‘Best in the league’ running back has historic single-game performance, dramatic finish in Washington: NFL Week 12 Sunday review
Saquon Barkley (No. 26) had a historic performance as the Philadelphia Eagles beat the Los Angeles Rams. Ryan Sun/AP CNN —
With six teams on a bye in Week 12 and many heavily-favored teams in the games on the schedule, Sunday’s slate of games had the possibility of lacking intrigue.
But it didn’t play out that way, with historic performances from star players, thrilling endings to games and underdogs hanging around against their favored opponents.
Here are the main storylines from Sunday’s action.
Cleveland Browns defensive end Ogbo Okoronkwo and safety Rodney McLeod Jr. make snow angels after beating the Pittsburgh Steelers 24-19 in Cleveland on Thursday, November 21. Lauren Leigh Bacho/Getty Images
Green Bay Packers wide receiver Christian Watson leaps over San Francisco 49ers cornerback Renardo Green at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin, on Sunday, November 24. The Packers won 38-10. Patrick McDermott/Getty Images
Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams wipes sweat from his face on the sideline during his team’s 30-27 loss to the Minnesota Vikings in Chicago on November 24. Erin Hooley/AP
Minnesota Vikings linebacker Bo Richter celebrates after recovering a fumble on a Vikings punt in Chicago on November 24. Erin Hooley/AP
Kansas City Chiefs tight end Noah Gray catches a pass in front of Carolina Panthers safety Xavier Woods in Charlotte, North Carolina, on November 24. The Chiefs won 30-27. Grant Halverson/Getty Images
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Rakim Jarrett makes a catch during his team’s 30-7 victory over the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on November 24. Adam Hunger/AP
Pittsburgh Steelers kicker Chris Boswell kicks a field goal through the snow in Cleveland on Thursday, November 21. Scott Galvin/USA Today Sports/Reuters
Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen slips past Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Nazeeh Johnson to score on a 26-yard run near the end of the game in Orchard Park, New York, on Sunday, November 17. The Bills beat the Chiefs 30-21, ending Kansas City’s 15-game win streak. Allen finished with 262 yards, one touchdown and one interception while adding 57 yards and a score on the ground. Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens catches a pass in front of Baltimore Ravens cornerback Brandon Stephens during his team’s 18-16 victory in Pittsburgh on November 17. Matt Durisko/AP
New Orleans Saints tight end Taysom Hill rushes for a fourth quarter touchdown against the Cleveland Browns in New Orleans on November 17. Hill scored three touchdowns during the Saints’ 35-15 win. Sean Gardner/Getty Images
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow walks off the field after his team lost to the Los Angeles Chargers 34-27 in Inglewood, California, on November 17. The Bengals are 4-7 this season with the loss. Sam Greene/USA Today Sports/Reuters
Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley scores during his team’s 26-18 victory over the Washington Commanders in Philadelphia on Thursday, November 14. Matt Slocum/AP
Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Leo Chenal (54) blocks a 35-yard field goal attempt from Denver Broncos kicker Wil Lutz in the last play of the game in Kansas City, Missouri, on Sunday, November 10. The Chiefs won 16-14 and remain undefeated this season. Sam Lutz/Kansas City Chiefs/AP
Chicago Bears running back D’Andre Swift carries the ball past New England Patriots cornerback Marco Wilson and linebacker Anfernee Jennings at Soldier Field in Chicago on November 10. The Bears lost 19-3. Michael Reaves/Getty Images
A New York Jets fan watches the second half of the Jets’ 31-6 loss to the Arizona Cardinals in Glendale, Arizona, on November 10. Ross D. Franklin/AP
Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Milton Williams celebrates with teammates after recovering a Dallas Cowboys fumble in Arlington, Texas, on November 10. The Eagles won 34-6. Julio Cortez/AP
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins celebrates after a touchdown during the Falcons’ 20-17 loss to the New Orleans Saints in New Orleans on November 10. Tyler Kaufman/AP
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase hauls in a fourth quarter touchdown, his third of the night, in the team’s 35-34 loss to the AFC North rival Baltimore Ravens on Thursday, November 7. Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images
Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins celebrates a touchdown with a dance from the hit movie “Remember the Titans”, during a game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Kansas City, Missouri, on Monday, November 4. The Chiefs survived a rain storm and an injury scare to quarterback Patrick Mahomes to defeat the Buccaneers 30-24 in overtime and improve to 8-0 on the season. Jay Biggerstaff/USA Today Sports/Reuters
Dallas Cowboys safety Donovan Wilson, linebacker Eric Kendricks, Atlanta Falcons guard Ryan Neuzil and running back Bijan Robinson dive for a loose ball in Atlanta on Sunday, November 3. The Falcons defeated the Cowboys 27-21. Danny Karnik/AP
New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones celebrates a touchdown in the fourth quarter of the Giants’ 27-22 loss to the Washington Commanders in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on November 3. Luke Hales/Getty Images
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Josh Downs is tackled by Minnesota Vikings cornerback Byron Murphy Jr., left, and safety Camryn Bynum during the Vikings’ 21-13 victory in Minneapolis on November 3. Abbie Parr/AP
Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels fakes a hand off to running back Austin Ekeler during the game against the New York Giants on November 3. Luke Hales/Getty Images
Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley hurdles Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback Jarrian Jones in the second quarter of the Eagles’ 28-23 victory in Philadelphia on November 3. Elsa/Getty Images
Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers celebrates a touchdown in Baltimore on November 3. Greg Fiume/Getty Images
Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown, left, and wide receiver Tim Patrick celebrate after St. Brown caught a touchdown pass during a game against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin, on November 3. The Lions won 24-14. Tork Mason/USA Today Sports/Reuters
New York Jets wide receiver Garrett Wilson catches a pass for a touchdown as Houston Texans cornerback Kamari Lassiter defends at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on Thursday, October 31. The Jets ended their five-game losing streak with the 21-13 win. Seth Wenig/AP
New York Giants running back Devin Singletary stiff arms Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Joey Porter Jr. during the Steelers’ 26-18 win in Pittsburgh on Monday, October 28. Joe Sargent/Getty Images
Washington Commanders wide receiver Noah Brown catches a Hail Mary pass that was tipped with no time left to beat the Chicago Bears 18-15 at Commanders Field in Landover, Maryland, on Sunday, October 27. Peter Casey/USA Today Sports/Reuters
Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix scores a rushing touchdown in Denver on October 27. The Broncos beat the Carolina Panthers 28-14. C. Morgan Engel/Getty Images
Cincinnati Bengals running back Chase Brown, left, and his identical twin brother, Philadelphia Eagles safety Sydney Brown, exchange jerseys after the game between their teams in Cincinnati on October 27. The Eagles won 37-17. Joseph Maiorana/USA Today Sports/Reuters
Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa attempts a pass in the first quarter against the Arizona Cardinals at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami on October 27. The Dolphins lost 28-27. Carmen Mandato/Getty Images
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold reacts after being sacked for a safety in his own endzone by Los Angeles Rams linebacker Byron Young in Inglewood, California, on Thursday, October 24. TV replays showed Young had grabbed Darnold’s face mask. After the game, lead official Tra Blake said the incident went unpenalized because none of his officiating crew had a clear look at it. The Rams won 30-20. Mark J. Terrill/AP
Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert stiff arms Arizona Cardinals linebacker Mack Wilson Sr. during the Chargers’ 17-15 loss in Glendale, Arizona, on Monday, October 21. Michael Owens/Getty Images
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Chris Conley and Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Trent McDuffie vie for the ball on Sunday, October 20, in Santa Clara, California. Jed Jacobsohn/AP
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce is tackled by Miami Dolphins linebacker Jordyn Brooks on October 20 in Indianapolis. The Colts won 16-10. Andy Lyons/Getty Images
