NFL Week 13 aftershocks: Never trust the Steelers

Statement wins in Week 13 by the 49ers (over the Eagles) and Dolphins (over the Commanders) shook up the playoff picture. Meanwhile, surprise upsets (Packers over Chiefs, Cardinals over Steelers) stunned bettors. Here's a look at four aftershocks following the week's action.

Steelers revert to old ways on offense

The Steelers (7-5) looked to have turned a corner on offense following the firing of OC Matt Canada and subsequent 421-yard outburst in a 16-10 win over the Bengals in Week 12. Yet in a loss to the terrible Cardinals (3-10) on Sunday, Pittsburgh's offensive woes once again reared their ugly head.

While two severe weather delays didn't help the Steelers' cause, they certainly weren't the root of their issues. Pittsburgh mustered just 10 points, scoring just one touchdown — a garbage-time score — on three trips to the red zone. Center Mason Cole struggled mightily in the poor conditions, having two shotgun snaps hit the turf and getting bullied backward on a fourth-down stop at Arizona's 1-yard line. 

Quarterback Kenny Pickett left the game in the second quarter with an ankle injury and will miss "a couple weeks," per ESPN.com. Inconsistent Mitch Trubisky will start in his place on "Thursday Night Football" against the wretched Patriots (2-10), who are a six-point underdog as of Monday, per oddschecker.

If recent form holds, you'd be wise to bet the 'dog.

The Packers are a playoff contender

A thrilling 27-19 victory over defending Super Bowl champ Kansas City has launched the Packers (6-6) into the postseason discussion.

Green Bay's defense did just enough against Patrick Mahomes in his first visit to Lambeau Field, recording three sacks and an interception. Jordan Love outdueled the Chiefs star quarterback, completing 25-of-36 passes for 267 yards and three touchdown passes. The masterful performance marks the 25-year-old's fourth game this season with three passing touchdowns and no interceptions.

After two impressive wins over elite teams in the Lions and Chiefs, the Packers have a much easier schedule down the stretch. Green Bay doesn't play a team with a winning record over its final five games, with the 6-6 Vikings boasting the best record of any opponent.  

Joe Flacco has earned another start

The Browns quarterback carousel kept spinning Sunday, with Flacco getting the starting nod after sitting at home on the couch several weeks prior. 

The veteran QB played well in relief of injured rookie Dorian Thompson-Robinson, completing 23-of-44 passes for 254 yards and two touchdowns. His one costly mistake, however, came on an interception thrown in the fourth quarter with the Rams up by only one point.

Considering how well Flacco played on such short notice, the Browns would be wise to give him another starting opportunity.

Sam Howell is not a franchise quarterback

Despite ranking second in the NFL in passing yards (3,466) and showing flashes of brilliance, Howell may not be Washington's long-term answer at quarterback. 

Though Howell found success on the ground, rushing for two touchdowns against the Dolphins, he continued to struggle passing. The 23-year-old threw his third pick-six in as many games, raising his league-leading total to 14 interceptions. He also was sacked three times, bringing his season total to 58, which leads the NFL by far, per StatMuse.

Howell has routinely held onto the football far too long and zeroed in on incoming pass-rushers, leading to the sack total. His struggles with downfield accuracy have led to an abundance of turnovers.

The Commanders (4-9) hold the No. 4 overall pick and appear to be approaching a complete rebuild. It remains to be seen if Howell will be a part of their future plans. Yardbarker contributor Daniel Kelly, a former NFL scout, has this stern message for the Commanders:

"The good plays [Howell] makes are negated by the times he folds under pressure or makes horrible, impulsive passes. My advice for new Washington owner Josh Harris — who is expected to hire a new head coach in the offseason — is to find another starter in the QB-rich 2024 NFL Draft. You can't build around Howell."