Philadelphia Stumble in Dallas & Patrick Rescues Chiefs – Best Highlights from NFL Week 12
Week 12 provided an incredible Cowboys rally, or perhaps an epic Philadelphia Eagles collapse?
Postseason Mahomes arrived to rescue the Kansas City's season while the Bears continue to surprise while they extend their victorious streak.
And did Shedeur Sanders do enough on his first NFL start to earn the full-time role in Ohio?
We’ll examine at the best of the week in the league.
Analysis – Dallas Rally or Eagles Collapse?
Dallas found themselves trailing badly at twenty-one to zero down versus the defending championship winners, so how on earth did they engineer their joint-best recovery in history?
The emotions of a first home game after a teammate’s tragic death may have played a part, however it was a mixture of Dak Prescott resolve and a defence that pounced on rare mistakes by the Eagles.
Prescott eclipsed Tony Romo marks for yards thrown (now 34,378) and clutch drives (twenty-five) with an dynamic performance – his plunging score embodying his energetic display.
Philly squandered a lead of 21 points or more for the first time after nineteen ninety-nine, with only their second game with several turnovers this year – the other being a disappointing NFC East loss at the New York.
Along with 14 infractions for ninety-six yards, the offensive malaise that hit Hurts after what – for him – was an fast beginning was huge. He had only passed for 200-plus yards in four games prior to Sunday, he had over 150 in the first half by himself in Texas.
Yet from the time Philadelphia went twenty-one to zero up their offense derailed dramatically – with four consecutive kicks, a failed three-point attempt and then a turnover handing opportunity after opportunity to the Cowboys.
Philadelphia’s defence is brilliant, it truly is, but an offence that's not surpassed 21 points in five of seven games (three losses) is now a major concern, because the pieces are all there but it's simply not clicking.
Sirianni’s game is all about securing the key situations, the defence maintains them in it and what offence there is manages just about enough – if it cannot even do that and now the discipline and possession security is breaking down, there may be problems ahead.
Spotlight – Postseason Mahomes Appears Early to Save Kansas City
It wasn’t quite as extreme, but Kansas City's eleven-point comeback in the fourth quarter versus a powerful Indianapolis squad was very impressive – and may have just rescued their campaign.
How big was it? Well, the NFL's advanced analytics now give the Kansas City a fifty-eight percent chance of making the postseason, when a defeat on Sunday would have reduced that figure to twenty-eight percent.
No wonder the postseason version of Mahomes turned up, passing for two hundred thirty-five yards in the second half by itself and guiding three point-scoring possessions in their final four series to seal it in overtime.
Some big passes and swashbuckling runs are commonplace for Patrick in the postseason, but currently the Kansas City are in playoff mode – at six and five and only 10th in the AFC standings.
This was more like the former Chiefs however, with a first one-score win of the year after losing 5 previously – they secured 11 of them the previous season so, if that confidence comes back, this Kansas City faithful might not be finished just yet.
Talking Point – Can Bears Be Rulers of the North?
You can no longer overlook the Chicago Bears any longer. A win over the Steelers, minus Rodgers, kept them top of the NFC North and at eight and three – holding the identical record as the Philadelphia.
They look dangerous on each side of the ball, with a defence that leads the NFL in picks and overall turnovers and, in Caleb Williams, a young player now used to winning tight games.
He can at times be inconsistent, giving away a score after a fumble in his own goal area – but he additionally passed for three touchdowns and, with already five fourth-quarter comebacks this year, he knows how to finish the game.
The Green Bay Packers are in close pursuit in the NFC North after overpowering the Minnesota and the Lions are in contention after beating the New York in extra time with a huge game from Jahmyr Gibbs.
Chicago are strangely the most reliable with eight wins in nine, but as they visit the championship champs on the holiday we'll see exactly how good they truly are.
Look Ahead – Exciting Holiday in Store
It appears one of the most exciting Thanksgiving line-ups for years, with every game packed with postseason consequences.
Detroit welcome the Green Bay in the classic curtain-raiser in Detroit, prior to a unusual visit back to Dallas for the Kansas City, who began life as the Dallas Texans long ago in the 1960s before relocating to Kansas City.
Sunday's comeback kings are each holding on to postseason aspirations but have very little margin for error – so this will have a playoff feel.
And how about the Baltimore Ravens? An unattractive win over the Jets in fact has them top of the AFC North after starting one and five and looking dead and buried.
Holiday and Shopping Day Fixtures (all times GMT)
- Thursday, twenty-seven November: Green Bay Packers @ Detroit Lions (6:00 PM)
- Thursday, twenty-seven November: Kansas City Chiefs @ Dallas Cowboys (9:30 PM)
- Friday, 28 November: Cincinnati Bengals @ Baltimore Ravens (01:20)
- Friday, twenty-eight November: Bears @ Eagles (8:00 PM)
Can Sanders Retain His Job?
Cleveland Browns head coach Stefanski batted away questions on whether Sanders had done enough in his first NFL outing to maintain the starting job when Dillon Gabriel returns.
Yet the issue will keep being asked as Sanders became the first Cleveland signal-caller to win his first NFL start after Zeier in 1999 – with seventeen other rookie signal callers failing to do so afterward.
It was just the Raiders, and with the assistance of an nearly feral Browns defence getting 10 tackles, but Cleveland's offence requires a leader, a presence to build confidence.
And self-belief is one thing not missing in Shedeur, who told a CBS {