NFL Week 12 Takeaways: Myles Garrett, Browns Upset Steelers in Snow-Covered TNF

Hard as it is to believe, we have already hit Week 12 of the 2024 NFL season.

Outside of the Thanksgiving Day games, the final games of November will be played this weekendand that means the playoffs draw ever closer.

This week's schedule certainly isn't short on important games.

It began with one of the AFC's best teams (the Pittsburgh Steelers) taking on one of the worst (the Cleveland Browns).

One snowy upset later, Winter Is Coming--and we may be in for quite the week.

That's just the beginning of the week's happenings.

The Kansas City Chiefs will try to rebound from their first loss of the season.

The Minnesota Vikings and Detroit Lions hit the road looking to keep their positive momentum going.

The San Francisco 49ers travel to Green Bay in search of a badly needed win, while the Arizona Cardinals will look to take firm control of the NFC West in Seattle.

And in the final game of the week, two AFC contenders who just so happen to be coached by brothers will lock horns in Los Angeles.

That contest between the Baltimore Ravens and Los Angeles Chargers could mean big things for the AFC's Wild Card race, and the rest of the slate will no doubt contain plenty of excitement and surprises.

Just as they do every week, Bleacher Report NFL analysts Gary Davenport , Kristopher Knox , Maurice Moton and Brent Sobleski are here to break Week 12 down, with the biggest takeaway from every game played.

First off, beating the hated Steelers Thursday night is just some temporary feels for a fantastic fanbase enduring another miserable seasonthe 2024 Browns have been a mess, and the team's problems won't be easy to fix.

Second, Deshaun Watson should never play another snap forCleveland.

The Browns are stuck with the money and the crippling cap hits.

Thatcost is sunk more than the Andrea Doria.

It was the single worstpersonnel move in NFL history.

But the Browns were an 11-win team a year ago with Joe Flacco.

They didn't have running back Nick Chubb for most of last season and much of this one.

The offensive line has been wrecked by injuries.

In Thursday's 24-19 win, we were reminded that this team can be good.

Edge-rusher Myles Garrett set the tone for the upset, destroying Pittsburgh's offensive line to the tune of three sacks and a forced fumblebefore halftime.

Chubb's yards per carry this year isn't great, but he bulled his way into the end zone for the game-winning touchdown.

And then there's Jameis Winston.

Winston's numbers Thursday were hardly outstanding231 yards and an awful interception.

But Winston's a capable NFL starter.

A player who can be a bridge for the rookie signal-caller Cleveland will likely draft in 2025.

Cleveland's path back to contention will be tricky with the Watson contract on the books.

But they aren't as far away as some think.

Thursday's loss in Cleveland is hardly crippling for the SteelersPittsburgh is still one up on the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC North with a head-to-head win.

It's hardly time to hit the panic button.

The Steelers could make it all the way to New Orleans and Super Bowl XLIX.

But they probably won'tand the reasons why were on display Thursday night.

When Russell Wilson first took the reins at quarterback, he appeared to unlock a new dimension in Pittsburgh's offense.

But as more time has passed, it's becoming evident that Wilson has limitations just like Justin Fields.

They just aren't the same ones.

Fields isn't an especially accurate passer.

Wilson's arm talent isn't what it was.

That Pittsburgh is playing both now creates a headache for opposing defenses.

But as John Madden (allegedly) once said, "if you have two quarterbacks, you have none." The Steelers most assuredly don't have Josh Allen.

Or Patrick Mahomes.

Or Lamar Jackson.

Or Justin Herbert.

Or C.J.

Stroud.

Pittsburgh's offensive line is better than it was the past few years.

But better doesn't mean it's goodWilson will be seeing Myles Garrett in his nightmares for a while.

Pittsburgh's run game took Week 5 offhad Fields not had a 30-yard-run, the team wouldn't even have hit the mediocre 3.5 yards a carry it did.

And yet again, Pittsburgh's offense repeatedly sputtered in opposing territory.

Get inside the opposing 40-yard-line, and the Steelers have crumbled time and again this season.

Mike Tomlin's streak of winning seasons is safe.

Pittsburgh will all but certainly make the playoffs.

But Pittsburgh's last win in the postseason was in 2016 (Well, early 2017).

And that streak may well carry over into 2025.

Here's a breakdown of the rest of the Week 12 slate.

Sunday, November 24 Monday, November 25.

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