Philly Stumble in Dallas & Mahomes Saves Kansas City – Best Highlights from NFL the Twelfth Week
The twelfth week delivered an incredible Dallas Cowboys comeback, or was it an massive Philadelphia Eagles collapse?
Playoff Mahomes arrived to rescue the Chiefs' campaign while the Bears keep to impress as they extend their victorious run.
And did Sanders perform enough on his debut NFL start to earn the starting job in Ohio?
We’ll examine at the pick of the week in the league.
Analysis – Dallas Rally or Eagles Collapse?
The Cowboys were down and out at twenty-one to zero behind versus the defending championship winners, how exactly did they engineer their equal-largest recovery ever?
The emotions of a first home game since a teammate’s untimely death could have been a factor, however it was a combination of Prescott’s resolve and a defence that cashed in on rare mistakes by the Eagles.
Prescott surpassed Romo’s records for passing yards (now thirty-four thousand three hundred seventy-eight) and clutch possessions (twenty-five) with an dynamic performance – his diving touchdown personifying his all-action showing.
Philadelphia wasted a lead of 21 points or more for the initial time after nineteen ninety-nine, with just their second game with several giveaways this year – the previous being a bad NFC East defeat at the New York.
Along with 14 penalties for ninety-six yards, the attacking malaise that hit Jalen Hurts after what – for him – was an explosive beginning was huge. He'd only thrown for 200-plus yards in four games before Sunday, he had more than one hundred fifty in the opening two quarters by himself in Texas.
However from the time the Eagles went twenty-one to zero up their offence derailed dramatically – with four straight kicks, a failed field goal and then a turnover giving opportunity after chance to the Cowboys.
The Eagles defense is brilliant, it really is, but an offence that's not eclipsed twenty-one points in 5 of 7 games (3 losses) is now a major worry, because the pieces are all there but it's just not clicking.
Nick Sirianni approach is all about winning the big situations, the defense maintains them in it and what offense there is manages just about sufficient – if it can't even do that and now the discipline and ball protection is breaking down, there may be problems in the future.
Spotlight – Playoff Patrick Appears Early to Rescue Kansas City
It wasn't as extreme, but Kansas City's 11-point comeback in the final period versus a strong Colts team was hugely impressive – and could have just rescued their campaign.
How big was it? Well, the NFL's advanced analytics now give the Chiefs a fifty-eight percent probability of reaching the playoffs, when a defeat on the weekend would have reduced that number to 28%.
No wonder the playoff version of Patrick Mahomes turned up, throwing for 235 yards in the latter half by itself and guiding 3 scoring drives in their final 4 series to win it in overtime.
Some big throws and swashbuckling scrambles are commonplace for Mahomes in the playoffs, but right now the Chiefs are in post-season form – at 6-5 and just 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 previously – they secured eleven of them the previous season so, if that belief comes back, this Chiefs Kingdom may not be finished so soon.
Talking Point – Can Bears Become Rulers of the North?
You just can't overlook the Bears now. A victory over the Steelers, minus Rodgers, kept them top of the NFC North and at 8-3 – holding the same standing as the Eagles.
They appear dangerous on both sides of the ball, with a defence that leads the NFL in interceptions and overall turnovers and, in Williams, a emerging quarterback now used to securing close games.
He may still be inconsistent, surrendering a touchdown after a fumble in his team’s end zone – but he additionally passed for three scores and, with already five final period rallies this year, he understands how to finish the game.
The Green Bay Packers are in hot pursuit in the division after dominating the Minnesota and the Lions are right there after overcoming the New York in overtime with a huge game from Gibbs.
Chicago are strangely the most reliable with eight wins in 9, but as they visit the championship winners on the holiday we'll see exactly how strong they really are.
Look Ahead – Thrilling Holiday in Prospect
This looks among the most exciting Thanksgiving schedules for a long time, with each game loaded with playoff implications.
The Lions welcome the Green Bay in the classic opener in Michigan, prior to a unusual visit return to Texas for the Kansas City, who started out existence as the Dallas Texans long ago in the 1960s before moving to Kansas City.
The weekend’s comeback teams are both holding on to playoff hopes but have very little margin for mistakes – so this will have a post-season atmosphere.
What about the Ravens? An ugly victory over the Jets actually has them top of the AFC North after beginning 1-5 and appearing finished.
Thanksgiving and Shopping Day Fixtures (all times GMT)
- Thursday, twenty-seven November: Green Bay Packers @ Detroit Lions (18:00)
- Thursday, 27 November: Kansas City Chiefs @ Cowboys (9:30 PM)
- Friday, 28 November: Cincinnati Bengals @ Ravens (01:20)
- Friday, twenty-eight November: Chicago Bears @ Eagles (20:00)
Will Shedeur Sanders Retain His Job?
Browns coach Stefanski dismissed inquiries on whether Sanders had performed enough in his debut NFL outing to keep the starting position when Gabriel comes back.
But the issue will continue to be asked as Shedeur became the first Cleveland signal-caller to win his debut NFL game since Zeier in nineteen ninety-nine – with seventeen additional first-year quarterbacks unsuccessful to do so afterward.
It came just the Raiders, and with the assistance of an nearly feral Browns defense getting 10 tackles, but the Browns’ offense needs a leader, a presence to build belief.
Moreover self-belief is something not lacking in Shedeur, who told a network {