NFL results & pick of week 13: Panthers upset Rams as Bears top NFC

Almost every team is giving us trust issues this season. The latest was veteran Matthew Stafford and the Rams ending a six-game winning streak with an upset loss in Carolina.

MVP candidate Stafford threw an NFL record 28th straight touchdown pass without an interception to start the game.

He had just two picks all season and recorded 317 passes without a mistake before throwing two interceptions in the first half – including a pick six. Stafford added a late fumble just for good measure.

From 12 points a game and 13 turnovers in the last six matches, the Rams defence allowed 31 points and generated zero takeaways, and went from 110 rushing yards allowed in those games to 164 in Carolina.

So if you cannot trust the Rams, who can you trust?

The surprising Chicago Bears now lead the way in the NFC, and with five wins in a row and nine in 10 they are the only ones showing real consistency right now.

Beating the Eagles in Philadelphia on Black Friday was a real statement that they are the real deal. So how have they done it?

Caleb Williams has amassed a team record of five fourth-quarter comebacks this season – at just 24 the 2024 first-round draft pick has been excellent in what is often a tricky second season in the NFL.

The defence has improved recently, allowing 20 points a game over the last four, but the standout is the turnovers they generate – a league-leading 26 – while only giving away nine.

That plus-17 turnover difference is eight better than the rest, and come play-off time that turnover battle is absolutely huge. Throw in the league’s second-best rushing attack and you really do have a successful post-season formula.