Philadelphia Falter in Dallas & Patrick Saves Kansas City – Best Highlights from National Football League Week 12
The twelfth week delivered an incredible Cowboys rally, or was it an epic Philadelphia Eagles implosion?
Postseason Patrick Mahomes arrived to rescue the Chiefs' season as the Bears continue to impress as they extend their victorious run.
Did Sanders do sufficiently on his debut NFL outing to secure the starting role in Ohio?
We’ll examine at the pick of the action in the NFL.
The Breakdown – Cowboys Comeback or Eagles Collapse?
The Cowboys found themselves down and out at 21-0 behind against the defending Super Bowl champions, how exactly did they produce their joint-best comeback ever?
Sentiment of a initial home fixture since a teammate’s untimely death may have played a part, but technically it was a combination of Prescott’s determination and a defence that cashed in on rare mistakes by the Eagles.
Prescott eclipsed Tony Romo records for yards thrown (now 34,378) and clutch possessions (25) with an dynamic performance – his plunging touchdown embodying his energetic display.
Philly wasted a advantage of twenty-one points or more for the first time since nineteen ninety-nine, with just their second game with several turnovers this year – the previous being a bad division loss at the New York.
Along with 14 penalties for ninety-six yards, the offensive malaise that hit Jalen Hurts after what – for him – was an explosive beginning was significant. He had only thrown for 200-plus yards in four games prior to Sunday, he had more than one hundred fifty in the first half by himself in Dallas.
Yet from the time the Eagles went twenty-one to zero up their offense derailed spectacularly – with four consecutive punts, a missed field goal and then a turnover giving opportunity after opportunity to the Cowboys.
Philadelphia’s defence is brilliant, it truly is, but an offense that's not eclipsed twenty-one points in 5 of seven games (three losses) is now a major worry, as the pieces are all there but it's simply not working.
Sirianni’s approach is all about winning the key moments, the defense keeps them in it and what offence there is manages barely sufficient – if it cannot even do that and now the composure and ball protection is failing, there could be trouble in the future.
In Focus – Playoff Patrick Appears Early to Rescue Chiefs
It wasn’t as dramatic, but the Chiefs’ eleven-point comeback in the final period against a powerful Indianapolis squad was hugely notable – and could have only saved their campaign.
How big was it? Well, the NFL's Next Gen Stats now give the Chiefs a fifty-eight percent probability of reaching the playoffs, whereas a defeat on the weekend would have dropped that number to 28%.
No wonder the playoff version of Mahomes turned up, passing for 235 yards in the second half by itself and guiding 3 point-scoring possessions in their final 4 series to win it in overtime.
Some big passes and daring runs are typical for Mahomes in the playoffs, but right now the Chiefs are in post-season form – at six and five and only tenth in the conference standings.
This was closer to the former Kansas City however, with a first close win of the year after dropping five previously – they secured 11 of them last year so, if that confidence comes back, this Kansas City faithful might not be finished just yet.
Discussion – Are Chicago Be Kings of the Division?
You just can't ignore the Bears now. A victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers, without Rodgers, maintained them top of the division and at 8-3 – holding the same record as the Eagles.
They appear threatening on each side of the field, with a defence that leads the NFL in picks and overall turnovers and, in Caleb Williams, a emerging player now accustomed to securing tight games.
He can at times be inconsistent, giving away a score after a fumble in his team’s end zone – but he also threw 3 touchdowns and, with already five final period comebacks this season, he understands how to get the job done.
Green Bay are in close pursuit in the division after overpowering the Vikings and Detroit are in contention after beating the Giants in extra time with a monster game from Gibbs.
The Bears are strangely the most consistent with eight victories in nine, but as they travel to the championship champs on the holiday we'll discover just how strong they really are.
Preview – Thrilling Thanksgiving in Prospect
This looks one of the most exciting holiday line-ups for years, with every game packed with postseason implications.
Detroit host the Green Bay in the traditional opener in Detroit, prior to a unusual trip back to Dallas for the Kansas City, who started out life as the Texans long ago in the sixties before relocating to Kansas City.
Sunday's rally kings are both holding on to postseason aspirations but have very little margin for mistakes – so this will have a playoff feel.
And how about the Baltimore Ravens? An ugly win over the New York actually has them leading of the AFC North after beginning one and five and appearing finished.
Thanksgiving and Shopping Day Fixtures (all times GMT)
- Thursday, 27 November: Green Bay Packers @ Lions (18:00)
- Thursday, twenty-seven November: Kansas City Chiefs @ Cowboys (21:30)
- Friday, twenty-eight November: Cincinnati Bengals @ Ravens (01:20)
- Friday, twenty-eight November: Bears @ Eagles (20:00)
Can Sanders Keep His Starting Role?
Browns head coach Stefanski dismissed inquiries on whether Shedeur Sanders had done sufficiently in his first professional outing to keep the starting job when Gabriel comes back.
Yet the question will keep being raised as Shedeur became the first Cleveland quarterback to win his first NFL game after Zeier in 1999 – with 17 other rookie signal callers failing to do so since.
It came only the Raiders, and with the help of an nearly aggressive Cleveland defence recording ten tackles, but the Browns’ offence needs a leader, a presence to inspire belief.
And self-belief is one thing not lacking in Shedeur, who informed a CBS {