Week 13 of the 2025 NFL season started on Thanksgiving with an NFC North conflict wherein the Inexperienced Bay Packers leaned on quarterback Jordan Love and third-year large receiver Dontayvion Wicks’ two touchdowns to beat the Detroit Lions.
The second sport featured a shootout between Dallas Cowboys QB Dak Prescott and the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes. Prescott obtained the higher of it because the Cowboys saved rolling.
The nightcap noticed Joe Burrow, in his return from a toe damage, lead the Cincinnati Bengals to a snug victory over the surging Baltimore Ravens.
As for Black Friday’s sport, the Chicago Bears obtained a decisive win over the Philadelphia Eagles, 24-15.
Our NFL Nation reporters reacted to all of the motion, answering lingering questions popping out of every sport and detailing all the pieces it’s worthwhile to know for each workforce. Let’s get to it.
Soar to:
CHI-PHI | CIN-BAL | KC-DAL | GB-DET
Compensate for the motion: Field rating | Recap
Bears
How does this win legitimize the 2025 Bears? This was an important win for the franchise in years and quiets any speak about who the Bears have overwhelmed alongside the best way to get to 9-3. They went on the street and beat the reigning Tremendous Bowl champions with a dominant speeding assault and defensive efficiency that compelled Philadelphia into making uncharacteristic errors through Jalen Hurts interception and fumble on the tush push. It is time to begin pondering playoffs in Chicago.
Most stunning efficiency: Chicago ran for 282 yards (2nd most this season) and have been so dominant on the bottom early on, so after they obtained away from that components with a wonky two-minute drive to finish the primary half through a sequence of incompletions from Caleb Williams, it felt like that sparked the offense’s sputter within the “center eight” of the sport. Williams had eight off-target passes within the first half (tied for his most in both half of his profession) and completed the day finishing 17 of 36 passes for 154 yards, one landing and one interception. It was a troublesome night time for Caleb within the effectivity division. His present completion share (17-36, 47%), can be the 2nd-lowest in a sport in his profession. — Courtney Cronin
Subsequent sport: at Packers (Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET)
Eagles
Are the Eagles in hassle? It feels just like the Eagles have reached an important second of their season. A collapse in opposition to the Dallas Cowboys was adopted by a discouraging house loss to the Chicago Bears Friday wherein their offense was familiarly listless for many of the sport and their protection appeared abruptly weak. At 8-4, they’re nonetheless the favorites to win the NFC East, they usually have a reasonably pleasant closing schedule with two video games in opposition to the Washington Commanders and a matchup with the Las Vegas Raiders nonetheless remaining. However issues have felt slightly shaky round this workforce for a lot of the season. Now could be the time for the defending champs to indicate the ’25 squad has what it takes to make one other run.
Largest gap within the sport plan: The Eagles protection had a really troublesome time in opposition to misdirection runs. Working backs Kyle Monangai and D’Andre Swift routinely discovered cutback lanes that led to chunk features. That is the primary time the Bears have had a number of 100-yard rushers in the identical sport since Nov., 1985 (Walter Payton and Matt Suhey). — Tim McManus
Subsequent sport: at Chargers (Monday, 8:15 p.m. ET)
Compensate for the motion: Field rating | Recap
Bengals
Does Joe Burrow coming again change something for the Bengals? It appears tantalizing to consider. However the Bengals have completely no margin for error. They’re 4-8 by means of 12 video games for the second straight season. Final yr, the Bengals ripped off 5 straight wins to shut the season with a 9-8 document. That can be more durable this season with video games in opposition to Buffalo and Baltimore nonetheless looming. Cincinnati will need assistance from the Ravens and Steelers, they usually can also’t make any errors.
