Philly Falter in Texas & Mahomes Rescues Kansas City – Best Highlights from NFL the Twelfth Week
Week 12 delivered an epic Cowboys comeback, or perhaps an massive Philadelphia Eagles implosion?
Postseason Mahomes showed up to rescue the Kansas City's campaign while the Chicago Bears keep to surprise while they continue their winning streak.
Did Shedeur Sanders perform enough on his debut professional outing to earn the starting job in Cleveland?
We’ll examine at the best of the action in the NFL.
The Breakdown – Cowboys Comeback or Philly Fail?
The Cowboys found themselves trailing badly at twenty-one to zero down versus the defending championship winners, so how on earth did they engineer their joint-best comeback in history?
The emotions of a first home fixture after a teammate’s untimely death could have played a part, however it was a mixture of Dak Prescott determination and a defence that cashed in on rare errors by the Eagles.
Dak surpassed Tony Romo records for yards thrown (now thirty-four thousand three hundred seventy-eight) and clutch possessions (twenty-five) with an all-action performance – his diving score embodying his all-action display.
Philly wasted a lead of 21 points or more for the first time after 1999, with only their second game with multiple turnovers this season – the previous being a disappointing NFC East loss at the Giants.
In addition to fourteen infractions for 96 yards, the attacking struggles that hit Hurts after what – for him – was an explosive beginning was huge. He had only thrown for 200-plus yards in four games before Sunday, he had over one hundred fifty in the first half alone in Texas.
However from the time Philadelphia went 21-0 up their offence derailed spectacularly – with four consecutive punts, a failed three-point attempt and then a turnover giving opportunity after chance to the Dallas.
Philadelphia’s defence is excellent, it really is, but an offense that's not surpassed 21 points in 5 of seven games (3 losses) is now a major worry, as the pieces are all there but it's just not working.
Nick Sirianni approach is all about securing the big situations, the defense 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 breaking down, there could be trouble in the future.
In Focus – Postseason Mahomes Shows Up Early to Rescue Kansas City
It wasn't quite as extreme, but Kansas City's eleven-point recovery in the fourth quarter versus a powerful Colts team was very notable – and may have just saved their season.
How big was it? Well, the NFL's advanced analytics now give the Chiefs a fifty-eight percent chance of making the playoffs, when a loss on the weekend would have reduced that number to 28%.
It’s no surprise the postseason version of Mahomes arrived, passing for two hundred thirty-five yards in the latter half by itself and guiding three scoring drives in their final four series to seal it in extra time.
A few huge passes and swashbuckling scrambles are commonplace for Patrick in the playoffs, but right now the Chiefs are in post-season form – at six and five and only tenth in the conference standings.
This was more like the former Kansas City however, with a first one-score win of the year after dropping five previously – they secured eleven of them last year so, if that confidence returns, this Kansas City faithful may not be done just yet.
Discussion – Are Chicago Become Rulers of the North?
You just can't ignore the Bears any longer. A victory over the Steelers, without Rodgers, kept them first of the division and at eight and three – holding the same record as the Eagles.
They appear threatening on each side of the ball, with a defence that tops the league in picks and total takeaways and, in Williams, a emerging quarterback now accustomed to winning tight games.
He may still be inconsistent, surrendering a touchdown after a fumble in his team’s goal area – but he also threw 3 scores and, with already five fourth-quarter rallies this year, he knows how to finish the game.
The Green Bay Packers are in hot pursuit in the division after overpowering the Vikings and the Lions are right there after overcoming the New York in overtime with a huge game from Jahmyr Gibbs.
The Bears are strangely the most consistent with 8 wins in 9, but as they visit the Super Bowl winners on the holiday we'll see exactly how good they truly are.
Look Ahead – Exciting Holiday in Store
This looks one of the most exciting holiday schedules for years, with each game loaded with playoff implications.
The Lions host the Packers in the classic opener in Detroit, prior to a rare visit return to Texas for the Kansas City, who started out existence as the Dallas Texans way back in the sixties before moving to Missouri.
The weekend’s comeback kings are each clinging to postseason aspirations but have very little room for mistakes – so this will have a playoff feel.
What about the Baltimore Ravens? An unattractive win over the New York in fact has them leading of the AFC North after beginning 1-5 and appearing dead and buried.
Holiday and Shopping Day Games (all times GMT)
- Thursday, 27 November: Packers @ Detroit Lions (18:00)
- Thursday, 27 November: Kansas City Chiefs @ Cowboys (21:30)
- Friday, 28 November: Cincinnati Bengals @ Ravens (01:20)
- Friday, 28 November: Bears @ Philadelphia Eagles (8:00 PM)
Will Shedeur Sanders Keep His Job?
Browns coach Kevin Stefanski batted away questions on whether Shedeur Sanders had performed enough in his debut professional start to keep the first-team position when Gabriel comes back.
But the question will continue to be asked as Shedeur became the first Cleveland signal-caller to secure his first league game after Eric Zeier in 1999 – with 17 other first-year signal callers unsuccessful to do so since.
It came just the Las Vegas, and with the help of an nearly aggressive Cleveland defense getting ten tackles, but the Browns’ offense requires a leader, a presence to build confidence.
And confidence is something not missing in Shedeur, who told a network {