Philly Falter in Dallas & Mahomes Rescues Chiefs – Best Moments from NFL the Twelfth Week
The twelfth week delivered an incredible Dallas Cowboys comeback, or was it an massive Philadelphia Eagles implosion?
Playoff Patrick Mahomes showed up to salvage the Chiefs' season while the Bears continue to impress while they extend their victorious streak.
Did Shedeur Sanders perform sufficiently on his debut professional start to secure the full-time role in Ohio?
We’ll examine at the best of the action in the league.
The Breakdown – Cowboys Comeback or Philly Fail?
Dallas were trailing badly at 21-0 down versus the reigning championship winners, so how on earth did they produce their joint-best comeback ever?
The emotions of a first home fixture after a teammate’s tragic death could have played a part, however it was a combination of Dak Prescott resolve and a defence that cashed in on rare errors by the Eagles.
Prescott eclipsed Tony Romo marks for yards thrown (now thirty-four thousand three hundred seventy-eight) and clutch possessions (twenty-five) with an all-action performance – his diving touchdown embodying his all-action display.
Philadelphia squandered a advantage of twenty-one points or more for the first time after 1999, with just their second game with multiple giveaways this season – the other being another bad NFC East defeat at the Giants.
In addition to 14 infractions for ninety-six yards, the offensive malaise that hit Jalen Hurts after what – for him – was an explosive start was significant. He'd only passed for over two hundred yards in four games prior to Sunday, he had more than 150 in the opening two quarters alone in Texas.
However from the time the Eagles went 21-0 up their offense fell apart dramatically – with four straight kicks, a failed field goal and then a fumble giving chance after opportunity to the Cowboys.
The Eagles defense is brilliant, it really is, but an offense that's not eclipsed 21 points in 5 of 7 games (3 losses) is now a huge worry, because the pieces are all there but it's simply not working.
Nick Sirianni approach is all about securing the key situations, the defence maintains 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 failing, there could be trouble in the future.
Spotlight – Playoff Patrick Appears Prematurely to Save Kansas City
It wasn’t as dramatic, but Kansas City's eleven-point recovery in the final period against a strong Colts squad was very notable – and may have only rescued their season.
How big was it? Well, the NFL's advanced analytics now assign the Kansas City a fifty-eight percent chance of reaching the playoffs, when a loss on the weekend would have reduced that number to twenty-eight percent.
No wonder the postseason form of Mahomes turned up, passing for 235 yards in the second half alone and guiding three point-scoring drives in their final four possessions to seal it in overtime.
A few huge passes and swashbuckling runs are commonplace for Patrick in the postseason, but currently the Chiefs are in playoff mode – at 6-5 and only tenth in the AFC rankings.
This was more like the former Kansas City though, with a first close victory of the year after losing 5 previously – they won eleven of them last year so, if that belief comes back, this Kansas City faithful might not be done just yet.
Talking Point – Can Bears Become Rulers of the North?
You just can't overlook the Bears any longer. A victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers, minus Aaron Rodgers, kept them top of the NFC North and at 8-3 – holding the same standing as the Philadelphia.
They look dangerous on each side of the field, with a defence that leads the NFL in interceptions and overall takeaways and, in Williams, a young quarterback now used to winning close games.
He may still be shaky, surrendering a touchdown after a fumble in his own end zone – but he also passed for three touchdowns and, with already five fourth-quarter comebacks this season, he understands how to get the job done.
The Green Bay Packers are in hot chase in the division after overpowering the Vikings and the Lions are in contention after overcoming the New York in overtime with a huge game from Jahmyr Gibbs.
The Bears are strangely the most consistent with 8 victories in 9, but as they visit the championship winners on Thanksgiving we'll discover exactly how strong they really are.
Look Ahead – Exciting Holiday in Store
It appears among the most exciting holiday schedules for years, with each game loaded with playoff consequences.
Detroit host the Packers in the classic opener in Detroit, prior to a rare trip back to Texas for the Kansas City, who began life as the Texans way back in the sixties before relocating to Kansas City.
Sunday's rally kings are both holding on to postseason aspirations but have minimal margin for mistakes – so this will have a playoff atmosphere.
And how about the Baltimore Ravens? An ugly victory over the Jets in fact has them top of the division after beginning 1-5 and appearing finished.
Holiday and Black Friday Fixtures (all times GMT)
- Thursday, 27 November: Green Bay Packers @ Detroit Lions (6:00 PM)
- Thursday, twenty-seven November: Kansas City Chiefs @ Dallas Cowboys (9:30 PM)
- Friday, twenty-eight November: Cincinnati Bengals @ Baltimore Ravens (01:20)
- Friday, 28 November: Chicago Bears @ Eagles (8:00 PM)
Will Shedeur Sanders Keep His Job?
Cleveland Browns coach Kevin Stefanski dismissed questions on whether Sanders had performed sufficiently in his debut professional outing to keep the first-team job when Dillon Gabriel comes back.
Yet the question will keep being raised as Sanders became the first Browns signal-caller to win his first NFL game since Zeier in 1999 – with 17 other first-year signal callers unsuccessful to do so afterward.
It was just the Raiders, and with the help of an almost feral Cleveland defense getting ten sacks, but Cleveland's offence requires a leader, a presence to inspire confidence.
Moreover self-belief is one thing not missing in Sanders, who informed a CBS {