Breaking down an unimaginable slate of NFL video games in Week 13

Sunday goes to be a implausible day on the sofa. Let’s take a deeper have a look at the highest video games, so as of significance:

1. 9-2 Chiefs at 7-4 Bengals (4:25 p.m.)

This has every part: Two elite quarterbacks in Patrick Mahomes and Joe Burrow, two first-place groups (the Bengals technically are behind the Ravens on tiebreakers), and it’s a rematch of final 12 months’s AFC Championship recreation, when the Bengals erased a 21-3 deficit and earned a 27-24, additional time win.

Mahomes, 27, and Burrow, virtually 26, are two of the 5 most necessary gamers within the NFL. They’re without delay the current and the long run.

“I have a look at it like [Peyton] Manning and [Tom] Brady,” Bengals receiver Tyler Boyd stated.

Mahomes is a front-runner for MVP, and the Chiefs’ offense is as soon as once more No. 1 in factors and yards regardless of having traded Tyreek Hill final offseason. The Chiefs have received 5 in a row to seize the AFC’s No. 1 playoff seed and must maintain successful to fend off Buffalo and Miami.

The Bengals are rounding into final 12 months’s kind after an 0-2 begin. Burrow has 14 landing passes and three interceptions in his final six video games (5-1), and he’s getting star receiver Ja’Marr Chase again this week. The Bengals’ protection additionally made an announcement in final week’s win over the Titans, holding Derrick Henry to 38 dashing yards and dominating the road of scrimmage.

2. 8-3 Dolphins at 7-4 49ers (4:05 p.m.)

This was not a recreation the NFL had circled, as evidenced by the 4:05 regional broadcast that can barely be proven east of the Rockies and north of Orlando. However 49ers-Dolphins can be an interesting matchup, each of X’s and O’s and of wits between the coaches.

It’s a basic good-on-good matchup. Hill and Jaylen Waddle are the very best receiver tandem within the NFL, the Dolphins’ offense has been unstoppable, and they’re 7-0 in video games began and completed by Tua Tagovailoa. However the 49ers have the NFL’s No. 1 protection and have allowed simply 10 factors per recreation during the last 4 weeks.

The teaching matchup can be charming. Mike McDaniel and a number of other Dolphins gamers are intimately acquainted with the 49ers’ roster after spending the final 5 years there. McDaniel coached with Kyle Shanahan for 15 years in Houston, Washington, Cleveland, Atlanta, and San Francisco.

“I’ll do every part in my energy to make it one other recreation,” McDaniel stated.

The Dolphins want a win to keep up their lead within the AFC East over the Payments, whereas a 49ers win would additional cement their standing atop the NFC West.

3. 7-4 Titans at 10-1 Eagles (1 p.m.)

The “A.J. Brown Revenge Recreation” actually can be one story line. The Titans traded Brown to the Eagles earlier than the draft and took his substitute, Treylon Burks, within the first spherical. Brown has been definitely worth the four-year, $100 million funding from the Eagles, with 831 yards, 7 touchdowns, and 15.7 yards per catch. Burks has but to catch a landing go, however does have 181 receiving yards within the final two weeks.

This matchup is rather more, although. It’s two first-place groups. It’s Jalen Hurts and the Eagles’ dynamic offense towards a wise, bodily Titans group that’s seventh in factors allowed. It’s final 12 months’s Coach of the Yr (Mike Vrabel) towards the front-runner this 12 months (Nick Sirianni).

The Eagles snapped out of their offensive funk final week with 500 yards and 40 factors towards the Packers, however they’ve dedicated eight turnovers of their final 4 video games. Titans quarterback Ryan Tannehill hasn’t thrown an interception in 5 of his final six video games.

4. 7-5 Commanders at 7-4 Giants (1 p.m.)

This hasn’t been a premier matchup in years, however the Giants and Commanders are two of the NFL’s largest surprises below coaches Brian Daboll and Ron Rivera. The Commanders have received 5 of their final six since turning to quarterback Taylor Heinicke. However the Commanders’ success is actually in regards to the different two phases — they’re No. 4 in factors allowed (16.8 per recreation) and No. 1 in yards allowed since Heinicke took over, and their particular groups are No. 1 within the NFL in DVOA (defense-adjusted worth over common) since Week 4, per Soccer Outsiders.

The Giants are headed within the different path. They’ve misplaced consecutive video games to the Lions and Cowboys, and have the NFL’s hardest schedule down the stretch. All 4 NFC East groups are within the playoff bracket, however not less than one goes to drop out. This matchup may settle it.

5. 7-4 Jets at 9-2 Vikings (1 p.m.)

