Philadelphia Falter in Texas & Mahomes Rescues Kansas City – Best Moments from National Football League Week 12
The twelfth week provided an epic Dallas Cowboys comeback, or was it an massive Philadelphia Eagles implosion?
Playoff Mahomes showed up to salvage the Chiefs' season while the Bears keep to surprise while they continue their winning streak.
Did Shedeur Sanders perform sufficiently on his first professional outing to earn the full-time job in Ohio?
Let's take a look at the pick of the action in the NFL.
The Breakdown – Dallas Rally or Eagles Collapse?
The Cowboys found themselves trailing badly at twenty-one to zero down versus the reigning Super Bowl champions, so how on earth did they produce their equal-largest comeback in history?
Sentiment of a first home fixture after a teammate’s tragic death may have played a part, however it was a mixture of Prescott’s resolve and a defence that cashed in on rare mistakes by the Philadelphia.
Prescott eclipsed Romo’s marks for yards thrown (now 34,378) and game-winning possessions (twenty-five) with an dynamic display – his plunging touchdown embodying his all-action showing.
Philly wasted a advantage of 21 points or more for the first time after nineteen ninety-nine, with only their second game with multiple turnovers this season – the other being a disappointing division defeat at the Giants.
In addition to fourteen penalties for 96 yards, the offensive malaise that affected Jalen Hurts after what – for him – was an explosive start was significant. He'd only thrown for over two hundred yards in 4 games before Sunday, he had more than 150 in the first half alone in Dallas.
Yet from the time Philadelphia went twenty-one to zero up their offence fell apart spectacularly – with four straight kicks, a missed field goal and then a turnover handing opportunity after chance to the Cowboys.
Philadelphia’s defense is excellent, it truly is, but an offence that's not eclipsed 21 points in 5 of seven games (three losses) is now a major concern, as the components are all there but it's simply not working.
Nick Sirianni game is all about securing the key moments, the defence maintains them in it and what offense there is manages just about enough – if it cannot even do that and now the discipline and possession security is breaking down, there could be problems in the future.
In Focus – Postseason Mahomes Shows Up Early to Save Chiefs
It wasn’t quite as dramatic, but Kansas City's eleven-point recovery in the fourth quarter against a powerful Colts squad was very notable – and could have only rescued their campaign.
How significant was it? Indeed, the league’s Next Gen Stats now assign the Chiefs a fifty-eight percent probability of reaching the playoffs, when a loss on Sunday would have reduced that number to twenty-eight percent.
No wonder the playoff form of Mahomes arrived, passing for 235 yards in the latter half alone and leading three point-scoring drives in their last 4 possessions to seal it in extra time.
Some huge passes and daring scrambles are commonplace for Patrick in the playoffs, but right now the Chiefs are in playoff form – at six and five and just tenth in the conference standings.
This was closer to the old Kansas City however, with a first close victory of the season after dropping 5 previously – they secured 11 of them the previous season so, if that belief returns, this Chiefs Kingdom may not be finished so soon.
Talking Point – Can Bears Be Kings of the Division?
You just can't ignore the Bears any longer. A victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers, without Rodgers, kept them first of the division and at 8-3 – sharing the same standing as the Philadelphia.
They look dangerous on each side of the ball, with a defence that leads the NFL in picks and overall turnovers and, in Caleb Williams, a young quarterback now accustomed to securing close games.
He may at times be inconsistent, giving away a touchdown after a fumble in his own goal area – but he also threw three scores and, with already five fourth-quarter comebacks this year, he understands how to get the job done.
Green Bay are in close chase in the NFC North after overpowering the Vikings and Detroit are right there after overcoming the Giants in overtime with a huge game from Jahmyr Gibbs.
Chicago are strangely the most reliable with 8 wins in nine, but as they travel to the Super Bowl winners on the holiday we'll discover just how good they really are.
Preview – Thrilling Holiday in Store
It appears among the best holiday line-ups for years, with each game packed with playoff consequences.
The Lions host the Packers in the classic curtain-raiser in Detroit, prior to a unusual trip back to Texas for the Chiefs, who began existence as the Dallas Texans long ago in the sixties before moving to Kansas City.
Sunday's comeback teams are each clinging to playoff aspirations but have very little room for mistakes – so this will have a playoff feel.
What about the Baltimore Ravens? An ugly victory over the Jets actually has them top of the AFC North after beginning 1-5 and appearing finished.
Thanksgiving and Black Friday Fixtures (all times GMT)
- Thursday, twenty-seven November: Packers @ Lions (6:00 PM)
- Thursday, twenty-seven November: Kansas City Chiefs @ Cowboys (9:30 PM)
- Friday, twenty-eight November: Cincinnati Bengals @ Ravens (1:20 AM)
- Friday, 28 November: Chicago Bears @ Philadelphia Eagles (8:00 PM)
Can Sanders Keep His Starting Role?
Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski dismissed questions on whether Shedeur Sanders had done enough in his debut professional start to maintain the first-team position when Dillon Gabriel comes back.
Yet the issue will keep being raised as Sanders became the first Browns quarterback to secure his first NFL game after Eric Zeier in 1999 – with seventeen other first-year signal callers unsuccessful to do so afterward.
It was only the Raiders, and with the assistance of an almost feral Cleveland defense recording ten sacks, but Cleveland's offense requires a leader, a presence to inspire confidence.
Moreover confidence is one thing not lacking in Shedeur, who informed a network {