Week 13 knee-jerk reactions: Barkley, Wilson strengthen award cases

Although the playoff image did not change, the Week 13 slate was nonetheless thrilling, as we noticed a number of unbelievable finishes and spectacular performances from among the NFL’s high stars.  

To recap Sunday’s motion, the Philadelphia Eagles rallied from a nine-point deficit to win their marquee highway showdown in opposition to the Baltimore Ravens, with RB Saquon Barkley strengthening his MVP candidacy. In the meantime, Steelers QB Russell Wilson is making a case to take dwelling some {hardware} of his personal, as he turned again the clock throughout his crew’s highway win over the Cincinnati Bengals. 

Listed below are a number of knee-jerk reactions from the thirteenth week of the NFL season:

Steelers QB Russell Wilson is making intriguing Comeback Participant of the 12 months case

Whereas Bengals QB Joe Burrow is listed because the odds-on favourite to earn Comeback Participant of the 12 months honors, Wilson could have unseated him because the front-runner for the award following Sunday’s classic efficiency. Throughout Pittsburgh’s 44-38 highway win over Cincinnati, the nine-time Professional Bowler accomplished 29 of his 38 passes for 414 yards, three touchdowns and an interception.

Since taking on as Pittsburgh’s starter, Wilson has led the crew to a 5-1 report, throwing 10 touchdowns and three interceptions whereas averaging 271 passing yards per game, the second-most within the NFL. 

Wilson clearly wasn’t a match for the Denver Broncos, who launched him this previous March after two disastrous seasons. Nevertheless, he is proven throughout his brief time with the Steelers that he is removed from washed up, and several other groups ought to remorse passing on him in free company.

So long as Wilson can proceed guiding Pittsburgh to victory, the potential future Corridor of Famer’s outstanding redemption tour ought to conclude with him profitable a much-deserved Comeback Participant of the 12 months Award. 

Eagles RB Saquon Barkley takes lead in MVP race 

If there’s one factor the 2024 common season has taught us, it is that working backs can nonetheless be difference-makers for groups in at present’s NFL, and no participant has confirmed this greater than Barkley.

After getting into the MVP dialog with final week’s 302-yard, two-touchdown efficiency in opposition to the Rams, Barkley doubtless took the lead within the race for the award throughout Sunday’s 24-19 highway win over the Ravens. The 27-year-old scored a landing and crossed the 100-yard speeding mark for the sixth time in his final seven video games, ending with 107 yards, probably the most Baltimore has allowed this season. 

It is not possible to overstate how a lot Barkley has modified the Eagles’ dynamic, and whereas he has 617 total yards and 5 touchdowns during the last three video games, his contributions aren’t solely felt on the sector. 

Philadelphia was already one of many NFL’s most proficient groups over the previous few seasons however lacked the management Barkley offers. It is changing into more and more evident throughout Philadelphia’s present eight-game win streak that it’s a totally different crew with Barkley, and voters will certainly take that under consideration throughout MVP balloting. 

Falcons ought to have a watch towards the longer term following one other troubling efficiency from QB Kirk Cousins

The Falcons misplaced their third straight recreation on Sunday, falling 17-13 to the Los Angeles Chargers at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in a matchup that noticed Cousins wrestle mightily. The four-time Professional Bowler threw for 245 yards and 4 brutal interceptions. Along with having one in every of his interceptions returned for a landing, Cousins was picked off on every of Atlanta’s two possessions within the fourth quarter.

After a strong midseason stretch, Cousins’ efficiency has declined dramatically in the course of the Falcons’ present skid. He is thrown for 724 yards, no touchdowns and an NFL-leading six interceptions throughout this span, creating an uncomfortable state of affairs for Atlanta.

This previous offseason, the Falcons signed Cousins, who was coming off an Achilles tear, to a controversial four-year, $180M contract to lastly recover from the hump within the NFC South. Whereas Atlanta continues to be in first place within the division standings, it will not be for lengthy if Cousins’ woes persist, and as a consequence of his contract, the crew cannot bench him in favor of rookie Michael Penix Jr. 

Nonetheless, Atlanta ought to use its ultimate 5 video games as an analysis interval for Cousins to find out whether or not the Penix period ought to start subsequent season. 

