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Week 12 in the NFL began with two blowout wins on Thanksgiving. On Sunday, the Falcons followed suit by routing the Raiders in a 37-point win. The Giants got win No. 4 on the season to move into first in the NFC East, the Titans made a statement in the AFC South and the Patriots kept their dim playoff hopes alive with a last-second field goal. Elsewhere, the Browns escaped an upset scare, and the Vikings pulled off a game-winning drive to just get by the Panthers.
All that and more in Week 12‘s biggest takeaways from NFL Nation.
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Standout performer: Patriots K Nick Folk, 2-for-2 FGs, 50-yard game winner
It’s a fine line in football, and Cam Newton was walking it in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s win over the Cardinals. His late-game interception could have been the backbreaker that essentially ended the Patriots’ slim playoff hopes. But when the team got a second life after a missed field goal, Newton willed the offense into field goal range with a 14-yard run on third-and-13. That determination was critical, as was a 15-yard penalty on Cardinals linebacker Isaiah Simmons at the end of the play. Had the Cardinals won, the question might have been asked if it was time for the Patriots to turn things over to Jarrett Stidham. But Newton’s resolve was critical to the final outcome, as the Patriots (5-6) still cling to long-shot postseason hopes. — Mike Reiss
Next game: at Chargers (4:25 p.m. ET, Sunday)
The Cardinals saw their playoff hopes take a hit. But they also saw more of the blueprint to stop quarterback Kyler Murray, who ran for 31 yards in the loss. His inability to make plays with his feet had a clear impact on the rest of the Cardinals’ offense. If the Cardinals want to find success moving forward and possibly make the playoffs, the rest of the offense needs to find a way to make plays when Murray isn’t able to. — Josh Weinfuss
Next game: vs. Rams (4:05 p.m. ET, Sunday)
Standout performer: Titans RB Derrick Henry, 178 rushing yards, 3 TDs
The Titans now hold sole possession of the AFC South lead, as they turn their attention to a showdown with the Browns at home next week. Once again, the Titans rode Derrick Henry to a big first-half lead, and Henry finished with 178 rushing yards and three touchdowns. — Turron Davenport
Next game: vs. Browns (1 p.m. ET, Sunday)
The Colts went from being in position to get a good grasp on first place in the AFC South and an automatic playoff spot to now having an uphill climb to get into the playoffs. The Colts’ final five games are against Houston (twice), at Las Vegas, at Pittsburgh and versus Jacksonville. The Raiders and Steelers are the only teams with a winning record remaining on Indianapolis’ schedule. — Mike Wells
Next game: at Texans (1 p.m. ET, Sunday)
Standout performer: Falcons DT Jacob Tuioti-Mariner, 5 tackles, 1 sack, 1 forced fumble, 2 fumble recoveries
The Falcons played their best defensive game of the season against the Raiders, forcing five turnovers and producing five sacks. It was the type of defensive effort the Falcons have been looking for over the past few seasons. If they’re able to put together similar performances in the final weeks of the season, Raheem Morris has to like his chances at becoming the permanent head coach. — Harry Lyles Jr.
Next game: vs. Saints (1 p.m. ET, Sunday)
The Raiders are not elite, and they are not a playoff team. Getting embarrassed in Atlanta showed the Raiders were not ready on Sunday. The question: Can they avoid the letdown that sank their season last year — a 34-3 loss at a terrible Jets team that dropped the Raiders’ record to 6-5 en route to a 7-9 finish — again in 2020? Las Vegas’ record after the thumping it took in Atlanta? Yeah, 6-5. And guess where the Raiders play next week? Indeed, at the Jets. “I apologize to the Raider Nation,” Las Vegas coach Jon Gruden said after the game. — Paul Gutierrez
Next game: at Jets (1 p.m. ET, Sunday)
Standout performer: Bills LB A.J. Klein, 13 tackles, 0.5 sacks
Buffalo’s defense is back. Although the Bills still didn’t put together a full, four-quarter effort on both sides of the ball, Sunday’s win over the Chargers represented their best defensive performance of the season, despite allowing 367 (mostly garbage-time) yards. It’s their fifth consecutive impressive game, holding Los Angeles to 3-of-15 on third down; it’s a positive sign as they enter an important stretch run to close the season. Buffalo’s three fourth-quarter turnovers were brutal, but it remains atop the AFC East for at least one more week. “We’re 8-3,” quarterback Josh Allen said. “That’s what our goal was entering this game, whatever it takes.” — Marcel Louis-Jacques
