5 biggest surprises from NFL Week 13 games
The holiday season is often rife with surprises...remember when you got that PlayStation your parents swore they'd never get you? The NFL is no exception as their own holiday celebration looms large.
Unlike that unexpected gift, however, there's often a victim behind these surprises. Week 13 had its share of shockers, as documented below...
Who's responsible for the NFL's biggest Week 13 surprises?
#1 - The Lingering Lions
The Detroit Lions were probably going to get a win sooner or later: seven of their opening 11 winless excursions were decided by a single digit. That fateful win finally came on Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings.
True to form, it came down to the literal last second as Jared Goff found Amon-Ra St. Brown for the game-winning touchdown. With the win, Detroit avoids joining the most infamous invite-only club in NFL history.
We've identified a path to the playoffs for the 0-10-1 Lions ⬇️ https://t.co/IrP7ArnRYo
But the most shocking thing about the Lions' 29-27 triumph isn't the win itself...it's the fact that Detroit (1-10-1) is still eligible for a playoff spot.
It's a long, long complicated scenario...one that involves the Lions topping the NFL-best Arizona Cardinals in Week 15...but the Christmas season is one of miracles, no?
Besides...between the Red Wings and Pistons' ongoing team rebuilds and a hopeful Tigers season on hiatus thanks to the MLB lockout, it'd be prudent to let Detroit have something.
#2 - Washington Football Steam
The expansion of the NFL playoffs has somewhat diluted the late-season playoff chase...only under the current system could 4-8 teams from New York, Chicago, and Seattle remain within striking distance of the postseason. But the Washington Football Team (6-6) aren't relying on an extra wild card to start their first playoff streak since the early 1990s.
BRIAN JOHNSON NAILS IT
📺 » FOX | #WASvsLV https://t.co/rGcHvbLqLx
Washington (6-6), currently ensnared in the NFC's sixth seed, picked up its fourth consecutive win on Sunday, hitting the jackpot in Vegas with a 17-15 win over the contending Raiders.
It's recent surge, one of the tastier subplots of the NFL season, especially without the services of Chase Young, couldn't have come a better time: each of their final five games will come against NFC East competition. This includes two crucial matchups with the division-leading Dallas Cowboys, starting with Sunday's game (1 p.m. ET, Fox).
#3 - Miami Nice
Topping the woebegone New York Giants, one quarterbacked by Mike Glennon, isn't so shocking, but the fact that the Miami Dolphins have won five in a row is an inspiring sign for the franchise, one that's slowly starting to keep pace in the AFC playoff hunt.
Though Miami (6-7) is on the wrong end of several tiebreakers, the schedule partly works their favor. They'll enjoy a late bye this weekend before facing a rematch with the Jets and the reeling New Orleans Saints.
Tua Tagovailoa with his 2nd TD 😁🔥https://t.co/dWWdDBabDB
The true surprise during this process has been the play of previously beleaguered Miami quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, who has posted 100+ passer ratings in each of his last four games.
That streak has allowed Tagovailoa to reclaim the narrative of his NFL career and afford Miami a chance to slowly remove 'starting quarterback' off of their offseason checklist. Another standout in the streak has been rookie defender Jaelan Phillips, who has burst onto the scene with seven sacks over the last five games, setting a Miami rookie record.