Philadelphia Falter in Dallas & Patrick Saves Chiefs – Best Highlights from NFL Week 12
The twelfth week provided an incredible Dallas Cowboys comeback, or was it an epic Philadelphia Eagles collapse?
Playoff Patrick Mahomes arrived to salvage the Chiefs' season while the Chicago Bears keep to surprise as they continue their victorious streak.
Did Shedeur Sanders do enough on his debut professional outing to earn the full-time role in Cleveland?
We’ll examine at the best of the week in the NFL.
The Breakdown – Cowboys Comeback or Philly Fail?
Dallas were trailing badly at 21-0 down against the defending championship champions, so how on earth did they engineer their joint-best comeback in history?
Sentiment of a first home game after a teammate’s tragic passing may have played a part, however it was a mixture of Prescott’s determination and a defence that cashed in on uncommon mistakes by the Philadelphia.
Dak surpassed Tony Romo records for passing yards (now thirty-four thousand three hundred seventy-eight) and clutch drives (twenty-five) with an all-action display – his diving touchdown embodying his all-action showing.
Philadelphia wasted a lead of twenty-one points or more for the first time since nineteen ninety-nine, with only their second game with several giveaways this season – the other being another disappointing NFC East loss at the Giants.
In addition to fourteen penalties for 96 yards, the offensive struggles that hit Jalen Hurts after what – for him – was an fast beginning was huge. He had only thrown for 200-plus yards in 4 games before Sunday, he had more than one hundred fifty in the opening two quarters alone in Texas.
Yet from the time Philadelphia went 21-0 up their offence fell apart spectacularly – with four consecutive kicks, a missed field goal and then a turnover giving opportunity after opportunity to the Dallas.
The Eagles defence is brilliant, it truly is, but an offence that's not surpassed twenty-one points in five of 7 games (three losses) is now a huge worry, because the pieces are all there but it's just not working.
Sirianni’s approach is all about winning the big situations, the defense keeps them in it and what offense there is does just about enough – if it can't even do that and now the composure and possession security is failing, there may be problems ahead.
Spotlight – Playoff Patrick Shows Up Early to Save Kansas City
It wasn’t as extreme, but Kansas City's eleven-point comeback in the final period against a powerful Indianapolis team was hugely impressive – and may have just rescued their season.
How significant was it? Indeed, the league’s Next Gen Stats now give the Kansas City a fifty-eight percent probability of reaching the playoffs, when a loss on the weekend would have reduced that number to 28%.
It’s no surprise the postseason version of Mahomes arrived, passing for two hundred thirty-five yards in the latter half by itself and guiding three scoring drives in their last four series to win it in overtime.
Some big throws and daring runs are typical for Mahomes in the playoffs, but right now the Chiefs are in playoff form – at 6-5 and just 10th in the conference standings.
This was closer to the old Chiefs though, with a first one-score victory of the year after dropping five already – they won eleven of them the previous season so, if that confidence comes back, this Kansas City faithful might not be finished so soon.
Talking Point – Can Bears Become Rulers of the North?
You just can't ignore the Bears any longer. A victory over the Steelers, without Aaron Rodgers, kept them first of the NFC North and at 8-3 – sharing the identical standing as the Philadelphia.
They look dangerous on each side of the ball, with a defense that tops the NFL in interceptions and total takeaways and, in Caleb Williams, a young player now accustomed to winning close games.
He can at times be inconsistent, giving away a score after a turnover in his own end zone – but he additionally passed for three scores and, with already 5 fourth-quarter rallies this season, he knows how to get the job done.
Green Bay are in close chase in the NFC North after overpowering the Vikings and the Lions are in contention after overcoming the New York in extra time with a monster game from Gibbs.
Chicago are strangely the most consistent with 8 victories in nine, but as they travel to the Super Bowl winners on the holiday we'll see just how good they really are.
Look Ahead – Thrilling Thanksgiving in Prospect
This looks among the most exciting Thanksgiving schedules for years, with each game loaded with postseason implications.
The Lions welcome the Green Bay in the traditional opener in Detroit, prior to a rare trip return to Dallas for the Chiefs, who started out existence as the Dallas Texans way back in the sixties before relocating to Missouri.
The weekend’s rally kings are both holding on to playoff hopes but have very little room for error – so this will have a post-season atmosphere.
And how about the Baltimore Ravens? An ugly victory over the New York actually has them leading of the AFC North after starting 1-5 and looking finished.
Holiday and Black Friday Games (all times GMT)
- Thursday, 27 November: Packers @ Lions (18:00)
- Thursday, twenty-seven November: Kansas City Chiefs @ Cowboys (21:30)
- Friday, 28 November: Cincinnati Bengals @ Baltimore Ravens (1:20 AM)
- Friday, 28 November: Bears @ Philadelphia Eagles (8:00 PM)
Will Shedeur Sanders Retain His Job?
Cleveland Browns head coach Stefanski batted away inquiries on whether Shedeur Sanders had performed enough in his first NFL start to keep the starting job when Gabriel comes back.
Yet the question will continue to be asked as Sanders became the first Browns quarterback to secure his debut NFL start since Eric Zeier in nineteen ninety-nine – with 17 other rookie signal callers unsuccessful to do so afterward.
It came just the Raiders, and with the help of an nearly aggressive Browns defense getting ten tackles, but Cleveland's offence needs a leader, a presence to inspire confidence.
Moreover self-belief is something not missing in Shedeur, who told a CBS {