32 Thoughts Ahead of NFL Week 13

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Brad Gagnon @@Brad_Gagnon Featured Columnist IVNovember 29, 2024

32 Thoughts Ahead of NFL Week 13

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Josh AllenTimothy T Ludwig/Getty Images

Each Friday throughout the 2024 NFL season, we perform a leaguewide check-in with quick-hit takes about all 32 squads based on news, fodder, trends and results.

Coming off Thanksgiving, we’re officially into the home stretch.

Let’s jump into what’s dominating the national football conversation this week.

AFC East

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Jerod MayoMegan Briggs/Getty Images

Buffalo Bills: Josh Allen has overtaken Lamar Jackson in the MVP race, which makes sense based on his heroics against the Chiefs, but it helps that Buffalo has a much better shot at the top seed than the 8-4 Baltimore Ravens. The Bills quarterback could wrap it up with strong showings against San Francisco, the Rams and Detroit over the next three weeks.

Miami Dolphins: They’ve now lost eight consecutive games against teams that are above .500, dating back to last winter. In most of those cases, the Dolphins haven’t even been competitive. Something’s missing, and it might not be an easy fix.

New England Patriots: What’s with this chatter about Jerod Mayo’s job? He’s a 38-year-old rookie head coach with one of the least talented rosters in the NFL. Chill out. Give the guy some time.

New York Jets: Aaron Rodgers has helped take attention away from a defense that was supposed to be so good this year but has just eight takeaways in 11 games and has now surrendered 59 points in back-to-back season-crushing losses. It runs a lot deeper than the grumpy old quarterback in New York.

AFC North

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Jameis WinstonCooper Neill/Getty Images

Baltimore Ravens: They’ve had a good chance to win all 12 of their games. What does it say about them that they’re 8-4? The Ravens have got to make a statement Sunday against streaking Philadelphia.

Cincinnati Bengals: Like Baltimore, they just aren’t finding ways to win winnable games, but it’s a more extreme issue in this case. I wonder if the Bengals will consider big changes this offseason, including anything related to the future of head … Read More