Philly Falter in Texas & Patrick Rescues Chiefs – Top Moments from National Football League the Twelfth Week
Week 12 provided an epic Dallas Cowboys comeback, or was it an massive Philadelphia Eagles implosion?
Playoff Patrick Mahomes arrived to salvage the Kansas City's season while the Chicago Bears continue to impress while they extend their victorious streak.
And did Shedeur Sanders do enough on his debut professional start to earn the starting role in Ohio?
Let's take a look at the pick of the week in the NFL.
The Breakdown – Cowboys Comeback or Eagles Collapse?
The Cowboys were trailing badly at 21-0 behind versus the defending championship champions, how exactly did they produce their equal-largest recovery ever?
The emotions of a first home fixture after a teammate’s tragic death may have played a part, however it was a mixture of Dak Prescott determination and a defensive unit that pounced on uncommon errors by the Eagles.
Prescott eclipsed Romo’s records for passing yards (now thirty-four thousand three hundred seventy-eight) and game-winning possessions (twenty-five) with an all-action performance – his plunging score embodying his all-action display.
Philadelphia squandered a lead of 21 points or more for the initial time since nineteen ninety-nine, with only their second game with several turnovers this year – the previous being another disappointing NFC East defeat at the New York.
Along with fourteen penalties for ninety-six yards, the attacking struggles that hit Hurts after what – for him – was an explosive beginning was significant. He'd only passed for 200-plus yards in four games before Sunday, he had more than 150 in the opening two quarters alone in Dallas.
However from the time the Eagles went twenty-one to zero up their offence fell apart spectacularly – with four straight kicks, a missed field goal and then a fumble giving chance after opportunity to the Dallas.
The Eagles defense is excellent, it really is, but an offense that's not surpassed twenty-one points in five of 7 games (three losses) is now a huge concern, as the pieces are all there but it's simply not clicking.
Nick Sirianni approach is all about securing the key moments, the defense keeps them in it and what offence there is does barely sufficient – if it can't even do that and now the discipline and ball protection is failing, 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 comeback in the fourth quarter versus a strong Colts team was hugely impressive – and may have just rescued their campaign.
How significant was it? Indeed, the NFL's Next Gen Stats now give the Chiefs a fifty-eight percent chance of making the postseason, whereas a defeat on Sunday would have reduced that figure to 28%.
No wonder the postseason form of Patrick Mahomes turned up, throwing for 235 yards in the latter half alone and leading 3 point-scoring drives in their final 4 series to win it in overtime.
Some big throws and swashbuckling runs are typical for Mahomes in the playoffs, but right now the Kansas City are in playoff mode – at six and five and just tenth in the conference standings.
That was more like the former Kansas City though, with a initial close victory of the season after dropping five previously – they won 11 of them last year so, if that confidence comes back, this Chiefs Kingdom might not be done just yet.
Talking Point – Can Bears Be Rulers of the Division?
You can no longer overlook the Chicago Bears any longer. A victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers, without Aaron Rodgers, maintained them first of the NFC North and at eight and three – sharing the identical standing as the Philadelphia.
They appear dangerous on each side of the field, with a defence that tops the NFL in interceptions and total turnovers and, in Williams, a emerging quarterback now accustomed to winning tight games.
He can still be inconsistent, surrendering a touchdown after a fumble in his own end zone – but he additionally threw 3 touchdowns and, with already 5 fourth-quarter rallies this season, he knows how to get the job done.
The Green Bay Packers are in hot pursuit in the division after overpowering the Vikings and Detroit are right there after beating the Giants in extra time with a monster game from Jahmyr Gibbs.
Chicago are strangely the most reliable with 8 victories in nine, but as they visit the championship winners on the holiday we'll see just how good they really are.
Preview – Thrilling Holiday in Prospect
It appears among the best holiday line-ups for years, with every game packed with postseason consequences.
The Lions welcome the Packers in the classic curtain-raiser in Detroit, before a rare trip back to Dallas for the Chiefs, who began life as the Dallas Texans way back in the sixties before moving to Kansas City.
Sunday's comeback kings are both holding on to playoff aspirations but have minimal room for error – so this will have a playoff atmosphere.
What about the Ravens? An unattractive victory over the New York in fact has them top of the division after beginning one and five and appearing finished.
Thanksgiving and Black Friday Games (all times GMT)
- Thursday, twenty-seven November: Packers @ Detroit Lions (18:00)
- Thursday, 27 November: Kansas City Chiefs @ Dallas Cowboys (21:30)
- Friday, 28 November: Bengals @ Baltimore Ravens (1:20 AM)
- Friday, 28 November: Chicago Bears @ Eagles (8:00 PM)
Will Shedeur Sanders Keep His Starting Role?
Browns coach Stefanski batted away questions on whether Sanders had done enough in his first NFL outing to keep the first-team position when Dillon Gabriel comes back.
But the question will continue to be asked as Shedeur became the first Cleveland quarterback to secure his first NFL start after Zeier in 1999 – with seventeen other first-year quarterbacks unsuccessful to do so afterward.
It came only the Las Vegas, and with the assistance of an almost aggressive Cleveland defense recording 10 tackles, but Cleveland's offence needs a leader, a figurehead to inspire belief.
Moreover self-belief is something not lacking in Shedeur, who told a CBS {