Jalen Hurts has five-TD game in OT thriller while Ravens keep soaring: Everything to know about Week 12’s Sunday NFL games

Jalen Hurts celebrates after the Philadelphia Eagles’ 37-34 overtime win against the Buffalo Bills. Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images CNN  — 

“Football season starts after Thanksgiving.”

It has become a trope from Bill Belichick during his storied run with the New England Patriots and, if the legendary head coach’s sage wisdom is to be followed, the 2023 NFL season has only just begun.

The remaining few weeks of the current campaign will separate the wheat from the chaff and show who’s a Super Bowl contender and who is not.

Without further ado, here’s everything you need to know about Week 12’s Sunday games.

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts celebrates after scoring the game winning touchdown against the Buffalo Bills in overtime on Sunday, November 26, in Philadelphia. The Eagles won 37-34. Matt Slocum/AP

Cincinnati Bengals tight end Drew Sample dives into the end zone for a touchdown during the Bengals’ 16-10 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Ian Johnson/Icon Sportswire/Getty Images

Cleveland Browns quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson scrambles in the backfield. The Browns lost 29-12 to the Denver Broncos. Isaiah J. Downing/USA Today Network/Reuters

Desmond Ridder of the Atlanta Falcons hands the ball off to Tyler Allgeier during the Falcons’ 24-15 victory over the New Orleans Saints. Todd Kirkland/Getty Images

Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Olamide Zaccheaus catches a touchdown pass over Buffalo Bills safety Micah Hyde. Matt Slocum/AP

Miami Dolphins safety Jevon Holland runs the ball after intercepting New York Jets quarterback Tim Boyle’s Hail Mary pass on the 1-yard line on Friday, November 24. Holland ran it to the other end of the field, weaving through the scrambled defense, for an astonishing 99-yard interception touchdown. The Dolphins beat the Jets 34-13. Chris Pedota/USA Today Network

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott eats a turkey leg after the Cowboys’ 45-10 Thanksgiving Day victory over the Washington Commanders on November 23. Jerome Miron/USA Today Network/Reuters

Christian Watson of the Green Bay Packers makes a catch for a touchdown during a game against the Detroit Lions. The Packers beat the Lions 29-22. Lauren Leigh Bacho/Getty Images

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling drops a pass late in the fourth quarter during the Chiefs’ Monday Night Football game against the Philadelphia Eagles. The Eagles beat the Chiefs 21-17 in the Super Bowl rematch. David Eulitt/Getty Images

Seattle Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon sacks Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford. The Seahawks beat the Rams 17-16. Mark J. Terrill/AP

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Jalen Brooks fails to make a catch during the Cowboys’ 33-10 win over the Carolina Panthers. Eakin Howard/Getty Images

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow holds his wrist after a throw during the Bengals’ 34-20 Thursday Night Football loss to the Baltimore Ravens on November 16. He tore a ligament in his right wrist. Aaron M. Sprecher/AP

Indianapolis Colts safety Julian Blackmon celebrates with teammates after intercepting the ball during the Colts’ 10-6 victory over the New England Patriots in Frankfurt, Germany, on November 12. Nathan Ray Seebeck/USA Today Network/Reuters

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Jayden Reed stiff arms Joey Porter Jr. of the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Steelers beat the Packers 23-19. Joe Sargent/Getty Images

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray runs the ball during the Cardinals’ 25-23 victory over the Atlanta Falcons. It was Murray’s first game back in action after being injured late last season. Mike Christy/Getty Images

Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive tackle Tristan Wirfs recovers a fumble. Chris O’Meara/AP

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb celebrates after scoring a touchdown. The Cowboys beat the New York Giants 49-17. Cooper Neill/Getty Images

New England Patriots wide receiver Demario Douglas evades Indianapolis Colts cornerback Kenny Moore II. Steve Luciano/AP

Los Angeles Chargers running back Austin Ekeler, second from bottom, is tackled by Detroit’s Aidan Hutchinson and Derrick Barnes, top, during the Chargers’ 41-38 loss to the Lions. Detroit linebacker Jack Campbell is on the bottom. Harry How/Getty Images

Noah Sewell, right, and Jaquan Brisker of the Chicago Bears celebrate during Bears’ 16-13 Thursday Night Football win over the Carolina Panthers on November 9. Quinn Harris/Getty Images

