Philly Falter in Dallas & Mahomes Rescues Kansas City – Top Highlights from NFL Week 12
Week 12 provided an incredible Cowboys comeback, or was it an epic Eagles collapse?
Postseason Mahomes arrived to salvage the Chiefs' campaign while the Chicago Bears continue to impress while they continue their winning streak.
And did Sanders do enough on his first professional start to earn the full-time role in Ohio?
We’ll examine at the pick of the week in the NFL.
Analysis – Dallas Rally or Eagles Collapse?
The Cowboys were down and out at twenty-one to zero down versus the defending Super Bowl winners, so how on earth did they engineer their equal-largest comeback in history?
The emotions of a initial home game since Marshawn Kneeland tragic passing could have been a factor, however it was a mixture of Prescott’s resolve and a defence that cashed in on rare errors by the Eagles.
Dak eclipsed Romo’s records for passing yards (now thirty-four thousand three hundred seventy-eight) and clutch possessions (25) with an all-action performance – his plunging touchdown embodying his energetic showing.
Philadelphia wasted a lead of twenty-one points or more for the initial time after 1999, with just their second game with several turnovers this season – the other being a disappointing NFC East loss at the New York.
Along with fourteen penalties for ninety-six yards, the offensive struggles that affected Hurts after what – for him – was an explosive beginning was significant. He had only passed for 200-plus yards in 4 games before Sunday, he had over 150 in the opening two quarters by himself in Texas.
Yet from the time the Eagles went 21-0 up their offense fell apart dramatically – with four straight kicks, a failed three-point attempt and then a fumble giving opportunity after opportunity to the Dallas.
The Eagles defense is brilliant, it really is, but an offence that's not surpassed twenty-one points in 5 of 7 games (3 losses) is now a huge concern, because the components are all there but it's just not clicking.
Sirianni’s approach is all about winning the key moments, the defense maintains them in it and what offense there is manages just about sufficient – if it cannot even do that and now the discipline and possession security is breaking down, there may be problems ahead.
Spotlight – Postseason Mahomes Shows Up Early to Rescue Chiefs
It wasn’t as extreme, but the Chiefs’ eleven-point recovery in the final period against a strong Indianapolis squad was very notable – and may have just rescued their season.
How significant was it? Well, the league’s Next Gen Stats now give the Chiefs a fifty-eight percent probability of making the postseason, when a loss on Sunday would have dropped that figure to 28%.
It’s no surprise the playoff version of Patrick Mahomes turned up, throwing for two hundred thirty-five yards in the second half alone and leading three point-scoring drives in their final four series to seal it in overtime.
A few big passes and swashbuckling runs are commonplace for Mahomes in the postseason, but right now the Chiefs are in playoff mode – at 6-5 and just tenth in the AFC rankings.
That was more like the old Kansas City however, with a first close win of the season after losing 5 already – they secured 11 of them the previous season so, if that confidence comes back, this Chiefs Kingdom may not be finished so soon.
Talking Point – Are Chicago Become Rulers of the Division?
You can no longer ignore the Chicago Bears any longer. A victory over the Steelers, minus Rodgers, maintained them first of the NFC North and at eight and three – sharing the same record as the Eagles.
They look threatening on both sides of the field, with a defense that leads the NFL in interceptions and overall takeaways and, in Caleb Williams, a young player now used to winning close games.
He can still be inconsistent, surrendering a score after a turnover in his team’s goal area – but he additionally passed for 3 touchdowns and, with already 5 fourth-quarter comebacks this season, 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 overtime with a monster game from Jahmyr Gibbs.
Chicago are interestingly the most consistent with eight wins in 9, but as they travel to the Super Bowl winners on Thanksgiving we'll see exactly how good they truly are.
Preview – Thrilling Holiday in Prospect
It appears one of the best Thanksgiving line-ups for years, with every game loaded with postseason implications.
The Lions welcome the Green Bay in the traditional curtain-raiser in Detroit, before a unusual visit back to Dallas for the Kansas City, who started out existence as the Dallas Texans way back in the sixties before moving to Missouri.
Sunday's comeback teams are both clinging to playoff hopes but have very little room for error – so this will have a playoff feel.
What about the Ravens? An unattractive win over the Jets in fact has them top of the division after beginning 1-5 and looking dead and buried.
Holiday and Black Friday Games (all times GMT)
- Thursday, 27 November: Green Bay Packers @ Lions (18:00)
- Thursday, twenty-seven November: Kansas City Chiefs @ Cowboys (21:30)
- Friday, twenty-eight November: Cincinnati Bengals @ Ravens (1:20 AM)
- Friday, twenty-eight November: Chicago Bears @ Eagles (8:00 PM)
Will Shedeur Sanders Keep His Job?
Browns head coach Stefanski batted away inquiries on whether Sanders had performed enough in his debut professional outing to maintain the first-team job when Dillon Gabriel returns.
Yet the question will continue to be raised as Shedeur became the first Cleveland quarterback to win his first league start since Zeier in 1999 – with 17 additional rookie signal callers failing to do so since.
It came just the Raiders, and with the help of an almost feral Cleveland defence getting ten sacks, but the Browns’ offence needs a leader, a presence to build belief.
And self-belief is one thing not missing in Sanders, who informed a CBS {