2012 NFL Regular Season Recap

Tom%20Brady%20and%20the%20New%20England%20Patriots%20looked%20ready%20to%20make%20another%20Super%20Bowl%20run%20this%20year%2C%20even%20without%20tight%20end%20Rob%20Gronkowski%2C%20who%20broke%20his%20arm%20in%20week%2011.%20The%20Patriots%20won%20nine%20of%20their%20last%2010%20games%20and%20wrapped%20up%20another%20AFC%20East%20title.%20They%20earned%20the%20No.%202%20seed%20and%20a%20bye%20in%20the%20first%20week%20of%20the%20playoffs.%20%28Photo%20by%20Jim%20Rogash%2FGetty%20Images%29

The%20Miami%20Dolphins%20surprised%20a%20lot%20of%20people%20when%20they%20selected%20Ryan%20Tannehill%20in%20the%20first%20round%20of%20the%202012%20NFL%20Draft.%20The%20Dolphins%20improved%20by%20one%20win%20over%20their%202011%20season%20but%20only%20won%20two%20of%20their%20six%20divisional%20games.%20%28Photo%20by%20Joel%20Auerbach%2FGetty%20Images%29

In%20the%20past%20offseason%2C%20the%20Jets%20signed%20quarterback%20Mark%20Sanchez%20and%20wide%20received%20Santonio%20Holmes%20to%20contract%20extensions%2C%20hired%20Tony%20Sparano%20to%20turn%20Sanchez%20into%20a%20franchise%20QB%20and%20traded%20for%20QB%20Tim%20Tebow.%20None%20of%20that%20seemed%20to%20help.%20Holmes%20and%20CB%20Darrelle%20Revis%20suffered%20season-ending%20injuries.%20Sanchez%20remained%20inconsistent%2C%20leading%20to%20calls%20for%20a%20QB%20change%2C%20which%20came%20late%20in%20the%20season.%20Tebow%20never%20saw%20much%20action.%20The%20Jets%20limped%20to%20the%20finish%2C%20and%20GM%20Mike%20Tannenbaum%20and%20Tony%20Sparano%20were%20fired.%20%28Photo%20by%20Jeff%20Zelevansky%2FGetty%20Images%29

In%20the%20last%20offseason%2C%20the%20Bills%20signed%20DE%20Mario%20Williams%20to%20a%20six-year%2C%20%24100%20million%20deal%2C%20and%20extended%20Ryan%20Fitzpatrick%26%238217%3Bs%20contract%20another%20six%20years.%20Those%20deals%20weren%26%238217%3Bt%20enough%20to%20prevent%20another%20disappointing%20season.%20The%20Bills%20ranked%2025th%20in%20passing%20yards%20and%2031st%20in%20rushing%20defense.%20Head%20coach%2C%20Chan%20Gailey%2C%20was%20fired%20at%20the%20end%20of%20the%20season%2C%20and%20Ralph%20Wilson%20relinquished%20control%20of%20the%20team.%20%28Photo%20by%20Rick%20Stewart%2FGetty%20Images%29

The%20Ravens%20lost%20their%20team%20leader%2C%20Ray%20Lewis%2C%20to%20an%20elbow%20injury%20in%20week%20six.%20He%20remained%20on%20injured%20reserve%20for%20the%20rest%20of%20the%20season%20and%20has%20since%20announced%20his%20retirement.%20Quarterback%20Joe%20Flacco%20and%20running%20back%20Ray%20Rice%20carried%20the%20team%20to%20the%20playoffs%20though%20offensive%20coordinator%2C%20Cam%20Cameron%2C%20was%20fired%20in%20December.%20The%20Ravens%20won%20the%20AFC%20North%20and%20earned%20the%20conference%26%238217%3Bs%20fourth%20seed.%20%28Photo%20by%20Rob%20Carr%2FGetty%20Images%29

