NFL Week 12

1. Friday November 24, 2021 CENTRAL VIRGINIA’S ONLY LOCAL WEEKLY NFL PUBLICATION GridironGoose@msn.com
NFL FEATURES RECORD NINE WEEK 12 GAMES INVOLVING TEAMS WITH .500-OR-BETTER RECORDS
The NFL is thankful for many things. To name a few, the 22-year-old legs of the league’s leading rusher, JONATHAN TAYLOR, and the
living Fountain of Youth TOM BRADY, who leads the NFL in both career touchdown passes (610) and 2021 touchdown passes (29).
The NFC-leading ARIZONA CARDINALS (9-2), who have won two of their last three games without some of their key contributors. And
the resurgent NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (7-4), who own the NFL’s longest winning streak, five. Along with the DALLAS COWBOYS
(7-3), these three clubs lead their divisions after missing the 2020 playoffs. At least two teams have won their divisions the season after
missing the playoffs in 17 of the past 18 years. This season, the NFL is grateful for 23 games decided by a winning score on the final
play, the most such games through Week 11 in league annals. And in Week 12, the NFL is thankful for the number nine. Nine games in
Week 12 feature two teams with .500-or-better records, the most such games in Week 12 or later in NFL history. It’s a recipe for
something delicious.
DON’T SLEEP ON ANYONE: So far this season, a game-winning score in the final two minutes of regulation or in overtime has
decided 37 contests, the third-most such games through Week 11 all-time. Only 2015 (39) and 2003 (39) had more.
Three teams – HOUSTON, INDIANAPOLIS and MINNESOTA – entered last week with a .500-or-below winning percentage and
defeated a team that began the week in first place or tied for first place in its division. Since Week 9, there have been 11 wins by teams
with a .500-or-below winning percentage against division leaders, the most such wins to occur during Weeks 9-11 of a single season
since 1970. Houston and Minnesota each defeated teams that entered Week 11 with at least four more victories on the season. There
have been eight such wins this season – by teams with at least four fewer wins than their opponents entering the game – tied with 1974
(eight) for the most such games through Week 11.
AFC WEST, AFC NORTH ARE ANYONE’S DIVISIONS: Every team in both the AFC West and AFC North is .500 or better. It’s the first
time in five years that any NFL division – not to mention two this season – has entered Week 12 without a team below .500. In 2016, all
four NFC East teams – Dallas (9-1), the New York Giants (7-3), Washington (6-3-1) and Philadelphia (5-5) reached that threshold after
11 weeks.
In last week’s win, Minnesota quarterback KIRK COUSINS passed for 341 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions for a
128.4 rating while wide receiver JUSTIN JEFFERSON had eight receptions for 169 yards and two touchdowns. Cousins has 21
touchdowns and only two interceptions this season, the fifth-best touchdown-to-interception ratio (10.5) through a player’s first 10
games of a season (minimum 20 touchdown passes) in NFL history.
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2. CHICAGO BEARS (3-7) AT DETROIT LIONS (0-9-1)- BEARS- QB ANDY DALTON passed for 201 yards & 2 TDs vs. 0 INTs for 107.3
rating last week. Passed for 372 yards & 3 TDs vs. 0 INTs for 135.9 rating in his only career start at Det. (10/20/13 w/ Cin.). Passed for
215 yards & TD vs. INT for 84.8 rating on Thanksgiving w/ Dal. last season (11/26/20 vs. Was.)…RB DAVID MONTGOMERY rushed
for 106 yards & 2 TDs in Week 4 meeting. Aims for his 3rd in row vs. Det. with 100+ scrimmage yards & 2+ rush TDs. Had 87
scrimmage yards (75 rush, 12 rec.) & TD catch in last Thanksgiving meeting (11/28/19). Has 5 TDs (4 rush, 1 rec.) in his past 6 on
road…WR ALLEN ROBINSON has 5+ catches & 70+ rec. yards in 4 of his past 5 vs. Det. & aims for his 6th in row vs. Det. with 60+
rec. yards. Had 8 catches for 86 yards & rec. TD in last Thanksgiving meeting (11/28/19). WR DARNELL MOONEY had 121 rec. yards
& TD catch last week. Had 5 catches for 125 yards in Week 4 meeting…LB ROQUAN SMITH had career-high 17 tackles last week.
