The Ravens took first place within the AFC on Sunday, however the Patriots are proper behind them, coming off their sixth-straight win. Take a look at Week 12’s prime storylines.
BALTIMORE — It is the primary time in weeks that we will say it wasn’t absolute carnage within the NFL on Sunday. There have been some upset wins, however nothing too excessive, as we have seen in latest weeks.
A majority of favored groups pulled off wins and a majority of residence groups pulled off wins this week.
The Cincinnati Bengals dominated the Pittsburgh Steelers to maneuver them to 7-4 on the 12 months, now on the prime of the AFC Wild Card.
Elsewhere within the AFC, the Broncos dominated the Chargers at residence as each groups at the moment are 6-5, competing for a wild card spot.
The Miami Dolphins have additionally quietly received their final 4 video games after they defeated the Carolina Panthers 33-10.
Let’s try a number of the different prime storylines from Sunday’s NFL motion.
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Fournette runs wild in Indianapolis
Final week, we noticed Colts working again Jonathan Taylor go off for 5 touchdowns. This week, it was his opponent that took over the sport.
Tampa Bay Bucs working again Leonard Fournette rushed for 3 touchdowns and caught one other as they Bucs defeated the Colts 38-31.
The Bucs trailed at half 24-14 however had been in a position to swing momentum again their approach early within the second half.
After the Bucs took a 31-24 lead on a subject aim early within the fourth quarter, the Colts put collectively a protracted drive to tie the sport at 31, however there was nonetheless loads of time for Tom Brady and co. They drove down the sector and Fournette rushed for a 28-yard landing to get the win.
“It was nice capping off the sport like that with a punch,” Fournette stated after the sport. “It bought scary on the finish, however it’s a workforce sport. We got here collectively and made it occur.”
Fournette carried 17 occasions for 100 yards and in addition had seven catches for 31 yards.
Tampa strikes to 8-3 with the win and stopped a three-game win streak for the Colts, who at the moment are 6-6.
The Colts have a very good likelihood to bounce again subsequent week in opposition to the Texans earlier than they’ve a bye after which the Patriots, Cardinals and Raiders in three-straight weeks.
Lamar Jackson tosses 4 INTs in win over Browns
The Ravens certain know tips on how to win ugly. It is not usually you see a “W” subsequent to a stat line like quarterback Lamar Jackson’s Sunday evening.
Jackson threw 4 interceptions and one landing because the Ravens defeated the Browns 16-10.
Jackson’s full line was 20-for-32 with 165 yards, 1 TD, 4 INTs and a passer ranking of simply 46.5. He additionally rushed for 68 yards on 17 carries.
“Our protection simply performed lights out at the moment,” Jackson stated after the sport. “I am ticked off, however I instructed all these guys: ‘Solution to have our again, option to have my again.'”
With the Sunday Evening Soccer win, Ravens head coach John Harbaugh moved to 18-2 in prime-time video games at residence.
“Protection was simply off the charts,” Harbaugh stated. “That is among the best defensive performances that we have seen out right here in a very long time.”
This sport seemed lots completely different from the sport they performed in December of final 12 months, when the Ravens defeated the Browns 47-42.
The Browns had each Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt again, however the duo mixed for simply 36 speeding yards.
The Ravens at the moment are 8-3, main the AFC North and so they’re the No. 1 seed within the AFC.
Patriots get sixth-straight win in rout of Titans
The most well liked workforce within the NFL simply retains going. The New England Patriots pulled away within the second half to defeat the injury-riddled Titans 36-13 on Sunday.
The Patriots have now received six-straight video games by a mean of practically 25 factors per sport. They’re blowing groups out.
Rookie New England quarterback Mac Jones threw two touchdowns and went 23-for-32 with 310 yards by the air.
After the Patriots allowed a 68-yard speeding landing by Dontrell Hilliard on the finish of the primary half to make it a three-point sport at halftime, the Patriots protection got here out swinging within the second half.
They ended up forcing 4 Titans turnovers within the sport.
The Patriots at the moment are 6-1 vs. AFC opponents.
“You are not gonna win a Tremendous Bowl now. You are gonna win it in February. We gotta preserve that very same mindset,” defensive lineman Davon Godchaux stated after the sport.
New England (8-4) takes on the 7-4 Payments in Buffalo subsequent week in what may have large stakes for the AFC East division.
Rams drop third-straight sport
The Los Angeles Rams had been as soon as 7-1 this season. Now, they’re 7-4.
They’ve misplaced three video games in 4 weeks as they got here off bye this week and misplaced to the Packers in Inexperienced Bay 36-28.
Matthew Stafford has thrown a pick-six in every of these three video games. He had one interception and a misplaced fumble on Sunday in Inexperienced Bay.
“Fairly self-explanatory, sort of numerous the identical narratives,” Rams coach Sean McVay stated after the sport. “We flip the ball over too many occasions. You possibly can’t get behind in opposition to a very good soccer workforce like that. I do love the way in which that our guys proceed to battle.”
Odell Beckham Jr. was extra concerned this week for L.A. with 5 catches for 81 yards and a landing.
Whereas the Rams slip, the Packers are within the second seed within the NFC at 9-3, simply behind the 9-2 Cardinals, who Inexperienced Bay defeated earlier this 12 months.
Aaron Rodgers went 28 of 45 for 307 yards and two touchdowns. Backup working again A.J. Dillon was robust for the Packers, speeding 20 occasions for 69 yards and catching a landing.
The Rams will look to cease the bleeding subsequent week after they face the Jacksonville Jaguars at residence earlier than heading to Arizona to face the Cardinals once more on Monday Evening Soccer.
The Packers head into their bye week within the driver’s seat within the NFC North.
