Philadelphia Falter in Texas & Patrick Saves Chiefs – Best Moments from National Football League Week 12
Week 12 provided an incredible Cowboys rally, or perhaps an epic Eagles implosion?
Playoff Patrick Mahomes arrived to rescue the Kansas City's season while the Chicago Bears continue to impress as they extend their victorious streak.
And did Shedeur Sanders do enough on his debut NFL outing to earn the full-time job in Ohio?
Let's take a look at the pick of the week in the league.
The Breakdown – Cowboys Comeback or Eagles Collapse?
Dallas were down and out at 21-0 down versus the reigning Super Bowl champions, how exactly did they produce their joint-best recovery in history?
The emotions of a first home game since Marshawn Kneeland tragic death may have played a part, however it was a mixture of Prescott’s resolve and a defensive unit that pounced on rare mistakes by the Eagles.
Dak surpassed Tony Romo records for yards thrown (now thirty-four thousand three hundred seventy-eight) and game-winning possessions (twenty-five) with an dynamic display – his diving touchdown personifying his energetic showing.
Philly wasted a advantage of 21 points or more for the first time after 1999, with just their second game with several turnovers this year – the previous being another disappointing NFC East defeat at the New York.
Along with fourteen infractions for 96 yards, the offensive struggles that affected Jalen Hurts after what – for him – was an explosive beginning was significant. He'd only thrown for over two hundred yards in four games prior to the weekend, he had over one hundred fifty in the opening two quarters alone in Texas.
Yet from the time Philadelphia went twenty-one to zero up their offense derailed dramatically – with four straight punts, a failed field goal and then a fumble giving opportunity after chance to the Cowboys.
Philadelphia’s defence is brilliant, it truly is, but an offence that's not eclipsed 21 points in five of seven games (three losses) is now a huge concern, because the pieces are all there but it's just not working.
Nick Sirianni approach is all about securing the big moments, the defense keeps them in it and what offence there is does barely enough – if it can't even do that and now the composure and possession security is failing, there could be trouble ahead.
In Focus – Playoff Patrick Shows Up Early to Save Kansas City
It wasn’t as extreme, but the Chiefs’ eleven-point comeback in the final period versus a strong Indianapolis team was very notable – and may have only saved their campaign.
How significant was it? Indeed, the NFL's advanced analytics now assign the Chiefs a fifty-eight percent chance of reaching the postseason, whereas a loss on Sunday would have dropped that figure to twenty-eight percent.
It’s no surprise the playoff version of Patrick Mahomes turned up, throwing for 235 yards in the latter half by itself and guiding 3 point-scoring drives in their last four series to seal it in overtime.
A few huge passes and daring runs are commonplace for Patrick in the playoffs, but currently the Chiefs are in post-season form – at six and five and just 10th in the AFC standings.
This was more like the old Kansas City however, with a first one-score win of the year after dropping five already – they secured eleven of them last year so, if that belief returns, this Chiefs Kingdom might not be done just yet.
Discussion – Are Chicago Be Kings of the Division?
You can no longer overlook the Bears any longer. A win over the Pittsburgh Steelers, minus Rodgers, maintained them top of the division and at eight and three – sharing the same standing as the Eagles.
They appear threatening on each side of the ball, with a defense that tops the league in picks and total takeaways and, in Williams, a emerging quarterback now used to securing tight games.
He can at times be shaky, surrendering a touchdown after a turnover in his team’s end zone – but he also threw 3 scores and, with already 5 fourth-quarter comebacks this year, he knows how to finish the game.
The Green Bay Packers are in close pursuit in the NFC North after overpowering the Minnesota and the Lions are right there after beating the Giants in overtime with a huge game from Jahmyr Gibbs.
Chicago are interestingly the most reliable with 8 wins in nine, but as they travel to the Super Bowl champs on Thanksgiving we'll discover just how strong they truly are.
Look Ahead – Exciting Holiday in Prospect
This looks among the best holiday schedules for years, with each game packed with playoff implications.
Detroit welcome the Packers in the traditional curtain-raiser in Detroit, prior to a rare visit return to Dallas for the Chiefs, who started out existence as the Texans way back in the 1960s before relocating to Kansas City.
The weekend’s comeback teams are both holding on to postseason aspirations but have minimal room for mistakes – so this will have a post-season feel.
What about the Ravens? An unattractive win over the Jets in fact has them top of the division after starting one and five and appearing dead and buried.
Thanksgiving and Black Friday Games (all times GMT)
- Thursday, 27 November: Green Bay Packers @ Lions (6:00 PM)
- Thursday, 27 November: Kansas City Chiefs @ Cowboys (21:30)
- Friday, twenty-eight November: Cincinnati Bengals @ Baltimore Ravens (01:20)
- Friday, 28 November: Bears @ Philadelphia Eagles (8:00 PM)
Can Sanders Retain His Job?
Browns coach Stefanski dismissed questions on whether Shedeur Sanders had performed sufficiently in his first NFL outing to keep the first-team position 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 Eric Zeier in 1999 – with seventeen additional rookie signal callers failing to do so since.
It was only the Las Vegas, and with the help of an almost aggressive Browns defence getting 10 sacks, but the Browns’ offence needs a leader, a presence to build belief.
Moreover confidence is one thing not lacking in Shedeur, who informed a network {