Another loaded slate of NFL games starts strong with an interesting Thursday night game between two NFC challengers, the Saints and the Cowboys. But the season is also at the point where some teams will find themselves out of the playoff chase if they can't stack victories.
Here are the key questions for Week 13:
Are the Broncos making a playoff push?
Just three weeks ago, the Broncos were reeling. Head coach Vance Joseph was thought to be in danger of losing his gig, and yet another rebuild seemed likely. But Denver (5-6) has ripped off close victories in the past two weeks against two legitimate contenders in the AFC in the Chargers and the Steelers. Now the Broncos are the 10th seed in the conference and in position to compete for a wild-card berth.
With six losses, the margin of error is slim, and a victory against a stumbling Bengals squad, with unproven quarterback Jeff Driskel filling in for the injured Andy Dalton, is almost a necessity. After that, the schedule is favorable, with matchups against the 49ers (Week 14) and Raiders (Week 16) – both of whom are 2-9. A Week 17 clash against the Chargers could be a must-win. But the Cincinnati game will be a good barometer to see whether Denver is for real.
How will Melvin Gordon’s absence affect Philip Rivers?
After pounding the Cardinals, the Chargers (8-3) face a massive test against the Steelers (7-3-1) in a game that could have wide-ranging playoff seeding ramifications. Los Angeles still trails the Chiefs by one game in the AFC West, so a victory is paramount in the chase for the division crown.
But the Chargers will be without star running back Melvin Gordon, who is nursing an MCL injury in his right knee. Not only is Gordon a touchdown machine with 13 total, he’s a pivotal checkdown option for Rivers, ranking second on the team in receptions (44), third in yards (453) and tied for third in touchdowns (four). But Gordon’s backup – Austin Ekeler – is just as proficient in the passing game with 32 catches for 354 yards and three scores. He’s not nearly as explosive as Gordon, but the Chargers could do far worse.
Is Lamar Jackson running away with the Ravens starting QB job?
Joe Flacco still hasn’t been cleared to return from a hip injury. Over the last five games he started, the Ravens lost four of them. But since the rookie Jackson took over, Baltimore has won two in a row and injected life into the offense. In his first start, Jackson did it with his legs, rushing 26 times for 119 yards. In his second, there was far more balance (178 yards passing, 71 rushing). If the Ravens beat the Falcons and Jackson plays well, it will be hard for coach John Harbaugh to turn his back on his young quarterback, who not only has played the Ravens (6-5) back into contention but also has them sitting in the sixth playoff seed in the AFC.
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