By Tiffany Williams –
Week 12 of the NFL 2024 season kicked off on Thursday night with an exciting matchup as the Pittsburgh Steelers traveled to Huntington Bank Field in Cleveland, Ohio, to face off against the Cleveland Browns. In a highly competitive game, the Browns managed to halt the Steelers’ impressive five-game winning streak, securing a 24-19 victory. Pittsburgh’s quarterback, Russell Wilson threw one touchdown pass to Calvin Austin III in the critical fourth quarter. Additionally, Steelers running back Jaylen Warren contributed to the scoreboard with a rushing touchdown in the same quarter.
On the defensive side of the ball, Deshon Elliott had a standout game, recording six tackles (four of which were solo), along with one pass deflection, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery. Cameron Heyward, another key defender for the Steelers, also had six tackles (one solo) and added two pass deflections to his stats. Kicker Chris Boswell made his mark early in the game by successfully kicking a 48-yard field goal with 10:53 remaining in the second quarter, which helped the Steelers take an early 3-0 lead. He later connected on a 28-yard field goal with just 1:56 left in the third quarter, narrowing the Steelers’ deficit to 10-6.
As the focus shifted to Sunday’s midday action, the Carolina Panthers hosted the Kansas City Chiefs at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina. Meanwhile, the Miami Dolphins welcomed the New England Patriots at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers made the trek to MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, to take on the New York Giants, and the Dallas Cowboys headed to Northwest Stadium in Landover, Maryland.
The Chiefs overcame the Panthers, snapping Carolina’s two-game winning streak with a closely contested 30-27 victory. Panthers quarterback Bryce Young showcased his skills by throwing his fifth touchdown pass of the season—a one-yard connection to David Moore—concluding an impressive 15-play, 70-yard drive that took 8:34 off the clock in the second quarter. Young finished the game with a season-best performance, completing 21 of 35 passes for 263 yards, registering a passer rating of 92.9. David Moore’s touchdown marked his first in a Panthers uniform. Jaycee Horn made his presence felt with his first career sack, tackling Patrick Mahomes for a 12-yard loss in the fourth quarter, forcing Kansas City to punt.
At Hard Rock Stadium, the Miami Dolphins continued their impressive run, capturing their third consecutive win by defeating the Patriots 34-15. For the Patriots, rookie quarterback Drake Maye demonstrated his skills by recording his tenth touchdown to a different receiver, connecting with Austin Hooper on a 38-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter. This game also marked a milestone for New England’s defense, as they scored on defense for the first time in 2024, with Christian Gonzalez returning a fumble by Jaylen Wright a remarkable 62 yards for a touchdown. Meanwhile, Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa had a standout game of his own, throwing four touchdown passes—including two to De’Von Achane and others to Jonnu Smith and Jaylen Waddle. Kicker Jason Sanders added to the Dolphins’ points with a 21-yard field goal in the second quarter and a long-range 51-yard field goal in the fourth quarter.
In a much-anticipated game at MetLife Stadium, the Buccaneers faced the Giants, both teams struggling with losing streaks—Tampa Bay with four consecutive losses and New York with five. The Buccaneers broke their slump decisively, winning 30-7, marking their first victory since October 13. On the Giants’ side, rookie quarterback Tommy DeVito completed 21 of 31 passes, totaling 189 yards, but failed to throw a touchdown pass or an interception. Conversely, Buccaneers players Baker Mayfield, Bucky Irving, Rachaad White, and Sean Tucker each contributed with rushing touchdowns.
New York Giants rookie wide receiver Malik Nabers had another impressive outing, recording six receptions for 64 yards. Remarkably, he became the first player in NFL history to achieve at least five receptions and 50 receiving yards in eight of his first nine games. Nabers’ season tally now stands at 67 receptions, breaking Puka Nacua’s record of 64 for the most receptions by a rookie within his first nine games.
Capping off the Sunday midday games, the Washington Commanders faced off against the Dallas Cowboys but fell short, losing 34-26. Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels threw two touchdown passes and also added a rushing score, but it wasn’t enough to secure a win.
In Sunday night football, the Philadelphia Eagles secured a convincing 37-20 victory over the Los Angeles Rams, improving their record to an impressive 9-2. Running back Saquon Barkley had a game to remember, amassing a career-high 255 rushing yards on 26 carries, along with two rushing touchdowns, proving instrumental in leading his team to victory.
Week 12 concluded with the Baltimore Ravens traveling west to face the Los Angeles Chargers in a thrilling Monday night football matchup. The Ravens emerged victorious with a 30-23 scoreline, improving their record to 8-4, and have now won eight of their last ten games. Quarterback Lamar Jackson led the charge, completing 16 of 22 passes for 177 yards and throwing two touchdown passes to Rashod Bateman and Mark Andrews, while achieving a remarkable passer rating of 126.5. He also contributed 15 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown. Justice Hill made his mark as well, totaling four carries for 55 yards and one rushing touchdown. On the receiving end, Mark Andrews recorded five catches for 44 yards, including a crucial six-yard touchdown in the back of the end zone that gave Baltimore a 23-16 lead in the fourth quarter. On the defensive side, linebacker Kyle Van Noy added to his season’s total with an impressive eighth sack, taking down Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert eight yards behind the line of scrimmage in the fourth quarter.
Sports Insider Daily 