Philadelphia Falter in Dallas & Mahomes Rescues Chiefs – Best Moments from NFL the Twelfth Week
Week 12 delivered an epic Dallas Cowboys rally, or was it an massive Eagles implosion?
Playoff Patrick Mahomes showed up to rescue the Kansas City's season as the Bears keep to surprise as they extend their victorious streak.
And did Shedeur Sanders do enough on his first professional start to secure the starting job in Ohio?
We’ll examine at the best of the action in the NFL.
Analysis – Dallas Rally or Philly Fail?
The Cowboys found themselves trailing badly at 21-0 behind versus the defending championship winners, how exactly did they produce their joint-best recovery ever?
The emotions of a first home fixture since a teammate’s tragic death may have been a factor, but technically it was a combination of Dak Prescott determination and a defensive unit that pounced on uncommon mistakes by the Philadelphia.
Prescott eclipsed Romo’s marks for passing yards (now thirty-four thousand three hundred seventy-eight) and game-winning drives (25) with an all-action display – his diving score embodying his energetic showing.
Philadelphia squandered a lead of 21 points or more for the first time after nineteen ninety-nine, with just their second game with several giveaways this year – the other being another bad division defeat at the Giants.
In addition to 14 penalties for ninety-six yards, the attacking struggles that affected Hurts after what – for him – was an explosive beginning was huge. He'd only thrown for over two hundred yards in 4 games prior to the weekend, he had over one hundred fifty in the opening two quarters alone in Texas.
Yet from the time the Eagles went twenty-one to zero up their offense derailed spectacularly – with four straight kicks, a missed field goal and then a turnover giving chance after chance to the Cowboys.
Philadelphia’s defense is brilliant, 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, as the pieces are all there but it's simply not working.
Sirianni’s approach is all about securing the big situations, the defence maintains them in it and what offence there is does barely enough – if it cannot even do that and now the discipline and ball protection is breaking down, there may be problems in the future.
In Focus – Playoff Patrick 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 strong Indianapolis squad was hugely notable – and may have only rescued their season.
How significant was it? Indeed, the league’s Next Gen Stats now give the Chiefs a fifty-eight percent chance of reaching the playoffs, when a loss on Sunday would have reduced that figure to 28%.
It’s no surprise the postseason version of Patrick Mahomes arrived, passing for 235 yards in the second half alone and leading three point-scoring possessions in their final 4 series to win it in overtime.
A few huge throws and daring scrambles are commonplace for Patrick in the playoffs, but currently the Kansas City are in playoff form – at six and five and just 10th in the AFC standings.
This was closer to the former Kansas City however, with a initial close victory of the year after dropping 5 previously – they won 11 of them last year so, if that belief returns, this Chiefs Kingdom might not be done so soon.
Talking Point – Are Chicago Become Rulers of the Division?
You can no longer ignore the Chicago Bears any longer. A victory over the Steelers, minus Aaron Rodgers, maintained them first of the NFC North and at 8-3 – sharing the identical standing as the Eagles.
They look dangerous on each side of the field, with a defence that leads the NFL in interceptions and total turnovers and, in Caleb Williams, a young quarterback now accustomed to winning tight games.
He may still be shaky, giving away a touchdown after a turnover in his team’s end zone – but he also threw 3 touchdowns and, with already 5 fourth-quarter rallies this year, he understands how to finish the game.
Green Bay are in hot chase in the NFC North after overpowering the Minnesota and the Lions are right there after overcoming the Giants in overtime with a monster game from Jahmyr Gibbs.
Chicago are strangely the most consistent with 8 wins in 9, but as they visit the championship winners on Thanksgiving we'll see just how good they really are.
Look Ahead – Thrilling Holiday in Store
This looks among the most exciting Thanksgiving line-ups for years, with each game loaded with postseason consequences.
The Lions welcome the Packers in the classic curtain-raiser in Detroit, before a unusual visit return to Dallas for the Chiefs, who began life as the Dallas Texans long ago in the sixties before moving to Kansas City.
Sunday's comeback kings are each holding on to postseason hopes but have minimal room for mistakes – so this will have a playoff feel.
And how about the Ravens? An ugly victory over the Jets in fact has them top of the AFC North after beginning one and five and appearing finished.
Holiday and Shopping Day Games (all times GMT)
- Thursday, twenty-seven November: Green Bay Packers @ Detroit Lions (18:00)
- Thursday, 27 November: Chiefs @ Dallas Cowboys (9:30 PM)
- Friday, twenty-eight November: Cincinnati Bengals @ Ravens (01:20)
- Friday, twenty-eight November: Bears @ Philadelphia Eagles (20:00)
Will Shedeur Sanders Retain His Starting Role?
Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski dismissed inquiries on whether Shedeur Sanders had done sufficiently in his first NFL start to maintain the first-team position when Gabriel comes back.
But the question will keep being asked as Sanders became the first Browns quarterback to win his debut league start since Eric Zeier in 1999 – with seventeen additional first-year signal callers failing to do so since.
It was just the Las Vegas, and with the assistance of an almost aggressive Browns defense getting 10 sacks, but the Browns’ offense requires a director, a presence to inspire confidence.
And self-belief is one thing not missing in Sanders, who informed a network {