Kansas City Chiefs players warm up prior to a game against the Miami Dolphins in Frankfurt, Germany, on November 5. The Chiefs beat the Dolphins 21-14. Kirill Kudryavtsev/AFP/Getty Images

Minnesota Vikings backup quarterback Joshua Dobbs reaches for the pylon during the Vikings’ 31-28 victory over the Atlanta Falcons. Dobbs, who was acquired by the Vikings in a trade last week, threw for 158 yards with two touchdowns in the air and one on the ground. Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images

C.J. Stroud of the Houston Texans drops back to pass during the first half against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Stroud threw for 470 yards in the Texans’ narrow 39-37 victory. Cooper Neill/Getty Images

New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones grimaces after being sacked during the Giants’ 30-6 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders. John Locher/AP

Chicago Bears tight end Cole Kmet catches a touchdown pass while defended by Tyrann Mathieu of the New Orleans Saints. The Saints beat the Bears 24-17. Wesley Hitt/Getty Images

Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jaylen Warren evades Tre Avery of the Tennessee Titans on November 2. The Steelers beat the Titans 20-16. Michael Owens/Getty Images

Detroit Lions fans cheer on a third down play during the Lions’ 26-14 Monday Night Football victory over the Las Vegas Raiders on October 30. Joe Robbins/AP

Denver Broncos cornerback Ja’Quan McMillian celebrates a second quarter interception in Denver on October 29. The Broncos beat the Kansas City Chiefs 24-9. Justin Edmonds/Getty Images

Tennessee Titans quarterback Will Levis throws a pass during the Titans’ 28-23 victory over the Atlanta Falcons. Levis threw four touchdowns during the game, his NFL debut. George Walker IV/AP

Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown makes a one-handed catch to score a touchdown against Washington Commanders cornerback Benjamin St-Juste. The Eagles beat the Commanders 38-31. Alex Brandon/AP

Indianapolis Colts running back Zack Moss reaches for a one-yard touchdown run during the Colts’ 38-27 loss to the New Orleans Saints. Michael Conroy/AP

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes walks off the field after the Chiefs’ loss to the Denver Broncos. Mahomes, who was set to make history with a win, threw two interceptions and no touchdowns. Jack Dempsey/AP

Cincinnati Bengals tight end Irv Smith Jr. runs past San Francisco 49ers safety Talanoa Hufanga. The Bengals beat the 49ers 31-17. Josie Lepe/AP

Dalton Kincaid of the Buffalo Bills celebrates after scoring a touchdown during the Bills’ 24-18 Thursday Night Football victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on October 26. Rich Barnes/Getty Images

New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick, right, embraces Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott after the Patriots beat the Bills 29-25 on October 22. It was Belichick’s 300th regular-season victory. Michael Dwyer/AP

Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Davante Adams drops a pass in the end zone. The Raiders lost 30-12 to the Chicago Bears. Jamie Sabau/USA Today Network/Reuters

Atlanta Falcons placekicker Younghoe Koo celebrates with teammates after making a game-winning field goal on the final play of the Falcons’ 16-13 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images

Denver Broncos running back Javonte Williams evades Green Bay Packers safety Darnell Savage, bottom. The Broncos beat the Packers 19-17. Jack Dempsey/AP

Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor runs the ball during the Colts’ 39-38 loss to the Cleveland Browns. Trevor Ruszkowski/USA Today Network/Reuters

Teammates run to Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling as he celebrates his touchdown during the game against the Los Angeles Chargers. The Chiefs won 31-17. Charlie Riedel/AP

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy scrambles away from Cleveland Browns linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah during the second half of the 49ers’ 19-17 loss on October 15. Sue Ogrocki/AP

Miami Dolphins running back Raheem Mostert jumps over Carolina Panthers cornerback CJ Henderson. Mostert had two touchdowns during the Dolphins’ 42-21 victory. Lynne Sladky/AP

Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields warms up wearing a #51 patch honoring the late Dick Butkus before the Bears’ game against the Minnesota Vikings at Soldier Field in Chicago. Butkus, a hard-hitting Pro Football Hall of Fame linebacker who played nine seasons for the Bears, died October 5. Todd Rosenberg/Getty Images

