NFL Week 12 Shocker: Unbelievable Upsets and Game-Changing Moments You Can’t Miss
Week 12 of the NFL season had all the drama you could ask for—jaw-dropping plays, head-scratching twists, and a rollercoaster of emotions for fans everywhere. Can a team really defy the odds when the chips are down, or is it all just a roll of the dice? The Kansas City Chiefs, led by Patrick Mahomes, seem to have cracked the code again, reclaiming that clutch magic that had them steamrolling tight games for nearly two years. After a rocky start riddled with narrow losses, their overtime triumph over the Colts didn’t just keep them in the wild card hunt—it reminded us all why you never count out a true champion. From Mahomes’ laser-focused throws to a defensive stand that iced the game, there’s plenty to unpack here. Ready to dive into the highs, lows, and everything in between from Week 12?
Like every weekend on the slate, Week 12 of the NFL season had some incredible performances and some wildly perplexing outcomes. We take a look at some of the highlights, lowlights, news and stats.
Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs Rediscover One-Score Magic
Over the past couple of years, the Kansas City Chiefs have been nearly unbeatable in close games.
The Chiefs entered this season with 17 straight wins in one-score games. While a team’s record in one-score games often has a lot to do with luck, it was easy to talk yourself into the Chiefs being the exception. If Patrick Mahomes was in a close game, Kansas City felt invincible.
Then, this season started. The Chiefs didn’t just regress in one-score games, they went completely in the other direction. Kansas City lost five straight one-score games in to start the year and fell to 5-5 on the season through 11 weeks.
That made the team’s 23-20 overtime victory over the Indianapolis Colts all the more important. Not only did the Chiefs keep pace with the other wild card contenders, but they found the formula that helped them go 15-2 in 2024 despite having the fifth-best point differential in the conference.
It wasn’t all smooth sailing in the late drives for Mahomes and company, but they did just enough to get the win. The Chiefs’ last drive of the fourth quarter looked like a throwback to last year, with Mahomes finding five different receivers as the offense methodically picked apart a good Colts secondary.
But instead of ending the game with a touchdown, Mahomes got sacked on 3rd-and-goal at the 3-yard line, forcing Harrison Butker onto the field to tie the game and send it to overtime.
A lot of the focus will be on the offensive success at the end of the game, but arguably the biggest play of the game in overtime came on defense. The Colts faced a 3rd-and-1 on the opening drive of the extra period and handed it to the NFL’s leading rusher in Jonathan Taylor.
That’s usually a recipe for success, but Drue Tranquill got penetration on one of the best offensive lines in the league and dropped Taylor for a 2-yard loss.
That forced a punt, and the Chiefs needed only a field goal for the win. It seemed like it might be another missed opportunity when Mahomes missed an open Travis Kelce on what could have been a huge gain. Mahomes anticipated Kelce working up field while Kelce stopped in an open spot, and the Chiefs faced 2nd-and-10 instead of picking up a large gain.
But Mahomes completed a crucial downfield pass two plays later, hitting Xavier Worthy for a 31-yard gain.
Patrick Mahomes coming through in the CLUTCH as he hits Xavier Worthy to get the Chiefs in FG range
pic.twitter.com/vSEHKjtjV0
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) November 23, 2025
Rashee Rice picked up 21 yards later in the drive on a quick route, moving Butker into routine field goal range. He chipped one in from 27 yards out a few plays later, and the Chiefs got a massive win.
Everything fell into place for Kansas City. Rashee Rice looked like the No. 1 option the team desperately needed in the passing game, with 141 receiving yards on eight catches. It was his first game with more than 100 receiving yards this season.
The defense did its part, holding Jonathan Taylor to 58 yards on 16 carries. It was the second time this season Taylor has been held under 60 yards, and the Colts lost both games. Bottling up Taylor is easier said than done, but it goes a long way toward beating the Colts.
The Chiefs still have some tough games remaining, as they still have to play the Denver Broncos and Los Angeles Chargers again in addition to the Houston Texans. But if Mahomes has regained his aura of invincibility in close games, the rest of the AFC might be in trouble.
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The post NFL Week 12 Recap: Reacting to Some of Sunday’s Biggest News and Numbers appeared first on Opta Analyst.
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