Philly Falter in Dallas & Patrick Saves Kansas City – Best Highlights from National Football League Week 12
Week 12 provided an incredible Dallas Cowboys rally, or was it an epic Eagles implosion?
Playoff Mahomes showed up to rescue the Chiefs' season while the Bears keep to impress as they extend their winning run.
And did Sanders do sufficiently on his debut professional start to secure the starting job in Cleveland?
We’ll examine at the pick of the week in the league.
Analysis – Cowboys Comeback or Eagles Collapse?
Dallas were down and out at 21-0 behind against the reigning championship champions, so how on earth did they engineer their equal-largest comeback in history?
Sentiment of a initial home game since a teammate’s untimely death may have played a part, but technically it was a combination of Dak Prescott determination and a defensive unit that pounced on uncommon errors by the Eagles.
Prescott surpassed Tony Romo records for passing yards (now 34,378) and clutch possessions (twenty-five) with an dynamic performance – his diving touchdown embodying his all-action display.
Philly squandered a lead of twenty-one points or more for the initial time since nineteen ninety-nine, with just their second game with several giveaways this year – the other being another disappointing NFC East loss at the New York.
In addition to 14 infractions for 96 yards, the attacking struggles that affected Jalen Hurts after what – for him – was an explosive beginning was significant. He'd only thrown for 200-plus yards in four games prior to Sunday, he had more than 150 in the opening two quarters by himself in Texas.
However from the time the Eagles went 21-0 up their offence derailed dramatically – with four consecutive kicks, a missed three-point attempt and then a fumble handing opportunity after chance to the Cowboys.
The Eagles defence is excellent, it really is, but an offense that's not eclipsed 21 points in 5 of 7 games (three losses) is now a huge worry, as the components are all there but it's simply not working.
Nick Sirianni approach is all about securing 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 composure and possession security is breaking down, there could be trouble ahead.
Spotlight – Playoff Patrick Shows Up Early to Save Kansas City
It wasn’t quite as extreme, but the Chiefs’ 11-point comeback in the final period against a powerful Colts squad was hugely impressive – and could have only rescued their campaign.
How significant was it? Indeed, the league’s Next Gen Stats now assign the Chiefs a fifty-eight percent chance of reaching the postseason, whereas a loss on the weekend would have reduced that number to 28%.
No wonder the postseason version of Mahomes arrived, throwing for 235 yards in the latter half alone and guiding 3 point-scoring drives in their last 4 possessions to win it in extra time.
A few huge passes and daring runs are commonplace for Mahomes in the playoffs, but right now the Chiefs are in playoff form – at 6-5 and just 10th in the AFC rankings.
This was more like the old Chiefs however, with a first close win of the season after losing five already – they secured 11 of them last year so, if that belief returns, this Kansas City faithful may not be done so soon.
Talking Point – Are Chicago Be Kings of the North?
You just can't ignore the Bears any longer. A win over the Pittsburgh Steelers, minus Rodgers, kept them top of the NFC North and at eight and three – sharing the same standing as the Eagles.
They look dangerous on each side of the ball, with a defence that tops the NFL in picks and overall turnovers and, in Caleb Williams, a emerging quarterback now accustomed to securing tight games.
He can still be inconsistent, giving away a touchdown after a fumble in his team’s end zone – but he also passed for 3 touchdowns and, with already 5 final period comebacks this season, he knows how to finish the game.
Green Bay are in hot pursuit in the NFC North after overpowering the Vikings and the Lions are right there after overcoming the Giants in extra time with a huge game from Jahmyr Gibbs.
Chicago are strangely the most consistent with 8 victories in nine, but as they travel to the championship champs on Thanksgiving we'll discover just how good they really are.
Look Ahead – Exciting Thanksgiving in Store
It appears one of the most exciting Thanksgiving schedules for years, with each game packed with postseason consequences.
Detroit host the Green Bay in the classic curtain-raiser in Detroit, before a rare trip return to Texas for the Chiefs, who started out existence as the Dallas Texans long ago in the sixties before moving to Missouri.
Sunday's rally teams are both holding on to postseason hopes but have minimal margin for error – so this will have a playoff atmosphere.
And how about the Ravens? An unattractive win over the Jets actually has them top of the division after beginning one and five and looking dead and buried.
Thanksgiving and Black Friday Fixtures (all times GMT)
- Thursday, twenty-seven November: Packers @ Detroit Lions (18:00)
- Thursday, 27 November: Chiefs @ Cowboys (21:30)
- Friday, twenty-eight November: Cincinnati Bengals @ Baltimore Ravens (1:20 AM)
- Friday, 28 November: Chicago Bears @ Eagles (8:00 PM)
Will Shedeur Sanders Keep His Job?
Cleveland Browns coach Kevin Stefanski batted away inquiries on whether Sanders had done enough in his first NFL start to maintain the starting job when Gabriel returns.
But the question will keep being raised as Shedeur became the first Cleveland quarterback to win his first NFL game after Eric Zeier in 1999 – with seventeen additional rookie quarterbacks unsuccessful to do so afterward.
It was only the Raiders, and with the help of an almost aggressive Browns defense getting ten sacks, but the Browns’ offense requires a leader, a presence to inspire belief.
And self-belief is one thing not lacking in Sanders, who informed a CBS {