Philadelphia Stumble in Texas & Patrick Saves Chiefs – Best Moments from National Football League the Twelfth Week
Week 12 delivered an epic Cowboys rally, or was it an epic Eagles implosion?
Playoff Mahomes arrived to rescue the Chiefs' season as the Chicago Bears continue to surprise while they extend their victorious run.
Did Shedeur Sanders do enough on his debut NFL outing to earn the full-time job in Cleveland?
Let's take a look at the pick of the action in the NFL.
Analysis – Cowboys Comeback or Philly Fail?
The Cowboys found themselves trailing badly at twenty-one to zero behind versus the reigning Super Bowl winners, so how on earth did they produce their joint-best comeback in history?
The emotions of a first home game since a teammate’s untimely death could have played a part, however it was a mixture of Prescott’s resolve and a defence that cashed in on rare errors by the Eagles.
Dak eclipsed Romo’s marks for passing yards (now thirty-four thousand three hundred seventy-eight) and game-winning possessions (twenty-five) with an dynamic display – his plunging score embodying his all-action showing.
Philadelphia squandered a advantage of 21 points or more for the initial time since 1999, with only their second game with several giveaways this season – the previous being a bad division loss at the New York.
Along with fourteen infractions for ninety-six yards, the attacking malaise that hit Hurts after what – for him – was an fast start was significant. He'd only thrown for over two hundred yards in 4 games prior to Sunday, he had over 150 in the opening two quarters alone in Texas.
However from the time the Eagles went twenty-one to zero up their offence derailed dramatically – with four consecutive punts, a missed field goal and then a turnover handing chance after chance to the Dallas.
The Eagles defense is excellent, it truly is, but an offense that's not eclipsed 21 points in five of 7 games (3 losses) is now a huge worry, because the components are all there but it's simply not clicking.
Sirianni’s game is all about securing the big situations, the defense maintains them in it and what offence there is manages barely enough – if it cannot even do that and now the discipline and possession security is failing, there could be trouble ahead.
Spotlight – Postseason Mahomes Appears Early to Rescue Kansas City
It wasn't quite as dramatic, but Kansas City's 11-point comeback in the fourth quarter against a strong Indianapolis team was very notable – and may have only saved their season.
How big was it? Indeed, the NFL's Next Gen Stats now assign the Kansas City a 58% chance of making the playoffs, whereas a loss on the weekend would have dropped that number to 28%.
No wonder the playoff version of Patrick Mahomes arrived, passing for 235 yards in the latter half by itself and guiding three point-scoring possessions in their last 4 series to seal it in extra time.
A few huge throws and daring scrambles are typical for Mahomes in the playoffs, but currently the Chiefs are in post-season form – at six and five and just tenth in the conference standings.
This was closer to the old Chiefs though, with a initial one-score victory of the season after dropping 5 previously – they won 11 of them the previous season so, if that belief returns, this Chiefs Kingdom may not be finished so soon.
Talking Point – Can Bears Become Rulers of the North?
You can no longer overlook the Bears any longer. A victory over the Steelers, minus Rodgers, maintained them top of the NFC North and at 8-3 – sharing the same record as the Eagles.
They look dangerous on both sides of the ball, with a defense that leads the league in picks and overall takeaways and, in Williams, a emerging player now used to winning tight games.
He may at times be inconsistent, giving away a touchdown after a turnover in his own end zone – but he also passed for three touchdowns and, with already five fourth-quarter rallies this year, he understands how to finish the game.
Green Bay are in close chase in the NFC North after dominating the Vikings and the Lions are in contention after overcoming the New York in overtime with a monster game from Gibbs.
The Bears are strangely the most reliable with eight victories in nine, but as they visit the Super Bowl winners on Thanksgiving we'll discover exactly how strong they really are.
Look Ahead – Exciting Holiday in Store
It appears among the most exciting Thanksgiving line-ups for a long time, with every game packed with playoff implications.
Detroit welcome the Green Bay in the traditional curtain-raiser in Detroit, before a unusual visit return to Texas for the Kansas City, who began life as the Dallas Texans way back in the sixties before relocating to Missouri.
The weekend’s rally teams are each clinging to postseason hopes but have minimal room for mistakes – so this will have a post-season feel.
And how about the Ravens? An unattractive win over the Jets in fact has them leading of the division after beginning one and five and looking finished.
Thanksgiving and Shopping Day Fixtures (all times GMT)
- Thursday, 27 November: Green Bay Packers @ Lions (6:00 PM)
- Thursday, 27 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)
Will Shedeur Sanders Retain His Starting Role?
Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski dismissed inquiries on whether Shedeur Sanders had done sufficiently in his debut NFL start to keep the starting job when Dillon Gabriel comes back.
But the question will keep being raised as Shedeur became the first Cleveland quarterback to secure his first NFL start since Eric Zeier in 1999 – with seventeen additional rookie signal callers unsuccessful to do so afterward.
It was only the Las Vegas, and with the help of an nearly aggressive Browns defense recording ten tackles, but the Browns’ offence needs a leader, a figurehead to build belief.
Moreover self-belief is something not lacking in Shedeur, who informed a CBS {