Patrick Mahomes needs to be tired of seeing stripes. The Bengals defeated the Chiefs 27-24 Sunday-- the third time in a row, consisting of in last season's AFC title video game. It was just one of numerous matchups in Week 13 between teams in playoff positions entering into the week.The 49ers defense took care of to decrease the high-octane Dolphins offense enough ahead away with a 33-17 win. However San Francisco now has a big issue after starting quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo was carted off with a season-ending injury.The Seahawks maintained pace in the NFC West with Geno Smith leading a game-winning drive to defeat the Rams 27-23 while the Raiders won their third straight, covering the Chargers 27-20 behind a two-touchdown effort from Davante Adams.AdvertisementEarlier on Sunday, the Eagles had no troubles as the group with the organization's finest document managed the Titans conveniently: 35-10 behind three Jalen Hurts touchdown passes and also a run for a score.Meanwhile, the Giants as well as Commanders had a slugfest that finished in a 20-20 tie after a Jahan Dotson touchdown from Taylor Heinicke connected it up with 1:45 left in law. The NFC East came into the weekend with all four teams in playoff spots.The Ravens needed to sweat out a 10-9 win over the Broncos after losing Lamar Jackson early to a knee injury. Baltimore had a bright outlook heading down the stretch with among the league's most convenient schedules, but after shedding to the Jaguars last week, hardly defeating the Broncos and also Jackson's injury, points all of a sudden look murky.Aaron Rodgers once more owned the Bears with a 28-19 win over Justin Fields in Chicago, Kenny Pickett pulled out a 19-16 victory against the Falcons, and also the Vikings resisted the Jets' late rally with a 27-22 win.Sunday additionally noted the return of Deshaun Watson, as he made his Browns launching following an 11-game suspension for breaking the NFL's personal conduct policy after more than two dozen women implicated him of sex-related transgression and also assault. The Browns beat Watson's former group, the Texans, 27-14 behind two defensive goals and also a 76-yard punting return goal by Donovan Peoples-Jones. The Athletic's Tim Graham,  Jeff Howe and also Kalyn Kahler provide their thoughts on Sunday's NFL action.The Bengals are now 3-0 versus Patrick Mahomes and also the Chiefs given that last season. Where do you have Cincinnati in the AFC pecking order now?Graham: Joe Burrow is damn good when he's not a scribble mark on the lawn, like Beetle Bailey after Sarge works him over. Cincy has actually won four straight, as well as Burrow has actually been sacked just 5 times over that stretch. Kansas City got him when, and that makes a colossal distinction for a group that got off to a 2-3 beginning. Also in the Bengals' four-game touch, Samaje Perine has actually been a whammer on the ground. He battered out 21 brings for 106 lawns, never going with greater than 10. That assisted Tunnel censure the Chiefs and gives us something to consider in the AFC North with Lamar Jackson potentially sidelined. The Expenses are the AFC's front runner at the minute, won three road video games in 12 days and very own success over all three first-place teams in the meeting. I still have the Chiefs second due to the fact that they ought to call easy wins over the Broncos and also Texans and also their general 2022 body of job, however if the Bengals can keep Burrow upright, after that they'll brush off all those early-season questions.AdvertisementHowe: The Bengals should have to be right there in the leading tier with the Costs as well as Chiefs. Bengals fans are justifiably rolling their eyes at the inclusion of the Chiefs because leading group, as Cincinnati has now defeated them three times in 11 months, but Kansas City is still a giant. While winning eight of their last 10, the Bengals have ripped off the Jets, Dolphins, Titans as well as Chiefs-- all currently in the playoff area. The Bengals are dipping into an extremely high degree, and they overcame the loss of Ja'Marr Chase for four weeks. They also got with some of those early-season issues, which is a measure of a group that can readjust on the fly as they're coached well and also led by quality gamers. If there was any type of uncertainty over the Bengals' status as Super Dish challengers, they removed it with a remarkable win against the Chiefs.Kahler: The Bengals just won the hardest video game that was left on their routine. They end the season with the Expenses and also the Ravens, however this Kansas City video game was certainly the large one as well as now they've shown they can beat the Chiefs 3 times in a year. I believe the Bengals, Chiefs as well as Costs are the top tier of the AFC, and also they have actually come a long means from when we were all requiring Zac Taylor to quit play-calling after Week 2. It hasn't all been smooth this season, but they have actually lingered with significant injuries and also defense issues. Yet as Tim aimed out, the offensive line has actually enhanced as the period has actually progressed and also Burrow has gained from taking fewer hits.Great win