Oh, how quickly things change in the National Football League. At this time last year, the Bears and the Patriots not only had questions about their young quarterbacks, but if they could surround them with the infrastructure — the coaching, the weapons, the offensive line — for success.
Now, Chicago and New England lead their respective conferences. Ben Johnson’s offensive scheme has lifted Caleb Williams and a rushing attack that has the highest success rate in the league. Drake Maye has ascended to stardom with Stefon Diggs recapturing his earlier form. Both offensive lines have been overhauled, the personnel has improved, and the coaching has gone from among the league’s worst to its best.
If you think those turnarounds are quick, just consider the developments of the past few weeks. The Cowboys have won three straight and defeated the past two Super Bowl champions in a span of five days. The Colts, once the toast of the NFL for their resurrection of Daniel Jones, have lost three of four, no longer lead even their own division and are in a dog fight for a playoff berth. The Panthers alternate between looking like one of the NFL’s worst teams and one of its best.
There are 20 teams .500 or better, tied for the most through 13 weeks in NFL history. The teams with the top four shortest preseason odds — the Lions, Chiefs, Ravens and Eagles — all lost in Week 13. The drama is high, the margins are narrow, and the next five weeks should be thrilling.
And we like that a lot.
Five things we liked in Week 13
Cowboys fight fire with fire
Want to know how to beat the Chiefs? Don’t back down. Not once. Don’t worry about the clock — Patrick Mahomes once managed a field goal drive in 13 seconds, remember? — don’t play for field position. The way to beat Patrick Mahomes is to not let him have the ball.
That’s exactly what the Cowboys did in their 31-28 Thanksgiving Day win. Each of Dallas’…
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