Philadelphia Falter in Dallas & Mahomes Saves Kansas City – Best Highlights from National Football League the Twelfth Week
Week 12 provided an incredible Dallas Cowboys comeback, or perhaps an massive Philadelphia Eagles implosion?
Playoff Mahomes arrived to salvage the Chiefs' campaign while the Bears continue to surprise as they continue their victorious streak.
And did Shedeur Sanders do sufficiently on his first NFL outing to earn the starting job in Ohio?
We’ll examine at the pick of the week in the NFL.
The Breakdown – Dallas Rally or Eagles Collapse?
Dallas were trailing badly at twenty-one to zero behind against the reigning championship winners, so how on earth did they produce their joint-best comeback ever?
The emotions of a first home fixture after a teammate’s untimely passing may have played a part, however it was a mixture of Dak Prescott determination and a defensive unit that cashed in on rare errors by the Eagles.
Dak surpassed Tony Romo records for passing yards (now 34,378) and clutch possessions (twenty-five) with an all-action performance – his plunging score embodying his all-action showing.
Philadelphia squandered a lead of twenty-one points or more for the first time after 1999, with just their second game with multiple giveaways this year – the other being another bad NFC East defeat at the New York.
Along with fourteen infractions for ninety-six yards, the offensive malaise that hit Hurts after what – for him – was an fast start was significant. He had only passed for over two hundred yards in four games before the weekend, he had more than 150 in the opening two quarters alone in Texas.
However from the time Philadelphia went 21-0 up their offence derailed spectacularly – with four consecutive kicks, a failed three-point attempt and then a turnover giving opportunity after opportunity to the Dallas.
The Eagles defence is excellent, it really is, but an offense that's not eclipsed 21 points in five of 7 games (3 losses) is now a major concern, as the components are all there but it's simply not clicking.
Nick Sirianni approach is all about securing the big moments, the defence keeps them in it and what offense there is manages barely sufficient – if it can't even do that and now the discipline and ball protection is breaking down, there may be trouble in the future.
Spotlight – Postseason Mahomes Shows Up Early to Save Chiefs
It wasn’t as dramatic, but the Chiefs’ eleven-point comeback in the fourth quarter versus a strong Indianapolis team was hugely notable – and may have just rescued their season.
How big was it? Indeed, the league’s advanced analytics now give the Kansas City a 58% chance of reaching the playoffs, when a defeat on Sunday would have dropped that figure to 28%.
No wonder the playoff form of Patrick Mahomes arrived, passing for 235 yards in the latter half alone and guiding three scoring possessions in their last 4 series to win it in extra time.
A few big passes and daring runs are commonplace for Patrick in the playoffs, but right now the Chiefs are in playoff mode – at 6-5 and only tenth in the AFC standings.
This was more like the former Chiefs though, with a first one-score victory of the year after losing 5 previously – they won eleven of them last year so, if that belief comes back, this Kansas City faithful may not be done so soon.
Discussion – Are Chicago Become Kings of the North?
You just can't overlook the Chicago Bears now. A victory over the Steelers, minus Aaron Rodgers, maintained them first of the NFC North and at 8-3 – holding the identical standing as the Eagles.
They appear threatening on both sides of the ball, with a defense that leads the league in picks and total takeaways and, in Williams, a young player now used to securing tight games.
He may at times be shaky, surrendering a score after a turnover in his team’s end zone – but he also passed for three touchdowns and, with already five final period comebacks this year, he knows how to get the job done.
The Green Bay Packers are in close chase in the NFC North after overpowering the Vikings and the Lions are right there after beating the Giants in extra time with a monster game from Gibbs.
The Bears are strangely the most reliable with eight wins in 9, but as they visit the Super Bowl winners on the holiday we'll see just how good they truly are.
Look Ahead – Exciting Holiday in Store
This looks one of the best holiday schedules for a long time, with every game packed with postseason consequences.
Detroit host the Green Bay in the traditional opener in Detroit, before a unusual trip return to Texas for the Kansas City, who began existence as the Dallas Texans way back in the sixties before moving to Kansas City.
Sunday's rally kings are each clinging to postseason aspirations but have very little margin for mistakes – so this will have a playoff atmosphere.
And how about the Baltimore Ravens? An ugly victory over the Jets actually has them leading of the division after beginning one and five and appearing dead and buried.
Thanksgiving and Black Friday Fixtures (all times GMT)
- Thursday, 27 November: Green Bay Packers @ Lions (6:00 PM)
- Thursday, 27 November: Chiefs @ Dallas Cowboys (9:30 PM)
- Friday, 28 November: Cincinnati Bengals @ Baltimore Ravens (01:20)
- Friday, twenty-eight November: Chicago Bears @ Eagles (20:00)
Can Sanders Keep His Starting Role?
Browns head coach Stefanski batted away inquiries on whether Sanders had performed enough in his first professional start to maintain the first-team job when Gabriel comes back.
But the issue will keep being raised as Sanders became the first Browns quarterback to secure his debut NFL start after Eric Zeier in nineteen ninety-nine – with 17 additional first-year quarterbacks unsuccessful to do so afterward.
It was only the Las Vegas, and with the assistance of an almost feral Cleveland defense getting ten sacks, but Cleveland's offense requires a director, a presence to build confidence.
And confidence is something not lacking in Shedeur, who told a CBS {