NFL Week 13 proved to be an “Upset Epidemic,” shattering conventional wisdom and drastically reshaping the playoff landscape across both conferences. The chaos began early with underdog victories dominating the Thanksgiving slate, and the trend continued into Sunday as multiple heavy favorites stumbled against unexpected competition. The most shocking result saw the Carolina Panthers—a double-digit underdog—run over the NFC’s top team, the Los Angeles Rams, effectively stopping Matthew Stafford’s MVP bid in its tracks. Beyond the upsets, the week featured pivotal divisional clashes, the resurfacing of long-dormant franchises like the Chicago Bears and New York Jets, and a critical reshuffling of the tight AFC South. This relentless volatility confirmed a late-season reality: no divisional lead is safe, and any team, regardless of record, is capable of delivering a season-defining shock.
The Thanksgiving Takeover: Underdogs Define the Holiday Slate
The unexpected results began on the holiday weekend, setting a tone of unpredictability that carried through the entire Week 13 schedule.
In a rare alignment, the underdog was victorious in every single Thanksgiving matchup, serving notice that the late-season standings meant little. The Green Bay Packers stunned the Detroit Lions in the NFC North clash, while the Dallas Cowboys delivered a crucial 31-28 win over the Kansas City Chiefs, effectively clouding the AFC playoff picture. The momentum continued with the Cincinnati Bengals dismantling the Baltimore Ravens 32-14, a massive upset given the Bengals’ season struggles and the Ravens’ prior dominance. This trend of major upsets immediately injected a chaotic energy into the playoff race, emphasizing the parity across the league and signaling a tightening race for both division titles and wild-card berths.
The upsets were not limited to the holiday; the Chicago Bears further cemented their status as a dark horse contender, improving to 9-3 and taking the number one seed in the NFC after a tough road win against the Philadelphia Eagles on Black Friday.
The NFC Shockwaves: Rams Stumble, Bears Ascend
The biggest headline of the weekend came from the NFC, where a methodical upset of the conference’s leading team completely derailed the MVP conversation.
The Carolina Panthers pulled off the most decisive upset, defeating the Los Angeles Rams 31-28 as double-digit underdogs. The victory was a testament to the masterful game plan by Head Coach Dave Canales, who unleashed a persistent run game to control the clock and keep the explosive Rams offense—led by MVP front-runner Matthew Stafford—off the field. Quarterback Bryce Young delivered a clutch performance, converting two critical second-half fourth downs into big-play touchdowns, displaying the poise the young QB needed to affirm his coach’s faith. For the Rams, the loss was crushing, effectively ending the narrative around Stafford’s MVP bid and reminding the NFC that their road to the Super Bowl will remain fiercely competitive.
Meanwhile, the Chicago Bears continued their improbable streak. Their win over the Eagles, coupled with the Rams’ loss, propelled them to the No. 1 seed in the NFC with a 9-3 record by the end of Sunday, establishing them as one of the biggest surprises of the 2025 season.
The AFC South Logjam and Playoff Picture
The divisional race in the AFC South tightened dramatically in Week 13, creating a logjam that will define the final stretch of the regular season.
The Houston Texans delivered a critical 20-16 win over the Indianapolis Colts, directly cutting into the Colts’ lead and deepening the complexity of the division standings. The Jacksonville Jaguars, who easily defeated the Tennessee Titans 25-3, moved into the top spot with an 8-4 record. This sequence of results left the Colts (8-4) dropping to second place, with the Texans (7-5) just one game behind. The AFC South is now one of the most competitive divisions in the league, with three teams locked in a frantic race for the title and a playoff spot.
Elsewhere in the AFC, the Buffalo Bills bounced back from a “sleepy first half” to take control against the Steelers in a 26-7 victory, helping to keep their playoff hopes alive after an inconsistent season. The Pittsburgh Steelers, on the other hand, missed a golden opportunity to create breathing room in the wild-card race after their home loss.
The QB Carousel: Setbacks and Resurrections
Week 13 also featured major developments at the quarterback position, including a major MVP setback and a decisive end to a potential controversy.
Matthew Stafford’s three turnovers against the Panthers were cited as the primary reason for his MVP bid being declared “over” by many analysts. At the same time, the potential for a quarterback controversy in Minnesota was decisively shut down. Undrafted rookie Max Brosmer, filling in for the injured J.J. McCarthy, had a rough outing in a 26-0 shutout loss to the Seattle Seahawks, throwing four interceptions. This performance effectively ended any speculation about McCarthy’s job security for the remainder of the season. The week also featured the long-awaited return of Joe Burrow for the Bengals, who helped deliver the shocking upset over the Ravens, signaling that Cincinnati, though deeply buried in the standings, was not yet ready to concede the season.
