5 biggest surprises from NFL Week 13 games

Gardner Minshew greets his adoring public after the Eagles topped the Jets on Sunday (Photo: Getty)

#4 - On Gardner

If the NFL world is truly searching for a successor to the aging Ryan Fitzpatrick...a backup quarterback with a personality, signature facial hair, and a knack for keeping his team somewhat relevant while the franchise quarterback heals up, then they might need look no further than Gardner Minshew.

The mustachioed thrower made his triumphant return on Sunday in East Rutherford, outdueling Zach Wilson and the New York Jets in a 33-18 victory for the Philadelphia Eagles.

Ousted by Jacksonville in favor of Trevor Lawrence, Minshew was sent north over the offseason for late NFL draft picks.

He filled in for the injured Jalen Hurts on Sunday and his postgame celebration with his father went viral afterwards.

Minshew has a propensity for coming up big as a backup, and some of his more impressive NFL exploits in Duval County were marred by the Jaguars' ineptitude elsewhere.

It's surprising, then, that no quarterback-hungry team inquired for his services over the offseason, but with a relatively weak draft class coming in, that could flip the script on his career.

In fact...could a quarterback controversy potentially linger for the Eagles over the coming year? Time will tell, as there are more important matters to attend to: the Eagles (6-7) will now go through a late bye as they sit a half-game out of the NFC's final playoff spot.

If these are indeed Ben Roethlisberger's final games, Sunday made it clear he won't leave without a fight (Photo: Getty)

#5 - Big Ben's Last Chime?

One of the NFL's rare playoff byes switched hands again as the Baltimore Ravens fell to the Pittsburgh Steelers by a 20-19 final score. Headlines from the game centered around John Harbaugh's ill-fated decision to go for two and the win but the Steelers had some pleasant surprises emerge from their crucial divisional triumph over their biggest rival.

For one thing, they enjoyed the return of T.J. Watt, a quick returner from the reserve/COVID-19 list.

Watt continued his uncanny assault on NFL history, putting up 3.5 sacks of Lamar Jackson to tally 16 for the season through a mere 10 games. He's seven away from breaking Michael Strahan's disputed record.

If the Steelers wind up pulling off this playoff push (they're a half-game out with five to play), Watt may be in legitimate consideration for the NFL's MVP.

Pittsburgh likewise witnessed the services of a two-score game from Ben Roethlisberger, whose retirement rumors have hit a fever pitch. While his potential final NFL season has drawn out the gridiron comics, Sunday's showing made it clear that he's not going to leave without a fight.