Philly Stumble in Dallas & Patrick Saves Kansas City – Top Moments from National Football League Week 12
Week 12 delivered an incredible Cowboys comeback, or perhaps an epic Philadelphia Eagles collapse?
Postseason Mahomes showed up to salvage the Chiefs' season while the Chicago Bears keep to surprise while they extend their victorious run.
Did Sanders perform enough on his debut NFL start to earn the starting job in Ohio?
We’ll examine at the pick of the action in the league.
The Breakdown – Cowboys Comeback or Philly Fail?
The Cowboys were down and out at 21-0 down versus the defending championship winners, so how on earth did they produce their equal-largest recovery ever?
Sentiment of a first home fixture after Marshawn Kneeland tragic death could have played a part, but technically it was a mixture of Prescott’s resolve and a defensive unit that pounced on rare mistakes by the Eagles.
Dak eclipsed Tony Romo records for passing yards (now thirty-four thousand three hundred seventy-eight) and game-winning drives (twenty-five) with an all-action display – his diving touchdown personifying his energetic display.
Philly wasted 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 previous being another disappointing NFC East defeat at the New York.
In addition to 14 penalties for ninety-six yards, the offensive malaise that affected Hurts after what – for him – was an fast start was huge. He had only passed for 200-plus yards in four games prior to Sunday, he had over 150 in the opening two quarters by himself in Dallas.
Yet from the time Philadelphia went 21-0 up their offence derailed dramatically – with four consecutive punts, a failed field goal and then a turnover giving chance after chance to the Cowboys.
Philadelphia’s defence is brilliant, it truly is, but an offense that's not eclipsed 21 points in 5 of 7 games (three losses) is now a huge concern, as the components are all there but it's just not working.
Sirianni’s game is all about securing the key situations, the defence keeps them in it and what offence there is manages barely sufficient – if it can't even do that and now the discipline and possession security is breaking down, there may be problems in the future.
Spotlight – Playoff Patrick Shows Up Prematurely to Save Kansas City
It wasn’t as dramatic, but Kansas City's 11-point recovery in the final period against a strong Indianapolis squad was hugely notable – and could have only saved their campaign.
How significant was it? Indeed, the league’s advanced analytics now give the Kansas City a fifty-eight percent probability of making the postseason, whereas a loss on Sunday would have dropped that figure to twenty-eight percent.
No wonder the postseason version of Mahomes turned up, throwing for 235 yards in the latter half alone and leading 3 point-scoring possessions in their last four possessions to win it in extra time.
Some huge passes and swashbuckling scrambles are typical for Patrick in the playoffs, but currently the Kansas City are in playoff form – at 6-5 and only tenth in the conference standings.
That was more like the former Chiefs however, with a first close victory of the year after losing 5 previously – they won 11 of them the previous season so, if that confidence returns, this Chiefs Kingdom may not be finished just yet.
Talking Point – Can Bears Become Rulers of the Division?
You can no longer ignore the Bears now. A victory over the Steelers, without Rodgers, kept them top of the division and at eight and three – sharing the same record as the Eagles.
They appear threatening on both sides of the field, with a defense that tops the league in interceptions and overall turnovers and, in Caleb Williams, a emerging player now used to securing tight games.
He can at times be inconsistent, giving away a score after a turnover in his own goal area – but he also passed for 3 scores and, with already five fourth-quarter rallies this year, he knows how to get the job done.
The Green Bay Packers are in hot pursuit in the division after overpowering the Minnesota and the Lions are in contention after overcoming the Giants in overtime with a monster game from Jahmyr Gibbs.
Chicago are strangely the most consistent with eight wins in nine, but as they visit the championship winners on the holiday we'll discover exactly how good they truly are.
Look Ahead – Thrilling Holiday in Prospect
It appears one of the best Thanksgiving line-ups for years, with each game loaded with postseason consequences.
The Lions welcome the Green Bay in the traditional opener in Michigan, before a unusual trip return to Texas for the Kansas City, who started out life as the Dallas Texans long ago in the sixties before moving to Kansas City.
The weekend’s rally kings are both clinging to postseason aspirations but have very little margin for error – so this will have a post-season feel.
What about the Baltimore Ravens? An unattractive win over the New York in fact has them leading of the division after beginning one and five and looking finished.
Holiday and Shopping Day Fixtures (all times GMT)
- Thursday, twenty-seven November: Green Bay Packers @ Lions (6:00 PM)
- Thursday, 27 November: Chiefs @ Dallas Cowboys (9:30 PM)
- Friday, 28 November: Bengals @ Ravens (1:20 AM)
- Friday, 28 November: Bears @ Eagles (20:00)
Will Shedeur Sanders Keep His Job?
Browns coach Stefanski dismissed questions on whether Shedeur Sanders had performed sufficiently in his debut professional start to maintain the starting position when Gabriel returns.
Yet the issue will keep being raised as Shedeur became the first Cleveland quarterback to win his first league start since Zeier in 1999 – with seventeen other rookie signal callers failing to do so since.
It was only the Raiders, and with the assistance of an almost aggressive Cleveland defense getting ten tackles, but the Browns’ offense needs a leader, a figurehead to inspire confidence.
And confidence is one thing not missing in Sanders, who told a network {