Entering Week 13, there are 16 teams with at least seven wins, the most ever through 11 games. And the standings remain close, including in the AFC North, which is the first division in NFL history to have every team at least three games over .500 at any point in a season. So with five weeks to play, nothing has been settled.
“We feel like we are in the playoffs,” says San Francisco 49ers safety Antoine Bethea about playing games at this time of year. “Win at all costs.”
Week 13 begins on Thursday with a Thanksgiving triple-header for the ninth consecutive year. Traditional competitors Detroit and Dallas will host games during the day followed by a prime-time nightcap on NBC. All three games on Thanksgiving are division contests. The three Thanksgiving games and some of the other key contests in Week 13:
CHICAGO BEARS (5-6) AT DETROIT LIONS (7-4) (Thursday, CBS, 12:30 PM ET)
NFC North rivals will meet in Detroit to kick off Thanksgiving. The Bears have won two games in a row to move within a game of .500 while the Lions enter Week 13 just one game behind Green Bay for the division lead. Detroit will play its 75th Thanksgiving Day game and host the Bears on the holiday for the first time since 1999.
Chicago running back Matt Forte rushed for 89 yards and two touchdowns last week in Chicago’s 21-13 win over Tampa Bay. Forté, who reached 7,000 rushing yards (7,488) and 3,500 receiving yards (3,517) in his 102nd game, is the third-fastest in NFL history to reach the milestone, trailing only Pro Football Hall of Famers Marshall Faulk (97 games) and Marcus Allen (99).
Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson aims for his sixth Thanksgiving game in a row with a touchdown catch. He has also recorded at least 100 receiving yards in each of his past two games played on the holiday.
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (8-3) AT DALLAS COWBOYS (8-3) (Thursday, FOX, 4:30 PM ET)
First place in the NFC East is on the line as the Eagles and Cowboys meet on Thanksgiving for the first time since 1989. Both teams enter the game tied for the top spot in the division with 8-3 records.
Philadelphia defeated Tennessee last week 43-24 and started quickly as rookie Josh Huff returned the opening kickoff 107 yards for a touchdown, the longest scoring play in team history. The Eagles have 10 return touchdowns this season scored by nine different players. That is already tied for the most players to score a return touchdown for a team in a season in NFL history.
The Cowboys are 29-16-1 on Thanksgiving and have won six of their past eight on the holiday. Quarterback Tony Romo has won six of seven Thanksgiving starts and has also won his past three starts against the Eagles. Running back De Marco Murray, who has rushed for 100 yards in 10 of the team’s 11 games this season, rushed for three touchdowns last year on Thanksgiving.
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (7-4) AT SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (7-4) (Thursday, NBC, 8:30 PM ET)
Thanksgiving concludes with an important NFC West showdown between last year’s NFC Championship Game participants. Both the Seahawks and 49ers are 7-4, two games behind Arizona in the division and right in the thick of the NFC playoff race.
The Seahawks are coming off a 19-3 win over the Cardinals in which the Seattle defense limited Arizona to 204 total net yards. Quarterback Russell Wilson has won three of his past four starts against the 49ers, including the NFC Championship Game, and he has won his past two Thursday games while posting a 116.6 passer rating.
San Francisco has won three games in a row, including last week’s 17-13 win over Washington. Wide receiver Anquan Boldin had nine catches for 137 yards and a touchdown in Week 12. In his past two Thursday games, he has 14 catches for 221 yards (110.5 per game) and a touchdown.
SAN DIEGO CHARGERS (7-4) AT BALTIMORE RAVENS (7-4) (Sunday, CBS, 1:00 PM ET)
Two teams in the middle of the competitive AFC playoff race will play Sunday in Baltimore. Both teams remain alive for a division title and for a Wild Card spot.
The Chargers improved to 7-4 with a 27-24 home win over St. Louis last week. Running back Ryan Mathews rushed for 105 yards and a touchdown while wide receiver Keenan Allen had 104 receiving yards with a score. Quarterback Philip Rivers has posted a 101.4 passer rating this season, the fifth-highest mark in the league.
