Philly Falter in Dallas & Patrick Rescues Chiefs – Top Moments from National Football League the Twelfth Week
Week 12 delivered an incredible Cowboys comeback, or perhaps an epic Eagles collapse?
Playoff Patrick Mahomes showed up to rescue the Kansas City's season while the Bears keep to impress while they extend their victorious streak.
And did Shedeur Sanders perform enough on his debut NFL outing to secure the full-time role in Ohio?
We’ll examine at the best of the action in the league.
Analysis – Dallas Rally or Eagles Collapse?
The Cowboys were down and out at 21-0 down versus the reigning championship winners, how exactly did they produce their joint-best recovery in history?
Sentiment of a first home fixture after Marshawn Kneeland untimely death may have been a factor, but technically it was a combination of Prescott’s resolve and a defensive unit that cashed in on rare mistakes by the Eagles.
Prescott eclipsed Tony Romo records for passing yards (now 34,378) and clutch possessions (twenty-five) with an dynamic performance – his diving touchdown embodying his energetic showing.
Philly squandered a lead of 21 points or more for the first time since 1999, with just their second game with several giveaways this season – the other being another disappointing division defeat at the New York.
In addition to 14 penalties for 96 yards, the attacking struggles that affected Hurts after what – for him – was an explosive start was huge. He'd only thrown for over two hundred yards in 4 games before Sunday, he had over one hundred fifty in the first half by himself in Dallas.
Yet from the time Philadelphia went twenty-one to zero up their offence derailed dramatically – with four straight kicks, a missed field goal and then a turnover giving chance after chance to the Cowboys.
Philadelphia’s defense is excellent, it really is, but an offence that's not eclipsed 21 points in 5 of seven games (three losses) is now a huge concern, as the pieces are all there but it's just not clicking.
Nick Sirianni approach is all about winning the big situations, the defense maintains them in it and what offense there is manages just about enough – if it cannot even do that and now the discipline and ball protection is failing, there could be problems ahead.
Spotlight – Playoff Patrick Shows Up Prematurely to Save Chiefs
It wasn't quite as extreme, but Kansas City's eleven-point comeback in the final period against a powerful Colts squad was very notable – and may have just rescued their campaign.
How significant was it? Well, the NFL's Next Gen Stats now assign the Chiefs a 58% probability of reaching the postseason, whereas a defeat on Sunday would have reduced that figure to 28%.
No wonder the playoff version of Mahomes arrived, passing for two hundred thirty-five yards in the latter half alone and guiding 3 scoring drives in their final four possessions to seal it in overtime.
Some huge throws and daring scrambles are commonplace for Patrick in the postseason, but currently the Chiefs are in post-season mode – at six and five and just 10th in the AFC rankings.
That was more like the old Kansas City though, with a initial one-score victory of the year after dropping 5 previously – they secured 11 of them the previous season so, if that confidence returns, this Kansas City faithful might not be finished just yet.
Discussion – Are Chicago Be Rulers of the North?
You just can't overlook the Chicago Bears any longer. A victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers, without Rodgers, kept them first of the division and at eight and three – holding the same standing as the Eagles.
They look threatening on both sides of the ball, with a defense that leads the league in interceptions and total turnovers and, in Williams, a emerging quarterback now accustomed to securing tight games.
He may at times be inconsistent, giving away a score after a fumble in his own end zone – but he also passed for three scores and, with already 5 fourth-quarter rallies this year, he understands how to get the job done.
Green Bay are in hot chase in the division after overpowering the Vikings and Detroit are right there after overcoming the New York in overtime with a monster game from Gibbs.
Chicago are strangely the most reliable with 8 wins in 9, but as they travel to the championship champs on the holiday we'll see just how strong they truly are.
Look Ahead – Thrilling Holiday in Store
This looks one of the best holiday line-ups for years, with every game packed with postseason consequences.
Detroit welcome the Green Bay in the classic opener in Detroit, before a rare trip back to Dallas for the Kansas City, who began existence as the Dallas Texans long ago in the 1960s before moving to Kansas City.
Sunday's rally teams are each holding on to playoff aspirations but have minimal room for error – so this will have a playoff atmosphere.
What about the Baltimore Ravens? An ugly victory over the Jets actually has them top of the AFC North after beginning one and five and appearing dead and buried.
Holiday and Black Friday Games (all times GMT)
- Thursday, twenty-seven November: Green Bay Packers @ Lions (18:00)
- Thursday, twenty-seven November: Chiefs @ Cowboys (21:30)
- Friday, twenty-eight November: Bengals @ Baltimore Ravens (01:20)
- Friday, twenty-eight November: Bears @ Eagles (8:00 PM)
Can Sanders Retain His Job?
Browns head coach Stefanski batted away inquiries on whether Shedeur Sanders had done sufficiently in his first NFL outing to maintain the first-team position when Dillon Gabriel comes back.
Yet the issue will keep being raised as Shedeur became the first Browns quarterback to win his first league start after Zeier in 1999 – with 17 additional first-year signal callers unsuccessful to do so afterward.
It was just the Raiders, and with the help of an nearly aggressive Browns defense getting ten tackles, but the Browns’ offence requires a leader, a figurehead to inspire belief.
Moreover confidence is one thing not lacking in Sanders, who told a network {