The twelfth week of NFL it is virtually within the books, with just one recreation left to play. Several gamers had unbelievable performances, together with stunning outcomes from a number of groups.
Arguably the perfect efficiency got here from Saquon Barkley, who had the perfect recreation of his profession in Sunday evening’s matchup towards the Rams. The seventh-year participant had a career-high 255 dashing yards, two dashing scores and 47 receiving yards. He set the single-game franchise document for dashing yards, surpassing LeSean McCoy who had 217 in 2013. Barkley additionally turned the primary participant in Eagles historical past to whole 300 scrimmage yards in a single outing.
Additionally, they had been essentially the most dashing yards in a recreation since Jamaal Charles had 259 within the 2009 season. He is just the ninth participant in NFL historical past to hurry for 255 or extra yards in a recreation.
Barkley wasn’t the one spectacular factor that occurred this weekend. FOX Sports Research has damaged down ten extra eye-opening nuggets for you. Let’s have a look
1. Dynamic duet
The Lions proceed to battle each week behind the play of Jared Goff. But this week it was the working recreation that acquired the job completed. Jahmyr Gibbs rushed for 90 yards and two scores whereas David Montgomery added 37 and a landing of his personal. The two have mixed for 21 dashing scores and are the primary pair of working backs in NFL historical past to every rush for 10+ touchdowns in consecutive seasons. This was additionally the ninth recreation through which Mongomery and Gibbs rushed for a landing, tied for the third-most of any working again duo in NFL historical past. They are adopted solely by Hugh McElhenny and Joe Perry (49ers) and Paul Hornung and Jim Taylor (Packers) who’ve completed it 10 occasions. When you take away place from the equation, their 10 video games are tied for sixth amongst all pairs.
Bottom line: Same factor we stated final week, the Lions are the perfect crew within the NFL. Can anybody cease them?
2. Terrific Tua
Tua Tagovailoa is now 7-0 towards the Patriots in his profession, the second-best document of any quarterback towards New England in NFL historical past, behind solely John Elway who went 10-0 towards them. He caught 11 passing touchdowns towards them in his whole profession, greater than he had towards every other opponent. Tagovailoa at the moment leads the league in completion share amongst certified quarterbacks at 73.3 %, and has led the Dolphins to a few straight victories.
Bottom line: Miami has received three in a row and the remainder of the schedule is manageable. A Wild Card spot continues to be in play for them.
3. Madness within the commanders cowboys
This was simply essentially the most thrilling recreation to observe this week, with the Cowboys going up 20-9 within the third quarter earlier than Jayden Daniels led the Commanders down the sector on a 69-yard drive that ended with a landing of Zach Ertz and a two-point conversion to make it 20-17. Soon after, KaVontae Turpin returned a kickoff 99 yards to place the Cowboys up 27-17. Shortly thereafter, the Commanders kicked a area purpose to make it 27-20. There had been solely 21 seconds left within the recreation, however the supposed offensive rookie of the yr launched an 86-yard bomb to Terry McLaurin to make it 27-26.
All Austin Seibert needed to do was convert the PAT to tie the sport, however he missed, which was his second missed PAT on the day. Washington can be compelled to aim an onside kick, and it could someway be returned for a landing to make it 34-26. So what is the statistic right here? This recreation was the primary within the Super Bowl period (since 1966) with two missed PATs, two kickoff returns for touchdowns, and a blocked punt – and sure, there was a blocked punt on this recreation too.
Bottom line: This loss by Washington actually paved the best way for Philly to simply win the division.
4. Titans peculiarities to the Texans
Another actually enjoyable recreation right here, because the Titans pulled off the upset win over the Texans with a 32-27 win. Houston’s protection had a pleasant day, sacking Will Levis eight occasions, forcing three takeaways and even returning an interception for a landing. Entering right now, groups that did all of this stuff had been 36-1 within the Super Bowl period. They at the moment are 36-2.
And talking of Will Levis getting sacked lots, the second-year sign caller made essentially the most of his time on the sector regardless of taking so many hits. He has a passer ranking of 109.3 in his final three video games regardless of being sacked 20 occasions, making him the primary participant because the 1970 merger to have a passer ranking of 105+ in a three-game span through which he was sacked greater than 20 occasions.
Nick Folk additionally hit a 56-yard area purpose on this recreation, which is the second longest in Titans historical past.
