On Football reviews the most significant events in the NFL each week. Here’s a look at the key moments from Week 12.
The week saw a plethora of missed kicks, ineffective tackling, and critical penalties, leading to some unexpected results across the league. Jayden Daniels came close to steering Washington towards a remarkable comeback against Dallas, trailing by 10 points in the final minutes. However, their hopes were dashed when Austin Seibert’s extra point went awry.
Following a successful field goal and an onside kick recovery, Daniels linked up with Terry McLaurin for an 86-yard touchdown catch-and-run, narrowing the score to just one point with 21 seconds left. Unfortunately for Washington, Seibert again missed the point-after attempt, allowing the Cowboys to return the subsequent onside kick for a touchdown, resulting in a final score of 34-26.
The special teams units for both teams faced major difficulties throughout the game. Seibert not only missed his first extra point but saw Washington allow a 99-yard kickoff return touchdown by KaVontae Turpin earlier in the fourth quarter. Additionally, the Cowboys struggled offensively, missing one field goal, having another blocked, and suffering a blocked punt. “What a wild sequence of special teams mishaps with blocked kicks, returns, and more,” said Commanders’ coach Dan Quinn.
Washington, who had been favored by 10.5 points against the struggling Cowboys, has now suffered three consecutive losses, leaving their record at 7-5. Similarly, the Houston Texans, who were favored by 8 points against the struggling Tennessee Titans, found themselves in a tight matchup that culminated in Ka’imi Fairbairn missing a crucial 28-yard kick that would have tied the game with just under two minutes left to play.
C.J. Stroud faced challenges, throwing two interceptions and being sacked four times. The Texans also incurred 11 penalties, including an illegal shift that nullified a potential game-winning 33-yard touchdown reception by Nico Collins just before the missed kick that left them losing 32-27. The Titans, who had been averaging a mere 17 points per game, unexpectedly put up 32 against a Texans defense that ranked fourth in the league. “Our performance was subpar, with too many negative plays,” said Texans’ coach DeMeco Ryans.
The San Francisco 49ers played without prominent players including quarterback Brock Purdy and star edge rusher Nick Bosa in their game against the Green Bay Packers. Despite this, their lack of discipline was evident in a 38-10 loss, as the team committed nine penalties and displayed poor tackling. The defending NFC champions now hold a record of 5-6, preparing for a tough matchup against the Buffalo Bills. “Missing key players shouldn’t excuse our poor play. We need to improve regardless,” the coach stated, acknowledging the need for accountability.
After suffering their first defeat of the season, the Kansas City Chiefs found victory against Carolina, engaging in a nail-biting finish that saw Patrick Mahomes execute a remarkable final drive for a 30-27 win. Mahomes’ impressive 33-yard run set the stage for Spencer Schrader’s game-winning 31-yard field goal. However, the Chiefs faced their own troubles, committing 10 penalties, including a critical pass interference that allowed the Panthers a shot at a two-point conversion that tied the game. “We need to better our performance. There’s a lot we can analyze from the game footage,” reflected Chiefs safety Bryan Cook.
In a thrilling game, the Vikings came from behind as the Bears recovered an onside kick with 21 seconds to spare. Caleb Williams then connected with D.J. Moore for a 27-yard pass, setting up Cairo Santos for a tying 48-yard field goal. Eventually, Minnesota clinched the game in overtime with a score of 30-27.
Ultimately, while teams like the Chiefs and Vikings managed to navigate through their errors for close wins, the likes of Washington, Houston, and San Francisco struggled to overcome their mistakes, needing to improve as the season progresses to keep their playoff hopes alive.