NFL Sunday has reached Week 13. As the season approaches its end, playoff teams are starting to be sorted out, with tight battles continuing. These are the top storylines for each game.
This is a battle of two teams all but officially ruled out of the playoffs heading into Week 13, with not much more than pride on the line. The Miami Dolphins offense relies on its elite running back, De’Von Achane, who is the main story and factor heading into the game. Unfortunately for the New Orleans Saints, their 22nd-ranked run defense will need to outperform expectations if they want to have a chance.
After being a hard watch for most of the year, the Houston Texans have shown glimmers of hope. This has come under the tutelage of backup quarterback Davis Mills, who has gone 4-0 in his starts. The offense has opened up, and they’ve made it into a positive points differential heading into Week 13.
The storyline of the game is Mills. Can he keep up the offense to pair with their NFL-best defense, or will the Indianapolis Colts’ best offense be too much firepower to handle? This game could have major playoff implications with two teams separated by just two games in the AFC South.
At 4-7, it looks bleak for the Atlanta Falcons in the NFC South. Luckily for them, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Carolina Panthers have just two more wins. It’s a steep hill, but a disheartening New York Jets team could be the boost they need. Will they battle back from the slow start, or will the Jets play spoiler by supplying their home fans a rare win?
Despite injuries continuing to be baked into the San Francisco 49ers culture, they’ve battled into a competitive position. The top three teams in the NFC West have eight or nine wins. Quarterback Brock Purdy came back from injury last week as the team makes a playoff push in a tough division.
Purdy will have a difficult assignment in the league’s second-best defense. Points may be at a premium, but the Cleveland Browns are also the second-worst offense. Can Purdy continue the playoff push for the 49ers over the overworked Browns’ defense?
The Los Angeles Rams lead the NFC, but are just one win ahead of two other teams in the NFC West. Quarterback Matthew Stafford’s continuing MVP bid is the headline, but the Carolina Panthers have unexpectedly turned a few heads this season. The Panthers have won some big games and find themselves at 6-6, right in the thick of things in the NFC South, just half a game back of the leader.
The Jacksonville Jaguars find themselves in a logjam of three teams within two wins of each other in the AFC South. The 6-5 Texans have been disappointing, only recently showing glimpses of competitiveness. The 8-3 Colts are the team they’re chasing, whose offensive turnaround this year may be the story of the season. The Titans are 1-10, embarrassingly inept, and there’s not much to follow. Will the Jaguars keep pace in the division?
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have been putting up a valiant fight through their injury troubles, and find themselves with a 6-5 record atop the NFC South. The Arizona Cardinals have had tons of injury concerns as well, but are just a pesky 3-8 team now. Can the Buccaneers keep up the pace until the team is healthy?
After the Seattle Seahawks went through all of the turnover this offseason, there were doubts surrounding the team. They’ve answered the call, currently just one game back of the NFC West-leading Rams, and the league’s third-best average scoring margin.
The Minnesota Vikings have struggled to sort out their quarterback troubles this year. They are 4-7 at the bottom of the NFC North. Are the Vikings already iced out of the playoffs, and can the Seahawks continue their unexpected run?
While still in a playoff position, Buffalo Bills fans are sounding the alarm. Losing to teams like the Texans, Dolphins, and Falcons has made MVP quarterback Josh Allen look mortal. The Pittsburgh Steelers don’t look like the elite defensive team fans have known for years, either. They head into Week 13 with the 28th-ranked defense, but still in the hunt to win the AFC North. Currently first in the division, their lead is just half a game over the Ravens, and just two games over the Bengals. Can either of these teams find themselves before the postseason?
The Las Vegas Raiders are in contention for the most disappointing rebuild of the 2025-26 NFL Regular Season. The success of the Los Angeles Chargers seems to hinge on the offensive line, as they battle through giving up the sixth-most sacks in the league. Can the chargers work on their issues against a non-competitive team, or will they continue their hit-or-miss results this season?
The Denver Broncos thrilled fans with their breakout season last year under rookie quarterback Bo Nix. Often more difficult than the initial breakout year, the team has continued its progress to glory. They sit at 9-2 atop the AFC West with a two-game lead over the Chargers, and a three-game lead on the Kansas City Chiefs.
The Washington Commanders, however, have not taken a step forward after a breakout season last year. They’ve struggled to a 3-8 record and are likely to lose their second-place finish in the NFC East to the Dallas Cowboys. Will the Broncos continue their divisional dominance as the playoffs grow near?
Everything feels more wide open than last season, with honest battles atop most divisions. There’s no way to lock down a favorite to represent either conference.
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