NFL Week 13 top plays: Cowboys crush Colts on SNF, 54-19
Week 13 of the NFL season continued Sunday with the Dallas Cowboys dominating the Indianapolis Colts, 54-19, at home to improve to 9-3 on the season. On the other side, the Colts fell to 4-8-1 with the loss.
Earlier, Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers rallied to beat the Chicago Bears and eliminate them from playoff contention, while the Philadelphia Eagles routed the Tennessee Titans in a revenge game.
Elsewhere, the San Francisco 49ers' swarming defense got the best of the Miami Dolphins' high-powered offense, and the Cincinnati Bengals took down the Kansas City Chiefs in an AFC Championship Game rematch.
Here are the top plays from Sunday's slate!
Dallas Cowboys 54, Indianapolis Colts 19
Hometown heroes
Dak Prescott hit CeeDee Lamb for a 20-yard touchdown to put the Cowboys ahead, 7-3, in the first quarter.
Responding well
Colts wideout Ashton Dulin reeled in a 14-yard score from Matt Ryan to put the road team back on top, 10-7.
Keeping it close
Tony Pollard punched in a two-yard score to put Dallas ahead, 10-7, early in the second quarter, but things went downhill from there. Prescott was picked off near midfield, resulting in a field goal for the Colts.
Pulling ahead
The Cowboys were able to bounce back before the break. With seconds to spare in the first half, Prescott connected with Michael Gallup to make it an eight-point game, 21-13, headed into halftime.
Highlight reel TD!
The Colts pulled within two points, 21-19, when Ryan hit Alec Pierce for a jaw-dropping 15-yard score.
Sealing the deal
Dallas was the start of the show in the second half. First, Gallup added his second score of the night early in the fourth quarter. Then, Cowboys safety Malik Hooker, who was drafted by the Colts back in 2017, came up with a monster 38-yard fumble recovery for a touchdown against his former team.
Ryan threw an interception — his second of the game — on the Colts' ensuing drive. The Cowboys turned that newfound possession into six points, courtesy of Pollard.
Tough break
Ryan threw his third interception midway through the fourth quarter, and the Cowboys scored once again.
Shortly after, the Cowboys forced their fifth turnover of the night and scored once again to go up 54-19.
Seattle Seahawks 27, Los Angeles Rams 23
Starting strong
Rams backup quarterback John Wolford and Co. took their opening possession into the end zone. Running back Cam Akers capped a 10-play drive with a goal-line score.
Quick answer
After Los Angeles started the game in style, Seattle did the same. QB Geno Smith hit Tyler Lockett for a 36-yard touchdown, evening up the score.
Seahawks go up
Los Angeles made a field goal on the ensuing drive. After both teams then proceeded to punt, Seattle put another touchdown on the board. This time, Smith hit tight end Noah Fant for a 4-yard score.
Game-winning drive
In a half of field goals and turnovers, the Rams were the first team to score a touchdown, but Smith and the Seahawks answered in a big way. They went 75 yards on 10 plays on a drive that ended with Smith hitting wide receiver DK Metcalf for an 8-yard score. The touchdown put Seattle up for good.
San Francisco 49ers 33, Miami Dolphins 17
Solid start
On the first play from scrimmage, Tua Tagovailoa hit wide receiver Trent Sherfield, who took off for a 75-yard touchdown.
QB1 down
Jimmy Garoppolo was carted off with an apparent ankle injury in the first quarter. Brock Purdy took his place and Garoppolo was ruled out, and he didn't waste any time giving San Francisco the lead.
Purdy hit fullback Kyle Juszczyk for a 3-yard touchdown, the first of his NFL career. The 49ers led 10-7.
Then, with seconds remaining in the first half, Purdy hit running back Christian McCaffrey for a 3-yard touchdown. San Francisco took a 17-10 lead.
Tua struggling
San Francisco made life difficult for Tagovailoa, who was intercepted by Jimmie Ward early in the third quarter and was then picked off by Deommodore Lenoir on Miami's next possession.
The 49ers turned both turnovers into field goals to take a 23-10 lead.
Some life
Miami got a much-needed big play from its offense, as Tagovailoa hit wideout Tyreek Hill for a 45-yard touchdown. The score cut San Francisco's lead to six.