Few individuals anticipated the Vikings to be working away with the NFC North, and nobody anticipated the Jets to be 7-4 and within the wild-card race. This can be a proving recreation for the Jets’ Mike White, who joined Kurt Warner as the one quarterbacks in NFL historical past with 300 passing yards, three touchdowns, and 75 p.c completions in two of his first 4 begins. And the Vikings, who allowed 26 factors and 382 yards to Mac Jones and the Patriots on Thanksgiving, could possibly be an accommodating host.

This recreation can even characteristic probably the greatest receiver-cornerback matchups of the season within the Vikings’ Justin Jefferson towards the Jets’ Sauce Gardner.

A Jets win, mixed with the Patriots’ loss to the Payments, would put them in nice place to earn a wild-card spot. A loss could be troublesome, because the Jets face one other potential loss subsequent week towards the Payments. The Vikings have a cushty five-game lead of their division, and a win plus a Lions loss will clinch the title with 5 video games to go.

Three different video games don’t have main stakes concerned however are intriguing nonetheless:

▪ 6-5 Chargers at 4-7 Raiders (4:25 p.m.): It’s all the time an entertaining offensive battle when Justin Herbert and Derek Carr take the sphere (common rating of their 5 matchups: 28-25, Chargers). That is additionally a rematch of final 12 months’s loopy, dramatic, Week 18 additional time win for the Raiders. Herbert and the Chargers want a win to remain forward of the Patriots within the playoff race, whereas Josh McDaniels and the Raiders can maintain their season on life assist with a 3rd straight victory.

▪ 4-7 Jaguars at 4-7 Lions (1 p.m.): Two surprisingly dynamic offenses, going through two shaky defenses, in a possible observe meet below the dome? Depend me in.

▪ 4-7 Browns at 1-9-1 Texans (1 p.m.): The sport may be a dud due to the Texans, however all eyes can be on Deshaun Watson, making his first regular-season look in practically two years (in Houston, of all locations). The Browns want him to shake off the rust shortly in the event that they need to get again into the playoff race.

WORLD CLASS

2020 a superb 12 months for quarterbacks

The NFL has some spectacular quarterback draft lessons previously few years. The 2017 draft introduced Patrick Mahomes and Deshaun Watson. The 2018 draft had Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson. The 2021 draft had 5 quarterbacks taken within the high 15 picks.

However the 2020 class is outshining all of them. Joe Burrow, Tua Tagovailoa, Justin Herbert, and Jalen Hurts are a mixed 31-12 this 12 months, and all 4 may qualify for the playoffs.

Burrow already has been to a Tremendous Bowl and is an MVP candidate this 12 months with 23 landing passes towards eight interceptions. Tagovailoa has been a revelation, with 19 TD passes towards three picks for an NFL-leading 115.7 passer score and 9.03 yards per try. Hurts is 10-1, has improved immensely as a passer, and can be an MVP candidate. And Herbert is on tempo for a 3rd straight season of 4,000 yards and 30 touchdowns.

The 2020 class nonetheless is younger however has the potential to match the very best quarterback lessons of all time: 1983 (John Elway, Dan Marino, Jim Kelly) and 2004 (Ben Roethlisberger, Eli Manning, Philip Rivers).

ETC.

Backside-feeders look to the highest

Playoff races warmth up over the ultimate six weeks, however so does the race for the No. 1 decide. The 2023 draft is shaping as much as be one other huge one for quarterbacks, with Alabama’s Bryce Younger, Kentucky’s Will Levis, and Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud projected by Professional Soccer Focus to go within the first 4 picks. Anyplace from 9 to 12 groups ought to be on the lookout for a brand new quarterback subsequent season.

▪ The 1-9-1 Texans are squarely within the quarterback market and have a 1½-game lead over the Bears for the highest decide. The Texans may decide off a win on the finish of the 12 months towards the Jaguars or Colts however appear like a superb wager for the highest decide.

▪ The three-9 Bears are in line to have the No. 2 decide and have misplaced 5 in a row since beating the Patriots. They’re rebuilding, want the excessive draft decide, and may take issues good and sluggish with Justin Fields’s shoulder harm.

▪ The three-8 Broncos and 3-8 Rams ought to be choosing Nos. 3 and 4. However the Broncos traded that decide to the Seahawks for Russell Wilson (oof), and the Rams traded their decide to the Lions for Matthew Stafford (not less than they obtained a Tremendous Bowl). The Seahawks presently have picks 3 and 17, whereas the Lions have 4 and 13.

▪ The Panthers, Saints, Cardinals, and Packers, all with 4-8 information, have outdoors pictures on the high spot. Besides the Saints final 12 months traded their decide to the Eagles, who presently would get the No. 6 choice (the wealthy get richer). Carolina badly wants a quarterback however retains messing it up by successful.

