Week 12 Takeaways for the 2025 NFL Season
As always in the NFL, expect the unexpected. Who really had the Giants taking Detroit to OT? If I told you that Niners QB Brock Purdy threw 3 first-half INTs, you wouldn’t believe me if I told you that they on comfortably. But they did. Some things continued to reaffirm themselves. Seahawks WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba continues to look like the best in the league, and he set the Seattle single-season receiving yards record. Elsewhere, the Rams still look like a Super Bowl team. In week 13, we’ll have 3 games on Thursday and one on Friday. Before we get there though, let’s take a look at my week 12 takeaways for the 2025 NFL season!
TNF: Texans’ Defense Smothers Bills’ Offense in Critical Victory
Buffalo’s offense had a tough task against the Texans’ #1 defense , especially with TE Dalton Kincaid out injured. However, the Bills made WR Keon Coleman a healthy scratch for the second straight week after he missed a team meeting, had nothing but RB James Cook (17/116/1) and slot receiver Khalil Shakir (8/110). I hate these stupid “disciplinary” moves that hurt the whole team. With such a thin WR room, the Bills needed Coleman and have nobody but themselves to blame. Houston barely had any offense either, with QB Davis Mills (16/30, 153 yards, 2 TDs) having an awful start. At least he didn’t turn the ball over though.
The Texans ran the ball decently with rookie Woody Marks (16/74), but anyone can run on Buffalo without injured DT Ed Oliver in the middle of the defense. Joe Mixon probably won’t play this year, so Houston needs to work on their rushing attack. What they do have in H-Town is defense. I already said that they’re #1, but they backed up their ranking in primetime. Despite their poor offensive start, they took a fairly early lead thanks to their stop unit. S Calen Bullock picked off a Josh Allen pass to keep the advantage in the second quarter. Houston has now intercepted 12 passes and only allowed teams to throw for 10 TDs.
Since they couldn’t score on offense, Buffalo used the return game effectively. RB Ray Davis ran a kick back 97 yards to regain the lead, but Houston took it right back with their one good drive of the day. Special teams were a blessing and a curse for Buffalo. After Cook ran for a 45-yard TD on the Bills’ opening drive, Matt Prater missed the PAT. That would come into play later. Houston’s 20-16 halftime lead held through most of the third quarter. All we saw during that frame was punts and injuries. Even referee Adrian Hill got carted off with a noncontact leg injury (we hope he’s alright). Umpire Roy Ellison subbed for the rest of the game.
From halftime onward, we witnessed a defensive masterclass by the Texans. Buffalo has a good offensive line, but they were no match for Houston’s front four. Houston earned 8 sacks, with 2.5 from a relentless Will Anderson and 2 more from Danielle Hunter. Allen (25/35, 262 yards, 2 INTs; 5/20 rushing) has never been sacked more in his career. The game briefly got interesting when Buffalo converted a 4th-and-27 on a nifty hook-and-latter play, but more pressure forced a 4th-down misfire that gave Bullock his 2nd INT of the day. The defense gave up just 3 points in the final 2 quarters and willed their way to a 23-19 win.
Normally, I’d bemoan the kicking issue that made Buffalo need a TD to begin with. Had Prater made his PAT, the Bills could’ve tied the game with a field goal. However, focusing on that would take away from what the Texans’ defense did, which would be wrong. They completely befuddled Allen and left him constantly frustrated. At 6-5 and nearing the return of QB CJ Stroud, Houston is completely back in the playoff picture, and they have their defense to thank. Buffalo fell to 11-12 on the road since 2023, and the road may be their playoff fate. It’s striking just how fickle this team is from week to week, and answers remain scant.
THREE Overtime Games Fill the Schedule with Thrills
It’s not so often that you get three OT games in one week. They all came with plenty of twists and turns! The most surprising game to reach OT was the Giants-Lions matchup. Frankly, the shock was that Detroit trailed most of the way and didn’t wipe the floor with a 2-8 opponent. Detroit’s only real offensive blunder was an Amon-Ra St Brown (9/149/1) drop that became a Jared Goff (28/42, 279 yards, 2 TDs, INT). Defense was the problem, as the teams combined for over 1000 yards of offense. 264 of them came courtesy of Lions RB Jahmyr Gibbs (15/219/2; 11/45/1 receiving), who has become an incredibly dominant weapon.
