Philadelphia Falter in Dallas & Mahomes Rescues Chiefs – Best Highlights from NFL Week 12
Week 12 provided an incredible Cowboys rally, or was it an massive Philadelphia Eagles collapse?
Playoff Mahomes showed up to salvage the Kansas City's season while the Bears continue to surprise while they continue their winning streak.
Did Shedeur Sanders perform sufficiently on his debut professional start to earn the starting job in Cleveland?
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 twenty-one to zero down against the defending championship winners, so how on earth did they engineer their equal-largest recovery ever?
The emotions of a first home game since Marshawn Kneeland tragic death may have played a part, but technically it was a combination of Prescott’s determination and a defence that cashed in on uncommon errors by the Eagles.
Dak eclipsed Tony Romo marks for yards thrown (now thirty-four thousand three hundred seventy-eight) and clutch drives (twenty-five) with an dynamic performance – his diving touchdown personifying his energetic showing.
Philadelphia wasted a lead of 21 points or more for the first time since nineteen ninety-nine, with just their second game with multiple turnovers this season – the previous being a bad NFC East loss at the New York.
In addition to fourteen penalties for 96 yards, the offensive malaise that affected Jalen Hurts after what – for him – was an fast beginning was huge. He had only thrown for 200-plus yards in 4 games before Sunday, he had over 150 in the opening two quarters alone in Texas.
However from the time the Eagles went 21-0 up their offence fell apart dramatically – with four consecutive punts, a failed field goal and then a fumble handing chance after chance to the Dallas.
Philadelphia’s defense is brilliant, it really is, but an offense that's not eclipsed 21 points in five of 7 games (3 losses) is now a major concern, because the pieces are all there but it's just not working.
Nick Sirianni game is all about securing the key situations, the defence keeps 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 ahead.
Spotlight – Postseason Mahomes Shows Up Prematurely to Save Chiefs
It wasn’t quite as dramatic, but the Chiefs’ eleven-point comeback in the fourth quarter versus a powerful Colts squad was hugely notable – and may have only saved their campaign.
How big was it? Indeed, the NFL's advanced analytics now assign the Kansas City a 58% probability of reaching the playoffs, when a loss on the weekend would have reduced that figure to 28%.
It’s no surprise the playoff version of Patrick Mahomes arrived, passing for two hundred thirty-five yards in the latter half by itself and leading 3 scoring drives in their final 4 possessions to seal it in overtime.
A few huge passes and daring runs are typical for Mahomes in the playoffs, but currently the Kansas City are in playoff mode – at six and five and just 10th in the conference standings.
This was closer to the old Chiefs however, with a first close win of the year after dropping five previously – they secured eleven of them last year so, if that belief returns, this Kansas City faithful may not be finished so soon.
Discussion – Are Chicago Be Rulers of the Division?
You just can't ignore the Chicago Bears any longer. A victory over the Steelers, without Aaron Rodgers, maintained them first of the NFC North and at 8-3 – sharing the same standing as the Eagles.
They appear threatening on each side of the field, with a defense that tops the NFL in interceptions and overall takeaways and, in Williams, a emerging quarterback now accustomed to winning tight games.
He can at times be inconsistent, giving away 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 season, he understands how to get the job done.
Green Bay are in close pursuit in the division after dominating the Vikings and Detroit are in contention after overcoming the Giants in overtime with a huge game from Jahmyr Gibbs.
Chicago are interestingly the most reliable with 8 victories in 9, but as they visit the championship winners on Thanksgiving we'll see exactly how good they truly are.
Preview – Thrilling Thanksgiving in Store
This looks among the best holiday schedules for a long time, with each game packed with playoff implications.
Detroit host the Green Bay in the traditional curtain-raiser in Detroit, prior to a unusual visit back to Texas for the Chiefs, who began life as the Dallas Texans way back in the sixties before moving to Kansas City.
Sunday's comeback teams are both holding on to postseason aspirations but have very little margin for error – so this will have a playoff atmosphere.
And how about the Ravens? An unattractive victory over the Jets actually has them top of the division after beginning 1-5 and appearing dead and buried.
Thanksgiving and Shopping Day Fixtures (all times GMT)
- Thursday, 27 November: Packers @ Lions (18:00)
- Thursday, twenty-seven November: Kansas City Chiefs @ Dallas Cowboys (9:30 PM)
- Friday, 28 November: Bengals @ Baltimore Ravens (01:20)
- Friday, 28 November: Bears @ Philadelphia Eagles (8:00 PM)
Will Shedeur Sanders Keep His Starting Role?
Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski dismissed inquiries on whether Sanders had performed sufficiently in his first NFL start to maintain the first-team position when Gabriel returns.
But the question will keep being asked as Sanders became the first Browns signal-caller to win his debut league start since Zeier in nineteen ninety-nine – with 17 other first-year quarterbacks unsuccessful to do so afterward.
It came only the Raiders, and with the assistance of an almost aggressive Browns defense recording 10 tackles, but Cleveland's offense needs a leader, a presence to build confidence.
And confidence is something not lacking in Shedeur, who informed a network {