Philadelphia Stumble in Dallas & Mahomes Saves Kansas City – Best Highlights from National Football League the Twelfth Week
Week 12 provided an epic Dallas Cowboys comeback, or perhaps an massive Philadelphia Eagles collapse?
Playoff Patrick Mahomes arrived to salvage the Kansas City's season while the Bears continue to impress while they extend their victorious streak.
Did Sanders do enough on his debut NFL start to earn the starting job in Cleveland?
Let's take a look at the best of the week in the NFL.
Analysis – Dallas Rally or Philly Fail?
The Cowboys were trailing badly at twenty-one to zero down versus the defending championship winners, how exactly did they engineer their joint-best recovery ever?
The emotions of a first home game after Marshawn Kneeland untimely death could have been a factor, but technically it was a mixture of Prescott’s determination and a defensive unit that cashed in on rare errors by the Eagles.
Prescott eclipsed Romo’s records for yards thrown (now 34,378) and clutch possessions (25) with an dynamic display – his diving touchdown personifying his all-action display.
Philly wasted a advantage of twenty-one points or more for the first time since 1999, with only their second game with multiple giveaways this season – the other being another disappointing NFC East loss at the New York.
In addition to fourteen penalties for ninety-six yards, the offensive malaise that affected Hurts after what – for him – was an fast start was huge. He'd only thrown for 200-plus yards in four games prior to Sunday, he had more than 150 in the first half alone in Texas.
However from the time Philadelphia went twenty-one to zero up their offense derailed spectacularly – with four consecutive kicks, a missed three-point attempt and then a turnover handing chance after opportunity to the Dallas.
Philadelphia’s defence is brilliant, it truly is, but an offense that's not eclipsed 21 points in five of seven games (3 losses) is now a huge worry, as the pieces are all there but it's just not working.
Nick Sirianni game is all about winning the big situations, the defence maintains them in it and what offence there is does barely enough – if it can't even do that and now the composure and possession security is breaking down, there may be problems ahead.
In Focus – Postseason Mahomes Appears Prematurely to Rescue Chiefs
It wasn’t as dramatic, but Kansas City's 11-point recovery in the final period against a strong Colts squad was very impressive – and may have only rescued their season.
How big was it? Indeed, the NFL's Next Gen Stats now give the Chiefs a fifty-eight percent chance of reaching the playoffs, whereas a defeat on Sunday would have dropped that number to 28%.
No wonder the postseason form of Patrick Mahomes turned up, passing for two hundred thirty-five yards in the second half alone and guiding three scoring possessions in their final four series to win it in extra time.
A few big throws and swashbuckling runs are commonplace for Mahomes in the playoffs, but right now the Chiefs are in post-season mode – at 6-5 and only 10th in the conference standings.
That was more like the old Kansas City though, with a initial close win of the year after dropping 5 already – they won 11 of them last year so, if that belief comes back, this Kansas City faithful might not be done just yet.
Talking Point – Can Bears Be Kings of the Division?
You can no longer ignore the Chicago Bears any longer. A win over the Steelers, without Aaron Rodgers, maintained them first of the division and at 8-3 – holding the identical record as the Philadelphia.
They appear dangerous on both sides of the ball, with a defense that tops the NFL in interceptions and overall turnovers and, in Caleb Williams, a young quarterback now used to winning tight games.
He can at times be shaky, surrendering a touchdown after a turnover in his own goal area – but he also passed for three scores and, with already 5 final period rallies this year, he knows how to finish the game.
Green Bay are in hot pursuit in the NFC North after dominating the Minnesota and the Lions are in contention after overcoming the New York in extra time with a huge game from Gibbs.
Chicago are strangely the most consistent with 8 victories in 9, but as they visit the Super Bowl champs on the holiday we'll see exactly how strong they really are.
Preview – Thrilling Holiday in Prospect
It appears among the best holiday schedules for a long time, with every game loaded with playoff consequences.
Detroit welcome the Packers in the classic curtain-raiser in Michigan, before a rare visit back to Dallas for the Kansas City, who began life as the Texans long ago in the sixties before relocating to Missouri.
The weekend’s rally kings are both holding on to playoff aspirations but have very little room for mistakes – so this will have a playoff atmosphere.
And how about the Ravens? An unattractive victory over the Jets in fact has them leading of the division after beginning one and five and looking finished.
Holiday and Shopping Day Fixtures (all times GMT)
- Thursday, twenty-seven November: Green Bay Packers @ Lions (6:00 PM)
- Thursday, twenty-seven November: Chiefs @ Cowboys (9:30 PM)
- Friday, 28 November: Bengals @ Baltimore Ravens (1:20 AM)
- Friday, twenty-eight November: Chicago Bears @ Philadelphia Eagles (8:00 PM)
Will Shedeur Sanders Keep His Starting Role?
Browns coach Kevin Stefanski dismissed inquiries on whether Sanders had performed enough in his debut professional start to keep the starting job when Gabriel returns.
But the question will keep being raised as Sanders became the first Cleveland quarterback to win his debut league game after Zeier in 1999 – with 17 additional first-year quarterbacks unsuccessful to do so afterward.
It was just the Raiders, and with the assistance of an almost feral Cleveland defense recording 10 sacks, but the Browns’ offence needs a director, a presence to inspire confidence.
Moreover confidence is something not lacking in Shedeur, who informed a network {