Week 13 of the 2024 NFL season featured several intriguing matchups, down-to-the-wire contests, and must-win games for teams looking to improve their playoff odds.
Let’s examine how the Week 13 results affected the NFL standings and playoff picture while also recapping the top games of the week.
Week 13 NFL Standings and Playoff Picture
AFC Playoff Picture
1. Kansas City Chiefs, 11-1 (beat Raiders on Friday)
2. Buffalo Bills, 10-2 (beat 49ers on Sunday night)
3. Pittsburgh Steelers, 9-3 (beat Bengals on Sunday)
4. Houston Texans, 8-5 (beat Jaguars on Sunday)
5. Los Angeles Chargers, 8-4 (beat Falcons on Sunday)
6. Baltimore Ravens, 8-5 (lost to Eagles on Sunday)
7. Denver Broncos, 8-5 (beat Browns on Monday night)
In The Hunt
8. Indianapolis Colts, 6-7 (beat Patriots on Sunday)
9. Miami Dolphins, 5-7 (lost to Packers on Thursday)
10. Cincinnati Bengals, 4-8 (lost to Steelers on Sunday)
11. Cleveland Browns, 3-9 (lost to Broncos on Monday)
12. New York Jets, 3-9 (lost to Seahawks on Sunday)
13. Tennessee Titans, 3-9 (lost to Commanders on Sunday)
14. New England Patriots, 3-10 (lost to Colts on Sunday)
15. Jacksonville Jaguars, 2-10 (lost to Texans on Sunday)
16. Las Vegas Raiders, 2-10 (lost to Chiefs on Friday)
NFC Playoff Picture
1. Detroit Lions, 11-1 (beat Bears on Thursday)
2. Philadelphia Eagles, 10-2 (beat Ravens on Sunday)
3. Seattle Seahawks, 7-5 (beat Jets on Sunday)
4. Atlanta Falcons, 6-6 (lost to Chargers on Sunday)
5. Minnesota Vikings, 10-2 (beat Cardinals on Sunday)
6. Green Bay Packers, 9-3 (beat Dolphins on Thursday)
7. Washington Commanders, 8-5 (beat Titans on Sunday)
In The Hunt
8. Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 6-6 (beat Panthers on Sunday)
9. Arizona Cardinals, 6-6 (lost to Vikings on Sunday)
10. Los Angeles Rams, 6-6 (beat Saints on Sunday)
11. San Francisco 49ers, 5-7 (face Bills on Sunday night)
12. Dallas Cowboys, 5-7 (beat Giants on Thursday)
13. New Orleans Saints, 4-8 (lost to Rams on Sunday)
14. Chicago Bears, 4-8 (lost to Lions on Thursday)
15. Carolina Panthers, 3-9 (lost to Buccaneers on Sunday)
16. New York Giants, 2-10 (lost to Cowboys on Thursday)
Week 13 Recap
Eagles Beat Ravens In Battle of Contenders
In the NFL’s Game of the Week, the Eagles defeated the Ravens 24-19 in a battle of elite teams. Philadelphia improved to 10-2, while Baltimore dropped to 8-5.
Jalen Hurts completed 11 of 19 passes for 118 yards and a touchdown while also rushing for 30 yards and a score. Saquon Barkley was incredible yet again, rushing 23 times for 107 yards and a touchdown. A.J. Brown caught five passes for 66 yards, while Dallas Goedert had three receptions for 35 yards and a touchdown.
Meanwhile, for the Ravens, Lamar Jackson completed 23 of 36 passes for 237 yards and two touchdowns while also rushing for 79 yards. Derrick Henry rushed 19 times for 82 yards while adding five receptions for 38 yards and a touchdown. Zay Flower caught three passes for 74 yards, while Mark Andrews added six catches for 67 yards and a score.
With this win, the Eagles’ odds of securing the NFC’s No. 1 seed increased by 8.3 percentage points. For the Ravens, this loss dropped their chances of winning their division by 23.9 percentage points, per PFN’s Playoff Predictor.
Next Sunday, the Eagles will host the Panthers. The Ravens will enter their bye week. Then, in Week 15, Baltimore will face the Giants on the road.
Falcons Lose to Chargers, Dropping Third Straight Game
The Chargers defeated the Falcons 17-14 in a game that came down to the wire. This loss has huge ramifications in the NFC South playoff race, as the Buccaneers are now tied with Atlanta in the standings after defeating the Panthers in the late window on Sunday.
