NFL Week 12 Grades: Cowboys Shine with Surprising Win Over Commanders, Giants Earn an 'F' After Disastrous Loss

 

NFL Week 12 Grades: A Wild Weekend of Special Teams and Surprising Outcomes

Welcome to the Week 12 grades! If you love special teams, this was your week, as Sunday saw one of the wildest special teams performances in NFL history. Here's a quick recap of the chaos that unfolded:

  • Titans 32-27 over Texans: The game almost went into overtime, but Ka'imi Fairbairn missed a game-tying 28-yard field goal attempt with 1:53 left. Fairbairn has now missed two of only four field goals from that distance this season.
  • Chiefs 30-27 over Panthers: The Chiefs struggled against Carolina, finally securing the win with a 31-yard field goal from Spencer Shrader on the final play.
  • Vikings 30-27 (OT) over Bears: Chicago recovered an onside kick and sent the game into overtime with a 48-yard field goal. Minnesota then won in OT with a 29-yard field goal.
  • Cowboys 34-26 over Commanders: Dallas sealed the win with two kickoff return touchdowns in the final three minutes: KaVontae Turpin’s 99-yard return and Juanyeh Thomas’ return off an onside kick. The Commanders also saw a missed extra point that could have forced overtime.

With that chaos, let’s dive into the Week 12 grades:

Dallas Cowboys 34-26 over Washington Commanders

Grade: A-
When you’re starting a backup QB, you need others to step up — and the Cowboys did just that. From Rico Dowdle to CeeDee Lamb, KaVontae Turpin, and Juanyeh Thomas, the Cowboys had several heroes. Both Turpin and Thomas scored on fourth-quarter kickoff return touchdowns. The defense was strong for three quarters, and Cooper Rush played smart football, throwing for 247 yards and two touchdowns. The Cowboys might not be a playoff contender, but they’ve shown they can defeat playoff hopefuls.

Washington Commanders

Grade: B-
Special teams were a disaster for Washington. They gave up two kickoff return touchdowns and missed a crucial extra point. While Jayden Daniels threw for 275 yards, most of that came late in the game as the Commanders tried to catch up. Their offense struggled for three quarters, and this loss is a major blow to their playoff chances after three consecutive defeats.

Minnesota Vikings 30-27 (OT) over Chicago Bears

Grade: B
The Vikings nearly blew it, but good teams find a way to win. Jordan Addison (182 yards) and T.J. Hockenson (114 yards) were key contributors, while Sam Darnold threw for 330 yards. Despite the defense’s struggles, Minnesota hung on for a vital win, especially with four of their next five games at home.

Chicago Bears

Grade: B-
New offensive coordinator Thomas Brown has rejuvenated the Bears' offense, with Caleb Williams throwing for 340 yards and two touchdowns. However, the defense allowed 452 yards, and they couldn’t capitalize on opportunities in the second half. The Bears have now lost five straight and are in danger of losing their grip on playoff hopes.

Detroit Lions 24-6 over Indianapolis Colts

Grade: A-
The Lions' defense dominated, holding the Colts to just six points — their fewest of the season. After a tight first half, the defense shut down Indy, allowing only 94 yards in the second half. Jahmyr Gibbs and Jared Goff led the offense, showing the Lions can win in multiple ways. Even when not perfect, Detroit is getting it done.

Indianapolis Colts

Grade: C-
The Colts couldn’t get it done in the red zone, failing to score a touchdown despite two trips inside Detroit's 12-yard line. Anthony Richardson struggled with accuracy, and the offense was completely stifled after halftime. The defense played admirably, but without a solid offensive showing, the Colts were outmatched.

Miami Dolphins 34-15 over New England Patriots

Grade: A
Tua Tagovailoa continued his stellar November, throwing for 317 yards and four touchdowns. The Dolphins dominated both sides of the ball, with the defense putting pressure on Drake Maye. The Dolphins have been nearly perfect in their recent stretch, showing they can dominate in all phases of the game.