Los Angeles Rams linebacker Christian Rozeboom celebrates his interception during the Rams’ 26-9 victory over the Arizona Cardinals. Tony Ding/Icon Sportswire/Getty Images

Quincy Williams of the New York Jets tackles Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith. The Eagles are 5-1 for the season after their 20-14 loss to the Jets. Kathryn Riley/Getty Images

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes calls a play during the Chiefs’ 19-8 Thursday Night Football win over the Denver Broncos on October 12. Jamie Squire/Getty Images

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Jayden Reed sits on the sideline as Las Vegas Raiders’ Robert Spillane is congratulated after his interception on October 9. The Raiders beat the Packers 17-13. David Becker/AP

Haason Reddick of the Philadelphia Eagles celebrates after sacking Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford. The Eagles beat the Rams 23-14. Harry How/Getty Images

Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta tries in vain to pull in a pass reception in Detroit on October 8. The Lions beat the Carolina Panthers 42-24. Paul Sancya/AP

New York Jets running back Breece Hall carries the ball during a game against the Denver Broncos. The Jets won 31-21. Dustin Bradford/Icon Sportswire/Getty Images

KaVontae Turpin of the Dallas Cowboys catches a touchdown pass during the second quarter of the Cowboys’ 42-10 loss the San Francisco 49ers at Levi’s Stadium. Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images

Indianapolis Colts running back Zack Moss runs the ball for a touchdown during the first quarter against the Tennessee Titans at Lucas Oil Stadium. The Colts beat the Titans 23-16. Andy Lyons/Getty Images North America/Getty Images

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens celebrates after catching a 41-yard touchdown pass during the Steelers’ 17-10 win over the Baltimore Ravens. Matt Durisko/AP

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase runs past Arizona Cardinals cornerback Marco Wilson after making a catch during the Bengals’ 34-20 victory over the Cardinals. Chase scored three touchdowns during the game. Joe Camporeale/USA Today Network/Reuters

Los Angeles Chargers linebacker Khalil Mack sacks Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Aidan O’Connell during the Chargers’ 24-17 victory on October 1. Mack recorded six sacks, becoming the fifth player in NFL history to do so in a single game. Ashley Landis/AP

Jacksonville Jaguars fans wave flags ahead of a game against the Atlanta Falcons at Wembley Stadium in London. It was the first of five international games the NFL has scheduled this season as part of its ever-expanding International Series. The Jaguars won 23-7. Justin Setterfield/Getty Images

Amon-Ra St. Brown of the Detroit Lions celebrates with fans during his team’s 34-20 victory over the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field on September 28. Cooper Neill/Getty Images

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Deven Thompkins makes a catch for a touchdown in the second half of the Buccaneers’ win 26-9 against the New Orleans Saints. Butch Dill/AP

Cincinnati Bengals’ Evan McPherson kicks a field goal during a game against the Tennesee Titans. McPherson was Cincinnati’s only player to put points on the board during their 27-3 loss. George Walker IV/AP

Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin shouts while warming up ahead of the Bills game against the Miami Dolphins. Hamlin participated in the opening kickoff, his first regular season appearance after surviving a cardiac arrest on the field nearly nine months ago. The Bills beat the Dolphins 48-20. Adrian Kraus/AP

Brian Robinson Jr. of the Washington Commanders makes a pass reception during the second quarter of the Commanders’ 34-31 overtime loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. Mitchell Leff/Getty Images

Kareem Jackson of the Denver Broncos celebrates intercepting a pass thrown by Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields. The Broncos won 31-28. Michael Reaves/Getty Images

Miami Dolphins running back Raheem Mostert celebrates with teammates Braxton Berrios and Christian Wilkins after scoring one of his four touchdowns during the Dolphins’ landslide victory over the Broncos on September 24. Rebecca Blackwell/AP

San Francisco 49ers running back Elijah Mitchell is tackled by New York Giants linebacker Micah McFadden in the second quarter at Levi’s Stadium. The 49ers remain undefeated after their 30-12 Thursday Night Football win on September 21. Cary Edmondson/USA Today Network/Reuters

Grammy Award-winning singer Taylor Swift cheers on the Kansas City Chiefs from the family suite of Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce. Swift’s show of support comes after weeks of speculation — by various NFL broadcasters and the vast majority of Swifties — that she and Kelce are dating. Swift had plenty to cheer about as the Chiefs beat the Chicago Bears 41-10. David Eulitt/Getty Images

