Philly Falter in Texas & Patrick Rescues Chiefs – Best Moments from National Football League Week 12
The twelfth week delivered an epic Dallas Cowboys comeback, or perhaps an massive Philadelphia Eagles implosion?
Playoff Patrick Mahomes arrived to salvage the Chiefs' season while the Chicago Bears continue to surprise as they extend their victorious streak.
Did Sanders perform enough on his debut NFL start to secure the starting role in Ohio?
We’ll examine at the pick of the week in the NFL.
Analysis – Cowboys Comeback or Eagles Collapse?
The Cowboys were down and out at 21-0 down against the defending championship winners, so how on earth did they produce their equal-largest recovery in history?
The emotions of a initial home game after Marshawn Kneeland tragic passing may have been a factor, but technically it was a combination of Dak Prescott determination and a defensive unit that pounced on rare mistakes by the Philadelphia.
Dak eclipsed Romo’s records for passing yards (now thirty-four thousand three hundred seventy-eight) and game-winning drives (25) with an all-action display – his plunging touchdown personifying his all-action showing.
Philly wasted a lead of 21 points or more for the first time after 1999, with just their second game with several turnovers this season – the other being another bad NFC East defeat at the Giants.
In addition to 14 infractions for ninety-six yards, the offensive malaise that hit Jalen Hurts after what – for him – was an explosive beginning was huge. He'd only thrown for 200-plus yards in four games before Sunday, he had over one hundred fifty in the first half by himself in Texas.
Yet from the time Philadelphia went twenty-one to zero up their offence derailed spectacularly – with four straight kicks, a missed field goal and then a turnover giving opportunity after chance to the Cowboys.
Philadelphia’s defense is excellent, it really is, but an offence that's not eclipsed 21 points in 5 of 7 games (3 losses) is now a huge worry, because the pieces are all there but it's just not clicking.
Nick Sirianni approach is all about winning the key situations, the defence maintains them in it and what offence there is does just about enough – if it can't even do that and now the discipline and possession security is breaking down, there may be trouble ahead.
In Focus – Playoff Patrick Shows Up Prematurely to Save Chiefs
It wasn't as extreme, but the Chiefs’ 11-point comeback in the final period versus a strong Indianapolis squad was hugely notable – and may have only saved their campaign.
How big was it? Indeed, the league’s advanced analytics now assign the Kansas City a 58% probability of making the playoffs, whereas a defeat on Sunday would have dropped that number to twenty-eight percent.
It’s no surprise the postseason version of Patrick Mahomes turned up, throwing for two hundred thirty-five yards in the second half by itself and guiding three scoring drives in their final four series to win it in extra time.
A few big passes and swashbuckling scrambles are commonplace for Patrick in the postseason, but currently the Chiefs are in post-season mode – at 6-5 and just tenth in the conference rankings.
That was more like the former Kansas City however, with a first close win of the season after losing 5 already – they won eleven of them last year so, if that belief comes back, this Kansas City faithful might not be done so soon.
Discussion – Can Bears Be Rulers of the Division?
You can no longer ignore the Bears any longer. A win over the Pittsburgh Steelers, without Rodgers, maintained them top of the division and at 8-3 – sharing the identical record as the Philadelphia.
They appear dangerous on each side of the ball, with a defense that tops the league in picks and overall turnovers and, in Caleb Williams, a young quarterback now accustomed to winning tight games.
He can at times be inconsistent, surrendering a touchdown after a fumble in his own end zone – but he additionally passed for 3 touchdowns and, with already five final period rallies this season, he knows how to finish the game.
The Green Bay Packers are in hot 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 Jahmyr Gibbs.
The Bears are strangely the most consistent with eight victories in nine, but as they travel to the championship champs on Thanksgiving we'll discover just how good they truly are.
Look Ahead – Thrilling Holiday in Store
This looks one of the most exciting holiday schedules for a long time, with every game packed with postseason implications.
The Lions welcome the Green Bay in the classic curtain-raiser in Detroit, prior to a unusual trip back to Texas for the Kansas City, who began existence as the Texans long ago in the sixties before relocating to Missouri.
The weekend’s rally teams are both holding on to playoff hopes but have minimal margin for mistakes – so this will have a post-season atmosphere.
What about the Baltimore Ravens? An ugly victory over the Jets in fact has them top of the AFC North after beginning 1-5 and appearing finished.
Holiday and Shopping Day Games (all times GMT)
- Thursday, twenty-seven November: Packers @ Detroit Lions (6:00 PM)
- Thursday, twenty-seven November: Chiefs @ Cowboys (9:30 PM)
- Friday, 28 November: Cincinnati Bengals @ Baltimore Ravens (1:20 AM)
- Friday, twenty-eight November: Bears @ Eagles (20:00)
Will Shedeur Sanders Keep His Starting Role?
Browns coach Kevin Stefanski batted away inquiries on whether Sanders had performed sufficiently in his debut professional start to maintain the first-team job when Dillon Gabriel comes back.
But the issue will continue to be raised as Shedeur became the first Browns signal-caller to secure his debut NFL game since Zeier in nineteen ninety-nine – with seventeen additional first-year quarterbacks unsuccessful to do so afterward.
It was just the Raiders, and with the assistance of an almost aggressive Cleveland defence getting ten tackles, but Cleveland's offence requires a leader, a presence to inspire confidence.
And confidence is one thing not missing in Shedeur, who told a network {