Has 74 tackles (10.6 per game) & 5 sacks in 7 career games vs. Det. Had 16 tackles & 2 sacks in last Thanksgiving meeting
(11/28/19). LB ROBERT QUINN had career-high 3.5 sacks last week & has 5th-career season with 10+ sacks (10) in 2021. Has sack in
2 of his past 3 on road. Had sack & FF in last meeting. Aims for his 3rd in row at Det. with sack. DB EDDIE JACKSON aims for his 3rd
in row vs. Det. on Thanksgiving with INT. CB JAYLON JOHNSON aims for his 4th in row vs. Det. with PD. LIONS- QB JARED GOFF
passed for 299 yards & 2 TDs vs. 0 INTs for 105 rating in Week 4 meeting. Aims for his 3rd in row vs. Chi. with 2+ TD passes & 100+
rating. Has 90+ rating in 3 of his 4 home starts this season. QB TIM BOYLE made his 1st career start in Week 11…RB D'ANDRE
SWIFT had career-high 136 rush yards last week. Is 1 of 2 RBs (AUSTIN EKELER) with 500+ rush yards (555) & 400+ rec. yards
(420). Leads all RBs with 53 catches in 2021. Had rush TD in last home meeting. Has TD in 4 of his past 5 at home. Aims for his 5th in
row at home with 5+ catches & 9th in row at home with 50+ scrimmage yards. RB JAMAAL WILLIAMS has rush TD in 2 of his 3 home
games this season. Has 60+ rush yards in 2 of his past 3 vs. Det…TE T.J. HOCKENSON leads all NFC TEs in receptions (54) & ranks
2nd in rec. yards (499) in 2021. Had 6 catches in last Thanksgiving meeting (11/28/19). Had 5 catches for 56 yards & rec. TD in last
home meeting. Has 8+ receptions & 70+ rec. yards in 3 of his 4 home games this season. WR KALIF RAYMOND had 2 rec. TDs in
Week 4 meeting. Has 6+ catches in 2 of his past 3 at home…CB AMANI ORUWARIYE had career-high 4th INT last week. Had 6
tackles & INT in last meeting. Has INT in 2 of his past 3 at home. LB CHARLES HARRIS had sack & FF in last meeting & aims for his
3rd in row vs. Chi. with sack. LB TREY FLOWERS had sack in last meeting on Thanksgiving (11/28/19). Aims for his 4th in row vs. Chi.
with sack.
LAS VEGAS RAIDERS (5-5) AT DALLAS COWBOYS (7-3)- RAIDERS- QB DEREK CARR completed 19 of 27 atts. (70.4 pct.) for 215
yards & 90.8 rating last week. Aims for 3rd in row with 70+ comp. pct. Has 2+ TD passes in 5 of his past 6 on road. Passed for 2 TDs
vs. 0 INTs in last meeting. Aims for his 3rd in row vs. NFC East with 295+ pass yards. Has 6 TDs vs. INT in 7 career starts on
Thursday. Ranks 3rd in NFL with 3,041 pass yards & is 4th QB ever with 3,000+ pass yards in each of 1st 8 seasons…RB JOSH
JACOBS aims for his 3rd in row on road with 80+ scrimmage yards. Aims for his 3rd in row on Thursday with 100+ scrimmage yards &
TD. Has rush TD in 2 of his past 3 vs. NFC. RB KENYAN DRAKE rushed for 164 yards & 2 TDs in his last game vs. Dal. (10/19/20 w/
Az.). Aims for his 3rd in row on road with 70+ scrimmage yards. Aims for his 4th in row on Thursday with rush TD…TE DARREN
WALLER had 7 catches for season-high 116 yards last week. Has 90+ rec. yards in 2 of past 3. Aims for his 7th in row on road with 50+
rec. yards. Has TD catch in 2 of his past 3 on Thursday. TE FOSTER MOREAU had 3rd rec. TD of season last week. WR HUNTER
