NFL Week 12 2023 Highlights: Live Tracking the Top Plays from Sunday's Results
The NFL's Sunday slate on Thanksgiving weekend sometimes feels a bit light with multiple games on Thursday and even one on Friday this season, but there was no lack of intrigue this year.
In fact, there were a number of marquee games that significantly altered division races across the league.
The New Orleans Saints and Atlanta Falcons battled for positioning in the NFC South, the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cincinnati Bengals rekindled their rivalry in the AFC North, and the upstart Houston Texans got a chance at the first-place Jacksonville Jaguars in the AFC South.
The drama wasn't limited to division matchups, as the Buffalo Bills and Philadelphia Eagles squared off in an interconference game before the Baltimore Ravens and Los Angeles Chargers closed things out on Sunday Night Football.
Here's a look at the biggest plays and highlights of a Sunday that featured plenty of quality games.
Top Plays
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Eagles Soar Again Behind Hurts TD Run
Jalen Hurts' 12-yard scamper into the end zone gave the Philadelphia Eagles a 37-34 overtime win over the Buffalo Bills. The Eagles moved to an NFL-best 10-1 behind Hurts' five touchdowns (three passing, two rushing).
Elliott's 59-Yard Field Goal Sends Eagles to OT
Eagles kicker Jake Elliott curved a 59-yard field goal through a torrential Philadelphia downpour and inside the right upright to tie the game at 31 with 20 seconds remaining.
Chase Catches Pass With Porter's Mouthguard in Left Hand
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase made a 25-yard catch on a fade despite holding Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Joey Porter Jr.'s mouthguard, which he accidentally snagged after a line-of-scrimmage tussle.
Bates' Pick-6 Vaults Falcons Into First
Atlanta Falcons safety Jessie Bates III's 92-yard pick-six propelled his team to a 24-15 win over the New Orleans Saints and an eventual NFC South lead. The play turned a 3-0 Saints edge into a 7-3 Falcons lead late in the first quarter.
Let Russ Cook
Denver Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson evaded a host of Cleveland Browns before finding tight end Adam Trautman, who stayed inbounds for an eight-yard score in a 29-12 win. The Broncos have now won five straight.
Stroud-Dell Connection Thrives Once Again
Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud kept his sensational rookie season going thanks in part to a seven-yard touchdown pass to Tank Dell after dancing around Jacksonville Jaguars pass-rushers. The rookies have now connected for seven touchdowns (five in the past four games). The Texans are still over .500 (6-5) despite losing 24-21.
Baltimore Ravens 20, Los Angeles Chargers 10
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Second Quarter
Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers caught a three-yard touchdown pass and (understandably given his name) rolled with a bouquet toss celebration.
A Keenan Allen fumble following Roquan Smith and Jadeveon Clowney's joint tackle later gave the Ravens the ball at the Chargers 34-yard line. Baltimore settled for a field goal and 10-3 lead:
Third Quarter
The Chargers went into their bag of tricks on 3rd-and-17 with Allen catching a Justin Herbert pass before tossing it toward the sideline to Austin Ekeler, who scampered for the first down.
Fourth Quarter
Clowney's huge sack and forced fumble of Justin Herbert deep in Baltimore territory gave the Ravens their fourth takeaway. It also prevented L.A. from making this a one-score game after trailing 13-3.
The Chargers stayed alive after Herbert found Gerald Everett for a three-yard score. Following the PAT, Baltimore led 13-10 with 8:32 left.
L.A. found itself with a chance to tie or take the lead, but Ravens cornerback Arthur Maulet's quarterback hit on Herbert broke up a 4th-and-6 from the Baltimore 44-yard line following the two-minute warning.
Three plays later, Flowers' 37-yard touchdown run all but ended this game. He followed that score up with another epic celebration.
Denver Broncos 29, Cleveland Browns 12
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First Quarter
Russell Wilson got off to a quick start for Denver:
Samaje Perine punched it in for a touchdown:
Denver's defense got the ball right back:
Cleveland's stout defense forced a turnover of its own:
Second Quarter
The pizza play worked:
Wilson continues to roll:
Jerome Ford gave the Browns some momentum:
Myles Garrett, good at football:
Third Quarter
Despite a tough start, the Browns have remained within striking distance:
Dorian Thompson-Robinson kept the momentum on his side with a touchdown pass:
Perine exploded through Cleveland's defense:
Fourth Quarter
Denver's defense took full advantage of Cleveland's mistake:
Adam Trautman hauled in quite the touchdown catch to give the Broncos a two-score lead:
The defense kept things rolling as the Broncos closed out the win:
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Los Angeles Rams 37, Arizona Cardinals 14
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First Quarter
Tyler Higbee scored the game's first touchdown for the Rams:
Kyler Murray answered right back with his legs:
Second Quarter
Higbee, again:
Welcome back, Kyren Williams:
Arizona forced a turnover right when it needed some type of momentum swing:
Third Quarter
The offense stalled some, so Arizona broke out a fake punt on special teams:
Williams continued to dominate:
Fourth Quarter
It is officially the Williams show:
The floodgates are officially open:
The Cardinals at least closed the gap a bit:
Kansas City Chiefs 31, Las Vegas Raiders 17
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First Quarter
Davante Adams found some space in Kansas City's secondary:
Jakobi Meyers scored the game's first touchdown:
Second Quarter
And Josh Jacobs scored the second one:
Kansas City finally got on the board with an Isiah Pacheco touchdown:
Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce are always dialed in:
The Chiefs broke out the razzle dazzle:
The end result of the drive was a touchdown:
Third Quarter
