Philadelphia Stumble in Dallas & Mahomes Rescues Kansas City – Top Moments from National Football League Week 12
Week 12 delivered an incredible Cowboys rally, or perhaps an epic Philadelphia Eagles implosion?
Postseason Mahomes arrived to salvage the Kansas City's campaign while the Chicago Bears keep to impress while they extend their winning run.
And did Sanders perform sufficiently on his debut professional outing to earn the full-time role in Cleveland?
We’ll examine at the pick of the week in the NFL.
The Breakdown – Cowboys Comeback or Philly Fail?
Dallas were down and out at 21-0 down against the defending Super Bowl winners, how exactly did they produce their equal-largest comeback in history?
The emotions of a initial home fixture after Marshawn Kneeland tragic passing could have been a factor, but technically it was a mixture of Dak Prescott resolve and a defence that pounced on uncommon errors by the Eagles.
Prescott eclipsed Romo’s records for yards thrown (now thirty-four thousand three hundred seventy-eight) and game-winning possessions (twenty-five) with an all-action performance – his diving touchdown embodying his all-action showing.
Philadelphia wasted a lead of twenty-one points or more for the first time since nineteen ninety-nine, with just their second game with multiple giveaways this season – the other being a bad NFC East defeat at the New York.
Along with fourteen infractions for ninety-six yards, the offensive malaise that hit Hurts after what – for him – was an fast beginning was huge. He'd only passed for over two hundred yards in 4 games prior to Sunday, he had more than one hundred fifty in the opening two quarters by himself in Dallas.
However from the time Philadelphia went 21-0 up their offence fell apart dramatically – with four consecutive punts, a failed field goal and then a fumble giving chance after chance to the Dallas.
The Eagles defense is brilliant, it really is, but an offense that's not eclipsed twenty-one points in 5 of seven games (3 losses) is now a major worry, as the components are all there but it's just not clicking.
Sirianni’s game is all about winning the big moments, the defence keeps them in it and what offense there is manages barely enough – if it cannot even do that and now the discipline and ball protection is breaking down, there may be trouble ahead.
Spotlight – Postseason Mahomes Appears Prematurely to Rescue Chiefs
It wasn't quite as dramatic, but the Chiefs’ 11-point recovery in the final period versus a powerful Colts team was hugely impressive – and could have only rescued their season.
How big was it? Well, the league’s advanced analytics now give the Kansas City a fifty-eight percent probability of making the playoffs, whereas a loss on the weekend would have dropped that figure to 28%.
It’s no surprise the playoff form of Patrick Mahomes arrived, throwing for two hundred thirty-five yards in the latter half by itself and leading three point-scoring possessions in their last 4 possessions to win it in extra time.
Some huge throws and daring runs are commonplace for Mahomes in the postseason, but right now the Chiefs are in playoff form – at 6-5 and just 10th in the AFC rankings.
That was closer to the old Chiefs however, with a first one-score win of the season after losing 5 already – they secured 11 of them last year so, if that confidence comes back, this Kansas City faithful might not be done just yet.
Discussion – Are Chicago Be Kings of the Division?
You can no longer ignore the Chicago Bears now. A win over the Steelers, without Rodgers, maintained them top of the NFC North and at 8-3 – holding the same record as the Eagles.
They appear dangerous on each side of the ball, with a defence that leads the league in picks and total turnovers and, in Williams, a young player now used to securing tight games.
He can at times be shaky, giving away a touchdown after a fumble in his own end zone – but he also threw 3 scores and, with already five fourth-quarter rallies this season, he knows how to finish the game.
Green Bay are in hot pursuit in the division after dominating the Minnesota and the Lions are in contention after beating the Giants in overtime with a huge game from Jahmyr Gibbs.
Chicago are strangely the most reliable with eight victories in nine, but as they visit the Super Bowl winners on Thanksgiving we'll see just how strong they truly are.
Look Ahead – Thrilling Thanksgiving in Store
This looks one of the most exciting Thanksgiving line-ups for a long time, with every game packed with playoff implications.
Detroit host the Packers in the traditional curtain-raiser in Michigan, before a unusual trip back to Dallas for the Kansas City, who started out life as the Dallas Texans long ago in the 1960s before moving to Missouri.
The weekend’s rally kings are each clinging to playoff hopes but have minimal margin for error – so this will have a post-season feel.
And how about the Ravens? An ugly victory over the Jets in fact has them leading of the AFC North after beginning 1-5 and appearing dead and buried.
Holiday and Shopping Day Fixtures (all times GMT)
- Thursday, twenty-seven November: Green Bay Packers @ Lions (18:00)
- Thursday, 27 November: Kansas City Chiefs @ Cowboys (9:30 PM)
- Friday, twenty-eight November: Bengals @ Baltimore Ravens (1:20 AM)
- Friday, 28 November: Bears @ Philadelphia Eagles (8:00 PM)
Will Shedeur Sanders Keep His Starting Role?
Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski batted away inquiries on whether Shedeur Sanders had performed enough in his first professional start to maintain the first-team position when Dillon Gabriel comes back.
But the question will keep being raised as Sanders became the first Cleveland quarterback to win his first league start after Zeier in nineteen ninety-nine – with 17 other rookie signal callers failing to do so afterward.
It was only the Las Vegas, and with the assistance of an almost aggressive Cleveland defense recording 10 tackles, but the Browns’ offense requires a leader, a figurehead to inspire belief.
And self-belief is one thing not lacking in Shedeur, who informed a CBS {