RENFROW has TD catch in 2 of past 3…DE YANNICK NGAKOUE had sack & FF last week & has 5 sacks in his past 4. Has FF in 2 of
past 3. Had 3 TFL & 2 sacks in only career game at Dal. (10/14/18 w/ Jax.). DE MAXX CROSBY had TFL in Week 11. Aims for his 3rd
in row on road with TFL. COWBOYS- QB DAK PRESCOTT has 15 TDs (14 pass, 1 rush) vs. 2 INTs for 118.1 rating in 5 home starts
this season & aims for his 6th in row at home with 2+ TD passes. Had rush TD in last meeting. Passed for 355 yards & 2 TDs in last
Thanksgiving start (11/28/19 vs. Buf.). Has 90+ rating in 3 of his 4 starts on Thanksgiving…RB EZEKIEL ELLIOTT has 439 scrimmage
yards (109.8 per game) & 3 rush TDs in 4 games on Thanksgiving. Can join HOFers EMMITT SMITH (8), MICHAEL IRVIN (4) &
BARRY SANDERS (4) as only players with 4+ games with 100+ scrimmage yards on Thanksgiving. Has 7 TDs (6 rush, 1 rec.) in 5
home games in 2021. RB TONY POLLARD had 70 scrimmage yards (50 rush, 20 rec.) last week. Has 65+ scrimmage yards in 4 of his
5 home games this season…TE DALTON SCHULTZ led team with 6 catches & 53 rec. yards last week. Has 50+ rec. yards in 4 of his
past 5 at home. Ranks 2nd among NFC TEs in receptions (44) & tied-3rd in rec. yards (491). WR CEEDEE LAMB has 80+ rec. yards &
TD catch in 2 of his past 3 at home…CB TREVON DIGGS leads NFL with 8 INTs & ranks 2nd with 13 PD. Has 10 PD & 6 INTs in his
past 6 at home. Rookie LB MICAH PARSONS had 2 sacks & FF last week. Leads all rookies with 8 sacks in 2021. Has 5 sacks in 5
home games. Aims for his 3rd in row with FF & 4th in row with sack. S JAYRON KEARSE had 2nd-career INT last week.

3. BUFFALO BILLS (6-4) AT NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (5-5)- BILLS- QB JOSH ALLEN passed for 209 yards & 2 TDs vs. 2 INTs last
week. Has 2+ TD passes in 8 of past 9. Has 2+ TD passes in 8 of his past 9 on road. Completed 19 of 24 passes (79.2 pct.) for 231
yards & TD vs. 0 INTs for 120.7 rating in only career start on Thanksgiving (2019 at Dal)…RB MATT BREIDA aims for 3rd in row with
50+ scrimmage yards. RB DEVIN SINGLETARY had 101 scrimmage yards (63 rush, 38 rec.) & TD catch in only career Thanksgiving
game (2019 at Dal.)…WR STEFON DIGGS had season-high 2 rec. TDs last week & aims for 3rd in row with TD catch. Has 17 catches
for 212 yards (106 per game) & 3 TDs in 2 career games vs. NO. Aims for his 4th in row on road with 85+ rec. yards & 10th in row on
road with 60+ rec. yards. Had 5 catches for 66 yards in only career game on Thanksgiving (2017 at Det., with Min.). Aims for his 3rd in
row on Thursday with 120+ rec. yards. WR EMMANUEL SANDERS had 7 catches for 157 yards & TD in his last game vs. NO (12/8/19
w/ SF). Had TD catch in only career Thanksgiving game (2013 at Bal., w/ Pit.). TE DAWSON KNOX had season-high 6 catches for 80
yards last week. Aims for his 3rd in row vs. NFC with rec. TD…CB TRE'DAVIOUS WHITE had 7 tackles in Week 11. Aims for his 3rd in