for the 49ers topping an excellent Dolphins group. Yet how much self-confidence do you have in their Super Dish wishes with Jimmy Garoppolo done for the year?Graham: In this area last week, I shared uncertainties regarding the 49ers WITH Garoppolo. Eliminate Trent Sherfield's shock 75-yard goal on the first play Wally Backman Jersey, San Francisco battered an outstanding opponent. The Dolphins' defense, however, has actually been gracious far from South Florida, averaging 38.3 points admitted their 6 road games. Therefore, I'm attracted to be persistent, dual down and also state San Francisco didn't show much Sunday. Yet when a group can down with a department leader with seventh-round newbie Brock Purdy, it's time to confess I might have misread the circumstance. Purdy wasn't specifically amazing. The last quarterback prepared in April tossed an interception and also was sacked three times. However the Niners were so phenomenal as a group Sunday that the sporting activity's essential setting was a compatible component. Nick Bosa and their elite protection made an MVP candidate appearance pedestrian at best and sometimes bewildered. Maybe a game manager can pull this off, with the Seahawks simply a video game back in the NFC West. It'll be a fascinating last month out yonder.Howe: Absolutely an outstanding win, as the 49ers showed just how their wide range of talent can get rid of the range of injuries that have restricted them at times this season. However, for a group with Super Bowl goals, the Garoppolo injury is the one that can break them. Certainly, their defense is significant, and also they have actually obtained the mentoring and offensive tools to system up ways to relocate the ball with rookie quarterback Brock Purdy. But I do not understand if that'll be enough to survive the NFC with the Eagles, Cowboys and Vikings playing so well. It's a disastrous blow for a group in a champion window.Kahler: First, I just need to air vent. I am so dismayed that we are being denied of what can have been the best backup story of all time. We will certainly never obtain to see Jimmy's vengeance Super Dish win after being discarded by the Niners this offseason. Ugh. The rookie Mr. Irrelevant Brock Purdy played well Sunday, but as much as I like an excellent back-up tale, I don't see a Super Dish as the ending of the second good backup story this season in San Francisco. I think there's commonly a backup QB impact that resembles the interim trainer effect, where the group rallies hard around the shock person who needs to come in the video game, however it doesn't last. Likewise, Miami's protection has actually enabled basically everybody to rack up repetitively. This is an extremely QB-friendly infraction, so I am not going to state all hope is lost, however I don't expect the Niners to go as much now.What are your impressions of Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson's return? Cleveland won smoothly, yet the violation had no TDs.Graham: Watson was a nonfactor versus his old team. The Browns' finest violation came from their defense and unique teams, as well as Watson performed like somebody that had not played an NFL video game in 700 days. Regardless of. Watson's inefficacy is moot. Cleveland runs out the playoff image. Watson's return provides the Browns an opportunity to get him six games of experience in preparation for 2023 yet likewise, more significantly-- as well as unfortunately-- a longer runway to stabilize his existence as a quarterback. By following September, the discussions regarding his qualification will certainly be old information. Object groups will be revealing by contrast. Fans will be excited to proceed, as well as critics will be worn from being overlooked. Another NFL firestorm or 3 will certainly have emerged already. That dynamic is what the Browns and the organization are depending on, and also that's basically what will take place, as revolting as the whole situation remains.AdvertisementHowe: It would certainly have been unrealistic to believe Watson would begin strong after a two-year absence. Quarterbacks who miss out on training camp or a couple of weeks during the period constantly look rusty, as well as Watson's situation was even more extreme than that. The Texans, that are riding the Bryce Young Express on their way to the No. 1 choice, are placed 23rd in points allowed as well as 29th in backyards allowed this period, so this had not been a difficult examination. It'll be a lot more tough in the coming weeks against the Bengals and also Ravens, and I 'd be stunned if Watson's development is anything more than a slow crawl.Kahler: Myles Garrett summed it up well after the video game: "We do not anticipate him to be Superman out there. He hasn't played in 2 years." Watson looked equally like a quarterback who had not seen regular-season action in 700 days https://www.shopnewyorkmets.com/Robert-Gsellman-Jersey, tossing an interception ultimately zone on a window that closed well before his receiver could get to the ball. This was expected as well as makes it all the much more mind-boggling that Browns owner Jim Haslam gave Watson a fully ensured, five-year, $230 million agreement. Watson