What We Saw: Week 12

The What We Saw team recaps a crazy Week 12 of NFL action

Ben Brown
What We Saw A Year Ago
Series Navigation
Introduction
Packers @ Lions
Commanders @ Cowboys
49ers @ Seahawks
Dolphins @ Jets
Saints @ Falcons
Steelers @ Bengals
Panthers @ Titans
Buccaneers @ Colts
Patriots @ Giants
Jaguars @ Texans
Browns @ Broncos
Rams @ Cardinals
Chiefs @ Raiders
Bills @ Eagles
Ravens @ Chargers

Bills @ Eagles

Final Score: Eagles 37, Bills 34 (OT)

Writer: Brett Ford (@fadethatman on Twitter)

 

The Buffalo Bills ran 92 offensive plays and gained more than 500 yards of total offense, and somehow still found a way to lose this game as the Philadelphia Eagles earned a 37-34 overtime victory at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday afternoon.

This contest was easily one of the most exciting, fun-to-watch games of the entire regular season so far. Torrential rain saturated the playing surface, forcing both offensive coordinators to run with their quarterbacks more than they have tended to recently. Both Josh Allen and Jalen Hurts rushed for a pair of touchdowns while Gabe Davis rose from a pile of ashes and DeVonta Smith led a solid performance from the Eagles’ wide receiving corps.

Despite the outstanding fantasy performances, the most incredible play was made by none other than Jake Elliott. On a soaking wet field in the driving rain, the Philadelphia kicker drilled a 59-yard field goal into the wind during the final minute of regulation to force overtime, helping his team eventually earn a win that allowed the Eagles to become the first NFL team to punch a ticket to the playoffs this season.

Let’s dig in.

 

Buffalo Bills

 

Quarterback

 

Josh Allen: 29/51, 339 Yards, 2 TDs, INT | 9 Carries, 81 Yards, 2 TDs

 

Josh Allen was dynamic both on the ground and through the air as he contributed to all four Buffalo touchdowns on the day. In his second week of calling plays, Joe Brady set up Allen with several designed runs as the quarterback gained a season-high 81 yards on the ground and rushed for two scores.

Allen also took to the air over 50 times for the first time this season, marking his first game with 50 pass attempts since Week 3 of the 2022 season when he fired up 63 attempts against the Miami Dolphins. He made a ton of great plays, but his one vital mistake came in the fourth quarter, when he misread the Eagles’ coverage and threw an interception to James Bradberry, which resulted in a go-ahead touchdown for Philadelphia.

 

Running Back

 

James Cook: 16 carries, 43 yards | 7 targets, 6 receptions, 57 yards

 

James Cook struggled to gain ground against a stout front seven of the Eagles, but salvaged his fantasy outing with six receptions for 57 yards to give him 100 total yards on the day. Cook continues to see his workload expand as he nearly doubled Murray with 22 running back touches but he was on the field for fewer snaps that Murray, recording only 41. Based on usage, Cook managers should remained encouraged by the coordinator change in Buffalo.

 

Latavius Murray: 9 carries, 30 yards | 5 targets, 3 receptions, 18 yards

Latavius Murray regained the third-down role this week after Ty Johnson earned most of the third-down duties in Week 11. He earned 12 touches but didn’t do enough to be fantasy-relevant. Murray remains a dart throw, even with an increased role.

Ty Johnson: 6 carries, 19 yards

 

 

Wide Receiver/Tight End

 

Stefon Diggs: 11 targets, 6 receptions, 74 yards, TD

 

Welcome back, Stefon Diggs. He was back to his usual reliable self after a pair of lackluster performances in Week 10 and Week 11. Diggs was targeted 11 times and managed six catches for 74 yards and a score despite the weather.

Diggs’ touchdown pass was one of those “arm arrogance” throws that Allen seems to love making, slipping the ball into an impossibly tight window almost just to prove he can. Diggs’ incredible hands allowed him to hang onto the low-and-away fastball for the diving catch and score.

 

Dalton Kincaid: 6 targets, 5 receptions, 38 yards

 

It was a down game for Kincaid in a tough matchup. He was still targeted six times and caught five passes but was overshadowed by the resurrection of Gabriel Davis. Kincaid still earned nearly 60 snaps on the field, so there’s nothing concerning to see here.

 

Khalil Shakir: 5 targets, 3 receptions, 47 yards

 

Khalil Shakir was on the field for 76 out of 92 offensive snaps. His nearly 70 percent snap share was an increase from weeks prior, but he still managed only three catches on five targets. Those who benefitted from his massive one-play production a week ago were likely left wanting more. With Dawson Knox coming back soon, Shakir may be more likely to lose snaps and production than Kincaid.