Washington Commanders tight end Zach Ertz celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Carolina Panthers on October 20 in Landover, Maryland. The Commanders won 40-7. Greg Fiume/Getty Images
Green Bay Packers kicker Brandon McManus celebrates with fans after kicking the game-winning field goal against the Houston Texans in Green Bay, Wisconsin, on October 20. The Packers won 24-22. Morry Gash/AP
Denver Broncos cornerback Riley Moss breaks up a pass to Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Ladd McConkey in the second half of the Broncos’ 23-16 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers in Denver on Sunday, October 13. Ron Chenoy/USA Today Sports/Reuters
Detroit Lions safety Brian Branch, center, celebrates an interception with his teammates during a game against the Dallas Cowboys in Arlington, Texas, on October 13. The Lions trounced the Cowboys 47-9. Matthew Pearce/Icon Sportswire/Getty Images
Green Bay Packers wide receiver Romeo Doubs dives for a touchdown in Green Bay, Wisconsin, on October 13. The Packers beat the Arizona Cardinals 34-13. Patrick McDermott/Getty Images
Denver Broncos cornerback Pat Surtain II stands for the national anthem on October 13. AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post/Getty Images
Philadelphia Eagles safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson stops Cleveland Browns tight end David Njoku in Philadelphia on October 13. The Eagles won 20-16. Matt Rourke/AP
Carolina Panthers linebacker Claudin Cherelus pressures Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins in Charlotte, North Carolina, on October 13. The Panthers lost 38-20. Grant Halverson/Getty Images
Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams walks down the tunnel after his team beat the Jacksonville Jaguars 35-16 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London on October 13. Williams completed 23 of his 29 pass attempts and throwing for 226 yards and four touchdowns. Zac Goodwin/PA Images/Getty Images
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel makes a catch during his team’s 36-24 victory over the Seattle Seahawks in Seattle on Thursday, October 10. Samuel became the first wide receiver in NFL history with 20 touchdown receptions and 20 touchdown runs after scoring on a 76-yard touchdown catch. John Froschauer/AP
San Francisco 49ers cornerback Isaac Yiadom and safety Ji’Ayir Brown break up a touchdown pass intended for Seattle Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf in Seattle on October 10. Steven Bisig/USA Today Sports/Reuters
New Orleans Saints linebacker Willie Gay Jr. signs autographs for a young Kansas City Chiefs fan before the start of the game between the teams in Kansas City, Missouri, on Monday, October 7. Gay played for the Chiefs for four seasons before signing with the Saints during the offseason. The Chiefs beat the Saints 26-13. Ed Zurga/AP
Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence eats a cupcake to celebrate his birthday after his team beat the Indianapolis Colts 37-34 at home in Jacksonville, Florida, on October 6. It was the Jaguars’ first win of the season. David Rosenblum/Icon Sportswire/Getty Images
Buffalo Bills wide receiver Keon Coleman scores on a 49-yard touchdown reception during the Bills’ 23-20 loss to the Houston Texans in Houston on October 6. Eric Gay/AP
Minnesota Vikings safety Camryn Bynum celebrates after a play during a game against the New York Jets in London on Sunday, October 6. The Vikings extended their win streak with a 23-17 victory. Steve Luciano/AP
Green Bay Packers punter Daniel Whelan grabs a high snap during a game against the Los Angeles Rams in Inglewood, California, on October 6. The Packers won 24-19. Gregory Bull/AP
Indianapolis Colts running back Trey Sermon runs with the ball during the second quarter against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Jacksonville, Florida, on October 6. Nathan Ray Seebeck/USA Today Sports/Reuters
New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers walks off the field after his team’s loss to the Minnesota Vikings in London on October 6. Rodgers was intercepted three times. Zac Goodwin/PA Wire
Houston Texans kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn celebrates with teammates after kicking a 59-yard field goal on the last play of his team’s victory over the Buffalo Bills in Houston on October 6. Eric Gay/AP
San Francisco 49ers cornerback Deommodore Lenoir runs for a touchdown after a blocked field goal during a game against the Arizona Cardinals in Santa Clara, California, on October 6. The Cardinals came back to narrowly upset the 49ers 24-23. Ezra Shaw/Getty Images
