The final third of an NFL season usually makes for built-in excitement. Desperate teams are chasing playoff spots. Legit Super Bowl contenders are jockeying for seeding. And seemingly every major game holds extra weight as the weather turns frigid. But after a wild Thanksgiving weekend bonanza of football, this season remains unpredictable.
Five separate three-win teams came out on top in Week 12. Meanwhile, five teams who started the week in this winter’s upcoming playoffs — including two division leaders — fell in respective heartbreakers, hitting both ends of the spectrum. But amidst all the rubble in the aftermath, a few squads stand tall through adversity.
