Philly Stumble in Dallas & Mahomes Saves Chiefs – Best Highlights from NFL the Twelfth Week
The twelfth week provided an epic Dallas Cowboys rally, or was it an massive Eagles collapse?
Postseason Patrick Mahomes showed up to rescue the Chiefs' season as the Bears continue to impress as they extend their winning run.
And did Shedeur Sanders perform sufficiently on his debut professional outing to earn the starting job in Cleveland?
We’ll examine at the pick of the week in the league.
Analysis – Cowboys Comeback or Eagles Collapse?
Dallas found themselves trailing badly at twenty-one to zero behind against the reigning championship winners, how exactly did they produce their joint-best recovery ever?
Sentiment of a first home fixture after a teammate’s untimely death may have been a factor, but technically it was a mixture of Prescott’s resolve and a defence that pounced on uncommon mistakes by the Eagles.
Dak eclipsed Tony Romo records for yards thrown (now thirty-four thousand three hundred seventy-eight) and clutch possessions (twenty-five) with an all-action performance – his plunging score personifying his all-action display.
Philadelphia wasted a lead of 21 points or more for the initial time since nineteen ninety-nine, with just their second game with multiple giveaways this season – the other being another bad NFC East loss at the New York.
In addition to fourteen infractions for 96 yards, the offensive struggles that hit Hurts after what – for him – was an fast start was significant. He had only thrown for 200-plus yards in four games prior to the weekend, he had more than 150 in the first half by himself in Dallas.
However from the time the Eagles went twenty-one to zero up their offense derailed dramatically – with four consecutive punts, a failed three-point attempt and then a turnover handing opportunity after opportunity to the Dallas.
Philadelphia’s defense is excellent, it really is, but an offense that's not eclipsed 21 points in 5 of 7 games (3 losses) is now a major worry, as the components are all there but it's simply not clicking.
Sirianni’s game is all about winning 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 discipline and possession security is breaking down, there could be problems in the future.
In Focus – Postseason Mahomes 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 Colts squad was hugely notable – and may have just rescued their season.
How big was it? Well, the NFL's Next Gen Stats now give the Chiefs a fifty-eight percent probability of reaching the postseason, when a loss on the weekend would have reduced that number to 28%.
It’s no surprise the playoff form of Patrick Mahomes turned up, passing for two hundred thirty-five yards in the latter half alone and leading three point-scoring possessions in their last four series to win it in extra time.
Some huge passes and daring scrambles are typical for Patrick in the playoffs, but currently the Chiefs are in post-season mode – at six and five and only 10th in the AFC rankings.
That was more like the old Kansas City though, with a initial one-score win of the season after losing five previously – they secured 11 of them the previous season so, if that belief comes back, this Chiefs Kingdom may not be done so soon.
Talking Point – Are Chicago Become Rulers of the Division?
You just can't overlook the Chicago Bears now. A victory over the Steelers, minus Aaron Rodgers, maintained them top of the NFC North and at 8-3 – sharing the same record as the Eagles.
They appear dangerous on both sides of the field, with a defence that leads the NFL in picks and total takeaways and, in Williams, a emerging player now used to securing close games.
He may at times be shaky, surrendering a touchdown after a turnover in his team’s goal area – but he also passed for three touchdowns and, with already five fourth-quarter comebacks this year, he understands how to get the job done.
The Green Bay Packers are in close chase in the division after dominating the Vikings and the Lions are right there after overcoming the Giants in extra time with a monster game from Jahmyr Gibbs.
The Bears are strangely the most reliable with eight victories in 9, but as they visit the Super Bowl winners on Thanksgiving we'll see exactly how good they really are.
Preview – Exciting Holiday in Prospect
This looks among the best holiday schedules for years, with each game packed with postseason implications.
The Lions welcome the Packers in the traditional curtain-raiser in Detroit, prior to a rare visit return to Texas for the Chiefs, who started out life as the Texans way back in the 1960s before relocating to Kansas City.
Sunday's comeback kings are each clinging to playoff aspirations but have minimal room for mistakes – so this will have a post-season feel.
What about the Ravens? An unattractive victory over the New York in fact has them leading of the division after beginning one and five and looking finished.
Holiday and Shopping Day 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: Bengals @ Baltimore Ravens (1:20 AM)
- Friday, 28 November: Bears @ Eagles (20:00)
Can Sanders Retain His Job?
Browns head coach Stefanski batted away inquiries on whether Shedeur Sanders had done sufficiently in his debut professional start to maintain the first-team position when Gabriel comes back.
But the issue will continue to be asked as Sanders became the first Cleveland quarterback to win his first NFL start after Eric Zeier in 1999 – with 17 other rookie quarterbacks failing to do so afterward.
It was only the Las Vegas, and with the help of an almost feral Browns defense getting ten sacks, but Cleveland's offence requires a leader, a presence to inspire confidence.
And confidence is something not lacking in Sanders, who told a network {