NFL Week 12 in Hindsight

NEVER SAY NEVER: Since the current 12-team playoff format was instituted in 1990, 18 teams have reached the postseason despite having a losing record after 11 games, including one team in 10 of the past 11 seasons.

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This includes a current streak of three consecutive seasons (2012-2014) and seven consecutive seasons from 2004-2010 in which a team with a sub-.500 record after 11 games reached the playoffs. Nine of the past 12 teams have won at least one playoff game.

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In Week 12, the CHICAGO BEARS, OAKLAND RAIDERS and WASHINGTON REDSKINS all won to improve to 5-6 as Washington tied the New York Giants for the NFC East lead.

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The teams with a losing record after 11 games to make the playoffs since 1990:

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YEAR	TEAM		RECORD AFTER 11 GAMES	FINAL RECORD	ADVANCED TO
1990	New Orleans Saints		5-6	8-8	Wild Card
1993	Minnesota Vikings		5-6	9-7	Wild Card
1994	Detroit Lions		5-6	9-7	Wild Card
1994	New England Patriots		5-6	10-6	Wild Card
1995	Detroit Lions		5-6	10-6	Wild Card
1995	San Diego Chargers		4-7	9-7	Wild Card
1996	Jacksonville Jaguars		4-7	9-7	Conference Championship
1997	Detroit Lions		5-6	9-7	Wild Card
2004	St. Louis Rams		5-6	8-8	Divisional
2005	Washington Redskins		5-6	10-6	Divisional
2006	Philadelphia Eagles*		5-6	10-6	Divisional
2007	Washington Redskins		5-6	9-7	Wild Card
2008	San Diego Chargers*		4-7	8-8	Divisional
2009	New York Jets		5-6	9-7	Conference Championship
2010	Seattle Seahawks*		5-6	7-9	Divisional
2012	Washington Redskins*		5-6	10-6	Wild Card
2013	San Diego Chargers		5-6	9-7	Divisional
2014	Carolina Panthers*		3-7-1	7-8-1	Divisional
*Won Division

 

– NFL –

 

TURKEY DAY TRIO: Thanksgiving Day featured three NFL games for the 10th consecutive season. The Detroit Lions played in their 76th Thanksgiving Day game as they defeated Philadelphia 45-14. The Carolina Panthers won 33-14 against Dallas as the Cowboys played in their 48th Thanksgiving game. The nightcap showcased the Chicago Bears defeating Green Bay 17-13.

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Carolina, who played on the holiday for the first time in franchise history, joined the 2011 Green Bay Packers (10-0) as the only teams in the Super Bowl era to play on Thanksgiving Day with a 10-0 record or better.

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GAME	WINNING TEAM	FINAL SCORE
Philadelphia Eagles at Detroit Lions	Detroit	45-14
Carolina Panthers at Dallas Cowboys	Carolina	33-14
Chicago Bears at Green Bay Packers	Chicago	17-13

 

– NFL –

 

THANKSGIVING FEAST: Below is a sampling of the milestones that were reached on Thanksgiving Day.

·         Green Bay quarterback AARON RODGERS threw a touchdown against Chicago and now has 250 career TD passes in 121 career games, surpassing Pro Football Hall of Famer DAN MARINO (128 games) for the fewest games to reach the milestone.

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The players to reach 250 career touchdown passes in the fewest games in NFL history:

PLAYER	FEWEST GAMES TO REACH 250 CAREER PASSING TOUCHDOWNS
Aaron Rodgers	121
Dan Marino	128
Peyton Manning	132
Tom Brady	141
Brett Favre	141
Drew Brees	145

 

·         Dallas tight end JASON WITTEN recorded four catches for 36 yards against Carolina, bringing his career receiving yard total to 11,010. Witten became the second tight end in NFL history to reach 11,000 career receiving yards (TONY GONZALEZ, 15,127).