Patriots’ Jerod Mayo needs to be teaching for his job down the stretch 

Though shedding video games is not the tip of the world for the rebuilding Patriots, Sunday’s 25-24 dwelling loss to the Indianapolis Colts is undoubtedly irritating and resulted from Mayo’s ineptitude. The previous Patriots linebacker has made no scarcity of head-scratching selections this season, and several other poor decisions within the fourth quarter proved pricey.

With 4:02 remaining in regulation, Mayo opted to not problem a seven-yard completion that Colts tight finish Will Mallory appeared to have dropped. The Colts would go on to cap off a 19-play, 80-yard landing drive, throughout which Mayo solely used one in every of his three timeouts. 

Then, on the sport’s ultimate drive, Mayo questionably despatched Joey Slye out to aim a 68-yard area objective, which might’ve been an NFL report, relatively than try a Hail Mary.

As a first-year head coach main one of many NFL’s worst rosters, it isn’t stunning Mayo has had some rising pains this season. Nevertheless, he is repeatedly making inexcusable clock administration and end-of-game selections, elevating doubts about his potential as an NFL coach. 

The Patriots can afford to waste some sensible showings from rookie QB Drake Maye this season, however it will probably’t spoil his improvement by having him develop below the unsuitable coach. 

Jaguars have to hold QB Trevor Lawrence bubble-wrapped till 2025 

Jacksonville fell to 2-10 on Sunday, struggling a 23-20 dwelling loss to Houston, with the most important story of the divisional conflict being Lawrence. The previous No. 1 total choose suffered a concussion whereas making an attempt to slip on a late, vicious hit by LB Azeez Al-Shaair within the second quarter. 

The unlawful hit sparked a brawl between the groups, and Al-Shaair was unsurprisingly ejected from the competition.

It is unclear how lengthy the concussion will hold Lawrence sidelined, however even when he can return by season’s finish, the Jaguars could be sensible to close him down for the yr. One may argue that Lawrence should not have suited up Sunday, provided that he wasn’t totally wholesome after lacking two video games with a shoulder harm. 

There isn’t any cause for Jacksonville to foolishly proceed to danger the well being of its franchise quarterback towards the tip of a misplaced season, particularly whereas it employs a lame-duck teaching employees. 

Loss to Seahawks ought to formally seal QB Aaron Rodgers’ destiny in New York

In accordance with NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport, Rodgers is taken into account a “lengthy shot” to return to the Jets in 2025, and any chance of him staying on the crew after this season needs to be dominated out following Sunday’s loss. New York dropped its third straight recreation, shedding 26-21 at dwelling to the Seahawks, making certain a ninth consecutive shedding season for the crew. 

As a part of their newest embarrassing loss, the Jets blew a 14-point lead whereas Rodgers as soon as once more appeared like a shell of himself.

Rodgers, who celebrates his forty first birthday on Monday, completed 21-of-39 passing for 185 yards, two touchdowns and one interception, which Seahawks defensive lineman Leonard Williams returned for a 92-yard landing. As identified by SNY’s Connor Hughes, the Jets at the moment are 0-5 this season when Rodgers has had a chance to drive down the sector, rating a landing or area objective and win the sport.

Interim HC Jeff Ulbrich advised reporters throughout his postgame information convention that he did not envision making a quarterback change “as of at present.” Even so, it would be within the Jets’ finest curiosity to bench Rodgers to assist enhance their draft place in hopes of touchdown a high quarterback prospect and at last turning the web page on probably the most disappointing chapter in franchise historical past. 

Buccaneers look poised to throw a wrench within the playoff image 

Tampa Bay survived an upset bid by the Carolina Panthers on Sunday, securing a 26-23 highway win in time beyond regulation behind rookie RB Bucky Irving’s career-high 205 yards from scrimmage. Because of Atlanta’s shedding streak, the injury-riddled Buccaneers have remained inside putting distance of a playoff spot, and now the groups every have a 6-6 report.

The Falcons could have swept Tampa Bay within the season collection, although the Buccaneers are well-positioned to move them within the standings if each groups proceed on their present trajectory. Not solely does Tampa Bay have the fourth-easiest remaining strength of schedule amongst groups, however it additionally has a 58% probability to make the playoffs, per NFL.com’s projections.

The Buccaneers proved throughout WR Mike Evans’ three-game absence that they are able to placing up a aggressive battle in opposition to proficient groups regardless of being undermanned. 

They’ve misplaced to Baltimore, Kansas Metropolis and San Francisco by 10 points or less, offering optimism that they will end the season sturdy and probably pull off an upset within the playoffs.