NFL Week 13 winners and losers: Panthers stun Rams, Colts fall again vs. Texans

Thanksgiving is in the rearview mirror, and the NFL season is heating up.

All 32 teams were on the schedule in Week 13, making for a loaded slate with high-stakes matchups from Thursday through Monday. In Sunday’s games, there were a number of standout clashes — including a massive upset and a handful of key divisional contests.

Here are the winners and losers from Sunday:

WINNER: Panthers stun Rams

Bryce Young and the Carolina Panthers put together one of the most impressive efforts of the season, upsetting the Los Angeles Rams 31-28 in a back-and-forth battle.

There were five lead changes in the thriller, culminating in rookie receiver Tetairoa McMillan’s 43-yard touchdown grab with 6:34 to play. The Rams had a chance to tie or retake the lead, but Matthew Stafford fumbled with under three minutes remaining while deep in Carolina territory.

The Rams quarterback had three turnovers, including two interceptions, in his first ugly performance in months. Stafford had previously gone eight straight games without a pick, and he had only two interceptions in the first 12 weeks. Young, on the other side, completed 15 of 20 passes for 206 yards and three touchdowns in a breakout game for the 7-6 Panthers, who are still in the mix to win the NFC South.

LOSER: Colts season slipping

After starting the season 7-1, the Indianapolis Colts are slowly falling apart.

In Week 13, they lost 20-16 to the division rival Houston Texans to fall to 8-4. Daniel Jones had 201 yards and two touchdowns, but it wasn’t enough against DeMeco Ryans’ dominant defense. Jonathan Taylor was held in check with 85 rushing yards, and a missed extra point in the second quarter proved to be costly.

Houston continued its winning streak with C.J. Stroud returning from a concussion. The Texans, now winners of four straight, are 7-5 with another game against the Colts upcoming in Week 18. They’ll look to stay hot against the Kansas City Chiefs on NBC’s Sunday Night Football next week in a game that both teams desperately need.

WINNER: Healthier Bucs get back on track

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers snapped a three-game losing streak with help from their returning stars, beating the Arizona Cardinals 20-17 to improve to 7-5.

Running back Bucky Irving, back after missing seven games with shoulder and foot injuries, had 61 yards and a touchdown on 17 carries. Wide receiver Chris Godwin, in just his fourth game of the season, led the team in receiving with three catches for 78 yards.

The Cardinals had a chance to win in the fourth quarter, but were stopped on fourth-down in the final minute to end the game. Jacoby Brissett had 301 yards, two touchdowns and an interception as he continues to perform with Kyler Murray injured — though it hasn’t translated to victories, with the Cards now losing four straight.

LOSER: Myles Garrett and the Browns vs. 49ers

Another week, another standout performance by Myles Garrett in a Cleveland Browns loss.

This time it was a 26-8 defeat to the San Francisco 49ers, with Garrett adding a sack and two tackles for loss. Week 13 followed a similar theme for Cleveland, who stayed close for a while before finally being overpowered without a competent offense. Garrett is up to 19 sacks on the year, including six straight games with a quarterback takedown.

Browns rookie QB Shedeur Sanders was 16 of 25 for 149 yards and a touchdown. The 49ers, meanwhile, clinched their fourth winning season in the last five years by improving to 9-4. Brock Purdy had a passing and rushing touchdown in the 49ers’ third straight win.

WINNER: Nick Folk’s dream season continues for Jets

Kicker Nick Folk has been a bright spot in an otherwise dim season for the New York Jets.

Entering Week 13, the 41-year-old Folk was 20 for 20 on field goals and 15 for 15 on extra points. He missed a 55-yard kick in the third quarter, but quickly got redemption with a 56-yard game-winner at the buzzer to secure the 27-24 win over the Atlanta Falcons. The Jets are now 3-9 on the season after starting 0-7.

The Falcons’ slim playoff hopes took another hit with their latest defeat. Now 4-8, Atlanta has lost six of its last seven and major changes could be coming this offseason. Without a first-round pick in next April’s draft, the rest of this season is still about winning games.

LOSER: Rookie quarterbacks struggle

It was a day of learning for rookie quarterbacks Cam Ward and Tyler Shough.

In Nashville, the No. 1 overall pick saw his Tennessee Titans get blown out again — this time against the Jacksonville Jaguars, 25-3. Ward completed 24 of 38 passes for 141 yards, no touchdowns and no interceptions. Tennessee is now 1-11 on the season, with a second straight top pick looking more and more likely. The Jaguars, with the Colts’ loss, now lead AFC South as one game separates the top three teams.

Down in South Beach, the New Orleans Saints’ rookie had similar struggles in a 21-17 loss to the Miami Dolphins — though he did give them a chance late. Shough had 239 yards and two touchdowns, but an interception and return on a 2-point conversion were the difference. The Saints are now 2-10, nearly keeping pace with the Titans in the battle for the No. 1 pick.

WINNER: Bills push past Steelers in second half

It was a tale of two halves for Buffalo at Pittsburgh. Josh Allen and Co. got off to a poor start, but some Aaron Rodgers’ injury woes swung the momentum back to Buffalo for the entire second half.

Mason Rudolph attempted three passes in a short-term span for Rodgers. One was a pick. Pittsburgh’s offense never got going after a second-quarter touchdown, leaving Allen to take over in the second half with 23 points for Buffalo.

James Cook rushed for 144 yards on 32 carries while Allen had a touchdown each through the air and on the ground on just 123 passing yards (1 INT). The rushing score also made Allen the league’s all-time leader in rushing touchdowns by a QB, leaping Cam Newton. It wasn’t a pretty display, but it was a result Buffalo needed to be 8-4 while Pittsburgh is now 6-6.

Christian Benford also recovered a fumble for a touchdown and followed it up with the aforementioned Rudolph pick.

LOSER: Raiders hit loss No. 10 in LA

Las Vegas kept it close in the first half, but the Chargers eventually pulled away in the second to win comfortably at 31-14.

Geno Smith threw two touchdowns to Brock Bowers as he fared better compared to recent weeks, including giving his own fans the bird. But it wasn’t going to be enough, especially with the Raiders’ defense having no answer for the rising Kimani Vidal, who rushed for 126 yards on 25 carries and a 59-yard score.

Justin Herbert also had an injury scare, but returned to finish with 151 passing yards, two touchdowns and a pick on 15 of 20 completions. The Chargers are now 8-4, while Las Vegas is 2-10. The Raiders’ next three games? Home vs. Denver, at Philadelphia, at Houston. A 2-13 mark is looming.

WINNER: Sam Darnold gets revenge vs. Vikings

Whether he holds a grudge, Darnold got his revenge over the visiting Minnesota Vikings in a 26-0 shutout. Darnold opted for Seattle in the offseason following Minnesota’s decision to end his tenure at one season and pivot to first-round pick J.J. McCarthy, who did not play this game due to injury amid a rough first full campaign.

Even if he did, it probably wouldn’t have mattered. Max Brosmer got his first start and it was memorable for the wrong reasons, as he threw four picks on 126 passing yards while Justin Jefferson was held to just four yards on two catches (six targets).

Darnold wasn’t great himself, throwing just 128 yards on 14 of 26 completions. But the Seahawks’ defense continued their run of swarming inferior signal callers to win.

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