Philly Falter in Texas & Patrick Rescues Kansas City – Top Moments from NFL Week 12
Week 12 provided an epic Dallas Cowboys comeback, or perhaps an epic Philadelphia Eagles implosion?
Playoff Patrick Mahomes arrived to rescue the Kansas City's campaign as the Bears continue to surprise as they continue their winning run.
Did Shedeur Sanders do enough on his first NFL outing to earn the starting role in Cleveland?
Let's take a look at the pick of the action in the league.
The Breakdown – Dallas Rally or Philly Fail?
Dallas were trailing badly at twenty-one to zero behind against the defending Super Bowl winners, so how on earth did they produce their joint-best comeback ever?
The emotions of a first home game since a teammate’s tragic death could have been a factor, however it was a combination of Dak Prescott determination and a defence that pounced on uncommon mistakes by the Philadelphia.
Dak surpassed Romo’s marks for yards thrown (now 34,378) and game-winning drives (25) with an all-action performance – his plunging score embodying his all-action display.
Philly squandered a lead of 21 points or more for the initial time after nineteen ninety-nine, with just their second game with several turnovers this year – the previous being another disappointing division defeat at the New York.
Along with 14 infractions for 96 yards, the attacking struggles that affected Hurts after what – for him – was an explosive start was huge. He had only passed for over two hundred yards in 4 games before the weekend, 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 offense fell apart dramatically – with four consecutive kicks, a missed three-point attempt and then a turnover giving opportunity after chance to the Dallas.
The Eagles defence is excellent, it really is, but an offence that's not surpassed twenty-one points in 5 of 7 games (3 losses) is now a major concern, because the components are all there but it's simply not working.
Nick Sirianni approach is all about winning the big moments, the defence maintains them in it and what offence there is does barely sufficient – if it can't even do that and now the discipline and ball protection is failing, there could be trouble ahead.
Spotlight – Postseason Mahomes Shows Up Early to Rescue Chiefs
It wasn’t as dramatic, but Kansas City's eleven-point recovery in the fourth quarter against a strong Colts squad was very impressive – and may have just rescued their season.
How big was it? Indeed, the league’s advanced analytics now give the Kansas City a 58% probability of reaching the postseason, when a loss on Sunday would have dropped that figure to twenty-eight percent.
No wonder the postseason version of Patrick Mahomes arrived, throwing for 235 yards in the latter half by itself and guiding 3 scoring possessions in their final four possessions to seal it in overtime.
A few big passes and daring runs are commonplace for Mahomes in the playoffs, but currently the Kansas City are in post-season form – at 6-5 and just 10th in the conference standings.
This was more like the old Chiefs though, with a first close victory of the season after losing five already – they won eleven of them the previous season so, if that confidence comes back, this Kansas City faithful might not be done just yet.
Discussion – Are Chicago Be Rulers of the Division?
You can no longer overlook the Chicago Bears now. A victory over the Steelers, without Aaron Rodgers, kept them first of the division and at 8-3 – sharing the same record as the Philadelphia.
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 player now accustomed to winning close games.
He may at times be inconsistent, surrendering a score after a turnover in his own goal area – but he also threw 3 touchdowns and, with already five fourth-quarter rallies this season, he knows how to finish the game.
Green Bay are in hot chase in the NFC North after dominating the Vikings and the Lions are in contention after beating the New York in overtime with a huge game from Gibbs.
Chicago are strangely the most reliable with 8 wins in 9, but as they visit the championship winners on Thanksgiving we'll see exactly how strong they truly are.
Look Ahead – Thrilling Holiday in Store
This looks one of the most exciting Thanksgiving schedules for a long time, with each game loaded with postseason implications.
The Lions welcome the Packers in the classic opener in Michigan, prior to a unusual visit return to Dallas for the Kansas City, who started out existence as the Dallas Texans way back in the 1960s before relocating to Kansas City.
Sunday's rally kings are both clinging to playoff aspirations but have minimal room for error – so this will have a playoff feel.
What about the Baltimore Ravens? An ugly victory over the New York actually has them leading of the division after beginning one and five and appearing finished.
Thanksgiving and Shopping Day Fixtures (all times GMT)
- Thursday, twenty-seven November: Packers @ Detroit Lions (6:00 PM)
- Thursday, twenty-seven November: Chiefs @ Dallas Cowboys (21:30)
- Friday, twenty-eight November: Cincinnati Bengals @ Ravens (1:20 AM)
- Friday, twenty-eight November: Chicago Bears @ Eagles (20:00)
Will Shedeur Sanders Retain His Starting Role?
Browns head coach Stefanski batted away questions on whether Sanders had done sufficiently in his first professional outing to maintain the starting position when Dillon Gabriel returns.
But the question will continue to be asked as Sanders became the first Cleveland signal-caller to win his debut NFL start since Zeier in 1999 – with 17 additional rookie signal callers failing to do so afterward.
It came just the Raiders, and with the help of an nearly aggressive Browns defense recording ten sacks, but the Browns’ offense needs a leader, a presence to inspire belief.
Moreover confidence is one thing not missing in Shedeur, who told a CBS {