Next game: at 49ers (8:15 p.m. ET, Monday, Dec. 7)
After just a week of practice (since his serious hamstring injury in Week 4), Chargers running back Austin Ekeler looked great with 14 rushes for 44 yards and 11 catches for 85 yards. But the offense couldn’t capitalize on the play of the defense, which provided three takeaways in the second half. — Shelley Smith
Next game: vs. Patriots (4:25 p.m. ET, Sunday)
Standout performer: Justin Jefferson, 70 receiving yards, 2 TDs
Mike Zimmer’s assessment of the Vikings’ thrilling win was spot on: Minnesota was “very fortunate” to come away with a victory against Carolina. There have been only a few instances this season when the Vikings successfully clawed back from a deficit and closed out an opponent, after blowing chances to do so against Tennessee and Seattle, which are two playoff-caliber teams. In two of the past three weeks, Minnesota has been able to do just that, albeit against lackluster competition in Chicago and Carolina. But that does not diminish what quarterback Kirk Cousins did on those game-winning drives to help his team seal wins. The two aforementioned wins weren’t pretty, but when it mattered, the Vikings got the job done and kept their playoff hopes alive. — Courtney Cronin
Next game: vs. Jaguars (1 p.m. ET, Sunday)
Quarterback Teddy Bridgewater had a chance to be a hero in his return to Minnesota. He wasn’t good enough. Kicker Joey Slye had a chance to be a hero in the final seconds with a 54-yard field goal. He wasn’t good enough. The defense had several chances to be heroic in the final minutes. It wasn’t good enough. In the end, Sunday’s loss to the Vikings summed up this season, in that the Panthers (4-8) aren’t good enough to be a playoff contender, and this loss made sure they won’t be a factor. “Instead of pointing fingers, I’d rather point the thumb back at me. I’m disappointed in myself and my staff tonight,” coach Matt Rhule said. — David Newton
Next game: vs. Broncos (1 p.m. ET, Sunday, Dec. 13)
Standout performer: Dolphins CB Xavien Howard, 1 INT, 3 pass breakups
No matter the quarterback, the Dolphins’ playoff push will depend on their defense. All season, Miami’s unit has been key to the team’s success, and Sunday’s win was another example that it will be just as important down the stretch. The Dolphins’ defense got two interceptions, making it 17 consecutive games with at least one takeaway, best in the NFL. The Jets are a bad team, but the Dolphins continue to show they have a playoff-caliber defense. They’re just waiting for the offense to catch up. — Cameron Wolfe
Next game: vs. Bengals (1 p.m. ET, Sunday)
Quarterback Sam Darnold returned to the lineup after a two-game absence due to shoulder injury, but he threw two interceptions and failed to get the offense in the end zone — another step backward in his 2020 regression. Clearly, the Darnold-Adam Gase marriage has failed, and they won’t be together much longer. Darnold could be traded in the offseason, and Gase’s days are numbered. — Rich Cimini
Next game: vs. Raiders (1 p.m. ET, Sunday)
Standout performer: Giants RB Wayne Gallman, 94 rushing yards, 1 TD
The Giants snuck out of Cincinnati with a win and a share of first place in the NFC East. Technically, they’re in first place because they swept Washington. But Sunday’s win didn’t come without a price. Quarterback Daniel Jones left the game in the third quarter with a hamstring injury and was replaced by Colt McCoy. Jones will have an MRI on Monday to determine the extent of the injury. Coach Joe Judge said he was “optimistic” about Jones being back next week based on what he knows about him as a competitor. Jones said he wasn’t discouraged and was taking it day by day. He conceded it was “tough to say” at this point if this was a long-term injury. The Giants (4-7) better hope not. Their defense needed to close out this game by forcing a pair of turnovers. Up next, four teams (Seattle, Arizona, Cleveland and Baltimore) with winning records. The Giants haven’t beaten a team with a winning record this season. — Jordan Raanan
Next game: at Seahawks (4:05 p.m. ET, Sunday)
The Bengals need more from their offense if they want to have a chance at winning another game this season. That means an uptick in production from their quarterbacks not named Joe Burrow. On Sunday, Brandon Allen made his fourth career start and couldn’t find a rhythm in the middle of the game. He was 17-of-29 passing for 136 yards, one touchdown, one interception and a lost fumble that stifled any hopes of a miraculous comeback. When Burrow was on the field this season, the 2020 top overall pick was able to move the offense effectively. While Allen looked good at times, he wasn’t able to do enough to help the Bengals steal a win against the Giants. For the moment, Allen is the best option on the roster. Cincinnati has to hope that more reps with the first-team offense for Allen this week will be enough to boost an offense that will be without Burrow indefinitely. — Ben Baby
