Philly Stumble in Dallas & Mahomes Rescues Kansas City – Top Highlights from National Football League Week 12
Week 12 delivered an incredible Dallas Cowboys rally, or was it an massive Philadelphia Eagles implosion?
Playoff Patrick Mahomes arrived to rescue the Chiefs' season while the Chicago Bears keep to impress as they extend their victorious run.
And did Sanders perform enough on his first professional outing to secure the full-time role in Ohio?
We’ll examine at the best of the action in the NFL.
The Breakdown – Cowboys Comeback or Eagles Collapse?
Dallas were trailing badly at 21-0 behind against the defending championship winners, so how on earth did they engineer their equal-largest comeback in history?
The emotions of a first home fixture since Marshawn Kneeland tragic death could have been a factor, but technically it was a combination of Prescott’s determination and a defensive unit that cashed in on rare errors by the Eagles.
Prescott surpassed Romo’s records for passing yards (now thirty-four thousand three hundred seventy-eight) and game-winning possessions (25) with an dynamic display – his diving score personifying his energetic showing.
Philly squandered a advantage of twenty-one points or more for the first time after nineteen ninety-nine, with just their second game with several giveaways this year – the other being a bad NFC East defeat at the Giants.
Along with 14 infractions for 96 yards, the attacking struggles that hit Hurts after what – for him – was an explosive start was huge. He had only thrown for over two hundred yards in 4 games before the weekend, he had over one hundred fifty in the opening two quarters by himself in Dallas.
However from the time Philadelphia went 21-0 up their offence fell apart dramatically – with four straight kicks, a failed field goal and then a turnover handing opportunity after chance to the Cowboys.
Philadelphia’s defence is excellent, it really is, but an offense that's not eclipsed twenty-one points in five of 7 games (three losses) is now a huge concern, as the components are all there but it's just not clicking.
Sirianni’s game is all about winning the key moments, the defence maintains them in it and what offense there is manages just about sufficient – if it cannot even do that and now the discipline and possession security is breaking down, there may be trouble ahead.
Spotlight – Postseason Mahomes Appears Prematurely to Save Chiefs
It wasn’t as dramatic, but the Chiefs’ eleven-point recovery in the fourth quarter against a powerful Colts squad was hugely notable – and could have only saved their season.
How significant was it? Indeed, the league’s advanced analytics now give the Chiefs a 58% probability of making the postseason, whereas a defeat on Sunday would have dropped that number to 28%.
No wonder the playoff version of Patrick Mahomes turned up, passing for two hundred thirty-five yards in the latter half by itself and guiding 3 scoring possessions in their last 4 possessions to win it in overtime.
Some big throws and daring runs are commonplace for Mahomes in the postseason, but currently the Chiefs are in post-season mode – at 6-5 and only tenth in the conference rankings.
That was closer to the old Chiefs however, with a first one-score victory of the season after losing 5 previously – they secured 11 of them the previous season so, if that confidence returns, this Kansas City faithful might not be done just yet.
Discussion – Are Chicago Become Kings of the Division?
You just can't overlook the Chicago Bears any longer. A win over the Steelers, without Aaron Rodgers, maintained them top of the NFC North and at eight and three – holding the identical record as the Philadelphia.
They look threatening on both sides of the field, with a defense that tops the league in picks and total turnovers and, in Caleb Williams, a young player now used to winning tight games.
He can at times be shaky, surrendering a touchdown after a turnover in his own end zone – but he additionally passed for three scores and, with already 5 final period rallies this year, he knows how to finish the game.
The Green Bay Packers are in close chase in the NFC North after overpowering the Minnesota and the Lions are right there after overcoming the Giants in extra time with a monster game from Jahmyr Gibbs.
The Bears are strangely the most consistent with eight wins in 9, but as they visit the championship champs on Thanksgiving we'll see just how good they truly are.
Preview – Thrilling Thanksgiving in Store
It appears among the best holiday line-ups for years, with every game loaded with postseason implications.
The Lions host the Packers in the classic opener in Detroit, prior to a unusual trip back to Texas for the Kansas City, who began life as the Texans way back in the sixties before relocating to Missouri.
Sunday's comeback teams are each clinging to playoff aspirations but have minimal room for mistakes – so this will have a playoff feel.
What about the Ravens? An unattractive victory over the New York actually has them top of the division after starting 1-5 and looking finished.
Holiday and Shopping Day Games (all times GMT)
- Thursday, 27 November: Packers @ Lions (18:00)
- Thursday, 27 November: Chiefs @ Dallas Cowboys (21:30)
- Friday, 28 November: Bengals @ Ravens (1:20 AM)
- Friday, 28 November: Bears @ Eagles (8:00 PM)
Will Shedeur Sanders Retain His Starting Role?
Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski dismissed inquiries on whether Shedeur Sanders had performed enough in his debut professional outing to keep the starting job when Gabriel returns.
Yet the question will continue to be asked as Sanders became the first Cleveland quarterback to secure his first league game after Zeier in 1999 – with 17 other first-year signal callers unsuccessful to do so afterward.
It came just the Raiders, and with the help of an nearly feral Cleveland defense getting ten tackles, but Cleveland's offense needs a director, a presence to build belief.
Moreover self-belief is one thing not missing in Shedeur, who told a network {