New York’s offense looked much better with Jameis Winston (18/36, 366 yards, 2 TDs, INT) at QB, and he had a great connection with WR Wan’Dale Robinson (9/156/1). Trick plays played a major role: one had a flip back to Winston, who fired a deep shot to Robinson. The other involved WR Gunner Olszewski throwing to Winston, who had a great run after the catch for a 33-yard score. However, NYG allowed a 59-yard game-tying FG from Jake Bates, Gibbs scored on the first play of OT, and the Giants’ subsequent drive came up short. As a result of another blown lead, Giants’ DC Shane Bowen has been fired by interim HC Mike Kafka.
In a high-profile matchup, the Colts went to Kansas City in a prove-it type of game. For a while, it went great. Indy sacked Patrick Mahomes 4 times, picked him off once, and took a 20-9 lead. The Chiefs mostly shut RB Jonathan Taylor (16/58) down, but QB Daniel Jones (19/31, 188 yards, 2 TDs) was mostly efficient and didn’t turn the ball over. Most importantly, KC’s offense couldn’t get out of its own way. In the 4th quarter though, they figured something out in all phases. Mahomes (29/46, 352 yards, INT) put up over 200 yards in the final frame alone, and WR Rashee Rice heated up while RB Kareem Hunt (30/104/1) earned hard yards.
KC didn’t allow another point while the offense clawed back to score 11 unanswered points. The Chiefs had a chance to win in regulation but couldn’t pull it off, settling for a 20-20 tie. Once the Colts punted in OT, you knew how this would go. Mahomes led the Chiefs down the field and converted key 3rd downs to set up a 27-yard Harrison Butker FG, which he drilled. I’m still not buying the Colts as a Super Bowl team, but they’re still decent. This game meant more to KC, who couldn’t afford to fall to 5-6. Now sitting at 6-5, their playoff hopes are alive and kicking. It’s still going to be tougher than in years past though.
In the Sunday afternoon window, Jacksonville faced Arizona in a theoretically simple matchup. If they didn’t shoot themselves in the foot constantly, that might’ve been the case. QB Trevor Lawrence (18/30, 256 yards, 3 TDs, 3 INTs; 5/29 rushing, FUM) made some big throws, but he also committed 4 turnovers, including a fumble that rookie DT Walter Nolen took for 6. I’d say that the Jaguars have limited weapons right now, but TE Brenton Strange (5/93) returned from injury and looked good, and WRs Jakobi Meyers (4/50/1) and Parker Washington (5/71/1) are stepping up. It was the defense that kept them afloat despite the errors.
While Cardinals QB Jacoby Brissett (33/49, 317 yards, TD) had another good statistical outing, much of his production didn’t lead to points. That’s because the Jaguars sacked him 6 times, destroying any momentum the Cardinals could gain. Arizona also has no running game due to all of their injured backs (55 yards on 20 carries). Leading 24-21 and possessing the ball at the Arizona 28 following a turnover on downs, Jacksonville went 9 yards in 3 plays. On 4th and 1, instead of kicking a field goal to go up 6 and require a TD to beat them, the Jags threw the ball, failed, and handed it back to Brissett. Arizona tied the game 1:35 later.
That was a terrible call by HC Liam Coen, and it could’ve cost his team. Jacksonville rallied for a 52-yard Cam Little FG in OT (that was easy for him). Arizona made it to the Jaguars’ 42 (which would’ve been in Little’s range but not that of Chad Ryland) but failed on their 4th-and-4 attempt. Pressure was again the culprit, as Brissett had to simply fire a prayer, which wasn’t answered. The Jags are in a great spot at 7-4. They’re just 1 game back of the Colts now, who they play twice in the coming weeks. The Cardinals probably aren’t happy, but as with the Giants, their draft slot is improving with this bitter loss.