Denver Broncos cornerback Riley Moss celebrates after an interception in Denver on October 6. The Broncos beat the Las Vegas Raiders 34-18. Cooper Neill/Getty Images
Denver Broncos cornerback Tremon Smith celebrates as a field goal attempt by New York Jets kicker Greg Zuerlein misses in the fourth quarter in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on September 29. The Broncos won 10-9. Seth Wenig/AP
Carolina Panthers tight end Ja’Tavion Sanders fights off the tackle attempt by Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Germaine Pratt in Charlotte, North Carolina, on September 29. The Bengals beat the Panthers 34-24. Grant Halverson/Getty Images
Houston Texans safety Eric Murray celebrates after sacking Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence during the Texans’ 24-20 victory in Houston on September 29. Eric Gay/AP
San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle catches a touchdown pass in the end zone in Santa Clara, California, on September 29. The 49ers beat the New England Patriots 30-13. Jed Jacobsohn/AP
New York Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton bobbles the ball as he runs against Dallas Cowboys linebacker Eric Kendricks during the Giants’ 20-15 loss to the Cowboys in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on Thursday, September 26. Brad Penner/USA Today Sports/Reuters
Damar Hamlin of the Buffalo Bills celebrates an interception during the second quarter against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Orchard Park, New York, on Monday, September 23. This was his first career interception and latest milestone since he suffered from a cardiac arrest on the field in early 2023. Bryan M. Bennett/Getty Images
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Calvin Austin III runs with the ball for a touchdown during the Steelers’ 20-10 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers in Pittsburgh on Sunday, September 22. Brandon Sloter/Getty Images
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold throws the ball to tight end Johnny Mundt in Minneapolis on September 22. The Vikings beat the Houston Texans 34-7. Stephen Maturen/Getty Images
Kadeem Telfort of the Green Bay Packers takes a selfie with a fan after the Packers beat the Tennessee Titans 30-14 on the road in Nashville on September 22. John Amis/AP
Minnesota Vikings running back Aaron Jones lands in the end zone for a touchdown in Minneapolis on September 22. Stacy Bengs/AP
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott sits on the field after a play during the team’s 28-25 loss to the Baltimore Ravens in Arlington, Texas, on September 22. Cooper Neill/Getty Images
New York Jets wide receiver Allen Lazard runs past New England Patriots cornerback Alex Austin for a touchdown in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on Thursday, September 19. The Jets won 24-3. Brad Penner/USA Today Sports/Reuters
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Darnell Mooney scores a touchdown during the team’s 22-21 win over the Philadelphia Eagles in Philadelphia on Monday, September 16. Matt Slocum/AP
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes runs the ball against Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Dax Hill during the Chiefs’ 26-25 victory in Kansas City, Missouri, on Sunday, September 15. The defending Super Bowl champs moved to 2-0 on the season. Jay Biggerstaff/USA Today Sports/Reuters
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel Sr. catches a pass over Minnesota Vikings safety Camryn Bynum and linebacker Ivan Pace Jr. during a game in Minneapolis on September 15. The Vikings would go on to win the game 24-17. Abbie Parr/AP
New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara runs the ball during the Saints’ 44-19 win over the Dallas Cowboys in Arlington, Texas, on September 15. Kamara had four touchdowns in the game. Tim Heitman/USA Today Sports/Reuters
Miami Dolphins players attend to quarterback Tua Tagovailoa after he took a hit to the head in the second half of a game against the Buffalo Bills in Miami Gardens, Florida, on Thursday, September 12. Tagovailoa was later ruled out with a concussion. Jasen Vinlove/USA Today Sports/Reuters
New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers and teammates wait in a tunnel before a game against the San Francisco 49ers in Santa Clara, California, on Monday, September 9. This is the first game back for Rodgers since tearing his Achilles tendon last year after his first game of the season. Godofredo A. Vásquez/AP
