Philadelphia Stumble in Dallas & Mahomes Rescues Kansas City – Best Highlights from National Football League the Twelfth Week
Week 12 delivered an incredible Dallas Cowboys comeback, or was it an epic Eagles collapse?
Postseason Patrick Mahomes arrived to salvage the Chiefs' campaign while the Chicago Bears keep to impress while they continue their victorious streak.
And did Sanders perform sufficiently on his debut NFL start to secure the starting role in Ohio?
We’ll examine at the pick of the week in the NFL.
The Breakdown – Cowboys Comeback or Philly Fail?
The Cowboys were trailing badly at twenty-one to zero down against the reigning championship champions, how exactly did they produce their joint-best recovery in history?
Sentiment of a initial home game after a teammate’s tragic passing could have played a part, but technically it was a combination of Dak Prescott resolve and a defence that cashed in on rare errors by the Eagles.
Prescott eclipsed Romo’s records for yards thrown (now thirty-four thousand three hundred seventy-eight) and clutch drives (25) with an dynamic display – his plunging touchdown personifying his all-action display.
Philadelphia squandered a advantage of 21 points or more for the initial time after 1999, with just their second game with multiple turnovers this season – the previous being another bad division defeat at the New York.
Along with 14 penalties for 96 yards, the attacking struggles that affected Hurts after what – for him – was an fast beginning was huge. He had only passed for 200-plus yards in 4 games prior to Sunday, he had over 150 in the first half alone in Texas.
Yet from the time Philadelphia went 21-0 up their offence fell apart dramatically – with four straight kicks, a missed field goal and then a turnover handing opportunity after opportunity to the Cowboys.
The Eagles defense is brilliant, it really is, but an offense that's not surpassed 21 points in five of seven games (3 losses) is now a major worry, as the pieces are all there but it's simply not clicking.
Nick Sirianni game is all about securing the big situations, the defense maintains them in it and what offence there is manages just about sufficient – if it cannot even do that and now the discipline and possession security is breaking down, there could be trouble in the future.
Spotlight – Playoff Patrick Shows Up Prematurely to Rescue Kansas City
It wasn’t quite as extreme, but Kansas City's 11-point comeback in the final period against a strong Indianapolis team was hugely notable – and may have only saved their season.
How significant was it? Indeed, the NFL's Next Gen Stats now give the Kansas City a 58% probability of reaching the postseason, when a loss on Sunday would have dropped that figure to twenty-eight percent.
It’s no surprise the playoff version of Mahomes arrived, throwing for 235 yards in the latter half alone and guiding 3 scoring drives in their last 4 series to win it in overtime.
A few big throws and daring runs are typical for Mahomes in the postseason, but currently the Chiefs are in playoff mode – at six and five and just 10th in the conference rankings.
This was more like the former Kansas City though, with a initial close win of the year after dropping five previously – they secured eleven of them the previous season so, if that confidence comes back, this Kansas City faithful may not be finished so soon.
Talking Point – Are Chicago Be Kings of the Division?
You can no longer overlook the Chicago Bears any longer. A victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers, without Rodgers, maintained them first of the division and at 8-3 – sharing the same record as the Philadelphia.
They appear dangerous on each side of the field, with a defence that tops the league in picks and overall takeaways and, in Caleb Williams, a emerging quarterback now used to securing tight games.
He can still be inconsistent, giving away a touchdown after a turnover in his own goal area – but he also passed for 3 scores and, with already five fourth-quarter comebacks this season, he understands how to get the job done.
The Green Bay Packers are in close chase in the NFC North after overpowering the Vikings and the Lions are in contention after beating the New York in extra time with a monster game from Jahmyr Gibbs.
Chicago are strangely the most consistent with eight wins in 9, but as they visit the Super Bowl winners on the holiday we'll see just how good they truly are.
Look Ahead – Thrilling Holiday in Store
This looks one of the most exciting Thanksgiving line-ups for years, with each game packed with postseason implications.
Detroit host the Packers in the traditional curtain-raiser in Michigan, prior to a rare trip back to Texas for the Chiefs, who started out life as the Texans way back in the 1960s before moving to Missouri.
Sunday's comeback teams are each holding on to postseason aspirations but have very little room for mistakes – so this will have a post-season atmosphere.
And how about the Ravens? An ugly victory over the Jets actually has them top of the AFC North after beginning one and five and looking finished.
Holiday and Shopping Day Games (all times GMT)
- Thursday, 27 November: Green Bay Packers @ Detroit Lions (18:00)
- Thursday, 27 November: Kansas City Chiefs @ Cowboys (9:30 PM)
- Friday, twenty-eight November: Cincinnati Bengals @ Ravens (1:20 AM)
- Friday, 28 November: Bears @ Eagles (8:00 PM)
Can Sanders Retain His Job?
Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski dismissed inquiries on whether Sanders had done enough in his first professional start to keep the starting job when Gabriel comes back.
Yet the issue will keep being raised as Shedeur became the first Browns signal-caller to win his first league start since Zeier in nineteen ninety-nine – with seventeen additional rookie quarterbacks unsuccessful to do so since.
It was only the Raiders, and with the assistance of an almost aggressive Browns defence recording 10 tackles, but the Browns’ offense requires a leader, a figurehead to inspire belief.
Moreover confidence is something not missing in Shedeur, who told a CBS {