Week 12 winners: Cowboys survive thriller; Lions RBs make history

Washington nearly overcame the 10-point deficit with a field goal and an 86-yard touchdown reception by WR Terry McLaurin, but missed the ensuing extra point, forcing an onside kick attempt by the Commanders with 21 seconds remaining. In poetic fashion, Cowboys S Juanyeh Thomas scooped up the onside kick and returned it 43 yards for a touchdown, delivering the game’s final dagger.

Detroit Lions RBs Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery

Nicknamed “Sonic and Knuckles,” Detroit’s backfield duo of Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery combined to score all three of Detroit’s touchdowns during the Lions’ 24-6 win over the Indianapolis Colts. Gibbs led the way with 90 yards on the ground, while Montgomery accrued 73 scrimmage yards on just 11 touches.

With each scoring a touchdown, Gibbs and Montgomery became the first running back tandem in NFL history to each rush for 10+ touchdowns in consecutive seasons, per Lions PR.

Thanks to the duo’s success on the ground, Detroit has won 22 games over the last two seasons, the most in the franchise’s 95-year history.

Chicago Bears QB Caleb Williams

Despite playing in just his 11th career game, Caleb Williams looked like a seasoned veteran during Chicago’s 30-27 overtime loss to the Minnesota Vikings. He connected on 32-of-47 attempts for 340 yards and two touchdowns and added 33 rushing yards on six carries.

Down 11 with under two minutes to play, Williams orchestrated a 40-yard touchdown drive and connected with WR D.J. Moore for a two-point conversion. Thanks to an onside kick recovery, Williams was handed the ball back with 21 seconds, and the Bears trailing by three points. With perfect composure, he delivered a 27-yard dime to Moore, setting up a 48-yard game-tying field goal by Cairo Santos.

Although the Bears got stalled in overtime, Williams’ performance served as a testament to his elite poise and ability to confidently lead an NFL offense. With his 340-yard showing, Williams earned the title for the most passing yards by a Bears rookie, surpassing Mitchell Trubisky (2,193).

Carolina Panthers

Although they weren’t able to squeak out a win, the Panthers should be proud of what they accomplished during their 30-27 loss to the now 10-1 Kansas City Chiefs. Second-year QB Bryce Young looked stellar, completing 21-of-35 passes for 263 yards and a touchdown. His 263 yards were the second-most in his career, proving he may still have a future in Carolina.

Defensively, the Panthers became the first team since the Arizona Cardinals in November 2018 to sack Patrick Mahomes five times. Ahead of Sunday’s game, Carolina had registered just 10 sacks on the season, the second-fewest in the league.

The tide seems to be turning for the Panthers, who came within three points of earning their first three-game winning streak since Weeks 1 through 3 of the 2021 season.

Green Bay Packers RB Josh Jacobs

Despite missing time late in the third quarter due to cramping, Josh Jacobs recorded his third 100-yard rushing game of the season and completed a touchdown hat trick during Green Bay’s 38-10 dismantling of the San Francisco 49ers. It was the third time he had scored three rushing touchdowns in a game, his first as a member of the Packers.

Jacobs is on the brink of surpassing the 1,000-yard mark with six games remaining and has been essential to Green Bay’s success amid their 8–3 start.

Miami Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa

The Miami Dolphins kept their playoff hopes alive with a 34-15 win over the New England Patriots in large part thanks to Tua Tagovailoa’s near-perfect performance. He completed 29-of-40 passes for 317 yards, four touchdowns and committed zero turnovers.

Over the last two weeks, Tagovailoa has combined to throw for 605 yards, seven touchdowns and zero interceptions while completing 75 percent of his attempts.

Riding a three-game win streak, Tagovailoa has the Dolphins one win away from being 6-6, a record that seemed unreachable just a month ago.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers RB Bucky Irving

Bucky Irving, a fourth-round rookie out of Oregon, continued to prove why he deserves to get the lion’s share of touches out of Tampa Bay’s backfield during the Buccaneers' 30-7 takedown of the New York Giants. He scampered for 87 yards and a score on the ground while hauling in all six of his targets for an additional 64 yards — both yardage totals setting new career-highs.

Irving out-gained fellow Buccaneers RB Rachaad White by 104 scrimmage yards, marking the second straight week that he has out-gained the second-year back. Ahead of “Sunday Night Football,” Irving ranks second in rushing yards among rookies (579) and has notched five rushing touchdowns.

Minnesota Vikings QB Sam Darnold

Sam Darnold was in his element during Minnesota’s narrow 30-27 victory over the Chicago Bears, completing 22-of-34 attempts for two touchdowns while posting his first 300-yard passing game since January 2022. On the Vikings’ game-winning overtime drive, he completed all six of his passes for 90 yards.

Since throwing five interceptions over a two-game span, Darnold has returned to playing at the MVP-caliber level that he was playing at during Minnesota’s 5-0 start to the season. Thanks to his turnaround, the Vikings are 9-2 through 11 games for the second time in three years and look poised to win a playoff game for the first time since 2019.

Denver Broncos WR Courtland Sutton

Courtland Sutton shined during Denver’s 29-19 triumph over the Las Vegas Raiders, hauling in eight receptions for 97 yards and a pair of touchdowns. His elite jump ball ability was on full display with his impressive 18-yard touchdown catch early in the third quarter.

Sunday marked Sutton’s first multi-touchdown game since December 2019 and continued to highlight his remarkable connection with rookie QB Bo Nix.

Seattle Seahawks CB Coby Bryant

Coby Bryant showed the football world how to celebrate a first-career touchdown during Seattle's 16-6 win over the Arizona Cardinals. On a 4th-and-1 midway through the third quarter, Bryant intercepted QB Kyler Murray's floated pass attempt and took it back 69 yards for a touchdown.

On his way into the end zone, Bryant paid tribute to former Seahawks RB Marshawn Lynch with a unique dive.

Bryant's pick-six was one of only two touchdowns scored by either team in the game and was just his second-career interception.