NFL Week 12 Recap
As we inch closer to the playoffs we seen rivals duke it out, teams squeaking out wins that they shouldn’t have and shaking up the playoff picture in the process. We saw the best game of the season (Bills vs. Eagles) and the worst of the season (Bears vs. Vikings) all in one week!
Teams on Bye
None
Thanksgiving
Green Bay Packers 29 – Detroit Lions 22
The Lions stumble and fall on Thanksgiving as the youth movement in Green Bay rallies behind Jordan Love! The slow starts are gone for Jordan Love, starting the game with a rapid scoring drive set the tone for the first Thanksgiving matchup. Love made the Lions defence look bad, carving them up and throwing for three touchdowns, the Packers receivers looked free all too often.
The Lions had their issues on Thanksgiving, Goff turned the ball over three times via fumbles, and it’s tough to win games when you keep coughing up the ball to the other team. Add the turnovers to a failed and questionable fake punt, and two failed 4th down conversions, the Lions had a tough game. Even though the score looks close, the Lions never really had a chance here.
Seeding Update: Lions 3rd Seed – Packers 8th Seed
Dallas Cowboys 45 – Washington Commanders 10
The Cowboys offense is cooking, they have scored 114 points over the last three games and Prescott is slinging the rock with ease. This was evident against the Commanders as the Cowboys used the deep pass often against them and to great success. The defence also put their stamp on this game harassing Howell all game long and then DaRon Bland stepped in front of a pass, picked it and ran it back for the score becoming the first player in NFL history to have five pick-sixes in a season!
The Commanders defence played like a 4-8 team against the Cowboys, they couldn’t stop Prescott and dem boyz as they moved up and down the field with ease. Howell continues to be sacked often, taking four against the Cowboys as the offensive line continues to be a weak point for the Commanders. Jack Del Rio, the Commanders defensive coordinator was fired following this embarrassing performance, the Commanders might have to consider a Head Coach changed after the season as well.
Seeding Update: Cowboys 5th Seed – Commanders 13th Seed
San Francisco 49ers 31 – Seattle Seahawks 13
Geno Smith, nursing his elbow injury on a short week, couldn’t keep the Seahawks close in this matchup. It took until nearly the end of the 1st half before Smith looked like he was healthy enough to play and while he kept more than a few drives alive with his scrambling ability, he couldn’t overcome the 49ers defence.
The 49ers defence sacked Smith six times and intercepted him once, putting up an impressive showing on Thanksgiving. Purdy started off slow against the Seattle defence but then ramped up and the score was 24-3 by half time however the 49ers took it easy in the second half which included a Purdy pick six but they eventually closed out the game and put away the Seahawks.
Seeding Update: 49ers 2nd Seed – Seahawks 7th Seed
Black Friday
Miami Dolphins 34 – New York Jets 13
Tua and the Dolphins left everything on the field (including a chunk of Tua’s skin) in the NFLs first ever Black Friday game. Their stout defence closed down Tim Boyle and the Jets often and while there were many mistakes by Miami, mistakes they need to clean up before the postseason, they still fielded an impressive win against the Jets defence who are a top tier unit.
Tim Boyle launched a Hail Mary which quickly became a Hell Mary as the Dolphins picked it off and returned it 99-yards for a touchdown to end the 1st half. Dressed in all black the Jets looked intimidating and their defence kept the Jets close early in the game but they could not perform miracles. It’s a shame the Jets are wasting this defence, and most fans hope Aaron Rodgers can come back and turn it all around next season.
Seeding Update: Dolphins 4th Seed – Jets 15th Seed
Sunday Early Window
Atlanta Falcons 24 – New Orleans Saints 15
The Falcons are top of the NFC South however the division title is still up in the air. Beating their rival helps them in the chase for the South and sees them leapfrog into the 4th seed in the NFC. Ridder under centre once again, he looked serviceable as the Falcons rode their running backs to victory on Sunday.
The Saints are in trouble, they are making too many game changing mistakes to just ignore them or not consider them an issue. After starting the season slow and their offense suffering, the Saints corrected this issue, they now need to do the same with turnovers and red zone trips (0-5 on Sunday) and the red zone mistakes are what cost them this game.