Key stat to know: A lot for alleviating again into issues. Burrow turned the primary participant this season to have 40 or extra passing makes an attempt by means of three quarters, per ESPN Analysis. In reality, his 42 makes an attempt earlier than the ultimate quarter have been probably the most by any QB since … Burrow in 2023, when he had 42 in Week 3 in opposition to the Rams. That was his first sport after aggravating a strained calf he suffered within the preseason. — Ben Child
Subsequent sport: at Payments (Dec. 7, 1 p.m. ET)
Ravens
What’s flawed with Lamar Jackson? Despite the fact that Jackson refuses to acknowledge it, he has not performed the identical since coping with a rising checklist of accidents this month and was a serious purpose the Ravens’ five-game profitable streak ended. On Thursday night time, Jackson continued the worst droop of his profession, turning the ball over thrice for the primary time in 4 years. This marked solely the fifth time he has turned the ball over three or extra instances in his eight-year profession. Jackson fumbled twice — giving the ball to the Bengals twice contained in the Baltimore 20-yard line — and was intercepted on a go batted on the line. The 2-time NFL Most Beneficial Participant hasn’t appeared like himself since coping with three completely different accidents (knee, ankle and toe) over the previous three weeks, which has compelled him to overlook one follow every week. Jackson has not thrown a landing go in three straight video games — a profession worst — and he could not handle one in opposition to a Bengals protection that had allowed an NFL-worst 32.7 factors.
Key stat to know: The Ravens allowed over 20 factors for the primary time since Oct. 5. In its earlier six video games, Baltimore had been the energy of the workforce, permitting a median of 14 factors. The larger concern is the well being of high cornerback Nate Wiggins, who did not play the second half after sustaining a foot damage. This could possibly be a serious downside contemplating Baltimore finishes out the season enjoying such quarterbacks as Burrow once more, Aaron Rodgers (twice), Drake Maye and Jordan Love. — Jamison Hensley
Subsequent sport: vs. Steelers (Dec. 7, 1 p.m. ET)
Compensate for the motion: Field rating | Recap
Cowboys
Is it time to take the Cowboys significantly? The Cowboys have overwhelmed the 2024 Tremendous Bowl members — Chiefs and Eagles — in a span of 5 days. They’ve received three straight video games, their longest streak since 2023. They’re above .500 (6-5-1) for the primary time since Week 5 final yr. Not many anticipated the Cowboys would win their first two video games of their gauntlet in opposition to the Eagles, Chiefs and Detroit Lions (Dec. 4), however right here they’re with an opportunity to firmly put themselves within the playoff image. For the third straight week, the protection held the opposing offense to 21 factors or fewer. The offense rode huge performs to attain at the least 30 factors at house for the fourth time this season.
What to make of the QB efficiency: Dak Prescott vs. Patrick Mahomes turned a sport of something you are able to do I can do higher. Within the fourth quarter, Mahomes threw a go-ahead TD go on fourth down, however Prescott answered with an eight-play, 68-yard drive to go forward that had him improvising like Mahomes. Stepping up within the pocket to evade the frenzy, Prescott flipped a go to Javonte Williams for the landing after which on the 2-point conversion, he spun away to his left and rifled a go to George Pickens to offer the Cowboys a seven-point lead. After a primary possession interception, Prescott rebounded with two landing passes and combined the ball to seven completely different go catchers. He additionally threw for greater than 300 yards for the fourth time on Thanksgiving to tie Tony Romo and Matthew Stafford for probably the most in NFL historical past. — Todd Archer
Subsequent sport: at Lions (Thursday, Dec. 4, 8:15 p.m. ET)
Chiefs
Do the Chiefs have any margin for error? No. This is the mission, ought to the Chiefs select to just accept it: Win the ultimate 5 video games of the common season. That’s doubtless what’s required for them to succeed in the postseason, maybe because the seventh and remaining seed. All 5 video games can be in opposition to AFC opponents, too, so each sport from this level is actually a play-in sport for coach Andy Reid and Mahomes. In his first NFL begin in AT&T Stadium, slightly greater than 100 miles from his hometown of Tyler, Texas, Mahomes threw 4 landing passes and used his legs to flee the pocket. The difficulty is that the Chiefs’ protection by no means sacked Prescott and could not successfully cowl his two greatest receivers, CeeDee Lamb and Pickens.
