NFL Week 12: Biggest questions, takeaways for every game

NFL NationNov 24, 2025, 01:10 AM
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Week 12 of the 2025 NFL season began Thursday night between the Bills and Texans. Houston’s defense suffocated the Bills’ offense, forcing three turnovers to help backup quarterback Davis Mills seal the victory.

In the early window Sunday, Packers edge rusher Micah Parsons finished with two sacks in an easy win over the Vikings. Elsewhere in the NFC North, the Lions overcame a double-digit deficit to defeat the Giants in overtime. The Chiefs also needed an extra period to put away the red-hot Colts. Meanwhile, the Ravens got over .500 for the first time this season after defeating the Jets. And the Steelers, with backup quarterback Mason Rudolph, couldn’t get past the Bears.

In the late window, Browns rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders beat the Raiders in his first start. It was the first time a Browns quarterback won their first NFL start since Eric Zeier in 1995. The Falcons also bounced back, defeating the Saints with Kirk Cousins under center. The Jaguars won in overtime over the Cardinals, while the Cowboys scored 24 unanswered points to beat the Eagles.

Our NFL Nation reporters reacted to all the action, answering lingering questions coming out of each game and detailing everything else you need to know for every team. Let’s get to it.

Catch up on the action: Box score | Recap

Cowboys

Can the Cowboys play themselves into playoff contention? Down 21-0 early in the second quarter, the Cowboys looked pretty bad. Yet they pulled out the win, improving to 5-5-1 with the Chiefs visiting on Thanksgiving. Sunday’s comeback matched the biggest in team history. Despite a season split with the Eagles, Dallas is facing an uphill climb to get back in the divisional race, but this is the type of win that can create momentum. The offense missed on two chances late, including coach Brian Schottenheimer’s decision to bypass an easy field goal try with 3:46 to play, but Dak Prescott came through in the final minute with 19- and 24-yard completions to tight end Jake Ferguson and wide receiver George Pickens, respectively.

Stat to know: Wide receiver CeeDee Lamb might be glad not to see the Eagles again this season. After officially dropping three passes (and maybe a fourth) in the season opener at Philadelphia, Lamb dropped three more Sunday, including a touchdown pass late in the fourth quarter that would have given the Cowboys the lead. He has eight drops this season, the most he has had in a full season in his career. — Todd Archer

Next game: vs. Chiefs (Thursday, 4:30 p.m. ET)

Eagles

How did it all fall apart for the Eagles? They scored touchdowns on each of their first three possessions to go up 21-0. It looked like the rout was on. Instead, the offense went silent, allowing Prescott to lead a Cowboys charge against a defense that lost multiple key players to injury. Saquon Barkley’s fumble in Dallas territory with the score tied midway through the fourth quarter proved costly, as did Xavier Gipson’s giveaway on a punt return with 5:09 remaining. Philadelphia is still in command of the NFC East, but this was a stinging, avoidable, penalty-filled loss that could impact the Eagles’ quest for the No. 1 seed in the NFC. They’ll need to rebound on a short week before facing the NFC North leader.

What to make of the QB performance: After a week of reports about internal frustration directed at quarterback Jalen Hurts’ handling of the offense, he appeared on his way to another performance that would quiet the critics. He totaled three touchdowns in the first half while eating up zone coverage, which has given him trouble at times this season. Then, the offense went cold. There will be plenty of blame to go around, but what appeared to be a get-right game for Hurts and the offense turned into a performance that will only welcome more scrutiny. — Tim McManus

Next game: vs. Bears (Friday, 3 p.m. ET)

Catch up on the action: Box score | Recap

Jaguars

Is it time to take the Jaguars seriously as AFC South contenders? It was a sloppy victory over the Cardinals, and there are numerous things to clean up, but at 7-4, the Jaguars are legitimate contenders. The Colts’ loss to Kansas City cut their division lead to one game; the Jaguars play the 1-10 Titans next week, while the Colts play the Texans and their top-ranked defense. If the Jaguars beat the Titans, that would set up a huge Week 14 showdown with the Colts in Jacksonville. Indy last won there in 2014.

