NFL Week 12 top plays: Ravens, Bucs, Packers, Patriots win in thrillers
After a heaping helping of NFL action on Thanksgiving, Week 12 delivered a great slate of games on Sunday.
In early action, the Indianapolis Colts dropped a tough one to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Pittsburgh Steelers were pounded by the Cincinnati Bengals, and the red-hot New England Patriots kept their winning streak alive against the Tennessee Titans.
In the late window, the San Francisco 49ers stopped the Minnesota Vikings' comeback attempt, while the Green Bay Packers outlasted the Los Angeles Rams.
And it was another AFC North battle in the finale, as the Baltimore Ravens topped the Cleveland Browns.
Here are the top moments from Sunday's action-packed slate.
Baltimore Ravens 16, Cleveland Browns 10
Ravens take the lead
Although Lamar Jackson & Co. weren't able to reach the end zone out of the gate, Baltimore took a 6-0 lead after Justin Tucker nailed two field goals — a 52- and 25-yarder.
Turnover time
Rookie linebacker Odafe Oweh punched the ball out of the hands of Jarvis Landry, and the Ravens took over …
… Then, the Browns' defense took the ball right back on the very next drive, which resulted in a field goal.
Danger zone
Jackson was picked off two more times before the second frame came to a close.
At the break, Baltimore led 6-3.
Circus catches
To open the second half, Jackson launched this one up to Mark Andrews, who made an incredible catch despite the defensive pass interference.
Then, Andrews finished what he started, as he dove in the end zone for the Ravens' first TD of the night.
Browns bounce back
Baker Mayfield connected with tight end David Njoku for a 20-yard touchdown — that arguably wasn't — to keep the Ravens within arm's reach.
Snatched
With momentum on its side, Cleveland came up with another huge play on defense, picking off Jackson for the fourth time. This is the first time in Jackson's career that he has thrown four interceptions in one game.
Closing time
With 1:15 to play, Tucker nailed a 49-yard field goal — good for a 16-10 lead — and things ended there.
Green Bay Packers 36, Los Angeles Rams 28
QB1, RB1
The Packers struck first when Aaron Rodgers turned on the jets and took this one in himself in the first quarter.
Air it out
Matthew Stafford launched this pass into the clouds, and it landed right in the hands of Van Jefferson for a dazzling Rams TD.
Go Pack Go
Green Bay continued to charge downfield with lots of help from Randall Cobb, who broke out for 54 yards on this play.
Name a better duo.
We'll wait.
What could have been
The Rams had a few tricks up their sleeves in the second, and Cooper Kupp was this close his first TD toss.
Keeping it close
Stafford hit Darrell Henderson Jr. to keep the Packers within arm's reach at 20-17 at the break.
On the move
The Packers extended their lead, 27-17, thanks to this catch and run from AJ Dillon.
Celebration: 10/10.
L.A. blues
The Packers came up with a huge pick of Stafford to take a 19-point lead heading into the final frame. For the first time in his career, Stafford has thrown a pick-6 in three straight games.
OBJ TD!
Odell Beckham Jr.'s first touchdown as a Ram went for 54 yards as L.A. cut Green Bay's lead to 36-25 midway through the fourth, but it wasn't enough to pull off the come-from-behind win.
San Francisco 49ers 34, Minnesota Vikings 26
Early INT
Misfortune struck the 49ers early, as Jimmy Garoppolo's pass was intercepted by the Vikings' defense on San Francisco's opening drive.
Vikings strike
After the turnover, Minnesota didn't waste any time getting on the board:
What can't he do?
Deebo Samuel doesn't just make amazing catches, he has the ground game on lock too:
Seeing double
What's better than one Thielen TD? Two!
Knotted up
With 22 seconds to spare, the 49ers tied things up at 14 headed into halftime.
One of a kind
San Francisco was first to strike in the second half, thanks to the star of the 49ers' show: Samuel.
Double trouble
The 49ers scored again just 30 seconds later when the defense picked off Kirk Cousins, which set up an Elijah Mitchell and a two-score lead for San Francisco.
Answering back
Alexander Mattison had some other ideas, as he punched in a TD midway through the third to make it an eight-point game.
To the house!
Later, Kene Nwangwu returned the 49ers' kickoff 99 yards for a touchdown to cut San Francisco's lead, but it wasn't enough to spark a comeback.
Denver Broncos 28, Los Angeles Chargers 13
Broncos Country
Rookie RB Javonte Williams ran straight though the Chargers' defense to extend the Broncos' lead, 14-0.
