Philly Falter in Texas & Mahomes Rescues Kansas City – Best Moments from National Football League Week 12
Week 12 delivered an epic Cowboys comeback, or perhaps an epic Eagles collapse?
Postseason Mahomes showed up to salvage the Chiefs' campaign while the Chicago Bears keep to impress while they extend their victorious streak.
And did Shedeur Sanders do enough on his debut professional start to earn the full-time job in Cleveland?
We’ll examine at the best of the action in the NFL.
The Breakdown – Dallas Rally or Philly Fail?
Dallas were down and out at twenty-one to zero down against the reigning Super Bowl winners, so how on earth did they produce their equal-largest comeback ever?
The emotions of a initial home game after a teammate’s untimely passing could have been a factor, but technically it was a combination of Prescott’s determination and a defensive unit that pounced on rare errors by the Eagles.
Dak eclipsed Romo’s marks for passing yards (now thirty-four thousand three hundred seventy-eight) and clutch possessions (twenty-five) with an dynamic performance – his plunging score personifying his all-action showing.
Philly squandered 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 New York.
Along with 14 penalties for 96 yards, the attacking struggles that affected Jalen Hurts after what – for him – was an fast beginning was significant. He'd only thrown for over two hundred yards in 4 games prior to the weekend, he had more than 150 in the first half by himself in Dallas.
Yet from the time the Eagles went twenty-one to zero up their offense derailed dramatically – with four consecutive kicks, a missed three-point attempt and then a fumble handing opportunity after chance to the Dallas.
Philadelphia’s defence is brilliant, it truly is, but an offence that's not surpassed twenty-one points in 5 of 7 games (3 losses) is now a major worry, because the components are all there but it's just not clicking.
Nick Sirianni game is all about winning the big moments, the defence maintains them in it and what offence there is does just about sufficient – if it cannot even do that and now the discipline and possession security is breaking down, there could be trouble ahead.
In Focus – Playoff Patrick Shows Up Early to Save Chiefs
It wasn't as dramatic, but the Chiefs’ eleven-point recovery in the fourth quarter against a strong Indianapolis squad was very notable – and could have just rescued their campaign.
How significant was it? Indeed, the league’s advanced analytics now give the Kansas City a fifty-eight percent chance of reaching the playoffs, whereas a loss on Sunday would have dropped that number to 28%.
It’s no surprise the playoff form of Mahomes turned up, throwing for 235 yards in the second half alone and leading 3 point-scoring drives in their final 4 series to seal it in overtime.
A few big throws and swashbuckling runs are typical for Patrick in the postseason, but currently the Kansas City are in post-season form – at six and five and just 10th in the conference rankings.
That was closer to the old Kansas City though, with a first one-score win of the year after losing five previously – they secured 11 of them last year so, if that confidence comes back, this Chiefs Kingdom may not be finished so soon.
Discussion – Can Bears Become Kings of the North?
You just can't overlook the Bears now. A win over the Pittsburgh Steelers, without Aaron Rodgers, kept them first of the division and at eight and three – sharing the identical record as the Eagles.
They look threatening on each side of the field, with a defense that leads the league in interceptions and overall takeaways and, in Caleb Williams, a young player now used to securing close games.
He can at times be inconsistent, giving away a touchdown after a fumble in his team’s goal area – but he also threw three touchdowns and, with already five final period comebacks this year, he understands how to get the job done.
The Green Bay Packers are in close chase in the NFC North after dominating the Vikings and the Lions are right there after beating the New York in extra time with a huge game from Gibbs.
Chicago are interestingly the most reliable with eight wins in nine, but as they visit the championship champs on Thanksgiving we'll see just how good they truly are.
Preview – Exciting Holiday in Store
It appears among the best holiday line-ups for a long time, with every game packed with playoff consequences.
The Lions welcome the Packers in the classic curtain-raiser in Detroit, prior to a unusual visit back to Dallas for the Kansas City, who started out existence as the Texans long ago in the 1960s before relocating to Kansas City.
Sunday's comeback teams are each holding on to playoff hopes but have very little room for error – so this will have a post-season feel.
And how about the Ravens? An ugly victory over the New York in fact has them top of the division after starting 1-5 and looking finished.
Thanksgiving and Black Friday Games (all times GMT)
- Thursday, 27 November: Green Bay Packers @ Lions (18:00)
- Thursday, 27 November: Kansas City Chiefs @ Cowboys (21:30)
- Friday, 28 November: Bengals @ Baltimore Ravens (1:20 AM)
- Friday, 28 November: Chicago Bears @ Philadelphia Eagles (8:00 PM)
Can Sanders Keep His Starting Role?
Cleveland Browns coach Stefanski dismissed inquiries on whether Sanders had done sufficiently in his debut NFL start to maintain the first-team job when Gabriel comes back.
Yet the issue will continue to be asked as Sanders became the first Cleveland signal-caller to win his first league game after Zeier in 1999 – with 17 additional rookie quarterbacks unsuccessful to do so since.
It came only the Las Vegas, and with the help of an almost aggressive Browns defense recording ten tackles, but the Browns’ offense needs a director, a figurehead to inspire confidence.
And confidence is something not missing in Sanders, who told a CBS {