Philadelphia Falter in Dallas & Mahomes Saves Kansas City – Top Highlights from NFL Week 12
Week 12 delivered an incredible Dallas Cowboys rally, or perhaps an massive Philadelphia Eagles collapse?
Postseason Mahomes arrived to rescue the Kansas City's season while the Bears keep to surprise while they extend their victorious run.
And did Shedeur Sanders perform sufficiently on his debut professional outing to secure the full-time role in Ohio?
Let's take a look at the pick of the action in the NFL.
Analysis – Cowboys Comeback or Eagles Collapse?
Dallas found themselves trailing badly at 21-0 down against the reigning Super Bowl winners, how exactly did they produce their equal-largest comeback in history?
Sentiment of a first home game after Marshawn Kneeland tragic death could have been a factor, but technically it was a combination of Dak Prescott determination and a defence that pounced on rare errors by the Eagles.
Prescott surpassed Tony Romo marks for yards thrown (now thirty-four thousand three hundred seventy-eight) and clutch drives (twenty-five) with an dynamic display – his diving score embodying his all-action showing.
Philadelphia wasted a lead of twenty-one points or more for the initial time since nineteen ninety-nine, with only their second game with several turnovers this year – the previous being a disappointing NFC East defeat at the New York.
Along with fourteen penalties for ninety-six yards, the attacking malaise that affected Jalen Hurts after what – for him – was an fast beginning was huge. He'd only passed for over two hundred yards in four games before the weekend, he had over 150 in the first half alone in Texas.
However from the time Philadelphia went 21-0 up their offense fell apart spectacularly – with four consecutive punts, a missed field goal and then a fumble giving opportunity after opportunity to the Dallas.
Philadelphia’s defense is brilliant, it really is, but an offense that's not eclipsed 21 points in 5 of 7 games (3 losses) is now a huge concern, as the components are all there but it's just not clicking.
Nick Sirianni game is all about winning the big moments, the defence maintains them in it and what offense there is manages barely enough – if it can't even do that and now the discipline and possession security is breaking down, there may be trouble ahead.
Spotlight – Postseason Mahomes Appears Prematurely to Rescue Chiefs
It wasn’t as dramatic, but Kansas City's 11-point comeback in the fourth quarter against a powerful Colts team was very impressive – and could have only rescued their season.
How big was it? Well, the league’s advanced analytics now give the Kansas City a 58% chance of reaching the postseason, when a defeat on Sunday would have dropped that number to twenty-eight percent.
It’s no surprise the postseason version of Mahomes arrived, passing for two hundred thirty-five yards in the latter half by itself and leading three point-scoring drives in their last 4 series to seal it in extra time.
A few big passes and swashbuckling runs are typical for Mahomes in the playoffs, but right now the Kansas City are in playoff mode – at six and five and just 10th in the conference standings.
That was more like the former Kansas City however, with a initial one-score win of the year after losing five previously – they won eleven of them the previous season so, if that belief returns, this Chiefs Kingdom may not be finished so soon.
Talking Point – Can Bears Be Kings of the Division?
You can no longer ignore the Chicago Bears any longer. A victory over the Steelers, without Rodgers, kept them top of the division and at eight and three – holding the same standing as the Philadelphia.
They look threatening on both sides of the field, with a defence that leads the NFL in picks and overall turnovers and, in Caleb Williams, a emerging player now accustomed to securing close games.
He can at times be inconsistent, surrendering a touchdown after a turnover in his own goal area – but he additionally passed for three scores and, with already five fourth-quarter rallies this year, he understands how to finish the game.
Green Bay are in hot chase in the division after overpowering the Vikings and Detroit are in contention after overcoming the Giants in extra time with a monster game from Gibbs.
The Bears are interestingly the most reliable with 8 victories in 9, but as they travel to the championship winners on Thanksgiving we'll see just how strong they really are.
Look Ahead – Exciting Holiday in Store
It appears among the best holiday line-ups for years, with each game loaded with postseason consequences.
Detroit host the Green Bay in the traditional opener in Michigan, prior to a unusual trip return to Dallas for the Chiefs, who started out existence as the Texans way back in the 1960s before relocating to Missouri.
The weekend’s rally teams are each holding on to playoff aspirations but have minimal margin for mistakes – so this will have a post-season feel.
What about the Baltimore Ravens? An unattractive victory over the Jets in fact has them top of the AFC North after starting 1-5 and appearing finished.
Thanksgiving and Black Friday Fixtures (all times GMT)
- Thursday, 27 November: Green Bay Packers @ Lions (6:00 PM)
- Thursday, 27 November: Chiefs @ Cowboys (21:30)
- Friday, 28 November: Bengals @ Ravens (1:20 AM)
- Friday, twenty-eight November: Chicago Bears @ Philadelphia Eagles (20:00)
Will Shedeur Sanders Keep His Starting Role?
Browns coach Kevin Stefanski dismissed questions on whether Sanders had done sufficiently in his debut NFL outing to keep the first-team job when Dillon Gabriel comes back.
Yet the issue will keep being asked as Shedeur became the first Cleveland signal-caller to win his first NFL game after Zeier in 1999 – with seventeen additional first-year signal callers failing to do so afterward.
It was only the Raiders, and with the assistance of an nearly aggressive Cleveland defense recording ten tackles, but Cleveland's offence requires a leader, a figurehead to inspire confidence.
And self-belief is one thing not missing in Sanders, who told a network {