NFL Week 13 overreactions: Matthew Stafford’s MVP bid over? Texans workforce to beat?

Our plate was stuffed to the brim in Week 13, which is becoming because the motion coincided with the Thanksgiving vacation. Starting on Thursday, the NFL took us on a wild journey, chock-full of upsets irrespective of which approach you regarded. 

The Thanksgiving/Black Friday slate not solely featured underdogs retaining video games inside the unfold, however all 4 pulled off outright upsets. As we migrated to the Sunday slate, the upsets did not subside because the Carolina Panthers pulled off a shocking win at residence over the Los Angeles Rams, and the New York Jets kicked a game-winning subject purpose to edge out the Atlanta Falcons. Pure pandemonium. 

Given all of those stunning outcomes, there are of course going to be some main takeaways from Week 13. Under, we’ll study a few of the prime storylines from this Sunday slate and decide which we have to take severely and which we are able to solid apart as an overreaction. 

Overreactions or actuality: Overreaction

Stafford got here into Week 13 because the betting favourite to win NFL MVP, because the Rams quarterback had been on an absolute tear. He had thrown 28 straight touchdowns with out an interception, which was the longest streak in NFL historical past. Nonetheless, that streak was snapped with a first-quarter interception, which started a downward spiral for Los Angeles that resulted in them falling to the Carolina Panthers. In all, Stafford had three turnovers (two interceptions and a fumble) within the shedding effort. Stafford’s second interception was returned 48 yards by nook Mike Jackson for a landing, and his fourth-quarter fumble following a sack successfully iced the sport for Carolina. 

Naturally, this places a dent into Stafford’s MVP bid and will price him his standing because the betting favourite. Nonetheless, it might be a step too far to say that his pursuit is over. Los Angeles continues to be 9-3 on the season and really a lot nonetheless in play for the highest seed within the NFC. If Stafford bounces again with robust performances over the subsequent few weeks in opposition to opponents just like the Lions (Week 15) and Seahawks (Week 16), his inventory may very well be again up. 

Texans are the workforce to beat within the AFC South

Overreactions or actuality: Actuality

The Houston Texans is probably not atop the AFC South in the intervening time, however they’re a drive to be reckoned with. Houston went into Lucas Oil Stadium on Sunday and handed the then-first-place Colts a 20-16 defeat. That pushed Indy out of first place within the division and helped launch the Jaguars (who beat the Titans) to the highest spot. Nonetheless, the Texans at the moment are in spitting distance as they’re a recreation out within the loss column to each the Jaguars and Colts for first place. 

After splitting the season sequence with Jacksonville, the subsequent tiebreaker between these two can be division document, which the Texans at present have the benefit (4-1 vs. 2-1). In relation to leaping over the Colts, they may full the season sweep in Week 18 once they host them at NRG Stadium. That creates a viable path for the Texans, particularly after getting C.J. Stroud again this week to pair with arguably the most effective protection within the NFL. 

Shedeur Sanders performed his approach out of prolonged look

Overreactions or actuality: Overreaction

Cleveland’s offense managed simply eight factors in a double-digit loss to the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday in Sanders’ second profession begin. The rookie quarterback accomplished 16 of his 25 passes for 149 yards and a landing. It wasn’t a efficiency that’ll knock anybody’s socks off, so some could take this chance to counsel that Sanders not deserves an extended look beneath middle by Cleveland. That’d be a foolish step to take at this juncture. There’s nonetheless extra to look at with Sanders because the Browns beginning quarterback, and he did have some encouraging moments in Week 13, notably his 34-yard landing to Harold Fannin Jr. within the second quarter. It would be clever for Kevin Stefanski to proceed using it out with Sanders in order that the franchise can get a crystal clear view of what they’ve in him, and the top coach has already introduced they’re going to give him the beginning subsequent week in opposition to Tennessee. 

Panthers are the most important shock workforce of 2025

Overreactions or actuality: Actuality

In a season the place the Chicago Bears are the No. 1 seed within the NFC on the finish of Week 13, and Daniel Jones has resurrected his profession in Indianapolis, there are many groups you’ll be able to level to as the most important shock of 2025. Nonetheless, none maintain a candle to the Carolina Panthers. Nobody anticipated this workforce to do a lot of something in 2025, however they’re all of a sudden within the thick of the NFC playoff dialog coming into their Week 14 bye. After starting the 12 months at 1-3, Carolina has ripped off a 6-3 document, which features a gorgeous upset victory over the Los Angeles Rams in Week 13. At 7-6, the Panthers are sizzling on the heels of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-5) for first place within the NFC South with each head-to-head matchups nonetheless on the horizon (Week 16 in Carolina and Week 18 at Tampa). They’re additionally simply two video games again within the loss column for a wild-card spot. Once more, no person had this on their 2025 bingo card, which is a credit score to Dave Canales and Bryce Younger.