Philly Falter in Dallas & Patrick Saves Kansas City – Best Highlights from National Football League Week 12
Week 12 delivered an incredible Dallas Cowboys rally, or was it an massive Eagles implosion?
Playoff Mahomes showed up to salvage the Kansas City's season as the Chicago Bears continue to impress as they continue their victorious streak.
And did Sanders perform sufficiently on his debut professional outing to earn the full-time role in Ohio?
Let's take a look at the best of the action in the league.
Analysis – Cowboys Comeback or Eagles Collapse?
The Cowboys were down and out at 21-0 behind versus the reigning championship winners, so how on earth did they produce their equal-largest comeback ever?
The emotions of a initial home game since a teammate’s tragic passing could have been a factor, but technically it was a mixture of Dak Prescott resolve and a defensive unit that cashed in on rare errors by the Philadelphia.
Dak eclipsed Romo’s records for passing yards (now 34,378) and game-winning drives (25) with an dynamic performance – his diving score embodying his all-action display.
Philadelphia wasted a lead of 21 points or more for the initial time after 1999, with just their second game with several giveaways this year – the other being a disappointing division defeat at the Giants.
Along with fourteen infractions for ninety-six yards, the attacking struggles that affected Jalen Hurts after what – for him – was an explosive start was significant. He'd only thrown for 200-plus yards in four games prior to the weekend, he had over 150 in the first half by himself in Texas.
Yet from the time Philadelphia went twenty-one to zero up their offence fell apart spectacularly – with four consecutive kicks, a failed field goal and then a turnover giving opportunity after chance to the Dallas.
The Eagles defense is excellent, it really is, but an offence that's not eclipsed 21 points in 5 of 7 games (three losses) is now a major worry, because the components are all there but it's simply not working.
Sirianni’s approach is all about securing the big moments, the defence maintains them in it and what offense there is does just about enough – if it can't even do that and now the discipline and possession security is failing, there may be trouble ahead.
Spotlight – Postseason Mahomes Shows Up Early to Save Kansas City
It wasn’t quite as dramatic, but Kansas City's 11-point recovery in the final period versus a powerful Colts team was very notable – and could have only rescued their season.
How significant was it? Well, the NFL's advanced analytics now give the Kansas City a fifty-eight percent probability of reaching the postseason, whereas a defeat on the weekend would have reduced that figure to 28%.
No wonder the playoff version of Patrick Mahomes arrived, passing for 235 yards in the latter half alone and guiding three point-scoring drives in their last four possessions to seal it in extra time.
A few big throws and swashbuckling scrambles are typical for Mahomes in the postseason, but currently the Kansas City are in post-season mode – at 6-5 and just 10th in the conference standings.
That was more like the former Chiefs though, with a initial one-score win of the season after dropping five previously – they secured 11 of them last year so, if that belief comes back, this Chiefs Kingdom may not be finished so soon.
Discussion – Can Bears Become Kings of the North?
You just can't ignore the Chicago Bears now. A victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers, without Aaron Rodgers, maintained them first of the NFC North and at 8-3 – holding the identical record as the Philadelphia.
They appear threatening on both sides of the ball, with a defense that tops the NFL in interceptions and overall turnovers and, in Williams, a young player now accustomed to securing tight games.
He can at times be shaky, surrendering a touchdown after a fumble in his own goal area – but he also passed for three touchdowns and, with already 5 final period rallies this season, he understands how to get the job done.
The Green Bay Packers are in close chase in the division after overpowering the Vikings and the Lions are in contention 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 visit the Super Bowl champs on Thanksgiving we'll see exactly how good they really are.
Preview – Exciting Holiday in Store
This looks one of the best holiday schedules for a long time, with every game packed with postseason implications.
Detroit welcome the Green Bay in the traditional opener in Detroit, before a unusual visit back to Dallas for the Kansas City, who started out existence as the Dallas Texans long ago in the sixties before moving to Kansas City.
Sunday's rally kings are each clinging to playoff hopes but have minimal room for error – so this will have a post-season feel.
What about the Ravens? An ugly victory over the Jets actually has them top of the division after starting 1-5 and looking dead and buried.
Thanksgiving and Black Friday Games (all times GMT)
- Thursday, 27 November: Packers @ Detroit Lions (6:00 PM)
- Thursday, twenty-seven November: Chiefs @ Dallas Cowboys (9:30 PM)
- Friday, twenty-eight November: Cincinnati Bengals @ Ravens (01:20)
- Friday, twenty-eight November: Bears @ Eagles (8:00 PM)
Can Sanders Keep His Job?
Cleveland Browns head coach Stefanski dismissed inquiries on whether Shedeur Sanders had performed sufficiently in his first NFL outing to maintain the starting position when Gabriel comes back.
But the issue will keep being raised as Sanders became the first Cleveland signal-caller to win his first NFL game after Eric Zeier in 1999 – with seventeen other first-year signal callers unsuccessful to do so since.
It came only the Las Vegas, and with the help of an nearly aggressive Browns defence recording 10 sacks, but Cleveland's offense requires a leader, a presence to build belief.
Moreover self-belief is one thing not missing in Shedeur, who told a network {