Philadelphia Stumble in Dallas & Mahomes Saves Chiefs – Top Moments from National Football League Week 12
Week 12 provided an epic Cowboys rally, or perhaps an massive Philadelphia Eagles implosion?
Playoff Patrick Mahomes showed up to rescue the Kansas City's campaign as the Bears keep to surprise while they continue their winning run.
Did Sanders perform enough on his debut professional outing to secure the full-time job in Ohio?
We’ll examine at the best of the week in the league.
Analysis – Cowboys Comeback or Eagles Collapse?
The Cowboys found themselves down and out at twenty-one to zero behind against the reigning championship winners, how exactly did they produce their equal-largest comeback in history?
Sentiment of a initial home fixture after Marshawn Kneeland tragic passing could have been a factor, however it was a mixture of Prescott’s resolve and a defensive unit that pounced on rare mistakes by the Eagles.
Dak eclipsed Tony Romo records for yards thrown (now thirty-four thousand three hundred seventy-eight) and clutch possessions (twenty-five) with an all-action performance – his diving score personifying his all-action showing.
Philadelphia wasted a advantage of 21 points or more for the initial time since 1999, with just their second game with multiple giveaways this year – the previous being another disappointing NFC East defeat at the Giants.
Along with 14 penalties for 96 yards, the attacking struggles that hit Hurts after what – for him – was an fast start was huge. He'd only passed for 200-plus yards in 4 games before Sunday, he had over 150 in the opening two quarters alone in Dallas.
Yet from the time Philadelphia went twenty-one to zero up their offense derailed dramatically – with four consecutive punts, a failed three-point attempt and then a fumble giving chance after opportunity to the Cowboys.
The Eagles defence is excellent, it truly is, but an offense that's not surpassed 21 points in five of seven games (three losses) is now a huge concern, as the components are all there but it's simply not working.
Sirianni’s game is all about winning the big situations, the defense keeps them in it and what offence there is manages barely sufficient – if it can't even do that and now the discipline and ball protection is breaking down, there could be problems ahead.
In Focus – Postseason Mahomes Appears Prematurely to Save Kansas City
It wasn’t as extreme, but Kansas City's 11-point comeback in the fourth quarter against a powerful Indianapolis squad was very impressive – and may have only rescued their campaign.
How significant was it? Indeed, the NFL's Next Gen Stats now give the Kansas City a fifty-eight percent chance of making the postseason, when a loss on Sunday would have dropped that figure to 28%.
It’s no surprise the playoff form of Patrick Mahomes turned up, passing for two hundred thirty-five yards in the latter half by itself and guiding 3 point-scoring possessions in their last 4 possessions to win it in extra time.
Some big throws and daring scrambles are commonplace for Patrick in the postseason, but currently the Chiefs are in playoff form – at 6-5 and only 10th in the AFC standings.
This was closer to the former Chiefs however, with a first one-score win of the season after dropping 5 already – they won 11 of them the previous season so, if that belief returns, this Kansas City faithful may not be finished so soon.
Discussion – Are Chicago Become Kings of the North?
You can no longer overlook the Bears any longer. A win over the Pittsburgh Steelers, minus Rodgers, maintained them first of the division and at 8-3 – holding the same record as the Eagles.
They appear dangerous on each side of the field, with a defence that tops the league in interceptions and total takeaways and, in Caleb Williams, a young quarterback now accustomed to securing close games.
He may still be inconsistent, surrendering a touchdown after a fumble in his own goal area – but he also threw three scores and, with already 5 fourth-quarter rallies this year, he knows how to get the job done.
The Green Bay Packers are in close chase in the NFC North after dominating the Minnesota and the Lions are in contention after beating the Giants in overtime with a monster game from Jahmyr Gibbs.
The Bears are strangely the most consistent with eight victories in 9, but as they travel to the Super Bowl winners on the holiday we'll discover just how good they truly are.
Preview – Exciting Holiday in Prospect
It appears one of the best Thanksgiving line-ups for a long time, with every game loaded with postseason implications.
Detroit host the Packers in the traditional opener in Detroit, before a unusual visit return to Texas for the Chiefs, who began existence as the Dallas Texans long ago in the sixties before moving to Kansas City.
The weekend’s comeback kings are each holding on to postseason hopes but have minimal room for error – so this will have a playoff feel.
And how about the Baltimore Ravens? An ugly victory over the Jets in fact has them top of the AFC North after beginning 1-5 and looking finished.
Holiday and Shopping Day Fixtures (all times GMT)
- Thursday, 27 November: Packers @ Lions (6:00 PM)
- Thursday, 27 November: Kansas City Chiefs @ Cowboys (9:30 PM)
- Friday, 28 November: Cincinnati Bengals @ Ravens (1:20 AM)
- Friday, twenty-eight November: Bears @ Philadelphia Eagles (20:00)
Can Sanders Retain His Starting Role?
Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski batted away inquiries on whether Shedeur Sanders had performed enough in his debut professional outing to maintain the first-team position when Dillon Gabriel comes back.
Yet the question will keep being asked as Shedeur became the first Browns signal-caller to secure his debut league start after Eric Zeier in 1999 – with 17 additional rookie signal callers unsuccessful to do so since.
It was just the Raiders, and with the help of an almost aggressive Cleveland defense recording 10 sacks, but the Browns’ offence requires a director, a figurehead to build belief.
Moreover confidence is one thing not lacking in Sanders, who told a CBS {