Turning point: Quarterback Trevor Lawrence bounced back from his third interception to lead the Jaguars on a six-play, 65-yard drive that culminated in an 11-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Parker Washington. Lawrence let the ball go before Washington turned his head in the back of the end zone, and he made a sliding catch behind cornerback Garrett Williams. That put the Jaguars ahead 24-21. — Mike DiRocco

Best quote from the locker room: The Jaguars had lost 18 of their past 23 games heading into the 2025 season, so they don’t feel bad at all about winning in an ugly fashion. “Never apologize for [winning the way we won], and people can watch the tape and make their own judgements and I’ll watch it and do the same,” Trevor Lawrence said. “Had some tough plays out there. Those guys make good plays as well.”

Next game: at Titans (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)

Trevor Lawrence finds Jakobi Meyers in the end zone

Jakobi Meyers grabs a 10-yard TD pass from Trevor Lawrence to give the Jaguars a 17-14 lead.

Cardinals

When will Arizona get another win? It might be a couple of weeks before the team can win again. After holding the lead against Jacksonville as late as the second quarter, the Cardinals dropped their third straight game and eighth of their past nine. With a trip to face the Buccaneers (who are first in the NFC South) and a home game against the Rams (who are first in the NFC West), Arizona might not win until Week 15 against the Texans or Week 16 against the Falcons.

Trend to watch: Michael Wilson has embraced his role as WR1 with another impressive showing, hauling in 10 catches for 118 yards a week after collecting 185 yards on 15 catches. Whenever Marvin Harrison Jr. comes back from appendicitis surgery, Wilson will be another significant option for quarterback Jacoby Brissett. — Josh Weinfuss

Next game: at Buccaneers (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)

Catch up on the action: Box score | Recap

Falcons

How does Sunday’s win shape what success means for the rest of the season? The Falcons are 4-7, so talking about the playoffs doesn’t seem prudent. Even with Sunday’s win, Atlanta has a 2% chance of making the postseason, according to ESPN’s Football Power Index and independent of other results. Expectations are low without quarterback Michael Penix Jr., although Kirk Cousins went 16-of-23 for 199 yards, 2 TDs and a pick. Rookie edge rushers Jalon Walker (1.0 sack Sunday) and James Pearce Jr. (1.5) both continue to play well, and their development is a major key.

What to make of the QB performance: Considering he didn’t have top wide receiver Drake London and tight end Kyle Pitts Sr. let him down with drops, Cousins played the best he has since the Falcons started 6-3 last season with him as starter. He somehow made it work with an unheralded receiving unit that featured David Sills V, Dylan Drummond and tight end Charlie Woerner. — Marc Raimondi

Next game: at Jets (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)

Kirk Cousins throws deep TD pass to Darnell Mooney

Kirk Cousins connects with Darnell Mooney for a 49-yard touchdown to extend the Falcons’ lead.

Saints

Should the Saints move on from kicker Blake Grupe? The Saints have already started looking to the future at several positions on offense, including wide receiver and quarterback. But they’ve stayed loyal to Grupe despite his misses, which rose to eight this season. Grupe missed two field goals Sunday and was booed heavily by Saints fans. With Charlie Smyth on the practice squad for the second straight year, the Saints have an option at kicker.

Biggest hole in the game plan: The red zone. The Saints looked inept whenever they got near the goal line. They were on Atlanta’s 1-yard line twice and came away with three points. On a fourth-and-1, Taysom Hill’s pass fell incomplete. On another play, the Saints were practically on the goal line but snapped the ball over Hill’s head. He picked it up and threw it away, resulting in an intentional grounding penalty and a field goal try. — Katherine Terrell

Next game: at Dolphins (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)

Catch up on the action: Box score | Recap

Browns

Did Shedeur Sanders show enough to remain the Browns’ starting quarterback? With a week of practice reps, Sanders showed marked improvement in his first start. He threw an early interception on a poor decision but also flashed his trademark deep-ball accuracy. On a 52-yard connection to rookie wide receiver Isaiah Bond, Sanders evaded a free rusher and rolled to his right to buy time. Coach Kevin Stefanski previously said rookie quarterback Dillon Gabriel would start once he clears concussion protocol, but the Browns’ pass game showed spurts of explosiveness Sunday that we haven’t seen all season.

