Philly Stumble in Dallas & Mahomes Rescues Chiefs – Best Moments from National Football League Week 12
Week 12 provided an epic Dallas Cowboys comeback, or perhaps an massive Eagles implosion?
Playoff Mahomes arrived to salvage the Kansas City's season while the Bears continue to impress as they extend their victorious run.
And did Shedeur Sanders do sufficiently on his first professional outing to earn the starting role in Cleveland?
We’ll examine at the pick of the week in the NFL.
Analysis – Cowboys Comeback or Philly Fail?
The Cowboys were down and out at 21-0 down against the reigning Super Bowl winners, so how on earth did they engineer their equal-largest comeback in history?
The emotions of a initial home fixture after Marshawn Kneeland untimely passing could have been a factor, but technically it was a mixture of Prescott’s resolve and a defence that pounced on uncommon mistakes by the Philadelphia.
Prescott eclipsed Romo’s marks for passing yards (now thirty-four thousand three hundred seventy-eight) and clutch drives (twenty-five) with an dynamic display – his diving touchdown embodying his energetic display.
Philly wasted a advantage of 21 points or more for the initial time after 1999, with only their second game with several giveaways this year – the previous being another disappointing NFC East defeat at the Giants.
In addition to fourteen infractions for ninety-six yards, the offensive struggles that affected Jalen Hurts after what – for him – was an fast start was huge. He had only thrown for over two hundred yards in 4 games before Sunday, he had over 150 in the opening two quarters by himself in Texas.
However from the time Philadelphia went twenty-one to zero up their offense derailed dramatically – with four straight punts, a failed three-point attempt and then a turnover handing opportunity after opportunity to the Dallas.
The Eagles defence is brilliant, it really is, but an offence that's not surpassed 21 points in 5 of seven games (three losses) is now a huge worry, because the components are all there but it's simply not working.
Sirianni’s game is all about winning the key moments, the defence keeps them in it and what offense there is manages just about enough – if it cannot even do that and now the composure and possession security is breaking down, there may be problems ahead.
In Focus – Playoff Patrick Shows Up Prematurely to Rescue Kansas City
It wasn't quite as dramatic, but the Chiefs’ 11-point comeback in the final period against a strong Indianapolis squad was hugely notable – and could have just rescued their season.
How significant was it? Indeed, the league’s Next Gen Stats now give the Chiefs a fifty-eight percent chance of reaching the postseason, when a defeat on the weekend would have dropped that number to 28%.
It’s no surprise the postseason form of Mahomes arrived, passing for 235 yards in the latter half alone and leading 3 scoring drives in their final four possessions to win it in extra time.
A few big passes and daring runs are typical for Patrick in the postseason, but right now the Chiefs are in post-season mode – at six and five and just 10th in the conference rankings.
That was more like the old Kansas City though, with a initial one-score win of the year after losing 5 already – they won 11 of them the previous season so, if that confidence returns, this Chiefs Kingdom might not be done just yet.
Discussion – Are Chicago Become Kings of the North?
You just can't overlook the Bears now. A victory over the Steelers, without Aaron Rodgers, kept them top of the NFC North and at eight and three – sharing the same standing as the Philadelphia.
They look threatening on each side of the ball, with a defense that tops the NFL in interceptions and total turnovers and, in Williams, a emerging player now accustomed to winning tight games.
He may still be inconsistent, surrendering a score after a fumble in his own end zone – but he additionally passed for 3 touchdowns and, with already 5 fourth-quarter comebacks this season, he knows how to get the job done.
The Green Bay Packers are in close chase in the division after overpowering the Minnesota and the Lions are right there after overcoming the New York in extra time with a monster game from Jahmyr Gibbs.
The Bears are interestingly the most consistent with eight wins in 9, but as they travel to the Super Bowl winners on Thanksgiving we'll discover exactly how good they truly are.
Look Ahead – Exciting Holiday in Store
It appears among the most exciting holiday schedules for years, with each game loaded with postseason consequences.
Detroit host the Packers in the classic curtain-raiser in Michigan, prior to a rare trip return to Texas for the Chiefs, who started out existence as the Dallas Texans long ago in the 1960s before moving to Missouri.
Sunday's comeback kings are each holding on to postseason aspirations but have very little margin for mistakes – so this will have a playoff atmosphere.
What about the Baltimore Ravens? An unattractive win over the New York actually has them leading of the AFC North after beginning one and five and looking dead and buried.
Holiday and Black Friday Fixtures (all times GMT)
- Thursday, twenty-seven November: Packers @ Detroit Lions (6:00 PM)
- Thursday, twenty-seven November: Kansas City Chiefs @ Dallas Cowboys (9:30 PM)
- Friday, twenty-eight November: Cincinnati Bengals @ Ravens (01:20)
- Friday, twenty-eight November: Bears @ Philadelphia Eagles (8:00 PM)
Will Shedeur Sanders Retain His Starting Role?
Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski dismissed inquiries on whether Sanders had done enough in his debut professional outing to maintain the starting job when Gabriel comes back.
Yet the question will keep being asked as Shedeur became the first Browns signal-caller to win his first league start after Eric Zeier in 1999 – with seventeen additional first-year quarterbacks failing to do so afterward.
It came only the Las Vegas, and with the assistance of an nearly feral Browns defense recording ten tackles, but the Browns’ offence requires a director, a presence to build confidence.
And confidence is something not lacking in Sanders, who told a CBS {