Overtime Thrillers and Playoff Shakeups Define NFL Sunday Morning Slate

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Week 12 of the NFL season delivered a thrilling morning of football, marked by two dramatic overtime finishes and key victories for AFC and NFC contenders battling for playoff positioning.

AFC Drama: Chiefs Survive Colts in Overtime

The most suspenseful game of the early window saw the Kansas City Chiefs (6-5) escape Arrowhead Stadium with a narrow 23-20 overtime victory over the Indianapolis Colts (8-3). The Chiefs offense struggled early, falling behind 20-9 in the fourth quarter, a lead built largely by the Colts’ defense and an opportunistic offense. However, Patrick Mahomes, who threw for 352 yards but no touchdowns, engineered a classic comeback, relying on running back Kareem Hunt (104 rushing yards, one score) and wide receiver Rashee Rice (8 catches, 141 yards) to claw back into the game. Harrison Butker’s clutch 25-yard field goal as time expired in regulation forced overtime. After the Chiefs stopped the Colts’ opening overtime drive, Mahomes methodically moved the ball down the field, setting up Butker for the game-winning 27-yard field goal, snapping a two-game losing streak and giving Kansas City a critical victory in the AFC Wild Card race.

NFC North Shuffle: Lions and Bears Win Thrillers

The NFC North race tightened with both the Bears and Lions grabbing important wins. The Detroit Lions (7-4) survived a massive scare at home against the New York Giants (2-10), ultimately winning 34-27 in overtime. The Giants, led by a surprisingly dynamic performance from quarterback Jameis Winston, used two trick-play touchdowns to build a 27-17 lead in the fourth quarter. Detroit star running back Jahmyr Gibbs then took over, racking up a stunning 264 scrimmage yards and three total touchdowns, including a 48-yard sprint that brought the Lions within three. After tying the game late, Gibbs scored the walk-off touchdown on the first offensive play of overtime with a long run, clinching the win.

Meanwhile, the Chicago Bears (8-3) proved their legitimacy by surviving a tense battle against the Pittsburgh Steelers (6-5), winning 31-28. The Bears, who have now won seven of their last eight games, held off a late comeback attempt from a Steelers team playing without the injured Aaron Rodgers. Chicago’s defense made enough stops, securing the victory that sends the Bears into Thanksgiving atop the NFC North standings.

Top Seeds Coast, Playoff Contenders Handle Business

In other action, the AFC’s top-seeded New England Patriots (10-2) continued their dominant run, defeating the Cincinnati Bengals (3-8) 26-20. Quarterback Drake Maye threw a touchdown pass, complemented by a pick-six and four field goals from Andres Borregales, as the Patriots cruised despite a valiant effort from a Bengals team missing star receiver Ja’Marr Chase for much of the game.

Elsewhere, the Green Bay Packers (7-3-1) defense suffocated the rival Minnesota Vikings (4-7), holding them to just 145 yards of total offense in a convincing 23-6 victory that dropped the Vikings’ playoff hopes considerably. The Baltimore Ravens (6-5) overcame a slow start to defeat the New York Jets (2-9) 23-10 after the Jets’ offense self-destructed in the second half. Finally, the Seattle Seahawks (8-3) secured their eighth win of the season with a 30-24 victory over the Tennessee Titans (1-10).

The morning slate delivered a strong message: the playoff picture is tightening, and every point matters as the season moves toward its conclusion.