# NFL Week 12

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-12/1024956>\
**Category:** The Game Room\
**Tags:** football-nfl\
**Created:** [November 18, 2025, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-12/1024956 "2025-11-18T15:45:24Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 20\
**Page:** 3

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**Author:** ![SuntanLotion](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suntanlotion/32/16165_2.png) [@SuntanLotion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuntanLotion)\
**Post date:** [November 24, 2025, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-12/1024956/41 "2025-11-24T01:16:51Z")

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And here I had given up on my Ravens.  
Apparently that was what made them win again.

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**Author:** ![SenorBeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senorbeef/32/2220_2.png) [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\
**Post date:** [November 24, 2025, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-12/1024956/42 "2025-11-24T02:01:49Z")

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Myles Garrett has 18 sacks with 6 games left in the season, and he’s playing on a team that’s never in the lead so the other team is never forced to pass.

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**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\
**Post date:** [November 24, 2025, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-12/1024956/43 "2025-11-24T02:08:19Z")

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And the Giants have been officially eliminated.

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**Author:** ![ShadowFacts](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shadowfacts/32/2934_2.png) [@ShadowFacts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShadowFacts)\
**Post date:** [November 24, 2025, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-12/1024956/44 "2025-11-24T15:53:54Z")

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> [@Telemark](#):
>
> The Patriots really have to work on the Tush Push.
> 
> Also, the injury bug finally bit, and it bit hard

Yeah, the Patriots win ugly on the road again, but despite their record, the cracks are starting to show pretty clearly. Without Milton Williams, their run defense has gone from league-leading to “meh.” And now their entire left side of the o-line, including first round pick T Will Campbell, is hurt - with Campbell’s injury possibly season-ending. The Pats are going to have to plug in a moldy sack of potatoes - excuse me, I mean Vederian Lowe - at LT, which means Maye is likely to face a ton of blind side pressure moving forward. I suspect with all of these injuries, we’ll soon be seeing the Patriots look like what everyone expected them to look like this year, at least against the better teams.

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**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\
**Post date:** [November 24, 2025, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-12/1024956/45 "2025-11-24T16:52:08Z")

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> [@Hamlet](#):
>
> I said it last week, and it bears repeating: The Vikings have a J.J. McCarthy problem.

Read today: “It’s hard for any team to function when their quarterback has a sundial for his internal clock.”

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**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\
**Post date:** [November 24, 2025, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-12/1024956/46 "2025-11-24T17:00:42Z")

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Two coordinators for struggling teams have been invited to explore other career opportunities: Raiders OC Chip Kelly, and Giants DC Shane Bowen.

Kelly was in his first year with the Raiders, under new head coach Pete Carroll; this is the second straight year that the Raiders fired their OC mid-season. The team is at or near the bottom of the league in most offense measures, and has scored 10 or fewer points in four games.

Bowen had been hired last year by Brian Daboll (who was, himself, fired two weeks ago); his defense had surrendered five different 10+ point leads this season.

> **[Reeling Raiders fire Kelly amid first year as OC](https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/47080473/sources-chip-kelly-offensive-coordinator-raiders)**
>
> Chip Kelly is out as the offensive coordinator of the Raiders, a decision that came after the team's 24-10 loss to the Browns.

> **[Giants fire DC Bowen after another late collapse](https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/47084249/source-giants-fire-defensive-coordinator-shane-bowen)**
>
> The Giants have fired defensive coordinator Shane Bowen after New York blew a double-digit lead on Sunday for the fifth time this season, tying an NFL record.

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**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\
**Post date:** [November 24, 2025, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-12/1024956/47 "2025-11-24T18:27:32Z")

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I have to say, after seeing Seattle play against the Titans, Cam Ward is the real deal. What a talented QB. If he wasn’t on a crappy team that can’t win games, he’d be the biggest story in the NFL this year.

Maybe Tennessee can build around him. Otherwise he’ll be a story about what could have been, like Andrew Luck was.

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**Author:** ![Great\_Antibob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Great\_Antibob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Antibob)\
**Post date:** [November 24, 2025, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-12/1024956/48 "2025-11-24T18:35:16Z")

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Maybe Tennessee can manage it. But it’s the same ownership that fired Mike Vrabel, who I hear might be doing alright elsewhere.

Seems like a common story - how can anybody build a consistent winner despite bad ownership?

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**Author:** ![smithsb](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smithsb/32/12107_2.png) [@smithsb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smithsb)\
**Post date:** [November 24, 2025, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-12/1024956/49 "2025-11-24T19:56:21Z")

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I’m guessing Kelly will be interviewed for some of the high profile college coach positions. Great way to get a multi-million $$ guarantee as you ride into the sunset.

