NFL Analysis
11/26/23
5 min read
Biggest Winners, Losers from NFL Week 12
It was a light slate of Sunday games during Week 12 because there were three Thanksgiving games and a Black Friday matchup between the New York Jets and the Miami Dolphins. But there were still some standout players and teams this weekend and others that left a lot to be desired. Here are the biggest winners and losers from another fantastic week of football.
Week 12 Winners, Losers
Winner: Jalen Hurts, QB, Philadelphia Eagles
There was a pretty good chance that Jalen Hurts would end up as a loser after completing just 7 of 15 passes for 50 yards and an interception in the first half. The Philadelphia Eagles scored just seven points in the first two quarters and trailed the Buffalo Bills, 17-7, at halftime.
Hurts caught fire in the second half and overtime. He had a hand in five touchdowns, rushing for 65 yards and two TDs on top of 200 yards passing. He led the Eagles on five scoring drives.
He ran for the winning touchdown in overtime after leading the Eagles down the field with incredible efficiency.
Hurts came into the day as the favorite to win the NFL’s MVP award and that certainly won’t change after Sunday's performance.
The Eagles got a huge win against a good AFC team to improve to 10-1. It was another signature win by the Eagles, who continue to beat the top contenders in the NFL. It’s not always pretty, but Hurts just finds a way to get the job done.Â
Loser: Mac Jones, QB, New England Patriots
It’s officially over for Mac Jones and the New England Patriots. The Patriots gave him another start in Week 12 against the New York Giants, and things couldn’t have gone worse. Jones threw 21 times for just 89 yards and two interceptions.
He was replaced at halftime by Bailey Zappe, who didn’t look much better. At this point, the Patriots are trying anything to spark their offense. But nothing has helped at all.
Jones has regressed since his rookie season and has more interceptions (12) than touchdowns (10) since the start of 2022. He doesn't throw the ball down the field, and his lack of mobility makes him one of the league's least dynamic quarterbacks. He barely averages 6.0 yards per attempt, and his QBR is among the lowest in the league.
Worse yet, he’s lost his confidence. He doesn’t trust what he’s seeing and makes poor decisions, which wasn’t what we saw from him at Alabama or during his rookie season in New England.
There is a chance Jones will start in Week 13, but there is no chance he will be back in 2024 as the team’s starting quarterback. The Patriots will decline his fifth-year option this offseason, and he will likely be traded or released.
We probably knew this months ago, but Jones’ time as the team’s franchise quarterback is over.
Winner: Pittsburgh Steelers Offense
In the first game without offensive coordinator Matt Canada, the Pittsburgh Steelers offense had its first 400-yard day this season. The last time the Steelers had more than 400 yards of offense before Sunday was in Week 2 of the 2020 season. Against the Bengals in Week 12, the Steelers racked up 421 yards and 22 first downs. It was the first time they outgained an opponent in 11 games.
The bad news was the Steelers managed to only score 16 points. However, they moved the ball up and down the field on the road.
The Steelers threw the ball down the middle of the field, something they hadn’t done under Canada. Take a look at Kenny Pickett’s passing chart from Week 12, and you’ll see a noticeable change in their passing offense from the first three months of the season.
The Steelers have to do a better job of turning some of these long drives into touchdowns, but this was an encouraging start in the post-Canada era. Sitting at 7-4, the Steelers are a near-lock to make the playoffs in the AFC and could be a dangerous team in the early rounds if their offense can keep improving.
Loser: New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints were the overwhelming preseason favorites to win the NFC South. They added QB Derek Carr to their offense, hoping he could spark the unit. Instead, the Saints are somewhat worse on offense this season than last.
New Orleans racks up a lot of yards every week, but it doesn't score many points. Against the Atlanta Falcons, they scored only 15 points. Worse yet, the game's biggest play was a pick-six by Atlanta safety Jessie Bates in the red zone.
The Saints sit 5-6 and have lost the tie-breaker to the Falcons (5-6). The Buccaneers remain in the hunt (4-7) as the NFC South remains the worst division in the NFL. The Saints are 12-16 under coach Dennis Allen, and the offense only continues to get worse.
Winner: Kyren Williams, RB, Los Angeles Rams
Who knew Kyren Williams was the key to unlocking the Los Angeles Rams offense? After missing the last several weeks due to an ankle injury, Williams returned to the lineup in Week 12 and exploded.Â
Williams had 22 touches and racked up 204 yards and two touchdowns. He averaged a whopping 9.27 yards per touch and 8.9 yards per carry. The Rams scored a season-high 37 points while amassing more than 450 yards from scrimmage. This offense can be highly dangerous whenever Matthew Stafford has a run game that he can trust.Â
Williams has only played seven games this season, but he’s racked up 765 yards and nine touchdowns. He is one of the most underrated running backs in the NFL and has the Rams in a position where they might be a NFC Wild Card contender.