Stat to know: With three sacks, edge rusher Myles Garrett set a single-season career high and a Browns franchise record with 18, surpassing the mark he had set twice before. The NFL’s single-season record is 22.5; Garrett has six more games to exceed that mark set by Michael Strahan (2001) and T.J. Watt (2021). — Daniel Oyefusi

Next game: vs. 49ers (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)

Shedeur slings first career TD pass

Shedeur Sanders finds Dylan Sampson who races 66 yards for a Browns touchdown vs. the Raiders.

Raiders

Is the clock ticking on Geno Smith’s time in Las Vegas? At 2-9, this is a fair question. It hasn’t helped that Smith has played behind a poor offensive line. Against the Browns, he was sacked 10 times and pressured 18. Outside of that, his performance wasn’t bad (30-for-44, 285 yards and a touchdown), but the offense still struggled to find a rhythm with him under center. Las Vegas is far from being a playoff contender and could be in for significant offseason changes, which could start at quarterback, as Smith hasn’t done enough to show he’s the franchise guy.

Turning point: Down by 14 in the second quarter, the Raiders failed to turn around the game twice. Las Vegas reached Cleveland’s 27-yard line, but the Raiders eventually attempted a 48-yard field goal that kicker Daniel Carlson missed. Then, Las Vegas edge rusher Charles Snowden picked off Sanders’ pass and returned it to Cleveland’s 26-yard line. The Raiders couldn’t reach the end zone once again and had to settle for a field goal. — Ryan McFadden

Next game: at Chargers (Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET)

Catch up on the action: Box score | Recap

Chiefs

Did this comeback win save the Chiefs’ season? Finally, in their sixth attempt this season, the Chiefs won a one-score game. Prior to Sunday, the Chiefs’ biggest comeback was from a seven-point deficit in the first quarter against the Ravens in Week 4. In the final two quarters Sunday, the Chiefs looked like the version of the team they believed they could be. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes was excellent on critical downs and the offensive line did plenty for running back Kareem Hunt, who finished with 104 rushing yards. The defense, led by longtime coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, blitzed Colts quarterback Daniel Jones effectively to force four consecutive three-and-outs.

Most surprising performance: In the first half, the Colts’ defense essentially removed wide receiver Rashee Rice as an option, limiting him to just three receptions for 9 yards. One of the biggest reasons the Chiefs rallied from an 11-point deficit, beyond Mahomes’ excellence in the fourth quarter, was Rice finishing with 111 yards on four receptions. He had a 47-yard gain and a critical catch on fourth-and-3 from the Colts’ 43-yard line to set up the game-tying field goal from kicker Harrison Butker.

Best quote from the locker room: “This is exactly what we needed, to win against a really good team and the game is not going your way,” Mahomes said. “You could’ve folded in that situation — and kind of the rest of the season — but guys responded. … It was a do-or-die type of thing. Guys made plays happen.” — Nate Taylor

Next game: at Cowboys (Thursday, 4:30 p.m. ET)

Mahomes big throw sets up game-winning FG for the Chiefs in OT

Patrick Mahomes converts a huge third down to Xavier Worthy to set up Harrison Butker for a 27-yard field goal to defeat the Colts.

Colts

What happened to the Colts’ offense? They have a lot of questions to ponder after one of their most disappointing performances of the season. The unit fell apart in the second half after thriving early on, and Indianapolis had few answers in response to the Chiefs’ defensive success. The Colts produced just five combined first downs in the second half and overtime. They were 2-of-8 on third downs, consistently facing long down-and-distance situations. The Colts’ last first down of the game came with 2:58 remaining in the third quarter.

Biggest hole in the game plan: Indianapolis got extremely pass heavy in the second half, with coach Shane Steichen not giving Jonathan Taylor his usual opportunities. Taylor had 16 carries for 58 yards on a day the Chiefs made running the ball particularly difficult. But the quick throws and frequent incompletions also made it tough on the Indianapolis defense, which had to quickly return to the field after four straight three-and-outs (including one in overtime). — Stephen Holder

Next game: vs. Texans (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)

Catch up on the action: Box score | Recap

Lions

What does a close win like this say about the Lions? Very concerning. On paper, this game shouldn’t have been close, as the Giants entered Ford Field with a 2-9 record and led Detroit for much of the game. Detroit continued to struggle on offense and defense for most of this game, which has come during a tough November stretch. That was until kicker Jake Bates nailed a 59-yard field goal at the end of regulation to tie the game at 27, and then running back Jahmyr Gibbs saved the game with a 69-yard rushing touchdown on the opening drive in overtime. Gibbs was spectacular, ending with three touchdowns, including 15 carries for 219 rushing yards and 11 receptions for 45 receiving yards.

