Philadelphia Falter in Dallas & Patrick Saves Kansas City – Top Highlights from NFL the Twelfth Week
Week 12 delivered an epic Cowboys comeback, or was it an epic Eagles collapse?
Postseason Patrick Mahomes arrived to rescue the Chiefs' season while the Chicago Bears keep to surprise as they extend their victorious streak.
Did Shedeur Sanders do sufficiently on his debut professional outing to secure the full-time job in Ohio?
Let's take a look at the best of the action in the NFL.
The Breakdown – Dallas Rally or Philly Fail?
Dallas were trailing badly at 21-0 behind against the reigning championship champions, so how on earth did they produce their joint-best comeback ever?
The emotions of a initial home game since a teammate’s tragic death could have been a factor, however it was a mixture of Dak Prescott resolve and a defence that pounced on uncommon mistakes by the Eagles.
Dak surpassed Romo’s records for passing yards (now 34,378) and game-winning possessions (twenty-five) with an dynamic display – his diving score personifying his energetic showing.
Philly wasted a advantage of twenty-one points or more for the initial time since 1999, with just their second game with several giveaways this year – the previous being another disappointing division loss at the Giants.
Along with fourteen penalties for ninety-six yards, the attacking struggles that hit Jalen Hurts after what – for him – was an fast beginning was significant. He had only passed for over two hundred yards in four games before Sunday, he had more than 150 in the opening two quarters by himself in Dallas.
However from the time the Eagles went twenty-one to zero up their offense derailed spectacularly – with four consecutive punts, a failed field goal and then a turnover handing chance after chance to the Cowboys.
The Eagles defence is brilliant, it truly is, but an offence that's not surpassed 21 points in 5 of seven games (three losses) is now a huge worry, as the pieces are all there but it's simply not clicking.
Sirianni’s game is all about winning the big moments, the defence keeps them in it and what offense there is does just about sufficient – if it can't even do that and now the composure and ball protection is breaking down, there may be trouble in the future.
Spotlight – Postseason Mahomes Appears Early to Save Chiefs
It wasn’t quite as extreme, but the Chiefs’ eleven-point comeback in the final period against a strong Colts team was very impressive – and could have only saved their season.
How significant was it? Indeed, the NFL's Next Gen Stats now give the Chiefs a 58% probability of making the postseason, when a loss on Sunday would have reduced that figure to twenty-eight percent.
No wonder the postseason form of Mahomes arrived, throwing for two hundred thirty-five yards in the latter half by itself and guiding 3 scoring drives in their final 4 series to seal it in overtime.
Some huge throws and daring runs are commonplace for Patrick in the postseason, but currently the Kansas City are in playoff mode – at 6-5 and only 10th in the conference rankings.
That was closer to the old Kansas City though, with a initial close victory of the season after dropping 5 previously – they won 11 of them the previous season so, if that confidence returns, this Kansas City faithful might not be done just yet.
Talking Point – Can Bears Be Rulers of the North?
You just can't overlook the Bears now. A victory over the Steelers, minus Aaron Rodgers, kept them first of the division and at 8-3 – holding the same standing as the Eagles.
They look threatening on each side of the field, with a defense that leads the NFL in picks and total turnovers and, in Williams, a young player now accustomed to winning close games.
He can at times be shaky, giving away a score after a turnover in his team’s end zone – but he also threw 3 scores and, with already 5 final period comebacks this season, he understands how to get the job done.
The Green Bay Packers are in hot chase in the NFC North after dominating the Vikings and Detroit are in contention after overcoming the New York in extra time with a monster game from Jahmyr Gibbs.
The Bears are strangely the most consistent with 8 wins in 9, but as they visit the Super Bowl winners on the holiday we'll see just how strong they really are.
Look Ahead – Exciting Holiday in Store
It appears among the best Thanksgiving line-ups for a long time, with each game packed with playoff consequences.
Detroit host the Green Bay in the traditional curtain-raiser in Detroit, before a unusual trip back to Dallas for the Chiefs, who started out existence as the Dallas Texans long ago in the sixties before moving to Kansas City.
Sunday's comeback teams are both clinging to postseason hopes but have minimal room for error – so this will have a playoff feel.
What about the Baltimore Ravens? An unattractive win over the Jets in fact has them leading of the AFC North after beginning 1-5 and appearing finished.
Holiday and Shopping Day Games (all times GMT)
- Thursday, twenty-seven November: Packers @ Lions (6:00 PM)
- Thursday, twenty-seven November: Kansas City Chiefs @ Cowboys (21:30)
- Friday, 28 November: Cincinnati Bengals @ Ravens (1:20 AM)
- Friday, twenty-eight November: Bears @ Philadelphia Eagles (20:00)
Will Shedeur Sanders Retain His Starting Role?
Cleveland Browns coach Stefanski batted away questions on whether Sanders had performed sufficiently in his debut NFL outing to maintain the starting job when Dillon Gabriel returns.
But the issue will continue to be raised as Shedeur became the first Browns signal-caller to secure his debut league game after Eric Zeier in 1999 – with 17 additional first-year quarterbacks unsuccessful to do so since.
It was only the Raiders, and with the help of an nearly feral Browns defense recording 10 sacks, but Cleveland's offence needs a leader, a presence to build confidence.
Moreover confidence is something not missing in Sanders, who informed a CBS {