Next game: at Dolphins (1 p.m. ET, Sunday)
Standout performer: Browns WR Jarvis Landry, 143 receiving yards, 1 TD
Though it wasn’t pretty, the victory clinched Cleveland’s first non-losing season since 2007; the Browns had been tied for the second-longest streak of consecutive losing seasons in NFL history. More importantly, the win edged the 8-3 Browns one step closer to finally snapping the longest playoff drought in the league (18 years). Minus multiple key starters, Cleveland’s defense didn’t make many plays Sunday. The Browns’ defense did, however, make the final one. Safety Andrew Sendejo batted down Jacksonville’s passing attempt at a game-tying two-point conversion, and Cleveland escaped Sunday with a victory over the one-win Jaguars. — Jake Trotter
Next game: at Titans (1 p.m. ET, Sunday)
Mike Glennon gives the Jaguars the best chance to win, and he should be the team’s starting quarterback the rest of the season. Glennon completed 20 of 35 passes for 235 yards and two touchdowns, but most importantly, he drove the Jaguars down the field late and had them in position to tie the game and potentially force overtime. It was the best the offense has looked in more than a month. While losing out and going 1-15 would be the best thing for the franchise’s future because it would guarantee the Jaguars at worst the No. 2 pick and a shot at quarterbacks Trevor Lawrence (Clemson) and Justin Fields (Ohio State), that’s not the way coach Doug Marrone or any of the players are thinking. Go with Glennon over Gardner Minshew II and Jake Luton. — Mike DiRocco
Next game: at Vikings (1 p.m. ET, Sunday)
Standout performer: Texans WR Will Fuller V, 171 receiving yards, 2 TDs
Deshaun Watson has been playing well for most of the season, but he had perhaps his best game in Thursday’s victory. He has now thrown 15 passing touchdowns and no interceptions over his past six games. According to ESPN Stats and Information, he is just the fifth different quarterback to post at least that many passing touchdowns without a pick over a six-game span within a single season all-time. In just the Texans’ second game of the season on national TV, Watson gave a great pitch for any future candidate of Houston’s head-coach opening. — Sarah Barshop
Next game: vs. Colts (1 p.m. ET, Sunday)
The Lions have fired general manager Bob Quinn and head coach Matt Patricia, ending a disastrous head coaching tenure and sending the franchise into a complete reset. Owner Sheila Ford Hamp said Saturday the losses to Carolina and Houston really made things much more clear that change needed to happen. Patricia ends his tenure at 13-29-1, having never won more than two consecutive games in his two-plus seasons in Detroit. It was, frankly, a move that needed to be made. Darrell Bevell will be the interim head coach for the rest of the season as the Lions try to figure out who they want to lead their front office and their football team for 2021 and beyond. — Michael Rothstein
Next game: at Bears (1 p.m. ET, Sunday)
Standout performer: Washington RB Antonio Gibson, 115 rushing yards, 3 TDs
Washington running back Antonio Gibson is becoming a dangerous player. His patience and vision have improved every week, and the nation saw what the rookie third-round pick can do on Thursday. Thanks to Gibson, Washington is developing an identity on offense. He has the ability to make big plays, but he has also been consistently getting positive yards on first down of late — those four-yard gains that might be nondescript but coaches love. Washington has many holes, but it has improved enough to factor into the NFC East race over the final five games, thanks to players such as Gibson. It has found a back it can enjoy for a while. — John Keim
Next game: at Steelers (1 p.m. ET, Sunday)
At 3-8, the Cowboys aren’t out of the NFC East race — but their 41-16 defeat to Washington was crushing in many respects. There was the tragic loss of strength and conditioning coordinator Markus Paul, the calf injury suffered by Zack Martin, curious coaching decisions, ineffective offense and a porous run defense. “All of these things that we’re experiencing right now, it’s only going to make us stronger,” linebacker Jaylon Smith said. “We don’t have any quitters. We have fighters in this organization from top to bottom.” — Todd Archer
Next game: at Ravens (5 p.m. ET, Monday, Dec. 7)