Philadelphia Stumble in Dallas & Mahomes Saves Chiefs – Top Highlights from NFL the Twelfth Week
Week 12 delivered an epic Cowboys rally, or was it an epic Eagles implosion?
Postseason Mahomes showed up to rescue the Chiefs' campaign while the Bears continue to surprise as they extend their winning streak.
Did Shedeur Sanders do sufficiently on his debut NFL start to earn the starting job in Ohio?
We’ll examine at the pick of the action in the league.
Analysis – Cowboys Comeback or Philly Fail?
Dallas found themselves down and out at 21-0 behind versus the defending championship champions, how exactly did they engineer their equal-largest recovery ever?
The emotions of a initial home fixture after Marshawn Kneeland untimely passing could have been a factor, however it was a combination of Prescott’s resolve and a defence that pounced on uncommon mistakes by the Philadelphia.
Dak surpassed Romo’s records for yards thrown (now thirty-four thousand three hundred seventy-eight) and game-winning drives (twenty-five) with an all-action display – his diving touchdown embodying his energetic showing.
Philadelphia wasted a lead of 21 points or more for the first time since nineteen ninety-nine, with only their second game with multiple giveaways this season – the other being a disappointing NFC East loss at the Giants.
Along with fourteen infractions for ninety-six yards, the attacking malaise that hit Jalen Hurts after what – for him – was an explosive start was huge. 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 offense derailed spectacularly – with four straight punts, a missed field goal and then a fumble giving chance after chance to the Cowboys.
The Eagles defence is brilliant, it truly is, but an offense that's not surpassed twenty-one points in five of 7 games (three losses) is now a huge worry, because the components are all there but it's simply not clicking.
Nick Sirianni approach is all about securing the big moments, the defense keeps them in it and what offence there is does barely sufficient – if it can't even do that and now the discipline and possession security is failing, there could be trouble ahead.
Spotlight – Postseason Mahomes Appears Prematurely to Rescue Chiefs
It wasn’t as extreme, but Kansas City's 11-point recovery in the fourth quarter against a powerful Colts team was very impressive – and could have just rescued their campaign.
How significant was it? Indeed, the NFL's advanced analytics now assign the Kansas City a 58% probability of reaching the postseason, whereas a loss on the weekend would have reduced that number to 28%.
No wonder the playoff version of Mahomes arrived, passing for 235 yards in the latter half alone and guiding three scoring possessions in their final four possessions to win it in extra time.
A few big passes and daring scrambles are commonplace for Mahomes in the postseason, but currently the Chiefs are in playoff mode – at six and five and only 10th in the conference standings.
This was more like the old Chiefs however, with a first close win of the year after dropping 5 already – they secured 11 of them last year so, if that belief returns, this Chiefs Kingdom might not be finished so soon.
Discussion – Can Bears Be Rulers of the Division?
You just can't ignore the Bears any longer. A win over the Pittsburgh Steelers, without Rodgers, maintained them first of the NFC North and at 8-3 – sharing the identical record as the Eagles.
They appear threatening on each side of the ball, with a defense that leads the league in interceptions and total takeaways and, in Williams, a young player now used to securing tight games.
He may still 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 comebacks this season, he knows how to finish the game.
The Green Bay Packers are in close chase in the division after dominating the Vikings and the Lions are right there after overcoming the New York in extra time with a monster game from Jahmyr Gibbs.
The Bears are strangely the most reliable with eight wins in nine, but as they visit the Super Bowl winners on the holiday we'll see just how strong they truly are.
Look Ahead – Thrilling Thanksgiving in Prospect
This looks one of the most exciting Thanksgiving line-ups for years, with every game loaded with playoff implications.
Detroit host the Packers in the classic curtain-raiser in Detroit, prior to a unusual visit return to Texas for the Chiefs, who started out life as the Texans long ago in the sixties before moving to Missouri.
Sunday's rally kings are both holding on to postseason aspirations but have minimal room for mistakes – so this will have a post-season feel.
And how about the Baltimore Ravens? An unattractive victory over the New York in fact has them leading of the division after beginning 1-5 and looking dead and buried.
Thanksgiving and Black Friday Games (all times GMT)
- Thursday, 27 November: Packers @ Detroit Lions (18:00)
- Thursday, 27 November: Kansas City Chiefs @ Cowboys (9:30 PM)
- Friday, 28 November: Bengals @ Baltimore Ravens (01:20)
- Friday, twenty-eight November: Bears @ Eagles (20:00)
Can Sanders Retain His Job?
Cleveland Browns coach Kevin Stefanski batted away inquiries on whether Shedeur Sanders had performed enough in his debut professional start to maintain the first-team position when Gabriel returns.
But the issue will continue to be raised as Shedeur became the first Cleveland quarterback to win his first NFL start after Eric Zeier in 1999 – with 17 additional first-year quarterbacks unsuccessful to do so afterward.
It came just the Raiders, and with the assistance of an nearly feral Browns defence getting 10 tackles, but Cleveland's offense needs a director, a presence to inspire belief.
And self-belief is one thing not missing in Shedeur, who told a CBS {