Philly Stumble in Dallas & Mahomes Rescues Kansas City – Top Moments from National Football League the Twelfth Week
The twelfth week delivered an incredible Dallas Cowboys comeback, or was it an massive Eagles implosion?
Postseason Mahomes arrived to rescue the Chiefs' season as the Chicago Bears continue to impress while they extend their winning run.
And did Shedeur Sanders do sufficiently on his first NFL start to secure the starting job in Cleveland?
We’ll examine at the pick of the action in the NFL.
Analysis – Cowboys Comeback or Philly Fail?
The Cowboys found themselves down and out at 21-0 down against the reigning championship champions, so how on earth did they engineer their equal-largest recovery ever?
The emotions of a first home fixture since Marshawn Kneeland untimely death may have played a part, but technically it was a combination of Dak Prescott resolve and a defence that cashed in on rare mistakes by the Eagles.
Prescott eclipsed Romo’s records for yards thrown (now thirty-four thousand three hundred seventy-eight) and game-winning possessions (25) with an all-action display – his diving touchdown embodying his energetic display.
Philadelphia squandered a advantage of twenty-one points or more for the first time after nineteen ninety-nine, with only their second game with several turnovers this season – the other being a disappointing division loss at the New York.
Along with 14 infractions for ninety-six yards, the attacking struggles that hit Hurts after what – for him – was an fast start was huge. He'd only passed for 200-plus yards in 4 games prior to the weekend, he had more than 150 in the opening two quarters by himself in Dallas.
Yet from the time Philadelphia went twenty-one to zero up their offence derailed dramatically – with four consecutive kicks, a missed three-point attempt and then a turnover handing opportunity after opportunity to the Cowboys.
Philadelphia’s defence is excellent, it really is, but an offence that's not surpassed 21 points in 5 of seven games (three losses) is now a huge worry, as the components are all there but it's just not working.
Sirianni’s approach is all about winning the big situations, the defense maintains them in it and what offence there is manages barely enough – if it can't even do that and now the discipline and ball protection is failing, there could be trouble ahead.
In Focus – Playoff Patrick Appears Prematurely to Rescue Kansas City
It wasn’t quite as extreme, but the Chiefs’ 11-point recovery in the fourth quarter versus a powerful Indianapolis squad was very notable – and could have only rescued their season.
How significant was it? Indeed, the league’s advanced analytics now give the Kansas City a 58% chance of making the postseason, when a loss on the weekend would have reduced that number to 28%.
It’s no surprise the postseason version of Patrick Mahomes arrived, throwing for 235 yards in the latter half alone and leading 3 scoring drives in their last four series to win it in extra time.
Some big throws and swashbuckling scrambles are typical for Mahomes in the postseason, but currently the Chiefs are in playoff form – at six and five and just 10th in the conference standings.
That was more like the old Kansas City though, with a first one-score victory of the year after dropping 5 previously – they secured eleven of them last year so, if that confidence returns, this Kansas City faithful may not be done just yet.
Discussion – Are Chicago Be Kings of the Division?
You just can't ignore the Chicago Bears now. A victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers, without Rodgers, maintained them first of the division and at eight and three – sharing the identical record as the Eagles.
They look threatening on each side of the field, with a defence that tops the league in interceptions and total takeaways and, in Williams, a emerging player now accustomed to securing tight games.
He can at times be inconsistent, giving away a score after a fumble in his team’s goal area – but he additionally 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 pursuit in the division after overpowering the Vikings and the Lions are in contention after overcoming the New York in extra time with a monster game from Jahmyr Gibbs.
The Bears are strangely the most reliable with 8 wins in nine, but as they travel to the championship winners on the holiday we'll see just how good they truly are.
Look Ahead – Thrilling Holiday in Store
It appears one of the most exciting holiday line-ups for a long time, with each game packed with postseason consequences.
The Lions welcome the Green Bay in the classic curtain-raiser in Detroit, prior to a rare visit back to Texas for the Chiefs, who started out life as the Dallas Texans long ago in the 1960s before moving to Missouri.
Sunday's comeback teams are both clinging to playoff aspirations but have minimal margin for error – so this will have a post-season feel.
What about the Baltimore Ravens? An ugly win over the Jets in fact has them leading of the AFC North after starting one and five and appearing finished.
Thanksgiving and Black Friday Fixtures (all times GMT)
- Thursday, twenty-seven November: Green Bay Packers @ Detroit Lions (18:00)
- Thursday, twenty-seven November: Kansas City Chiefs @ Cowboys (9:30 PM)
- Friday, 28 November: Bengals @ Ravens (01:20)
- Friday, twenty-eight November: Chicago Bears @ Philadelphia Eagles (20:00)
Can Sanders Keep His Job?
Browns coach Kevin Stefanski dismissed questions on whether Shedeur Sanders had done enough in his debut professional outing to keep the first-team position when Dillon Gabriel comes back.
Yet the question will keep being asked as Shedeur became the first Browns quarterback to secure his first league start since Zeier in 1999 – with 17 additional rookie signal callers failing to do so since.
It was just the Las Vegas, and with the assistance of an nearly feral Browns defense getting ten sacks, but the Browns’ offence needs a director, a presence to build belief.
Moreover self-belief is something not lacking in Sanders, who told a network {