New England Patriots

Grade: D-
The Patriots' offense regressed in a big way against Miami, totaling just 84 yards in the first half. The defense couldn’t slow down Tua, and there was no answer for Jaylen Waddle. A terrible performance on both sides of the ball highlighted New England’s struggles this season.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers 30-7 over New York Giants

Grade: A+
The Buccaneers dominated in every facet of the game. The defense was relentless, sacking Tommy DeVito three times. Bucky Irving rushed for 151 yards, and with Mike Evans back, Baker Mayfield looked confident. Tampa Bay still has a shot at the playoffs, with only one team with a winning record left on their schedule.

New York Giants

Grade: F
The Giants' offense and defense were both abysmal. After releasing Daniel Jones, they were utterly outmatched. If things keep spiraling, fans might start hoping for a high draft pick, and the pressure is mounting on Brian Daboll to fix things or face potential dismissal.

Kansas City Chiefs 30-27 over Carolina Panthers

Grade: C
Kansas City struggled but managed to secure a win. Patrick Mahomes threw for 269 yards and three touchdowns, including a crucial 33-yard scramble. The defense gave up 27 points, a rare occurrence this season. Despite the sloppy performance, the Chiefs found a way to win, but they need to play better.

Carolina Panthers

Grade: B
Moral victories don’t count, but the Panthers should be encouraged by their performance. Bryce Young helped lead a comeback, and the defense pressured Mahomes all game. With continued improvement, Carolina could steal a few wins down the stretch.

Tennessee Titans 32-27 over Houston Texans

Grade: B+
Tennessee played their best all-around game of the season. Tony Pollard rushed for 119 yards, and Will Levis threw two touchdowns. The defense was stout, limiting Joe Mixon to just 22 yards. With everything clicking, the Titans proved they can compete with anyone when all phases are working together.

Houston Texans

Grade: B-
Despite putting up 27 points, the Texans' offense struggled. C.J. Stroud threw two interceptions, and Joe Mixon was contained. A missed 28-yard field goal proved costly. While the defense was aggressive, their failure to close out the game cost them.

Denver Broncos 29-19 over Las Vegas Raiders

Grade: A-
The Broncos' defense delivered a dominant performance, sacking the Raiders five times and forcing turnovers. Bo Nix played smart football, throwing for 273 yards and two touchdowns. With their defense playing at a high level, Denver is a serious playoff contender.

Las Vegas Raiders

Grade: B-
The Raiders fought hard but fell short. Gardner Minshew and Desmond Ridder struggled under pressure, and costly turnovers proved decisive. Despite some bright spots, the Raiders' quarterback play continues to hold them back.

Green Bay Packers 38-10 over San Francisco 49ers

Grade: A
The Packers were dominant on both sides of the ball. Josh Jacobs ran for 106 yards and three touchdowns, while Myles Garrett led a defense that overwhelmed the 49ers. It was an all-around impressive performance that keeps Green Bay in the wild-card race.

San Francisco 49ers

Grade: F
Without Brock Purdy, the 49ers offense looked completely out of sync. Brandon Allen struggled, and Christian McCaffrey and Deebo Samuel were both ineffective. The loss could signal trouble if Purdy remains out, and their playoff hopes could be in jeopardy.

Seattle Seahawks 16-6 over Arizona Cardinals

Grade: B+
Seattle’s defense delivered a masterclass, holding Arizona’s rushing attack to under 50 yards. The pass rush sacked Kyler Murray five times, and Coby Bryant’s pick-six sealed the win. Geno Smith wasn’t spectacular, but he did enough to help the team win.

Arizona Cardinals

Grade: C
Arizona's offense was completely shut down. Kyler Murray faced constant pressure and threw an interception for a pick-six. With their rushing attack neutralized, Arizona couldn’t keep up with Seattle’s defense.

Philadelphia Eagles 37-20 over Los Angeles Rams

Grade: A+
Saquon Barkley had a historic performance, rushing for 255 yards and 302 total yards from scrimmage. The Eagles' defense also dominated, sacking Matthew Stafford five times. Philadelphia’s dominant performance showed why they’re a contender in January.

Los Angeles Rams

Grade: D-
The Rams were exposed in every area. The offensive line struggled to protect Stafford, and the defense had no answer for Saquon Barkley. With major flaws across the board, L.A. will need significant improvements to stay in the playoff race.

**Cleveland Browns 24-19 over Pittsburgh

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