Thirteen weeks in, the 2025 season has unfolded just as we thought it would \u2026 with the Chicago Bears and New England Patriots \u2014 winners of a combined nine games last year \u2014 as two of the top teams in the league.<\/p>\n
In Chicago, the Bears can\u2019t stop winning. Friday\u2019s statement victory over the reigning (and reeling) Super Bowl-champion Philadelphia Eagles extended their current streak to five<\/a> \u2014 after a four-game win streak earlier this year \u2014 and had coach Ben Johnson ripping his shirt off<\/a> in the locker room afterward. The Patriots, meanwhile, will ride their nine-game win streak into Monday night\u2019s matchup with the New York Giants, looking to strengthen their chances of earning that coveted first-round playoff bye<\/a>.<\/p>\n The Indianapolis Colts, a team that just a few weeks ago was in contention for that bye, is now in trouble: After a 20-16 loss to the Houston Texans on Sunday, the Colts are no longer in front<\/a> in the AFC South. The Jacksonville Jaguars, also 8-4, currently own the tiebreaker over Indianapolis. And don\u2019t forget the surging Texans, winners of four straight, who are still in the hunt for a third consecutive division crown.<\/p>\n On Sunday night, the Denver Broncos survived the Washington Commanders<\/a> in overtime, 27-26, to join the Patriots as the league\u2019s only other 10-2 team. That\u2019s nine straight for the Broncos, who have won seven straight one-score decisions dating to early October.<\/p>\n It was an impressive effort from the Commanders, who are still without quarterback Jayden Daniels. Not only did Washington summon a 71-yard drive in the final three minutes to force overtime, but also, after giving up a go-ahead touchdown in the extra session, Marcus Mariota hit Terry McLaurin for a pivotal touchdown.<\/p>\n Washington elected to go for two and the win<\/a>, but Mariota couldn\u2019t get the ball over the outstretched arms of Denver linebacker Nik Bonitto, who deflected the pass to seal another last-second victory. The Broncos\u2019 sideline erupted. Mariota crumbled to his knees. Running back Jeremy McNichols was wide open for what would\u2019ve been a walk-in, game-winning score. Instead, the Commanders\u2019 misery continues. Washington is 3-9.<\/p>\n No doubt, January\u2019s playoff field will have some new blood \u2014 and some old blood will be watching from home for the first time in a long time. After dropping a Thanksgiving Day game in Dallas, the Kansas City Chiefs are staring at the possibility of missing the postseason<\/a> for the first time since 2014, Andy Reid\u2019s second season there. According to The Athletic\u2019s playoff simulator<\/a>, the Chiefs (6-6) have less than a 50 percent shot to return to the playoffs.<\/p>\n The Cowboys, meanwhile, beat both of last year\u2019s Super Bowl teams, the Eagles and Chiefs, in a span of five days. Dallas is playing its best football of the season<\/a> and remains in the hunt in the NFC playoff picture.<\/p>\n The Carolina Panthers earned one of the franchise\u2019s biggest wins in a decade, stunning the Los Angeles Rams<\/a> 31-28 in Charlotte. This was Bryce Young at his best, the player he was drafted to be, dicing up the vaunted Rams\u2019 defense on third and fourth downs with the game on the line. The Panthers, 7-6 heading into their bye, are just a half-game behind the NFC South-leading Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who won their first game in a month, defeating the Arizona Cardinals 20-17.<\/p>\n Baker Mayfield shrugged off his left shoulder sprain to throw a touchdown to his left tackle, Tristan Wirfs, and running back Bucky Irving returned with a touchdown of his own. With some more pieces on the way back \u2014 including wideout Mike Evans<\/a> \u2014 the Bucs might be getting whole just in time.<\/p>\n Two more NFC contenders, the Seahawks (9-3) and Packers (8-3-1), are just behind the Bears and Rams. Seattle rolled the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, and Green Bay won a tight one over the Lions in Detroit on Thanksgiving.<\/p>\n In the AFC, the Buffalo Bills rebounded with a much-needed 26-7 win<\/a> over the fading Pittsburgh Steelers. Playing without both starting offensive tackles, the Bills bullied the Steelers throughout the second half, piling up more rushing yards (249) by game\u2019s end than Pittsburgh\u2019s defense has ever allowed inside Acrisure Stadium, which opened in 2001. Josh Allen\u2019s 76th career rushing touchdown pushed him past Cam Newton for the most all-time by a quarterback.<\/p>\n In Seattle, the Minnesota Vikings saw what it looks like when you trot out an undrafted rookie quarterback against one of the most vicious defenses in football<\/a>. Poor Max Brosmer. He threw four interceptions in a 26-0 Seahawks rout. It was the Vikings\u2019 sixth loss in seven games and their first shutout since 2007.<\/p>\n In Los Angeles, Justin Herbert missed some first-half snaps with an injured left hand \u2014 the quarterback suffered \u201ca break in the back of his hand,\u201d according to coach Jim Harbaugh, and will have surgery Monday \u2014 but returned in an easy 31-14 victory<\/a> over the Las Vegas Raiders. Despite mounting injuries, Harbaugh\u2019s team has won four of five and remains in the thick of the AFC playoff picture. After the game, the QB seemed less concerned than his coach. \u201cI\u2019m treating it as if I\u2019m playing Monday,\u201d Herbert said. The Chargers host the Eagles next week on \u201cMonday Night Football.\u201d<\/p>\n In Cleveland, Brock Purdy and the San Francisco 49ers spoiled Shedeur Sanders\u2019 first home start<\/a>, beating the Browns 26-8. San Francisco, now 9-4, has quietly weathered a litany of injuries to hang in the NFC playoff hunt. The Browns\u2019 Myles Garrett, meanwhile, stayed on his absurd tear: He now has 14 sacks in his last five games, and needs just four more to set the NFL\u2019s single-season record.<\/p>\n In Miami, the Dolphins won their third straight, 21-17, by escaping a late charge from the New Orleans Saints. Safety Minkah Fitzpatrick saved Miami with a pick and score on a Saints\u2019 two-point conversion attempt that would have tied the game at 19 late in the fourth quarter. The Dolphins, now 5-7, matched their longest win streak of the past three seasons.<\/p>\n