5 biggest surprises from NFL Week 12 games 

A dejected Baker Mayfield leaves the field after Cleveland's 13-10 loss to the Ravens on Sunday night (Photo: Getty)

#2 - Cleveland Frowns

It was, perhaps, all too appropriate that the Cleveland Browns (6-6) wore their throwback uniforms for their appearance in the NFL's Sunday night marquee tilt against the Ravens: their performance was all too reminiscent of the star-crossed, pre-2020 Browns.

Anyone with even a passing interest in the NFL's last-season proceedings knows about the Browns' offensive struggles, particularly those of franchise quarterback Baker Mayfield. But for the team to completely fail to capitalize on four Lamar Jackson turnovers was shocking in all the worst ways and has cast a dour note on their quest to create consecutive playoff berths for the first time since a five-year stretch in the mid-to-late 1980s.

The powers that be in the NFL appear to be somewhat forgiving: while the Browns are on the wrong end of nearly every wild card tiebreaker, they have another meeting with the Ravens when they return from a late bye. They're defensively sound. Myles Garrett is on the precipice of league history thanks to his sack total and they've allowed 16 points or less in five of their last six games. But the offensive regression is an ugly surprise, especially at this point of the year.

Taylor Heinicke (4) escapes from Seattle pressure during Monday night's prime time showdown (Photo: Getty)

#1- Fail to the Seahawks

Nothing defined the dilution the extra wild cards have brought to the NFL playoff picture better than the Monday night showdown between the Seattle Seahawks and the Washington Football Team, as a battle between squads with a combined 7-13 record entering would have the inside edge on an NFL playoff berth. But a further subplot shows just how far the Seahawks have fallen and of a potentially arduous road that lies ahead.

It took Seattle 58 minutes of game time (as well as an injury to Washington kicker Joey Slye) to get things rolling before they fell in a bizarre 17-15 final.

Each passing week gives little reason for Russell Wilson to stay in the Pacific Northwest, setting the stage for offseason dramatics for the rest of the NFL. Not only are the Seahawks (3-8) dangerously close to their first losing record in a decade, but they don't even have the consolation of an early NFL Draft pick to keep them company: that selection now lies in New York...where the Jets managed to match Seattle's win total with a comeback victory over Houston.

Geoff Magliocchetti is on Twitter @GeoffJMags