Philadelphia Stumble in Dallas & Mahomes Rescues Kansas City – Top Moments from National Football League Week 12
Week 12 delivered an epic Dallas Cowboys comeback, or was it an epic Philadelphia Eagles collapse?
Postseason Mahomes showed up to salvage the Kansas City's campaign as the Chicago Bears keep to surprise while they continue their victorious streak.
Did Sanders perform sufficiently on his first professional start to earn the starting role in Ohio?
We’ll examine at the pick of the week in the league.
The Breakdown – Cowboys Comeback or Eagles Collapse?
The Cowboys were down and out at 21-0 down against the defending championship champions, so how on earth did they produce their equal-largest comeback ever?
Sentiment of a initial home fixture after Marshawn Kneeland tragic passing may have been a factor, however it was a combination of Prescott’s determination and a defensive unit 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 dynamic performance – his diving score embodying his all-action showing.
Philadelphia squandered a lead of 21 points or more for the first time since 1999, with only their second game with several turnovers this year – the other being a bad division loss at the Giants.
Along with 14 infractions for 96 yards, the attacking struggles that hit Jalen Hurts after what – for him – was an explosive start was huge. He'd only passed for over two hundred yards in 4 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 twenty-one to zero up their offense derailed dramatically – with four straight kicks, a missed field goal and then a turnover handing chance after chance to the Dallas.
The Eagles defence is brilliant, it truly is, but an offence that's not eclipsed twenty-one points in 5 of seven games (three losses) is now a huge worry, as the pieces are all there but it's just not clicking.
Nick Sirianni game is all about winning the big moments, the defense keeps 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 may be problems ahead.
Spotlight – Playoff Patrick Appears Early to Rescue Chiefs
It wasn’t quite as extreme, but the Chiefs’ 11-point recovery in the final period versus a powerful Colts squad was very notable – and may have just saved their campaign.
How significant was it? Indeed, the NFL's Next Gen Stats now give the Chiefs a fifty-eight percent probability of making the postseason, when a defeat on Sunday would have reduced that number to 28%.
No wonder the postseason form of Mahomes arrived, passing for 235 yards in the second half by itself and leading three point-scoring drives in their last 4 series to seal it in overtime.
A few huge passes and daring scrambles are typical for Patrick in the postseason, but currently the Chiefs are in playoff mode – at six and five and just 10th in the AFC rankings.
That was more like the former Chiefs however, with a first one-score victory of the year after losing five already – they secured eleven of them last year so, if that belief returns, this Chiefs Kingdom may not be done just yet.
Discussion – Are Chicago Be Kings of the Division?
You can no longer ignore the Chicago Bears any longer. A victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers, without Rodgers, maintained them first of the division and at eight and three – holding the same standing as the Philadelphia.
They look threatening on each side of the ball, with a defense that leads the NFL in picks and overall takeaways and, in Williams, a emerging quarterback now accustomed to winning tight games.
He may still be shaky, surrendering a score after a turnover in his team’s goal area – but he also threw three touchdowns and, with already 5 fourth-quarter rallies this season, he understands how to finish the game.
The Green Bay Packers are in hot chase in the division after overpowering the Vikings and the Lions are in contention after beating the Giants in overtime with a huge game from Jahmyr Gibbs.
Chicago are interestingly the most reliable with 8 victories in 9, but as they travel to the championship champs on the holiday we'll see just how strong they really are.
Look Ahead – Exciting Thanksgiving in Prospect
It appears one of the most exciting Thanksgiving line-ups for a long time, with each game packed with postseason consequences.
Detroit welcome the Green Bay in the traditional opener in Detroit, before a unusual trip back to Dallas for the Chiefs, who began life as the Texans long ago in the 1960s before relocating to Missouri.
The weekend’s comeback teams are each holding on to playoff hopes but have very little margin for mistakes – so this will have a post-season feel.
What about the Baltimore Ravens? An ugly victory over the New York in fact has them top of the division after beginning one and five and appearing dead and buried.
Thanksgiving and Shopping Day Games (all times GMT)
- Thursday, 27 November: Green Bay Packers @ Lions (18:00)
- Thursday, 27 November: Kansas City Chiefs @ Cowboys (21:30)
- Friday, 28 November: Bengals @ Baltimore Ravens (01:20)
- Friday, 28 November: Chicago Bears @ Eagles (8:00 PM)
Can Sanders Keep His Job?
Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski batted away inquiries on whether Sanders had done enough in his first NFL start to maintain the starting position when Dillon Gabriel comes back.
But the question will keep being raised as Shedeur became the first Browns signal-caller to secure his debut NFL start after Eric Zeier in nineteen ninety-nine – with seventeen additional rookie signal callers unsuccessful to do so afterward.
It came just the Raiders, and with the help of an nearly aggressive Browns defense getting 10 sacks, but Cleveland's offence requires a leader, a figurehead to inspire confidence.
Moreover confidence is something not lacking in Sanders, who told a network {