Bottom line: Houston now not appears to be like like final yr’s crew. Stroud should enhance his recreation rapidly if he needs to make the playoffs comfortably.
5. How about Trey McBride?
Trey McBride had a monster day towards the Seahawks, totaling 12 receptions for 133 yards, each profession highs. He’s now as much as 685 receiving yards on the season, second solely to Brock Bowers amongst all tight ends. His 12 receptions really set the Cardinals’ single-game reception document, and this was additionally the second time he recorded over 130 receiving yards in a recreation in his profession. He joins Hall of Famer Jackie Smith as the one Cardinals tight ends with a number of video games with 130 receiving yards. Talk about good firm.
Takeaway: McBride is solidly among the many prime three tight ends within the league. It’s time to begin speaking about him as such.
6. The leaders’ shut victory places them in uncommon firm
The Chiefs practically took a 20-6 lead on this recreation, because the Panthers trailed simply 27-25 with 1:46 left within the fourth quarter. But Patrick Mahomes would come to the rescue once more, driving down the sector 56 yards in seven performs to arrange the game-winning area purpose as time expired. Kansas City is now 10-1, their tenth consecutive 10-win season. They are the third crew in NFL historical past to document 10 wins in 10 consecutive seasons, becoming a member of the Patriots (17 from 2003 to 2019) and the 49ers (16 from 1983 to 1998).
Takeaway: Kansas City retains profitable. It’s time to begin questioning if they’re pretty much as good as their monitor information say they’re?
7. Bo Nix does it on the highway
Bo Nix led the Broncos to their first highway win towards the Raiders since 2015. They had been winless in 4 earlier video games at Allegiant Stadium and had misplaced eight consecutive highway video games towards the Raiders. He completed the day with 273 passing yards and two passing scores, placing him at 16 passing touchdowns on the season. He handed Marlin Briscoe (14 in 1968) for the Denver single-season document for passing touchdowns by a rookie.
Nix has 4 video games with a 70% completion price, two constructive scores and no interceptions, which is tied with Dak Prescott (2016) for many such video games by a rookie within the widespread draft period. He additionally has essentially the most wins (7), passing yards (2,548) and highest completion share (64.9%) by a rookie in Denver historical past.
Takeaway: Nix has appeared unbelievable during the last couple of weeks. It’s nonetheless a little bit early to inform, however Denver might have discovered its franchise quarterback.
8. Tampa runs galore
The Buccaneers received 30-7 towards the Giants and far of that dominance needed to do with the working recreation. Todd Bowles’ crew recorded 4 dashing touchdowns, which is just the third time that has occurred in a recreation in franchise historical past (two different situations occurred in 2012 and 2021). A distinct participant scored every of these touchdowns, which is the primary time in Tampa historical past that 4 totally different gamers have rushed for a landing in a single recreation. Bucky Irving had a day, dashing for 87 yards and a rating together with 64 receiving yards. He is the second Buccaneers rookie to document 80-plus dashing yards, 60-plus receiving yards and a landing from scrimmage in a recreation, becoming a member of Doug Martin who did so in 2012.
Takeaway: Tampa’s newest video games embrace Carolina twice, Las Vegas, Dallas and New Orleans. They are completely nonetheless within the recreation to each win the division and make the playoffs.
9. Cleveland will get a giant win on Thursday
Cleveland shocked everybody with a win towards Pittsburgh on Thursday evening. The Steelers had reeled off 5 straight wins earlier than shedding to Kevin Stefanski’s crew. Earlier this yr, the Browns additionally beat the Ravens who entered Week 8 on a five-game profitable streak. The 2024 Browns are the one crew because the 1970 merger to be beneath .500 and have two 5+ recreation profitable streaks of division opponents in the identical season. The solely different groups to do that, no matter document, had been the 1999 Bills, 1992 Colts and 1991 Cowboys.
Bottom line: It’s that point of yr when division video games actually matter, and Cleveland’s win over Pittsburgh made the AFC North that rather more attention-grabbing.
10. Trouble at dwelling for the Giants
In Tommy DeVito’s season debut, he and the Giants had been defeated by the Buccaneers 30–7, as talked about above. New York has misplaced six straight dwelling video games this season, one shy of the franchise single-season document for consecutive dwelling losses (7 in 1974 and 2003).
Takeaway: Maybe Daniel Jones wasn’t the issue? New York wants to enhance in a number of areas.
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