NFL Week 13 Takeaways: Upsets, MVP Talk, and a Surprising Surge in Carolina
Week 13 came in like a whirlwind-and fittingly, it landed right in the heart of the Thanksgiving holiday. From Thursday through Sunday, the NFL served up a feast of chaos, with underdogs refusing to play their part and instead flipping the script across the league.
Four games on Thanksgiving and Black Friday? Four outright upsets.
And that was just the appetizer.
By Sunday, the madness kept rolling. The Panthers pulled off a stunner at home over the Rams, and the Jets edged out the Falcons with a walk-off field goal. It was the kind of week that leaves us with more questions than answers-and a few conclusions we’re ready to draw.
Let’s dig into the biggest storylines from Sunday’s slate and separate the real from the overreactions.
Matthew Stafford’s MVP Hopes Are Dead?
Verdict: Overreaction
Yes, Stafford had a rough one. His MVP campaign took a hit in Carolina, no doubt.
The Rams quarterback entered the week as the betting favorite for the award, riding a historic streak of 28 touchdown passes without an interception. That streak ended early with a first-quarter pick, and things only unraveled from there.
Stafford finished with three turnovers-two interceptions and a fumble-and the Panthers made him pay. His second pick was returned 48 yards to the house by Mike Jackson, and a late-game strip sack sealed the upset for Carolina.
But let’s not bury Stafford’s MVP chances just yet. The Rams are still sitting at 9-3, firmly in the NFC’s top-tier mix.
And with games coming up against the Lions and Seahawks, Stafford has plenty of runway to rebuild his case. MVP races are about momentum as much as stats, and one bad week doesn’t erase everything he’s done so far.
If he rebounds, he’s right back in the thick of it.
The Texans Are the Team to Beat in the AFC South
Verdict: Reality
They may not be leading the division at this moment, but make no mistake-the Houston Texans are the team nobody wants to face in the AFC South.
On Sunday, they walked into Lucas Oil Stadium and handed the Colts a 20-16 loss, knocking Indy off the division’s top perch. That win, combined with Jacksonville’s victory over Tennessee, shuffled the standings, but it also sent a message: Houston is for real.
The Texans are now just one game back in the loss column behind both the Jaguars and Colts. And after splitting the season series with Jacksonville, they currently hold the edge in division record (4-1 vs. Jacksonville’s 2-1), which could be a crucial tiebreaker down the line.
The cherry on top? They’ve got the Colts again in Week 18, this time at home.
And with C.J. Stroud back in the lineup and a defense that’s playing as well as any unit in football, the Texans are built to make a real run.
This isn’t a fluke. It’s a team finding its identity-and asserting itself in a crowded division.
Shedeur Sanders Has Played Himself Out of the Starting Job
Verdict: Overreaction
Let’s pump the brakes here. Sanders didn’t light the world on fire in his second career start, but he also didn’t fall flat.
Facing a ferocious 49ers defense, the rookie went 16-of-25 for 149 yards and a touchdown. Not a headline-grabbing stat line, but he showed flashes-most notably on a 34-yard touchdown strike to Harold Fannin Jr. in the second quarter.
The Browns’ offense only managed eight points, and yes, that’s a concern. But this is still a developmental process, and Sanders deserves more than a two-game audition. Kevin Stefanski seems to agree, already announcing that Sanders will start again next week against Tennessee.
This is the time to evaluate what you’ve got in a young quarterback-not to pull the plug prematurely. There’s still plenty of tape left to roll, and Sanders has earned a longer look.
The Panthers Are the Biggest Surprise of the 2025 Season
Verdict: Reality
In a year full of plot twists-Chicago leading the NFC, Daniel Jones thriving in Indy-the Carolina Panthers might just be the biggest shock of them all.
After starting the season 1-3, the Panthers have ripped off a 6-3 stretch to climb to 7-6 heading into their Week 14 bye. Their latest statement? A gritty, upset win over the Rams in Week 13 that turned heads across the league.
Now, they’re right in the thick of the NFC South race, just behind the 7-5 Buccaneers-and they’ve still got both head-to-head matchups with Tampa Bay on the schedule (Week 16 in Carolina, Week 18 in Tampa). Add in the fact that they’re only two games back in the loss column for a wild-card spot, and suddenly the Panthers are more than just a feel-good story. They’re a legitimate playoff contender.
Credit head coach Dave Canales for building a culture of belief, and hats off to Bryce Young, who’s starting to look like the quarterback Carolina hoped he’d be. Nobody saw this coming back in September-but here we are.
Final Word
Week 13 didn’t just shake up the standings-it shook up the narrative. Whether it’s Stafford’s MVP campaign, the Texans’ rise, or the Panthers’ improbable playoff push, the league is wide open down the stretch. And with just a few weeks left in the regular season, the pressure is only going to intensify.
Buckle up. December football is here-and based on what we saw this week, it’s going to be a wild ride.