Cleveland Browns wide receiver Amari Cooper pulls in a catch for a touchdown during the Browns’ 27-3 victory over the Tennessee Titans at Cleveland Browns Stadium. Andrew Nelles/USA Today Network/Reuters

Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen leaps into the endzone for a touchdown during his team’s 37-3 win over the Washington Commanders. Evan Vucci/AP

Indianapolis Colts tight end Mo Alie-Cox and Baltimore Ravens linebacker Tavius Robinson go after a fumble in the endzone. The Colts beat the Ravens 22-19. Brent Skeen/USA Today Network/Reuters

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Romeo Doubs fends off New Orleans Saints cornerback Isaac Yiadom during the first half at Lambeau Field. The Packers edged out a 18-17 win. Dan Powers/USA Today Network/Reuters

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Desmond Ridder is sacked by Detroit Lions linebacker Derrick Barnes in the first half at Ford Field in Detroit. The Falcons lost 20-6. Rick Osentoski/AP

Cleveland Browns running back Nick Chubb grimaces after suffering a knee injury in a Monday Night Football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers on September 18. He was carted off the field in the second quarter. Before leaving the game, the star running back had 10 carries for 64 yards. Matt Durisko/AP

Dallas Cowboys tight end Jake Ferguson scores in the first half of a 30-10 win over the New York Jets at AT&T Stadium on September 17. It was the Jets’ first game without quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who suffered an ankle injury during his debut with the team in Week 1. Michael Ainsworth/AP

Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence throws a pass during the first quarter against the Kansas City Chiefs at TIAA Bank Field. Lawrence threw for 216 yards during Jacksonville’s 17-9 loss to Kansas City. Sam Greenwood/Getty Images

Chicago Bears running back Khalil Herbert looks for space to run the ball as he evades Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Lavonte David at Raymond James Stadium. The Bears would lose 27-17. Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Desmond Ridder is tackled by linebacker Preston Smith during the second half of a 25-24 win over the Green Bay Packers at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Michael Wilson makes a catch over New York Giants safety Jason Pinnock at State Farm Stadium. The Cardinals narrowly lost 31-28. Matt York/AP

Kansas City Chiefs tight end Noah Gray receives a pass. The Chiefs beat the Jacksonville Jaguars 17-9. Nathan Ray Seebeck/USA Today Network/Reuters

Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Davante Adams celebrates after scoring the team’s only touchdown during their 38-10 loss to the Buffalo Bills at Highmark Stadium. Adrian Kraus/AP

Quarterback Aaron Rodgers, making his debut with the New York Jets, is sacked by Buffalo Bills defensive end Leonard Floyd. Rodgers suffered an ankle injury and was carted off the field after the play, which occurred during the team’s first drive in the first quarter. Before being traded in the offseason, Rodgers had spent the first 18 seasons of his NFL career with the Green Bay Packers. Elsa/Getty Images

San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey looks for space to run the ball in the second half of a 30-7 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers at Acrisure Stadium on September 10 in Pennsylvania. Justin K. Aller/Getty Images

Carolina Panthers tight end Hayden Hurst tries to stiff arm Atlanta Falcons safety Richie Grant in the first half at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. It was all for naught as the Falcons won the game 24-10. Dale Zanine/USA Today Network/Reuters

Las Vegas Raiders WR Jakobi Meyers pulls in a touchdown past Denver Broncos CB Damarri Mathis in the first quarter at Empower Field at Mile High. The score would be important as the Raiders edged the home side, 17-16. Ron Chenoy/USA Today Network/Reuters

It was a rough day for Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals as they got trounced by the Cleveland Browns 24-3. The highest paid quarterback in the league had a tough start to the season, throwing 14-for-31 for 82 yards and being crushed here by Browns safety Grant Delpit. Sue Ogrocki/AP

Tampa Bay Buccaneers WR Deven Thompkins runs with the ball during the fourth quarter of a 20-17 win against the Minnesota Vikings at US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. Nick Wosika/Icon Sportswire/Getty Images

Los Angeles Chargers kicker JK Scott punts the ball against the Miami Dolphins in the second half at SoFi Stadium. The Chargers would lose 36-34 to the Dolphins. Kirby Lee/USA Today Network/Reuters

