Philadelphia Stumble in Dallas & Patrick Rescues Kansas City – Top Highlights from National Football League the Twelfth Week
Week 12 delivered an epic Cowboys rally, or was it an massive Philadelphia Eagles implosion?
Postseason Mahomes showed up to salvage the Chiefs' campaign as the Bears continue to impress while they extend their victorious streak.
And did Shedeur Sanders do enough on his debut NFL start to secure the full-time job in Ohio?
We’ll examine at the pick of the week in the NFL.
Analysis – Dallas Rally or Eagles Collapse?
Dallas found themselves trailing badly at twenty-one to zero down against the reigning championship winners, how exactly did they engineer their joint-best comeback ever?
The emotions of a initial home fixture after a teammate’s tragic passing may have played a part, however it was a combination of Prescott’s determination and a defence that pounced on uncommon mistakes by the Philadelphia.
Dak eclipsed Tony Romo records for yards thrown (now 34,378) and clutch drives (25) with an all-action display – his plunging touchdown personifying his all-action display.
Philadelphia squandered a lead of twenty-one points or more for the initial time since 1999, with just their second game with multiple turnovers this season – the other being a disappointing NFC East loss at the New York.
Along with fourteen infractions for ninety-six yards, the attacking malaise that hit Hurts after what – for him – was an explosive start was huge. He'd only thrown for over two hundred yards in four games before the weekend, he had more than one hundred fifty in the first half by himself in Dallas.
However from the time Philadelphia went 21-0 up their offence fell apart spectacularly – with four straight punts, a failed field goal and then a fumble giving chance after chance to the Dallas.
The Eagles defence is brilliant, it truly is, but an offense that's not eclipsed 21 points in 5 of 7 games (three losses) is now a major worry, because the pieces are all there but it's just not working.
Nick Sirianni game is all about winning the big moments, the defence keeps them in it and what offense there is does just about sufficient – if it cannot even do that and now the discipline and possession security is breaking down, there may be trouble in the future.
In Focus – Postseason Mahomes Shows Up Prematurely to Save Chiefs
It wasn't quite as dramatic, but Kansas City's 11-point recovery in the fourth quarter against a strong Colts team was very notable – and could have just saved their campaign.
How big was it? Well, the league’s Next Gen Stats now assign the Chiefs a fifty-eight percent probability of reaching the postseason, when a defeat on Sunday would have dropped that figure to twenty-eight percent.
It’s no surprise the playoff version of Patrick Mahomes arrived, passing for two hundred thirty-five yards in the second half alone and leading three scoring possessions in their final 4 series to win it in overtime.
A few huge passes and daring scrambles are commonplace for Mahomes in the playoffs, but right now the Chiefs are in playoff mode – at six and five and only 10th in the AFC rankings.
This was closer to the old Kansas City though, with a initial one-score victory of the year after dropping 5 previously – they secured eleven of them last year so, if that confidence returns, this Kansas City faithful might not be done so soon.
Talking Point – Can Bears Become Rulers of the Division?
You can no longer ignore the Chicago Bears any longer. A win over the Steelers, minus Rodgers, kept them top of the division and at 8-3 – sharing the same record as the Eagles.
They look dangerous on both sides of the field, with a defence that tops the league in picks and total takeaways and, in Caleb Williams, a emerging quarterback now used to securing close games.
He may still be inconsistent, surrendering a touchdown after a fumble in his own end zone – but he additionally threw three scores and, with already five fourth-quarter rallies this season, he knows how to finish the game.
The Green Bay Packers are in close chase in the NFC North after overpowering the Vikings and Detroit are right there after overcoming the New York in extra time with a huge game from Gibbs.
Chicago are interestingly the most consistent with 8 wins in 9, but as they travel to the championship winners on the holiday we'll discover exactly how strong they truly are.
Look Ahead – Thrilling Holiday in Store
It appears among the best Thanksgiving line-ups for years, with every game packed with postseason consequences.
Detroit welcome the Packers in the traditional opener in Michigan, prior to a unusual visit back to Dallas for the Kansas City, who started out existence as the Texans way back in the 1960s before moving to Kansas City.
Sunday's comeback kings are each holding on to postseason hopes but have minimal margin for error – so this will have a playoff feel.
What about the Baltimore Ravens? An unattractive victory over the Jets actually has them top of the division after starting 1-5 and looking dead and buried.
Holiday and Shopping Day Fixtures (all times GMT)
- Thursday, 27 November: Green Bay Packers @ Lions (18:00)
- Thursday, twenty-seven November: Chiefs @ Cowboys (21:30)
- Friday, 28 November: Bengals @ Baltimore Ravens (01:20)
- Friday, twenty-eight November: Bears @ Philadelphia Eagles (20:00)
Will Shedeur Sanders Retain His Starting Role?
Cleveland Browns head coach Stefanski batted away inquiries on whether Shedeur Sanders had performed sufficiently in his first NFL outing to keep the starting position when Gabriel comes back.
But the issue will keep being asked as Shedeur became the first Browns quarterback to win his first NFL game since Zeier in nineteen ninety-nine – with 17 other rookie quarterbacks failing to do so since.
It was just the Raiders, and with the help of an nearly aggressive Browns defence getting 10 sacks, but the Browns’ offence needs a leader, a figurehead to build confidence.
Moreover self-belief is something not missing in Shedeur, who informed a network {