The%20Pittsburgh%20Steelers%20once%20again%20had%20the%20best%20defense%20in%20the%20NFL%2C%20ranking%201st%20in%20passing%20defense%20and%202nd%20in%20rushing%20defense.%20But%20Ben%20Roethlisberger%20continued%20to%20be%20the%20story%20in%20Pittsburgh.%20Roethlisberger%20suffered%20a%20rib%20injury%20that%20sidelined%20him%20for%20three%20games%2C%20two%20of%20which%20the%20Steelers%20lost.%20In%20week%2015%20and%2016%20Roethlisberger%20threw%20two%20late%20interceptions%2C%20giving%20up%20the%20game%20and%20dropping%20the%20Steelers%20to%20a%20.500%20season.%20%28Photo%20by%20Jared%20Wickerham%2FGetty%20Images%29

The%20Cleveland%20Browns%20selected%20Trent%20Richardson%20in%20the%202012%20NFL%20Draft.%20Although%20part%20of%20one%20of%20the%20best%20quarterback%20draft%20classes%20in%20years%2C%20he%20couldn%26%238217%3Bt%20do%20enough%20to%20help%20the%20Browns.%20They%20started%20the%20season%20with%20five%20straight%20losses%20and%20and%20never%20recovered.%20The%20Browns%20lost%20several%20key%20players%20to%20injury%20including%20Colt%20McCoy%20and%20Josh%20Cribbs.%20%28Photo%20by%20Dustin%20Bradford%2FGetty%20Images%29

The%20Houston%20Texans%20looked%20like%20the%20team%20to%20beat%20in%20the%20AFC%2C%20winning%2012%20of%20their%20first%2014%20games.%20However%2C%20the%20Texans%20lost%20their%20final%20two%20games%2C%20dropped%20to%20the%20number%20three%20seed%20and%20failed%20to%20secure%20home-field%20advantage%20throughout%20the%20playoffs.%20The%20team%20appears%20to%20be%20in%20a%20bit%20of%20a%20rut%20as%20it%20enters%20the%20post%20season.%20%28Photo%20by%20Jonathan%20Daniel%2FGetty%20Images%29

In%20the%20offseason%20last%20year%2C%20the%20Colts%20released%20future%20hall%20of%20fame%20quarterback%20Peyton%20Manning%2C%20who%20was%20injured%20for%20the%20whole%202011%20season%2C%20and%20drafted%20Andrew%20Luck.%20That%20move%20immediately%20paid%20dividends%20as%20Luck%20broke%20the%20NFL%20rookie%20passing%20record.%20He%20also%20led%20the%20Colts%20to%20a%20winning%20season%20and%20returned%20them%20to%20the%20playoffs%20as%20a%20wildcard.%20%28Photo%20by%20Jamie%20Squire%2FGetty%20Images%29

All%20the%20talk%20this%20past%20offseason%20was%20about%20whether%20running%20back%20Chris%20Johnson%20would%20come%20back%20to%20play%20with%20the%20Titans.%20He%20finally%20signed%20a%20contract%20extension%20worth%20%2453.5%20million.%20But%20the%20signing%20didn%26%238217%3Bt%20pay%20off%20too%20well%20as%20Johnson%20proved%20very%20inconsistent.%20The%20Titans%20defense%20gave%20up%20an%20average%20of%20127%20yards%20rushing%20and%20247%20yards%20passing%20per%20game.%20The%20team%20heads%20into%20the%20offseason%20looking%20to%20make%20improvements%20on%20both%20sides%20of%20the%20ball.%20%28Photo%20by%20Andy%20Lyons%2FGetty%20Images%29

The%20Jacksonville%20Jaguars%20season%20mercifully%20came%20to%20an%20end%20on%20Sunday.%20The%20Jaguars%20ranked%20near%20the%20bottom%20in%20almost%20every%20statistical%20category%20in%20the%20NFL.%20The%20team%20lost%20their%20starting%20quarterback%2C%20Blaine%20Gabbert%2C%20to%20an%20elbow%20injury%20in%20November%20and%20finished%20tied%20for%20the%20worst%20record%20in%20the%20league.%20The%20team%20has%20earned%20the%20No.%202%20pick%20in%20the%20upcoming%20NFL%20draft%20but%20will%20have%20a%20new%20GM%20to%20make%20that%20pick%20after%20firing%20Gene%20Smith.%20%28Photo%20by%20Sam%20Greenwood%2FGetty%20Images%29