Baltimore Ravens wide receiver/punt returner Zay Flowers catches a deep pass in the first quarter during the Houston Texans. Baltimore fans had plenty of action to cheer as their team thoroughly handled the Texans 25-9. Randy Litzinger/Icon Sportswire/Getty Images

Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker TJ Watt sacks San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy. It was to be one of the only highlights for the home fans as the Niners won 30-7. Matt Freed/AP

It was a rough start to the year for the Kansas City Chiefs and superstar quarterback Patrick Mahomes as they were shocked by the Detroit Lions 21-20 in Missouri. Still, many are predicting the Chiefs will repeat this year. Jay Biggerstaff/USA Today Network/Reuters The best photos from the 2023 NFL season Prev Next Putting a Hurts on the Bills

Jalen Hurts’ breakthrough 2022 season ended in heartbreak as the Philadelphia Eagles fell agonizingly short from achieving the ultimate glory with a 38-35 loss in Super Bowl LVII to the Kansas City Chiefs.

But the 25-year-old quarterback and the rest of the Eagles squad have attacked the new year and their 2023 opponents with energy renewed as they look to overcome that final hurdle.

Week 12 brought the team’s most thrilling performance of the season so far, with Hurts leading the way with five touchdowns as the Eagles beat the Buffalo Bills 37-34 in overtime.

Despite seemingly troubled by a knee injury throughout the game, Hurts’ 12-yard touchdown run in the extra period clinched the impressive victory and was the exclamation point on an already statement performance.

It was the complete display from Hurts, whose dual-threat ability was laid­ bare for all to see. He displayed his accuracy throwing the ball with three passing touchdowns – one apiece to DeVonta Smith, AJ Brown and Olamide Zaccheaus – while also running two more into the endzone, including the walk-off score in OT.

Although he has arguably not reached the lofty heights he did last season – where he narrowly missed out on the NFL’s Most Valuable Player award to Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes – Sunday’s performance highlights Hurts still has the skillset to lead his team to the promised land.

“He made a lot of really clutch plays in that second half and then, you know, the big one, obviously at the end right there,” Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni told reporters afterwards. “We did a great job of blocking up front, and Jalen got himself through there for a touchdown in a clutch moment.

Hurts attempts a pass during the second quarter against the Bills. Mitchell Leff/Getty Images

“Man, what you learn about him. I don’t think it’s anything you learn about him because you know that he’s clutch. He’s been clutch for us and clutch for this city and clutch for this team for the past three years now, so you know, he just kept going and put his head down and worked and made some big-time plays at the end.”

Hurts’ five-touchdown performance was the first time he has reached that mark in a single game in his four-year NFL career.

It was Hurts’ 11th career game with multiple rushing touchdowns, breaking a tie with Cam Newton for the most such games by a quarterback in NFL history, according to the NFL.

And he needed to be on his best to claim the victory, with his opposite number – Josh Allen – also showing up on the big stage.

The Bills quarterback finished with 339 passing yards, two touchdowns through the air as well as 81 yards and two touchdowns on the ground.

But after Allen had led a 12-play, 53-yard overtime drive which ended in a Tyler Bass field goal to give the Bills a three-point lead, Hurts went one step further as he helped orchestrate a nine-play, 75-yard game-winning drive capped off by that game-winning touchdown run.

The win pushed the Eagles to a league-best record of 10-1 and, in doing so, Hurts became the second quarterback with more than 10 wins over his team’s first 11 games in back-to-back seasons since 1950. The only other player to reach that milestone is Hall of Famer Peyton Manning in 2005-06, according to the NFL.

“We just continue to find ways to win,” Hurts said afterwards. “We continue to find ways to win. We play together. We’ve shown our resiliency day in and day out. Game in and game out. We’ve been challenged in a number of different ways. We always find a way, you know?”

Hurts reacts after scoring the game-winning touchdown in overtime against the Bills. Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images Ravens perched atop the AFC

Some teams grab the headlines while others fly under the radar.

The Baltimore Ravens have certainly fallen into the latter group to start the season, although their victory over the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday might begin to scupper that narrative.

The Ravens won 20-10 in SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles – meaning they sit atop the AFC with the best record in the conference – due in large part to the team’s continued excellence on defense.

