NFL Week 13 prime storylines: Saquon Barkley, Derrick Henry battle in Eagles-Ravens; NFC West drama

Week 13 of the NFL season is in full swing following 4 video games on Thanksgiving and Black Friday.

The Detroit Lions survived an exciting second-half cost by the Bears to win 23-20 and enhance to 11-1, a sport that proved to be the final for Chicago coach Matt Eberflus, who was fired Friday. The Dallas Cowboys topped the New York Giants 27-20 to string collectively their first two-game win streak in additional than a month. The Inexperienced Bay Packers rolled to a 30-17 win over the Miami Dolphins to complete Thursday evening. And on Friday, the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs survived (once more) to beat the Las Vegas Raiders 19-17 and likewise enhance to 11-1.

Sunday’s slate options seven video games within the early time slot, three within the late afternoon and a nightcap between the San Francisco 49ers and Buffalo Payments. The Cleveland Browns and Denver Broncos cap all of it off Monday evening.

Right here’s a take a look at 5 of probably the most compelling storylines from the rest of this weekend’s video games. (Discover the total Week 13 schedule right here.)

1. Pittsburgh Steelers’ response to loss

Russell Wilson’s excellent mark as Steelers beginning quarterback ended final week because the Browns handed their AFC North rivals their first loss since Week 5, snapping Pittsburgh’s five-game win streak. Now 8-3, the Steelers cling to a slim division lead over the Baltimore Ravens (8-4). A victory Sunday over the host Cincinnati Bengals would go a great distance towards serving to the Steelers stay answerable for the division.

Wilson and the Steelers struggled on a snowy evening to capitalize on alternatives in opposition to Cleveland. They transformed simply one in every of three fourth-down makes an attempt and missed a discipline aim. The offense ventured into the crimson zone simply twice and got here away with just one landing. The 19 factors scored additionally represented the second-lowest output of Wilson’s stead as starter. This week, the quarterback and his unit want to determine find out how to regain their explosiveness. After averaging 30 factors per sport in Wilson’s first three begins, the Steelers scored simply 18 and 19 factors in opposition to Baltimore and Cleveland, respectively. Will the Bengals, whose porous protection has given up 26.9 factors per sport, be the get-right opponent for Pittsburgh?

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That problematic protection is without doubt one of the greatest causes Cincinnati, coming off its bye this week, is 4-7 and seems prone to miss the playoffs. Joe Burrow and the offense actually can rating with the perfect of them (averaging 27 factors per sport) regardless of accidents at huge receiver. However an incapacity to get stops on third down and to generate turnovers has proved pricey.

After Sunday, Pittsburgh (1-1 within the division) has a rematch with Cleveland and video games in opposition to contenders Philadelphia, Baltimore and Kansas Metropolis earlier than a season finale in opposition to the Bengals. A loss Sunday may come again to hang-out the Steelers. (Steelers at Bengals, 1 p.m. ET Sunday.)

2. Scorching NFC West race

Arizona and Seattle — the leaders of the ever-intriguing NFC West — discover themselves in high-pressure conditions as they jockey for place on this remaining stretch of the common season. Each 6-5, the Seahawks and Cardinals have little margin for error. The Seahawks look to increase their win streak to 3 video games Sunday as they tackle the hapless New York Jets at MetLife Stadium. In the meantime, the Cardinals purpose to rebound from final week’s loss to Seattle as they go on the street to face a troublesome Minnesota Vikings staff.

Seattle seems to have shaken off a midseason stoop, incomes hard-fought wins over San Francisco and Arizona within the final two weeks. A beforehand struggling protection held the 49ers and Cardinals to a mixed 23 factors whereas additionally proving stingy on third downs. Can Mike Macdonald’s staff proceed to construct momentum, or is going through the Jets the proper entice sport?

Arizona wants a powerful rebound from Kyler Murray and an offense that had averaged 26.3 factors per sport throughout a four-game win streak, solely to muster six factors in opposition to Seattle. The Cardinals transformed solely three of 12 third downs and went 0 of two within the crimson zone in opposition to the Seahawks. Heading off Minnesota’s aggressive cross rushers will rank excessive on the Cardinals’ listing of priorities, however that’s no simple job, particularly for a staff that has crushed just one opponent with a document over .500 this season. A win over 9-2 Minnesota may present much-needed momentum for Arizona. A loss may put the Cardinals in an undesirable place coming into subsequent week’s essential rematch with Seattle. (Seahawks at Jets, Cardinals at Vikings, each at 1 p.m. ET Sunday.)