Seeding Update: Falcons 4th Seed – Saints 10th Seed
Pittsburgh Steelers 16 – Cincinnati Bengals 10
For the first time since Week 2 of the 2020 season, the Steelers gained over 400+ total yards, the curse of Matt Canada has been lifted. The team parted ways with the coordinator, the first time since 1941 that they’ve fired a coach mid-season, and the Steelers offense looked much better for it. They played the middle of the field, gave multiple looks which kept the opposing defence guessing and had a balanced offense. While more points would have been the cherry on top the team as a whole looks better, more energised and fired up to be playing with an offensive playoff that doesn’t limit them and gets their superstars involved early and often!
While Jake Browning looked serviceable under centre, he lacked the big play ability that Burrow brings to the Bengals offense. The Steelers defence kept the pressure on early and often and didn’t let Browning settle into his throws which led to tipped passes and an interception. The blame alone is not Brownings, the Bengals couldn’t get rhythm with their run game which forced them to become one dimensional.
Seeding Update: Steelers 5th Seed – Bengals 11th Seed
Jacksonville Jaguars 24 – Houston Texans 21
Lawrence vs Stroud, a matchup that we will see again and again for some time and it looks to be an amazing rivalry! In a back and forth that kept everyone on edge for the entire game the Jaguars did just enough to secure the win and make a run for the AFC South title.
The comeback ended on a field goal that was just a hair short and doinked off the uprights, the Texans did everything they could to rally back and almost succeeded. The Texans successful season is not a fluke, CJ Stroud and co are the real deal and they still have a chance to make the playoffs this season!
Seeding Update: Jaguars 3rd Seed – Texans 8th Seed
Indianapolis Colts 27 – Tampa Bay Buccaneers 20
The Colts overcome the Buccaneers and stay alive in the AFC playoff picture and the AFC South title race. Their defence kept them alive in this game, shutting down the still one dimensional Buccaneers on route to the win. Their running game is finding its rhythm late in the season which can cause issues for the remaining teams on the schedule. However can Minshew shoulder the pressure and lead them to the playoffs?
Baker shook off an early injury and tried to rally the Buccaneers back against the Colts but once again having next to no running game to support him, Mayfield found it difficult moving the ball against the impressive Colts defence. When he’s forced into this situation, Mayfield makes mistakes and coughed the ball up on a fumble and threw an interception which led to a touchdown. The Buccaneers need a running game!
Seeding Update: Colts 7th Seed – Buccaneers 11th Seed
New York Giants 10 – New England Patriots 7
The quarterback situation in New England is a source of non-stop drama, Jones, Zappe, Jones, Zappe, it’s literally a carousel for the Patriots. Most fans would be disappointed to see their successful franchise collapse but fans are happy they have a shot at a top quarterback prospect in the 2024 draft. Neither Zappe or Jones completed a pass of more than 8 yards in this game and Belichick, if he’s annoyed, he’s hiding it behind that weather stone face!
The Giants defence feasted on both Jones and Zappe this week, generating three interceptions and all 10 points the Giants scored came from turnovers. DeVito may not look flashy or pretty in this game but he did enough to help the Giants get across the line, with more experience DeVito might cause Giants fans to call for him over Daniel Jones.
Seeding Update: Giants 12th Seed – Patriots 16th Seed
Tennessee Titans 17 – Carolina Panthers 10
Levis vs Young, a rookie showdown that left more to be desired. The rough season for Bryce Young continues and hearing the Panthers originally were on the CJ Stroud train isn’t going to help his confidence going forward. Young is struggling in the pocket due to the Panthers awful offensive line and this is affecting his ability to play the position effectively.
Levis wasn’t lighting up the scoreboard either in this contest, he struggled early and often in this contest but eventually with the help of the Titans defence he was able to bring the team across the line and in their first ever meeting, Levis beats Young. (They never played against each other in college).
Seeding Update: Titans 14th Seed – Panthers 16th Seed
Sunday Late Window
Los Angeles Rams 37 – Arizona Cardinals 14
Kyler Murray looked like his old self on the opening drive, but that was the only flash of his old self as the Cardinals didn’t score again until midway into the 4th quarter as the Rams defence stepped up and stopped their offense dead in its tracks. Once James Conner was shut down early by the Rams, the Cardinals went one dimensional and leaned on Murray they couldn’t move the ball successfully.