 

Gabe Davis: 12 targets, 6 receptions, 105 yards

 

Gabe Davis looked like a member of The Walking Dead – a real-life fantasy zombie – combing back to life after not even recording a single target in Week 11, his second 0.0 point performance of the year. Davis played like the fantasy stud that he was drafted to be in each of the past two years, leading the team in targets, catches and yards. He even grabbed a go-ahead fourth quarter touchdown on a goal line slant play. However, the lasting image of Davis from this game will be from the Bills’ last offensive play when he and Allen read the defense slightly differently and couldn’t connect on the game-winning score.

 

Trent Sherfield: 3 targets

 

Philadelphia Eagles

 

Quarterback

 

Jalen Hurts: 18/31, 200 Yards, 3 TDs | 14 Carries, 65 Yards, 2 TDs

 

Hurts was far from great in the first half, but turned it on when it mattered as the Eagles pulled off the come-from-behind victory, mostly thanks to the quarterback’s dual-threat efforts. At one point in the second half, Hurts threw three touchdown passes on just four passing attempts to lead the way back into the lead.

The biggest impact Hurts made was with his running. He carried 14 times for 65 yards in inclement weather and appeared to put concerns about his knee behind him. Hurts found the old-school end zone paint twice in this retro kelly green jersey game, including the game-winner in overtime.

 

Running Back

 

D’Andre Swift: 14 carries, 80 yards | 1 target, 1 reception, 4 yards

 

Swift looked really good against a swooning Buffalo rush defense, averaging over 5.0 yards per carry on the strength of two huge, long runs. Swift was on the field for 42 of 66 offensive snaps and ran 19 routes but was targeted just once. Though he hasn’t been used as a bellcow back yet this season, he appears to be the Eagles’ favorite in the backfield. It may be a situation where we see Swift earn more run in important games as the Eagles vie for the top seed in the NFC playoffs down the stretch.

 

Kenneth Gainwell: 2 carries, 26 yards | 3 targets, 2 receptions, 10 yards

 

On the field for just over one-third of the offensive snaps, Gainwell carried twice and was targeted on three of his 15 routes but was mostly an afterthought in this offense. While he did rip off one nice run, gone are the days of Gainwell monopolizing goal line carries. However, he may prove useful if the Eagles wrap up the top seed in the NFC early and have some “meaningless” games down the stretch.

 

Boston Scott: 2 carries, 14 yards | 1 target

 

 

Wide Receiver/Tight End

 

Devonta Smith: 8 targets, 7 receptions, 106 yards, TD

 

We knew going in that this was a prime matchup for this receiving corps, but it was Smith who came away with the best performance of the game over his teammate, A.J. Brown. Smith made one of the best catches in the NFL on Sunday, elevating and twisting his body to catch a ball just behind him on a nifty route combination that left him open in the seam. The touchdown was one of seven catches made by the wiry wideout, who was on the field for 65 of 66 offensive snaps.

 

A.J. Brown: 9 targets, 5 receptions, 37 yards, TD

 

Brown led the way with nine targets but was only able to bring in five of them. His most important drop (yes, important drop) came in overtime. He looked to have pulled in a catch for a short gain but the ball was dislodged quickly by the defender. The call on the field was an incompletion, and for Eagles fans was clearly so. Bills fans may object, however…

The good news for Brown’s fantasy managers was that he did find the end zone, breaking out of a goal line set for a play action touchdown reception in the back of the end zone.

 

 

Olamide Zaccheaus: 1 target, 1 receptions, 29 yards, TD

 

Olamide Zaccheaus might not have watched the Alabama game on Saturday when the Crimson Tide earned a come-from-behind victory over Auburn, but it’s almost a guarantee that Hurts did. Hurts and Zaccheaus hooked up for a nearly identical play to take the lead in the fourth quarter on the wide receiver’s only target.

 

Jack Stoll: 2 targets, 1 reception, 14 yards

Jack Stoll split time with Grant Calcaterra at tight end, but neither compare to the fantasy production that Dallas Goedert brought to the table in this offense. Even with Goedert sidelined, Stoll is a non-factor from a fantasy standpoint.

 

Julio Jones: 3 targets, 1 reception

Speaking of non-factors from a fantasy standpoint, let’s talk about Julio Jones. Jones was the Eagles third wide receiver from a snap-share standpoint, on the field for 47 out of 66 offensive snaps. However, he was targeted just three times and caught just one ball for no gain. His route tree is basic and he likely won’t factor into more than a few plays per game. He made a few key blocks on running plays to the boundaries, but his yardage totals certainly once again weren’t there. He’s incredibly touchdown-reliant on a team that prefers to run the ball in the red zone. Would you ever throw a goal line fade if you could just “Tush Push?” Me, neither.

 

Series Navigation
Introduction
Packers @ Lions
Commanders @ Cowboys
49ers @ Seahawks
Dolphins @ Jets
Saints @ Falcons
Steelers @ Bengals
Panthers @ Titans
Buccaneers @ Colts
Patriots @ Giants
Jaguars @ Texans
Browns @ Broncos
Rams @ Cardinals
Chiefs @ Raiders
Bills @ Eagles
Ravens @ Chargers

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