The Ravens, behind the running of Justin Forsett, have won two in a row. Forsett has rushed for at least 100 yards and two touchdowns in each of the past two games, including 182 yards and two touchdowns in Baltimore’s Week 12 win at New Orleans.
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (4-7) AT PITTSBURGH STEELERS (7-4) (Sunday, FOX, 1:00 PM ET)
With five games to go, both New Orleans and Pittsburgh are right in the mix as the postseason nears.
The Saints are tied with Atlanta for the top spot in the NFC South and New Orleans looks to make a late-season run for the division title. Last week, quarterback Drew Brees passed for 420 yards and three touchdowns – including two to tight end Jimmy Graham – as the Saints racked up 525 yards of offense in a losing effort.
Pittsburgh is 7-4 and just a half-game behind division-leader Cincinnati (7-3-1) in the AFC North. The Steelers, who had a bye in Week 12, are coming off a come-from-behind 27-24 victory at Tennessee in Week 11 on Monday Night Football. Pittsburgh scored 14 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to erase an 11-point deficit as running back Le’Veon Bell and wide receiver Antonio Brown each scored a touchdown. In that contest, Bell rushed for a career-high 204 yards, the most rushing yards by any player in a game this season.
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (9-2) AT GREEN BAY PACKERS (8-3) (Sunday, CBS, 4:25 PM ET)
Two of the NFL’s hottest teams will meet on Sunday afternoon at Lambeau Field when the Packers host the Patriots.
New England has won seven games in a row, including last week’s 34-9 victory over Detroit. With the win, the Patriots clinched the team’s 14th consecutive winning season. New England is only the sixth team in NFL history to post at least 14 consecutive winning seasons and the first to accomplish the feat since San Francisco did so in 16 seasons in a row from 1983-1998. During the team’s current seven-game winning streak, quarterback Tom Brady has thrown 22 touchdowns and posted a 111.7 passer rating.
The Packers are 5-0 at home this season, outscoring opponents 219-85. Green Bay has scored at least 50 points in each of its past two homes games. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers has thrown 322 consecutive passes and 29 touchdowns in a row without an interception at home; both streaks are the longest in NFL history. Running back Eddie Lacy has recorded at least 100 scrimmage yards and a touchdown reception in three consecutive games, becoming the first running back in franchise history to accomplish the feat.
DENVER BRONCOS (8-3) AT KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (7-4) (Sunday, NBC, 8:30 PM ET)
Sunday’s action concludes with an AFC West contest between the 8-3 Broncos and 7-4 Chiefs. Denver holds a one-game lead over Kansas City and San Diego entering Week 13.
Last week, the Broncos scored 22 points in the fourth quarter to overcome an 11-point deficit and defeat Miami 39-36. Quarterback Peyton Manning threw four touchdown passes and became the third player in NFL history with a touchdown pass in 50 consecutive games. It also marked his 35th career game with at least four touchdown passes, the most in NFL history. Wide receiver Demaryius Thomas hauled in 10 receptions, including three touchdowns, for the Broncos.
The Chiefs have won four in a row at Arrowhead Stadium, outscoring opponents 123-51. Running back Jamaal Charles has scored 11 total touchdowns (eight rushing, three receiving) in his past eight games and his career average of 5.5 yards per carry is the highest in league history by a running back (minimum 750 attempts). Linebacker Justin Houston leads the NFL with 13 sacks, including 11 sacks in the past nine games.
