Philly Stumble in Dallas & Mahomes Saves Kansas City – Best Highlights from National Football League Week 12
Week 12 delivered an epic Cowboys rally, or was it an massive Eagles implosion?
Playoff Mahomes arrived to rescue the Kansas City's campaign while the Chicago Bears continue to impress while they extend their winning streak.
Did Shedeur Sanders perform enough on his first NFL start to earn the full-time job in Ohio?
Let's take a look at the pick of the week in the league.
Analysis – Cowboys Comeback or Eagles Collapse?
The Cowboys found themselves down and out at twenty-one to zero down versus the reigning championship champions, so how on earth did they produce their joint-best comeback in history?
Sentiment of a initial home game after a teammate’s untimely passing may have been a factor, however it was a combination of Prescott’s resolve and a defensive unit that pounced on uncommon errors by the Eagles.
Prescott surpassed Tony Romo marks for yards thrown (now thirty-four thousand three hundred seventy-eight) and game-winning drives (25) with an dynamic performance – his plunging score embodying his energetic display.
Philly squandered a advantage of 21 points or more for the first time after 1999, with just their second game with several giveaways this year – the other being a bad division defeat at the New York.
In addition to 14 penalties for ninety-six yards, the offensive malaise that hit Jalen Hurts after what – for him – was an explosive beginning was huge. He had only thrown for over two hundred yards in 4 games prior to the weekend, he had over 150 in the first half by himself in Texas.
Yet from the time Philadelphia went 21-0 up their offence derailed spectacularly – with four consecutive kicks, a missed three-point attempt and then a fumble handing chance after opportunity to the Dallas.
The Eagles defense is brilliant, it really is, but an offence that's not eclipsed twenty-one points in five of seven games (3 losses) is now a major worry, because the components are all there but it's simply not working.
Nick Sirianni game is all about winning the key situations, the defence keeps them in it and what offence there is manages barely sufficient – if it cannot even do that and now the discipline and ball protection is breaking down, there may be trouble in the future.
Spotlight – Postseason Mahomes Shows Up Early to Save Chiefs
It wasn’t as dramatic, but the Chiefs’ eleven-point comeback in the fourth quarter against a powerful Colts team was hugely notable – and may have just rescued their campaign.
How significant was it? Well, the league’s Next Gen Stats now give the Kansas City a 58% chance of making the playoffs, whereas a loss on Sunday would have reduced that number to twenty-eight percent.
It’s no surprise the playoff version of Mahomes turned up, throwing for 235 yards in the second half alone and guiding 3 point-scoring drives in their last 4 possessions to win it in extra time.
A few big throws and daring runs are commonplace for Patrick in the playoffs, but right now the Kansas City are in playoff mode – at 6-5 and only 10th in the conference rankings.
That was closer to the old Kansas City though, with a initial close victory of the year after dropping 5 previously – they won 11 of them last year so, if that confidence comes back, this Chiefs Kingdom may not be finished just yet.
Discussion – Are Chicago Become Kings of the Division?
You just can't overlook the Bears now. A victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers, minus Rodgers, maintained them top of the NFC North and at eight and three – sharing the identical record as the Philadelphia.
They appear dangerous on both sides of the field, with a defence that leads the NFL in interceptions and overall takeaways and, in Williams, a young player now used to securing tight games.
He may at times be inconsistent, surrendering a score after a turnover in his own goal area – but he additionally threw three scores and, with already five fourth-quarter rallies this season, he knows how to get the job done.
The Green Bay Packers are in close chase in the division after overpowering the Minnesota and Detroit are in contention after beating the Giants in overtime with a huge game from Gibbs.
Chicago are interestingly the most reliable with eight wins in nine, but as they travel to the championship champs on the holiday we'll discover just how strong they truly are.
Look Ahead – Exciting Thanksgiving in Store
This looks among the best Thanksgiving line-ups for a long time, with every game packed with playoff implications.
Detroit welcome the Packers in the classic curtain-raiser in Detroit, before a rare visit return to Dallas for the Kansas City, who began existence as the Texans way back in the 1960s before moving to Kansas City.
The weekend’s comeback teams are each clinging to playoff hopes but have minimal room for error – so this will have a playoff atmosphere.
What about the Baltimore Ravens? An ugly win over the New York in fact has them leading of the division after beginning 1-5 and appearing dead and buried.
Thanksgiving and Black Friday Games (all times GMT)
- Thursday, 27 November: Packers @ Detroit Lions (18:00)
- Thursday, 27 November: Chiefs @ Cowboys (9:30 PM)
- Friday, 28 November: Bengals @ Baltimore Ravens (01:20)
- Friday, 28 November: Bears @ Eagles (8:00 PM)
Will Shedeur Sanders Keep His Starting Role?
Cleveland Browns head coach Stefanski batted away inquiries on whether Shedeur Sanders had done enough in his debut NFL outing to keep the starting position when Dillon Gabriel comes back.
But the issue will keep being raised as Sanders became the first Cleveland signal-caller to win his debut NFL start after Eric Zeier in 1999 – with 17 other first-year signal callers failing to do so since.
It was only the Raiders, and with the assistance of an almost aggressive Browns defence recording ten tackles, but Cleveland's offence needs a director, a presence to build confidence.
Moreover self-belief is something not lacking in Sanders, who informed a CBS {