might return to create by the end of the period, or it may take till next season, yet the reality of the issue is we do not know. And not only did the Browns commit a wild quantity of cash to a quarterback who was out of the video game at the time they traded for and authorized him, however they likewise did not know for how long he would be out. They either didn't care or really did not prepare for that he could not promptly be elite, and also if you're not expecting a gamer to be Superman around, exactly how do you justify that contract?How high ought to the concern level be for Baltimore after Sunday's narrow win as well as Lamar Jackson's injury?Graham: John Harbaugh's success this weekend wasn't almost as cheerful as his bro's. The Ravens remain in problem. Parrying furiously at residence to nip a laughingstock opponent like the Broncos was aggravating sufficient, yet another Jackson injury would jam this erstwhile Super Bowl challenger right into a precarious place. The Ravens should be powerful down the homestretch (at Steelers, at Browns, Falcons, Steelers, at Bengals). Neither the Browns nor the Steelers will challenge for the AFC North crown, however if the Ravens muddle toward 2nd area behind the Bengals, they could be knocked out of the wild-card image and miss out on the tournament entirely.Howe: There must be a high level of issue. Jackson as well as the Ravens violation have actually been streaked for the previous number of months, so a knee injury of any magnitude will not aid the reason. Tyler Huntley played well last period in relief of Jackson, yet this is a much better Ravens team that wishes to contend for an AFC champion. A restricted Jackson would significantly limit their possibility, especially within a packed conference.Kahler: Thinking about the stamina of the AFC, this is a huge issue for Baltimore. The timing of this injury has shades of last season, when Jackson missed out on the final four video games with an ankle joint injury. Baltimore lost all four of those video games. Backup Tyler Huntley played well sufficient to win last period's Week 10 video game at Chicago, as well as three of those four straight losses were one-score video games (2 were one-point margins). The fact https://www.shopnewyorkmets.com/Ronny-Mauricio-Jersey, however, is that in a crowded and talented AFC, the Ravens require Jackson to reach the postseason. I'm likewise worried about exactly how this injury will influence Jackson's contract negotiations with Baltimore, which have actually not been productive.The NFC East entered into the weekend break with all four groups in playoff spots. Does the Giants-Commanders tie make you really feel better or worse concerning those two as playoff contenders?Graham: With uncertainties surrounding each group's success, I desired to enjoy one different from the various other on Sunday. So we get a connection. Their video game was a Rorschach examination; whatever you want to see or believe about the Giants or Commanders, you observed plenty to support your views, favorable as well as negative. Neither team is in the Eagles' class-- Injures provided the Titans a swirly-- or most likely to surpass the Cowboys for second location. But teams need not be leading to make the playoffs. In spite of the Giants-Commanders' anticlimactic tie, there's excessive murkiness in the various other NFC divisions to see any kind of sexier wild-card challenger surfacing.Howe: First, this was an extremely excellent performance by the Eagles. They have actually been fighting it for regarding a month, and they just dismantled one of the hardest and also best-coached teams in the league. That was a declaration. When it comes to the Giants as well as Commanders, they aren't contenders in the sense that they're topped for a playoff run. But one of them-- if not both-- will certainly be in the playoffs, as well as they're going to be a pain in the butt to beat. They're well-coached. They play hard. They have defenses that make whatever fairly hard. So while I think the Eagles, 49ers (even though Jimmy Garoppolo's season-ending injury is a concern), Cowboys and Vikings remain in a class over the rest of the conference, none would certainly be excited to draw the Giants or Commanders in the wild-card round.AdvertisementKahler: Give thanks to God we get the follow up to this in just two weeks. 2 groups can not tie each other two times in the exact same period, right? At the very least we will not have to wait long to find out. The Eagles once more showed that they remain in a class of their own on top of the NFC with a big win over the Titans, who I believed might provide a run for their money. There's a great opportunity the Giants as well as the Commanders will make the playoffs, however I want to throw out one certifiably ridiculous idea for an NFC wild-card group: What regarding the Lions? With a dominant win over Jacksonville, they boosted to 5-7. They won three video games straight till that completely close Thanksgiving loss to the Costs; first-round pick Jameson Williams is back (though he really did not do a lot of anything Sunday); and after a hard

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