row on road with PD. Had PD in last meeting.Had 2 PD in only career Thanksgiving game (2019 at Dal.). S JORDAN POYER aims for
3rd in row with 7+ tackles. Had 10 tackles in last meeting. LB MATT MILANO led team with 9 tackles & had TFL last week. SAINTS-
QB TREVOR SIEMIAN had 4 TDs (3 pass, 1 rush) last week. Has 2+ TD passes in each of his 3 starts in 2021. Has 3 TDs vs. 0 INTs
for 89.5 rating in 3 home games this season. Aims for his 3rd in row at home with TD pass vs. 0 INTs. QB TAYSOM HILL had 2 TDs (1
rush, 1 rec.) in his last game on Thanksgiving (11/28/19 at Atl)…RB ALVIN KAMARA has 14 TDs (11 rush, 3 rec.) in his past 8 at
home. Aims for his 3rd in row at home with rush TD & 7th in row at home with 75+ scrimmage yards. Had 138 scrimmage yards (106
rush, 32 rec.) & rush TD in last meeting. Aims for his 3rd in row on Thanksgiving with 80+ scrimmage yards. RB MARK INGRAM had
season-high 113 scrimmage yards (88 rush, 25 rec.) last week & aims for his 3rd in row with 100+ scrimmage yards. Had 131 rush
yards & set career-high with 3 rush TDs in last meeting…WR MARQUEZ CALLAWAY had career-high 6th rec. TD of season in Week
11 & aims for his 4th in row with TD catch…DE CAMERON JORDAN is 1 of 5 players with 6+ sacks (6) on Thanksgiving since 1982 &
aims for his 3rd in row on holiday with 2+ sacks. Aims for his 3rd in row at home with sack. Had sack, FF & FR in last home meeting. LB
DEMARIO DAVIS had sack & FR in his last game vs. Buf. (11/2/17 w/ NYJ). Has 8+ tackles in 7 of his past 8 vs. Buf. DE MARCUS
DAVENPORT aims for his 4th in row with sack. Had 2 sacks & 2 FFs in his last game on Thanksgiving (11/28/19 at Atl.).
PITTSBURGH STEELERS (5-4-1) AT CINCINNATI BENGALS (6-4)- STEELERS- QB BEN ROETHLISBERGER completed 28 of 44
atts. (63.6 pct.) for 273 yards & 3 TDs vs. 0 INTs for 103.7 rating last week. Has 9 TDs vs. 0 INTs for 104.3 rating in his past 5. Aims for
3rd in row with 2+ TD passes & 100+ rating. Passed for season-high 318 yards in Week 3 meeting…RB NAJEE HARRIS had 59
scrimmage yards (39 rush, 20 rec.) & rushed for TD last week. Has rush TD in 3 of past 4 & 75+ scrimmage yards in 8 of past 9. Aims
for 4th in row on road with rush TD. Had 142 scrimmage yards (career-high 102 rec., 40 rush) with 14 catches & rush TD in Week 3
meeting. Leads rookies in scrimmage yards (1,022), rush yards (685) & rush TDs (5). RB BENNY SNELL rushed for 84 yards & TD in
last road meeting. Aims for 3rd in row at Cin. with 100+ scrimmage yards…WR DIONTAE JOHNSON had 7 catches for 101 yards & TD
last week. Aims for 3rd in row with 80+ rec. yards & 6th in row with 5+ catches. Has rec. TD in 3 of 4 career games vs. Cin. WR CHASE
CLAYPOOL had 5 catches for 93 yards in Week 11. Had 9 catches for 96 yards in Week 3 meeting. Rookie TE PAT FREIERMUTH
had TD catch last week & has rec. TD in 3 of past 4. Had TD catch in Week 3 meeting. Leads rookie TEs with 5 rec. TDs…LB T.J.
WATT aims for his 6th in row vs. Cin. with sack. Has 5.5 sacks in 3 road games this season. Ranks 2nd in NFL with 12.5 sacks in 2021.
