Philly Falter in Texas & Patrick Rescues Kansas City – Best Highlights from NFL Week 12
Week 12 delivered an epic Dallas Cowboys rally, or perhaps an massive Eagles implosion?
Playoff Mahomes showed up to rescue the Kansas City's season while the Bears keep to surprise while they extend their victorious run.
And did Sanders do sufficiently on his first professional outing to earn the starting role in Ohio?
We’ll examine at the best of the action in the NFL.
The Breakdown – Dallas Rally or Philly Fail?
The Cowboys were down and out at 21-0 down against the defending Super Bowl winners, so how on earth did they produce their equal-largest comeback in history?
Sentiment of a first home fixture since a teammate’s tragic death could have been a factor, however it was a combination of Dak Prescott determination and a defence that pounced on rare mistakes by the Eagles.
Prescott eclipsed Romo’s marks for yards thrown (now thirty-four thousand three hundred seventy-eight) and clutch possessions (25) with an all-action display – his diving touchdown personifying his all-action display.
Philadelphia wasted a lead of twenty-one points or more for the initial time since 1999, with just their second game with several turnovers this year – the other being another disappointing NFC East defeat at the Giants.
Along with fourteen penalties for ninety-six yards, the offensive struggles that affected Hurts after what – for him – was an fast start was significant. He had only thrown for 200-plus yards in 4 games prior to Sunday, he had over one hundred fifty in the opening two quarters alone in Texas.
Yet from the time Philadelphia went twenty-one to zero up their offence derailed dramatically – with four straight punts, a missed three-point attempt and then a fumble handing opportunity after chance to the Cowboys.
The Eagles defence is brilliant, it really is, but an offence that's not eclipsed twenty-one points in five of 7 games (3 losses) is now a huge concern, because the pieces are all there but it's just not clicking.
Nick Sirianni game is all about securing the key situations, the defence maintains them in it and what offense there is does just about enough – if it cannot even do that and now the discipline and possession security is breaking down, there may be trouble in the future.
Spotlight – Playoff Patrick Appears Early to Save Kansas City
It wasn’t quite as dramatic, but Kansas City's 11-point recovery in the final period versus a strong Indianapolis team was hugely notable – and could have only rescued their season.
How big was it? Well, the NFL's advanced analytics now assign the Chiefs a fifty-eight percent probability of reaching the postseason, whereas a loss on the weekend would have dropped that figure to twenty-eight percent.
No wonder the postseason form of Mahomes arrived, throwing for 235 yards in the latter half by itself and guiding 3 scoring drives in their final 4 possessions to win it in extra time.
A few huge passes and swashbuckling scrambles are typical for Mahomes in the postseason, but right now the Kansas City are in playoff mode – at six and five and only 10th in the AFC rankings.
This was closer to the old Kansas City however, with a initial close win of the season after dropping 5 already – they secured eleven of them the previous season so, if that confidence comes back, this Chiefs Kingdom might not be done just yet.
Discussion – Can Bears Be Rulers of the North?
You just can't overlook the Bears any longer. A victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers, without Aaron Rodgers, kept them first of the NFC North and at 8-3 – holding the same standing as the Eagles.
They look dangerous on both sides of the field, with a defense that tops the league in picks and total turnovers and, in Caleb Williams, a young quarterback now used to winning close games.
He may still be inconsistent, surrendering a touchdown after a turnover in his own goal area – but he additionally passed for 3 touchdowns and, with already 5 fourth-quarter comebacks this season, he understands how to finish the game.
Green Bay are in hot pursuit in the NFC North after dominating the Vikings and the Lions are right there after beating the Giants in overtime with a monster game from Gibbs.
The Bears are interestingly the most reliable with eight wins in nine, but as they travel to the championship champs on Thanksgiving we'll discover exactly how strong they truly are.
Look Ahead – Thrilling Holiday in Store
This looks among the best holiday schedules for years, with every game packed with playoff consequences.
Detroit host the Packers in the traditional curtain-raiser in Michigan, prior to a unusual trip back to Texas for the Chiefs, who started out life as the Dallas Texans way back in the sixties before relocating to Kansas City.
The weekend’s comeback teams are each clinging to postseason aspirations but have minimal room for mistakes – so this will have a playoff feel.
What about the Baltimore Ravens? An ugly victory over the New York in fact has them leading of the AFC North after beginning 1-5 and appearing finished.
Thanksgiving and Shopping Day Fixtures (all times GMT)
- Thursday, 27 November: Packers @ Lions (6:00 PM)
- Thursday, 27 November: Chiefs @ Dallas Cowboys (21:30)
- Friday, 28 November: Bengals @ Baltimore Ravens (1:20 AM)
- Friday, 28 November: Bears @ Philadelphia Eagles (8:00 PM)
Will Shedeur Sanders Keep His Starting Role?
Cleveland Browns coach Kevin Stefanski batted away questions on whether Shedeur Sanders had performed enough in his first professional start to maintain the first-team job when Dillon Gabriel returns.
Yet the question will continue to be asked as Shedeur became the first Cleveland quarterback to win his debut NFL start since Eric Zeier in nineteen ninety-nine – with 17 other first-year signal callers unsuccessful to do so since.
It was just the Las Vegas, and with the help of an almost feral Cleveland defense recording ten sacks, but Cleveland's offence needs a leader, a figurehead to inspire belief.
And confidence is something not lacking in Sanders, who informed a network {