Trend to watch: Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown dropped two passes, including his first target in the opening quarter. He now has a career-high four drops this season. St. Brown had one drop in 152 targets all last season, which came in the divisional-round loss to the Commanders. On the other hand, his catch with just over seven minutes left in the third quarter was the 500th of his career. He finished with nine receptions for 149 yards and a touchdown. — Eric Woodyard

Next game: vs. Packers (Thursday, 1 p.m. ET)

Jahmyr Gibbs burns Giants with 69-yard TD in OT

Jahmyr Gibbs shows off the speed as he breaks off a 69-yard dash to the end zone for a Lions touchdown in overtime vs. the Giants.

Giants

Why do the Giants keep losing in such excruciating fashion? The Giants just can’t finish. This was their fifth loss this season in a game in which they had a double-digit lead. All were on the road, and that ties an NFL record. They couldn’t get in the end zone despite reaching the 2-yard line on a seven-minute drive late in the fourth quarter. Then, they couldn’t stop the Lions from kicking the tying field goal with less than a minute to play or take down Gibbs on his overtime touchdown run. It doesn’t matter whether it’s Mike Kafka or Brian Daboll as head coach. The Giants’ inability to make big plays in the clutch and close out games remains a problem.

Most surprising performance: Wide receiver Wan’Dale Robinson went off with a career-high 156 yards and a touchdown on nine catches and 13 targets. He topped 100 yards in the first quarter alone. Robinson became the first Giants player since Hakeem Nicks in 2011 to accomplish that feat. This was his second 100-yard game of the season, which happens to be a contract year. — Jordan Raanan

Next game: at Patriots (Monday, 8:15 p.m. ET)

Catch up on the action: Box score | Recap

Seahawks

Will Jaxon Smith-Njigba break the NFL’s single-season receiving record? Former Lion Calvin Johnson owns the mark with 1,964 yards in 2012. Smith-Njigba is again on pace to top it after his most productive game of 2025. The NFL’s leading receiver went for 167 yards and two touchdowns, breaking DK Metcalf’s single-season team record of 1,303 receiving yards. Metcalf set that mark in the 16th and final game of 2020 — Smith-Njigba topped it in 11. He now has 1,313 yards, which puts him on pace for over 2,000. He’s also on pace to shatter his own club record of 100 catches, which he shares with Tyler Lockett.

What to make of the QB performance: Sam Darnold wasn’t shy about letting it rip after throwing four interceptions last week, but he was too aggressive on two throws that could have been intercepted. He was also hit while throwing deep on one play, causing the ball to hang dangerously in the air. Darnold’s ledger was clean — 16-of-26 for 244 yards and two touchdowns — but he got away with a few errant passes. — Brady Henderson

Next game: vs. Vikings (Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET)

Best quote from the locker room: “Happy for JSN. He’s doing an incredible job,” coach Mike Macdonald said. “He brings it every day and he’s a great teammate, which is awesome. So you’re really happy for him.” — Brady Henderson

Sam Darnold goes deep to Jaxon Smith-Njigba for a 63-yard TD

Sam Darnold throws it up to Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who comes down with the ball and backpedals into the end zone for a 63-yard touchdown.

Titans

Did Cam Ward show the most progress despite losing to the Seahawks? Ward was clearly more decisive in both throwing and running. The rookie quarterback had a better feel for when he needed to take off to avoid the pass rush, as one of his scrambles resulted in a 14-yard gain. He broke off a 9-yard run to convert a fourth-and-7 late in the game and also scored on a 6-yard run for his first NFL rushing touchdown. He showed flashes of his playmaking ability, and his 26-yard pass to tight end Chig Okonkwo on a wheel route showed touch. Perhaps his best play came on third-and-3 on Tennessee’s 10-yard line, when Ward rolled to the right and hit Chimere Dike on a crossing route for a 25-yard gain.

