Philly Falter in Texas & Mahomes Rescues Chiefs – Top Highlights from NFL the Twelfth Week
Week 12 provided an epic Dallas Cowboys rally, or was it an epic Philadelphia Eagles collapse?
Postseason Patrick Mahomes showed up to rescue the Chiefs' season as the Chicago Bears keep to impress while they continue their winning streak.
Did Shedeur Sanders do enough on his first NFL start to secure the starting job in Ohio?
Let's take a look at the best of the week in the NFL.
Analysis – Cowboys Comeback or Philly Fail?
Dallas found themselves down and out at twenty-one to zero behind versus the defending championship winners, how exactly did they produce their joint-best recovery ever?
The emotions of a first home game after Marshawn Kneeland untimely death could have been a factor, but technically it was a combination of Prescott’s determination and a defensive unit that cashed in on uncommon errors by the Philadelphia.
Dak surpassed Tony Romo marks for yards thrown (now 34,378) and game-winning drives (25) with an all-action performance – his diving score embodying his energetic showing.
Philly wasted a lead of 21 points or more for the initial time after 1999, with just their second game with several giveaways this season – the previous being a bad NFC East defeat at the New York.
Along with 14 infractions for 96 yards, the offensive malaise that affected Hurts after what – for him – was an explosive beginning was huge. He'd only passed for 200-plus yards in four games before Sunday, he had over 150 in the first half by himself in Dallas.
However from the time Philadelphia went twenty-one to zero up their offense fell apart dramatically – with four straight kicks, a failed field goal and then a fumble giving chance after chance to the Cowboys.
The Eagles defence is excellent, it really is, but an offence that's not surpassed 21 points in five of seven games (three losses) is now a huge concern, because the pieces are all there but it's just not working.
Sirianni’s game is all about winning the big moments, the defence keeps them in it and what offense there is does just about enough – if it cannot even do that and now the discipline and possession security is failing, there could be problems ahead.
Spotlight – Postseason Mahomes Appears Prematurely to Rescue Kansas City
It wasn't as dramatic, but the Chiefs’ 11-point comeback in the final period against a strong Indianapolis team was hugely notable – and may have just saved their season.
How big was it? Indeed, the NFL's advanced analytics now assign the Kansas City a 58% chance of making the postseason, whereas a loss on the weekend would have dropped that figure to 28%.
No wonder the playoff form of Mahomes turned up, passing for 235 yards in the second half alone and leading 3 point-scoring possessions in their final four possessions to seal it in overtime.
A few huge passes and daring runs are commonplace for Patrick in the playoffs, but currently the Chiefs are in post-season mode – at 6-5 and only 10th in the AFC standings.
This was closer to the former Kansas City though, with a first one-score win of the year after losing 5 previously – they won eleven of them last year so, if that belief returns, this Kansas City faithful may not be done just yet.
Talking Point – Can Bears Become Kings of the North?
You can no longer overlook the Chicago Bears any longer. A win over the Pittsburgh Steelers, minus Rodgers, kept them top of the NFC North and at eight and three – holding the identical standing as the Eagles.
They look dangerous on each side of the ball, with a defence that tops the league in picks and total takeaways and, in Caleb Williams, a young quarterback now accustomed to winning close games.
He can at times be inconsistent, giving away a touchdown after a turnover in his team’s goal area – but he additionally threw 3 touchdowns and, with already 5 fourth-quarter comebacks this year, he understands how to finish the game.
Green Bay are in close chase in the NFC North after dominating the Minnesota and the Lions are right there after beating the Giants in overtime with a huge game from Jahmyr Gibbs.
The Bears are strangely the most reliable with eight wins in nine, but as they travel to the Super Bowl winners on the holiday we'll discover exactly how good they really are.
Look Ahead – Thrilling Thanksgiving in Store
This looks among the most exciting Thanksgiving schedules for years, with every game packed with playoff implications.
The Lions host the Green Bay in the traditional curtain-raiser in Detroit, prior to a rare visit back to Dallas for the Kansas City, who began life as the Texans way back in the 1960s before relocating to Missouri.
Sunday's comeback teams are both clinging to postseason aspirations but have minimal margin for error – so this will have a post-season atmosphere.
And how about the Baltimore Ravens? An unattractive win over the Jets actually has them leading of the AFC North after starting 1-5 and looking finished.
Holiday and Black Friday Fixtures (all times GMT)
- Thursday, 27 November: Packers @ Lions (18:00)
- Thursday, twenty-seven November: Chiefs @ Cowboys (9:30 PM)
- Friday, twenty-eight November: Cincinnati Bengals @ Ravens (01:20)
- Friday, twenty-eight November: Bears @ Philadelphia Eagles (8:00 PM)
Can Sanders Keep His Job?
Cleveland Browns coach Stefanski dismissed inquiries on whether Shedeur Sanders had performed enough in his debut NFL outing to keep the starting job when Dillon Gabriel returns.
But the issue will keep being raised as Sanders became the first Cleveland signal-caller to secure his first NFL start after Zeier in nineteen ninety-nine – with 17 other rookie quarterbacks failing to do so afterward.
It was just the Raiders, and with the assistance of an almost feral Browns defense recording ten sacks, but the Browns’ offense requires a leader, a presence to inspire belief.
Moreover self-belief is one thing not missing in Sanders, who informed a CBS {