Philadelphia Falter in Texas & Mahomes Rescues Kansas City – Top Moments from National Football League Week 12
Week 12 provided an epic Dallas Cowboys rally, or perhaps an massive Philadelphia Eagles collapse?
Playoff Patrick Mahomes arrived to rescue the Chiefs' campaign while the Chicago Bears continue to impress as they extend their winning streak.
And did Shedeur Sanders perform sufficiently on his first NFL start to secure the full-time job in Cleveland?
Let's take a look at the pick of the action in the league.
The Breakdown – Cowboys Comeback or Philly Fail?
Dallas were down and out at twenty-one to zero down versus the reigning Super Bowl winners, so how on earth did they engineer their equal-largest comeback in history?
Sentiment of a first home fixture after Marshawn Kneeland untimely death could have been a factor, but technically it was a combination of Prescott’s determination and a defence that pounced on uncommon mistakes by the Eagles.
Prescott surpassed Tony Romo records for passing yards (now 34,378) and game-winning drives (twenty-five) with an dynamic performance – his diving touchdown personifying his all-action showing.
Philadelphia wasted a advantage of twenty-one points or more for the initial time since nineteen ninety-nine, with only their second game with multiple turnovers this year – the previous being another disappointing NFC East defeat at the Giants.
In addition to 14 penalties for ninety-six yards, the attacking struggles that hit Hurts after what – for him – was an fast beginning was huge. He had only passed for 200-plus yards in 4 games prior to the weekend, he had over one hundred fifty in the opening two quarters alone in Dallas.
Yet from the time Philadelphia went twenty-one to zero up their offense fell apart spectacularly – with four straight punts, a missed three-point attempt and then a fumble giving chance after opportunity to the Cowboys.
Philadelphia’s defence is brilliant, it really is, but an offence that's not eclipsed 21 points in 5 of 7 games (3 losses) is now a huge worry, 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 offense there is manages barely sufficient – if it can't even do that and now the composure and ball protection is failing, there could be trouble ahead.
In Focus – Postseason Mahomes Appears Early to Rescue Kansas City
It wasn't quite as extreme, but the Chiefs’ eleven-point comeback in the final period versus a strong Colts team was hugely impressive – and may have only rescued their campaign.
How big was it? Well, the NFL's advanced analytics now assign the Kansas City a fifty-eight percent chance of making the playoffs, whereas a defeat on Sunday would have dropped that number to twenty-eight percent.
It’s no surprise the postseason form of Patrick Mahomes arrived, passing for 235 yards in the latter half alone and leading 3 point-scoring possessions in their last 4 series to win it in overtime.
A few big throws and daring scrambles are typical for Mahomes in the postseason, but right now the Kansas City are in playoff form – at 6-5 and only 10th in the AFC standings.
This was more like the former Kansas City though, with a initial close win of the season after dropping five already – they won 11 of them the previous season so, if that belief comes back, this Chiefs Kingdom might not be done so soon.
Talking Point – Are Chicago Become Rulers of the North?
You can no longer overlook the Chicago Bears any longer. A win over the Steelers, without Rodgers, maintained them top of the NFC North and at eight and three – holding the identical record as the Philadelphia.
They appear dangerous on each side of the field, with a defense that leads the league in interceptions and overall turnovers and, in Williams, a emerging quarterback now accustomed to securing tight games.
He may still be inconsistent, giving away a score after a turnover in his team’s goal area – but he also threw 3 scores and, with already five final period comebacks this year, he understands how to finish the game.
The Green Bay Packers are in hot pursuit in the division after dominating the Vikings and Detroit are right there after overcoming the Giants in extra time with a monster game from Gibbs.
The Bears are interestingly the most consistent with eight victories in 9, but as they travel to the Super Bowl champs on the holiday we'll see exactly how strong they truly are.
Preview – Exciting Holiday in Store
It appears among the most exciting Thanksgiving schedules for a long time, with every game packed with postseason implications.
The Lions host the Green Bay in the traditional opener in Detroit, prior to a rare visit back to Dallas for the Chiefs, who started out life as the Texans way back in the 1960s before relocating to Missouri.
The weekend’s comeback teams are each holding on to postseason hopes but have very little room for mistakes – so this will have a playoff atmosphere.
And how about the Baltimore Ravens? An ugly win over the Jets actually has them top of the division after beginning 1-5 and looking finished.
Holiday and Black Friday Games (all times GMT)
- Thursday, 27 November: Packers @ Detroit Lions (18:00)
- Thursday, 27 November: Kansas City Chiefs @ Dallas Cowboys (9:30 PM)
- Friday, twenty-eight November: Bengals @ Ravens (1:20 AM)
- Friday, 28 November: Bears @ Philadelphia Eagles (20:00)
Can Sanders Keep His Job?
Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski dismissed inquiries on whether Shedeur Sanders had performed sufficiently in his first professional start to keep the starting job when Dillon Gabriel comes back.
Yet the question will keep being raised as Shedeur became the first Cleveland signal-caller to win his first league start after Zeier in nineteen ninety-nine – with 17 additional first-year quarterbacks failing to do so afterward.
It came just the Raiders, and with the assistance of an nearly aggressive Cleveland defence recording ten sacks, but the Browns’ offence needs a leader, a figurehead to inspire belief.
Moreover confidence is one thing not missing in Shedeur, who informed a CBS {