Patrick Mahomes has actually to be tired of seeing red stripes. The Bengals beat the Chiefs 27-24 Sunday-- the third time in a row, including in last season's AFC title game. It was just one of several matches in Week 13 between groups in playoff placements entering the 49ers defense managed to reduce the high-octane Dolphins violation enough to come away with a 33-17 win. But San Francisco now has a huge concern after beginning quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo was hauled off with a season-ending Seahawks kept up in the NFC West with Geno Smith leading a game-winning drive to defeat the Rams 27-23 while the Raiders won their 3rd straight, topping the Chargers 27-20 behind a two-touchdown initiative from Davante on Sunday, the Eagles had no worry as the group with the league's finest document managed the Titans quickly: 35-10 behind 3 Jalen Hurts touchdown passes and a run for a , the Giants as well as Commanders had a slugfest that finished in a 20-20 connection after a Jahan Dotson goal from Taylor Heinicke connected it up with 1:45 left in regulation. The NFC East entered the weekend with all four groups in playoff Ravens had to sweat out a 10-9 gain the Broncos after shedding Lamar Jackson early to a knee injury. Baltimore had an intense expectation heading down the stretch with one of the organization's simplest routines, yet after losing to the Jaguars last week, hardly defeating the Broncos and also Jackson's injury, things all of a sudden look Rodgers once more had the Bears with a 28-19 win over Justin Fields in Chicago, Kenny Pickett drew out a 19-16 success versus the Falcons, and the Vikings held back the Jets' late rally with a 27-22 additionally noted the return of Deshaun Watson, as he made his Browns launching complying with an 11-game suspension for violating the NFL's personal conduct policy after greater than 2 dozen females implicated him of sex-related misbehavior and assault. The Browns defeated Watson's previous team, the Texans, 27-14 behind 2 defensive touchdowns and a 76-yard punt return touchdown by Donovan Peoples-Jones. The Athletic's Tim Graham, Jeff Howe and Kalyn Kahler provide their ideas on Sunday's NFL  Bengals are currently 3-0 versus Patrick Mahomes and also the Chiefs considering that last season https://www.gamedayhoustontexans.com/collections/daniel-jackson-jersey. Where do you have Cincinnati in the AFC power structure now?Graham: Joe Burrow is damn excellent when he's not a scribble mark on the lawn, like Beetle Bailey after Sarge works him over. Cincy has won four straight, and also Burrow has been sacked only 5 times over that stretch. Kansas City got him when, as well as that makes a gigantic distinction for a group that left to a 2-3 start. Also in the Bengals' four-game streak, Samaje Perine has been a whammer on the ground. He pounded out 21 brings for 106 yards, never ever choosing greater than 10. That aided Burrow pick apart the Chiefs and also gives us something to consider in the AFC North with Lamar Jackson potentially sidelined. The Bills are the AFC's front runner at the minute, won three road games in 12 days and very own victories over all 3 first-place teams in the conference. I still have the Chiefs 2nd due to the fact that they need to phone simple wins over the Broncos as well as Texans and also their overall 2022 body of job, yet if the Bengals can maintain Burrow upright, after that they'll shake off all those early-season : The Bengals are worthy of to be right there in the top tier with the Expenses and also Chiefs.  Bengals fans are justifiably rolling their eyes at the addition of the Chiefs in that top group, as Cincinnati has currently beaten them 3 times in 11 months, yet Kansas City is still a powerhouse. While winning eight of their last 10, the Bengals have actually ripped off the Jets, Dolphins, Titans and Chiefs-- all presently in the playoff field. The Bengals are dipping into an extremely high level, and they overcame the loss of Ja'Marr Chase for 4 weeks. They additionally survived some of those early-season issues, which is a sign of a team that can readjust on the fly as they're trained well and led by quality gamers. If there was any uncertainty over the Bengals' status as Super Dish challengers, they removed it with an excellent win against the : The Bengals just won the hardest video game that was left on their schedule. They finish the season with the Expenses and also the Ravens, yet this Kansas City game was certainly the large one as well as currently they have actually shown they can defeat the Chiefs 3 times in a year. I assume the Bengals, Chiefs and also Expenses are the top tier of the AFC, as well as they've come a lengthy means from when we were all requiring Zac Taylor to quit play-calling after Week 2. It hasn't all been smooth this season, however they have actually continued via major injuries and protection problems. Yet as Tim explained, the offensive line has actually boosted as the period has actually proceeded and also Burrow has benefitted from taking less win for the 49ers covering a very good Dolphins group. But just how much self-confidence do you have in their Super Bowl hopes with Jimmy Garoppolo done for the year?Graham: In this room last week, I expressed uncertainties about the 49ers WITH Garoppolo. Take away Trent Sherfield's shock 75-yard goal on the first play, San Francisco manhandled an outstanding challenger. The Dolphins' defense, nonetheless, has actually been thoughtful away from South Florida, balancing 38. 