Philly Falter in Texas & Patrick Saves Chiefs – Top Moments from NFL Week 12
The twelfth week delivered an epic Cowboys comeback, or perhaps an epic Philadelphia Eagles collapse?
Postseason Patrick Mahomes arrived to rescue the Chiefs' season while the Chicago Bears continue to surprise while they extend their victorious run.
And did Shedeur Sanders perform enough on his first professional outing to earn the starting role in Ohio?
Let's take a look at the best of the week in the NFL.
The Breakdown – Dallas Rally or Philly Fail?
The Cowboys found themselves down and out at 21-0 down against the defending Super Bowl champions, so how on earth did they engineer their joint-best comeback in history?
Sentiment of a initial home game since Marshawn Kneeland untimely passing may have played a part, but technically it was a mixture of Dak Prescott resolve and a defence that pounced on rare mistakes by the Eagles.
Dak surpassed Tony Romo records for yards thrown (now 34,378) and game-winning possessions (25) with an dynamic display – his plunging touchdown personifying his energetic showing.
Philly squandered a lead of twenty-one points or more for the initial time since nineteen ninety-nine, with only their second game with several turnovers this year – the previous being a bad division loss at the Giants.
Along with 14 infractions for ninety-six yards, the attacking malaise that affected Jalen Hurts after what – for him – was an explosive start was significant. He had only thrown for 200-plus yards in 4 games prior to the weekend, he had over one hundred fifty in the first half alone in Texas.
However from the time the Eagles went twenty-one to zero up their offence fell apart spectacularly – with four consecutive punts, a failed field goal and then a fumble giving chance after opportunity to the Cowboys.
The Eagles defense is brilliant, it truly is, but an offence that's not surpassed 21 points in five of 7 games (three losses) is now a major concern, because the components are all there but it's just not working.
Nick Sirianni game is all about securing the big situations, the defense keeps 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 breaking down, there may be problems in the future.
Spotlight – Postseason Mahomes Shows Up Prematurely to Rescue Chiefs
It wasn't quite as dramatic, but the Chiefs’ eleven-point comeback in the fourth quarter against a strong Indianapolis squad was very notable – and could have just saved their campaign.
How significant was it? Well, the NFL's Next Gen Stats now give the Kansas City a 58% probability of reaching the playoffs, when a loss on the weekend would have reduced that number to 28%.
No wonder the postseason version of Mahomes turned up, passing for 235 yards in the latter half alone and leading 3 point-scoring drives in their final 4 possessions to seal it in extra time.
A few big throws and swashbuckling runs are commonplace for Patrick in the postseason, but right now the Chiefs are in playoff mode – at six and five and just 10th in the conference rankings.
That was more like the former Kansas City though, with a first close win of the year after dropping five already – they won eleven of them the previous season so, if that belief returns, this Chiefs Kingdom might not be done just yet.
Discussion – Can Bears Become Rulers of the Division?
You can no longer overlook the Chicago Bears any longer. A victory over the Steelers, minus Rodgers, maintained them top of the division and at 8-3 – sharing the same standing as the Eagles.
They appear dangerous on each side of the ball, with a defence that leads the league in picks and overall takeaways and, in Williams, a young player now used to securing close games.
He can still be inconsistent, giving away a score after a fumble in his own end zone – but he also passed for 3 touchdowns and, with already 5 fourth-quarter comebacks this year, he understands how to finish the game.
The Green Bay Packers are in hot chase in the division after dominating the Vikings and Detroit are right there after beating the Giants in overtime with a monster game from Gibbs.
The Bears are strangely the most consistent with eight wins in nine, but as they travel to the Super Bowl champs on Thanksgiving we'll discover just how strong they truly are.
Preview – Thrilling Thanksgiving in Store
It appears one of the most exciting Thanksgiving line-ups for years, with each game loaded with playoff consequences.
Detroit welcome the Green Bay in the classic curtain-raiser in Detroit, before a rare visit return to Texas for the Kansas City, who started out life as the Texans way back in the 1960s before relocating to Kansas City.
Sunday's comeback kings are both holding on to postseason aspirations but have very little margin for error – so this will have a playoff atmosphere.
What about the Ravens? An unattractive win over the Jets actually has them top of the division after beginning one and five and appearing dead and buried.
Thanksgiving and Shopping Day Games (all times GMT)
- Thursday, 27 November: Green Bay Packers @ Lions (18:00)
- Thursday, twenty-seven November: Kansas City Chiefs @ Dallas Cowboys (21:30)
- Friday, 28 November: Cincinnati Bengals @ Baltimore Ravens (1:20 AM)
- Friday, twenty-eight November: Bears @ Philadelphia Eagles (20:00)
Will Shedeur Sanders Keep His Starting Role?
Browns head coach Stefanski dismissed questions on whether Sanders had done sufficiently in his first NFL start to keep the starting job when Gabriel returns.
But the issue will keep being asked as Shedeur became the first Cleveland quarterback to win his first NFL game since Eric Zeier in nineteen ninety-nine – with seventeen additional first-year signal callers failing to do so afterward.
It was just the Raiders, and with the help of an nearly aggressive Cleveland defense getting 10 sacks, but Cleveland's offence needs a director, a figurehead to inspire belief.
And self-belief is something not lacking in Sanders, who informed a network {