NFL Week 12 Takeaways: Eagles’ walk-off win, Steelers find their spark
NFL Week 12 Takeaways: Eagles’ walk-off win, Steelers find their spark
In this week's NFL Takeaways, the Eagles add another comeback win to their record while the Steelers offense finally delivers. Did this loss dash the Bills' hopes of making the playoffs?
The Denver Broncos are currently dominating the league. As everyone expected, the Broncos defeated the Cleveland Browns with a 29-12 victory, showcasing a strong emphasis on the running game.
Denver, currently 6-5, is part of a crowded AFC playoff race and will be an intriguing team to follow. Their upcoming schedule is relatively easy, as only two opponents (Texans in Week 13 and Lions in Week 15) have winning records. The NFL made amends on Sunday for its lackluster Thanksgiving offering. Jordan Love’s impressive late-season improvement deserved recognition, but debating the 2024 election would have been a more productive use of the day.
Week 12 was restored thanks to electrifying Sunday matchups and ensuring Scott Hanson returned to the studio safely after the fire alarm. Only 18 weeks a year do we get to experience RedZone, with its rousing commentary on every insignificant touchdown during the late-window games, even when only one game is worth watching.
However, Sunday’s featured matchups surprised everyone by becoming two of the most memorable games of the season. The Houston Texans and Jacksonville Jaguars battled it out for the top spot in the AFC South division. The game was so close that it came down to the final second of regulation. The game between the Philadelphia Eagles and Buffalo Bills went into overtime, as neither team could secure a win within the regulation time.
The quarterbacks stole the show and were the standout performers in each game. Trevor Lawrence had one of his national champion, No. 1 overall pick performances against the Texans, but the Jaguars still had to fend off a C.J. Stroud comeback to hold on to their place atop the division. Picture this: a cold, rainy, daylight-savings-time afternoon in Philly, and Josh Allen is out there racking up stats like it’s nobody’s business. The Eagles offense was a mess in the first half, but they got their act together and scored on five of their possessions in the second half and overtime. They needed every point to improve to 10-1 on the season.
Eagles tally another rally win as Hurts’ MVP campaign continues
The Eagles, who beat the AFC-leading Kansas City Chiefs last Monday, had the final say on Sunday with an overtime win that showed us all we need to know about both teams.
The Bills couldn’t seal the deal even though Josh Allen played his heart out, and Philly managed to win again - this time with a baffling 59-yard field goal in cascading rain and a rushing touchdown from Jalen Hurts in overtime for the victory.
The Bills are all over the place with a 6-6 record, losing three out of their last four games. They last won two weeks in a row since they started 3-1. They must win every game if they want a shot at the playoffs in a packed AFC. What’s the silver lining? The team is finally getting a break during Week 13, giving them a chance to recharge and prepare for the final stretch of their schedule. And now we’ve got two weeks to ponder: Which Bills team will show up against the Chiefs in Week 14?
C. J. Stroud needs help in form of a rushing attack
Quarterbacks Trevor Lawrence and C.J. Stroud each threw for over 300 yards, Lawrence posting one touchdown and one interception and Stroud throwing two scores and running another. And what were the stakes? A win would have put Houston in prime position for the top spot in the division.
Both teams have young franchise QBs and talented weapons, making them division rivals with a promising future.
Stroud has made clutch completions in important game moments to keep the Texans close or secure wins. The rookie’s ability to stay composed and deliver precise plays late in games has impressed most football fans this season.
Conversely, the Texans must support Stroud when it matters most.
Stroud came close to engineering his third game-winning drive of the season, but he had to do it without help from the ground attack. Houston’s leading rusher in Sunday’s loss to the Jaguars was Stroud, who had 47 yards. The Texans were ranked 23rd in rushing yards per game going into Week 12.
The Texans’ progress in the AFC hinges on running backs Dameon Pierce and Devin Singletary making more significant contributions.
Has Mac Jones played his final game as Patriots starter?
Throughout this disastrous season in New England, I’ve pondered this question multiple times, most recently after the Patriots’ six-point game against Indianapolis in Germany. After that terrible 10-7 loss to the New York Giants on Sunday, Jones got benched for the fourth time this year. We know now that he is not the answer.
The game on Sunday between the two lowest-scoring teams was a total letdown. Jones left early again after a terrible interception, and backup Bailey Zappe didn’t do any better when he came in.
The best part of this game was that it didn’t go into overtime — not that the Patriots didn’t try. Chad Ryland almost tied the game with a 35-yard field goal, but it missed the uprights. The Patriots, currently ranked second-last in the league, are in line to pick second overall in the 2024 draft, loaded with talented quarterbacks. They’re going to choose one, but the question is: will Bill Belichick be the one to decide? Brace yourself for another week full of juicy rumors and wild guesses about the legendary coach’s future on the New England sideline.
Are the Denver Broncos a legit contender?
The team that began the season with a winless record of 0-3 and allowed 70 points in a single game in September against the Dolphins has now achieved an undefeated status in November and currently boasts the longest active winning streak in the league, with five consecutive victories.
With a record of 6-5, Denver finds itself amid the AFC teams battling for a spot in the playoffs, making them a compelling team to follow. Their strength of schedule ahead is relatively easy, as only two opponents (Texans in Week 13 and Lions in Week 15) have winning records.
Signs of life emerge from the Pittsburgh Steelers’ offense after Matt Canada’s firing
Despite the score, Pittsburgh’s offense appears to have come alive on Sunday against Cincinnati, as their 16-10 victory over the Bengals showcased impressive offensive stats rarely seen in The Steel City.
After firing offensive coordinator Matt Canada, the Steelers entered Sunday’s divisional matchup, hoping to end their streak of 58 games with an offense that fell short of 400 yards. Out of the total games, forty-four were played during Canada’s regime.
With a total offense of 421 yards, their highest since Week 16 of 2018, the game showcased Kenny Pickett’s impressive 268 passing yards after four games with less than 160 yards. They averaged 6.2 yards per play in the win.
In addition, this was the first time they had outgained their opponent all season, highlighting the strength of Pittsburgh’s defense and their impressive 7-4 record.
Reid makes coaching history as Chiefs rally to victory over Raiders
With Sunday’s victory over the Las Vegas Raiders, Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid etched his name in the history books. The win maintained Kansas City’s spot atop the AFC and marked Reid’s 125th regular season victory as the Chiefs’ coach.
Reid’s impressive coaching career spans two franchises, with him being the all-time winningest coach for the Philadelphia Eagles and the Chiefs.
The Chiefs’ performance could have been better, as they fell behind 14-0 in the second quarter. However, the win allowed Kansas City to break their streak of three consecutive games without scoring in the second half. Kansas City’s offense came alive in the second half, scoring 17 points, while their defense dominated, shutting out Las Vegas in the fourth quarter.
In Sunday’s 31-17 victory against the Las Vegas Raiders, rookie second-rounder Rashee Rice emerged as the Chiefs’ leading receiver with eight catches, 107 receiving yards, and a touchdown.
Rice was the team’s second-best receiver in various pass-catching categories leading up to Sunday’s game. However, his numbers had been modest in the past few weeks, with ten receptions for 115 yards and one touchdown in his last three outings.
Rice’s impressive performance against the Raiders made it clear to everyone that he is a force to be reckoned with, and quarterback Patrick Mahomes now has complete faith in him. If Travis Kelce has a subdued performance, anticipate Rice to make pivotal plays that keep the offense moving forward.
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