The most anticipated question of NFL Week 12 was how Denver practice squad wide receiver Kendall Hinton would do at quarterback for the Broncos. Hinton, who was a backup signal-caller at Wake Forest, had to step in when Denver’s three QBs couldn’t play after being put on the reserve/COVID-19 list.
Hinton’s day was a bust, as he had one completion and two interceptions. One wide receiver did manage, however, to make an impressive throw. Buffalo Bills wide receiver Cole Beasley hooked up on a 20-yard pass play with Gabriel Davis midway through the second quarter.
Beasley wasn’t a quarterback in college, but he did play the position in high school. The Bills tried out the play before the game, Beasley said, but didn’t work nearly as well.
“Actually I had one in practice that was pretty bad,†Beasley said. “It was really windy and I was throwing in to the wind. I threw a duck that day. I am glad this one turned out a little better.
Beasley Available to Tutor Baker Mayfield?
Cleveland quarterback Baker Mayfield might want to study game film of Beasley’s throw because he threw a dud on Sunday that should have been an easy six points. The Browns signal-caller marched the offense 64 yards down the field midway through the second quarter to Jacksonville’s six-yard line. On third and goal, Mayfield had a wide-open Jarvis Landry in the end zone and overthrew him. The team had to settle for a field goal.
That would ultimately come back to bite bettors on the backside. The Browns were a 7.5-point favorite and gamblers could have used the points. Cleveland beat the Jaguars, 27-25, but failed to cover for the seventh time in 11 games.
Who Did it Better, Watt or Sweat?
Defensive players decided they wanted to get in on the highlights the Week 12 highlights as well. Houston’s J.J. Watt and Washington’s Montez Sweat both turned in defensive gems on Thanksgiving.
Watt is known for batting down passes. Against Detroit, he knocked down a Matt Stafford pass and took the ball in from 25 yards for the score.
Sweat is also quickly earning a reputation as a pass swatter. He leaped up to deflect Cowboys quarterback Andy Dalton’s pass attempt and rumbled 15 yards into the end zone for the score.
So who do you think had the more impressive swat and score?
Two Defensive Scores for Chinn
Carolina linebacker Jeremy Chinn decided to score a little more conventionally against Minnesota on Sunday. After defensive tackle Zach Kerr sacked Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins, causing a fumble, Chinn scooped up the loose ball and scampered 17 yards for his first NFL touchdown.
But the rookie wasn’t done scoring. After his scoop and score to open the second half, Chinn found the end zone 10 seconds later. He recovered a loose ball in what looked like a rugby scrum and ran 28 yards for his second TD of the day.
According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Chinn is the third player in NFL history with multiple fumble-return touchdowns in a game.
“No way to explain it,” Chinn said. “The moment was fun and exciting. I haven’t scored a touchdown since high school.”