Philly Falter in Texas & Patrick Rescues Chiefs – Best Highlights from National Football League Week 12
The twelfth week delivered an incredible Dallas Cowboys rally, or was it an epic Eagles collapse?
Playoff Mahomes arrived to salvage the Chiefs' season as the Bears keep to surprise as they extend their victorious streak.
Did Sanders perform enough on his debut NFL start to secure the starting role in Ohio?
We’ll examine at the best of the action in the league.
The Breakdown – Cowboys Comeback or Philly Fail?
The Cowboys found themselves down and out at twenty-one to zero down against the reigning Super Bowl champions, so how on earth did they produce their equal-largest comeback in history?
The emotions of a first home game after a teammate’s tragic death could have been a factor, but technically it was a mixture of Dak Prescott determination and a defence that cashed in on uncommon errors by the Philadelphia.
Prescott eclipsed Romo’s records for passing yards (now thirty-four thousand three hundred seventy-eight) and clutch drives (twenty-five) with an dynamic performance – his diving touchdown embodying his energetic display.
Philly wasted a advantage of 21 points or more for the initial time since nineteen ninety-nine, with only their second game with several turnovers this season – the previous being a bad NFC East defeat at the Giants.
Along with fourteen infractions for ninety-six yards, the attacking struggles that affected Hurts after what – for him – was an explosive beginning was huge. He had only passed for 200-plus yards in 4 games before Sunday, he had more than one hundred fifty in the first half by himself in Texas.
Yet from the time Philadelphia went 21-0 up their offense derailed spectacularly – with four consecutive kicks, a missed three-point attempt and then a fumble giving opportunity after chance to the Cowboys.
Philadelphia’s defence is excellent, it really is, but an offence that's not surpassed 21 points in 5 of 7 games (3 losses) is now a major concern, because the pieces are all there but it's simply not working.
Nick Sirianni approach is all about winning the big moments, the defence keeps them in it and what offense there is does barely enough – if it cannot even do that and now the composure and ball protection is breaking down, there could be problems in the future.
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 strong Indianapolis squad was hugely impressive – and could have only saved their campaign.
How significant was it? Indeed, the NFL's Next Gen Stats now give the Kansas City a fifty-eight percent chance of reaching the postseason, whereas a loss on Sunday would have reduced that figure to 28%.
No wonder the postseason form of Patrick Mahomes turned up, throwing for 235 yards in the second half by itself and guiding three scoring drives in their final 4 series to win it in extra time.
Some big throws and swashbuckling runs are typical for Patrick in the playoffs, but currently the Kansas City are in post-season mode – at 6-5 and just 10th in the conference rankings.
That was closer to the former Chiefs however, with a initial close victory of the year after dropping five already – they secured eleven of them last year so, if that belief returns, this Kansas City faithful might not be done just yet.
Discussion – Can Bears Be Rulers of the North?
You just can't overlook the Chicago Bears now. A win over the Pittsburgh Steelers, minus Rodgers, maintained them first of the NFC North and at 8-3 – holding the identical standing as the Philadelphia.
They appear dangerous on both sides of the field, with a defense that tops the NFL in picks and total turnovers and, in Caleb Williams, a young player now used to securing close games.
He can still be shaky, giving away a touchdown after a turnover in his own goal area – but he additionally passed for 3 touchdowns and, with already five fourth-quarter rallies this season, he knows how to finish the game.
The Green Bay Packers are in close pursuit in the division after dominating the Minnesota and Detroit are right there after beating the New York 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 see exactly how good they really are.
Look Ahead – Thrilling Holiday in Prospect
This looks one of the most exciting holiday line-ups for a long time, with each game loaded with playoff consequences.
The Lions host the Green Bay in the classic opener in Michigan, prior to a unusual trip back to Texas for the Kansas City, who started out life as the Texans way back in the sixties before relocating to Missouri.
The weekend’s comeback teams are both holding on to postseason hopes but have very little room for error – so this will have a post-season atmosphere.
And how about the Ravens? An ugly win over the Jets actually has them top of the division after starting one and five and appearing dead and buried.
Holiday and Shopping Day Games (all times GMT)
- Thursday, twenty-seven November: Packers @ Detroit Lions (6:00 PM)
- Thursday, 27 November: Chiefs @ Cowboys (9:30 PM)
- Friday, twenty-eight November: Cincinnati Bengals @ Ravens (1:20 AM)
- Friday, 28 November: Chicago Bears @ Eagles (20:00)
Will Shedeur Sanders Keep His Starting Role?
Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski dismissed questions on whether Shedeur Sanders had performed enough in his debut professional start to maintain the first-team job when Dillon Gabriel comes back.
Yet the question will continue to be raised as Sanders became the first Browns quarterback to win his first NFL game since Zeier in nineteen ninety-nine – with seventeen additional first-year signal callers unsuccessful to do so since.
It was just the Raiders, and with the help of an nearly feral Browns defense recording 10 sacks, but Cleveland's offense needs a director, a figurehead to build confidence.
Moreover self-belief is something not lacking in Sanders, who told a network {