Philadelphia Stumble in Texas & Patrick Saves Kansas City – Best Highlights from NFL the Twelfth Week
Week 12 provided an incredible Cowboys rally, or was it an massive Philadelphia Eagles implosion?
Playoff Mahomes showed up to rescue the Chiefs' campaign as the Bears continue to surprise while they continue their winning streak.
Did Shedeur Sanders do enough on his debut NFL outing to earn the starting job in Cleveland?
We’ll examine at the pick of the action in the NFL.
Analysis – Dallas Rally or Eagles Collapse?
Dallas found themselves down and out at twenty-one to zero behind versus the reigning championship winners, how exactly did they produce their equal-largest comeback in history?
The emotions of a initial home game since Marshawn Kneeland untimely death could have played a part, however it was a combination of Prescott’s determination and a defensive unit that cashed in on rare mistakes by the Philadelphia.
Prescott surpassed Romo’s marks for passing yards (now 34,378) and game-winning drives (twenty-five) with an all-action display – his diving score personifying his energetic showing.
Philadelphia wasted a advantage of 21 points or more for the first time since 1999, with just their second game with several giveaways this year – the other being another disappointing division defeat at the New York.
Along with 14 penalties for 96 yards, the offensive malaise that hit 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 more than 150 in the first half by himself in Texas.
However from the time Philadelphia went 21-0 up their offence fell apart spectacularly – with four consecutive kicks, a missed three-point attempt and then a turnover handing opportunity after opportunity to the Cowboys.
Philadelphia’s defense is excellent, it really is, but an offense that's not eclipsed twenty-one points in five of 7 games (3 losses) is now a major worry, as the pieces are all there but it's simply not working.
Sirianni’s approach is all about winning the key situations, the defense maintains them in it and what offence there is manages barely sufficient – if it cannot even do that and now the discipline and ball protection is failing, there may be problems in the future.
Spotlight – Playoff Patrick Shows Up Prematurely to Save Kansas City
It wasn’t quite as dramatic, but Kansas City's eleven-point recovery in the fourth quarter against a powerful Colts squad was hugely notable – and may have only saved their season.
How big was it? Well, the league’s Next Gen Stats now give the Chiefs a fifty-eight percent chance of reaching the postseason, when a loss on Sunday would have reduced that number to twenty-eight percent.
It’s no surprise the playoff version of Mahomes turned up, passing for two hundred thirty-five yards in the latter half alone and leading 3 scoring drives in their last four possessions to seal it in overtime.
Some huge passes and daring scrambles are commonplace for Mahomes in the playoffs, but right now the Kansas City are in playoff mode – at six and five and only 10th in the AFC rankings.
That was closer to the old Chiefs though, with a first one-score victory of the season after losing five previously – they won eleven of them last year so, if that confidence comes back, this Chiefs Kingdom may not be finished so soon.
Talking Point – Are Chicago Become Kings of the Division?
You can no longer ignore the Chicago Bears any longer. A victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers, minus Rodgers, maintained them top of the division and at eight and three – sharing the same record as the Eagles.
They appear threatening on each side of the field, with a defence that tops the league in picks and total takeaways and, in Williams, a young quarterback now accustomed to winning close games.
He may still be inconsistent, surrendering a score after a fumble in his own goal area – but he additionally threw 3 touchdowns and, with already 5 final period rallies this year, he understands how to finish the game.
Green Bay are in close chase in the NFC North after overpowering the Minnesota and the Lions are right there after overcoming the Giants in overtime with a huge game from Jahmyr Gibbs.
The Bears are strangely 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 really are.
Look Ahead – Exciting Thanksgiving in Prospect
It appears among the most exciting holiday line-ups for a long time, with every game packed with playoff implications.
The Lions host the Packers in the classic curtain-raiser in Detroit, before a unusual visit back to Dallas for the Kansas City, who started out life as the Texans long ago in the 1960s before moving to Missouri.
Sunday's comeback kings are both holding on to playoff hopes but have very little margin for error – so this will have a playoff feel.
And how about the Baltimore Ravens? An ugly win over the Jets actually has them top of the division after beginning 1-5 and appearing dead and buried.
Thanksgiving and Black Friday Fixtures (all times GMT)
- Thursday, 27 November: Green Bay Packers @ Lions (6:00 PM)
- Thursday, twenty-seven November: Chiefs @ Cowboys (21:30)
- Friday, 28 November: Bengals @ Baltimore Ravens (1:20 AM)
- Friday, twenty-eight November: Bears @ Eagles (8:00 PM)
Will Shedeur Sanders Retain His Job?
Browns coach Kevin Stefanski batted away questions on whether Sanders had done sufficiently in his first NFL start to keep the first-team job when Dillon Gabriel returns.
Yet the question will continue to be raised as Shedeur became the first Cleveland quarterback to win his debut league start since Eric Zeier in nineteen ninety-nine – with 17 additional rookie quarterbacks unsuccessful to do so afterward.
It came only the Raiders, and with the help of an almost aggressive Browns defense getting ten tackles, but the Browns’ offence needs a leader, a figurehead to inspire belief.
And self-belief is something not lacking in Shedeur, who told a CBS {