3 factors allowed their six road video games. As a result, I'm attracted to be persistent, double down and also declare San Francisco really did not prove much Sunday. Yet when a team can chug via a division leader with seventh-round rookie Brock Purdy, it's time to confess I may have misread the circumstance. Purdy had not been particularly amazing. The last quarterback prepared in April tossed an interception and was sacked three times. Yet the Niners were so remarkable as a group Sunday that the sport's essential position was a compatible component. Nick Bosa and also their elite defense made an MVP candidate look pedestrian at ideal and also at times bewildered. Possibly a video game supervisor can pull this off, with the Seahawks simply a game back in the NFC West. It'll be a fascinating final month out : Absolutely an excellent win, as the 49ers demonstrated how their riches of ability can get over the selection of injuries that have actually limited them at times this season. Yet for a group with Super Bowl ambitions, the Garoppolo injury is the one that can break them. Undoubtedly, their protection is significant, and also they've obtained the training as well as offensive tools to scheme up methods to move the round with novice quarterback Brock Purdy. However I don't understand if that'll be enough to make it through the NFC with the Eagles, Cowboys and also Vikings playing so well. It's a devastating blow for a group in a championship : First, I just need to vent. I am so dismayed that we are being denied of what could have been the best back-up story of perpetuity. We will never obtain to see Jimmy's vengeance Super Bowl win after being discarded by the Niners this offseason. Ugh. The newbie Mr. Irrelevant Brock Purdy played well Sunday, however as long as I enjoy an excellent backup story, I don't see a Super Dish as the finale of the second great back-up tale this season in San Francisco. I believe there's typically a back-up QB impact that resembles the acting trainer effect, where the group rallies hard around the surprise man who needs to be available in the video game, however it does not last. Additionally, Miami's protection has enabled basically every person to rack up repetitively. This is an extremely QB-friendly infraction, so I am not mosting likely to claim all hope is lost, yet I don't anticipate the Niners to go as far are your impressions of Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson's return? Cleveland won conveniently, however the infraction had no : Watson was a nonfactor against his old group. The Browns' best offense originated from their protection as well as unique teams, and also Watson carried out like a person that hadn't played an NFL video game in 700 days. No matter. Watson's ineffectiveness is moot. Cleveland runs out the playoff photo. Watson's return gives the Browns a chance to get him 6 games of experience in prep work for 2023 but additionally, more significantly-- as well as sadly-- a longer runway to normalize his presence as a quarterback. By following September, the disputes concerning his qualification will certainly be old information. Protest groups will certainly be skimpy comparative. Fans will aspire to go on, and critics will be broken from being overlooked. An additional NFL firestorm or 3 will certainly have emerged by after that. That dynamic is what the Browns and the league are depending on, and that's basically what will occur, as revolting as the entire condition : It would certainly have been unrealistic to believe Watson would start solid after a two-year lack. Quarterbacks who miss training camp or a few weeks during the period always look corroded, and Watson's situation was much much more extreme than that. The Texans, who are riding the Bryce Young Express on their method to the No. 1 choice, are rated 23rd in factors allowed as well as 29th in lawns permitted this season, so this wasn't a tough test. It'll be far more tough in the coming weeks against the Bengals as well as Ravens, and I would certainly be shocked if Watson's progression is anything greater than a sluggish : Myles Garrett summed it up well after the video game: "We don't anticipate him to be Superman available. He hasn't played in 2 years. " Watson looked equally like a quarterback that had not seen regular-season action in 700 days, tossing an interception in the end area on a window that closed well before his receiver might get to the ball. This was expected and makes it all the extra mind-boggling that Browns proprietor Jim