Philly Falter in Dallas & Mahomes Saves Chiefs – Top Moments from National Football League Week 12
The twelfth week provided an incredible Cowboys comeback, or was it an epic Eagles collapse?
Playoff Mahomes showed up to salvage the Chiefs' season while the Chicago Bears continue to impress while they continue their winning run.
And did Sanders do enough on his debut NFL outing to earn the full-time job in Ohio?
Let's take a look at the best of the action in the NFL.
Analysis – Cowboys Comeback or Eagles Collapse?
The Cowboys found themselves down and out at twenty-one to zero down versus the defending championship winners, so how on earth did they engineer their joint-best comeback in history?
Sentiment of a first home fixture since a teammate’s tragic death could have played a part, but technically it was a combination of Dak Prescott determination and a defensive unit that cashed in on rare errors by the Philadelphia.
Dak surpassed Tony Romo marks for passing yards (now 34,378) and clutch drives (25) with an dynamic performance – his plunging touchdown personifying his energetic display.
Philly squandered a lead of twenty-one points or more for the initial time after 1999, with just their second game with multiple giveaways this season – the other being another disappointing NFC East loss at the New York.
In addition to 14 infractions for 96 yards, the offensive malaise that hit Jalen Hurts after what – for him – was an explosive start was significant. He had only passed for over two hundred yards in four games before the weekend, he had over 150 in the opening two quarters alone in Dallas.
Yet 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 opportunity after opportunity to the Dallas.
Philadelphia’s defence is brilliant, it really is, but an offence that's not surpassed 21 points in 5 of 7 games (three losses) is now a huge worry, because the pieces are all there but it's simply not clicking.
Sirianni’s game is all about winning the key situations, the defense maintains them in it and what offence there is manages just about enough – if it can't even do that and now the discipline and possession security is failing, there may be problems in the future.
Spotlight – Playoff Patrick Shows Up Early to Save Kansas City
It wasn't as extreme, but Kansas City's eleven-point comeback in the fourth quarter versus a strong Colts squad was very impressive – and could have only saved their campaign.
How significant was it? Well, the NFL's Next Gen Stats now assign the Chiefs a fifty-eight percent chance of making the playoffs, when a loss on the weekend would have reduced that figure to 28%.
It’s no surprise the postseason form of Mahomes arrived, throwing for 235 yards in the latter half alone and guiding 3 scoring possessions in their final 4 possessions to win it in extra time.
Some big throws and swashbuckling runs are commonplace for Mahomes in the playoffs, but currently the Kansas City are in playoff mode – at six and five and just 10th in the AFC standings.
This was closer to the former Chiefs though, with a first one-score victory of the season after dropping 5 already – they secured 11 of them the previous season so, if that confidence returns, this Chiefs Kingdom might not be done so soon.
Discussion – Can Bears Become Rulers of the Division?
You can no longer overlook the Chicago Bears any longer. A victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers, without Aaron Rodgers, kept them top of the division and at eight and three – holding the same standing as the Philadelphia.
They appear threatening on each side of the ball, with a defense that leads the NFL in picks and overall takeaways and, in Williams, a emerging player now accustomed to winning close games.
He can still be inconsistent, surrendering a score after a turnover in his team’s end zone – but he also threw 3 touchdowns and, with already five fourth-quarter comebacks this year, he knows how to finish the game.
The Green Bay Packers are in close chase in the division after overpowering the Minnesota and the Lions are in contention after beating the Giants in extra time with a monster game from Jahmyr Gibbs.
Chicago are strangely the most reliable with 8 wins in 9, but as they travel to the Super Bowl champs on the holiday we'll see exactly how good they truly are.
Look Ahead – Exciting Holiday in Store
This looks among the best holiday schedules for a long time, with each game packed with playoff implications.
The Lions welcome the Green Bay in the traditional opener in Detroit, before a rare trip return to Dallas for the Kansas City, who began life as the Texans long ago in the 1960s before relocating to Kansas City.
Sunday's comeback kings are each holding on to playoff aspirations but have very little room for error – so this will have a playoff atmosphere.
What about the Baltimore Ravens? An ugly win over the New York in fact has them top of the AFC North after beginning 1-5 and looking finished.
Thanksgiving and Shopping Day Fixtures (all times GMT)
- Thursday, twenty-seven November: Packers @ Lions (18:00)
- Thursday, 27 November: Chiefs @ Dallas Cowboys (9:30 PM)
- Friday, 28 November: Cincinnati Bengals @ Baltimore Ravens (1:20 AM)
- Friday, twenty-eight November: Bears @ Eagles (20:00)
Will Shedeur Sanders Retain His Job?
Browns head coach Stefanski dismissed questions on whether Sanders had performed enough in his debut professional start to keep the first-team job when Dillon Gabriel returns.
Yet the issue will keep being raised as Sanders became the first Browns signal-caller to win his first league start since Eric Zeier in 1999 – with seventeen additional rookie signal callers failing to do so afterward.
It came only the Las Vegas, and with the assistance of an nearly aggressive Browns defense recording ten sacks, but the Browns’ offence needs a leader, a figurehead to inspire belief.
Moreover self-belief is something not missing in Sanders, who told a network {