NFL Week 12 recap

Thursday:

[Bills 28, Lions 25]

I was able to watch much of this game in between food prep. Looked like the Bills were going to squander this game, but they got a gutty Josh Allen drive and some awful clock management from Dan Campbell to help them escape. The Bills have slipped from being AFC favorites but are still a threat. The Lions remain a contender for the last wild card, since that's probably going to a team with 9-ish wins. 

[Cowboys 28, Giants 20]

I saw almost none of this one. Dallas trailed early but took control. The Giants still have an edge for making the playoffs but need to right the ship quickly. Dallas could be one of the most dangerous wild cards ever if they don't catch Philly. 

Sunday:

[Jets 31, Bears 10]

The elite battle of Mike White vs Trevor Siemian went the way of the home team. I'm sure White will put up big numbers on us next week. 

[Bengals 20, Titans 16]

The Bengals got the Titans in Tennessee again, even without their top WR and RB. Derrick Henry was ineffective and the Titans couldn't get touchdowns. Win was big for the Bengals, who tied the Ravens. 

[Commanders 19, Falcons 13]

5th win in 6 games for Washington, although Atlanta did their share of melting down to make it happen. The Commanders finish the week in a playoff spot. Remember when the Vikings were publicly shamed for daring to only barely beat them? 

[Dolphins 30, Texans 15]

A deceptively close score. Miami blew them off the field in the first half and built a 30-0 lead before calling off the dogs. 

[Browns 23, Buccaneers 17 OT]

Hey, what do you know? A team actually came back on Tampa. Looked like Brady was going to have his defense bail him out yet again, but instead the Browns get a huge 4th down TD catch late in regulation, then finish the deal late in OT. This was the last Browns game before the masseuse rapist returns. Tampa of course stays in 1st in the NFL's worst division. 

[Jaguars 28, Ravens 27]

The Ravens are the bizarro Vikings. They get into a close 4th quarter and implode. And it happened again in a game they led 19-10 with under 6 minutes left. Trevor Lawrence gets his 1st real signature win, leading a hell of a finishing drive, complete with a gutsy 2 point play to win. Although Justin Tucker still damn near hit a 67 yard kick at the gun. 

[Panthers 23, Broncos 10]

Hilariously the Panthers are just a game out of first. Hilariously the Broncos continue to be one of the all time disasters. 

[Raiders 40, Seahawks 34 OT]

A major loss for the Seahawks, who blew a late lead then gave up an 86 yard Josh Jacobs TD in OT. Second straight week the Raiders get a walkoff OT TD on the road. 

[Chargers 25, Cardinals 24]

The other team that scored late and went for 2 was the Chargers. In this case that decision pretty much put their season on the line. A loss would have put them 2 back in the wild card chase. 

[Chiefs 26, Rams 10]

A workmanlike effort by the Chiefs, who easily dispatched the Bryce Perkins-led Rams, who now fall to an unthinkable 3-8. The Chiefs have a big one next week against Cincinnati. 

[49ers 13, Saints 0]

The 49ers flexed their defensive muscle by blanking the Saints, who are sinking into oblivion. It's pretty likely that the Vikings and 49ers will be the 2 and 3 seeds. Just a question of the order. 

[Eagles 40, Packers 33]

Okay, two things from this. One, I don't buy for one second that Aaron Rodgers has a bad thumb (he was never on the injury report). Two, I don't believe at all that this could have been the last we see of him. His ego is far too big for him to retire now. As for the game, the Eagles ran all over the Packers, and Philly stays 2 ahead of Dallas and 2 ahead of us counting the tiebreaker. 

Monday: 

[Steelers 24, Colts 17]

The Steelers are showing some improvement with the rookie QB. Too late to save their season, but they can play spoiler, as they did here pretty much ending the Colts playoff hopes.