Looking%20for%20a%20team%20in%20the%20offseason%2C%20Peyton%20Manning%20decided%20the%20Denver%20Broncos%20were%20the%20best%20fit.%20And%20he%20was%20right.%20Manning%20proved%20he%20still%20has%20what%20it%20takes%20to%20be%20an%20elite%20quarterback%2C%20even%20after%20missing%20the%20entire%202011%20season.%20He%20passed%20for%20over%204%2C600%20yards%20and%20threw%2037%20touchdowns.%20The%20Broncos%20finished%20the%20season%20tied%20for%20the%20best%20record%20in%20the%20NFL.%20They%20head%20into%20the%20playoffs%20with%20an%2011-game%20winning%20streak%20and%20a%20first-round%20bye.%20%28Photo%20by%20Garrett%20W.%20Ellwood%2FGetty%20Images%29

The%20San%20Diego%20Chargers%20entered%20the%20season%20looking%20to%20get%20back%20into%20the%20playoffs.%20Phillip%20Rivers%20and%20the%20team%20suffered%20a%20three%20and%20a%20four-game%20losing%20streak%20in%20the%20middle%20of%20season%20that%20proved%20too%20much%20to%20overcome.%20The%20Chargers%20finished%20the%20season%20%287-9%29%20and%20head%20into%20the%20offseason%20without%20a%20head%20coach.%20Norv%20Turner%20was%20among%20the%20coaches%20fired%20on%20Black%20Monday.%20%28Photo%20by%20Matt%20Sullivan%2FGetty%20Images%29

Carson%20Palmer%20and%20the%20Oakland%20Raiders%20were%20hoping%20to%20get%20back%20to%20the%20playoffs%20after%20a%2010-year%20drought.%20Those%20hopes%20were%20quickly%20dashed%20with%20four%20losses%20in%20the%20first%20six%20weeks.%20Palmer%20put%20up%20some%20respectable%20passing%20numbers%20this%20season%2C%20but%20the%20Raiders%20had%20no%20ground%20game%20to%20compliment%20his%20aerial%20attack.%20At%20the%20end%20of%20the%20season%2C%20the%20Raiders%20fired%20the%20offensive%20coordinators%20and%20three%20other%20assistant%20coaches.%20%28Photo%20by%20Ezra%20Shaw%2FGetty%20Images%29

No%20team%20in%20the%20league%20had%20a%20worse%20season%20than%20the%20Kansas%20City%20Chiefs%2C%20posting%20just%20two%20wins.%20Their%20starting%20quarterback%2C%20Matt%20Cassel%2C%20was%20injured%20half%20way%20through%2C%20and%20the%20fans%20cheered%20his%20injury.%20The%20Chiefs%20also%20saw%20LB%20Jevon%20Belcher%20take%20his%20own%20life.%20At%20the%20end%20of%20season%2C%20head%20coach%20Romeo%20Crennel%20was%20fired%2C%20though%20General%20Manager%2C%20Scott%20Pioli%2C%20managed%20to%20keep%20his%20job.%20%28Photo%20by%20Jamie%20Squire%2FGetty%20Images%29

The%20Washington%20Redskins%20selected%20Robert%20Griffin%20III%20as%20the%20No.%202%20pick%20in%20the%202012%20NFL%20Draft%2C%20trading%20away%20multiple%20future%20draft%20picks%20to%20do%20so.%20Questioned%20by%20some%2C%20this%20move%20has%20revitalized%20the%20team%2C%20the%20organization%20and%20the%20fanbase.%20Griffin%20proved%20he%20can%20win%20games%20with%20his%20arm%20and%20his%20legs%2C%20making%20smart%20decisions%20in%20the%20process.%20He%20led%20the%20Redskins%20back%20to%20the%20NFL%20Playoffs%20after%20a%2013-year%20drought.%20%28Photo%20by%20Patrick%20McDermott%2FGetty%20Images%29

