Loser: San Francisco 49ers

Sunday's NFL Winners and Losers

This is exactly why I believe Jim Harbaugh made the wrong decision to go with Colin Kaepernick at quarterback over Alex Smith. The 49ers, a Super Bowl contender, are now saddled with a quarterback learning on the job and making rookie (or first-year) quarterback mistakes. Kaepernick led the 49ers to just one touchdown in a 16-13 overtime loss to the Rams and committed a costly fumble late in the fourth quarter that was returned for a touchdown. The 49ers would have won this game if Alex Smith started. Instead, the loss could potentially cost them a first-round bye. (AP Photo/Bill Feig)

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The Best and Wor... Jordan Raanan, XFINITY Sports

It was a weekend like no other. There was a suspected murder-suicide and an unusual moment of silence. And that was just off the field.

On the field there were stunning upsets, benchings and postseason clinchings. There were comebacks, revivals and job-savers. Week 13 had it all. Here are the winners and losers: (AP Photos)

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Winner: Kansas C... The Chiefs did the right thing prior to their emotional game against Carolina one day after linebacker Jovan Belcher fatally shot his girlfriend and then turned the gun on himself. They held a moment of silence for victims of domestic violence and didn't mention Belcher's name. Then they went out and won an emotional game, 27-21, over Carolina. It was a step in the right direction for a troubled organization. (AP Photo/Colin E. Braley)

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Winner: Andrew L... Just when it looked like a lost afternoon for the Colts' rookie, Luck threw two touchdown passes in the final 2:39 to lead Indy to a dramatic 35-33 victory in Detroit. The final TD came with no time remaining on a play where Luck dumped the ball to Donnie Avery, who sprinted ahead with the intention of serving as a lead blocker. That's the sign of a winner. Indy (8-4) is now in prime position for an AFC wild card berth. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

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Loser: Mark Sanc... The Jets' starting quarterback was so bad Sunday against the Cardinals that coach Rex Ryan pulled him late in the third quarter. Greg McIlroy entered (Tim Tebow was inactive with broken ribs) and led the Jets on the game's only touchdown drive. The Jets won 7-6, and gained 152 yards on four drives with Greg McElroy. They gained 164 yards on 10 drives with Sanchez. Let the QB controversy begin. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)

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Winner: Pittsbur... Charlie Batch was headed towards the "loser" label after a shaky first half. But Batch turned it on in the second half and the Steelers did the improbable, winning in Baltimore, 23-20, without Ben Roethlisberger. Batch went 25-for-36 for 276 yards and a touchdown, capped by a last-second game-winning drive. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)

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Loser: San Franc... This is exactly why I believe Jim Harbaugh made the wrong decision to go with Colin Kaepernick at quarterback over Alex Smith. The 49ers, a Super Bowl contender, are now saddled with a quarterback learning on the job and making rookie (or first-year) quarterback mistakes. Kaepernick led the 49ers to just one touchdown in a 16-13 overtime loss to the Rams and committed a costly fumble late in the fourth quarter that was returned for a touchdown. The 49ers would have won this game if Alex Smith started. Instead, the loss could potentially cost them a first-round bye. (AP Photo/Bill Feig)

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Winner (in a Los... The amazement grows with each performance each week, in maybe the most remarkable individual season in NFL history. Peterson, who tore his knee late last year, had 210 yards on 21 carries Sunday in a 23-14 loss to Green Bay. But even though his team came up short, Peterson had some incredible plays, running over and spinning away from Packers' defenders with regularity. It was truly a spectacular performance. (AP Photo/Tom Lynn)

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Winner: New Engl... It's getting boring but give the Patriots credit, they clinched their fourth straight AFC East title and 10th in 12 seasons. They did it Sunday with a hard-fought 23-16 victory over the pesky rival Miami Dolphins. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

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Loser: Andy Reid The Eagles lost their eighth straight game Sunday night, 38-33, in Dallas. The worst part for the Eagles coach is that there are still four games left in the season and, likely, his Eagles career. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

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Winner: Bills' D... Buffalo's defense played its third straight solid game in a 34-18 win over the Jaguars. The Bills allowed just 236 total yards to a Jaguars offense that had played well in recent weeks. They finished with six sacks, a forced fumble and an interception in a strong effort. (AP Photo/Gary Wiepert)

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Loser: Titans' O... There's a reason Jake Locker committed five turnovers (3 INTs, 2 fumbles) on Sunday. Tennessee couldn't stop Whitney Mercilus, J.J. Watt and the rest of Houston's powerful defense from pounding its quarterback. Locker was sacked six times and faced constant pressure in a 24-10 loss to the Texans. It wasn't the best day for the Titans' maulers. (AP Photo/Joe Howell)

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Winner: Russell ... The rookie quarterback was unbelievable late in regulation and overtime. He led the game-winning drive in a 23-17 win in Chicago, just Seattle's second victory in seven road games this season. On the game's final drive on Sunday, Wilson went 3-for-3 passing for 38 yards and also ran four times for 30 yards. It was a clutch road performance against a good Bears' defense. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

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Winner: BenJarvu... 'The Law Firm' rushed for 118 yards and a touchdown on 25 carries in a 20-13 victory in San Diego. It's not an accident that Cincinnati's winning streak has coincided with Green-Ellis' second-half revival. On Sunday, his biggest contribution might have been a huge 3rd-and-1 conversion at the beginning of the Bengals' go-ahead drive. (AP Photo/Tom Uhlman)

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Loser: Tampa Bay... The Bucs had a tough two-game stretch. They needed to win one of two against Atlanta and Denver. Tampa didn't get it done. It was dominated in Denver on Sunday, 31-23, and the game wasn't really as close as the final score indicated. Now, with Seattle (7-5) winning in Chicago, the Bucs' (6-6) playoff hopes are in danger. Grave danger, especially when the Seahawks are likely to own all tiebreakers. (AP Photo/Joe Mahoney)

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Winner: Pat Shur... The Browns coach is making it awfully difficult for the new front office regime to dump him after the season. The Browns won three of their last four and snapped a 12-game road skid on Sunday with a 20-17 victory in Oakland. Shurmur has made it clear that his team is progressing. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

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