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**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\
**Post date:** [November 24, 2025, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-12/1024956/50 "2025-11-24T20:14:11Z")

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> [@kenobi\_65](#):
>
> Bowen had been hired last year by Brian Daboll (who was, himself, fired two weeks ago); his defense had surrendered five different 10+ point leads this season.

Has this situation ever happened before where a coordinator got fired AFTER the head coach got fired? I’ve seen coordinators get fired first or at the same time, but it seems odd to fire him now, especially since the Giants got knocked out of playoff contention.

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**Author:** ![Hamlet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hamlet/32/2818_2.png) [@Hamlet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamlet)\
**Post date:** [November 24, 2025, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-12/1024956/51 "2025-11-24T22:25:27Z")

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In an “interesting” twist to the JJ McCarthy saga, he is now in concussion protocol after “exhibiting symptoms” on the flight home from Sunday’s game. Hope he gets well soon.

Part of me is sympathetic for a young man who struggles while under a massive amount of pressure that comes from being an NFL QB. Hopefully he can get healthy/find a better headspace/get some time to figure stuff out.

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**Author:** ![3AxisCtrl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/3/ecd19e/32.png) [@3AxisCtrl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/3AxisCtrl)\
**Post date:** [November 24, 2025, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-12/1024956/52 "2025-11-24T23:23:11Z")

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A [notable punt play in the Eagles-Cowboys game](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b0RA776adao) (skip to 1:02 for the actual play).

Summary:

Cowboys’ punter kicks 58 yards to the 1-yd line; Eagles’ receiver, strangely, decides to return it. Cowboys’ #38 (Alijah Clark) gets hammered on his way downfield, but, undeterred, gets to the returner and causes a fumble at the 12-yd line, which is recovered by #44 (Trent Sieg), the Cowboys’ long snapper.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\
**Post date:** [November 24, 2025, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-12/1024956/53 "2025-11-24T23:56:27Z")

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> [@Hamlet](#):
>
> In an “interesting” twist to the JJ McCarthy saga, he is now in concussion protocol after “exhibiting symptoms” on the flight home from Sunday’s game. Hope he gets well soon.

Finally, finally the world might see the majesty of Max Brosmer!

This is the day that everything changed.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\
**Post date:** [November 25, 2025, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-12/1024956/54 "2025-11-25T00:13:14Z")

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> [@Hamlet](#):
>
> In an “interesting” twist to the JJ McCarthy saga, he is now in concussion protocol after “exhibiting symptoms” on the flight home from Sunday’s game. Hope he gets well soon.

Despite the fact that he plays for the Vikings, I’ve been pulling for McCarthy. He grew up a mile or two away from where I live, and went to high school with the son of my hair stylist.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![ShadowFacts](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shadowfacts/32/2934_2.png) [@ShadowFacts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShadowFacts)\
**Post date:** [November 25, 2025, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-12/1024956/55 "2025-11-25T00:15:30Z")

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> [@kenobi\_65](#):
>
> He grew up a mile or two away from where I live, and went to high school with the son of my hair stylist

You’re practically brothers! 😉

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\
**Post date:** [November 25, 2025, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-12/1024956/56 "2025-11-25T00:23:00Z")

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[![](https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQgayLlaFpq8z01wvX7WR9zielbyDBo48j0Sg&s) ](https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQgayLlaFpq8z01wvX7WR9zielbyDBo48j0Sg&s)

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\
**Post date:** [November 25, 2025, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-12/1024956/57 "2025-11-25T15:42:52Z")

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[Week 13 thread](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-13/1025123)

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Moriarty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moriarty/32/49_2.png) [@Moriarty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moriarty)\
**Post date:** [November 25, 2025, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-12/1024956/58 "2025-11-25T19:14:07Z")

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> [@Hamlet](#):
>
> In an “interesting” twist to the JJ McCarthy saga, he is now in concussion protocol after “exhibiting symptoms” on the flight home from Sunday’s game.

That sounds like code for receiving a beat down in the back of the plane.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\
**Post date:** [November 25, 2025, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-12/1024956/59 "2025-11-25T19:26:53Z")

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> [@Hamlet](#):
>
> In an “interesting” twist to the JJ McCarthy saga, he is now in concussion protocol after “exhibiting symptoms” on the flight home from Sunday’s game.

He did get sacked five times, and hit at least another five times, against the Packers. OTOH, it may also be that the Vikings just want to shut him down for a bit, and (a) give him a chance to get healthier in general, as well as (b) see if they have anything in Max Brosmer.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\
**Post date:** [November 25, 2025, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-12/1024956/60 "2025-11-25T19:33:46Z")

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Maybe I’m naive, but I’d be surprised if teams use a fake concussion diagnosis as an excuse to sit a player. The league really puts a lot of focus on concussions\*, and there are so many other nebulous “injuries” that wouldn’t get as much attention.

\* _by “focus on concussions,” I mean lots of lip service, not actually doing anything to prevent them._

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