Cowboys Save Season with Comeback Win Against Hated Eagles
In this classic NFC East matchup, both Dallas and Philly came in flying high. The Eagles won a slugfest over Detroit, while the Cowboys smoked the Raiders. To most though, this was going to be a case of Philadelphia celebrating in Jerry World. For most of the first half, that’s exactly what happened. Nothing at all went right for Dallas. They allowed the Eagles to score 3 TDs on each of their first 3 possessions. WR KaVontae Turpin (1/48) lost a fumble in field goal range, and QB Dak Prescott threw an end-zone INT. The latter was extra painful since the Cowboys only attempted a pass because LT Tyler Guyton false started from the PHI 1.
Eventually, Dallas got on the board before halftime with a George Pickens TD. Pickens (9/146/1) was truly the engine that drove this team offensively. Still, the Cowboys needed to shore up defensively if they were going to get back into the game. I wasn’t sure how that might happen. Eagles QB Jalen Hurts (27/39, 289 yards, TD; 7/33/2 rushing) was cooking, and both AJ Brown (8/110/1) and DeVonta Smith (6/89) participated for once. One answer was DT Quinnen Williams. The newest Cowboy single-handedly fixed the team’s porous run defense, clogging lanes and limiting Saquon Barkley to just 22 yards on 10 carries (7/52 receiving).
The other key aspect was that the Eagles themselves did much of the work for Dallas. Following a Dallas score that cut the deficit to 7, K Jake Elliott missed a 56-yard FG. Prescott (23/36, 354 yards, 2 TDs, INT; rush TD) took advantage of the turnover and tied the game by tumbling into the end zone. On the next drive, Barkley lost a bad fumble. The Cowboys had to punt afterward, but Xavier Gipson muffed it, handing Dallas the ball at the PHI 7. That’s where I think Dallas got greedy. After a 3rd drop by WR CeeDee Lamb (4/75), they went on 4th-and-goal at the 2 and missed rather than taking the lead. The defense had to hold.
And hold they did. Five plays later, the Eagles punted. Dallas calmly went 49 yards in 9 plays and 1:35, and they spent half that time kneeling to burn clock. K Brandon Aubrey, who had a rare miss from 51 yards earlier, easily converted the game-winning kick from 42 yards out. Philly’s offense has been lackluster, but this was still a shocking collapse. They didn’t score a single point in the final 2 quarters. At 8-3, they’re still in a good spot, but they have much to fix. Dallas couldn’t lose this game and stay competitive. A 4-6-1 record would’ve been too much to overcome. Instead, Jones’ team will play some more meaningful games.
Browns’ Defense Suffocates Raiders and Gets Chip Kelly Fired
Usually, we don’t talk about a matchup between two 2-8 teams unless the #1 pick is at stake. Unless the 1-10 Titans surprise someone, that wasn’t the case here. We had a few extraordinary factors though. I’ll lead with the headliner. Not to most people, but to me: that Browns defensive line. Las Vegas has a very poor offensive line, with backups playing at several positions and the starters not being good in the first place. Geno Smith (30/44, 285 yards, TD, FUM) is also not a particularly mobile QB. Regardless, Cleveland FEASTED in one of the most dominant defensive performances of the year, earning a whopping TEN sacks.
When a team sacks a QB 10 times, every contributor gets a shoutout. 2023 defensive player of the year and 2025 DPOY shoo-in Myles Garrett led the way with 3 more sacks, bringing his season total to an absurd (and career-high 18). Michael Strahan’s record would be in serious jeopardy even if the season were still only 16 games long. DT Maliek Collins added 2.5 sacks; Devin Bush, Cameron Thomas, and Isaiah McGuire had 1 each; and Mike Hall Jr, Shelby Harris, and Jerome Baker each chipped in a half sack. Las Vegas lost 24-10 and that felt like an achievement. They had no chance whatsoever against these Browns.