It was too little, too late, however. San Francisco later got a field goal and then forced two more Miami turnovers, including one that was returned for a touchdown by linebacker Dre Greenlaw, to secure the victory.
Cincinnati Bengals 27, Kansas City Chiefs 24
Strong start
The Bengals began the game with a convincing 11-play drive that ended with Joe Burrow running in a 4-yard touchdown.
Then, on third-and-8, Burrow hit wide receiver Tee Higgins, who then muscled his way for a 12-yard touchdown. Cincinnati led 14-3.
KC TD
The Chiefs got their first touchdown when Patrick Mahomes hit running back Jerick McKinnon for a goal-line score.
Impressive TD drive
Mahomes connected with wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling on a 42-yard completion. Then, Mahomes got the ball out to tight end Travis Kelce, who picked up 18 yards on the reception.
Three plays later, Isiah Pacheco ran in an 8-yard touchdown, giving the Chiefs their first lead of the game.
Air Mahomes
Kansas City chose to go for it on fourth-and-goal from the 3-yard line. Mahomes also chose to jump over the Cincinnati defense for a touchdown.
Bengals retake lead
Cincinnati got a field goal and then forced a fumble. They capitalized on the latter, as Burrow hit running back Chris Evans for a 9-yard touchdown to wrap up a 10-play possession.
Later, Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker missed a 55-yard field goal, and K.C. never touched the ball again.
Las Vegas Raiders 27, Los Angeles Chargers 20
Pick-6!
The Chargers turned it over on downs in the red zone but found a way to get points on the board shortly after coming up short. Cornerback Bryce Callahan intercepted Derek Carr and ran it back for a touchdown.
Raiders arrive
After going scoreless and turning the ball over twice in the first quarter, Josh Jacobs got the Raiders on the board in the second with a 20-yard touchdown run. They trailed 10-7.
What a catch!
Los Angeles fumbled in its own territory, and Las Vegas took advantage of the turnover on the next play.
Carr threw the ball up to the end zone, and wide receiver Davante Adams came down with it for the touchdown. The Raiders took their first lead of the game, 17-13.
They do it again
Carr and Adams hooked up for another touchdown. This one was a 45-yard flea flicker that gave the Raiders a 24-13 lead.
Incredible play
Down 14 points and faced with a fourth-and-12, Justin Herbert pulled off a 35-yard touchdown pass rolling to his right to Keenan Allen, who hauled in a contested grab. That said, the Chargers never evened up the score.
Green Bay Packers 28, Chicago Bears 19
Try to catch him
Justin Fields can run, and the second-year QB ran through the entire Packers defense to give his team a 10-0 lead.
Bears capitalize
Green Bay turned it over on downs, and Chicago made them pay. Fields hooked up with receiver Equanimeous St. Brown on a 56-yard completion before David Montgomery ran in a 7-yard score.
However, the Bears missed the extra point. They led 16-3.
Budding star
Green Bay chose to go for it on fourth-and-4 despite being in field goal range, and it paid off. Rodgers hit wide receiver Christian Watson for a 14-yard touchdown, trimming Chicago's lead before halftime.
We got a good one
Chicago closed out the third quarter with a field goal. Then Green Bay found the end zone.
Shortly after a 38-yard pass interference penalty, AJ Dillon ran in a 21-yard touchdown, pulling the Packers to within two.
Running away with the game
Green Bay kicked a field goal on its next possession and put the game away on its ensuing possession when Watson took a jet-sweep 46 yards for a touchdown.
Then, the Packers converted a two-point conversion to take a two-score lead, and things ended there.
Philadelphia Eagles 35, Tennessee Titans 10
Eagles start strong
Jalen Hurts hit DeVonta Smith for a 34-yard touchdown on the opening possession of the game.
What Brown could have done for you
Wide receiver A.J. Brown burned his former team on a 41-yard touchdown, giving the Eagles a 14-7 lead.
Revenge is a dish best served cold
Brown had himself a day, as he scored his second touchdown against his former team early in the second half. This one was a 29-yard score that gave the Eagles a 28-10 lead. Philly ran away with the win in the end.
