Philly Stumble in Texas & Mahomes Saves Kansas City – Best Highlights from NFL the Twelfth Week
The twelfth week delivered an incredible Cowboys rally, or perhaps an epic Philadelphia Eagles collapse?
Playoff Patrick Mahomes arrived to rescue the Chiefs' campaign while the Bears keep to surprise while they extend their winning run.
And did Sanders perform enough on his first NFL start to secure the starting role in Ohio?
Let's take a look at the pick of the action in the league.
Analysis – Cowboys Comeback or Philly Fail?
Dallas found themselves down and out at 21-0 down against the reigning Super Bowl champions, so how on earth did they produce their joint-best recovery ever?
Sentiment of a first home fixture since Marshawn Kneeland tragic death may have played a part, however it was a mixture of Dak Prescott resolve and a defensive unit that pounced on uncommon errors by the Eagles.
Dak surpassed Romo’s records for passing yards (now thirty-four thousand three hundred seventy-eight) and clutch possessions (25) with an all-action display – his plunging score personifying his energetic showing.
Philly wasted a lead of twenty-one points or more for the initial time since 1999, with only their second game with multiple giveaways this season – the previous being a bad division loss at the New York.
In addition to 14 infractions for 96 yards, the attacking struggles that hit Hurts after what – for him – was an explosive start was significant. He had only passed for over two hundred yards in 4 games before Sunday, he had over one hundred fifty in the opening two quarters alone in Dallas.
However from the time the Eagles went twenty-one to zero up their offense fell apart spectacularly – with four straight punts, a missed field goal and then a turnover handing opportunity after chance to the Dallas.
The Eagles defence is brilliant, it truly is, but an offense that's not surpassed 21 points in 5 of seven games (three losses) is now a huge worry, because the pieces are all there but it's simply not working.
Sirianni’s game is all about winning the big moments, the defence maintains them in it and what offense there is manages barely enough – if it cannot even do that and now the composure and possession security is failing, there may be problems ahead.
Spotlight – Playoff Patrick Appears Prematurely to Rescue Chiefs
It wasn’t quite as extreme, but the Chiefs’ eleven-point recovery in the fourth quarter against a strong Indianapolis team was hugely impressive – and could have just rescued their campaign.
How significant was it? Well, the NFL's Next Gen Stats now assign the Chiefs a 58% chance of reaching the playoffs, whereas a defeat on Sunday would have reduced that number to 28%.
No wonder the postseason form of Patrick Mahomes arrived, throwing for two hundred thirty-five yards in the latter half by itself and leading 3 scoring drives in their final four possessions to seal it in extra time.
A few huge throws and swashbuckling runs are typical for Mahomes in the playoffs, but currently the Kansas City are in post-season form – at 6-5 and just tenth in the AFC standings.
This was closer to the former Chiefs though, with a initial one-score win of the year after dropping 5 previously – they won 11 of them the previous season so, if that belief comes back, this Kansas City faithful might not be finished so soon.
Talking Point – Are Chicago Be Rulers of the Division?
You just can't ignore the Bears now. A win over the Pittsburgh Steelers, minus Aaron Rodgers, kept them top of the NFC North and at 8-3 – sharing the same record as the Philadelphia.
They look dangerous on each side of the ball, with a defence that tops the league in picks and total takeaways and, in Williams, a young quarterback now used to securing close games.
He can still be inconsistent, surrendering a score after a fumble in his team’s end zone – but he additionally passed for 3 touchdowns and, with already five final period rallies this season, he knows how to get the job done.
Green Bay are in hot pursuit in the NFC North after overpowering the Minnesota and Detroit are in contention after beating the New York in overtime with a huge game from Jahmyr Gibbs.
The Bears are interestingly the most reliable with 8 victories in 9, but as they visit the Super Bowl champs on the holiday we'll discover exactly how good they really are.
Look Ahead – Exciting Thanksgiving in Prospect
This looks among the best Thanksgiving schedules for years, with every game loaded with postseason implications.
The Lions host the Packers in the traditional opener in Detroit, prior to a unusual trip return to Dallas for the Kansas City, who started out existence as the Texans long ago in the 1960s before relocating to Kansas City.
Sunday's comeback teams are each holding on to postseason aspirations but have minimal margin for error – so this will have a playoff atmosphere.
And how about the Baltimore Ravens? An ugly victory over the Jets actually has them leading of the division after beginning one and five and appearing dead and buried.
Thanksgiving and Shopping Day Fixtures (all times GMT)
- Thursday, twenty-seven November: Packers @ Detroit Lions (18:00)
- Thursday, 27 November: Kansas City Chiefs @ Cowboys (9:30 PM)
- Friday, 28 November: Cincinnati Bengals @ Baltimore Ravens (1:20 AM)
- Friday, 28 November: Bears @ Philadelphia Eagles (20:00)
Will Shedeur Sanders Keep His Job?
Browns coach Stefanski dismissed inquiries on whether Sanders had performed enough in his first NFL outing to keep the first-team job when Dillon Gabriel returns.
Yet the issue will continue to be raised as Shedeur became the first Cleveland quarterback to win his first league game after Eric Zeier in 1999 – with seventeen other rookie quarterbacks unsuccessful to do so afterward.
It was only the Las Vegas, and with the assistance of an nearly feral Cleveland defence recording ten tackles, but Cleveland's offense requires a director, a figurehead to build confidence.
And self-belief is one thing not missing in Shedeur, who told a network {