The Falcons have now lost three consecutive games, while the Bucs are getting healthy at the right time (Mike Evans, Tristan Wirfs, and Jamel Dean are back) and boast the NFL’s easiest remaining schedule.
PFN’s model gives Tampa Bay a slight edge in the NFC South race, with a 63.1% chance of making the playoffs and a 58.8% chance of winning the NFC South compared to 41.5% playoff odds and 37.9% division odds for the Falcons.
Kirk Cousins struggled mightily against the Chargers’ dominant defense on Sunday, throwing four interceptions (including a pick-six) and fumbling the ball once (although Atlanta recovered). He completed 24 of 39 passes for 245 yards and zero touchdowns. Bijan Robinson rushed 26 times for 102 yards and a touchdown, scoring the Falcons’ lone touchdown of the day. Drake London caught nine passes for 86 yards.
The Falcons outgained the Chargers 350 yards to 187, but Atlanta couldn’t overcome the turnovers. Aside from the Chargers’ pick-six, Cameron Dicker had the rest of Los Angeles’ points, drilling three field goals. With J.K. Dobbins injured, Los Angeles totaled just 56 rushing yards. Ladd McConkey had a big day, catching nine passes for 117 yards, meaning he was responsible for 62.5% of the Chargers’ total yards in Week 13.
Next Sunday, the Falcons will try to end their three-game losing streak on the road against the Vikings. Meanwhile, the Chargers will head to Arrowhead Stadium to face the Chiefs on Sunday Night Football in Week 14.
Seahawks Defeat Jets in Wild Game, Win Third Straight
This was an insane game that featured a 99-yard kickoff for a touchdown, an interception returned 92 yards for a touchdown, three fumbles on kickoff returns by Seattle (including two lost fumbles), and two missed extra points (one by each team).
But after trading punches all afternoon, the Seahawks defeated the Jets 26-21. Geno Smith completed 20 of 31 passes for 206 yards and one touchdown, while Zach Charbonnet scored a fourth-quarter rushing touchdown to give Seattle the lead for good.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba caught four passes for 74 yards and DK Metcalf caught four passes for 66 yards. Leonard Williams was the Seahawks’ MVP, finishing with four tackles, two sacks, three tackles for a loss, one interception, and a 92-yard TD return.
For the Jets, Aaron Rodgers completed 21 of 39 passes for 185 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception. Davante Adams caught five passes for 66 yards and a score. Breece Hall rushed 12 times for 60 yards but fumbled twice (losing one). Kene Nwangwu had the 99-yard kick return touchdown. Nwangwu and Xavier Gipson actually combined for 238 kick return yards, but Seattle overcame their special teams struggles.
The Seahawks have now won three straight games, improving to 7-5 and increasing their odds of making the playoffs to 41.8% and their odds of winning the NFC West to 32.1%.
New York has now lost eight of its last nine games.
Next week, Seattle will travel to Arizona for a huge NFC West clash against the Cardinals that could ultimately determine the division winner. Meanwhile, the Jets will try to stop the bleeding and get a win on the road against the Dolphins next Sunday.
Steelers Take Down Bengals 44-38
The Steelers just keep finding ways to win. After Sunday’s 44-38 victory over the Bengals, Pittsburgh is now 8-3, having won six of its last seven games.
Russell Wilson had his best game of the season, completing 29 of 38 passes for 414 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception. George Pickens finished with 74 yards and a score, while Pat Freiermuth caught six passes for 68 yards and a score. Najee Harris got in on the fun, rushing 16 times for 75 yards and a touchdown.
For the Bengals, Joe Burrow completed 28 of 38 passes for 309 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception (as well as two lost fumbles).
Tee Higgins (five catches, 69 yards, and one TD), Ja’Marr Chase (six catches, 86 yards, and one TD), and Chase Brown (100 total yards and a rushing TD) all produced at a high level, but it once again came in a losing effort.
With this win, Pittsburgh has a 95.8% chance of making the playoffs and a 65.6% chance of winning the AFC North, according to PFN’s Playoff Predictor. Meanwhile, this loss drops the Bengals’ playoff odds to 4.6%.
Next week, the Steelers will look to improve to 9-3 at home against the Browns. The Bengals will travel to Dallas to take on the Cowboys on Monday Night Football.