Philadelphia Stumble in Dallas & Mahomes Rescues Kansas City – Best Moments from NFL Week 12
The twelfth week provided an epic Dallas Cowboys comeback, or was it an massive Eagles collapse?
Postseason Mahomes showed up to rescue the Chiefs' season as the Bears keep to surprise as they extend their winning streak.
And did Shedeur Sanders perform enough on his debut NFL start to earn the full-time role in Cleveland?
We’ll examine at the best of the action in the NFL.
Analysis – Cowboys Comeback or Eagles Collapse?
The Cowboys were trailing badly at twenty-one to zero behind versus the defending championship winners, how exactly did they engineer their joint-best recovery ever?
The emotions of a first home fixture after Marshawn Kneeland tragic death may have played a part, but technically it was a mixture of Prescott’s resolve and a defensive unit that pounced on uncommon mistakes by the Philadelphia.
Dak surpassed Romo’s marks for yards thrown (now 34,378) and game-winning drives (25) with an all-action performance – his diving score embodying his energetic showing.
Philadelphia wasted a lead of twenty-one points or more for the first time after nineteen ninety-nine, with just their second game with several turnovers this season – the previous being another bad NFC East loss at the New York.
Along with fourteen penalties for ninety-six yards, the attacking struggles that affected Jalen Hurts after what – for him – was an explosive beginning was huge. He had only thrown for 200-plus yards in four games before the weekend, he had more than 150 in the first half by himself in Dallas.
However from the time Philadelphia went 21-0 up their offense derailed spectacularly – with four consecutive kicks, a missed three-point attempt and then a turnover giving opportunity after opportunity to the Dallas.
Philadelphia’s defence is excellent, it really is, but an offense that's not eclipsed 21 points in five of seven games (three losses) is now a major concern, as the components are all there but it's simply not working.
Nick Sirianni game is all about securing the big situations, the defence maintains them in it and what offense there is does just about sufficient – if it can't even do that and now the composure and ball protection is failing, there could be trouble in the future.
Spotlight – Postseason Mahomes Shows Up Early to Rescue Chiefs
It wasn't quite as dramatic, but the Chiefs’ eleven-point comeback in the final period versus a strong Colts squad was hugely notable – and may have only rescued their season.
How big was it? Indeed, the NFL's Next Gen Stats now assign the Kansas City a fifty-eight percent probability of making the postseason, when a defeat on the weekend would have dropped that figure to twenty-eight percent.
It’s no surprise the postseason form of Mahomes turned up, passing for two hundred thirty-five yards in the second half by itself and leading three point-scoring possessions in their final 4 possessions to seal it in extra time.
Some huge passes and swashbuckling scrambles are typical for Mahomes in the postseason, but currently the Kansas City are in post-season form – at 6-5 and only tenth in the AFC rankings.
That was closer to the former Chiefs though, with a initial one-score win of the season after dropping 5 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 Be Kings of the Division?
You just can't overlook the Bears now. A win over the Steelers, without Aaron Rodgers, maintained them top of the division and at eight and three – holding the same record as the Eagles.
They look dangerous on both sides of the field, with a defence that leads the NFL in interceptions and total turnovers and, in Williams, a young player now used to securing close games.
He may still be shaky, giving away a touchdown after a fumble in his team’s goal area – but he also 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 hot chase in the division after dominating the Vikings and Detroit are right there after overcoming the Giants in extra time with a huge game from Gibbs.
Chicago are strangely the most reliable with eight wins in nine, but as they travel to the championship champs on Thanksgiving we'll see just how strong they truly are.
Look Ahead – Thrilling Holiday in Prospect
This looks one of the most exciting holiday schedules for years, with each game loaded with postseason implications.
Detroit host the Green Bay in the traditional opener in Michigan, before a unusual trip back to Texas for the Chiefs, who started out life as the Texans way back in the 1960s before moving to Kansas City.
Sunday's rally kings are both clinging to playoff aspirations but have minimal margin for mistakes – so this will have a post-season feel.
And how about the Ravens? An ugly win over the Jets in fact has them leading of the division after starting 1-5 and looking dead and buried.
Thanksgiving and Black Friday Games (all times GMT)
- Thursday, twenty-seven November: Packers @ Lions (6:00 PM)
- Thursday, twenty-seven November: Kansas City Chiefs @ Cowboys (21:30)
- Friday, twenty-eight November: Cincinnati Bengals @ Ravens (01:20)
- Friday, 28 November: Chicago Bears @ Philadelphia Eagles (8:00 PM)
Will Shedeur Sanders Keep His Starting Role?
Browns coach Kevin Stefanski dismissed questions on whether Shedeur Sanders had done enough in his first NFL start to maintain the first-team position when Gabriel returns.
But the issue will keep being raised as Shedeur became the first Cleveland signal-caller to secure his first league start after Zeier in nineteen ninety-nine – with seventeen other rookie signal callers failing to do so since.
It came just the Raiders, and with the assistance of an nearly aggressive Cleveland defense getting 10 sacks, but Cleveland's offence requires a leader, a presence to inspire belief.
Moreover self-belief is something not missing in Sanders, who told a network {