Philly Falter in Texas & Mahomes Rescues Chiefs – Best Highlights from National Football League the Twelfth Week
Week 12 provided an epic Cowboys rally, or perhaps an epic Philadelphia Eagles implosion?
Postseason Mahomes showed up to rescue the Chiefs' season as the Bears continue to impress while they continue their victorious streak.
Did Sanders perform enough on his first professional outing to earn the starting job in Cleveland?
Let's take a look at the pick of the week in the league.
The Breakdown – Dallas Rally or Eagles Collapse?
Dallas were trailing badly at 21-0 down against the reigning Super Bowl winners, so how on earth did they produce their joint-best recovery ever?
The emotions of a initial home fixture after a teammate’s tragic passing could have played a part, but technically it was a mixture of Prescott’s determination and a defensive unit that pounced on rare mistakes by the Eagles.
Dak surpassed Romo’s records for yards thrown (now 34,378) and game-winning drives (25) with an all-action display – his plunging touchdown embodying his all-action showing.
Philadelphia wasted a advantage of twenty-one points or more for the initial time since nineteen ninety-nine, with just their second game with several turnovers this year – the other being another bad division loss at the New York.
In addition to fourteen penalties for ninety-six yards, the attacking struggles that hit Jalen Hurts after what – for him – was an fast beginning was significant. He had only passed for over two hundred yards in 4 games prior to the weekend, he had more than 150 in the first half by himself in Texas.
However from the time Philadelphia went 21-0 up their offence fell apart spectacularly – with four straight kicks, a failed field goal and then a turnover giving opportunity after chance to the Dallas.
The Eagles defense is excellent, it really is, but an offence that's not eclipsed 21 points in five of 7 games (three losses) is now a huge concern, as the components are all there but it's just not clicking.
Nick Sirianni approach is all about winning the key situations, the defence maintains them in it and what offence there is manages just about enough – if it can't even do that and now the composure and possession security is breaking down, there could be problems ahead.
In Focus – Playoff Patrick Appears Prematurely to Rescue Kansas City
It wasn’t as extreme, but Kansas City's 11-point recovery in the final period against a powerful Indianapolis team was hugely notable – and could have just saved their campaign.
How significant was it? Indeed, the league’s Next Gen Stats now assign the Chiefs a fifty-eight percent chance of reaching the postseason, whereas a defeat on the weekend would have reduced that figure to 28%.
It’s no surprise the playoff form of Patrick Mahomes arrived, passing for 235 yards in the latter half by itself and guiding 3 point-scoring possessions in their final 4 series to win it in extra time.
A few big passes and swashbuckling runs are typical for Patrick in the playoffs, but currently the Chiefs are in playoff mode – at six and five and only 10th in the AFC rankings.
That was closer to the former Kansas City however, with a first close victory of the year after losing 5 already – they won 11 of them the previous season so, if that belief comes back, this Kansas City faithful may not be done just yet.
Discussion – Are Chicago Become Kings of the Division?
You can no longer ignore the Bears any longer. A win over the Steelers, minus Aaron Rodgers, maintained them top of the NFC North and at eight and three – sharing the same standing as the Eagles.
They appear dangerous on both sides of the ball, with a defense that leads the league in picks and total turnovers and, in Caleb Williams, a young player now accustomed to securing close games.
He may still be shaky, surrendering a touchdown after a turnover in his own goal area – but he also threw 3 scores and, with already five final period comebacks this season, he understands how to finish the game.
The Green Bay Packers are in close chase in the division after dominating the Minnesota and the Lions are right there after overcoming the Giants in extra time with a huge game from Jahmyr Gibbs.
The Bears are interestingly the most reliable with 8 victories in 9, but as they visit the Super Bowl champs on the holiday we'll discover just how strong they truly are.
Look Ahead – Thrilling Thanksgiving in Store
It appears among the most exciting holiday schedules for years, with every game loaded with playoff consequences.
The Lions welcome the Packers in the traditional opener in Michigan, prior to a rare trip return to Texas for the Chiefs, who began life as the Dallas Texans long ago in the 1960s before relocating to Missouri.
The weekend’s comeback teams are both holding on to playoff hopes but have very little room for mistakes – so this will have a playoff feel.
What about the Ravens? An ugly win over the Jets actually has them leading of the AFC North after beginning 1-5 and appearing dead and buried.
Holiday and Black Friday Games (all times GMT)
- Thursday, twenty-seven November: Packers @ Lions (6:00 PM)
- Thursday, twenty-seven November: Chiefs @ Cowboys (21:30)
- 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?
Browns coach Stefanski batted away questions on whether Sanders had done enough in his first NFL start to maintain the first-team job when Dillon Gabriel comes back.
Yet the issue will continue to be raised as Sanders became the first Cleveland signal-caller to secure his debut league start since Zeier in 1999 – with 17 additional first-year quarterbacks unsuccessful to do so since.
It came only the Las Vegas, and with the assistance of an nearly aggressive Cleveland defence recording 10 tackles, but the Browns’ offence requires a director, a presence to inspire confidence.
And self-belief is one thing not lacking in Shedeur, who informed a CBS {