Philadelphia Falter in Texas & Patrick Rescues Kansas City – Top Highlights from National Football League Week 12
Week 12 provided an incredible Cowboys rally, or was it an massive Eagles collapse?
Playoff Patrick Mahomes showed up to salvage the Chiefs' campaign as the Bears keep to impress while they continue their winning run.
And did Shedeur Sanders perform enough on his debut NFL start to secure the full-time role in Ohio?
Let's take a look at the best of the action in the league.
Analysis – Dallas Rally or Philly Fail?
The Cowboys found themselves trailing badly at 21-0 behind against the defending championship winners, how exactly did they engineer their equal-largest recovery in history?
The emotions of a first home fixture after Marshawn Kneeland tragic passing could have been a factor, however it was a mixture of Prescott’s resolve and a defensive unit that cashed in on rare mistakes by the Eagles.
Prescott eclipsed Tony Romo marks for passing yards (now thirty-four thousand three hundred seventy-eight) and clutch drives (25) with an dynamic display – his diving score personifying his all-action showing.
Philadelphia wasted a lead of twenty-one points or more for the initial time after nineteen ninety-nine, with just their second game with several giveaways this season – the previous being another disappointing division loss at the Giants.
In addition to fourteen penalties for ninety-six yards, the attacking struggles that hit Hurts after what – for him – was an fast start was huge. He had only passed for 200-plus yards in four games prior to Sunday, he had more than 150 in the opening two quarters by himself in Texas.
However from the time the Eagles went twenty-one to zero up their offense fell apart dramatically – with four straight punts, a missed three-point attempt and then a turnover handing opportunity after chance to the Cowboys.
Philadelphia’s defence is excellent, it truly is, but an offence that's not surpassed twenty-one points in 5 of seven games (three losses) is now a major concern, because the components are all there but it's just not working.
Nick Sirianni approach is all about securing the key moments, the defense maintains them in it and what offence there is does barely enough – if it cannot even do that and now the composure and ball protection is breaking down, there could be problems in the future.
In Focus – Playoff Patrick Shows Up Prematurely to Save Kansas City
It wasn't quite as extreme, but the Chiefs’ 11-point recovery in the fourth quarter versus a powerful Colts squad was very notable – and could have only rescued their campaign.
How significant was it? Indeed, the NFL's Next Gen Stats now assign the Chiefs a 58% probability of making the playoffs, whereas a defeat on the weekend would have reduced that figure to twenty-eight percent.
No wonder the postseason version of Patrick Mahomes arrived, throwing for two hundred thirty-five yards in the second half alone and leading three scoring drives in their final four possessions to seal it in overtime.
Some huge passes and daring scrambles are commonplace for Mahomes in the playoffs, but right now the Kansas City are in post-season mode – at 6-5 and only tenth in the conference standings.
This was closer to the old Chiefs though, with a initial close win of the year after losing five already – they secured eleven of them the previous season so, if that confidence returns, this Chiefs Kingdom might not be done just yet.
Talking Point – Are Chicago Be Rulers of the Division?
You can no longer overlook the Bears now. A victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers, without Rodgers, kept them first of the division and at 8-3 – sharing the identical standing as the Eagles.
They appear dangerous on each side of the field, with a defense that leads the NFL in picks and total turnovers and, in Caleb Williams, a emerging quarterback now accustomed to securing close games.
He may still be inconsistent, surrendering a touchdown after a fumble in his team’s end zone – but he additionally passed for three touchdowns and, with already 5 fourth-quarter comebacks this year, he knows how to finish the game.
Green Bay are in close pursuit in the division after dominating the Minnesota and the Lions are right there after overcoming the Giants in extra time with a huge game from Jahmyr Gibbs.
The Bears are strangely the most consistent with 8 wins in 9, but as they travel to the championship winners on the holiday we'll discover exactly how strong they truly are.
Look Ahead – Thrilling Thanksgiving in Prospect
It appears one of the most exciting holiday schedules for years, with every game loaded with postseason implications.
Detroit welcome the Packers in the traditional opener in Michigan, prior to a unusual trip back to Dallas for the Kansas City, who began life as the Dallas Texans long ago in the 1960s before relocating to Kansas City.
The weekend’s rally teams are each clinging to playoff aspirations but have minimal room for error – so this will have a playoff atmosphere.
And how about the Ravens? An ugly victory over the Jets in fact has them top of the AFC North after beginning 1-5 and looking finished.
Thanksgiving and Shopping Day Games (all times GMT)
- Thursday, 27 November: Green Bay Packers @ Detroit Lions (18:00)
- Thursday, 27 November: Kansas City Chiefs @ Cowboys (21:30)
- Friday, twenty-eight November: Bengals @ Baltimore Ravens (01:20)
- Friday, twenty-eight November: Bears @ Philadelphia Eagles (8:00 PM)
Will Shedeur Sanders Keep His Job?
Browns coach Stefanski batted away inquiries on whether Sanders had done sufficiently in his first NFL outing to keep the starting position when Gabriel comes back.
But the question will continue to be raised as Sanders became the first Cleveland signal-caller to win his debut NFL game after Zeier in nineteen ninety-nine – with 17 other rookie quarterbacks failing to do so since.
It came just the Raiders, and with the assistance of an almost aggressive Browns defence recording ten sacks, but the Browns’ offense needs a director, a presence to inspire confidence.
Moreover self-belief is one thing not lacking in Sanders, who informed a network {