Philadelphia Stumble in Dallas & Mahomes Rescues Chiefs – Top Highlights from NFL the Twelfth Week
Week 12 provided an incredible Dallas Cowboys rally, or perhaps an epic Eagles implosion?
Playoff Patrick Mahomes arrived to rescue the Kansas City's campaign as the Bears continue to surprise while they continue their winning streak.
And did Shedeur Sanders do sufficiently on his debut NFL outing to earn the starting job in Cleveland?
Let's take a look at the pick of the week in the league.
Analysis – Cowboys Comeback or Eagles Collapse?
The Cowboys found themselves down and out at 21-0 down versus the defending championship champions, so how on earth did they engineer their equal-largest comeback in history?
Sentiment of a first home fixture after Marshawn Kneeland untimely passing may have been a factor, but technically it was a combination of Dak Prescott determination and a defence that pounced on rare errors by the Eagles.
Dak surpassed Romo’s records for yards thrown (now 34,378) and game-winning drives (25) with an all-action display – his diving score personifying his all-action showing.
Philly squandered a lead of 21 points or more for the first time since nineteen ninety-nine, with just their second game with multiple giveaways this year – the previous being another disappointing division defeat at the New York.
Along with 14 penalties for 96 yards, the attacking malaise that affected Jalen Hurts after what – for him – was an fast start was significant. He'd only thrown for over two hundred yards in four games prior to the weekend, he had over 150 in the opening two quarters alone in Dallas.
Yet from the time Philadelphia went twenty-one to zero up their offense fell apart dramatically – with four straight kicks, a failed three-point attempt and then a turnover handing opportunity after opportunity to the Cowboys.
The Eagles defense is brilliant, it really is, but an offense that's not eclipsed twenty-one points in 5 of seven games (three losses) is now a major worry, as the pieces are all there but it's simply not working.
Nick Sirianni approach is all about securing the big situations, the defense maintains them in it and what offence there is does barely enough – if it can't even do that and now the discipline and possession security is breaking down, there may be trouble ahead.
Spotlight – Playoff Patrick Appears Early to Save Kansas City
It wasn't as dramatic, but Kansas City's 11-point comeback in the final period versus a strong Colts squad was very notable – and may have just rescued their season.
How significant was it? Well, the league’s advanced analytics now give the Chiefs a 58% probability of reaching the postseason, whereas a defeat on the weekend would have reduced that figure to 28%.
It’s no surprise the postseason form of Patrick Mahomes arrived, passing for two hundred thirty-five yards in the second half by itself and guiding 3 point-scoring possessions in their last four series to seal it in overtime.
A few big throws and swashbuckling runs are typical for Mahomes in the playoffs, but right now the Chiefs are in playoff form – at 6-5 and just 10th in the conference rankings.
This was closer to the former Chiefs however, with a initial one-score victory of the season after losing five already – they secured eleven of them last year so, if that confidence comes back, this Chiefs Kingdom may not be done just yet.
Discussion – Can Bears Become Kings of the North?
You just can't ignore the Bears now. A win over the Pittsburgh Steelers, without Rodgers, maintained them first of the NFC North and at eight and three – holding the identical record as the Eagles.
They appear dangerous on both sides of the ball, with a defense that leads the league in interceptions and total takeaways and, in Caleb Williams, a young quarterback now used to winning tight games.
He can still be inconsistent, surrendering a score after a turnover in his own goal area – but he additionally passed for three touchdowns and, with already five final period rallies this year, he knows how to get the job done.
The Green Bay Packers are in close pursuit in the division after overpowering the Minnesota and the Lions are right there after beating the New York in extra time with a monster game from Gibbs.
The Bears are strangely the most reliable with eight victories in 9, but as they visit the championship winners on the holiday we'll discover exactly how good they truly are.
Preview – Thrilling Holiday in Store
This looks among the most exciting holiday schedules for years, with every game packed with postseason consequences.
The Lions host the Packers in the classic curtain-raiser in Michigan, before a unusual visit return to Texas for the Chiefs, who started out existence as the Texans way back in the sixties before moving to Kansas City.
Sunday's comeback kings are both holding on to playoff hopes but have very little room for mistakes – so this will have a playoff feel.
What about the Ravens? An unattractive victory over the Jets in fact has them top of the AFC North after starting 1-5 and appearing finished.
Holiday and Black Friday Fixtures (all times GMT)
- Thursday, 27 November: Packers @ Detroit Lions (18:00)
- Thursday, twenty-seven November: Kansas City Chiefs @ Dallas Cowboys (9:30 PM)
- Friday, twenty-eight November: Bengals @ Ravens (1:20 AM)
- Friday, 28 November: Bears @ Eagles (8:00 PM)
Can Sanders Retain His Starting Role?
Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski dismissed inquiries on whether Shedeur Sanders had performed sufficiently in his first professional start to maintain the starting job when Dillon Gabriel returns.
Yet the question will keep being asked as Sanders became the first Cleveland signal-caller to win his debut NFL game after Zeier in 1999 – with 17 other rookie signal callers unsuccessful to do so since.
It came just the Las Vegas, and with the assistance of an almost feral Cleveland defense recording ten tackles, but Cleveland's offense requires a director, a figurehead to build confidence.
Moreover self-belief is something not lacking in Sanders, who told a CBS {