2025 NFL Week 12 Takeaways: Rams’ Matthew Stafford making strong case for MVP
Week 12 technically doesn’t end until the 49ers and Panthers meet in San Francisco on Monday night, but with the majority of games in the books, we have plenty of thoughts.
Here’s our Week 12 takeaways.
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Stafford closing in on MVP
There was a lot of concern entering this season regarding Rams QB Matthew Stafford’s health. That worry has been completely forgotten as Stafford leads the NFL with 30 touchdown passes while throwing just two interceptions.
Stafford has dominated nearly every game this season. He’s gone eight straight without throwing a pick and he’s thrown for multiple TDs in seven of those games. As the 9-2 Rams continue to win, Stafford’s case for MVP only gets stronger.
Bucs are cooked without Mayfield
Let’s turn our attention to the team the Rams just beat 34-7 this week. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have dealt with injuries all year, but nothing is scarier than the shoulder injury suffered by QB Baker Mayfield.
Mayfield left in the third quarter and was seen on the sidelines with his arm in a sling. While it’s too early to known the extent of the injury, Tampa Bay’s playoff hopes are in serious jeopardy if they are forced to turn to Teddy Bridgewater.
The Bucs have lost three straight games, they can’t afford to lose Mayfield.
Chiefs playoff hopes still alive
It was a virtual must-win for the Chiefs this week, who surged for a fourth quarter comeback to beat the Colts 23-20 in overtime. Kansas City is long past winning the AFC West, but they’re now firmly in control of securing one of the three wild-card spots in the AFC.
It was classic Patrick Mahomes in the fourth quarter against Indianapolis. He led KC on an 11-play, 56-yard TD drive and connected with Rashee Rice for the crucial two-point conversion. Anyone calling for the end of the Chiefs’ dynasty should take a look at Mahomes and co. in the fourth quarter this week.
Ravens will win AFC North
It wasn’t long ago that it looked like doom and gloom for Baltimore, but a five-game win streak has the Ravens in first place in the AFC North. An ugly win over the Jets this week showed just how clutch Baltimore can be as they took advantage of Pittsburgh’s loss to Chicago.
The Ravens now enter a crucial stretch in which their next three games and four of their remaining six are divisional matchups. Handling Cincinnati and Pittsburgh at home over the next two weeks should make the difference for Baltimore to win the AFC North.
Jahmyr Gibbs single-handedly secured W for Lions
No one was more crucial to their team’s success in Week 12 than Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs. His 264 total yards was over half of Detroit’s team total and he had three TDs, including the game-winner over the New York Giants.
Gibbs’ performance offset a game in which the Lions were out-gained in total yards and passing yards. Detroit also lost the first-down matchup 25-23 and they had almost 10 minutes of possession time less than the Giants.
If anyone ever deserved a game ball, it was Gibbs this week.
Shedeur Sanders is…capable?
Shedeur Sanders was far from elite in his first career NFL start, completing just 11 of 22 passes, but he proved his is good enough to beat a bad Raiders team. It was a mixed bag from the Browns rookie, who connected on a 66-yard TD pass to Dylan Sampson before throwing a bad interception.
It was really Cleveland’s defence that led to the win over Las Vegas, particularly Myles Garrett, who had three sacks and now leads the league with 18. Still, it’s encouraging that Sanders is at least competent enough to win when he has the right support around him.
