Philadelphia Falter in Texas & Mahomes Rescues Kansas City – Best Moments from NFL the Twelfth Week
The twelfth week delivered an incredible Dallas Cowboys comeback, or perhaps an epic Philadelphia Eagles implosion?
Postseason Patrick Mahomes showed up to salvage the Chiefs' season while the Chicago Bears keep to surprise as they continue their winning streak.
Did Shedeur Sanders perform enough on his debut NFL start to earn the starting job in Cleveland?
We’ll examine at the best of the week in the NFL.
Analysis – Dallas Rally or Eagles Collapse?
The Cowboys found themselves down and out at 21-0 behind versus the defending Super Bowl champions, how exactly did they produce their joint-best recovery ever?
Sentiment of a first home game after Marshawn Kneeland tragic passing could have been a factor, but technically it was a mixture of Prescott’s determination and a defensive unit that cashed in on uncommon mistakes by the Philadelphia.
Dak surpassed Romo’s records for passing yards (now thirty-four thousand three hundred seventy-eight) and game-winning possessions (25) with an all-action display – his plunging score personifying his energetic showing.
Philly wasted a advantage of twenty-one points or more for the first time since nineteen ninety-nine, with just their second game with multiple giveaways this season – the other being another disappointing division defeat at the Giants.
In addition to 14 infractions for 96 yards, the offensive struggles that affected Jalen Hurts after what – for him – was an explosive start was significant. He had only thrown for 200-plus yards in 4 games before Sunday, he had over one hundred fifty in the opening two quarters alone in Texas.
Yet from the time Philadelphia went 21-0 up their offence fell apart dramatically – with four straight punts, a failed field goal and then a fumble handing chance after opportunity to the Cowboys.
Philadelphia’s defence is brilliant, it really is, but an offence that's not surpassed 21 points in 5 of 7 games (three losses) is now a huge concern, as the components are all there but it's just not working.
Sirianni’s game is all about winning the key situations, the defense maintains 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 failing, there could be problems ahead.
Spotlight – Postseason Mahomes Appears Early to Save Chiefs
It wasn't as extreme, but the Chiefs’ 11-point recovery in the final period against a strong Indianapolis squad was very notable – and could have only rescued their season.
How significant was it? Indeed, the NFL's advanced analytics now give the Chiefs a 58% chance of making the playoffs, when a defeat on Sunday would have dropped that figure to twenty-eight percent.
It’s no surprise the postseason form of Mahomes arrived, passing for two hundred thirty-five yards in the second half alone and guiding 3 point-scoring drives in their last four possessions to seal it in extra time.
Some huge throws and daring runs are commonplace for Patrick in the postseason, but currently the Chiefs are in playoff form – at six and five and only tenth in the AFC rankings.
That was closer to the old Kansas City however, with a initial close victory of the year after dropping 5 already – they won eleven of them last year so, if that belief comes back, this Kansas City faithful may not be done just yet.
Talking Point – Are Chicago Become Kings of the North?
You can no longer ignore the Bears any longer. A victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers, without Rodgers, maintained them top of the NFC North and at eight and three – holding the same standing as the Eagles.
They look threatening on each side of the field, with a defence that tops the NFL in interceptions and total turnovers and, in Williams, a young player now accustomed to winning tight games.
He can still be shaky, surrendering a touchdown after a turnover in his team’s goal area – but he also threw 3 scores and, with already five final period rallies this season, he understands how to get the job done.
The Green Bay Packers are in hot pursuit in the division after dominating the Minnesota and the Lions are in contention after overcoming the Giants in overtime with a monster game from Jahmyr Gibbs.
The Bears are interestingly the most reliable with 8 victories in 9, but as they visit the championship winners on Thanksgiving we'll see exactly how strong they really are.
Look Ahead – Thrilling Holiday in Store
It appears among the best holiday line-ups for a long time, with every game loaded with playoff implications.
Detroit host the Packers in the traditional opener in Michigan, before a rare trip return to Dallas for the Kansas City, who started out existence as the Dallas Texans way back in the sixties before moving to Kansas City.
The weekend’s comeback teams are each holding on to postseason hopes but have very little room for mistakes – so this will have a playoff feel.
And how about the Ravens? An unattractive victory over the New York actually has them leading of the division after starting one and five and appearing finished.
Thanksgiving and Black Friday Games (all times GMT)
- Thursday, 27 November: Green Bay Packers @ Detroit Lions (6:00 PM)
- Thursday, twenty-seven November: Kansas City Chiefs @ Cowboys (21:30)
- Friday, 28 November: Bengals @ Baltimore Ravens (01:20)
- Friday, 28 November: Chicago Bears @ Philadelphia Eagles (8:00 PM)
Can Sanders Keep His Starting Role?
Browns coach Stefanski dismissed questions on whether Shedeur Sanders had done enough in his first NFL outing to maintain the first-team position when Dillon Gabriel returns.
But the question will continue to be asked as Sanders became the first Browns signal-caller to win his debut NFL game after Zeier in 1999 – with 17 other rookie signal callers failing to do so since.
It was just the Raiders, and with the assistance of an nearly feral Cleveland defence getting ten sacks, but the Browns’ offense requires a director, a figurehead to build belief.
And self-belief is one thing not missing in Sanders, who told a network {