Baltimore’s D forced a combined four fumbles and interceptions, managing to hold a previously high-scoring Chargers offense to its lowest point output since Week 3 of the 2022 season.

Arthur Maulet intercepted Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert at the end of the first half and the stout Ravens defense forced two turnovers on downs in the fourth quarter with the home team needing a score to hold on to the victory.

Herbert is sacked by Baltimore Ravens defensive tackles Travis Jones and Justin Madubuike. Ryan Sun/AP

The defense was able to make up for Baltimore’s stuttering offense, which struggled to find the groove it has so often been in this year.

Quarterback Lamar Jackson threw for just 177 yards and one touchdown, connecting with Zay Flowers for a three-yard score in the second quarter.

Flowers scored the team’s only other score too, with an impressive 37-yard rushing touchdown with less than two minutes remaining to seal the road win. In doing so, Flowers became the first Ravens wide receiver and/or rookie with a rushing and receiving touchdown in a game.

Jackson was full of praise for his wide receiver afterwards. “It was awesome,” the Ravens star – who became just the fourth quarterback to rush for 5,000 yards in their career – said. “We need a lot more, if anything. I’ve been waiting on him to score multiple times in a game, but having that last one with the run, that was a nice run.”

The win keeps the Ravens atop the AFC conference, one game ahead of the defending champion Chiefs who also won on Sunday.

Flowers celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Chargers. Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images Stroud, Texans narrowly miss out

The Houston Texans have been one of the surprise packages of the 2023 NFL season so far.

With a first-year head coach, rookie quarterback and unproven surrounding talent, not much was expected this year.

But behind the historic performances of No. 2 overall pick in this year’s draft, CJ Stroud, the Texans have a legitimate shot at reaching the playoffs.

And on Sunday, Houston came within the width of the goalpost crossbar from racking up another win in its remarkable season.

Facing their division rivals, the Jacksonville Jaguars, Stroud and his teammates had gone toe-to-toe with Trevor Lawrence and Co. all game as the teams exchanged blows at Houston’s NRG Stadium.

Following a 53-yard Jaguars field goal at the start of the fourth quarter, the Texans trailed by 10 needing a miracle.

A 17-yard touchdown pass from Stroud to Nico Collins brought Houston within three points with 5:15 remaining. Following a defensive stop and with time ticking down, the Texans had one final drive to score a touchdown to win the game or a field goal to send it to overtime.

Stroud was able to get the ball to the Jacksonville 39-yard line before the drive stalled meaning Texans kicker Matt Ammendola was called in to convert a 58-yard field goal to tie the game.

For a kicker whose career-long conversion was from 49 yards, it was a tall order. And although Ammendola’s aim was true, his effort agonizingly hit the upright of the goalposts before bouncing back unsuccessfully. As a result, the Jaguars held onto the 24-21 victory to improve to 8-3 on the season while Houston falls to 6-5.

Despite the loss, there were plenty of positives for the Texans, including the continued excellent of Stroud.

He continued his historic rookie season on Sunday, setting an NFL rookie record with his fourth straight game with 300-plus passing yards. He also he tied the rookie record with his fifth game of 300-plus passing yards and two-plus passing touchdowns, joining Justin Herbert and Andrew Luck.

“I thought CJ did a really good job of being able to move around and extend plays,” Houston head coach DeMeco Ryans said. “Made a couple of big plays for us. I thought he moved around well when he had to, took what the defense gave him.”

Stroud scores a rushing touchdown during the third quarter of a game against the Jaguars. Carmen Mandato/Getty Images Full Week 12 Sunday scores

Away vs. home

New Orleans Saints 15-24 Atlanta Falcons

Pittsburgh Steelers 16-10 Cincinnati Bengals

Jacksonville Jaguars 24-21 Houston Texans

Tampa Bay Buccaneers 20-27 Indianapolis Colts

New England Patriots 7-10 New York Giants

Carolina Panthers 10-17 Tennessee Titans

Los Angeles Rams 37-14 Arizona Cardinals

Cleveland Browns 12-29 Denver Broncos

Kansas City Chiefs 31-17 Las Vegas Raiders

Buffalo Bills 34-37 Philadelphia Eagles

Baltimore Ravens 20-10 Los Angeles Chargers

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