Are Packers caught with Rodgers?

The Packers will in all probability have a dilemma at quarterback this offseason, which they’re used to. But it surely’s a a lot totally different dilemma this time. In years previous, they needed to persuade Aaron Rodgers to remain. Now they could be prepared to maneuver on, however could possibly be caught with him.

The Packers are 4-8, Rodgers turned 39 on Friday, and the magic appears to be gone. However the contract that Rodgers signed final offseason was a whopper, and he has $59.465 million absolutely assured in 2023. Rodgers has made some huge cash in his profession ($41 million this 12 months alone), however few individuals would voluntarily stroll away from practically $60 million.

Jordan Love wasn’t prepared his first three seasons, however he appeared fairly good final week, throwing for 113 yards towards the Eagles with a 63-yard landing. Love has one 12 months left on his rookie contract, at simply $2.3 million. If the Packers don’t begin Love subsequent 12 months, then the draft decide, and the team-friendly contract, can be wasted.

The Packers may attempt to commerce Rodgers, but when he doesn’t need to play anyplace else, he may threaten to retire and squash any deal. The Packers are in fairly the pickle.

Every little thing has gone improper for the Rams this 12 months, together with Stafford’s elbow harm, his concussion, Cooper Kupp’s ankle harm, and Allen Robinson’s ineffectiveness in changing Odell Beckham Jr. They’re 3-8 getting into Sunday’s recreation towards the Seahawks, with a .273 win share that may make them the worst defending Tremendous Bowl champion in league historical past. The worst are the 1999 Broncos (6-10, .375), 1987 Giants (6-9, .400), and 1981 Raiders and 1988 Washington (7-9, .438). The 1982 49ers additionally went 3-6 (.333) in a strike-shortened season . . . A reminder that the Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson will make $45,374,285 this 12 months for six begins (assuming he makes all six), or $7,562,380.83 per begin, undoubtedly the best per-game fee in NFL historical past . . . The Seahawks weren’t unhappy to see Wilson go, however they’re nonetheless harm over parting methods with now-Rams linebacker Bobby Wagner final offseason after 10 seasons. “We miss every part about him,” Seahawks coach Pete Carroll stated. “He is aware of that I really like competing towards him. It’s one of many issues that I’ve all the time cherished about him, people who you already know rather well and need to go towards them and battle with them. I do know that he can be able to go.” . . . Kyler Murray’s picture has taken a beating this 12 months, because the Cardinals signed him to a contract extension final summer season that included a “homework clause” that the Cardinals awkwardly eliminated after the actual fact. Vikings cornerback Patrick Peterson, who performed in Arizona throughout Murray’s first two seasons, stated this previous week on his “All Issues Coated” podcast that “Kyler Murray doesn’t care about no one however Kyler Murray.” Peterson walked it again a bit in a subsequent interview, however I didn’t see many gamers talking up and defending Murray . . . Provided that there are solely six weeks left within the common season, Beckham nonetheless hasn’t signed with a group, and he hasn’t even practiced but as he returns from an ACL, expectations ought to be fairly low for him making a severe contribution this 12 months. Whichever group indicators Beckham will certainly desire a two-year deal to make sure they’ve him subsequent 12 months, too . . . The Saints go to Tampa on Sunday, and have established a pleasant routine there. Of their final 9 quarters at Raymond James Stadium, the Saints have outscored the Buccaneers, 54-3 . . . Ugly story out of the College of Florida this previous week, with Jalen Kitna, a redshirt freshman quarterback and the son of longtime NFL QB Jon Kitna, arrested and launched on $80,000 bond for 5 fees associated to baby pornography . . . Invoice Belichick (327 profession wins) has his sights set on Don Shula’s report 347, however possibly he ought to be fearful about Andy Reid. Reid wants yet another win for his seventeenth season of 10-plus, three behind Belichick’s and Shula’s report. Reid’s 261 profession wins (together with postseason) are fifth most in historical past, and he’s 5 years youthful than Belichick and racking up the wins with Patrick Mahomes . . . The Bears have been the NFL’s winningest franchise day by day for the previous 101 years, since December 1921. However the Bears and Packers are tied with 786 wins, and sq. off for the 206th time Sunday at Soldier Discipline . . . The twenty first version of The Custom can be held Wednesday at TD Backyard, and this 12 months’s Patriots honoree can be former security Lawyer Milloy, introduced by Tedy Bruschi. Different honorees embody Johnny Damon, M.L. Carr, and Mark Recchi, presenters embody Gerald Henderson and Tuukka Rask, and they’re going to mingle and share tales in a talk-show-style ceremony. Tickets can nonetheless be bought at www.sportsmuseum.org/events/the-tradition.

Ben Volin could be reached at ben.volin@globe.com.