After%20winning%20the%20Super%20Bowl%20last%20year%2C%20the%20Giants%20lost%20some%20key%20players%20to%20free%20agency.%20Still%20they%20started%20their%20season%20%286-2%29%20and%20enjoyed%20a%20two-game%20advantage%20in%20the%20NFC%20East.%20But%20that%20lead%20evaporated%20in%20the%20second%20half%20of%20the%20season.%20The%20team%20was%20particularly%20inconsistent%2C%20blowing%20out%20playoff%20contenders%20one%20week%20and%20losing%20to%20mediocre%20teams%20the%20next.%20Ultimately%20it%26%238217%3Bs%20this%20inconsistency%20that%20has%20the%20Giants%20staying%20home%20during%20the%20playoffs.%20%28Photo%20by%20Rob%20Carr%2FGetty%20Images%29

The%20Dallas%20Cowboys%20had%20an%20up%20and%20down%202012%20season.%20In%20week%2013%20the%20Cowboys%20started%20a%20three-game%20winning%20streak%20and%20looked%20poised%20to%20win%20the%20NFC%20East.%20They%20entered%20week%2017%20with%20a%20win-and-you%26%238217%3Bre-in%20scenario.%20But%20Tony%20Romo%20couldn%26%238217%3Bt%20overcome%20the%20surging%20Redskins%2C%20failing%20again%20to%20win%20the%20big%20game.%20%28Photo%20by%20Stephen%20Brashear%2FGetty%20Images%29

Eagles%20owner%20Jeff%20Lurie%20said%20before%20the%20season%20started%20that%20he%20wanted%20to%20see%20an%20improvement%20or%20he%20would%20make%20some%20changes.%20The%20Eagles%20started%20the%20season%20with%20three%20wins%20in%20the%20first%20four%20weeks%2C%20then%20went%20on%20an%20eight-game%20losing%20streak.%20That%20sealed%20Andy%20Reid%26%238217%3Bs%20fate.%20After%2014%20years%20on%20the%20Eagles%20sideline%2C%20Reid%20was%20fired%2C%20and%20the%20Eagles%20will%20start%20a%20new%20era.%20%28Photo%20by%20Rich%20Schultz%2FGetty%20Images%29

After%20a%20%2815-1%29%20record%20last%20season%2C%20Aaron%20Rodgers%20and%20the%20Green%20Bay%20Packers%20came%20back%20down%20to%20earth%20in%20the%202012%20season.%20They%20did%20pick%20up%20another%20NFC%20North%20title.%20And%20Rodgers%20did%20finish%20the%20season%20with%204%2C295%20yards%20and%2039%20touchdowns%2C%20well%20below%20his%202011%20MVP%20numbers.%20The%20Packers%20earned%20the%20No.%203%20seed%20and%20will%20host%20their%20division%20rival%20the%20Minnesota%20Vikings%20in%20the%20wild%20card%20round%20of%20the%20playoffs.%20%28Photo%20by%20Tom%20Lynn%20%2FGetty%20Images%29

This%20season%20for%20the%20Minnesota%20Vikings%20was%20all%20about%20Adrian%20Peterson%2C%20who%20came%20back%20from%20knee%20surgery%20to%20lead%20the%20team%20to%20a%20%2810-6%29%20record.%20He%20also%20came%20within%20nine%20yards%20of%20Eric%20Dickerson%26%238217%3Bs%20single-season%20rushing%20record.%20The%20team%20rallied%20to%20win%20their%20final%20four%20games%20of%20the%20season%2C%20including%20a%20last-minute%20victory%20over%20the%20division-rival%20Green%20Bay%20Packers%20in%20week%2017%2C%20to%20earn%20a%20playoff%20berth.%20%28Photo%20by%20Andy%20Clayton%20King%2FGetty%20Images%29