Stat to know: Dike’s 90-yard punt return for a touchdown tied for the longest in franchise history (Adam “Pacman” Jones also had a 90-yarder on Nov 19, 2006). It was Dike’s second punt return for a touchdown this season, making him the fifth player in franchise history to have multiple punt return touchdowns in a season. He is the first Titans returner to do it since 2012 (Darius Reynaud). — Turron Davenport

Next game: vs. Jaguars (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)

Catch up on the action: Box score | Recap

Patriots

How will the Patriots recover from being decimated by injuries, especially on the offensive line? Left guard Jared Wilson (ankle) was carted to the locker room in the first quarter, and left tackle Will Campbell (knee) was carted off in the third quarter. That wiped out quarterback Drake Maye’s entire blindside before the final quarter. Good health had been a key factor for the Patriots entering Week 12, as they started the same offensive line in 10 of 11 games. Four-year veterans Ben Brown (guard) and Vederian Lowe (tackle) were the in-game replacements; rookie Marcus Bryant (seventh round) is another option at tackle. Arguably nothing is more important for the Patriots than protecting Maye’s blindside, and that task just became harder.

Trend to watch: Rookie TreVeyon Henderson remained the Pats’ No. 1 running back despite Rhamondre Stevenson’s return after missing three games with a turf toe injury. Henderson was charted on the field for 19 first-half snaps to Stevenson’s nine — a trend that continued in the second half. Stevenson was utilized more in obvious passing situations and at the goal line. Prior to his injury, he had played 62% of the offensive snaps, while Henderson was at 32%.

Best quote from the locker room: Players said becoming the NFL’s first team to 10 wins was something they wanted to accomplish. “Back to the grind because we didn’t play our best football, but be happy about the 10 wins because that sh– is not easy to do,” said wide receiver Stefon Diggs. — Mike Reiss

Next game: vs. Giants (Monday, 8:15 p.m. ET)

Patriots get pick-6 off Joe Flacco

Marcus Jones picks off Joe Flacco’s throw and converts a 33-yard return for a Patriots touchdown.

Bengals

With minuscule chances to make the playoffs, where do the Bengals go from here? It’s time to start the evaluation for the 2026 season. Cincinnati needs to find out what building blocks are inside the building (including core players on the defense) and whether the team can become a contender again under coach Zac Taylor. It appears Cincinnati will miss the playoffs for the third straight season. With quarterback Joe Burrow entering his seventh NFL season in 2026, the Bengals can’t waste any time in finding answers.

What to make of the QB performance: Joe Flacco hasn’t resembled the same form he had heading into the bye week, when Cincinnati had the NFL’s most efficient and productive offense for a four-game stretch. Flacco finished the game with 183 passing yards, one touchdown and one interception. It wasn’t just the pick-six that was an issue, as he had favorable routes in key spots and was unable to make that conversion. Flacco had a very serviceable run as Cincinnati’s starter. But if things go according to plan, Burrow will be back for Thursday’s game against the Ravens.

Best quote from the locker room: What did Taylor find most frustrating about Flacco’s stint as the starter? “Losing is the worst. I mean, it’s the worst,” the coach said. “We’re accountable for it. We make all the adjustments we have to make. And then you gotta turn the page and you gotta ready for the next week. That’s life in the NFL.” — Ben Baby

Next game: at Ravens (Thursday, 8:20 p.m. ET)

Catch up on the action: Box score | Recap

Bears

Have the Bears figured out complementary football? Quarterback Caleb Williams said when the Bears smell “blood in the water” — i.e., when the defense gets a stop or a takeaway — the offense needs to do its part by scoring a touchdown on the subsequent possession. After Chicago’s offense coughed up the football on back-to-back possessions in the second quarter, the defense came through and stopped Pittsburgh’s fourth-down tush push attempt. Eleven plays later, Williams found tight end Colston Loveland for a 12-yard touchdown to tie the game at 14-14. After Montez Sweat forced and recovered a fumble late in the third quarter, the offense answered again with a Kyle Monangai touchdown. The Bears found themselves in a one-score game yet again, but they came out on top because all three units carried their weight.

What to make of the QB performance: Williams threw for 239 yards and three touchdowns against the worst pass defense in the NFL. For a fourth straight game, he logged a sub 59% completion percentage. He also had his second-worst off-target percentage (26%) of the season. Williams’ clutch throws helped Chicago get its eighth win, but his intermediate-to-deep ball accuracy remains a work in progress.