2014 NFL STANDINGS
| American Football Conference | |||||||||||
| East Division | |||||||||||
| Team | W | L | T | Pct | PF | PA | Home | Away | Conf | Div | Streak |
| New England Patriots | 9 | 2 | 0 | .818 | 357 | 227 | 6-0-0 | 3-2-0 | 6-2-0 | 2-1-0 | Won 7 |
| Miami Dolphins | 6 | 5 | 0 | .545 | 285 | 219 | 3-2-0 | 3-3-0 | 5-3-0 | 2-1-0 | Lost 1 |
| Buffalo Bills | 6 | 5 | 0 | .545 | 238 | 207 | 3-3-0 | 3-2-0 | 3-5-0 | 3-2-0 | Won 1 |
| New York Jets | 2 | 9 | 0 | .182 | 177 | 303 | 2-4-0 | 0-5-0 | 2-6-0 | 0-3-0 | Lost 1 |
| North Division | |||||||||||
| Team | W | L | T | Pct | PF | PA | Home | Away | Conf | Div | Streak |
| Cincinnati Bengals | 7 | 3 | 1 | .682 | 246 | 234 | 4-1-1 | 3-2-0 | 5-3-0 | 2-1-0 | Won 2 |
| Baltimore Ravens | 7 | 4 | 0 | .636 | 295 | 208 | 4-1-0 | 3-3-0 | 3-4-0 | 2-3-0 | Won 2 |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | 7 | 4 | 0 | .636 | 288 | 263 | 4-1-0 | 3-3-0 | 6-3-0 | 2-2-0 | Won 1 |
| Cleveland Browns | 7 | 4 | 0 | .636 | 242 | 219 | 4-2-0 | 3-2-0 | 4-4-0 | 2-2-0 | Won 1 |
| South Division | |||||||||||
| Team | W | L | T | Pct | PF | PA | Home | Away | Conf | Div | Streak |
| Indianapolis Colts | 7 | 4 | 0 | .636 | 333 | 256 | 4-2-0 | 3-2-0 | 6-3-0 | 4-0-0 | Won 1 |
| Houston Texans | 5 | 6 | 0 | .455 | 242 | 226 | 2-3-0 | 3-3-0 | 4-3-0 | 1-1-0 | Lost 1 |
| Tennessee Titans | 2 | 9 | 0 | .182 | 192 | 293 | 1-4-0 | 1-5-0 | 2-6-0 | 1-2-0 | Lost 5 |
| Jacksonville Jaguars | 1 | 10 | 0 | .091 | 161 | 305 | 1-4-0 | 0-6-0 | 1-7-0 | 0-3-0 | Lost 4 |
| West Division | |||||||||||
| Team | W | L | T | Pct | PF | PA | Home | Away | Conf | Div | Streak |
| Denver Broncos | 8 | 3 | 0 | .727 | 332 | 260 | 6-0-0 | 2-3-0 | 6-1-0 | 3-0-0 | Won 1 |
| Kansas City Chiefs | 7 | 4 | 0 | .636 | 261 | 195 | 4-1-0 | 3-3-0 | 5-3-0 | 1-2-0 | Lost 1 |
| San Diego Chargers | 7 | 4 | 0 | .636 | 245 | 216 | 5-1-0 | 2-3-0 | 5-3-0 | 2-2-0 | Won 2 |
| Oakland Raiders | 1 | 10 | 0 | .091 | 176 | 285 | 1-5-0 | 0-5-0 | 1-8-0 | 1-3-0 | Won 1 |
| National Football Conference | |||||||||||
| East Division | |||||||||||
| Team | W | L | T | Pct | PF | PA | Home | Away | Conf | Div | Streak |
| Philadelphia Eagles | 8 | 3 | 0 | .727 | 342 | 275 | 6-0-0 | 2-3-0 | 4-3-0 | 2-0-0 | Won 1 |
| Dallas Cowboys | 8 | 3 | 0 | .727 | 292 | 240 | 3-3-0 | 5-0-0 | 5-3-0 | 2-1-0 | Won 2 |
| New York Giants | 3 | 8 | 0 | .273 | 233 | 294 | 2-4-0 | 1-4-0 | 2-7-0 | 1-3-0 | Lost 6 |
| Washington Redskins | 3 | 8 | 0 | .273 | 217 | 273 | 2-3-0 | 1-5-0 | 1-7-0 | 1-2-0 | Lost 3 |
| North Division | |||||||||||
| Team | W | L | T | Pct | PF | PA | Home | Away | Conf | Div | Streak |
| Green Bay Packers | 8 | 3 | 0 | .727 | 354 | 246 | 5-0-0 | 3-3-0 | 6-3-0 | 4-1-0 | Won 3 |