LB ALEX HIGHSMITH had 1.5 sacks in Week 11. CB CAMERON SUTTON led team with career-high 10 tackles & had 1st INT of
season last week. Had PD in last road meeting. BENGALS- QB JOE BURROW completed 20 of 29 atts. (69 pct.) for 148 yards & TD
for 92.3 rating last week. Has 250+ pass yards in 6 of past 7. Passed for 3 TDs vs. INT & 122.9 rating in Week 3 meeting. Has 2+TD
passes in 5 of his past 6 starts at home. Has 3+ TD passes & 110+ rating in 2 of 3 starts vs. division in 2021…RB JOE MIXON rushed
for 123 yards & 2 TDs last week, his 6th- career game with 2 rush TDs. Aims for 8th in row with TD & 3rd in row with 110+ scrimmage
yards, 2nd-longest active TD streak in NFL. Rushed for 90 yards in Week 3 meeting. Has 75+ scrimmage yards in 4 of his past 5 vs.
Pit. Ranks 4th in NFL with career-high 9 rush TDs…WR JA'MARR CHASE (rookie) had TD catch last week & has rec. TD in 3 of past 4.
Had 4 catches for 65 yards & career-high 2 TDs in Week 3 meeting. Has 75+ rec. yards in 3 of 4 2021 home games. Has 315 rec.
yards (105 per game) & 3 rec. TDs in 3 games vs. division this season. Leads rookies with 867 rec. yards & 8 rec. TDs. WR TYLER
BOYD had 6 catches for 49 yards last week & has 5+ catches in 2 of past 3. Had rec. TD in Week 3 meeting. WR TEE HIGGINS has
75+ rec. yards in 2 of past 3…DE TREY HENDRICKSON had sack & FF last week & aims for 7th in row with sack, longest active streak
in NFL. Had sack in Week 3 meeting. LB SAM HUBBARD had sack & 1st FR of season in Week 11. Aims for 3rd in row with sack. Had
sack in Week 3 meeting. LB LOGAN WILSON is 1 of 4 AFC LBs with 5+ tackles in 10+ games in 2021. Had career-high 2 INTs in
Week 3 meeting.

4. TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (7-3) AT INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (6-5)- BUCCANEERS- QB TOM BRADY passed for 307 yards & 2
TDs last week & has 5 games with 300+ pass yards in 2021, tied-most in NFL. Leads NFL with 29 TD passes. Ranks 2nd in pass yards
(3,177) & has 19 seasons with 3,000+ pass yards, most in NFL history. Has 100+ rating in 6 of his past 7 reg. season games vs. Ind.
Aims for his 9th in row in reg. season vs. Ind. with 2+ TD passes…RB LEONARD FOURNETTE had 6 catches & 74 scrmimage yards
(39 rec., 35 rush) last week. Has 7 games with 70+ scrimmage yards in 2021, tied-most among NFC RBs. Has 3 TDs (2 rush, 1 rec.) in
3 career games vs. Ind…WR MIKE EVANS led team with 73 rec. yards & had TD catch last week. Has 72 TDs, most in franchise
history. Ranks tied-1st in NFL with 10 rec. TDs & aims for his 5th in row with TD catch. Has 4 seasons with 10+ TD catches since 2014,
tied-most in NFL. WR CHRIS GODWIN had 5th TD catch of season last week. Aims for his 7th in row with 5+ catches. TE ROB
GRONKOWSKI has 8,739 rec. yards, 5th-most by TE in NFL history. Has 8 TDs (7 rec., 1 rush) in 7 career games vs. Ind., incl.
playoffs…LB LAVONTE DAVID aims for his 3rd in row vs. Ind. with 6+ tackles & 4th in row overall with 8+ tackles. LB DEVIN WHITE
aims for his 3rd in row on road with 10+ tackles. Needs 3 tackles for 3rd-consecutive season with 90+ tackles. Had FF in last meeting.
LB SHAQUIL BARRETT had sack in last meeting. S MIKE EDWARDS had career-high 3rd INT of season last week. S ANTOINE
WINFIELD JR. aims for his 3rd in row with FR. COLTS- QB CARSON WENTZ completed 11 of 20 atts. (55 pct.) for 106 yards & TD vs.
