Philly Stumble in Texas & Patrick Rescues Kansas City – Top Moments from National Football League the Twelfth Week
Week 12 delivered an incredible Dallas Cowboys rally, or was it an massive Eagles implosion?
Playoff Patrick Mahomes arrived to salvage the Kansas City's campaign while the Bears continue to impress while they extend their victorious streak.
And did Shedeur Sanders perform enough on his debut NFL start to earn the full-time role in Cleveland?
We’ll examine at the best of the action in the NFL.
Analysis – Dallas Rally or Eagles Collapse?
Dallas found themselves down and out at 21-0 down versus the reigning championship winners, so how on earth did they produce their joint-best comeback in history?
Sentiment of a initial home fixture since a teammate’s untimely passing could have played a part, however it was a mixture of Dak Prescott determination and a defensive unit that pounced on rare errors by the Eagles.
Prescott surpassed Tony Romo marks for passing yards (now thirty-four thousand three hundred seventy-eight) and clutch drives (25) with an dynamic performance – his diving score embodying his all-action display.
Philly wasted a advantage of 21 points or more for the initial time since nineteen ninety-nine, with just their second game with several giveaways this year – the previous being another disappointing division defeat at the Giants.
Along with fourteen penalties for 96 yards, the offensive malaise that hit Hurts after what – for him – was an explosive start was huge. He had only thrown for over two hundred yards in four games before the weekend, he had more than 150 in the opening two quarters alone in Texas.
Yet from the time the Eagles went 21-0 up their offense derailed spectacularly – with four straight punts, a failed field goal and then a fumble handing opportunity after chance to the Dallas.
The Eagles defense is brilliant, it truly is, but an offense that's not surpassed 21 points in 5 of 7 games (three losses) is now a major concern, because the components are all there but it's just not clicking.
Nick Sirianni game is all about securing the big moments, the defence keeps them in it and what offence there is manages barely enough – if it can't even do that and now the composure and ball protection is breaking down, there may be trouble ahead.
In Focus – Postseason Mahomes Appears Prematurely to Rescue Chiefs
It wasn't as dramatic, but the Chiefs’ 11-point recovery in the final period against a strong Indianapolis team was very notable – and may have only rescued their campaign.
How significant was it? Indeed, the NFL's advanced analytics now assign the Kansas City a 58% probability of reaching the postseason, when a defeat on Sunday would have dropped that figure to twenty-eight percent.
No wonder the playoff form of Patrick Mahomes turned up, throwing for two hundred thirty-five yards in the latter half by itself and leading 3 point-scoring drives in their final 4 possessions to seal it in extra time.
A few big passes and daring scrambles are commonplace for Mahomes in the postseason, but currently the Kansas City are in playoff form – at 6-5 and only 10th in the conference standings.
That was more like the old Chiefs though, with a initial close victory of the year after dropping five already – they won eleven of them last year so, if that belief comes back, this Chiefs Kingdom might not be done just yet.
Talking Point – Can Bears Become Rulers of the Division?
You just can't ignore the Chicago Bears any longer. A win over the Steelers, minus Rodgers, kept them top of the division and at eight and three – holding the same record as the Philadelphia.
They look threatening on each side of the field, with a defence that tops the NFL in interceptions and total takeaways and, in Williams, a young player now accustomed to securing close games.
He can at times be inconsistent, surrendering a touchdown after a fumble in his own goal area – but he also threw 3 touchdowns and, with already five fourth-quarter rallies this year, he knows how to finish the game.
Green Bay are in close chase in the NFC North after overpowering the Vikings and Detroit are in contention after beating the New York in extra time with a huge game from Jahmyr Gibbs.
The Bears are strangely the most consistent with 8 wins in 9, but as they travel to the championship champs on the holiday we'll discover just how strong they really are.
Preview – Exciting Holiday in Prospect
This looks one of the best holiday line-ups for years, with every game packed with postseason consequences.
The Lions host the Green Bay in the classic curtain-raiser in Michigan, before a rare trip back to Texas for the Chiefs, who began existence as the Texans way back in the 1960s before moving to Missouri.
The weekend’s comeback teams are both clinging to playoff hopes but have very little margin for mistakes – so this will have a playoff feel.
What about the Baltimore Ravens? An ugly win over the New York actually has them top of the division after starting 1-5 and looking finished.
Holiday and Black Friday Games (all times GMT)
- Thursday, twenty-seven November: Packers @ Lions (6:00 PM)
- Thursday, 27 November: Kansas City Chiefs @ Dallas Cowboys (9:30 PM)
- Friday, 28 November: Cincinnati Bengals @ Baltimore Ravens (01:20)
- Friday, twenty-eight November: Chicago Bears @ Philadelphia Eagles (8:00 PM)
Can Sanders Keep His Job?
Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski batted away questions on whether Sanders had performed enough in his first NFL outing to maintain the starting position when Gabriel returns.
But the question will keep being raised as Shedeur became the first Cleveland signal-caller to secure his debut NFL start after Eric Zeier in nineteen ninety-nine – with 17 additional first-year quarterbacks failing to do so since.
It was only the Raiders, and with the help of an nearly feral Cleveland defense recording 10 tackles, but Cleveland's offense needs a director, a figurehead to inspire confidence.
Moreover self-belief is something not missing in Sanders, who informed a CBS {