Washington Commanders 20, New York Giants 20
Commanders up early
The Commanders turned a fumble recovery into a field goal, then found the end zone on their next possession. On third down, Taylor Heinicke evaded a sack and got the ball to wide receiver Terry McLaurin, who eluded a tackle and ran into the end zone. Just like that, Washington led 10-0.
Giants back in it
New York put a field goal on the board, then scored its first touchdown on its next possession. It was a drive that started with Daniel Jones hitting Darius Slayton on a 55-yard pass and ended with Saquon Barkley running in a 13-yard score. What that, the game was tied at 10 points a piece.
Giants take advantage
The Giants forced a fumble on the opening possession of the second half and made the most out of it, as Jones hit wide receiver Isaiah Hodgins for a 6-yard touchdown. They took a 20-13 lead.
TIE GAME
Down seven with 2:47 remaining in the fourth quarter, Washington converted a fourth-and-4 from its own 27-yard line, as Heinicke kept the play alive and found wide receiver Curtis Samuel for a 20-yard completion.
Three plays later, Heinicke hit wide receiver Jahan Dotson, who evaded multiple tackles and ran into the end zone to tie the game at 20. The game went to overtime and ended in a tie.
Detroit Lions 40, Jacksonville Jaguars 14
Ground and pound
Jacksonville fumbled on the second play of the game, and Detroit made the Jags pay. Running back Jamaal Williams punched in a goal-line score, giving the Lions a 7-0 lead.
Lions are roaring
Wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown reeled in a touchdown pass from Jared Goff, giving Detroit a two-score lead.
Lions add to lead
Detroit had its way with Jacksonville's defense. Late in the fourth quarter, Goff hit St. Brown for their second touchdown connection of the game en route to securing the road win.
Baltimore Ravens 10, Denver Broncos 9
Injury alert
Lamar Jackson left the game in the first quarter with a knee injury and never returned. Tyler Huntley took his place. Looking to manufacture offense with Jackson out, Baltimore ran a trick play that ended up in the opposition's hands. Denver led 9-3.
Huntley wins it!
In the end, Huntley helped orchestrate a 16-play, game-winning drive that ended with him running in a 2-yard touchdown for the Ravens.
Pittsburgh Steelers 19, Atlanta Falcons 16
First NFL TD
Steelers rookie quarterback Kenny Pickett hit tight end Connor Heyward for his first NFL touchdown. It was a 17-yard score that gave Pittsburgh a 13-3 lead.
Back in it
Atlanta got its first touchdown of the game in the closing moments of the third quarter when Marcus Mariota hit tight end MyCole Pruitt for a 7-yard score. Ultimately, though, the Falcons weren't able to mount a comeback.
Minnesota Vikings 27, New York Jets 22
Vikings TD
Dalvin Cook ran in a 4-yard score to give the Vikings an early 10-3 lead.
Vikings extend lead
Kirk Cousins hit wide receiver Jalen Reagor on a 38-yard deep ball. Four plays later, Alexander Mattison ran in a 14-yard score, giving Minnesota a 17-3 lead.
Big score
New York gnawed its way back into the game, but Minnesota got some breathing room when Cousins hit wide receiver Justin Jefferson for a tremendous 10-yard touchdown.
Vikings seal victory
New York responded with a touchdown and had a chance to take the lead late. However, White was intercepted by safety Camryn Bynum in the red zone to end the game.
Cleveland Browns 27, Houston Texans 14
A pick is a pick
On the first play of the game, Texans QB Kyle Allen appeared to hook up with tight end Teagan Quitoriano, but the latter bobbled the ball after hitting the ground and safety John Johnson III corralled it.
Welcome back, Mr. Watson
Deshaun Watson's former team intercepted him in the end zone, as safety Jalen Pitre ended Cleveland's drive.
Special teams score
Down 5-0 and looking for a spark, Donovan Peoples-Jones ran back a Houston punt 76 yards for a touchdown, giving Cleveland its first lead of the game.
Disaster
With Houston backed up at its own 1-yard line, Allen fumbled a quarterback sneak. Cornerback Denzel Ward picked up the loose ball and ran it in for a touchdown.
Who needs offense?
The Browns scored their third touchdown of the day from defense or special teams when linebacker Tony Fields II intercepted Allen and ran it back 16 yards to the house. Cleveland took a 24-8 lead and won 27-14.