Philly Stumble in Dallas & Patrick Rescues Kansas City – Top Moments from NFL Week 12
Week 12 provided an epic Cowboys comeback, or perhaps an massive Philadelphia Eagles collapse?
Playoff Patrick Mahomes showed up to rescue the Chiefs' season as the Chicago Bears keep to surprise as they extend their winning run.
And did Sanders do sufficiently on his debut professional start to earn the starting job in Cleveland?
Let's take a look at the best of the action in the league.
Analysis – Dallas Rally or Philly Fail?
The Cowboys were trailing badly at 21-0 behind against the defending championship winners, how exactly did they engineer their joint-best recovery ever?
Sentiment of a first home fixture after a teammate’s tragic death could have been a factor, but technically it was a combination of Prescott’s determination and a defence that cashed in on uncommon mistakes by the Philadelphia.
Prescott eclipsed Tony Romo records for yards thrown (now thirty-four thousand three hundred seventy-eight) and game-winning possessions (25) with an all-action performance – his plunging score embodying his all-action showing.
Philadelphia wasted a lead of twenty-one points or more for the first time after 1999, with just their second game with several turnovers this season – the previous being a disappointing NFC East loss at the New York.
In addition to fourteen infractions for 96 yards, the offensive struggles that affected Jalen Hurts after what – for him – was an fast start was huge. He had only thrown for 200-plus yards in four games prior to the weekend, he had over 150 in the first half by himself in Texas.
However from the time the Eagles went twenty-one to zero up their offense fell apart spectacularly – with four consecutive punts, a missed field goal and then a fumble giving chance after chance to the Cowboys.
The Eagles defense is brilliant, it really is, but an offence that's not eclipsed twenty-one points in five of 7 games (three losses) is now a huge concern, because the pieces are all there but it's just not working.
Nick Sirianni game is all about securing the big situations, the defense keeps them in it and what offence there is manages barely sufficient – if it cannot even do that and now the discipline and possession security is breaking down, there may be trouble ahead.
Spotlight – Postseason Mahomes Shows Up Early to Save Kansas City
It wasn’t quite as extreme, but Kansas City's 11-point recovery in the final period versus a powerful Indianapolis team was very notable – and could have just saved their season.
How significant was it? Indeed, the NFL's advanced analytics now assign the Kansas City a fifty-eight percent probability of making the playoffs, whereas a defeat on the weekend would have reduced that figure to 28%.
It’s no surprise the postseason form of Mahomes arrived, passing for 235 yards in the latter half by itself and guiding 3 point-scoring possessions in their last four series to seal it in overtime.
Some huge passes and daring scrambles are commonplace for Mahomes in the postseason, but currently the Chiefs are in post-season mode – at 6-5 and just tenth in the AFC rankings.
This was more like the former Chiefs however, with a initial one-score victory of the season after losing five previously – they secured eleven of them the previous season so, if that belief comes back, this Kansas City faithful may not be finished just yet.
Talking Point – Can Bears Be Kings of the Division?
You just can't ignore the Bears now. A victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers, without Rodgers, maintained them first of the NFC North and at eight and three – sharing the identical standing as the Eagles.
They look dangerous on each side of the ball, with a defense that tops the NFL in interceptions and overall turnovers and, in Williams, a young quarterback now used to winning tight games.
He may at times be shaky, surrendering a score after a turnover in his team’s end zone – but he additionally threw three touchdowns and, with already 5 fourth-quarter comebacks this season, he understands how to finish the game.
Green Bay are in close pursuit in the division after dominating the Vikings and Detroit are right there after overcoming the New York in overtime with a huge game from Jahmyr Gibbs.
The Bears are strangely the most consistent with 8 victories in nine, but as they visit the Super Bowl winners on the holiday we'll see exactly how strong they truly are.
Preview – Thrilling Holiday in Prospect
It appears among the best holiday schedules for years, with every game loaded with postseason consequences.
Detroit host the Green Bay in the classic curtain-raiser in Michigan, prior to a rare trip back to Dallas for the Chiefs, who started out life as the Dallas Texans long ago in the 1960s before relocating to Kansas City.
The weekend’s rally teams are both clinging to postseason aspirations but have very little room for error – so this will have a post-season atmosphere.
And how about the Baltimore Ravens? An unattractive win over the New York in fact has them top of the AFC North after beginning 1-5 and looking finished.
Thanksgiving and Black Friday Fixtures (all times GMT)
- Thursday, 27 November: Packers @ Detroit Lions (6:00 PM)
- Thursday, twenty-seven November: Kansas City Chiefs @ Cowboys (21:30)
- Friday, twenty-eight November: Cincinnati Bengals @ Ravens (1:20 AM)
- Friday, twenty-eight November: Chicago Bears @ Eagles (8:00 PM)
Can Sanders Retain His Job?
Browns coach Stefanski batted away questions on whether Shedeur Sanders had done enough in his first NFL outing to keep the first-team job when Gabriel returns.
But the issue will keep being asked as Shedeur became the first Cleveland quarterback to secure his first NFL start after Eric Zeier in 1999 – with 17 other rookie quarterbacks unsuccessful to do so afterward.
It was only the Raiders, and with the help of an nearly feral Browns defense getting 10 tackles, but the Browns’ offence needs a leader, a figurehead to build belief.
And confidence is one thing not lacking in Shedeur, who informed a CBS {