next Gen Stats Insight for Falcons-Jets (via NFL Pro): Tyrod Taylor’s 52-yard TD pass to Adonai Mitchell traveled an air distance of 59 yards.

NFL Research: The Falcons’ James Pearce Jr. had a sack Sunday, bringing his season total to five. He and fellow rookie Jalon Walker each have five sacks, the first time since 1988 that the Falcons have had two rookies with more than four sacks apiece.

FULL BOX SCORE

• REWATCH: Cardinals-Buccaneers on NFL+ Premium
• READ: Cardinals eliminated from playoff contention

Kevin Patra's takeaways:

1. Irving’s return helps get Tampa back on track. After three consecutive losses, the Buccaneers' offense needed the jumpstart that Bucky Irving helped provide. In his first game since Week 4, the elusive running back showed his importance, proving shifty in space and picking up crucial first downs. Irving carried 17 times for 61 yards and added two catches for 20 yards. There weren’t big gashes, with a long of 13, but his threat helps open up the offense, and keeps it in better downs and distances. His 13-yard touchdown run was something Tampa had been missing during its losing streak. Another injured player getting back into the swing: Chris Godwin. Despite a dropped TD, Godwin looked closer to himself, winning over the middle repeatedly. The veteran put up a season-high 78 yards on three catches -- it would have been nice to add that missed TD, though. Also, Baker Mayfield injured non-throwing shoulder looked fine, and didn’t stop him from scrambling to pick up several key first downs (six rushes for 27 yards).
2. Another close loss for the Cards. It was apropos that a one-score loss officially eliminated Jonathan Gannon’s club from postseason contention. Sunday marked the Cards’ seventh loss of 2025 by four or fewer points -- three more than any other team this season and two more than any other campaign in franchise history. Arizona became just the fourth team in the last 30 years with seven such losses in a season (2023 Chargers, 2008 Packers, 2001 Panthers). Jacoby Brissett continues to battle, once again attempting 40 passes, completing 29 for 301 yards with two TDs. However, his red zone INT on a ball behind his target on the opening drive stung. Arizona outgained Tampa 386 to 279, but two turnovers, a missed field goal, and two turnovers on downs killed their chances. It’s a team that simply can’t make the big game-winning play in close games this season.
3. Tampa keeps slim division lead. Todd Bowles' club desperately needed a win after a once-big division lead got whittled down to half a game. With the Panthers beating the Rams on Sunday, the Bucs needed to keep pace. The offensive playmakers – Mayfield, Irving, Godwin – looking healthier is a great sign for the stretch run. You’d like to see a more convincing victory against a three-win club, but given the injuries that have haunted Tampa and its three-game skid against playoff clubs, the Bucs will take it. Tampa gets the two-win Saints and four-win Falcons the next two weeks before ending the season against the Panthers in two of the final three weeks.

Next Gen Stats Insight for Buccaneers-Cardinals (via NFL Pro): Baker Mayfield was strong against the blitz, completing 6 of 11 passes for 114 yards and a touchdown. Despite being blitzed on 39.4% of his dropbacks, Mayfield averaged 3.05 seconds to throw, his second-longest mark of the season.

NFL Research: Tristan Wirfs became the first offensive lineman to score a TD in the NFL this season, the first Tampa Bay O-lineman to score a TD since Leonard Wester in 2017, and his score was the second career pass TD by Baker Mayfield to an offensive lineman, joining Patrick Mahomes as the only players since Mayfield entered the NFL in 2018 to have multiple such passing TD in the regular season.

FULL BOX SCORE

• REWATCH: Jaguars-Titans on NFL+ Premium
• READ: Titans first AFC team eliminated from playoff contention

Eric Edholm's takeaways to come:

1. Shorthanded Jaguars took care of business. The Jaguars were already without key defenders Travon Walker and Arik Armstead and right guard Patrick Mekari heading into Sunday, and they lost key players on offense (offfensive tackle Walker Little and wide receiver Parker Washington ) and special teams (long snapper Ross Matiscik), weakening the game-day depth. But Jacksonville controlled the action early against the one-win Titans, even with an early slew of penalties. Trevor Lawrence had success throwing the ball, even with Washington and Little hurt. Brian Thomas Jr.’s return to the lineup helped, but Jakobi Meyers was the go-to target most of the game, making an increasingly important addition to the offense with each passing game. The Jaguars survived the OL shuffling, with Cole Van Lanen shifting from right guard to left tackle mid-game and holding his own. This wasn’t the prettiest performance, and the Jags’ offense stalled for long stretches, but it was enough to help push them closer to the playoffs prior to a huge showdown against the Colts in Jacksonville next week, with the AFC South very much up for grabs.
2. Out-of-sync Ward couldn’t offset Jags’ mistakes on defense, special teams. Coming off one of the best showings of his rookie season, Titans quarterback Cam Ward engineered a solid opening drive to give Tennessee a 3-0 lead. He then watched as the Titans’ defense and special teams made myriad first-half mistakes, turning the game into a 15-3 deficit early in the second quarter. Chimere Dike’s kick-return fumble was a killer, and the Titans committed a penalty on the extra point try, allowing the Jags to go for two. After the offense stalled in the two-minute drive before half, with Ward missing a fourth-and-2 throw in field-goal range, Jacksonville moved 52 yards in the final 20 seconds of the half to take an 18-3 lead on Cam Little field goal. The Jaguars were prepared to run out the half, but a 15-yard roughing penalty moved the ball into Little’s range. It was an ugly half of football, and the second half was even worse. The Titans forced a three-and-out on the Jaguars’ first possession of the third quarter but roughed the punter and gave them a first down, which led to a long TD drive and a 22-point hole. Ward struggled, throwing for only 72 second-half yards despite 22 pass attempts.
3. Jaguars must curb penalty problem. It didn’t pose major issues in Jacksonville’s blowout win Sunday, but the penalties keep adding up at an alarming rate this season. The Jaguars remain in the running for the most penalties accepted, adding 13 more flags on Sunday, bringing their 12-game total to 104, for 861 yards worth of flags. For reference, last year’s Jags had only 99 penalties for 786 yards in 17 games. The 2025 Jaguars are averaging nearly nine flags per game. That’s not a formula that tends to work in the playoffs, which is how the Jaguars must start approaching things. They appeared to be heading in the right direction in recent games, with one flag in Week 11 and seven in Week 12, but Sunday was a major step back, tying their season-high in penalties in a single game. The offense and special teams were the guiltiest units against the Titans, which will give Liam Coen a major coaching point this week with a chance to make major headway toward a division title.

Next Gen Stats Insight for Jaguars-Titans (via NFL Pro): Jaguars edge Josh Hines-Allen has had three straight games with seven or more pressures. 

NFL Research: The Jaguars won their eighth game of the season, which is only the fourth season in the past 15 that they’ve won seven or more games. Jacksonville has not had more than nine wins in a season since 2017.

FULL BOX SCORE

Eric Edholm's takeaways to come:

FULL BOX SCORE

Nick Shook's takeaways to come:

FULL BOX SCORE

Kevin Patra's takeaways to come:

FULL BOX SCORE

Grant Gordon's takeaways to come: