Philadelphia Falter in Dallas & Patrick Rescues Chiefs – Best Highlights from NFL the Twelfth Week
Week 12 provided an epic Cowboys rally, or was it an massive Eagles implosion?
Postseason Mahomes arrived to salvage the Kansas City's season as the Chicago Bears keep to surprise while they extend their victorious run.
Did Shedeur Sanders do enough on his debut professional outing to secure the full-time role in Cleveland?
Let's take a look at the pick of the week in the league.
Analysis – Cowboys Comeback or Philly Fail?
The Cowboys found themselves trailing badly at twenty-one to zero down versus the defending championship champions, so how on earth did they engineer their joint-best recovery in history?
The emotions of a initial home fixture since Marshawn Kneeland untimely death may have played a part, but technically it was a mixture of Dak Prescott determination and a defence that pounced 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 plunging touchdown personifying his energetic display.
Philadelphia squandered a lead of 21 points or more for the initial time after nineteen ninety-nine, with just their second game with multiple turnovers this year – the other being another bad NFC East loss at the Giants.
In addition to 14 penalties for 96 yards, the attacking malaise that affected Hurts after what – for him – was an explosive beginning was significant. He'd only passed for over two hundred yards in four games prior to Sunday, he had more than one hundred fifty in the opening two quarters alone in Dallas.
However from the time Philadelphia went 21-0 up their offense fell apart spectacularly – with four consecutive punts, a failed field goal and then a fumble handing opportunity after chance to the Cowboys.
The Eagles defense is excellent, it really is, but an offense that's not surpassed twenty-one points in 5 of 7 games (three losses) is now a huge concern, because the pieces are all there but it's just not working.
Sirianni’s approach is all about securing the key situations, the defence keeps them in it and what offense there is does just about enough – if it can't even do that and now the discipline and ball protection is failing, there could be problems in the future.
In Focus – Postseason Mahomes Shows Up Prematurely to Rescue Kansas City
It wasn't as dramatic, but the Chiefs’ 11-point recovery in the final period versus a powerful Indianapolis team was hugely notable – and may have only saved their season.
How significant was it? Indeed, the NFL's advanced analytics now assign the Chiefs a 58% probability of making the postseason, when a loss on Sunday would have dropped that number to 28%.
No wonder the playoff version of Mahomes turned up, passing for two hundred thirty-five yards in the second half by itself and guiding 3 scoring drives in their final 4 possessions to win it in extra time.
Some big throws and daring scrambles are commonplace for Mahomes in the postseason, but currently the Chiefs are in post-season mode – at six and five and just tenth in the conference standings.
This was closer to the old Chiefs however, with a initial close victory of the season after losing 5 previously – they secured eleven of them the previous season so, if that confidence returns, this Chiefs Kingdom may not be finished just yet.
Talking Point – Are Chicago Be Kings of the North?
You can no longer ignore the Bears now. A victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers, minus Aaron Rodgers, kept them first of the NFC North and at eight and three – sharing the same standing as the Philadelphia.
They appear dangerous on both sides of the field, with a defence that tops the league in interceptions and total turnovers and, in Caleb Williams, a emerging quarterback now used to winning tight games.
He may at times be shaky, surrendering a touchdown after a turnover in his own end zone – but he also threw 3 touchdowns and, with already 5 fourth-quarter rallies this season, he knows how to finish the game.
Green Bay are in hot chase in the division after dominating the Vikings and the Lions are right there after overcoming the Giants in extra time with a monster game from Gibbs.
Chicago are strangely the most consistent with 8 wins in nine, but as they travel to the championship champs on Thanksgiving we'll discover exactly how strong they truly are.
Preview – Thrilling Holiday in Store
This looks among the most exciting holiday line-ups for a long time, with every game packed with postseason implications.
Detroit host the Packers in the traditional opener in Michigan, prior to a unusual visit return to Dallas for the Chiefs, who started out life as the Texans way back in the 1960s before relocating to Missouri.
The weekend’s rally teams are both holding on to postseason hopes but have very little margin for error – so this will have a playoff feel.
What about the Baltimore Ravens? An ugly victory over the Jets actually has them leading of the AFC North after beginning one and five and looking finished.
Holiday and Black Friday Fixtures (all times GMT)
- Thursday, 27 November: Green Bay Packers @ Lions (18:00)
- Thursday, 27 November: Kansas City Chiefs @ Dallas Cowboys (9:30 PM)
- Friday, 28 November: Cincinnati Bengals @ Baltimore Ravens (01:20)
- Friday, 28 November: Chicago Bears @ Eagles (20:00)
Can Sanders Retain His Job?
Cleveland Browns head coach Stefanski dismissed questions on whether Shedeur Sanders had done enough in his first NFL outing to keep the first-team position when Dillon Gabriel returns.
But the question will continue to be asked as Shedeur became the first Browns signal-caller to win his first NFL start since Zeier in 1999 – with 17 additional rookie quarterbacks unsuccessful to do so since.
It came only the Las Vegas, and with the assistance of an nearly aggressive Cleveland defense recording ten tackles, but the Browns’ offence needs a leader, a figurehead to inspire belief.
And confidence is something not lacking in Sanders, who told a CBS {