Best quote from the locker room: Safety Kevin Byard III complimented the play of Sweat, saying “he played big time. We talked about with all the injuries that we had today, our top players being able to step up and play their behinds off.” Sweat finished with two sacks, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. “Just super happy that these past few weeks, [Sweat has] been playing like the star that we know he is,” Byard said. — Courtney Cronin

Next game: at Eagles (Friday, 3 p.m. ET)

Kyle Monangai runs in a TD to increase Bears’ lead

Kyle Monangai goes up the middle for a short touchdown to increase the Bears’ lead over the Steelers.

Steelers

How much does the Steelers’ starting quarterback affect the trajectory of this team? With Aaron Rodgers (left wrist fracture) ruled out two and a half hours before kickoff, Mason Rudolph was a serviceable replacement. The quarterback play still wasn’t great, as Rudolph completed 24 of 31 passes for 171 yards with a touchdown, an interception and a lost fumble. But Rodgers’ most recent six quarters were trending in the wrong direction, as he completed 25 of 46 attempts for 277 yards with two touchdowns, two interceptions, four sacks and one fumble. Against the Bears, the Steelers were also doomed by a slew of penalties, special teams mistakes and a defense that gave up 345 yards. Plus, the Ravens’ win erased the Steelers’ divisional lead to put their playoff hopes squarely in doubt.

Turning point: It is not often a play on punt coverage changes the momentum of a game, but wide receiver Ben Skowronek’s hold during the Steelers’ first punt had significant consequences. The Bears were poised to start that early third-quarter drive from the 10-yard line, but coach Ben Johnson opted to enforce the penalty by having the Steelers kick again. Corliss Waitman’s second attempt went out of bounds at the 40, meaning Skowronek’s hold essentially cost the Steelers 30 yards of field position. The Bears made the go-ahead score five plays later.

Best quote from the locker room: Edge rusher T.J. Watt reminded the Steelers’ margin for error as the season barrels toward the playoffs is “slim every week.” With the AFC North race tightening up following Pittsburgh’s loss and Baltimore’s win in Week 12, Watt said: “It’s the National Football League. We have a lot of things that need to be fixed, fixed quickly.” — Brooke Pryor

Next game: vs. Bills (Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET)

Catch up on the action: Box score | Recap

Ravens

Why has Lamar Jackson not looked like Lamar Jackson? It’s a long list of reasons. It can be chalked up to Jackson’s increasing amount of injuries, the lack of a run game, dropped passes and poor pass protection. He has been held under 200 yards passing for three straight games for the first time in five seasons. He has also gone back-to-back games without a touchdown pass for the first time in six years. Over the past two weeks, Jackson has missed practices for knee soreness and an ankle injury. Heading into Sunday, he said injuries haven’t affected his performance. Offensive coordinator Todd Monken also indicated that his playcalling hasn’t been impacted by Jackson’s injuries. Despite Jackson not looking like his MVP self, the Ravens have won five straight games and are over .500 for the first time this season.

Trend to watch: The Ravens’ defense continues its dramatic turnaround. Helped by cornerback Marlon Humphrey’s forced fumble at the Ravens’ 2-yard line with just under seven minutes left, Baltimore has held its past six opponents to under 20 points, which is its longest streak in 15 years. This is the same defense that allowed an NFL-worst 32.3 points per game through the first six weeks of the season. — Jamison Hensley

Next game: vs. Bengals (Thursday, 8:20 p.m. ET)

Derrick Henry walks in his 2nd TD of the game

Derrick Henry takes the handoff and goes nearly untouched into the end zone to extend the Ravens’ lead.

Jets

Did newly anointed quarterback Tyrod Taylor provide any offensive spark? Yes, he did, but it still was well-short of what the 2-9 Jets need to become a well-balanced offense. Taylor distributed the ball better than Justin Fields typically did, passing for 222 yards and connecting with six different players. The most encouraging thing was how he involved recently acquired wide receiver John Metchie III, who scored New York’s only touchdown and had a career-high six catches for 65 yards. Taylor also re-rediscovered running back Breece Hall (four receptions for 75 yards), recently a nonfactor in the passing game. Bottom line: One touchdown isn’t good enough. This clinched the Jets’ 10th straight losing season.

