The Week That Was - Week 12

CLOSE GAMES: There have been 135 games within one score in the fourth quarter through Week 12, the most such games in the first 12 weeks of a season in NFL history. Three teams – DETROIT, the NEW YORK GIANTS and WASHINGTON – have had all of their games within one score in the fourth quarter this season. 

The most games within one score in the fourth quarter through Week 12 in NFL history:

SEASON	GAMES WITHIN ONE SCORE IN 4TH QUARTER THROUGH WEEK 12
2016	135
2013	124
2004	124
2015	123
2011	123
2007	123

Additionally, there have been 106 games decided by eight points or fewer and 99 games decided by seven points or fewer through Week 12, both the most such games in the first 12 weeks of a season in league annals. 

In Week 12, Lions kicker MATT PRATER connected on two field goals in the final two minutes of regulation to give Detroit a 16-13 win over Minnesota. The Lions are the first team in NFL history to have each of its first 11 games decided by seven points or fewer.

The most games decided by eight points or fewer through Week 12 in NFL history:

SEASON	GAMES DECIDED BY EIGHT POINTS OR FEWER THROUGH WEEK 12
2016	106
2015	97
2012	95
2011	94
2003	94

The most games decided by seven points or fewer through Week 12 in NFL history:

SEASON	GAMES DECIDED BY SEVEN POINTS OR FEWER THROUGH WEEK 12
2016	99
2015	91
2011	89
2003	89
2013	86
2012	86
1988	86

-- NFL --

FOURTH-QUARTER COMEBACKS: Through Week 12, there have been 52 games in which a team that trailed in the fourth quarter came back to win, the second-most such games in the first 12 weeks of a season in NFL history. Five teams – BUFFALO, DETROIT, KANSAS CITY, NEW ENGLAND and OAKLAND – overcame a fourth-quarter deficit to win in Week 12.

The most games won by a team that trailed in the fourth quarter through Week 12:

SEASON	GAMES WON WHEN TRAILING IN 4TH QUARTER THROUGH WEEK 12
1989	54
2016	52
2012	51
2011	51
2015	50

Oakland quarterback DEREK CARR passed for 315 yards and two touchdowns in the Raiders’ 35-32 win over Carolina. Carr, who orchestrated the game-winning drive which culminated in kicker SEBASTIAN JANIKOWSKI’s 23-yard field goal with 1:45 remaining in the fourth quarter, has nine game-winning drives in the fourth quarter or overtime since 2015, the second-most in the NFL (MATTHEW STAFFORD, 10).  ​​

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CLIMBING THE LADDER: New England quarterback TOM BRADY passed for 286 yards and two touchdowns in the Patriots’ 22-17 win at the New York Jets. The victory marked Brady’s 200th career win, including the postseason, tied with PEYTON MANNING for the most all-time. 

Brady now has 60,229 career passing yards and became the fifth player in NFL history with at least 60,000 passing yards.

New York Giants quarterback ELI MANNING passed for 194 yards and three touchdowns in the Giants’ 27-13 victory at Cleveland. Manning has 47,089 career passing yards and surpassed Pro Football Hall of Famer FRAN TARKENTON (47,003) for the eighth-most passing yards in NFL history. 

The players with the most passing yards in NFL history:

PLAYER	CAREER PASSING YARDS
Peyton Manning	71,940
Brett Favre^	71,838
Drew Brees	64,490
Dan Marino^	61,361
Tom Brady	60,229
John Elway^	51,475
Warren Moon^	49,325
Eli Manning	47,089
Fran Tarkenton^	47,003
^Pro Football Hall of Famer

Arizona wide receiver LARRY FITZGERALD had four receptions in the Cardinals’ 38-19 loss at Atlanta. Fitzgerald, who has 1,096 career receptions, surpassed Pro Football Hall of Famer TIM BROWN (1,094) for the fifth-most career receptions in NFL history.

The players with the most receptions in NFL history:​

PLAYER	CAREER RECEPTIONS
Jerry Rice^	1,549
Tony Gonzalez	1,325
Marvin Harrison^	1,102
Cris Carter^	1,101
Larry Fitzgerald	1,096
Tim Brown^	1,094
^Pro Football Hall of Famer

-- NFL --

ROLLING RODGERS: Green Bay quarterback AARON RODGERS completed 30 of 39 pass attempts (76.9 percent) for 313 yards and two touchdowns for a 116.7 passer rating in the Packers’ 27-13 win at Philadelphia.

The performance marked the 15th time in Rodgers’ career in which he attempted at least 30 passes and completed at least 75 percent of his throws, the fifth-most in NFL history.

The players with the most career games of at least 30 pass attempts and a completion percentage of 75 or higher:

PLAYER	CAREER GAMES WITH 30+ PASS ATTEMPTS AND 75+ COMPLETION PERCENTAGE
Drew Brees	40
Peyton Manning	26
Brett Favre^	17
Matt Ryan	16
Aaron Rodgers	15
^Pro Football Hall of Famer

-- NFL --

HISTORIC HILL: Kansas City rookie wide receiver TYREEK HILL had three touchdowns in the Chiefs’ 30-27 overtime victory at Denver. Hill scored on a three-yard run, a three-yard reception and an 86-yard kickoff-return.

Hill is the first player since Pro Football Hall of Famer GALE SAYERS in 1965 to have a rush touchdown, receiving touchdown and kickoff-return touchdown in the same game. Sayers, who was a rookie in 1965, accomplished the feat on October 17 at Minnesota. 

-- NFL --

GLORIOUS GINN: Carolina wide receiver TED GINN, JR. had 115 receiving yards, including a career-long 88-yard touchdown catch in the Panthers’ 35-32 loss at Oakland. 

Ginn, who has an 87-yard punt-return touchdown and three 100+ yard kickoff-return touchdowns in his career, is the fourth player in NFL history to have a receiving touchdown, punt-return touchdown and kickoff-return touchdown of at least 85 yards each in his career, joining ROBERT BROOKS, STEVE ODOM and EDDIE ROYAL.