What We Learned From Week 13’s Thursday Football (Playoff Impact)
Thursday delivered three games with major playoff consequences in both conferences. Each matchup showed which teams are rising at the right time – and which ones might be slipping.
Green Bay 31, Detroit 24
Takeaway:
Green Bay proved they’re no longer just a fringe NFC Wild Card contender – they’re becoming a real threat. Winning on the road against a top-seed Lions team boosts their resume and confidence.
Playoff Impact:
- Packers: Huge jump in the NFC Wild Card race; they now control their own path.
- Lions: Still strong in division, but this loss tightens the NFC seeding race and hurts their chance at a top-2 seed.
Leaders:
- Passing: Jared Goff – 256
- Rushing: Josh Jacobs – 83
- Receiving: Jameson Williams – 144
Dallas 31, Kansas City 28
Takeaway:
Dallas outlasted Patrick Mahomes in a tight finish, showing they can win high-pressure games. Kansas City’s offense remains inconsistent late in games.
Playoff Impact:
- Cowboys: Stay firmly in the NFC playoff picture and keep pressure on Philadelphia for the division.
- Chiefs: Still AFC contenders, but another close loss drops them into a tight AFC seeding battle. They risk slipping out of a top-4 seed.
Leaders:
- Passing: Dak Prescott – 320
- Rushing: Javonte Williams – 59
- Receiving: CeeDee Lamb – 112
Cincinnati 32, Baltimore 14
Takeaway:
Cincinnati delivered the most impressive performance of the night. Joe Burrow looked fully locked in, and the Bengals showed playoff-level dominance.
Playoff Impact:
- Bengals: Major boost in the AFC Wild Card race; this win could be a tiebreaker decider later.
- Ravens: Costly loss. It keeps the AFC North tight and hurts their shot at home-field advantage.
Leaders:
- Passing: Joe Burrow – 261
- Rushing: Chase Brown – 78
- Receiving: Ja’Marr Chase – 110
Final Thought
Thursday reshaped both conferences:
- The Packers and Bengals made major playoff statements.
- The Cowboys gained ground in the NFC race.
- The Lions, Chiefs, and Ravens all took losses that could hurt future tiebreakers and playoff seeding.
If this pace continues, the playoff picture will stay tight all the way to Week 18.