The Rams blew the doors off the Cardinals defence, both on the ground and through the air, they were unstoppable. With a running game that was so successful, Matt Stafford aired it out and dropped four touchdowns on the Cardinals on Sunday. Putting the boot into their rival and putting the NFC on notice!
Seeding Update: Rams 9th Seed – Cardinals 15th Seed
Denver Broncos 29 – Cleveland Browns 12
DTR started his third game and the rookie found himself in concussion protocol late in the game but by this point the Browns questionable play calling had all but buried them in this game as they refused to lean on the rushing attack that was working so successfully early on. The Browns got in their own way.
The Broncos continue to heat up as the playoffs loom with both sides of the ball showing they have the momentum to make a late playoff push if the cards fall right. While the score shows one thing, the stats don’t jump off the page but they did enough against a normally stingy Browns defence. If the Broncos keep pushing they might just sneak into the AFC Wild Card.
Seeding Update: Browns 6th Seed – Broncos 9th Seed
Kansas City Chiefs 31 – Las Vegas Raiders 17
Chiefs fans might have started the evening sweating as the Raiders jumped out to a 14-0 lead but this didn’t last long as the Chiefs finally found their mojo on offense and powered back to trash the Raiders. The wide receiving corps finally stepped up and helped Mahomes get the win, as both Kelce and Rice had big days.
O’Connell started off hot against the Chiefs and Josh Jacobs looked like his old self but they couldn’t keep the pressure on as the offense ground to a halt, by the 2nd half. While the Raiders have greatly improved under Antonio Pierce this week they stumbled and fell against a division rival as they watched the Broncos surge ahead of them in the standings!
Seeding Update: Chiefs 2nd Seed – Raiders 12th Seed
Philadelphia Eagles 37 – Buffalo Bills 34 (OT)
Under Joe Brady, the Bills offense is back! Josh Allen looked revitalised and almost saw them deliver the Eagles their second loss of the season. Pushing the Eagles defence all day the Bills ended up taking the lead late in regulation and looked like they would knock off the best team in the NFL until Jake Elliott booted a 59-yarder to take it to overtime. Taking the ball first the Bills were looking for the knockout blow but couldn’t get much against the Eagles defence and settled for the field goal, this gave Hurts a chance, and that’s all he needed.
Hurts led the Eagles back after going down 10 points to overtime against the resurgent Bills. And after Elliott sent the game into overtime, the Eagles were not going to lose this game, their defence held the “bend don’t break” mentality well and allowed just a field goal. Hurts authored a game winning drive capped off with a 12-yard touchdown strike to keep the Eagles winning!
Seeding Update: Bills 10th Seed – Eagles 1st Seed
Sunday Night Football
Baltimore Ravens 20 – Los Angeles Chargers 10
The Ravens remain in control of the AFC Playoff picture after their defence shuts down the Chargers. With the score being lower than most expected from the Ravens they needed their defence to step up and they managed to seal the win for Baltimore by generating four takeaways and completely smothering the Chargers offense.
Herbert and co are not the players of old, the explosiveness of the Chargers offense is gone, replaced by mistakes, penalties and inability to keep the ball secure. When you turn the ball over as frequently as the Chargers do and did, they never had a chance to hang with the number 1 seed in the AFC.
Seeding Update: Ravens 1st Seed – Chargers 13th Seed
Monday Night Football
Chicago Bears 12 – Minnesota Vikings 10
Monday Night Football snooze fest saw the Bears and the Vikings turned the ball over to each other repeatedly in a game that should have been flexed out of MNF. The Bears defence did put a stop to a red hot Dobbs by forcing him to throw four interceptions but the awful Bears offense couldn’t capitalise on these turnovers. Screen after screen was called as the Bears struggled to move the ball and score against the Vikings, finally eeking out the win to the relief of all in attendance, that the game was finally over.
Dobbs finally played like a backup, having an awful performance against the Bears with four interceptions, less than 200 yards passing and next to no rushing yards. The Vikings couldn’t handle the heat brought by the Bears as they failed to effectively move the ball the entire game. Let’s hope we don’t have to witness this kind of contest again for the remainder of the season!
Seeding Update: Bears 13th Seed – Vikings 7th Seed