Philadelphia Stumble in Texas & Patrick Rescues Kansas City – Best Highlights from NFL the Twelfth Week
Week 12 delivered an incredible Cowboys rally, or perhaps an massive Philadelphia Eagles implosion?
Playoff Patrick Mahomes arrived to rescue the Kansas City's season as the Chicago Bears keep to surprise as they continue their winning run.
Did Shedeur Sanders do enough on his debut NFL outing to earn the full-time role in Ohio?
Let's take a look at the best of the action in the NFL.
The Breakdown – Cowboys Comeback or Eagles Collapse?
Dallas found themselves down and out at twenty-one to zero down versus the defending championship champions, so how on earth did they produce their joint-best recovery ever?
The emotions of a first home game after Marshawn Kneeland untimely passing 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.
Dak eclipsed Tony Romo marks for yards thrown (now 34,378) and clutch drives (twenty-five) with an all-action display – his diving touchdown embodying his all-action display.
Philly wasted a lead of 21 points or more for the initial time after 1999, with just their second game with several giveaways this year – the previous being another disappointing division loss at the Giants.
Along with fourteen infractions for ninety-six yards, the attacking struggles that affected Hurts after what – for him – was an explosive beginning was huge. He had only passed for over two hundred yards in four games before the weekend, he had more than 150 in the first half by himself in Dallas.
However from the time Philadelphia went twenty-one to zero up their offence fell apart dramatically – with four straight punts, a missed three-point attempt and then a turnover handing opportunity after opportunity to the Dallas.
Philadelphia’s defence is excellent, it truly is, but an offense that's not eclipsed 21 points in five of 7 games (3 losses) is now a huge worry, as the pieces are all there but it's just not working.
Nick Sirianni approach is all about winning the key situations, the defence maintains them in it and what offense there is does just about enough – if it cannot even do that and now the composure and ball protection is breaking down, there could be problems ahead.
In Focus – Playoff Patrick Shows Up Prematurely to Rescue Chiefs
It wasn’t as extreme, but the Chiefs’ eleven-point recovery in the fourth quarter against a powerful Indianapolis squad was very impressive – and could have just rescued their season.
How significant was it? Well, the NFL's Next Gen Stats now assign the Kansas City a 58% chance of reaching the playoffs, when a loss on Sunday would have dropped that figure to twenty-eight percent.
It’s no surprise the postseason version of Mahomes arrived, passing for two hundred thirty-five yards in the second half alone and leading 3 point-scoring drives in their last four series to seal it in overtime.
A few big passes and swashbuckling scrambles are commonplace for Mahomes in the postseason, but currently the Chiefs are in post-season mode – at six and five and just 10th in the AFC rankings.
That was closer to the old Kansas City though, with a initial one-score victory of the season after losing 5 previously – they secured eleven of them the previous season so, if that belief returns, this Chiefs Kingdom may not be done just yet.
Discussion – Are Chicago Be Kings of the North?
You can no longer overlook the Chicago Bears any longer. A victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers, minus Aaron Rodgers, maintained them top of the NFC North and at eight and three – holding the same record as the Philadelphia.
They appear dangerous on both sides of the field, with a defense that tops the NFL in interceptions and overall turnovers and, in Caleb Williams, a emerging player now used to securing tight games.
He may still be shaky, giving away a score after a fumble in his own end zone – but he additionally threw three scores and, with already five fourth-quarter comebacks this season, he understands how to finish the game.
Green Bay are in close chase in the division after overpowering the Vikings and the Lions are in contention after overcoming the Giants in extra time with a monster game from Gibbs.
The Bears are strangely the most consistent with 8 victories in 9, but as they visit the Super Bowl winners on the holiday we'll see exactly how good they truly are.
Look Ahead – Thrilling Holiday in Store
It appears among the best holiday schedules for years, with each game loaded with postseason implications.
The Lions host the Packers in the classic curtain-raiser in Michigan, before a unusual visit back to Dallas for the Kansas City, who started out existence as the Texans way back in the sixties before relocating to Missouri.
Sunday's comeback teams are each holding on to postseason aspirations but have very little room for error – so this will have a post-season feel.
What about the Baltimore Ravens? An ugly win over the New York in fact has them leading of the AFC North after beginning 1-5 and looking dead and buried.
Holiday and Black Friday Fixtures (all times GMT)
- Thursday, 27 November: Packers @ Detroit Lions (18:00)
- Thursday, 27 November: Chiefs @ Cowboys (21:30)
- Friday, 28 November: Cincinnati Bengals @ Ravens (1:20 AM)
- Friday, twenty-eight November: Bears @ Philadelphia Eagles (20:00)
Can Sanders Keep His Starting Role?
Cleveland Browns coach Stefanski dismissed inquiries on whether Shedeur Sanders had performed sufficiently in his first professional outing to keep the starting position when Gabriel comes back.
But the issue will keep being asked as Sanders became the first Browns signal-caller to win his first league game after Zeier in nineteen ninety-nine – with 17 additional rookie signal callers failing to do so afterward.
It was just the Raiders, and with the help of an almost aggressive Cleveland defence recording 10 sacks, but the Browns’ offense requires a director, a presence to inspire belief.
Moreover self-belief is something not lacking in Shedeur, who told a network {