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nfl nation
week 13 of 2025 nfl season Beginning with an NFC North clash on Thanksgiving in which green Bay Packers Leaned on the quarterback jordan love and third-year wide receiver dontevian wicks‘Two touchdowns to beat’ detroit lions,
There was a shootout between the two in the second game dallas cowboys cubby dak prescott and this kansas city chiefs, patrick mahomesPrescott got better at it as the Cowboys progressed,
Our NFL Nation reporters reacted to all the action, answered long-running questions coming from each game and broke down everything you need to know for each team. Let’s do that.
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GB-DET
Keep track of the action: box score , Short
Cowboy
Is it time to take cowboys seriously? The Cowboys have defeated the 2024 Super Bowl participants – the Chiefs and Eagles – over a five-day period. They have won three consecutive games, their longest since 2023. They are above .500 (6-5-1) for the first time since Week 5 last year. Many did not expect the Cowboys to win their first two games against the Eagles, Chiefs and detroit lions (December 4), but here they have a chance to put themselves firmly in the playoff picture. For the third straight week, the defense held the opposing offense to 21 points or fewer. The offense played a big role in scoring at least 30 points at home for the fourth time this season.
What is meant by QB performance: dak prescott versus patrick mahomes It became a game of whatever you can do I can do better. In the fourth quarter, Mahomes threw a go-ahead TD pass on fourth down, but Prescott responded with an eight-play, 68-yard drive to take the go-ahead lead, leading him to improvise like Mahomes. Prescott threw a pass, putting his hands in his pocket to avoid the crowd. javonte williams For the touchdown and then on the 2-point conversion, he spun to his left and threw a pass. george pickens to give the Cowboys a seven-point lead. After a first possession interception, Prescott rebounded with two touchdown passes and got the ball to seven different pass catchers. He threw for over 300 yards for the fourth time on Thanksgiving to tie Tony Romo Matthew Stafford The most in NFL history. — Todd Archer
Next game: At Lions (Dec. 4, 8:15 p.m. ET)
Chiefs
Do the Chiefs have any margin for error? No, here’s the mission, should the Chiefs accept it: Win the final five games of the regular season. That’s probably what it takes for the Chiefs to reach the postseason, perhaps the seventh and final seed. All five games will also be against AFC opponents, so each game from this point on is essentially a play-in game for coach Andy Reid and Mahomes. In his first NFL start at AT&T Stadium, a little more than 100 miles from his hometown of Tyler, Texas, Mahomes threw four touchdown passes and used his legs to escape the pocket. The issue is that the Chiefs defense never sacked Prescott and couldn’t effectively cover his two best receivers, cd lamb And Pickens.
Viewing Trends: After Sunday’s game, the Chiefs get 10 days to rest and recover from their final effort. But a troubling trend is that Mahomes finished the game without his three starting linemen – right guard and Trey Smith (right ankle), right tackle young taylor (elbow) and the rookie left the tackle josh simmons (Left wrist). If the Chiefs want any chance of reaching the playoffs, Mahomes will likely need his best lineman back as soon as possible.
Best Quote from the Locker Room: “You’ve got to win every game now – and hopefully that’s enough. We’re going to play a lot of good teams coming up. If we’re going to make the playoffs, we’ve got to win them all. That’s the mentality we’ve got to have when we step in.” [training facility] When we get back,” Mahomes said. — Nate Taylor
Next game: vs. Texas (Dec. 7, 8:20 PM ET)
Keep track of the action: box score , Short
PACKERS
Are the Packers now the favorites to win the NFC North? Green Bay’s two games against Chicago – the first on Dec. 7 at Lambeau Field – will go a long way in deciding this, but Thursday’s win puts it in an advantageous position. According to ESPN Analytics, the Packers had a 66% chance of winning the division after defeating the Lions on Thursday.
A loss would have dropped that number to 27%. Those numbers will change before the weekend ends depending on the Bears-Eagles game on Friday. But the Packers (8-3-1) put the Lions (7-5) in their rearview mirror by sweeping the season series. After winning only one NFC North game last season, they are 3-0 all-time.
What is meant by QB performance: it was such a game jordan love Needed. After throwing only two touchdown passes in the previous four games combined, Love was dialed in against the Lions. He threw four touchdown passes, including two passes for more than 15 air yards. One of them was a 51 yard bomb Christian Watson In the third quarter. It was his third career game with multiple touchdowns on passes of more than 15 air yards. He also had two touchdowns on fourth down, his first career game with multiple fourth down touchdown passes. He completed 18 of 30 for 234 yards without an interception.
Best quotes from the locker room: Micah Parsonswho had 2½ sacks and four quarterback hits Jared GoffReminded that the Packers are focused on what’s next, “That was a big win where we want to go, win the division, win the playoffs. That was a playoff game. We’ve just got to pile these up.” –Rob Demowski
Next game: vs. Bears (Dec. 7, 4:25 PM ET)
lions
Should the Lions be worried about Dan Campbell’s play calling? The head coach took over playcalling duties entering Week 10, at which time Detroit was averaging 29.9 points per game, but the Lions have now lost two of their last three games and his forecasting has looked questionable at times – especially on the field. Detroit has struggled for the fourth time but continues to take risks. With two failed conversions against Green Bay, Detroit is 0-7 since Week 11, which is tied for the most fourth-down attempts in the league, and the most attempts without a conversion ever, according to ESPN Research.
Most Amazing Performance: The shorthanded Lions needed a much-needed boost due to injuries to Amon-Ra St. Brown, Sam Laporta, brock wright, kalif raymond And graham glasgow On crime. enter tom kennedyA practice squad veteran who stepped up to play on offense and special teams in his absence Thursday. Kennedy was signed from the practice squad to Detroit’s active roster Wednesday evening and had four catches for 36 yards.
Best quotes from the locker room: After the Lions fell 7–5, Campbell said he told his players, “I know, it’s disappointing. We still have a lot to be thankful for after the loss.” Campbell then expanded on Detroit’s situation as it looks toward Week 14: “We’ve dug ourselves a little hole, that’s the ultimate thing. We’re in a little hole, but that’s it. Nothing more than that. So, we’ve just got to worry about cleaning it up and then going into the next game and finding a way to win the next game in front of us.” –Eric Woodyard
Next game: vs. Cowboys (Thursday, 8:15 p.m. ET)