Los Angeles Chargers players and Las Vegas Raiders players clash after a play during the second half of their game in Inglewood, California, on Sunday, September 8. Caroline Brehman/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott celebrates after a touchdown during the Cowboys’ 33-17 victory over the Cleveland Browns in Cleveland on September 8. Hours before the game, Prescott agreed to a record four-year, $240 million contract extension, making him the highest-paid player in the NFL. Ken Blaze/USA Today Sports/Reuters
Washington Commanders running back Brian Robinson Jr. breaks a tackle from Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker K.J. Britt in Tampa, Florida, on September 8. The Buccaneers beat the Commanders 37-20. Nathan Ray Seebeck/USA Today Sports/Reuters
Miami Dolphins wide receivers Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle celebrate a touchdown during a 20-17 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars in Miami Gardens, Florida, on September 8. Hill was detained for a short time by police after a traffic incident earlier in the day. Miami-Dade Police Department Director Stephanie V. Daniels said Sunday that an investigation has begun into the incident and one of the officers involved is being placed on administrative duties. Al Diaz/Miami Herald/Tribune News Service/Getty Images
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Justin Fields signals during the second half of a game against the Atlanta Falcons in Atlanta on September 8. The Steelers defeated the Falcons 18-10. Danny Karnik/AP
Tennessee Titans tight end Chigoziem Okonkwo, right, and Chicago Bears cornerback Tyrique Stevenson tumble in the end zone in Chicago on September 8. Okonkwo made the catch for a touchdown, but the Titans ultimately fell 24-17 to the Bears. David Banks/USA Today Sports/Reuters
Rhamondre Stevenson of the New England Patriots runs the ball against Cincinnati Bengals defenders in Cincinnati on September 8. The Patriots beat the Bengals 16-10. Jason Mowry/Getty Images
Minnesota Vikings linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel, center, celebrates his interception return for a touchdown during the Vikings’ 28-6 victory over the New York Giants in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on September 8. Vincent Carchietta/USA Today Sports/Reuters
Miami Dolphins and Jacksonville Jaguars players pray together at the end of the game in Miami Gardens, Florida, on September 8. Rebecca Blackwell/AP
Buffalo Bills wide receiver Khalil Shakir, top, dives for the end zone for a touchdown as Arizona Cardinals defensive tackle Justin Jones is unable to make the tackle in Orchard Park, New York, on September 8. The Bills won 34-28. Matt Slocum/AP
Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love walks off the field after taking a hit in the final seconds of a game against the Philadelphia Eagles in São Paulo early Saturday, September 7. The Eagles won 34-29. Brooke Sutton/Getty Images
Brazilian and American flags are presented on the field at Neo Química Arena – also known as Corinthians Arena – in São Paulo ahead of the game between the Green Bay Packers and Philadelphia Eagles on Friday, September 6. It was the first NFL game in South America. Kirby Lee/USA Today Sports/Reuters
Grammy Award-winning singer Taylor Swift cheers on boyfriend Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs during the game against the Baltimore Ravens in Kansas City, Missouri, on Thursday, September 5. Reed Hoffmann/AP
Baltimore Ravens tight end Isaiah Likely catches a pass with his toe out of bounds as time expires at the end of the game against the Kansas City Chiefs in Kansas City, Missouri, on September 5. The Chiefs won 27-20. Ed Zurga/AP
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes scrambles during the game against the Baltimore Ravens in Kansas City, Missouri, on September 5. Jay Biggerstaff/USA Today Sports/Reuters
Fans enter Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri, ahead of the game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Baltimore Ravens on September 5. Charlie Riedel/AP The best photos from the 2024 NFL season Prev Next Saquon Barkley has historic single-game performance
Saquon Barkley continued his excellent first season with the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday Night Football as his historic performance led his team to a 37-20 victory over the Los Angles Rams.
