Philadelphia Falter in Dallas & Mahomes Saves Kansas City – Top Highlights from NFL the Twelfth Week
Week 12 provided an incredible Dallas Cowboys comeback, or perhaps an massive Eagles implosion?
Postseason Patrick Mahomes showed up to rescue the Chiefs' season as the Chicago Bears keep to surprise as they extend their victorious streak.
And did Sanders do enough on his first NFL outing to secure the starting job in Ohio?
We’ll examine at the best of the action in the league.
The Breakdown – Cowboys Comeback or Philly Fail?
The Cowboys were trailing badly at twenty-one to zero behind against the reigning championship winners, how exactly did they engineer their joint-best recovery in history?
Sentiment of a first home fixture since Marshawn Kneeland untimely death may have been a factor, however it was a combination of Dak Prescott determination and a defensive unit that cashed in on uncommon mistakes by the Philadelphia.
Prescott surpassed Romo’s records for yards thrown (now thirty-four thousand three hundred seventy-eight) and clutch drives (25) with an dynamic display – his plunging touchdown embodying his energetic display.
Philadelphia wasted a lead of 21 points or more for the first time after nineteen ninety-nine, with only their second game with several giveaways this year – the previous being a bad NFC East loss at the Giants.
In addition to fourteen penalties for 96 yards, the offensive malaise that hit Jalen Hurts after what – for him – was an fast start was huge. He'd only passed for over two hundred yards in 4 games before Sunday, he had over 150 in the opening two quarters alone in Dallas.
However from the time Philadelphia went twenty-one to zero up their offence derailed dramatically – with four consecutive kicks, a failed field goal and then a fumble handing opportunity after chance to the Dallas.
The Eagles defense is brilliant, it really is, but an offence that's not surpassed twenty-one points in 5 of seven games (three losses) is now a major worry, as the components are all there but it's just not clicking.
Nick Sirianni game is all about winning the key moments, the defence keeps them in it and what offense there is does barely sufficient – if it cannot even do that and now the discipline and ball protection is breaking down, there could be trouble ahead.
In Focus – Postseason Mahomes Appears Early to Rescue Chiefs
It wasn't as extreme, but the Chiefs’ eleven-point recovery in the fourth quarter versus a powerful Colts team was very impressive – and may have just rescued their season.
How big was it? Well, the NFL's advanced analytics now assign the Chiefs a 58% chance of reaching the postseason, when a defeat on the weekend would have reduced that number to 28%.
No wonder the playoff version of Patrick Mahomes turned up, passing for two hundred thirty-five yards in the second half by itself and leading 3 scoring drives in their final four possessions to win it in overtime.
Some big throws and swashbuckling runs are typical for Mahomes in the playoffs, but right now the Chiefs are in playoff form – at 6-5 and just 10th in the conference standings.
This was closer to the old Kansas City though, with a first one-score victory of the season after dropping five previously – they won 11 of them last year so, if that confidence returns, this Kansas City faithful might not be done just yet.
Talking Point – Can Bears Become Kings of the Division?
You just can't overlook the Chicago Bears any longer. A win over the Pittsburgh Steelers, without Rodgers, kept them top of the NFC North and at eight and three – sharing the identical standing as the Philadelphia.
They appear dangerous on both sides of the ball, with a defense that tops the NFL in picks and total takeaways and, in Caleb Williams, a emerging player now accustomed to winning close games.
He may still be shaky, surrendering a touchdown after a fumble in his team’s goal area – but he additionally passed for 3 touchdowns and, with already 5 fourth-quarter comebacks this year, he knows how to finish the game.
The Green Bay Packers are in hot chase in the NFC North after dominating the Vikings and Detroit are in contention after beating the Giants in extra time with a monster game from Gibbs.
The Bears are interestingly the most reliable with eight wins in nine, but as they travel to the championship champs on the holiday we'll discover exactly how strong they truly are.
Look Ahead – Thrilling Holiday in Store
It appears among the most exciting holiday line-ups for years, with every game loaded with postseason implications.
The Lions welcome the Green Bay in the traditional opener in Detroit, before a unusual trip back to Dallas for the Kansas City, who began existence as the Texans long ago in the 1960s before relocating to Kansas City.
Sunday's comeback teams are each clinging to playoff aspirations but have minimal margin for error – so this will have a post-season feel.
What about the Ravens? An unattractive victory over the Jets in fact has them top of the AFC North after beginning one and five and looking finished.
Holiday and Black Friday Fixtures (all times GMT)
- Thursday, twenty-seven November: Packers @ Lions (18:00)
- Thursday, twenty-seven November: Chiefs @ Dallas Cowboys (9:30 PM)
- Friday, 28 November: Cincinnati Bengals @ Baltimore Ravens (1:20 AM)
- Friday, 28 November: Bears @ Philadelphia Eagles (8:00 PM)
Can Sanders Keep His Job?
Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski batted away inquiries on whether Shedeur Sanders had performed sufficiently in his first professional start to maintain the first-team job when Dillon Gabriel comes back.
But the question will keep being asked as Shedeur became the first Cleveland signal-caller to win his first NFL game after Zeier in 1999 – with seventeen other rookie quarterbacks failing to do so afterward.
It was only the Las Vegas, and with the help of an almost aggressive Browns defence recording 10 sacks, but the Browns’ offence requires a director, a figurehead to inspire belief.
Moreover confidence is one thing not missing in Shedeur, who told a network {