Baker Mayfield and the Bucs try to maintain tempo within the NFC South. (Vincent Carchietta / Imagn Photographs)

3. Can Bucs get again on playoff monitor?

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ three-year streak as NFC South champions is in peril of ending. After a powerful begin to the season, accidents impacted the Buccaneers in late October and early November. A four-game dropping streak dropped the Bucs beneath .500 and behind 6-5 Atlanta within the division standings. The wholesome return of huge receiver Mike Evans and a blowout win over the New York Giants final week helped Tampa Bay finish the skid, and now it’s making an attempt to mount a cost that may hold its postseason hopes alive.

The Bucs journey to Charlotte on Sunday, the place they face the improved Carolina Panthers . Second-year quarterback Bryce Younger and his teammates got here near upsetting Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs final week however now search their third win in 4 video games. Can Younger proceed to ascend, or can Todd Bowles’ protection and Baker Mayfield, who had a short stint with the Panthers in 2022, deal their division foes one other setback? A victory would enhance Tampa Bay’s document to 6-6 and 2-2 within the division. Earlier than their kickoff, nevertheless, the Bucs will root for the Chargers, who may help Tampa Bay’s trigger by beating Atlanta in a sport that begins at 1 p.m. ET. (Buccaneers at Panthers, 4:05 p.m. ET Sunday.)

4. Star RBs Barkley, Henry on show

In a possible Tremendous Bowl preview, the Eagles journey to Baltimore to tackle the Ravens. There are various similarities between these groups. Twin-threat quarterbacks Lamar Jackson and Jalen Hurts direct well-rounded items that boast big-play capability, and workhorse backs Derrick Henry and Saquon Barkley are having spectacular seasons. Philadelphia’s Barkley and Baltimore’s Henry have led the NFL in speeding for the complete season. Final week, Barkley charged forward of Henry in his quest for the speeding title. Barkley has rushed for 1,392 yards (first place) whereas Henry trails narrowly with 1,325. Henry, nevertheless, nonetheless leads the NFL with 13 speeding touchdowns whereas Barkley trails with 10. To not be outdone, Hurts is tied for second within the NFL with 11 speeding touchdowns.

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Defensively, Baltimore and Philadelphia each endured offseason change with new coordinator hires and the departures of main gamers. The Eagles seem to have rounded into kind, holding their final three opponents to twenty factors or fewer. The Ravens, in the meantime, have had their shiny spots however nonetheless search consistency.

Philadelphia is on a scorching streak, successful its final seven video games to cement itself because the NFC East’s chief and probably the greatest groups within the convention. Baltimore, in the meantime, stays one of many prime groups within the AFC however has work to do to overhaul Pittsburgh for the division lead. (Eagles at Ravens, 4:25 p.m. ET Sunday.)

5. 49ers’ Tremendous Bowl return in jeopardy

Coming into the season, Sunday evening’s showdown between Buffalo and San Francisco seemed like a potential Tremendous Bowl preview. However the 49ers have encountered calamity of each type this season, and their quest to return to the Tremendous Bowl is in nice jeopardy. Again-to-back losses (versus Seattle, at Inexperienced Bay) have the 5-6 49ers in a determined place as they journey to Buffalo.

The accidents which have plagued the 49ers for a lot of the season reached quarterback Brock Purdy final week. He’s on monitor to start out Sunday after a shoulder situation compelled him to overlook final week’s loss to the Packers however clearly gained’t be 100%. That may make it robust to match blows with Josh Allen and the Payments, winners of six straight and contemporary off their bye, particularly with 49ers left deal with Trent Williams out once more with a bone bruise in his heel. Left guard Aaron Banks didn’t follow at this week and stays within the concussion protocol. Defensive finish Nick Bosa and cornerback Deommodore Lenoir gained’t play, both. And there could also be snow to take care of as nicely.

A loss Sunday may basically kill San Francisco’s hopes of a late-season surge and deep playoff march. All 4 NFC West groups stay separated by solely a sport, however a San Francisco loss and wins by Seattle and/or Arizona may hold each simply past the Niners, who’re final within the division. (49ers at Payments, 8:20 p.m. ET Sunday.)

(High photograph of Derrick Henry: Ronald Martinez / Getty Photographs)