Week 13 is behind us, and the NFL world has already begun to look towards the Thursday Night game between the Detroit Lions and the Dallas Cowboys. Before we predict and preview that matchup, though, we have to take a look back at Week 13 and unpack all the action that took place. With so many hot takes coming out, we need to break down each one and determine if it's a proper reaction or an overreaction.
The Kansas City Chiefs' dynasty is over.
Overreaction
It's no secret that the Kansas City Chiefs are having a down year. They already have six losses, which is twice as many as they had throughout the entirety of the 2024-25 campaign. They also don't have that many impressive wins. They beat a hobbled Baltimore Ravens squad and needed overtime to defeat the Indianapolis Colts at home. Their best win came against the Detroit Lions, who are also in the middle of a slump. Despite everything that we just mentioned, it is absolutely ludicrous to claim that the Chiefs' dynasty is over.
One down year does not mark the end of a dynasty. Maintaining long-term success is difficult in the NFL. During the 1960s, the Packers failed to reach the Championship in back-to-back years, and teams only had to win their conference to earn a spot in the game. The Pittsburgh Steelers missed the playoffs the year after winning Super Bowl XIV. In the midst of their dynastic run during the 80s and 90s, the San Francisco 49ers missed the playoffs twice. A team having a down year in the middle of a massive run of success is not uncommon.
More importantly, the Chiefs have all the key pieces they need to be competitive for years to come. Patrick Mahomes is still in his physical prime. Plus, the coaching staff has top-flight leaders like Andy Reid and Steve Spagnuolo. As long as Reid, Mahomes, and Spagnuolo are in KC, the Chiefs will be able to compete for a championship.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will miss the playoffs.
Proper reaction
After starting the season 5-1, the Bucs have dropped four of their last six games, with their only wins coming against the New Orleans Saints and the Arizona Cardinals. Meanwhile, the Carolina Panthers are 6-3 in their last nine games. As things currently stand, Tampa Bay is 7-5, but Carolina is only a half-game out of first place with a 7-6 record. With two head-to-head matchups left on the schedule, the NFC South can go in either direction.
When we label something as a "proper reaction," that doesn't necessarily mean that it's a guarantee. We are simply saying that it's reasonable to believe that the Buccaneers will miss the playoffs, similarly to how it's unreasonable to think that the Chiefs' dynasty is over. This reaction has more to do with the Panthers than the Buccaneers. All Carolina has to do is beat the Saints and the Buccaneers twice, and the division is all but theirs. Considering Tampa would be well outside the NFC Wild Card picture with a head-to-head loss to the Detroit Lions, it's not an overreaction to believe that the Buccaneers might miss the postseason.
The Detroit Lions' Super Bowl window has closed.
Overreaction
The Lions have been struggling to find consistency ever since Week Five. After opening the season 4-1, they're 3-4 with losses to the Minnesota Vikings, Green Bay Packers, Kansas City Chiefs, and Philadelphia Eagles. In 2023 and 2024, the Lions only had seven total regular-season losses. Now, they're in danger of matching that mark this year. With that being said, it is absurd to claim that the Lions' Super Bowl window has closed.
Despite what some Detroit fans might tell you, the Lions are a good and competitive team. They have wins over the Baltimore Ravens, Chicago Bears, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Also, it's not like this is an NFL bottom-feeder. The Lions are 7-5 and the eighth seed in the NFC. There's a very real shot that they still can make the playoffs.
More importantly, this franchise is set up for long-term success. The following players are signed through the end of the 2027-28 season: Jared Goff, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Aidan Hutchinson, Penei Sewell, Alim McNeill, and Taylor Decker. That group alone is good enough to compete for a Super Bowl. On top of that, the Lions will probably draft more contributors and sign other impactful free agents to improve the roster. They're having a down year compared to last season, but the Lions' Super Bowl window is still open.
The AFC North Champion will have fewer than ten victories.
Proper reaction
As unbelievable as it may seem, there are three teams in contention for the AFC North divisional crown. First, there's the Baltimore Ravens, who are the favorites. After them, we have the Pittsburgh Steelers, who are reeling and have a murky outlook at quarterback after Aaron Rodgers suffered a wrist injury. And, somehow, the Cincinnati Bengals are in the mix with head-to-head wins over Pittsburgh and Baltimore despite a 4-8 record. Regardless, no team in the AFC North has a record above .500, and it feels like we are destined for a 9-8 division winner.
The Bengals will probably not win the division. Not only will they need to go undefeated the rest of the season, but they'll also need a lot of help from other teams. Therefore, the division will come down to the Steelers or the Ravens. Baltimore ends the season with games against the Packers, Patriots, and Steelers, an incredibly tough stretch for any squad. Meanwhile, Pittsburgh has the Lions and two games against the Ravens. And if Aaron Rodgers isn't able to go, then they have no shot at winning this division. It's fair to assume that a 9-8 record will be good enough to win the AFC North.
The Chicago Bears are the best team in the NFC.
Overeeaction
We have to give credit where credit is due. The Bears embarrassed the defending Super Bowl Champions on the road last week. It was easily their best win of the season and Chicago's most impressive victory in maybe the last decade. They're 9-3 and sit at the top of the NFC. However, it doesn't feel like the Chicago Bears are the best team in the conference.
First, we need to recognize that the NFC is absolutely stacked this season. The number-one seeded Bears might be 9-3, but the seventh-seeded San Francisco 49ers also have nine wins. The lowest-ranked playoff team in the NFC has as many wins as the conference leader. Four NFC teams currently have as many victories as the Bears. If the Chicago loses this weekend, they'll fall from the number-one seed in the conference to the seventh spot in the NFC playoff race. Just because the Bears have the best record in the conference, that doesn't necessarily mean that they're the best team. We have seen countless number-one seeds come up short in the playoffs and fail to even reach a Super Bowl, just look at the 2024-25 Detroit Lions or the 2023-24 Baltimore Ravens.
The Bears also have a fatal flaw: their defense. We cannot deny that they're an offensive powerhouse that can run the ball on the best teams in the NFL. The problem is their defense is suspect. Relying so heavily on turnovers can be risky because it depends on your opponents making mistakes, and oftentimes, mistakes become rarer and rarer as the season drags on, especially in the playoffs. The Bears are also a middle-of-the-road team when it comes to defending the pass (17th in passer rating allowed) and a bottom-feeder when defending the run (28th in rushing yards allowed per game). If a team can lean on the rushing attack, that could prove difficult for Chicago's defense to neutralize.
We cannot deny that the Bears are a good team. It feels like a stretch to call them the best team in the NFC, though, when they're a Rams two-minute drive away from being the second-seed in the conference.