The Raiders were so thoroughly embarrassed that OC Chip Kelly got fired. Like he’s the one who picked the linemen or traded away the team’s best receivers or spent the #6 pick on an RB. He wasn’t a great hire to begin with, as he’s a much better college coach than a pro coach. Still, he’s being scapegoated here for much deeper issues. Cleveland is similarly challenged offensively, but rookie QB Shedeur Sanders got his first ever start after coming in midgame last week. You could see the improvement, but I don’t want us to get carried away like the media is doing. He’s still a major work in progress, but there’s potential here.
Specifically, I liked how he didn’t hold the ball forever and only took 1 sack. It was a 3-yard sack, not one of his typical 10-yard losses. HC Kevin Stefanski did a good job keeping his load light. Case in point: two of the Browns’ 3 TDs came with Sanders off the field while RB Quinshon Judkins (16/47/2) ran the wildcat. Sanders also had a poor INT where he didn’t see an LB breaking, but that’s a rookie mistake that he can learn from. He threw a pretty 52-yard bomb to Isaiah Bond and another nice pass to Jerry Jeudy, who did…things…after the catch. His 66-yard TD pass was fluff: a flat route to speedy RB Dylan Sampson.
Overall, Sanders (11/20, 209 yards, TD, INT) had a decent showing. More importantly, he got the Browns into the win column for just the 3rd time this year. He’s actually the first Cleveland QB to win his first NFL start since 1995. Stefanski was noncommittal after the game, but he confirmed Monday that Sanders would start again in week 13 despite Dillon Gabriel clearing the concussion protocol. I hate this for Gabriel, as he didn’t do anything to lose the job. But it’s the right move. The team needs to see what Sanders can do, as Gabriel is a backup-caliber player. Only Sanders can MAYBE keep Cleveland out of the 2026 QB market.
Stafford Rolls as Rams Blow Out Bucs; Mayfield Hurts Shoulder
This game couldn’t have gone any differently for the two teams involved. Two division leaders battled for positioning in the NFC, but whether due to to injuries or talent, the Buccaneers weren’t anywhere close to the Rams’ level. LA QB Matthew Stafford (25/35, 273 yards, 3 TDs) continued his MVP campaign, tossing 3 first-half TDs. WR Davante Adams (5/62/2) continued his TD binge, while Puka Nacua (7/97) was his usually great self. Conversely, while Tampa should’ve gotten a boost from the return of WR Chris Godwin (2/9), he didn’t have much of an impact with QB Baker Mayfield under constant duress.
Mayfield (9/19, 41 yards, TD, 2 INTs; 4/19 rushing) took a beating, which led to him throwing a pick-six to CB Cobie Durant and misfiring on a host of other passes. As always, he competed his heart out, but at the end of the first half, he threw an INT on a Hail Mary and grabbed his left shoulder in pain. Fortunately, it may be a low-grade sprain, but Mayfield didn’t return during this game. Teddy Bridgewater (8/15, 62 yards) came in and moved the ball decently but didn’t score a single point. He and Mayfield each took two sacks and plenty of hits, and LA’s Jared Verse and Kobie Turner combined for all 4 sacks (2 each).
The only concerning aspect of the Rams’ 34-7 win was another bout of second-half stagnation. Maybe they intentionally throttled down after opening a huge lead and seeing Mayfield exit, but the same problem nearly cost them against Seattle last week. This is something to monitor, but everything else was great. LA took over the 1 seed in the NFC with the Eagles’ loss, and the offense looks like an unstoppable force when it wants to be. New K Harrison Mevis may have even solved the team’s kicking issues. He made his first two FG attempts as a Ram, including one from 52 yards out that he drilled right down the middle.
While LA is cruising toward the postseason and potentially a first-round bye, Tampa Bay is in trouble. They remain in first place in the NFC South because the division is so poor, but Carolina trails them by just a half game despite their loss on Monday Night Football. The bigger issue is Tampa’s own play. As injuries have mounted, their loss have too. The Bucs have now lost 3 in a row, and though they all came against good teams, TB is supposed to be one of them. No team on their remaining schedule has more than 4 wins except Carolina, so maybe they can stack some victories. They’ll suffer an early playoff exit though playing like this.