32 things we learned from Week 12 of 2022 NFL season: QB Mike White moves Jets into playoff field
The 32 things we learned from Week 12 of the 2022 NFL season:
1. With two-thirds of the regular season complete, the AFC and NFC playoff pictures are beginning to come into focus. If the postseason began tomorrow – it doesn’t – three teams from each conference (Baltimore Ravens, Miami Dolphins, New York Jets, New York Giants, Minnesota Vikings and Washington Commanders) who didn’t make it in 2021 would advance into the field.
1a. Since 1990, at least four teams every season have made the playoffs after failing to qualify the previous year.
2. (Very) early returns on the Jets’ decision to bench Zach Wilson in favor of backup Mike White? Spectacular. White completed 22 of 28 passes for 315 yards and three TDs (two to rookie WR Garrett Wilson, who has yet to catch a scoring strike from Zach Wilson) – and a sublime 149.3 QB rating – as the NYJ mauled the Chicago Bears 31-10.
2a. In 20 NFL starts, Zach Wilson has never had a three-TD passing day and has posted a passer rating in excess of 100.0 (101.1) once. White also passed for 405 yards and three scores (107.9 rating) in a 34-31 win over the Cincinnati Bengals last season in his first career start when Wilson was out with a knee injury.
Follow every game: Live NFL Scores
Micah Parsons’ legend grows, Bills back on road
NATE DAVIS:Five things Jets could have (should have?) done rather than draft Zach Wilson
JARRETT BELL:In winning ugly, Bengals show ‘championship mettle’ that may bode well in January
5. The man whom Wilson replaced, Carolina Panthers QB Sam Darnold, made his 2022 debut Sunday after missing most of the year with a high ankle sprain suffered in preseason. But even while knocking the rust off, Darnold also looked better than Wilson – passing for a TD and recovering his own fumble in the end zone for another score while avoiding the turnovers that plagued his time with the Jets. Even at 4-8, the Panthers’ win brought them within 1½ games of the NFC South lead.
WR Odell Beckham Jr. getting kicked off a plane Sunday in Miami officially rule out the Dolphins and Jets as potential suitors? Askin’ for a friend.wallowing at .500 or worse but with an opportunity to still make a playoff push. It was the Bolts who pushed forward in the desert with a 25-24 victory. And give LA coach Brandon Staley credit – though he often makes head-scratching analytics-based decisions, his call to go for two points and the win after the Chargers scored a TD with 15 seconds left proved successful and decisive.
8a. The Bolts (6-5) are one game out of the AFC’s final playoff spot, while the fading Cards (4-8) are three back in the NFC.
9. All things considered, the Chargers are currently Hollywood’s darlings. The reigning champion Rams and coach Sean McVay had another rough go, losing 26-10 to the Chiefs in Kansas City. It’s the first time the Rams have dropped five straight in McVay’s six seasons … and the first time he’s taken one to the jaw from one of his players on the sideline.
54-51 shootout won by the Rams four years ago in the LA Coliseum – the first time in league history when both teams reached 50 points in a game.
12. Sunday night, Philadelphia Eagles QB Jalen Hurts became the first player in league history to have at least both 125 yards passing and rushing in a half.
Cincinnati Bengals won their playoff rematch with the Tennessee Titans 20-16. Cincinnati (7-4), which also ousted the top-seeded Titans in Nashville in January, moved into a first-place tie in the AFC North.
24. Seems like Baltimore Ravens K Justin Tucker is just about perfectly calibrated. He drilled an NFL record 66-yard field goal last year (indoors) in Detroit. Sunday, Tucker’s game-winning attempt from 67 yards (outside) in Jacksonville came up just short in Baltimore’s 28-27 loss. Tucker scored 13 of the Ravens’ points.
25. But give the Jaguars credit. Second-year QB Trevor Lawrence capped his best day as a pro (321 yards, 3 TDs passing and 129.8 rating) with a 10-yard TD pass and subsequent two-point pass with 14 seconds left in the one-point triumph.
26. Also, the Ravens can be forgiven for being traumatized Sunday by Jags mascot Jaxson de Ville and that banana hammock.
an awfully hasty reveal of a memorial to him – announced last week and unveiled Sunday at FedExField with Taylor’s family members in attendance.
***
Follow USA TODAY Sports’ Nate Davis on Twitter @ByNateDavis.