Philly Stumble in Dallas & Patrick Rescues Chiefs – Best Highlights from National Football League Week 12
Week 12 provided an incredible Dallas Cowboys rally, or perhaps an massive Philadelphia Eagles collapse?
Playoff Mahomes showed up to salvage the Chiefs' season as the Bears continue to surprise while they extend their winning streak.
Did Shedeur Sanders perform enough on his debut professional outing to secure the full-time role in Cleveland?
We’ll examine at the pick of the action in the NFL.
The Breakdown – Dallas Rally or Philly Fail?
The Cowboys found themselves trailing badly at twenty-one to zero behind versus the defending championship winners, so how on earth did they produce their equal-largest comeback in history?
Sentiment of a initial home fixture after Marshawn Kneeland tragic death could have been a factor, however it was a combination of Prescott’s resolve and a defensive unit that cashed in on uncommon mistakes by the Philadelphia.
Dak eclipsed Romo’s records for passing yards (now thirty-four thousand three hundred seventy-eight) and game-winning possessions (25) with an dynamic performance – his diving score embodying his energetic display.
Philly squandered a lead of 21 points or more for the initial time since 1999, with just their second game with multiple turnovers this season – the previous being another disappointing division defeat at the Giants.
Along with 14 penalties for 96 yards, the attacking struggles that hit Jalen Hurts after what – for him – was an fast start was huge. He had only thrown for over two hundred yards in four games before Sunday, he had over one hundred fifty in the opening two quarters alone in Texas.
Yet from the time the Eagles went twenty-one to zero up their offence derailed dramatically – with four consecutive kicks, a failed three-point attempt and then a turnover giving opportunity after chance to the Cowboys.
The Eagles defense is brilliant, it truly is, but an offense that's not surpassed twenty-one points in five of seven games (three losses) is now a major concern, because the pieces are all there but it's simply not working.
Nick Sirianni approach is all about winning the key situations, the defense maintains them in it and what offense there is manages just about enough – if it can't even do that and now the composure and ball protection is breaking down, there could be problems in the future.
Spotlight – Playoff Patrick Appears Early to Save Kansas City
It wasn’t as dramatic, but the Chiefs’ 11-point recovery in the final period against a strong Indianapolis team was very notable – and may have only saved their campaign.
How big was it? Indeed, the league’s advanced analytics now assign the Chiefs a fifty-eight percent chance of making the postseason, whereas a loss on Sunday would have dropped that number to 28%.
No wonder the playoff form of Mahomes turned up, passing for 235 yards in the second half alone and guiding three scoring possessions in their last 4 series to win it in overtime.
A few big throws and swashbuckling runs are commonplace for Patrick in the postseason, but currently the Kansas City are in post-season mode – at six and five and just 10th in the AFC standings.
That was closer to the former Chiefs though, with a initial close win of the season after dropping five previously – they won 11 of them last year so, if that confidence comes back, this Chiefs Kingdom may not be done just yet.
Talking Point – Can Bears Become Rulers of the North?
You can no longer overlook the Bears any longer. A victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers, without Aaron Rodgers, maintained them top of the NFC North and at 8-3 – sharing the same record as the Philadelphia.
They look threatening on each side of the ball, with a defence that tops the NFL in interceptions and total takeaways and, in Williams, a emerging player now used to winning tight games.
He can at times be shaky, giving away a touchdown after a turnover in his team’s end zone – but he additionally passed for 3 scores and, with already five fourth-quarter rallies this year, he knows how to finish the game.
Green Bay are in hot pursuit in the division after overpowering the Minnesota and Detroit are in contention after beating the Giants in overtime with a monster game from Jahmyr Gibbs.
Chicago are interestingly the most consistent with 8 wins in nine, but as they visit the championship winners on the holiday we'll discover exactly how strong they truly are.
Preview – Thrilling Holiday in Store
It appears among the most exciting Thanksgiving schedules for a long time, with every game loaded with playoff consequences.
The Lions welcome the Packers in the classic opener in Michigan, before a rare trip return to Dallas for the Kansas City, who began life as the Texans way back in the sixties before relocating to Missouri.
Sunday's comeback kings are both clinging to playoff aspirations but have very little margin for error – so this will have a playoff atmosphere.
And how 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 dead and buried.
Thanksgiving and Black Friday Fixtures (all times GMT)
- Thursday, twenty-seven November: Green Bay Packers @ Lions (18:00)
- Thursday, 27 November: Chiefs @ Cowboys (21:30)
- Friday, 28 November: Cincinnati Bengals @ Baltimore Ravens (1:20 AM)
- Friday, 28 November: Chicago Bears @ Eagles (8:00 PM)
Can Sanders Keep His Job?
Cleveland Browns coach Stefanski batted away questions on whether Sanders had performed sufficiently in his first professional outing to keep the first-team position when Dillon Gabriel returns.
But the question will continue to be raised as Sanders became the first Browns quarterback to win his first league game since Eric Zeier in 1999 – with seventeen other rookie quarterbacks unsuccessful to do so since.
It came only the Las Vegas, and with the help of an nearly aggressive Cleveland defence getting 10 sacks, but the Browns’ offence requires a leader, a presence to inspire confidence.
And self-belief is one thing not missing in Shedeur, who informed a network {