Development to look at: Following Thursday’s sport, the Chiefs get 9 days to relaxation and recuperate for his or her remaining push. However one troubling pattern is that Mahomes completed the sport with out three of his beginning linemen — proper guard Trey Smith (proper ankle), proper sort out Jawaan Taylor (elbow) and rookie left sort out Josh Simmons (left wrist). If the Chiefs need any probability to make the playoffs, Mahomes will doubtless want his greatest linemen to return sooner reasonably than later.
Greatest quote from the locker room: “You have to win each sport now — and hope that is sufficient. We’ll play numerous good groups arising. If we will make the playoffs, we will must win all of them. That is obtained to be the mindset after we step into the [training facility] after we get again,” Mahomes stated. — Nate Taylor
Subsequent sport: vs. Texans (Dec. 7, 8:20 p.m. ET)
Compensate for the motion: Field rating | Recap
Packers
Are the Packers now the favorites to win the NFC North? Inexperienced Bay’s two video games in opposition to Chicago — the primary one can be on Dec. 7 at Lambeau Area — will go a good distance towards deciding it, however Thursday’s win put the Packers in an advantageous place. In keeping with ESPN Analytics, the Packers had a 66% probability to win the division after beating the Lions on Thursday.
A loss would have dropped that quantity to 27%. These numbers will change earlier than the weekend is out partly based mostly on Friday’s Bears-Eagles sport. However the Packers (8-3-1) put the Lions (7-5) of their rearview mirror by sweeping the season sequence. After profitable only one NFC North sport final season, they’re 3-0 thus far.
What to make of the QB efficiency: This was simply the form of sport Jordan Love wanted. After throwing simply two landing passes within the earlier 4 video games mixed, Love was dialed in in opposition to the Lions. He threw 4 landing passes, together with two for 15-plus air yards. A type of was a 51-yard bomb to Christian Watson within the third quarter. It was simply his third profession sport with a number of touchdowns on passes for 15-plus air yards. He additionally had two touchdowns on fourth downs, his first profession sport with a number of fourth-down landing passes. He completed 18-of-30 for 234 yards with out an interception.
Greatest quote from the locker room: Micah Parsons, who had 2½ sacks and 4 quarterback hits on Jared Goff, reminded the Packers are centered on what’s forward, saying, “This was an enormous win for the place we need to go, win the division, playoffs. That was a playoff sport. We simply must stack these up.” — Rob Demovsky
Subsequent sport: vs. Bears (Dec. 7, 4:25 p.m. ET)
Lions
Ought to the Lions be involved about Dan Campbell’s playcalling? The top coach took over playcalling duties getting into Week 10, at which level Detroit was averaging 29.9 factors per sport, however the Lions have now misplaced two of their previous three video games and have appeared questionable at instances with their predictability — notably on the bottom. Detroit has struggled on fourth downs however continues to take dangers. With two failed conversions in opposition to Inexperienced Bay, Detroit is 0-for-7 on fourth down since Week 11, which is tied for probably the most fourth-down makes an attempt within the league, and by far probably the most makes an attempt and not using a conversion, per ESPN Analysis.
Most stunning efficiency: The short-handed Lions wanted a much-needed enhance with accidents to Amon-Ra St. Brown, Sam LaPorta, Brock Wright, Kalif Raymond and Graham Glasgow on offense. Enter Tom Kennedy, a follow squad veteran, who stepped as much as make performs on offense and particular groups of their absence Thursday. Kennedy was signed to Detroit’s lively roster from the follow squad Wednesday night and completed with 4 catches for 36 yards.
Greatest quote from the locker room: After his Lions dropped to 7-5, Campbell stated he advised his gamers, “It is irritating, I do know. We have quite a bit to be grateful for even after a loss.” Campbell then expanded on Detroit’s standing because it appears to be like towards Week 14: “We have dug ourselves slightly little bit of a gap, that is the underside line. We’re in slightly little bit of a gap, however that is simply what it’s. There’s nothing greater than that. So, all we have got to do is fear about is cleansing up this after which attending to the subsequent sport and discovering a technique to win the subsequent one in entrance of us.” — Eric Woodyard
Subsequent sport: vs. Cowboys (Thursday, Dec. 4, 8:15 p.m. ET)
