NFL Week 12: 49ers win rematch, Falcons and Bears keeps pace in NFC

So who’s the best? We still don’t know. But the absence of one team clearly above the others will create at least some suspense for the rest of this NFL season.

Your Week 12 highlights, starting with the fourth down conversion of the year in San Diego:

The NFC North lived up to its billing as the “Black and Blue” division on Sunday, especially at Chicago’s Soldier Field. While the scoreboard showed a 28-10 win for Bears in a key divisional matchup against Minnesota, the postgame injury update was rough on both teams, especially Chicago, which had five starters leave the game injured.

Here are the key injuries from Sunday’s Week 12 action, and their potential impact:

New York was supposedly suffering from a November slump after losing two straight while the Packers had won five in a row. But the Giants were up 31-10 at the half and didn’t look back.

Fantasy studs and duds

I know what you’re thinking, what if we mixed the two, the coach and the quarterback? Well, we’re a step ahead of you.

Great job, internet.

No worries!

So far in 2012, the New York Jets have had a season that they’d probably rather forget. Now one of their biggest fans is stepping down as their most recognizable and visible rooter. Kind of.

In a guest column at the Metro, Ed Anzalone -- better known as “Fireman” Ed -- wrote that he is retiring his superfan persona and will no longer be leading the crowd in his trademark “J-E-T-S JETS JETS JETS” chant -- the same chant that has delighted schoolchildren for decades and caused the Pope himself to weep tears of joy.*

Crosby’s kick turned out exactly as you would have expected.

Crosby has now missed eight of his last 14 field goal attempts, five of his last eight. If that keeps up, McCarthy might not be able to stand by his man any longer.

With the Ravens’ offense looking like a lost cause early on, the Chargers jumped out to a 10-0 lead as WR Malcom Floyd scored their only touchdown on a 21-yard grab.

Fantasy studs/duds: Torrey Smith finished with a monster day even though he never found pay dirt (seven catches, 144 yards). Ray Rice (164 total yards) was reliable as always which was more than you can say about anyone on the Chargers’ offense.

The 49ers’ defense gave up 21 point points, but San Francisco picked off two passes and returned both for touchdowns. He may have thrown two picks, but Brees’ 267 yards and three scores were a nice consolation for fantasy owners. With two touchdowns and more than 250 total yards, Kaepernick proved to be a solid fantasy start, too.

Nope. The Saints opened as 2½-point favorites, and they couldn’t even manage to win straight up. For more NFL lines, check out SB Nation’s NFL odds hub.

Tough time for old Norv.

Bunkley kicked Alex Boone in the head while the 49ers lineman was down. It got him tossed, and it likely going to get him some more reprimand from the league.

Fantasy studs

While he did not find the end zone, veteran Rams running back Steven Jackson powered the St. Louis offense, running for 139 yards on 24 carries. Chris Givens set career highs by catching five passes for 115 yards and a touchdown, his third of the season.

Jennings hasn’t played since Week 4 when he aggravated a groin injury and turned it into a season-long issue.

Fantasy Impact: Jennings remains a decent roster stash for the fantasy playoff races, but it was a longshot to happen this week. Now that he’s out, fantasy owners can bench him another week.

On the field it was called a first down. The spot of the ball was thankfully reviewed, because obviously Ray Rice was short. After nine minutes (yes, NINE) of deliberation, discussion and measurement, the referees ruled that Ray Rice got the first down, despite clearly being short of the line.

At least Norv Turner is taking it well...

The pair were both injured on a running play in the 4th quarter, with Williams injuring his knee, and Hunter with an ankle, and both got a ride to the locker room together for evaluation.

Halfway through the 4th quarter, San Francisco is up 31-21 over New Orleans, but Brees can strike in a hurry.

Jenkins and the Rams haven’t had an interception since Week 5, a home win against these same Cardinals. The two scores from Jenkins helped the Rams jump out to 28-17 lead in the third quarter.

The second-round pick was considered by some to be one of the top corners available this year, but character concerns dropped him down draft boards. The Rams pounced, with head coach Jeff Fisher never being one to shy away from off-field red flags for talented players.

Each week Jim Harbaugh supplies us with a bevy of moments that earn their own taxonomy as ‘Harbaughian’. They normally involve San Francisco’s head coach frothing at the mouth over a bad call, or giving a player a stern talking to. Today it was a referee who had Harbaugh reeling.

What did the referee say? Did he explain a rule, clarify a decision? We probably wont even know for sure, but here are a few options we’re banking on.

Removed from context, the dead-eyed stare of Blue (who appears to be some sort of booger-nosed hell-demon) is nightmare-inducing levels of creepy.

LOOK AWAY FROM HIS EYES THAT’S HOW HE DEVOURS YOUR SOUL

Sometimes, domes can be loud. Like VERY LOUD. So loud that you can’t yell “Hey, come back! Come back!” to your running back who is lined up on the wrong side of the formation.

So, what do you do when your teammate can’t hear you scream? YOU CLAP LIKE A MADMAN.

The Niners went up 7-0 as a result of a 7-yard run, and at least for now, Kaepernick looks to be the right choice.

Stay tuned for more Niners- Saints updates...

The NFL had eight games on the early schedule, and they have all gone final. Here are your NFL scores for today’s 1 p.m. ET games.

Cleveland Browns- 20 vs. Pittsburgh Steelers- 14

With the Bears’ stifling defense making things difficult for Minnesota down the field, Rudolph has been a key part of the Vikings’ offense on Sunday. Even while leaving the game prematurely, Rudolph caught five passes for 55 yards and the team’s only touchdown.

Over the first 11 games of the season, Rudolph has caught 39 passes for 361 yards and seven touchdowns.

In a move of solidarity, Indianapolis Colts players elected to shave their heads in honor of head coach Chuck Pagano, who lost his hair as a result of chemotherapy/radiation treatment for his leukemia. It was a moment in this NFL season that saw players rally around their missing coach, and now the movement has spread further in the Colts organization.

Yes, these are two Colts cheerleaders -- electing to lose their hair to support Pagano, and further show how close this organization has become in the wake of his illness. For a player to lose his hair, that’s impressive. But a cheerleader whose job is based on glamour and traditional depictions of female beauty? Absolutely stunning.

There’s still time left for a comeback, but the fat guy INT might be the game-changer in this one.