Pacheco found the end zone again after an impressive screen pass:
Maxx Crosby got to Mahomes to give the Raiders a key stop:
Meyers continued to dominate:
Fourth Quarter
Rashee Rice extended Kansas City's advantage to two scores:
Chris Jones was not about to have a comeback happen on his watch:
And the Chiefs defense put the finishing touches on the win:
Philadelphia Eagles 37, Buffalo Bills 34
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First Quarter
Philadelphia got the ground game going early:
There was never a doubt how the Eagles were getting in the end zone from the 1-yard line:
Second Quarter
Terrel Bernard picked off Jalen Hurts to give the Bills a scoring opportunity:
And Josh Allen delivered:
Allen made a beautiful throw through the rain for a third-down conversion:
Jalen Carter blocked Buffalo's field goal late in the first half:
But Philadelphia gave the ball right back:
Allen and Stefon Diggs made an incredible play to give the visitors a two-score lead:
Third Quarter
D'Andre Swift broke free for the Eagles:
A.J. Brown, touchdown:
James Cook found some space against the Philadelphia secondary:
And Allen finished the drive:
Fourth Quarter
DeVonta Smith put the Eagles right back into striking distance:
James Bradberry made one of the biggest plays of the game with a key interception:
And Hurts put the Eagles in the lead:
Philadelphia's defense kept the momentum on the home team's side:
Buffalo got the ball back and moved into scoring position thanks to Diggs:
And Gabe Davis gave the Bills the lead:
Just when it seemed like the Bills were going to win, Jake Elliott drilled a 59-yard field goal through the rain to tie the game:
Overtime
Allen wasted little time making an impressive throw and run in the extra period:
Buffalo ended up with a Tyler Bass field goal:
Hurts responded with a strike to Smith:
And then Hurts won it with his legs:
Atlanta Falcons 24, New Orleans Saints 15
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First Quarter
Derek Carr and Chris Olave connected on a deep ball in the early going:
Drake London impressed with a diving catch:
The New Orleans defense stood strong on a fourth-down play:
Taysom Hill can do it all:
Jessie Bates III got the Falcons on the board with a pick-six:
Second Quarter
In a development that will please many fantasy football managers, Bijan Robinson found the end zone:
Just when it looked like Atlanta was going to build a two-score lead, Desmond Ridder threw an interception:
Third Quarter
The New Orleans defense forced another turnover:
And then it was Atlanta's turn to take the ball back:
Fourth Quarter
Hello, Mr. Robinson:
That was all the Falcons defense needed, as they closed out the win.
Pittsburgh Steelers 16, Cincinnati Bengals 10
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First Quarter
T.J. Watt notched a milestone sack:
Cincinnati's defense forced an early fumble:
Second Quarter
Just like Cincinnati drew it up:
Drew Sample gave the Bengals the lead with a touchdown:
Third Quarter
Not bad, Ja'Marr Chase:
Trenton Thompson stopped the drive with one play:
Najee Harris gave Pittsburgh the lead:
Fourth Quarter
George Pickens kept momentum on Pittsburgh's side with an excellent catch:
Watt continued to overwhelm Cincinnati's offensive line:
Cincinnati finally got something going with a screen to set up a field goal:
However, Pittsburgh recovered the onside kick to clinch the win:
Tennessee Titans 17, Carolina Panthers 10
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First Quarter
Derrick Henry capped off a long drive with a touchdown run:
Second Quarter
Tennessee's defense forced a key turnover:
Henry scored another touchdown in the first half:
Third Quarter
Chuba Hubbard gave the Panthers their first touchdown of the game:
The Titans defense continued to get to Bryce Young:
Fourth Quarter
Tennessee's defense remained the story of the game:
Indianapolis Colts 27, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 20
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First Quarter
Mike Evans wasted no time making the highlight reel:
Ronnie Harrison Jr., from the practice squad to an interception:
Jonathan Taylor took advantage of the turnover with a touchdown:
Second Quarter
Gardner Minshew did it himself for a touchdown:
Tampa Bay seized some much-needed momentum with an interception:
Baker Mayfield spread the ball around and found Evans for a touchdown:
Fourth Quarter
The Evans show continues:
Minshew made arguably the biggest play of the game on a crucial fourth down:
Taylor finished the drive in the end zone:
The Colts defense kept Tampa Bay out of the end zone:
Indianapolis' defense delivered again to clinch the win:
New York Giants 10, New England Patriots 7
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First Quarter
Jalin Hyatt got off to an ideal start for the Giants:
New England's defense forced a turnover to end a promising drive:
Mac Jones will want this throw back:
Second Quarter
Another Jones throw and another Jones interception:
Points!
Third Quarter
Bailey Zappe took over for Jones and led the Patriots down the field before Rhamondre Stevenson scored:
Fourth Quarter
The quarterback change didn't stop the interceptions:
New England's defense gave the visitors some momentum:
The Patriots drove into field-goal range near the end of regulation:
However, Chad Ryland missed it:
Jacksonville Jaguars 24, Houston Texans 21
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Second Quarter
Trevor Lawrence gave the Jaguars some breathing room with a touchdown run:
C.J. Stroud answered right back for a touchdown following a screen to Devin Singletary:
Houston's defense kept Jacksonville out of the end zone in dramatic fashion on the final play of the half after a long gain by Christian Kirk:
Third Quarter
Houston's defense picked up right where it left off at halftime:
Stroud capitalized on the turnover with a touchdown run:
It was Lawrence's turn to score a touchdown, this time with a pass to Calvin Ridley:
Fourth Quarter
Stroud's not done:
Josh Allen tallied a monster sack for the Jaguars:
However, Matt Ammendola missed the field goal, which was his second miss of the day:
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