Philly Stumble in Dallas & Patrick Saves Chiefs – Top Moments from National Football League Week 12
Week 12 provided an incredible Dallas Cowboys comeback, or perhaps an massive Philadelphia Eagles implosion?
Playoff Patrick Mahomes showed up to rescue the Kansas City's season while the Chicago Bears continue to impress while they extend their winning run.
And did Shedeur Sanders do enough on his first NFL outing to secure the starting job in Cleveland?
We’ll examine at the pick of the week in the NFL.
The Breakdown – Cowboys Comeback or Philly Fail?
Dallas were trailing badly at 21-0 behind versus the defending Super Bowl champions, so how on earth did they engineer their equal-largest recovery ever?
Sentiment of a initial home fixture after a teammate’s tragic death could have played a part, but technically it was a combination of Dak Prescott resolve and a defensive unit that cashed in on rare errors by the Philadelphia.
Prescott eclipsed Tony Romo records for passing yards (now 34,378) and clutch drives (twenty-five) with an dynamic display – his diving score embodying his all-action showing.
Philadelphia squandered a advantage of twenty-one points or more for the first time since 1999, with only their second game with several turnovers this year – the previous being a bad NFC East loss at the Giants.
In addition to 14 penalties for 96 yards, the offensive struggles that hit Hurts after what – for him – was an explosive start was significant. He'd only thrown for over two hundred yards in four games prior to the weekend, he had over 150 in the opening two quarters by himself in Dallas.
However from the time Philadelphia went 21-0 up their offence derailed dramatically – with four consecutive kicks, a failed three-point attempt and then a turnover giving opportunity after opportunity to the Dallas.
Philadelphia’s defense is brilliant, it truly is, but an offence that's not eclipsed 21 points in 5 of seven games (three losses) is now a huge concern, because the pieces are all there but it's just not working.
Nick Sirianni game is all about winning the big situations, the defence keeps them in it and what offense there is manages just about enough – if it can't even do that and now the composure and possession security is failing, there may be trouble ahead.
In Focus – Postseason Mahomes Appears Prematurely to Save Chiefs
It wasn’t as dramatic, but Kansas City's eleven-point comeback in the final period against a strong Indianapolis squad was hugely impressive – and may have only rescued their season.
How significant was it? Well, the NFL's Next Gen Stats now assign the Kansas City a 58% probability of reaching the postseason, when a defeat on the weekend would have dropped that figure to twenty-eight percent.
No wonder the postseason version of Mahomes arrived, throwing for 235 yards in the latter half alone and leading 3 scoring possessions in their final 4 series to seal it in extra time.
Some huge throws and daring runs are typical for Mahomes in the postseason, but right now the Kansas City are in post-season form – at six and five and only 10th in the conference rankings.
This was more like the former Chiefs however, with a first close win of the season after dropping five previously – they won 11 of them the previous season so, if that belief returns, this Kansas City faithful may not be done just yet.
Discussion – Can Bears Be Kings of the North?
You just can't overlook the Chicago Bears now. A victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers, without Rodgers, kept them first of the division and at eight and three – sharing the same standing as the Philadelphia.
They look dangerous on both sides of the field, with a defense that leads the NFL in picks and total takeaways and, in Williams, a young quarterback now accustomed to winning tight games.
He may at times be inconsistent, surrendering a score after a fumble in his team’s end zone – but he also threw 3 touchdowns and, with already five fourth-quarter rallies this year, he understands how to finish the game.
The Green Bay Packers are in close pursuit in the division after overpowering the Vikings and the Lions are right there after overcoming the Giants in overtime with a huge game from Jahmyr Gibbs.
Chicago are interestingly the most reliable with 8 victories in nine, but as they visit the championship winners on Thanksgiving we'll see exactly how good they truly are.
Look Ahead – Thrilling Thanksgiving in Prospect
This looks one of the most exciting Thanksgiving schedules for years, with every game packed with playoff implications.
The Lions host the Green Bay in the traditional curtain-raiser in Michigan, prior to a rare trip return to Dallas for the Chiefs, who began life as the Dallas Texans way back in the 1960s before moving to Kansas City.
The weekend’s comeback kings are each clinging to postseason hopes but have very little margin for mistakes – so this will have a post-season atmosphere.
What about the Baltimore Ravens? An unattractive win over the New York actually has them top of the AFC North after beginning 1-5 and looking finished.
Thanksgiving and Shopping Day Fixtures (all times GMT)
- Thursday, twenty-seven November: Packers @ Lions (18:00)
- Thursday, 27 November: Kansas City Chiefs @ Cowboys (9:30 PM)
- Friday, 28 November: Cincinnati Bengals @ Baltimore Ravens (01:20)
- Friday, twenty-eight November: Chicago Bears @ Philadelphia Eagles (8:00 PM)
Can Sanders Keep His Job?
Browns head coach Stefanski dismissed inquiries on whether Sanders had done sufficiently in his debut professional start to keep the first-team position when Dillon Gabriel returns.
But the issue will continue to be raised as Shedeur became the first Cleveland signal-caller to win his first NFL game after Eric Zeier in 1999 – with 17 other rookie quarterbacks unsuccessful to do so since.
It was only the Raiders, and with the assistance of an nearly aggressive Browns defense getting 10 sacks, but Cleveland's offence requires a director, a figurehead to inspire belief.
Moreover confidence is something not lacking in Sanders, who informed a network {