The%20Chicago%20Bears%20started%20the%20season%20%287-1%29%20and%20were%20thought%20to%20be%20Super%20Bowl%20contenders.%20But%20the%20Bears%20went%20just%20%283-5%29%20the%20rest%20of%20the%20season%20and%20put%20their%20playoff%20hopes%20on%20the%20Green%20Bay%20Packers%20beating%20the%20Vikings%20in%20the%20final%20game.%20That%20didn%26%238217%3Bt%20happen%2C%20and%20the%20Bears%20missed%20the%20playoffs.%20Head%20coach%2C%20Lovie%20Smith%2C%20was%20subsequently%20fired.%20%28Photo%20by%20Jonathan%20Daniel%2FGetty%20Images%29

The%20Lions%20entered%20the%202012%20season%20looking%20to%20compete%20with%20the%20Packers%20and%20Vikings%20for%20the%20NFC%20North%20title.%20And%20the%20team%20had%20reason%20to%20believe%20it%20could%2C%20with%20many%20weapons%20on%20both%20sides%20of%20the%20ball.%20Wide%20receiver%20Calvin%20Johnson%20proved%20to%20be%20the%20only%20reliable%20threat%2C%20breaking%20Jerry%20Rice%26%238217%3Bs%20single-season%20receiving%20yardage%20record%20and%20finishing%2036%20yards%20shy%20of%202000.%20The%20Lions%20season%20was%20a%20bust%20otherwise%2C%20and%20poor%20coaching%20decisions%20by%20Jim%20Schwartz%20cost%20the%20team%20on%20multiple%20occasions.%20%28Photo%20by%20Gregory%20Shamus%2FGetty%20Images%29

%28Photo%20by%20Kevin%20C.%20Cox%2FGetty%20Images%29%3Cbr%20%2F%3EMatt%20Ryan%20and%20the%20Atlanta%20Falcons%20were%20on%20a%20roll%20from%20week%20one.%20They%20started%20out%20the%20season%20with%20an%20eight-game%20winning%20streak%20and%20finished%20the%20season%20tied%20for%20the%20best%20record%20in%20the%20NFL.%20The%20Falcons%20earned%20the%20number%20one%20seed%20and%20home-field%20advantage%20throughout%20the%20NFC%20playoffs.%20%28Photo%20by%20Kevin%20C.%20Cox%2FGetty%20Images%29

Quarterback%20Cam%20Newton%20and%20the%20Carolina%20Panthers%20had%20a%20tale%20of%20two%20seasons%20this%20year.%20The%20Panthers%20started%20out%20with%20just%20one%20win%20in%20the%20first%20eight%20weeks%2C%20essentially%20eliminating%20themselves%20from%20playoff%20contention%20by%20mid-season.%20But%20the%20team%20came%20on%20strong%20late%2C%20finishing%20with%20a%20four-game%20winning%20streak.%20Newton%20was%20the%20team%26%238217%3Bs%20top%20rusher%20with%20741%20yards.%20%28Photo%20by%20Chris%20Graythen%2FGetty%20Images%29

In%20the%202012%20offseason%2C%20the%20New%20Orleans%20Saints%20were%20at%20the%20center%20of%20%26%238220%3BBountygate%2C%26%238221%3B%20which%20resulted%20in%20the%20suspension%20of%20several%20defensive%20players%20and%20head%20coach%2C%20Sean%20Peyton.%20The%20Saints%20started%20the%20season%20with%20four%20losses%20and%20never%20really%20climbed%20back%20into%20contention.%20Drew%20Brees%20and%20the%20Saints%26%238217%3B%20defense%20set%20two%20NFL%20records%3A%20Brees%20for%20surpassing%20the%205%2C000-yard%20mark%20for%20the%20third%20time%20in%20his%20career%20and%20the%20Saints%26%238217%3B%20defense%20for%20giving%20up%20the%20most%20yards%20in%20a%20season.%20%28Photo%20by%20Chris%20Graythen%2FGetty%20Images%29

