Philadelphia Falter in Texas & Mahomes Saves Kansas City – Best Highlights from NFL the Twelfth Week
The twelfth week delivered an epic Dallas Cowboys rally, or perhaps an massive Philadelphia Eagles collapse?
Postseason Patrick Mahomes showed up to salvage the Chiefs' season as the Bears keep to impress as they extend their winning run.
And did Shedeur Sanders perform enough on his debut professional start to secure the full-time role in Ohio?
We’ll examine at the pick of the action in the league.
The Breakdown – Cowboys Comeback or Eagles Collapse?
Dallas found themselves down and out at 21-0 down against the reigning championship winners, how exactly did they engineer their joint-best recovery ever?
The emotions of a first home game since Marshawn Kneeland untimely passing may have played a part, however it was a combination of Prescott’s resolve and a defensive unit that cashed in on uncommon mistakes by the Philadelphia.
Dak surpassed Romo’s marks for yards thrown (now thirty-four thousand three hundred seventy-eight) and clutch drives (twenty-five) with an dynamic display – his plunging score personifying his energetic showing.
Philadelphia squandered a lead of twenty-one points or more for the initial time after nineteen ninety-nine, with just their second game with multiple giveaways this year – the previous being a bad division defeat at the Giants.
In addition to 14 infractions for 96 yards, the attacking malaise 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 prior to Sunday, he had over one hundred fifty in the first half by himself in Dallas.
However from the time the Eagles went twenty-one to zero up their offence derailed dramatically – with four straight kicks, a failed field goal and then a fumble giving chance after chance to the Dallas.
Philadelphia’s defence is brilliant, it really is, but an offence that's not eclipsed twenty-one points in 5 of 7 games (three losses) is now a major worry, as the pieces are all there but it's just not clicking.
Nick Sirianni game is all about securing the key situations, the defense maintains them in it and what offence there is manages just about enough – if it can't even do that and now the composure and possession security is failing, there could be problems ahead.
Spotlight – Postseason Mahomes Appears Early to Rescue Chiefs
It wasn't as dramatic, but the Chiefs’ eleven-point recovery in the fourth quarter versus a powerful Colts squad was hugely notable – and could have just rescued their season.
How significant was it? Indeed, the NFL's Next Gen Stats now give the Chiefs a fifty-eight percent probability of reaching the playoffs, when a loss on Sunday would have dropped that number to twenty-eight percent.
It’s no surprise the postseason form of Patrick Mahomes turned up, throwing for two hundred thirty-five yards in the latter half by itself and leading three scoring drives in their final 4 series to win it in extra time.
A few huge passes and swashbuckling runs are typical for Patrick in the playoffs, but right now the Chiefs are in playoff mode – at 6-5 and just 10th in the conference standings.
This was more like the former Kansas City though, with a initial one-score victory of the year after losing five already – they won 11 of them last year so, if that confidence returns, this Kansas City faithful might not be finished just yet.
Discussion – Can Bears Become Kings of the Division?
You just can't ignore the Bears now. A victory over the Steelers, minus Aaron Rodgers, maintained them top of the division and at 8-3 – holding the same record as the Philadelphia.
They look dangerous on each side of the ball, with a defense that leads the NFL in interceptions and total takeaways and, in Williams, a young player now used to winning close games.
He can at times be shaky, surrendering a touchdown after a fumble in his team’s end zone – but he also threw 3 touchdowns and, with already 5 fourth-quarter rallies this season, he understands how to get the job done.
Green Bay are in close chase in the NFC North after overpowering the Minnesota and Detroit are in contention after beating the New York in overtime with a monster game from Jahmyr Gibbs.
Chicago are interestingly the most reliable with 8 victories in 9, but as they travel to the championship champs on Thanksgiving we'll discover exactly how good they really are.
Look Ahead – Exciting Thanksgiving in Store
It appears one of the most exciting Thanksgiving schedules for a long time, with each game loaded with postseason consequences.
The Lions welcome the Green Bay in the classic curtain-raiser in Detroit, before a unusual visit back to Texas for the Kansas City, who started out existence as the Texans long ago in the 1960s before moving to Missouri.
The weekend’s rally kings are each clinging to postseason aspirations but have very little margin for mistakes – so this will have a playoff feel.
What about the Baltimore Ravens? An unattractive victory over the Jets in fact has them top of the AFC North after starting one and five and looking finished.
Thanksgiving and Shopping Day Fixtures (all times GMT)
- Thursday, twenty-seven November: Packers @ Detroit Lions (18:00)
- Thursday, twenty-seven November: Kansas City Chiefs @ Cowboys (9:30 PM)
- Friday, twenty-eight November: Bengals @ Ravens (01:20)
- Friday, 28 November: Chicago Bears @ Philadelphia Eagles (8:00 PM)
Will Shedeur Sanders Retain His Starting Role?
Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski dismissed inquiries on whether Shedeur Sanders had done enough in his debut professional outing to maintain the starting position when Gabriel returns.
But the issue will continue to be raised as Shedeur became the first Browns quarterback to win his debut NFL start after Zeier in nineteen ninety-nine – with 17 additional first-year quarterbacks unsuccessful to do so afterward.
It came just the Las Vegas, and with the assistance of an almost aggressive Cleveland defense recording 10 tackles, but the Browns’ offence requires a leader, a presence to build belief.
And self-belief is something not missing in Shedeur, who told a CBS {