Philly Falter in Dallas & Patrick Rescues Kansas City – Top Highlights from National Football League Week 12
Week 12 delivered an epic Cowboys comeback, or was it an epic Philadelphia Eagles implosion?
Postseason Patrick Mahomes arrived to salvage the Kansas City's season while the Bears continue to impress as they extend their victorious run.
Did Shedeur Sanders perform enough on his debut professional outing to secure the starting job in Cleveland?
Let's take a look at the pick of the action in the league.
The Breakdown – Cowboys Comeback or Eagles Collapse?
The Cowboys were down and out at 21-0 down versus the reigning Super Bowl winners, how exactly did they engineer their joint-best recovery ever?
The emotions of a initial home fixture since Marshawn Kneeland tragic passing could have played a part, but technically it was a combination of Prescott’s resolve and a defence that pounced on rare errors by the Philadelphia.
Dak surpassed Romo’s records for passing yards (now 34,378) and clutch possessions (25) with an dynamic display – his plunging score personifying his energetic showing.
Philly squandered a lead of twenty-one points or more for the first time after 1999, with just their second game with multiple turnovers this season – the previous being another disappointing division loss at the New York.
In addition to 14 penalties for ninety-six yards, the attacking struggles that hit Jalen Hurts after what – for him – was an fast beginning was huge. He had only thrown for over two hundred yards in 4 games prior to 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 offense derailed dramatically – with four consecutive punts, a missed three-point attempt and then a turnover giving opportunity after chance to the Dallas.
Philadelphia’s defence is brilliant, it truly is, but an offense that's not eclipsed twenty-one points in five of 7 games (three losses) is now a major worry, because the pieces are all there but it's just not working.
Sirianni’s game is all about securing the key moments, the defence maintains them in it and what offense there is manages barely enough – if it cannot even do that and now the composure and ball protection is failing, there could be trouble ahead.
In Focus – Postseason Mahomes Shows Up Early to Rescue Chiefs
It wasn’t quite as extreme, but the Chiefs’ eleven-point recovery in the final period versus a powerful Colts team was very impressive – and could have only saved their campaign.
How significant was it? Well, the league’s Next Gen Stats now give the Chiefs a fifty-eight percent chance of making the playoffs, when a loss on Sunday would have reduced that figure to 28%.
It’s no surprise the playoff version of Patrick Mahomes arrived, passing for 235 yards in the latter half by itself and guiding 3 scoring drives in their last four possessions to seal it in extra time.
Some big throws and daring runs are typical for Mahomes in the playoffs, but currently the Kansas City are in playoff mode – at 6-5 and only tenth in the conference rankings.
This was closer to the old Kansas City though, with a first one-score victory of the year after losing 5 already – they secured 11 of them last year so, if that confidence comes back, this Chiefs Kingdom might not be finished so soon.
Talking Point – Are Chicago Be Kings of the Division?
You just can't overlook the Chicago Bears any longer. A victory over the Steelers, without Aaron Rodgers, kept them first of the NFC North and at 8-3 – holding the identical standing as the Eagles.
They appear threatening on each side of the field, with a defense that leads the NFL in picks and total turnovers and, in Williams, a young player now used to securing close games.
He can at times be inconsistent, giving away a score after a turnover in his own goal area – but he also passed for three scores and, with already 5 fourth-quarter comebacks this season, he understands how to finish the game.
Green Bay are in hot pursuit in the NFC North after overpowering the Vikings 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 9, but as they travel to the championship champs on Thanksgiving we'll see exactly how good they really are.
Look Ahead – Thrilling Thanksgiving in Prospect
It appears among the best holiday line-ups for a long time, with each game packed with postseason implications.
Detroit host the Green Bay in the classic curtain-raiser in Michigan, prior to a rare trip back to Dallas for the Kansas City, who began existence as the Dallas Texans way back in the sixties before moving to Missouri.
Sunday's comeback teams are each holding on to playoff aspirations but have very little room for mistakes – so this will have a post-season feel.
What about the Ravens? An ugly win over the Jets in fact has them leading of the AFC North after beginning one and five and looking finished.
Holiday and Black Friday Fixtures (all times GMT)
- Thursday, 27 November: Green Bay Packers @ Lions (6:00 PM)
- Thursday, 27 November: Chiefs @ Dallas Cowboys (9:30 PM)
- Friday, 28 November: Cincinnati Bengals @ Baltimore Ravens (1:20 AM)
- Friday, twenty-eight November: Bears @ Eagles (20:00)
Can Sanders Retain His Starting Role?
Browns head coach Stefanski batted away questions on whether Shedeur Sanders had performed enough in his first NFL outing to maintain the starting position when Gabriel returns.
Yet the issue will keep being raised as Sanders became the first Cleveland signal-caller to win his first league game since Eric Zeier in nineteen ninety-nine – with seventeen other first-year signal callers unsuccessful to do so since.
It was only the Raiders, and with the assistance of an almost aggressive Browns defence getting ten sacks, but the Browns’ offense requires a director, a presence to inspire confidence.
And self-belief is something not missing in Shedeur, who informed a network {