%28Photo%20by%20Kevin%20C.%20Cox%2FGetty%20Images%29%3Cbr%20%2F%3EComing%20off%20a%20%284-12%29%20season%2C%20the%20Bucs%20hired%20Rutgers%20head%20coach%2C%20Greg%20Schiano%2C%20to%20turn%20the%20team%20into%20a%20winning%20franchise.%20They%20also%20signed%20wide%20receiver%20Vincent%20Jackson%20to%20give%20young%20quarterback%20Josh%20Freeman%20a%20big%20passing%20target.%20Freeman%20improved%20as%20a%20quarterback%2C%20and%20the%20Bucs%20seemed%20poised%20to%20make%20a%20playoff%20run.%20But%20a%20five-game%20losing%20streak%20late%20in%20the%20season%20dispelled%20any%20dreams%20of%20playing%20in%20the%20post%20season.%20%28Photo%20by%20Kevin%20C.%20Cox%2FGetty%20Images%29

Alex%20Smith%20started%20the%20season%20as%20the%2049ers%20quarterback.%20He%20was%20injured%20in%20week%2010%20and%20missed%20the%20following%20game%20as%20well.%20So%20head%20coach%2C%20Jim%20Harbaugh%2C%20started%20backup%20Colin%20Kaepernick.%20He%20stuck%20with%20Kaepernick%20for%20the%20remainder%20of%20the%20season%2C%20even%20after%20Smith%20was%20cleared%20to%20play.%20The%2049ers%20captured%20their%20second%20straight%20NFC%20West%20title%20and%20earned%20the%20NFC%26%238217%3Bs%20No.%202%20seed%20in%20the%20playoffs.%20%28Photo%20by%20Ezra%20Shaw%2FGetty%20Images%29

With%20the%2075th%20pick%20in%20the%202012%20draft%2C%20the%20Seattle%20Seahawks%20selected%20quarterback%20Russell%20Wilson%20from%20Wisconsin.%20Wilson%20proved%20to%20be%20a%20great%20pick%20leading%20the%20team%20to%20multiple%20high-scoring%20victories%20and%20tying%20Peyton%20Manning%26%238217%3Bs%20rookie%20record%20for%20the%20most%20touchdown%20passes%20with%2026.%20The%20Seahawks%20made%20the%20playoffs%20as%20a%20wildcard%20and%20face%20the%20Washington%20Redskins%20and%20RG3.%20%28Photo%20by%20Stephen%20Brashear%2FGetty%20Images%29

Despite%20playing%20good%20division%20rivals%20tough%20%26%238211%3B%20most%20notably%20the%20San%20Francisco%2049ers%20and%20Seattle%20Seahawks%20%26%238211%3B%20Sam%20Bradford%20and%20the%20St.%20Louis%20Rams%20had%20a%20mediocre%20season.%20The%20Rams%20traveled%20to%20London%20to%20play%20in%20the%20annual%20NFL%20in%20London%20game%20at%20Wembley%20Stadium%2C%20losing%20to%20the%20Patriots%2045-7.%20%28Photo%20by%20Kevin%20Casey%2FGetty%20Images%29

This%20year%26%238217%3Bs%20quarterback%20carousel%20happened%20in%20Arizona%2C%20where%20head%20coach%2C%20Ken%20Whisenhunt%2C%20started%20four%20different%20players%20at%20the%20position.%20The%20Cardinals%20managed%20four%20straight%20wins%20to%20start%20the%20season%20with%20Kevin%20Kolb%20at%20the%20helm.%20But%20he%20went%20down%20in%20week%20six%2C%20and%20the%20Cardinals%20started%20their%20downward%20spiral%20after%20that.%20The%20subsequent%20nine-game%20losing%20streak%2C%20with%20the%20three%20other%20starting%20QBs%2C%20resulted%20in%20Whisenhunt%26%238217%3Bs%20firing%20at%20the%20end%20of%20the%20season.%20%28Photo%20by%20Christian%20Petersen%2FGetty%20Images%29