Philly Stumble in Texas & Mahomes Saves Kansas City – Best Moments from National Football League Week 12
The twelfth week delivered an epic Cowboys rally, or was it an massive Philadelphia Eagles implosion?
Playoff Mahomes showed up to rescue the Kansas City's season while the Chicago Bears continue to impress while they continue their winning run.
And did Shedeur Sanders perform enough on his debut professional start to secure the starting role in Ohio?
Let's take a look at the best of the week in the NFL.
Analysis – Dallas Rally or Philly Fail?
Dallas were down and out at twenty-one to zero behind against the reigning championship champions, so how on earth did they engineer their joint-best recovery ever?
The emotions of a initial home game since a teammate’s tragic passing may have been a factor, but technically it was a mixture of Dak Prescott determination and a defensive unit that pounced on rare mistakes by the Eagles.
Prescott surpassed Tony Romo records for yards thrown (now thirty-four thousand three hundred seventy-eight) and game-winning possessions (25) with an all-action performance – his plunging touchdown personifying his energetic display.
Philly wasted a lead of twenty-one points or more for the first time after 1999, with only their second game with multiple turnovers this season – the previous being another disappointing division loss at the Giants.
In addition to 14 penalties for 96 yards, the offensive struggles that hit Jalen Hurts after what – for him – was an fast start was huge. He'd only thrown for 200-plus yards in four games before the weekend, he had over one hundred fifty in the first half by himself in Dallas.
Yet from the time the Eagles went 21-0 up their offense fell apart spectacularly – with four consecutive kicks, a failed three-point attempt and then a fumble handing opportunity after chance to the Cowboys.
Philadelphia’s defence is brilliant, it really is, but an offence that's not surpassed 21 points in five of 7 games (3 losses) is now a huge worry, as the components are all there but it's just not working.
Nick Sirianni game is all about securing the big moments, the defence maintains them in it and what offense there is manages barely enough – if it cannot even do that and now the composure and possession security is breaking down, there could be problems in the future.
Spotlight – Postseason Mahomes Shows Up Prematurely to Rescue Kansas City
It wasn’t quite as extreme, but Kansas City's 11-point comeback in the fourth quarter versus a strong Indianapolis team was very impressive – and could have only rescued their campaign.
How significant was it? Indeed, the league’s advanced analytics now assign the Chiefs a 58% chance of making the playoffs, whereas a loss on Sunday would have dropped that figure to 28%.
No wonder the postseason form of Mahomes arrived, throwing for 235 yards in the latter half alone and guiding three scoring drives in their last 4 series to win it in extra time.
Some huge throws and daring scrambles are commonplace for Patrick in the postseason, but right now the Kansas City are in playoff mode – at six and five and just tenth in the conference rankings.
This was closer to the former Kansas City though, with a first close victory of the season after losing five previously – they won eleven of them the previous season so, if that confidence returns, this Chiefs Kingdom may not be done so soon.
Talking Point – Are Chicago Be Kings of the North?
You just can't ignore the Chicago Bears now. A victory over the Steelers, without Aaron Rodgers, maintained them top of the NFC North and at eight and three – holding the identical record as the Philadelphia.
They look dangerous on each side of the field, with a defense that tops the league in picks and overall turnovers and, in Caleb Williams, a emerging quarterback now accustomed to winning tight games.
He may still be inconsistent, giving away a touchdown after a turnover in his team’s goal area – but he additionally threw three scores and, with already 5 final period rallies this year, he understands how to get the job done.
Green Bay are in close pursuit in the division after overpowering the Vikings and the Lions are in contention after beating the Giants in overtime with a monster game from Gibbs.
Chicago are interestingly the most consistent with eight wins in nine, but as they visit the championship winners on the holiday we'll see just how strong they really are.
Preview – Thrilling Thanksgiving in Store
This looks one of the best holiday line-ups for years, with every game packed with playoff consequences.
The Lions host the Packers in the traditional curtain-raiser in Detroit, prior to a unusual trip back to Dallas for the Chiefs, who started out existence as the Dallas Texans long ago in the sixties before moving to Missouri.
The weekend’s comeback teams are both clinging to playoff hopes but have minimal room for error – so this will have a post-season atmosphere.
What about the Ravens? An ugly victory over the Jets actually has them leading of the division after beginning one and five and appearing dead and buried.
Holiday and Black Friday Fixtures (all times GMT)
- Thursday, 27 November: Packers @ Lions (6:00 PM)
- Thursday, twenty-seven November: Chiefs @ Cowboys (9:30 PM)
- Friday, 28 November: Cincinnati Bengals @ Baltimore Ravens (01:20)
- Friday, twenty-eight November: Chicago Bears @ Eagles (20:00)
Will Shedeur Sanders Keep His Starting Role?
Cleveland Browns coach Kevin Stefanski dismissed questions on whether Sanders had performed sufficiently in his first professional outing to keep the first-team job when Dillon Gabriel returns.
Yet the question will continue to be asked as Shedeur became the first Cleveland signal-caller to secure his first league start since Zeier in nineteen ninety-nine – with seventeen other first-year quarterbacks failing to do so afterward.
It was only the Raiders, and with the assistance of an nearly feral Browns defense getting 10 tackles, but Cleveland's offense requires a director, a figurehead to inspire confidence.
Moreover confidence is something not lacking in Shedeur, who informed a CBS {