NFL Week 12 Grades: Cowboys Get Top Marks for Stunning Win Over Commanders, Giants Fail Miserably in Disastrous Loss

 

Welcome to Week 12 Grades!

If you're a fan of special teams, this was your week. Week 12 might go down as one of the most chaotic special teams weeks in NFL history. Here’s a quick rundown of the wildness that unfolded on Sunday:

Titans 32-27 over Texans
This game seemed headed to overtime, but it ended suddenly when Texans kicker Ka'imi Fairbairn missed a game-tying 28-yard field goal attempt with 1:53 left. Fairbairn has now missed two of the four 28-yard or shorter field goals missed across the entire NFL this season.

Chiefs 30-27 over Panthers
Kansas City struggled against Carolina but pulled off the win with a 31-yard field goal by Spencer Shrader as time expired, securing the victory in dramatic fashion.

Vikings 30-27 over Bears
In a heart-pounding finish, the Bears recovered an onside kick with 22 seconds left, and Cairo Santos hit a 48-yard field goal to tie it up and force overtime. Minnesota responded in OT with a 29-yard field goal from John Parker Romo to secure the win.

Cowboys 34-26 over Commanders
The Cowboys were the kings of special teams in this one, with KaVontae Turpin and Juanyeh Thomas both scoring on kickoff returns in the final three minutes, including a 99-yard return from Turpin with 2:49 left. It was a game full of fireworks, as Austin Seibert missed an extra point that could have sent the game to overtime.

So how do we grade the Cowboys' thrilling win and all the other Week 12 madness? Let’s break it down:

Dallas 34-26 over Washington

Grade: A-
The Cowboys came through in a big way, even with backup quarterback Cooper Rush at the helm. Rush was efficient, throwing for 247 yards and two touchdowns, playing smart football when it was needed most. Special teams were the real heroes, with Turpin and Thomas each scoring kickoff return touchdowns in the fourth quarter to seal the victory. The defense looked solid for most of the game, but Washington did manage a late push, totaling 223 yards in the final period. Despite not being a favorite for the playoffs, Dallas proved they can knock off contenders, which could spoil playoff hopes for others down the stretch.

Washington Commanders

Grade: B-
It was a nightmare for the Commanders’ special teams, which gave up not one but two kickoff return touchdowns in the final three minutes. Kicker Austin Seibert also had a rough day, missing an extra point after a spectacular 86-yard touchdown pass from Jayden Daniels to Terry McLaurin. To add to that, he missed another extra point and a field goal. Offensively, Washington found some rhythm in the fourth quarter, with Daniels throwing for 275 yards, but the offense was non-existent for most of the game, leaving them playing catch-up. This loss makes the Commanders' playoff aspirations look much shakier as they’ve now dropped three straight games.

And that’s just the start! Week 12 was full of drama, special teams chaos, and last-second thrills. Stay tuned as we break down more from the NFL's wild week!

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