0 INTs last week. Has 0 INTs in 8 of his past 9 starts. Has 2+ TD passes in 3 of his past 4 starts at home. Is 1 of 2 in NFL (KIRK
COUSINS) with 3 or fewer INTs (3) in 2021, min. 200 atts. Needs 16 pass yards for 6th consecutive season with 2,500+ pass
yards…RB JONATHAN TAYLOR had 204 scrimmage yards (185 rush, 19 rec.) & career-high 5 TDs (4 rush, 1 rec.) last week,
becoming 1st player ever with 175+ rush yards, 4+ rush yards & rec. TD in single game. Can become 1st player in NFL history with
100+ scrimmage yards & rush TD in 9 consecutive games. Leads NFL with 1,444 scrimmage yards (1,122 rush, 322 rec.) & 15 TDs (13
rush, 2 rec.) & is 4th player since 2000 with 1,000+ rush yards & 10+ rush TDs in each of 1st 2 seasons…WR MICHAEL PITTMAN
aims for 4th in row on road with 5+ catches & 60+ rec. yards. Has TD catch in 2 of past 3 at home. Aims for 3rd in row vs. NFC with
100+ rec. yards. WR T.Y. HILTON had 6 catches for 95 yards & 2 TDs in only career game vs. TB (11/29/15). TE JACK DOYLE has
rec. TD in 2 of past 3 at home…LB DARIUS LEONARD is 1 of 2 in NFL (DE'VONDRE CAMPBELL) with 5+ tackles in 11 games in
2021. Had career-high 2 INTs & only career INT-TD in last meeting. CB KENNY MOORE had INT in Week 11. Aims for 5th in row with
PD. Has 6 PD in past 3 at home. DE KWITY PAYE had sack & FF last week. LB ZAIRE FRANKLIN & S GEORGE ODUM each had 1st
INT of season last week.
KEY PLAYER NOTES
PATRIOTS QB MAC JONES completed 22 of 26 atts. (season-high 84.6 pct.) for 207 yards & TD vs. INT for 96.6 rating last week &
became 1st rookie ever with 80+ comp. pct. in consecutive games (min. 15 atts.). Has 9 TDs vs. 2 INTs for 117 rating in his past 4 at
home. Aims for 5th in row at home with 2+ TD passes & 100+ rating. Leads rookies in completions (245), comp. pct. (70.2), pass yards
(2,540), TD passes (14) & rating (94.7).
CHARGERS QB JUSTIN HERBERT completed 30 of 41 atts. (73.2 pct.) for 382 yards & 3 TDs vs. INT for 116.1 rating & rushed for
career-high 90 yards last week. Has 350+ pass yards, 2+ TD passes & 115+ rating in 2 of past 3. Passed for 253 yards & TD vs. 0 INTs
for 97.2 rating in last meeting. Has 17 TDs (15 pass, 2 rush) vs. 0 INTs for 114.6 rating in his past 6 starts vs. division.
GIANTS RB SAQUON BARKLEY has 555 scrimmage yards (138.8 per game) & 4 TDs (3 rush, 1 rec.) in 4 career games vs. Phi. Aims
for his 3rd in row at home vs. Phi. with 115+ scrimmage yards & rush TD. Has 1,704 scrimmage yards (131.1 per game) in 13 career
games vs. NFC East.
JAGUARS RB JAMES ROBINSON aims for his 5th in row at home & 3rd in row overall with rush TD. Has rush TD in 6 of his past 7.
Has 100+ scrimmage yards in 3 of his past 4 at home. Has 7 rush TDs this season & joined MAURICE JONES-DREW (2006-07) as
only players in franchise history with 7+ rush TDs in each of 1st 2 seasons.
PANTHERS RB CHRISTIAN MCCAFFREY has 100+ scrimmage yards in 5 of his 6 games this season. Had 2 TDs (1 rush, 1 rec.) in
last meeting. Aims for his 3rd in row vs. AFC East with 100+ scrimmage yards. Has 130+ scrimmage yards in 7 of his past 9 on road.
Needs 2 catches to surpass ROGER CRAIG & ALVIN KAMARA (358) for most by RB in 1st 5 seasons all-time.
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