Barkley, who moved from the New York Giants to Philadelphia in the offseason, rushed for an Eagles franchise-record 255 yards on just 26 carries, finishing with over 300 total yards at SoFi Stadium to become just the 13th player in NFL history to reach that mark. 255 rushing yards in a game is also the ninth-most ever recorded in a single game by one player.
The 27-year-old had 73 yards in the first half before exploding for a 70-yard touchdown on the second half’s first play. Late into the fourth quarter, Barkley ran for another long touchdown, this time a 72-yard scamper to cap a memorable evening for the running back.
His two long rushing touchdowns meant he became the first player in NFL history with multiple rushing touchdowns of 70-plus yards in the second half of a single game.
Barkley leads the league in rushing at the moment – his main rival for that accolade, Derrick Henry, plays on Monday night as the Baltimore Ravens face the Los Angeles Chargers – and his teammates and opponents were full of praise for him afterwards.
“He’s the best in the league. He’s the best at what he does,” Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts said in his postgame interview. “He’s a bad man.”
Rams rookie linebacker Jared Verse said he’d “never seen a running back like that.”
Barkley leads the league in rushing in his debut season with the Eagles. Ronald Martinez/Getty Images
But Barkley stressed that there’s more to come. “My whole mantra this offseason and this season: how consistent I can be day-to-day,” he said after the game.
“Whether I rush for 250 yards or I rush for 50 yards, still come in on Monday and do the same thing. My story’s not finished and it’s going to keep going. When the season’s all said and done, we’ll look back and smile and be happy with the things I did or didn’t do.”
Barkley’s big solo performance helped the Eagles to an impressive victory on the road against an improving Rams team as Philadelphia won its seventh game in a row to improve to 9-2.
The Rams had actually scored the first touchdown of the game when Kyren Williams ran from one yard out, but the home team struggled to score points from then.
The Eagles went into halftime with a 13-7 lead before Barkley’s first long touchdown run extended the lead after the break, only for Los Angeles to cut the deficit to six points minutes later with a Matthew Stafford touchdown pass to DeMarcus Robinson.
But in response, Philadelphia scored 17 straight points to put the result beyond any doubt with a late score from Cooper Kupp cutting the final margin.
Thrilling ending to NFC East clash
Is this the wildest ending to a game we’ve seen all season?
Sunday’s game between the Washington Commanders and Dallas Cowboys had been a low-scoring affair through three quarters, with the Cowboys leading 10-9 at Northwest Stadium in Landover, Maryland.
But in the fourth quarter, all hell broke loose. A field goal and touchdown to Luke Schoonmaker meant Dallas had an 11-point lead with just over five minutes remaining before Washington replied with a Zach Ertz score and a two-point conversion to reduce the deficit to three.
However on the ensuing kickoff, Cowboys returner KaVontae Turpin had one of the plays of the season, looking like he might have thrown the game away when the ball slipped between his legs before gathering it at the one-yard line, producing a spin move to find a lane for himself and sprinting through a gap in the defense for an electric 99-yard kickoff return touchdown.
KaVontae Turpin’s (No. 9) kickoff touchdown started a thrilling end to Sunday’s game between the Cowboys and Commanders. Timothy Nwachukwu/Getty Images
“Once I hit the spin move and I got through, I knew for sure it was a touchdown,” Turpin said of his play.
The score looked to have taken the wind out of the Commanders’ sail and, although an Austin Seibert field goal made it a one-score game, it looked like a tall order for rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels to produce another moment of brilliance – he already led a Hail Mary victory over the Chicago Bears in Week 8 – when they got the ball back trailing a touchdown with 21 seconds remaining.
Daniels connected with wide receiver Terry McLaurin on his first pass attempt and McLaurin did the rest, sprinting 86 yards for a thrilling TD with just the extra point needed to tie the game as the Washington fans went wild.
