The NFL season never fails to deliver jaw-dropping twists, and Week 12 didn’t hold back—it’s the kind of chaos that could flip entire playoff landscapes upside down, leaving fans on the edge of their seats. But here’s where it gets controversial: are we witnessing the dawn of historic feats, or just fleeting moments in a league full of underdogs? Stick around as we dive into the highs, lows, and downright ugly truths from this wild week, exploring how these developments might shape the rest of the campaign. And this is the part most people miss: the subtle shifts in team dynamics that could turn contenders into champions… or disappointments.
Jump to a topic
- Good: JSN and his quest for 2,000 yards
- Bad: Everyone who wanted the Chiefs out of the playoffs
- Ugly: J.J. McCarthy looks nothing like a franchise quarterback
- Good: Texans’ elite defense might save them
- Bad: The Lions won, but the defense can’t feel terrific about the effort
- Ugly: Pittsburgh’s defense isn’t doing nearly enough to win
The National Football League is notorious for its unpredictability, and this season’s AFC is brewing a major upset in the making.
Having dominated seven straight AFC championship matchups and been the odds-on favorite to hoist the Lombardi Trophy just weeks ago, the Kansas City Chiefs were staring down a gloomy fate. On Sunday, it seemed inevitable they’d miss the postseason entirely, trailing 20–9 late in the fourth quarter after a costly turnover in the red zone. Yet, in a heart-pounding turnaround, Kansas City staged a ferocious comeback, securing a 23–20 overtime victory against the Colts at a raucous Arrowhead Stadium, averting their third straight defeat.
Meanwhile, the Buffalo Bills fell to the Houston Texans, led by backup quarterback Davis Mills, on Thursday evening. Despite Buffalo’s near-lock on a playoff spot at 7–4, the squad appears far from Super Bowl caliber (check out this insightful piece: https://www.si.com/nfl/why-bills-dont-look-ready-to-achieve-greatness). The Baltimore Ravens face a similar reality, having strung together five wins in a row but struggling immensely against lesser foes like the Cleveland Browns and New York Jets.
But let’s kick things off with the Seattle Seahawks, whose wide receiver is poised to etch his name into NFL lore.
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No player has ever racked up 2,000 receiving yards in a single season. We’ve come close, though, with legends like Calvin Johnson (who hit 1,961 in 2012) and Cooper Kupp (1,947 in 2021) teasing the milestone.
This year, Jaxon Smith-Njigba might just shatter it. The Seahawks’ standout entered Sunday’s clash with the Titans at 1,146 yards, then hauled in eight receptions for 167 yards and a pair of touchdowns, bumping his season total to 1,313 through 11 contests. At his current pace of 119.3 yards per outing, projecting that over a full 17-game slate lands him at an eye-popping 2,029 yards.
Seattle also enjoys a rare advantage in boosting Smith-Njigba’s record bid. Unlike many elite receivers in history, he’s the primary target, now with the addition of newcomer Rashid Shaheed. If anyone’s set up for a historic run, it’s this guy—imagine the excitement of rewriting the record books!
Trailing by 11 points and watching Kareem Hunt’s fumble seal a fourth-quarter exit, Patrick Mahomes must have echoed the thoughts of millions: the season’s done.
But the Chiefs ignited a relentless surge, forcing four straight three-and-outs on defense while their offense capitalized on three of four drives for 14 unanswered points, culminating in that 23–20 overtime triumph.
For Kansas City, the road ahead is steep. Sitting at 6–5 and officially out of playoff contention, they’ve dropped games to the Jaguars, Chargers, and Broncos. A quick turnaround looms with a Thanksgiving trip to face the Cowboys. Still, matchups against the Raiders and Titans, plus home tilts versus Houston, Denver, and the Chargers, offer hope.
Even with a turnover margin of minus-two, the Chiefs prevailed by limiting Jonathan Taylor to just 58 rushing yards. Offensively, they amassed 494 yards, led by Mahomes’s 352 and Hunt’s 102. If they clinch a 10th straight postseason berth, watch out—they’ll be a formidable threat.
Minnesota’s remaining schedule hinges on developing J.J. McCarthy, but early signs are alarming.