Haslam gave Watson a completely assured, five-year, $230 million agreement. Watson may return to create by the end of the period, or it could take till following period, yet the reality of the issue is we don't understand. And also not just did the Browns dedicate a wild quantity of money to a quarterback who ran out the video game at the time they traded for as well as authorized him, but they likewise did not know for how long he would certainly be out. They either really did not care or didn't prepare for that he may not promptly be elite, as well as if you're not anticipating a gamer to be Superman available, how do you warrant that contract?How high ought to the concern level be for Baltimore after Sunday's slim win and Lamar Jackson's injury?Graham: John Harbaugh's success this weekend wasn't virtually as joyful as his bro's. The Ravens remain in problem. Anticipating furiously in the house to nip a laughingstock challenger like the Broncos was bothersome enough, however an additional Jackson injury would jam this quondam Super Dish competitor right into a precarious spot. The Ravens must be strong down the homestretch at Steelers, at Browns, Falcons, Steelers, at Bengals). Neither the Browns neither the Steelers will test for the AFC North crown, yet if the Ravens jumble toward 2nd location behind the Bengals, they could be knocked out of the wild-card picture as well as lose out on the tournament : There should be a high degree of worry. Jackson and also the Ravens infraction have actually been streaked for the previous number of months, so a knee injury of any type of size won't help the cause. Tyler Huntley played well last period in alleviation of Jackson, however this is a better Ravens group that wishes to compete for an AFC championship. A restricted Jackson would severely limit their capacity, especially within a loaded : Thinking about the strength of the AFC, this is a large problem for Baltimore. The timing of this injury has shades of last season, when Jackson missed out on the last four video games with an ankle injury. Baltimore shed all four of those games. Backup Tyler Huntley played well enough to win last season's Week 10 game at Chicago, and 3 of those four straight losses were one-score games two were one-point margins). The reality, nevertheless, is that in a congested as well as talented AFC, the Ravens require Jackson to get to the postseason. I'm also fretted about how this injury will impact Jackson's agreement settlements with Baltimore, which have actually not been NFC East entered into the weekend break with all 4 groups in playoff areas. Does the Giants-Commanders tie make you feel far better or even worse concerning those two as playoff contenders?Graham: With suspicions bordering each team's success, I wanted to enjoy one different from the various other on Sunday. So we get a tie. Their game was a Rorschach test; whatever you wish to see or believe concerning the Giants or Commanders, you experienced lots to support your views, positive and negative. Neither group remains in the Eagles' course-- Hurts offered the Titans a swirly-- or likely to exceed the Cowboys for second area. However teams needn't be dominant to make the playoffs. Regardless of the Giants-Commanders' anticlimactic connection, there's way too much murkiness in the other NFC divisions to see any sexier wild-card competitor : First, this was an unbelievably excellent performance by the Eagles. They have actually been battling it for regarding a month, as well as they simply took down among the toughest as well as best-coached teams in the league. That was a statement. As for the Giants and also Commanders, they aren't challengers in the sense that they're keyed for a playoff run. Yet among them-- otherwise both-- will be in the playoffs, as well as they're going to be a pain in the ass to defeat. They're well-coached. They play hard. They have defenses that make everything rather difficult. So while I believe the Eagles, 49ers also though Jimmy Garoppolo's season-ending injury is a concern), Cowboys and also Vikings are in a course over the remainder of the meeting, none of them would be excited to attract the Giants or Commanders in the wild-card : Say thanks to God we obtain the follow up to this in just two weeks. 2 teams can not link each other two times in the very same season, right? At the very least we won't need to wait lengthy to learn. The Eagles once more demonstrated that they are in a course of their own at the top of the NFC with a big win over the Titans, who I believed could provide a run for their money. There's a likelihood the Giants and the Commanders will make the playoffs, yet I intend to toss out one certifiably crazy suggestion for an NFC wild-card team: What concerning the Lions? With a leading sway Jacksonville, they improved to 5-7. They won 3 video games in a row until that brutally close Thanksgiving loss to the Expenses; first-round pick Jameson Williams is back though he didn't do much of anything Sunday); and also after a hard