Turning point: Coach Aaron Glenn took a questionable gamble in the third quarter, going for it on fourth-and-2 from his own 42 with the Jets trailing 10-7. They didn’t get it, and the decision backfired in a big way because the Ravens converted a short-field touchdown. It changed the complexion of the game. — Rich Cimini

Next game: vs. Falcons (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)

Catch up on the action: Box score | Recap

Packers

How impressive was edge rusher Micah Parsons? Considering how he tossed aside the Vikings’ $113 million left tackle Christian Darrisaw, Parsons’ two-sack day fits that description. Parsons became the first Packers player with double-digit sacks in a season since 2020 (Za’Darius Smith, 12.5). At 10 sacks through 11 games, Parsons has his fifth straight double-digit sack season, which is now the second-longest streak by any player (behind Reggie White’s nine) to begin a career since sacks were first tracked in 1982. It wasn’t just Parsons, though. The Packers sacked Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy five times and recorded a total of 10 quarterback hits.

What to make of the QB performance: The shoulder injury Jordan Love sustained in last week’s win over the Giants wasn’t discussed much because it was his left (non-throwing) shoulder and he was listed as a full participant in practice. But it was problematic enough that Love used his right hand only on all handoffs instead of using both hands based on the direction of the run. It didn’t seem to bother running back Emanuel Wilson, who recorded his first career 100-yard rushing game and first career two-touchdown game filling in for the injured Josh Jacobs (knee). Love finished 14-of-21 for 139 yards with 0 TDs and 0 INTs. — Rob Demovsky

Next game: at Lions (Thursday, 1 p.m. ET)

Packers hit Skol celebration after second J.J. McCarthy pick

Evan Williams picks off J.J. McCarthy and the Packers D celebrates in the end zone with Skol celebration.

Vikings

What do the Vikings do with McCarthy now? As painful as it sounds, there is no realistic way out of this box. The Vikings have to continue playing McCarthy and accumulate data for their offseason decision-making. Perhaps they’ll learn that they can’t count on him to be their 2026 starter, but they have to find out. At 4-7, their already slim postseason chances are now miniscule. In the short term, the problem is that McCarthy is regressing. His past two starts have been his worst of the season. Coach Kevin O’Connell called as conservative a game as could be expected, and running backs Aaron Jones Sr. and Jordan Mason combined for 83 yards on 17 carries. McCarthy never looked comfortable in the pocket. Under a heavy Packers pass rush, he managed only 87 passing yards and threw two interceptions.

Turning point: Trailing 10-6 at halftime, the Vikings forced a punt on the Packers’ opening possession of the third quarter. But rookie returner Myles Price failed to move away from a kick that went over his head, and the Packers’ Zayne Anderson pushed him into the ball for a muff. The Packers recovered at the Vikings’ 5-yard line and, two plays later, scored a touchdown to take a two-score lead. It was a crushing moment for a team struggling to generate points. — Kevin Seifert

Next game: at Seahawks (Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET)

Catch up on the action: Box score | Recap

Texans

Is Houston’s defense the best in the NFL? I think that goes without saying. They’re leading the league in fewest points (16.3) and yards allowed (258.1) per game. They make life on opposing quarterbacks tough, as Bills quarterback Josh Allen was sacked eight times and picked off twice. Allen was pressured on 33% of his dropbacks and completed only two passes in those situations. This defense is why Houston is firmly back in the playoff race.

Stat to know: Quarterback Davis Mills had a passer rating of 143.8 when targeting wideout Christian Kirk. The duo connected for huge plays, including a touchdown and a 33-yard reception that helped Houston score another TD before halftime. — DJ Bien-Aime

Next game: at Colts (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)

Bills

Can this Bills offense pull itself together to make a run? Right now, the only reason to believe the answer is “yes” is Allen. There will always be a chance with Allen, even though he hasn’t played his best in certain losses this season. But the reality is that the offense is running out of time to figure it out, and there’s no season-changing receiver walking through the door to fix some of the issues.

Trend to watch: Turnover margin. The Bills’ 26-game streak of not losing the turnover margin ended in Week 5, and the situation has been trending poorly since. This week’s game was a prime example of how mistakes, such as wide receiver Khalil Shakir’s fumble at the Buffalo 22-yard line, have become a key issue for this team. And while the offense is turning it over twice as much as last year (eight in 2024 to 16 in 2025), the defense is struggling to take the ball away (32 takeaways last year to 13 so far this season). — Alaina Getzenberg

Next game: at Steelers (Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET)

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