Philadelphia Stumble in Dallas & Mahomes Saves Kansas City – Best Moments from National Football League the Twelfth Week
Week 12 delivered an incredible Dallas Cowboys comeback, or was it an epic Eagles implosion?
Playoff Mahomes arrived to rescue the Kansas City's season while the Bears keep to surprise as they continue their winning run.
And did Shedeur Sanders perform sufficiently on his first NFL start to earn the starting role in Cleveland?
Let's take a look at the best of the week in the NFL.
Analysis – Dallas Rally or Philly Fail?
Dallas were down and out at 21-0 down against the reigning championship champions, so how on earth did they produce their joint-best recovery in history?
The emotions of a initial home game after Marshawn Kneeland tragic death could have played a part, but technically it was a mixture of Prescott’s determination and a defensive unit that pounced on rare errors by the Eagles.
Prescott eclipsed Romo’s records for passing yards (now 34,378) and clutch drives (twenty-five) with an dynamic display – his diving touchdown embodying his all-action display.
Philadelphia squandered a lead of twenty-one points or more for the initial time since nineteen ninety-nine, with only their second game with several turnovers this season – the previous being another disappointing division defeat at the Giants.
In addition to fourteen infractions for ninety-six yards, the attacking malaise that affected Jalen Hurts after what – for him – was an explosive start was huge. He had only thrown for over two hundred yards in four games prior to the weekend, he had more than one hundred fifty in the opening two quarters alone in Dallas.
Yet from the time Philadelphia went twenty-one to zero up their offence fell apart dramatically – with four consecutive punts, a failed three-point attempt and then a fumble giving chance after opportunity to the Dallas.
The Eagles defence is brilliant, it really is, but an offense that's not surpassed twenty-one points in 5 of seven games (3 losses) is now a major concern, as the pieces are all there but it's simply not clicking.
Sirianni’s game is all about securing the big situations, the defence maintains them in it and what offence there is does just about enough – if it cannot even do that and now the composure and ball protection is breaking down, there may be problems ahead.
In Focus – Postseason Mahomes Shows Up Early to Save Kansas City
It wasn't quite as extreme, but the Chiefs’ 11-point recovery in the final period versus a powerful Indianapolis team was very impressive – and could have only saved their campaign.
How significant was it? Well, the NFL's advanced analytics now give the Kansas City a 58% chance of making the postseason, when a loss on the weekend would have dropped that figure to 28%.
No wonder the postseason version of Patrick Mahomes turned up, passing for 235 yards in the latter half by itself and guiding 3 scoring possessions in their last four series to win it in extra time.
Some big passes and swashbuckling scrambles are typical for Mahomes in the postseason, but currently the Kansas City are in playoff mode – at 6-5 and only 10th in the conference standings.
This was more like the former Chiefs however, with a first one-score victory of the year after dropping five already – they won 11 of them last year so, if that confidence returns, this Chiefs Kingdom may not be done just yet.
Talking Point – Can Bears Be Rulers of the Division?
You can no longer ignore the Chicago Bears now. A victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers, minus Aaron Rodgers, maintained them first of the NFC North and at 8-3 – sharing the same standing as the Philadelphia.
They look threatening on each side of the ball, with a defence that tops the league in picks and total takeaways and, in Williams, a emerging quarterback now used to securing tight games.
He can still be inconsistent, surrendering a touchdown after a fumble in his own goal area – but he additionally passed for 3 scores and, with already 5 fourth-quarter rallies this season, he knows how to finish the game.
Green Bay are in close pursuit in the division after dominating the Minnesota and Detroit are right there after overcoming the Giants in extra time with a monster game from Gibbs.
Chicago are interestingly the most consistent with eight wins in 9, but as they travel to the Super Bowl winners on the holiday we'll discover exactly how strong they truly are.
Look Ahead – Exciting Holiday in Prospect
It appears one of the most exciting Thanksgiving line-ups for years, with every game loaded with postseason implications.
Detroit welcome the Green Bay in the classic curtain-raiser in Detroit, prior to a rare trip back to Texas for the Chiefs, who started out life as the Texans way back in the sixties before relocating to Kansas City.
Sunday's comeback kings are both holding on to postseason aspirations but have very little room for mistakes – so this will have a post-season feel.
What about the Ravens? An ugly victory over the New York in fact has them leading of the division after starting 1-5 and appearing dead and buried.
Holiday and Black Friday Fixtures (all times GMT)
- Thursday, twenty-seven November: Packers @ Detroit Lions (18:00)
- Thursday, twenty-seven November: Chiefs @ Cowboys (21:30)
- Friday, 28 November: Bengals @ Baltimore Ravens (01:20)
- Friday, 28 November: Chicago Bears @ Philadelphia Eagles (8:00 PM)
Can Sanders Keep His Job?
Cleveland Browns coach Kevin Stefanski dismissed questions on whether Shedeur Sanders had performed sufficiently in his debut NFL outing to maintain the starting job when Gabriel comes back.
Yet the question will continue to be asked as Sanders became the first Cleveland quarterback to win his first NFL game since Eric Zeier in 1999 – with seventeen additional rookie quarterbacks failing to do so afterward.
It was just the Raiders, and with the help of an nearly feral Cleveland defence recording ten sacks, but Cleveland's offense requires a director, a presence to inspire belief.
Moreover self-belief is one thing not lacking in Sanders, who informed a CBS {