Philly Stumble in Texas & Mahomes Rescues Chiefs – Top Highlights from National Football League the Twelfth Week
Week 12 provided an incredible Cowboys rally, or was it an epic Eagles implosion?
Postseason Patrick Mahomes showed up to salvage the Kansas City's campaign while the Bears keep to impress while they extend their victorious run.
And did Sanders do enough on his debut professional outing to secure the full-time job in Cleveland?
We’ll examine at the pick of the action in the NFL.
The Breakdown – Dallas Rally or Eagles Collapse?
Dallas found themselves down and out at twenty-one to zero behind versus the defending Super Bowl winners, so how on earth did they engineer their equal-largest recovery in history?
Sentiment of a first home game since Marshawn Kneeland untimely death may have been a factor, but technically it was a combination of Dak Prescott determination and a defensive unit that pounced on uncommon errors by the Philadelphia.
Dak eclipsed Romo’s marks for yards thrown (now thirty-four thousand three hundred seventy-eight) and clutch possessions (twenty-five) with an all-action display – his plunging touchdown personifying his energetic showing.
Philly wasted a advantage of 21 points or more for the initial time since nineteen ninety-nine, with only their second game with multiple turnovers this season – the other being another disappointing division defeat at the Giants.
In addition to 14 penalties for ninety-six yards, the attacking struggles that affected Hurts after what – for him – was an explosive beginning was huge. He'd only thrown for 200-plus yards in four games before the weekend, he had over one hundred fifty in the opening two quarters by himself in Dallas.
However from the time Philadelphia went 21-0 up their offense fell apart dramatically – with four consecutive punts, a missed three-point attempt and then a fumble handing chance after chance to the Dallas.
The Eagles defence is excellent, it truly is, but an offense that's not eclipsed 21 points in 5 of 7 games (3 losses) is now a huge worry, as the components are all there but it's just not working.
Sirianni’s approach is all about winning the key moments, the defence keeps them in it and what offence there is manages barely sufficient – if it can't even do that and now the composure and possession security is breaking down, there may be trouble ahead.
Spotlight – Postseason Mahomes Shows Up Prematurely to Save Kansas City
It wasn't quite as extreme, but Kansas City's 11-point comeback in the final period against a strong Colts team was very impressive – and could have just saved their campaign.
How significant was it? Well, the league’s advanced analytics now assign the Chiefs a fifty-eight percent chance of making the postseason, when a defeat on the weekend would have reduced that number to twenty-eight percent.
No wonder the playoff version of Mahomes arrived, passing for two hundred thirty-five yards in the latter half alone and leading three point-scoring drives in their last four possessions to seal it in extra time.
A few big throws and daring runs are typical for Patrick in the playoffs, but right now the Chiefs are in post-season mode – at six and five and only 10th in the conference standings.
This was more like the old Chiefs though, with a first close victory of the year after dropping 5 previously – they won 11 of them the previous season so, if that confidence returns, this Chiefs Kingdom may not be done just yet.
Talking Point – Can Bears Be Kings of the North?
You just can't ignore the Bears now. A victory over the Steelers, minus Rodgers, maintained them top of the NFC North and at eight and three – holding the same standing as the Philadelphia.
They look dangerous on both sides of the ball, with a defence that leads the NFL in picks and total takeaways and, in Caleb Williams, a emerging quarterback now accustomed to securing close games.
He may at times be shaky, giving away a touchdown after a turnover in his own goal area – but he also threw 3 touchdowns and, with already 5 fourth-quarter comebacks this year, he knows how to finish the game.
Green Bay are in close chase in the NFC North after overpowering the Vikings and Detroit are right there after beating the Giants in overtime with a huge game from Jahmyr Gibbs.
The Bears are interestingly the most reliable with eight wins in 9, but as they travel to the Super Bowl winners on Thanksgiving we'll see just how strong they truly are.
Preview – Exciting Thanksgiving in Prospect
It appears among the best holiday line-ups for years, with each game packed with playoff implications.
Detroit host the Packers in the traditional curtain-raiser in Detroit, before a unusual visit back to Texas for the Kansas City, who started out life as the Dallas Texans way back in the sixties before moving to Missouri.
The weekend’s rally kings are both clinging to postseason aspirations but have very little room for mistakes – so this will have a playoff atmosphere.
And how about the Baltimore Ravens? An unattractive win over the New York actually has them top of the AFC North after beginning 1-5 and appearing finished.
Holiday and Black Friday Games (all times GMT)
- Thursday, 27 November: Green Bay Packers @ Detroit Lions (18:00)
- Thursday, 27 November: Kansas City Chiefs @ Dallas Cowboys (9:30 PM)
- Friday, twenty-eight November: Bengals @ Baltimore Ravens (1:20 AM)
- Friday, 28 November: Chicago Bears @ Philadelphia Eagles (8:00 PM)
Will Shedeur Sanders Retain His Job?
Browns head coach Stefanski batted away questions on whether Shedeur Sanders had done sufficiently in his debut professional start to maintain the first-team position when Dillon Gabriel returns.
But the question will keep being raised as Sanders became the first Cleveland quarterback to secure his debut league start after Zeier in nineteen ninety-nine – with 17 additional rookie quarterbacks unsuccessful to do so afterward.
It was only the Las Vegas, and with the help of an almost aggressive Cleveland defense getting 10 tackles, but the Browns’ offense needs a leader, a presence to build belief.
And self-belief is something not lacking in Shedeur, who informed a CBS {