| Detroit Lions | 7 | 4 | 0 | .636 | 197 | 190 | 4-1-0 | 3-3-0 | 5-2-0 | 2-0-0 | Lost 2 |
| Chicago Bears | 5 | 6 | 0 | .455 | 236 | 303 | 2-3-0 | 3-3-0 | 4-3-0 | 1-2-0 | Won 2 |
| Minnesota Vikings | 4 | 7 | 0 | .364 | 202 | 244 | 2-3-0 | 2-4-0 | 4-5-0 | 0-4-0 | Lost 2 |
| South Division | |||||||||||
| Team | W | L | T | Pct | PF | PA | Home | Away | Conf | Div | Streak |
| Atlanta Falcons | 4 | 7 | 0 | .364 | 262 | 281 | 2-3-0 | 2-4-0 | 4-4-0 | 4-0-0 | Lost 1 |
| New Orleans Saints | 4 | 7 | 0 | .364 | 288 | 286 | 3-3-0 | 1-4-0 | 4-4-0 | 2-1-0 | Lost 3 |
| Carolina Panthers | 3 | 7 | 1 | .318 | 215 | 300 | 2-4-0 | 1-3-1 | 3-5-0 | 1-2-0 | Lost 5 |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 2 | 9 | 0 | .182 | 207 | 300 | 0-5-0 | 2-4-0 | 1-7-0 | 0-4-0 | Lost 1 |
| West Division | |||||||||||
| Team | W | L | T | Pct | PF | PA | Home | Away | Conf | Div | Streak |
| Arizona Cardinals | 9 | 2 | 0 | .818 | 240 | 195 | 6-0-0 | 3-2-0 | 7-1-0 | 2-1-0 | Lost 1 |
| Seattle Seahawks | 7 | 4 | 0 | .636 | 279 | 218 | 5-1-0 | 2-3-0 | 5-2-0 | 1-1-0 | Won 1 |
| San Francisco 49ers | 7 | 4 | 0 | .636 | 228 | 225 | 3-2-0 | 4-2-0 | 6-3-0 | 1-2-0 | Won 3 |
| St. Louis Rams | 4 | 7 | 0 | .364 | 209 | 285 | 2-3-0 | 2-4-0 | 3-5-0 | 2-2-0 | Lost 1 |
LAST WEEK’S RESULTS NOVEMBER 20, NOVEMBER 23-24
Byes: Carolina, Pittsburgh
(Home Team in Caps)
| Thursday, November 20 | Sunday, November 23 (cont’d) |
| OAKLAND 24, Kansas City 20 | PHILADELPHIA 43, Tennessee 24 |
| SAN DIEGO 27, St. Louis 24 | |
| Sunday, November 23 | SEATTLE 19, Arizona 3 |
| Cleveland 26, ATLANTA 24 | DENVER 39, Miami 36 |
| CHICAGO 21, Tampa Bay 13 | Dallas 31, NEW YORK GIANTS 28 |
| CINCINNATI 22, Houston 13 | |
| INDIANAPOLIS 23, Jacksonville 3 | Monday, November 24 |
| Green Bay 24, MINNESOTA 21 | BUFFALO 38, New York Jets 3 (in Detroit) |
| NEW ENGLAND 34, Detroit 9 | Baltimore 34, NEW ORLEANS 27 |
2014 NFL WEEK 13 SCHEDULE
THURSDAY, SUNDAY & MONDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 30, DECEMBER 1
(All times local)
| Thursday, November 27 | Sunday, November 30 (cont’d) |
| Chicago at Detroit 12:30 PM | Carolina at Minnesota 12:00 PM |
| Philadelphia at Dallas 3:30 PM | New Orleans at Pittsburgh 1:00 PM |
| Seattle at San Francisco 5:30 PM (NBC) | Oakland at St. Louis 12:00 PM |
| Cincinnati at Tampa Bay 1:00 PM | |
| Sunday, November 30 | Arizona at Atlanta 4:05 PM |
| San Diego at Baltimore 1:00 PM | New England at Green Bay 3:25 PM |
| Cleveland at Buffalo 1:00 PM | Denver at Kansas City 7:30 PM (NBC) |
| Tennessee at Houston 12:00 PM | |
| Washington at Indianapolis 1:00 PM | Monday, December 1 |
| New York Giants at Jacksonville 1:00 PM | Miami at New York Jets 8:30 PM (ESPN) |