Philly Falter in Dallas & Mahomes Rescues Kansas City – Top Moments from NFL the Twelfth Week
Week 12 delivered an epic Dallas Cowboys comeback, or was it an epic Eagles implosion?
Playoff Patrick Mahomes arrived to rescue the Chiefs' season while the Bears keep to impress while they continue their winning run.
Did Shedeur Sanders do enough on his debut professional start to secure the full-time role in Cleveland?
Let's take a look at the pick of the action in the league.
Analysis – Dallas Rally or Eagles Collapse?
The Cowboys were down and out at 21-0 down versus the defending championship champions, so how on earth did they produce their equal-largest comeback in history?
The emotions of a initial home fixture since a teammate’s untimely passing could have played a part, but technically it was a mixture of Prescott’s determination and a defensive unit that pounced on uncommon mistakes by the Eagles.
Prescott eclipsed Tony Romo marks for passing yards (now thirty-four thousand three hundred seventy-eight) and clutch drives (twenty-five) with an dynamic display – his plunging score personifying his all-action showing.
Philadelphia wasted a advantage 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 another disappointing NFC East loss at the New York.
Along with fourteen penalties for ninety-six yards, the attacking malaise that affected Jalen Hurts after what – for him – was an explosive beginning was significant. He had only thrown for 200-plus yards in 4 games prior to Sunday, he had more than 150 in the opening two quarters by himself in Dallas.
However from the time Philadelphia went twenty-one to zero up their offense derailed spectacularly – with four straight punts, a failed field goal and then a turnover handing opportunity after opportunity to the Dallas.
Philadelphia’s defence is brilliant, it truly is, but an offense that's not eclipsed 21 points in 5 of 7 games (3 losses) is now a major worry, as the pieces are all there but it's just not clicking.
Sirianni’s approach is all about winning the big situations, the defence maintains them in it and what offence there is does barely enough – if it cannot even do that and now the composure and ball protection is failing, there may be trouble ahead.
In Focus – Playoff Patrick Shows Up Prematurely to Save Kansas City
It wasn’t quite as extreme, but the Chiefs’ eleven-point comeback in the final period against a strong Indianapolis team was hugely notable – and may have only rescued their season.
How big was it? Indeed, the league’s advanced analytics now assign the Chiefs a 58% chance of reaching the playoffs, whereas a defeat on Sunday would have dropped that number to twenty-eight percent.
It’s no surprise the playoff form of Mahomes turned up, throwing for 235 yards in the second half by itself and leading three point-scoring drives in their last 4 series to seal it in extra time.
Some huge passes and swashbuckling runs are typical for Mahomes in the playoffs, but currently the Kansas City are in post-season mode – at six and five and just tenth in the conference standings.
That was closer to the old Chiefs however, with a initial one-score win of the season after losing five previously – they secured eleven of them last year so, if that confidence returns, this Chiefs Kingdom might not be done just yet.
Discussion – Are Chicago Be Rulers of the North?
You can no longer overlook the Chicago Bears now. A victory over the Steelers, without Rodgers, maintained them top of the NFC North and at 8-3 – holding the identical standing as the Eagles.
They appear dangerous on each side of the ball, with a defense that leads the league in picks and total turnovers and, in Caleb Williams, a young player now accustomed to securing tight games.
He can still be shaky, giving away a touchdown after a turnover in his own end zone – but he additionally threw 3 touchdowns and, with already 5 final period comebacks this season, he knows how to finish the game.
Green Bay are in hot chase in the division after overpowering the Vikings and the Lions are right there after beating the New York in extra time with a huge game from Jahmyr Gibbs.
Chicago are strangely the most consistent with eight victories in nine, but as they visit the Super Bowl champs on the holiday we'll see exactly how good they really are.
Look Ahead – Thrilling Holiday in Prospect
This looks among the best Thanksgiving line-ups for years, with every game packed with playoff implications.
Detroit host the Green Bay in the traditional opener in Michigan, before a unusual visit back to Dallas for the Kansas City, who began life 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 very little room for error – so this will have a post-season feel.
And how about the Ravens? An unattractive win over the Jets in fact has them top of the AFC North after beginning one and five and looking finished.
Holiday and Shopping Day Games (all times GMT)
- Thursday, twenty-seven November: Packers @ Detroit Lions (6:00 PM)
- Thursday, 27 November: Chiefs @ Cowboys (9:30 PM)
- Friday, twenty-eight November: Bengals @ Baltimore Ravens (1:20 AM)
- Friday, 28 November: Bears @ Eagles (8:00 PM)
Can Sanders Keep His Starting Role?
Cleveland Browns coach Kevin Stefanski batted away questions on whether Sanders had done enough in his first professional start to maintain the starting job when Gabriel comes back.
But the question will continue to be raised as Sanders became the first Cleveland signal-caller to win his debut NFL start after Zeier in 1999 – with 17 additional rookie signal callers failing to do so since.
It came only the Raiders, and with the assistance of an nearly feral Cleveland defense getting 10 sacks, but the Browns’ offence needs a leader, a figurehead to build confidence.
And self-belief is one thing not lacking in Sanders, who informed a CBS {