He'll take that!
The Chargers' defense came up with a huge play in the second to take over right before the half …
… And the turnover set up this score from none other than Austin Ekeler.
Denied!
Rookie cornerback Patrick Surtain II game up with a huge play when he picked off Justin Hertbert as he made a play for the end zone.
Surtain Show
The first-year CB kept his foot on the gas, taking it 70 yards to the house on his second interception of the day and sealing the deal for the Broncos.
Cincinnati Bengals 41, Pittsburgh Steelers 10
Multidimensional
Joe Burrow has proven he can throw for TDS. He showed he can run for them too on Cincy's first drive of the game.
Defensive help
The Bengals' defense provided some extra juice on Pittsburgh's first drive. Eli Apple stepped in front of a wayward Big Ben throw and weaved his way into the red zone on the ensuing return.
Burrow throw!
Did we mention that Burrow is good at throwing touchdowns?
Holy Toledo!
Mike Hilton has probably done this a few times in practice against his former teammate.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 38, Indianapolis Colts 31
TB TD
The Bucs found the end zone first, in the second quarter. Leonard Fournette was the man of the moment for Tampa Bay.
Pitch-and-catch
Carson Wentz showed off his cannon arm on this 62-yard heave for a score. It put Indy up 10-7 in the second quarter.
Three before the half!
The Colts are taking all the chances they can. They went for six on a fourth-and-1 … And converted!
Wentz found T.Y. Hilton to put Indy up 24-14 at the half.
Smile!
Well, that's not exactly what the picture day experts planned. Check out the world's latest toothless wonder: Vita Vea.
Double-dosage
That's double the TDs for Fournette.
Hat trick!
Do we need to say his name?
Momentum shift
Ronald Jones was the RB who scored for TB this time. His short scamper gave the squad a 28-24 lead.
Old faithful
The Colts evened it up at 31 with 3:30 left to play in the fourth. The culprit: their undisputed workhorse.
Four for Fournette!
Make that four TDs for Fournette on the day. The Bucs handed him the ball for field position, and he busted off a decisive score! His TD total gave him a new single-game career-high.
Miami Dolphins 33, Carolina Panthers 10
Get that out of here!
Miami came to play today. Its heroic effort on special teams helped it score the game's first TD.
Hey, DJ
D.J. Moore likes to go deep. He put Carolina in a great spot on this big catch-and-run.
The long play set up this rushing score from Cam Newton.
Turnover chains
Miami came up with another clutch takeaway. Xavien Howard picked off Newton to put his squad back into the red zone.
Do the Waddle!
Get groovy, Jaylen Waddle. You deserve to after this catch.
Doin' the disco
Waddle showed off his happy feet again with this long catch and run on Miami's next drive.
Miami went wildcat to find the end zone for the third time in the half.
Make that two
Myles Gaskin with two TDs on the day!
New England Patriots 36, Tennessee Titans 13
Bourne Identity
Kendrick Bourne just out-muscled his defender to haul in New England's first score of the day.
A matter of inches
Spoiler alert: Nick Westbrook-Ikhine got into the end zone on this dicey play.
He's gone!
Dontrell Hilliard: 68 yards to the house!
Not so fast
D'Onta Foreman thought he had a big run. But New England is known for seeking the football.
Bourne Supremacy
The sequel was even better than the original.
Atlanta Falcons 21, Jacksonville Jaguars 14
Touchdown machine
Cordarrelle Patterson is a regular visitor to the end zone. He found a path to pay dirt for Atlanta's first TD of the day.
Familiar face
Hey, that guy looks familiar!
Gauging tools
Russell Gage found the coordinates of the end zone with this first-half grab to put his birds up 21-3.
Show off the hops
Get UP there, Tavon Austin! His phenomenal grab helped Jacksonville climb within 11 at the end of the third.
New York Jets 21, Houston Texans 14
Choo choo!
Look out folks, we've got a big man train coming through!
On the board
Tyrod Taylor is wowing in his first few games back. He hit Brevin Jordan on this short dart for Houston's first TD.
Two for two
Taylor's got another TD! This time, he dialed up a deep dime to Brandin Cooks for a 40-yard score.
Zach attack!
Zach Wilson made magic with his legs to give New York an 18-14 advantage.
Then, the Jets added a fourth-quarter field goal to seal the deal.
New York Giants 13, Philadelphia Eagles 7
That's a catch!
After a slow first half, NY got on the board in the second, after Chris Myarick pulled in this wondrous reception.