McLaurin’s fourth-quarter touchdown gave the Commanders late hope but the missed extra point meant Washington trailed by one point with just a few seconds remaining. Timothy Nwachukwu/Getty Images
But there was dismay for the Commanders as Seibert hooked the kick and another miracle Washington comeback fell by the wayside. The home team did attempt an onside kick to get one more opportunity, but Cowboys safety Juanyeh Thomas scooped up the kick and ran it back 43 yards to seal the 34-26 victory for Dallas to end their five-game losing streak.
“It was a tale of two halves: their special teams made the good plays in the first half, ours made them in the second half,” Dallas head coach Mike McCarthy said. “And then we got down to it at the end here and it was just a game situational extravaganza. It was like Yahtzee, everything was in there … we still have to execute in those spots.”
There were 31 points scored in final 3:02 of Sunday’s game as the Cowboys righted their ship while the Commanders have now lost three in a row with any challenge of the Eagles at the top of the NFC East looking like a long shot.
Daniels did continue his historic first NFL season as he joined Washington’s quarterback, Marcus Mariota, as the only rookie quarterbacks ever with at least 250 passing yards, 70 rushing yards, two touchdown passes and a rushing touchdown in a game.
Chiefs get back to winning ways thanks to last-second field goal
It wasn’t pretty, but after suffering their first defeat of the season last time out, the Kansas City Chiefs got back to winning ways on Sunday with a narrow 30-27 victory over the Carolina Panthers.
Facing the Panthers – one of the worst teams over the last two years – on a two game-winning streak, the Chiefs found a way to make things close despite quarterback Patrick Mahomes having one of his better games of the season.
Mahomes threw 27-of-37 for 269 yards, three touchdowns – two to tight-end Noah Gray and one to DeAndre Hopkins – and no interceptions.
But thanks largely to 2023 No. 1 overall draft pick Bryce Young’s best game of the season, Carolina hung around, tying the game at 27-27 in the fourth quarter when Chuba Hubbard rumbled in one yard for a TD.
However, like he has done so often before, Mahomes produced a brilliant fourth-quarter drive to set up the game-winning attempt, making short passes to move the chains before a weaving 33-yard run moved the Chiefs into field goal territory.
And from 31 yards away as time expired, Spencer Shrader – filling in yet again for the injured Harrison Butker – did the rest as he blasted the field goal through the uprights and improved the Chiefs to 10-1 on the season.
Rookie Spencer Shrader (No. 40) kicked the game-winning field goal as the Chiefs beat the Panthers. Grant Halverson/Getty Images
Afterwards, Mahomes expressed his happiness at the victory but also emphasized how important it was for his team to be more efficient when it comes to redzone scoring.
“You always want to have some blowouts. You want it to be a little calmer in the fourth quarter,” he told reporters.
“But I’ve always said it can be a good thing when you get to the playoffs and later in the season just knowing that you’ve been in those moments before and knowing how to attack it play-by-play and not make it too big of a moment. But I would love to win a game not by the very last play.”
Mahomes’ clean game was his 24th career game with at least three touchdown passes and no interceptions, tied with Russell Wilson for the most such games by a player in his first eight seasons in NFL history.
Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce also marked a historic milestone with his 62 receiving yards, passing Antonio Gates for the third-most regular-season receiving yards by a tight end all-time as Kelce now has 11,897. Only Tony Gonzalez (15,127 receiving yards) and Jason Witten (13,046) have more.
For the Panthers, it was another positive outing, in particular from Young who continues to show development following his mid-season benching.
Full Week 12 Sunday scores
Away @ home (winners in bold)
Kansas City Chiefs 30-27 Carolina Panthers
Minnesota Vikings 30-27 (OT) Chicago Bears
Tennessee Titans 32-27 Houston Texans
Detroit Lions 24-6 Indianapolis Colts
New England Patriots 15-34 Miami Dolphins
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 30-7 New York Giants
Dallas Cowboys 34-26 Washington Commanders
Denver Broncos 29-19 Las Vegas Raiders
San Francisco 49ers 10-38 Green Bay Packers
Arizona Cardinals 6-16 Seattle Seahawks
Philadelphia Eagles 37-20 Los Angeles Rams