NFL

Tua Tagovailoa leads Dolphins to victory as C.J. Stroud’s struggles persist.



Week 12 was just another ho-hum weekend in the NFL. Saquon Barkley ran all over the Los Angeles Rams in a 37-20 victory for the Philadelphia Eagles, their seventh straight this season. Barkley totaled a career-high 255 rushing yards, setting an Eagles franchise record and putting Philadelphia in the driver’s seat in the NFC East.

Will Levis was sacked eight times and turned the ball over twice, but somehow he managed to lead the Tennessee Titans to a 32-27 victory over the Houston Texans. According to FOX Sports Research, Levis is the first player since the 1970 merger to have at least a 105.0 passer rating in a three-game span in which he was sacked at least 20 times.

Caleb Williams finished with 340 passing yards and two scores, setting a single-season record for a Bears rookie with 2,356 passing yards. But, of course, Chicago lost to the Minnesota Vikings in overtime. The Detroit Lions earned another blowout win, a 24-6 victory over the Indianapolis Colts to improve to 6-0 on the road this season.

The San Francisco 49ers are bad, while the Denver Broncos are good. Let’s take a closer look at who’s hot and who’s cold as we head into Thanksgiving weekend.

Josh Jacobs, RB, Packers

Green Bay had the look of an NFC playoff contender in a 38-10 rout over the San Francisco 49ers, last year’s NFC representative in the Super Bowl. Jacobs was the catalyst of that effort, totaling 106 rushing yards on 26 carries and three scores. NFL observers raised eyebrows last offseason when the Packers signed the 26-year-old Jacobs to a four-year, $48 million deal and moving on from Aaron Jones, who’s now playing for the Vikings. But it looks like the Packers knew what they were doing. Jacobs is third in the league in rushing with 944 yards. His presence creates balance on offense for the Packers, paired with Jordan Love’s explosive playmaking ability in the passing game. That balance should be a recipe for success in cold-weather games late in the season at Lambeau Field.

Baker Mayfield, QB, Buccaneers

Not an outrageous day statistically for Mayfield, who finished with 294 passing yards and completed passes to 11 different players in Tampa Bay’s 30-7 victory at home over the New York Giants. Mayfield did not throw for a touchdown for the first time this season, but it was more about what the charismatic quarterback did after scoring on a 10-yard scramble late in the first half. Mayfield mocked Giants quarterback Tommy DeVito’s signature touchdown celebration in the end zone after his score. DeVito struggled in his first start of the season after New York benched and then released former starting quarterback Daniel Jones. “Tribute to Tommy,” Mayfield said. “He’s a good dude, that’s why. Most of the times, I don’t know what I’m going to do. It’s spontaneous.”

Leonard Williams, DE, Seahawks

Rookie head coach Mike Macdonald’s defense is finally playing up to the unit’s full potential – and at the right time as the season heads down the backstretch. The Seahawks held Kyler Murray and an explosive Arizona Cardinals offense to just six points in a 16-6 victory at Lumen Field, moving back into the top spot in the NFC West with the victory. Williams led the way for Seattle, finishing with 2.5 sacks, four quarterback hits, and three tackles for loss in the dominant defensive performance.

Tua Tagovailoa, QB, Dolphins

Winners of three in a row, Miami is getting hot at the right time, and Tagovailoa has been the reason for the Dolphins’ resurgence. Tagovailoa finished with 317 passing yards and four touchdowns in a decisive, 34-15 win over the New England Patriots. But it’s really been about Tagovailoa’s mastery of head coach Mike McDaniel’s offense, seamlessly running plays like this no-look flip to Jaylen Wright on a 10-yard reverse. Since his return from a concussion in Week 8, Tagovailoa has completed a league-high 77.3% of his passes for 1,043 yards, with 10 touchdowns and one interception for a 121.5 passer rating. At 5-6, the Dolphins are 2.5 games behind Denver for the final wild-card spot in the AFC.

KaVontae Turpin, KR, Cowboys

The electric return man helped Dallas snap a five-game losing streak with a 99-yard kickoff return for a score late in the game. Turpin fumbled the kickoff, but that helped him as the defenders hesitated, allowing him to spin out of a would-be tackle and find daylight for the big play. Turpin’s touchdown was part of a wild fourth quarter, in which the Cowboys and Commanders scored a combined 41 points.

Who’s Cold:

Kyle Shanahan, Head Coach, 49ers

A noisy offseason that included contract disputes with Brandon Aiyuk and Trent Williams has led to a disappointing 5-6 record for San Francisco in Kyle Shanahan’s effort to get this team back to the Super Bowl. Yes, the 49ers were playing without quarterback Brock Purdy, defensive end Nick Bosa, and Williams because of injuries. Still, San Francisco has one of the most talented rosters in the league, and the 49ers failed to compete in a 38-10 drubbing by Green Bay. “This is probably one of the worst ones I’ve been a part of,” linebacker Fred Warner said about the loss. “It is embarrassing.”

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