After missing his rookie year due to a torn meniscus, McCarthy debuted this season with a strong Week 1 performance against Chicago, orchestrating a comeback that earned praise. However, his output has since been either injury-riddled or abysmal.
From Week 2 versus the Falcons onward, he’s compiled 786 passing yards at a meager 5.6 yards per attempt, with four touchdowns offset by nine interceptions and a 52.5% completion rate.
At 4–7, the Vikings are playoff-bound no more, and they might be missing key pieces like left tackle Christian Darrisaw and rookie guard Donovan Jackson, who exited Sunday’s 23–6 drubbing by the Packers with injuries. McCarthy’s path is fraught, facing contenders like the Seahawks, Lions, and Packers in upcoming weeks.
If head coach Kevin O’Connell can refine McCarthy’s game over the next six weeks, the year could still hold value. Otherwise, it raises huge doubts for Minnesota’s offseason.
Houston seemed destined for the scrap heap. Quarterback C.J. Stroud left Week 9’s loss to the Broncos with a concussion, leaving the team at 3–5 and reliant on Davis Mills for three games, including clashes with playoff hopefuls like the Jaguars and Bills.
Mills has performed adequately, tossing five scores against one pick, but it’s the Texans’ world-class defense that’s propelled them to 6–5 and playoff contention (for more on this, see: https://www.si.com/nfl/how-will-anderson-jr-is-taking-the-texans-player-driven-defense-to-another-level and https://www.si.com/nfl/texans-dominant-defense-is-up-for-playoff-push-no-matter-whos-at-quarterback).
As of Sunday, Houston tops the league in yards per game allowed (264.3) and points (16.5). Their pass rush is ferocious, with Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter combining for 21.5 sacks. On Thursday, coach DeMeco Ryans’s crew tormented Josh Allen, sacking him eight times and landing 12 hits.
While the Texans are surging, challenges remain: two games against the Colts, plus away trips to the Chiefs and Chargers in December. Their offense, prone to punting, won’t make it simple.
Detroit must be thrilled. The Lions appeared headed for a crushing home defeat against the winless-in-road-games Giants, who arrived with an interim coach and their third quarterback at 0–6 away from home.
Instead, Detroit pulled out an overtime win, knotting the score with under a minute left via a 59-yard field goal, then sealing it on Jahmyr Gibbs’s 69-yard touchdown run to start overtime.
That said, red flags abound. Detroit surrendered 6.7 yards per play and 517 total yards. The defense struggled to contain Jameis Winston, who scrambled for a 33-yard touchdown and threw for 156 yards to Wan’Dale Robinson—over 100 in the first quarter alone. Against top-tier opponents, this could spell disaster.
Still, the 7–4 Lions stay neck-and-neck with the Bears and Packers in the NFC North. But if their defense, which gave up 27 points to McCarthy’s Vikings and 30 each to the Ravens and Chiefs, doesn’t improve, the upcoming stretch will be grueling.
The Pittsburgh Steelers entered Chicago with the AFC North lead up for grabs, primarily worried about Aaron Rodgers’s wrist ailment. In hindsight, their defense should have been the focal point.
Mason Rudolph contributed 171 passing yards, a touchdown, and an interception, while Pittsburgh notched 28 points on the road against a 7–3 Bears squad (including a defensive fumble recovery for a score). Yet, that wasn’t enough, as the unit conceded 31 points despite two turnovers.
Now at 6–5, the Steelers are tied with the streaking Ravens—who’ve won five in a row—for the division top. With both interdivisional rematches pending, Pittsburgh’s chances hinge on defensive improvements.
Before Sunday, the Steelers ranked 28th in yards allowed per game, improving slightly to 17th in points (23.2 per week). Their offense has hit 25-plus points in three of their last four losses.
Without changes, the Steelers risk not only missing the playoffs but also handing Mike Tomlin his first sub-.500 season in 19 years.
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What a rollercoaster of a week—do you believe the Chiefs can rebound and sneak into the playoffs, or is this the end of their dynasty? Is J.J. McCarthy destined for greatness, or should the Vikings reconsider their strategy? And here’s a controversial take: could the Texans’ defense carry them all the way to a Super Bowl, even without a star QB? Share your hot takes in the comments below—we’d love to hear your side!